Hi. We are new to camping and have managed to borrow our sons 8 man tent. What is the minimum of equipment we would need? We already have sleeping bag,table and chair. It's my wife's first time and she's a bit reluctant to try a few nights but she's willing to give it a go. So I don't wanna buy much equipment in case it's only for a couple of nights.
You don't need to take much
Sleeping bag
Airbed/sim/camp bed
Chairs table
Something to cook with
Everything is stuff that's nice to take, I'd make sure you pack wet weather gear because you can never trust the British summer
If you have a pitch with electric hook up then a fan heater can be a God send on a cold night
Make sure you've got enough sleeping bags/bedding to be warm and comfortable at night. Waking up cold and with back/hip ache has put more people off camping than anything else I reckon.
If you have sleeping bag (double?), table and chair, you might like to think about a second chair (), a bed of some sort (inflatable or self-inflating mat), some extra blankets (it can get cold overnight), a hot water bottle, stove of some sort (unless you'll be eating out all the time?) - a decent make suitcase stove is cheap enough and is fine (like this one) and a couple of gas cannisters to suit.
If taking a stove you'll need a a couple of pans (take from home, with a kettle if you have one that can go on a hob) and some utensils, plates and bowls and cups (again, take some old ones you already have if you don't want to splash out yet on melamine ones especially for camping). Don't forget cutlery, a washing up bowl, cloth / washing up brush, tea towels and some washing up liquid!
It's a good idea to take some basic food stuff with you. You won't need to get a coolbox/fridge yet but of those insulated bags from the supermarket will help provide somewhere for you to store any food. If you freeze a bottle of water (or milk, which you can use as it defrosts) and put it in the bag with the food, it'll help keep things cool for a day or two.
A 5 litre bottle of water (about £1 from every supermarket) will get you started and you can refill it, to store some water instead of traipsing to the tap every time you need some.
You'll need a lantern of some sort and a torch is a good idea too.
Don't forget towels and washing stuff and a loo roll (just in case there isn't one!).
Hi. Whatever you take, you will almost certainly forget something and you will definitely come back from camp thinking, "Next time we need X, Y and Z!"
But the main things are to be warm and to be dry. A cold night = a sleepless night = a miserable camp. Over my airbeds I put fleece fitted sheets (from Dunelm) as otherwise you are lying on a mass of cold air. As well as a good sleeping bag the microfiber blankets can be useful - light but warm.
Much of your equipment can just be utilised from what you have at home - very often, anything labelled "camping pans" or "camping utensils" etc., are simply more expensive and of poorer quality.
To get my children into camping I bought a simple 3-man tent and we slept in the garden. At first my eldest was apprehensive but, as soon as he was snuggled in his sleeping bag, he looked at me and said, "This is great!"
Electric blanket so your warm n comfortable in the night, mini oven to wake her up with warm croissants n a kettle for the coffee - don't forget the tray plates n cups to take it thru to the bedroom for her and paper towels / napkins...
A cool box with ice blocks to keep some chilled sparkling wine in to treat her to with her favorite chocolates and she ll want to go camping every weekend with you after that.
Don't forget your washing up bowl, liquid n tea towels so u do the washing up while wife relaxes with wine chocolates and her favorite books n magazines
Don't forget the hi - raise recliner for wife to chillax on either as you go get her fab lunch
Your all set!
Looking forward to see the pics ....
------------- Facebook:- Tent Camping group
Living the Dutch Dream - Karsten 300 pod + extns in Sea Green and Pure Cotton
Take lots of blankets (fleece ones are best, and pretty cheap in Ikea or Dunelm) or a duvet. Old newspapers or flattened corrugated cardboard boxes under your airbed or sim will reduce heat loss through the ground. Nothing will put a person off camping quicker than lying in bed unable to sleep because they're so damn cold. Also take warm pyjamas and hot water bottles are good to warm the bed before you get into it.
I wouldn't be without my headlamp torch. You will invariably need to do something that requires both hands after dark, and that is damn frustrating. They're also great for reading in bed. Don't pay shedloads for one though - mine was £4.99 in a builders' merchants and it works just fine.
If either of you are desperate for a cuppa on waking up, a thermos of boiling water prepared the night before will considerably reduce waiting time first thing in the morning!
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: New to camping
), a bed of some sort (inflatable or self-inflating mat), some extra blankets (it can get cold overnight), a hot water bottle, stove of some sort (unless you'll be eating out all the time?) - a decent make suitcase stove is cheap enough and is fine (
