First Time Campers - What are the essentials needed?

socks_uk

I've done a very quick search so if anyone can point me to an existing thread I'll be grateful!

Anyway, I have just ordered a Decathlon Quechua pop-up tent for my husband's birthday at the end of September. We already havean Aerobed double mattress that inflates from a car cigarette lighter (the only way you'd ever get me in a tent rather than a £19 Travelodge!) but I am wondering what you all think are the utmost essentials needed when camping.
It'll be just me and my husband at first; no children, but maybe next year we might see who else fancies a weekend away. I don't think we (ME!) will ever go camping for a week! I did think about booking onto the campsite about a mile away from home just for a night and then 'wing it'!

How important is it to get sleeping bags? or would the spare (cheap) duvet we have stored in the divan drawers be ok? I plan to visit a couple of car boot sales to find camping stuff but need to know what we REALLY need.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

fitzmum

Hello we've just recently become campers.

Some essentials that we couldnt do without are

Cooking stuff - do you want to use gas or electric - if electric then you'll need a hook up preferable with a trip switch.

We have a gas portable stove & an electric single hotplate

Yes, we use duvets over our air bed (13.5 tog) but you'll need to insulate under the sir bed with foam mats as the air beds tend to draw your body warmth away into the ground. I also bought fleece mattress toppers form Dunelm to go under the sheet. Don't underestimate how cold it can get at night - your bed needs to be really cosy and you may need PJ's, thermals, socks etc. Extra fleeces for teh beds

Al lot depends on how comfortable you want to make it - you can get away with the absolute minimum but we have the following to make things a little more home from home....

Chairs
A table of some sort for cooking & eating
Plates / cutlery / cups / saucepans / tin opener / bottle opener (get a large storage box & keep matches etc in this along with all your bits & pieces)
Washing up bowl / liquid / cloths & tea towels
We have an electric hookup so bought the £5 electric kettle & toaster.
Some form of lighting - either a torch or EHU lights
A bucket for use for a fire bucket when cooking & BBQing (and for weeing in at 4am!!)
Coolbox with ice packs (or you can buy electric coolers but they are quite expensive)

Theres probably a lot more but I can think of it all at the moment!

wallbash

Torch is essential but a 'tilley' light is a nice idea if you have room and are not restricted by weight.Camping is fun if you are dry /warm .

So pack extra socks. And yes sleeping bags are a must. Get a double one ,
You need more insulation below you than above.

I would never go camping without the 'good beer guide'

socks_uk

Thanks for that... hmmm... I did buy the the little hammer with the tent peg remover on the end! And we already have fold-up chairs and little fold-up table.

To be honest, it is my husband that always wanted to go camping so I'm hoping he will contribute to the essentials we need but as he doesn't know I've got him a £50 (reduced from £70) tent he can't yet!

I'll keep checking the sales that are on!

socks_uk

Electric hook up to be able to use the kettle seems a good idea (to a girl that is used to hotel rooms!)... and our microwave is pretty small!!!! lol

I'm actually surprised there isn't already a list on MSE somewhere - or maybe my search never found it!

Thanks for the replies so far!

fitzmum

try the ukcampsite.co.uk website - there's loads & loads of advice there xx

Winky,_The_House_Elf

Watch the video on the Quechua site on how to put the tent away! Try it a few times as there is a bit of a knack, and the last thing you want when your are packing up is to be so fustrated, you seriously consider throwing the damn thing away!...Don't ask me how I know... Once you can do it it's a doddle though.

This is my essentials list which I when I started, I listed everything I took, then crossed off what I didn't use for next time. (All probally mentioned by now)

• Sharp knife

• Tin opener

• Plates, cups & cutlery

• Matches

• Torch

• Mallet

• Stove, pots & pans
• Water carrier - Any large bottle will do to start off with.

• Air Mattress-Put a couple of layers under you, on top as they get cold. We put an old duvet under, and secure with a fitted sheet. We just sleep under our normal duvet, and its really snug!

• Washing up bowl- Easy to carry dirty dishes to wash in, and bring back

• Washing up liquid & cloth

• tea towel

• Plastic bags- Variety of uses from rubbish to keeping wet clothes seperate!

• Towel

• Wash Bag

• Clothes- Take layers, you can put more on if you are chilly and it keeps you better insullated

• Chopping board- More handy than you think!

• Cool Box – Don't forget to freeze the blocks before hand

Oh and and I have a plastic storage box in which I fill at the last minute chucking bits from the kitchen to save me the bother & expense of getting once I am there- Stuff like salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, sugar, tea bags, coffee - I soon learnt it could be an expensive trip if I have to buy these everytime.

These are non-essentials we take with us

• Lantern
• Chairs
• Table
• BBQ, charcoal, lighters
• Picnic Blanket
• Wind break- Gives us some privacy
• Gas fire (small portable one- only for use in our 6 man tent, not safe in the pop-up)
• Oil filled radiator (Only in Winter)
• Electric hook-up -Depending on site and season
• Cafetier
• Kettle

Phew off for a cuppa!:p

Hope that helps!

Winky x

socks_uk

Gosh, I think you deserve a cuppa after all that! thank you!

Seems like this camping lark is not going to be very MSE... at first anyway! That's why I needed to find out the things we really NEED! I can't wait to see his face on his birthday... maybe I should get up a minute before him and 'pop-up' the tent in the living room! lol

Bongedone

Beer and wine. Also wine bottle opener.

Electric hookup is not really needed. I bought one a year ago and still have not used it.

socks_uk

hmmm... good beer guide, beer & wine? I think we'd better camp out in our back garden! No need to drive home the next day!

Bongedone

Oh and a pack of cards or some games.