Hello!
New to the forum and have a new tent (4m canvas bell) arriving on Monday yayyy! Looking forward to trying it out in the garden but at the moment we have limited camping equipment.
We have some experience of camping in the past on a budget with cheap/second hand stuff. Also owned a campervan for a while, however most of camping gear has long since gone and all we have to start us off is a couple of camping chairs and a selection of old air beds in the loft that the kids used for sleepovers back in the day. Also a single cartridge type camp stove. Still it’s a start!
This time around, we are prepared to spend a bit of money on some good quality camping gear to make life a little more comfortable and more of a Glamping experience -just for the two of us (kids long gone!). One thing I definitely have on my list is a campa khazi toilet - looks a bit more comfortable than peeing over a bucket at night.
Don’t know where to start with the rest of the stuff. So looking for any recommendations for beds, storage, coolers, cookers, chairs, lighting, bedding, mats etc. anything you have bought and love?
What wouldn’t you be without on your camping trips? What is worth investing a bit of money in?
Welcome to UKCS. It’s a piece of string question that’s been asked many times before - you’ll find many suggestions if you do a search, and many photos of some amazing camp kitchens (for example).
First off, though, is how much room have you got to carry all the Stuff. That might limit your packing.
Then just logically go through what you do & what you use at home over a 24 hour period. Then adjust to suit (porta potti, for example) or put that item on the list (spare duvet, maybe). And decide if you’re going to use (pay for) electricity - if so, you’ll have to buy the correct safe cable. If you’re going to use EHU, that triggers other decisions about how you cook, how you light the tent at night etc.
For the glamping experience you have to place appearance and comfort above practicality.
Since you have a canvas bell tent you could limit yourself to equipment made from materials available in the 1930's, everything wool, canvas and wood.
Alternatively you could contrast your cotton canvas tent with a space age gazebo, it's your choice.
You need a big table and big comfortable chairs so that anyone walking past will think of the last supper frescoes.
Having the last supper means a wine cooler and good looking unbreakable "glasses" and you'll need all your plates and cutlery to this standard.
You'll need plenty of light for shine upon your fresco. Once you have established your stye of camping you'll know what's right for your kitchen and bedroom.
Ooh a reply - thank you! 😊I will have a look through the threads for ideas as you suggest. I think we will probably not bother with electric. Just got the air beds out of the loft and tried them which has made me realise I probably want a different sleep system so will look at camp beds and a mattress topper. Trying not to take too much stuff - just the essentials. I need, like you say, to find out what the essentials actually are for us!
If anyone has any particular brands or models of equipment that they have found to be good, would be interested to hear too.
Quote: Originally posted by Bramston on 18/3/2023
For the glamping experience you have to place appearance and comfort above practicality.
Since you have a canvas bell tent you could limit yourself to equipment made from materials available in the 1930's, everything wool, canvas and wood.
Alternatively you could contrast your cotton canvas tent with a space age gazebo, it's your choice.
You need a big table and big comfortable chairs so that anyone walking past will think of the last supper frescoes.
Having the last supper means a wine cooler and good looking unbreakable "glasses" and you'll need all your plates and cutlery to this standard.
You'll need plenty of light for shine upon your fresco. Once you have established your stye of camping you'll know what's right for your kitchen and bedroom.
Thank you - only just seen your reply. I am veering towards natural materials and tonal and away from all the black and grey camping gear. 😂 We went to the caravan and camping show last months and everything seemed to be grey. It wasn’t very inspiring.
As for a brand try alpkit they sell most things you need.
They are a British company and one with ethics, you maybe near one of the stores if not they sell online.
My recommendations are based on my own experience, and I camped all year round in tents when I was younger.
Stove:
Coleman Dual Fuel 2-burner stove as it works even at sub-zero temperatures.
I would add a single burner induction hob if I were to start all over again, like the low wattage Vango one.
Fan Heater:
No more than 2kW, ceramic if possible, variable power and heat output, thermostatically controlled, with anti-trip safety feature if possible.
Refrigeration:
The best thermo-electric coolbox that could cool 30degC below ambient. Cheaper ones will do most of the time, however, when the weather is hot above 24degC, there is a risk of the content being too warm above 8degC for them to be unsafe, especially for raw meat and poultry products. Ice blocks would be required to supplement cooling to keep the contents below 8degC (ideally 5degC).
Very good non-electric cool boxes are available, however, they are very bulky IMHO.
I am not a fan of compressor fridges as they are too heavy for me to lift. However, if weight and budget allow, they are the ones to get.
Cookware:
I cannot praise Tefal Ingenio enough ever since I saw them in Paris long before I had my van. As soon as I decided to switch to a van, I decided to have a 2-burner induction hob (I don't like to use/carry LPG) and bought myself a nice set of Tefal Ingenio pans (stainless steel sauce pans and non-stick frying pans and woks).
When I was a tenter, I had a set of MSR's Alpine Stowaway pans and they were great. Sadly, they are not induction compatible (I thought they were), hence the need to get new pans. I still have them to use at home - they are great to store surplus food in the fridge.
