Essentials- what are they?

[bronze]

Not having ben camping for a while I'm not much up on campsite camping (with children) so was wondering what people consider are the essentials?

My kind of camping always consisted of stove, pot, tent, sleeping bag, waterproof and boots etc. Now we are going in a car an dI understand it can be almost luxurious so what do I need/want?

In the old days it was a two man vango, a thermarest, mummy bag and a tranny. A ferry ticket and see where one ended up.

Am just getting the list together for the first full family trip this year.. I am getting old.. I am finding myself looking at rather large tents you can stand up in, airbeds and bloody tables and chairs!

Now you lot Are telling me about fairy lights and washing up bowls .. Omg! I'll end up with a ruddy roof box < screams>

Arsenic you sound liek you're at the same stage as me

I'm afraid there is a certain inevitability to a roof box, unless you want to continue to embrace minimalism and eat off the floor out of the pan.

Have been just dicussing this with dh and the dc's..
Our list so far

tent
picnic blankets
airbeds
pillows/ duvets/ extra fleecy blankets
mugs, Mess tins, tranny and a couple of instant BBQs
couple of solar garden lamps ( great idea btw)
3 evert stools and 2 foldy chairs.
First aid kit and baby wipes and pegs

Reckon that's not quite like the old days but still campy enough.

Getting quite jolly about it now

looks good Arsenic.

I'm quite tired today (and posssibly a bit dim) so I'm asuuming this tranny, in your list with cups and mess tins is some sort of cooking implement and not a fold away transvestite.

A fold away transvestite, although a lovely decorative addition to your tent, is not that useful as a camping gadget.

I like the solar garden lamp idea and am going to steal it

sorry should say trangia

But I do think a tranny could set off the fairy lights jolly well could be useful for washing up and enterainment too!

Steal away LadyB. I think I stole it from here anyway.

yy Arsenic

WTF is a trangia? I think a radio is an essential. I need R4 wherever I am

Just want to say that those evert stools are from ikea.. And look like they could double as handy buckets. But a bit more sturdy to sit upon.. They stack and are only £2.99

It's a foldy up cooking doofa.. With pots and pans and a kettle and windshield.. Tis the size of a stamp... They are very handy..

Trangia

Ladybiscuit, I've had some of those chilli con carne bags, as our Tesco sells it occasionally. If you're not taking much with you, I'd say it's a good idea - small and relatively tasty. Definitely nicer than cans. We took some of those precooked rice trays and a bag of chilli for the first night once, and around the campfire, it tasted lovely. I tried it again at home (lazy, I know!), and thought it was a bit over priced for something resembling thick soup. So..., what I'm trying to say - in the right setting, the taste will be nice and it is very convenient. But don't expect too much. The good thing is that you can take it with as a backup, as it keeps for ages if not opened.

braver than me cooking on a trangia. Cant imagine feeding 6 on one though I'm sure I have done in the past. We'll be using a 2 ring gas stove thing I think

Where can I find a portable transvestite? All the ones I know require their own trailer. Over and above the permitted roofbox I think. Although if I had a trailer as well I could definitely fit the fairy lights in.

kitbit

[stern]

I'll have that tea off you if you don't stop with the fairy lights.

Millets sell portable transvestites iirc. They're usually on a rack next to the Ordnance Survey maps. hth

If you live in norfolk dont ever go here you will end up drowing in stuff you dont need including a huge creidt card bill.
Its campers paradise

Good thread, glad I had a look, I manage to pack like a glamper but look like the opposite of glamper/coleman family . Not sure how I manage it.

Think I need to buy the she pee.

Bought one. £9.99 including wigs and entourage. Now feel like proper glamper so am off to pack the good linen.

how is a washing up bowl not essential - how do you wash up! I would love not to have to take a washing up bowl; please tell me the secret!!