Things to take on your camping holiday

[content-egg module=Amazon template=custom/slider]

Camping trips are a great holiday for many reasons. It is adventurous, gets you outdoors, it is cheaper than a hotel and fun for families with kids. All in all, camping can be a wonderful getaway! Whether you have just booked your next camping break or are still debating if this is the right holiday for you, we have put together a list of things you will need for your camping trip. This includes some basic attributes (like a place to sleep), and some things you may have not considered or are easily forgotten.

The essentials:

You will probably (hopefully) not need us to tell you the following: a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat/airbed. These items are crucial if you want to have some form of rest.

• Tent: With a tent it is always a good idea to go for a slightly more expensive one, as you certainly do not want it to come crashing down with the first gush of wind. Rain-resistance is always an important feature, unless you are camping in the Sahara.
• Sleeping bag: In terms of a sleeping bag, most sleeping bags nowadays are of good quality. There are different types, like a mummy sleeping bag if you want to feel cozy, or a squared one that you can zip together with another for any couples going camping. Sleeping bags are rated on ‘GSM’ (grams per square meter), and the rule is: the higher the number, the warmer the sleeping bag.
• Sleeping mat/airbed: There are numerous options when it comes to the base of your bed. You can use a sleeping mat, which will save you money and are comfy enough for a couple days. Plus, sleeping mats are easy to transport, as they inflate when you roll them out. Airbeds are relatively cheap and give you more comfort, which might be nice for a longer camping trip. The downside is that you will need a pump to blow it up and it has a chance of breaking and leaving you on the hard floor. If you wan to camp in style, why not splurge on a camping bed. These are a bit more pricey and hefty, but will leave you sleeping like a baby! Bonus: the risk of bugs crawling on your bed is lower and you are not sleeping on the cold ground.
• Torch: for the nightly bathroom runs. Don’t rely on your phone for this, as this might run out of battery on a camping trip!
• A pocket knife might come in handy, but make sure to keep this safely put away if you are holidaying with kids.

Aside from these three bare essentials, please ensure you have brought extra tent pegs, a mallet (to knock the pegs into the ground), duct tape and a tent carpet. Extra string can be handy too, to ensure you’re tent is standing sturdy enough to not blow away.

Cooking:

• Purchasing a small stove before your camping trip will be worth it. This means you can cook your own (simple) breakfasts and dinners, and we promise it will be of more use than you think beforehand.
• A mini-kettle is of good use for making cups of tea, coffee and you can use cooled boiled water for formula or to clean wounds. Tip: bring a hot water bottle and fill this up with hot water before you get into your sleeping bag. This will keep you warm at night, but will have cooled down by the time the sun shines on your tent in the morning.
• Anything cutlery related, like of course the basics – spoon, fork and knife (don’t forget sharp knives for cutting veggies etc.), but also items like a tin opener and corkscrew.
• Water containers are very handy, as they hardly take up any space when they are empty, but they can hold a large amount of water. This saves you from walking back and forth to the taps, and we don’t have to explain that water is essential.

Personal:

• Before you pack anything else, please make sure you have any personal medication you may need. Yes, this is part of your daily routine at home, but can be easily forgotten when packing. Ensure this is kept in a place where it is accessible may you need it, but out of the sun and warmth.
• Warm clothes are very handy for many reasons. You can use them to layer up for the really cold nights, or as an extra change of clothes when you get caught in the rain. Campsites are usually fun places to get social, so an extra jumper when you’re roasting marshmallows around a fire can turn out to be useful too.
• Toilet roll: mainly for the bathroom, but can also be used as tissues, to clean up or anything else that might need a wipe.
• First aid kit: no explanation needed. In addition, sun cream and insect repellent!