Camp Kitchen:
I had a Kampa Dometic Sergeant Field Kitchen for my stove, crockery and cutlery, and for storage of food such as vegetables, bread, eggs that do not require refrigeration.
Sleep System:
Camp bed + SIM.
If I were to start again, I would get the Coleman Posada camp bed or equivalent for its simple opening and closing mechanism.
If using a camp bed, the SIM does not need to be top of the range.
However, if using a SIM directly on the floor, then get the best money can buy, like the thickest Therm-a-rest for comfort.
I used a fitted flannel sheet to keep the SIM in place on the camp bed.
Bedding:
I used a combination duck down and feather double duvet, 7.5 TOG and a 4.5 TOG. I seldom needed the two together as I normally had the fan heater on throughout the night.
I have the 7.5 TOG in my van nowadays.
Pillow was two MSR duck down pillows combined, and I still use it in my van.
Just normal size bedding (pillow case and duvet cover) are required.
I don't like being strapped up in a sleeping bag and preferred the freedom of a double duvet.
Chairs:
Folding camping chairs are great as they pack down small.
I had a small stool/table from Coleman that I used as a foot rest if required. Cheaper generic versions are now widely available.
I also carried 2 aluminium bistro chairs for sitting at the tables as I found the folding camping chairs being too low.
No room to have a reclining chair when I was a tenter even though I had a trailer. However, I bought a Lafuma when I switched to a van and it is great.
Tables:
Roll top aluminium ones, and I had 3 different ones, about 70cm x 70 cm square.
Also the small stool/table that I mentioned.
If space allows, foam mats outside are great in reducing mud in the tent.
Tent carpet was a must in the living area for comfort.
If you have a dog, I would strong recommend the Delta Dog Tether.
Here is a picture of my kitchen set up:
Have fun spec'ing your gears - it took me 6-7 years with many camping gear changes to reach my tent set up nirvana, including a roof box then a trailer, 3 different types of stoves, and 5 tents!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Thank you so much for the reply and photo dk168, great idea about the folding stool for a footstool - I will need one of these. Off to look on eBay.
Just-us: thank you for the tip about Alpkit. Hadn’t heard of them but will take a look.
I picked up a second hand double burner and gas bottle yesterday. It will do for now. They were also selling a camp kitchen which I wasn’t really after but managed to get for a tenner so I will upcycle it to make it a bit more attractive and functional and will perhaps use it on longer trips. I have ordered the toilet, kettle and 2x plates, mugs and bowls so getting there!
For beds, I am using the airbed we have for now and will get either a sim or mattress topper for it as cannot sleep on it as it is! I think we will switch to a camp bed in the future - not keen on air beds really though might consider double height. We will take proper bedding as hubby won’t use a sleeping bag.
I am also looking for a good small cool box - not electric though. Only really want to put a bit of milk and butter in it. Haven’t been able to see one that is half the size.
Not sure if the OP is planning on camping during the colder months, however, if you are, then please bear in mind Butane does not burn well at sub-zero temperatures.
I found that out the hard way!
Hence I switched to the Coleman Dual Fuel 2-burner stove.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Coggles on 20/3/2023
I am also looking for a good small cool box - not electric though. Only really want to put a bit of milk and butter in it. Haven’t been able to see one that is half the size.
If you want "glamping" - I would seriously consider EHU. Personally, (if I'm on ehu) I find an electric hob much more convenient than a gas stove. Means I can cook inside (in the dry) on the camp kitchen (with pots, pans, plates stored underneath) at a convenient height.
Being on ehu means you can have a mains powered camping fridge - makes a big difference if you don't plan on eating out lots. The fridge (and occasionally heating in the late evening/early morning) is the main reason I tend to pick ehu. You can get 3 way fridges which run off gas (mine is a 3 way) but then you have to keep it outside the tent.
If you have the space - inflatable chairs are better than expected and make a change from camp chairs (but don't replace camp chairs)
According to their website Aldi have camping gear "coming soon" 26th Mar. Could be nothing relevant to you but worth keeping an eye on their site.
Thank you for all your suggestions - 6l cool box is perfect!
Not planning on camping in winter - hubby is not that hardy! But I think he can manage spring and autumn. We quite like being off grid actually. Have never actually camped with electric but this seems more usual now. When we had the campervan we found everything worked better on gas. Good point about the butane, was aware from campervan days.
If you are going non-electric, get a top quality ‘passive’ cooler: Coleman Xtreme, Icey Tek , Yeti etc. Expensive but I love my Icey Tek.
Sleeping: so individual. Lots of people like the Decathlon inflatable camp bed bases with a SIM on top. I like just a SIM.
IKEA have lovely cotton rugs at v reasonable prices, look at the Tiphede , Starreklint and Venstred models.
Without EHU might you cook over a campfire? I like a Dutch Pot , you can roast or casserole a chicken, bake etc. And a really good BBQ. I love my Weber Go Anywhere.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Recommend me some camping gear please!
via mobile 18/3/2023 at 9:09am
