So you’ve bought your tent or you know which tent to buy and you’ve decided to look at what sort of camping supplies there are that could make your trip even better and perhaps easier! Here are some of the things you might want to check out.
Sleeping Accessories
Want will you sleep on? There are air beds, camp beds or camping mats. Air beds are fine but take a while to inflate and you really need to inflate them every night. Also I find that the air inside is cold and so I need to put a blanket on them first before my sleeping bag. Camp beds are off the ground so tend to be warmer although I put a blanket over them and droop it over the sides to stop cold air flowing underneath (as you might have guessed I get cold at night easily!). Camping mats are OK if you want a quick and easy set up and can be quite comfortable too. Don’t forget your sleeping bag or duvet if you prefer.
Backpacks
If you go camping you will obviously be doing a fair amount of walking. Having a backpack to put things in is a definite must. There are plenty of type around but I prefer the internal frame backpacks as they are better for your posture and don’t strain your shoulders.
Camping Furniture
Depending on the size of your tent you may want some furniture inside or at least have some things available to put outside when you are eating. Tables and chairs are designed to be stored away easily and folded up. I love the tables that have a roll up surface although they can be quite pricey.
Cooking Equipment
You will need something to cook on so a gas stove or burner will be fine. Remember to take plenty of gas refills if you use the small ones as they will be cheaper at a supermarket rather than the campsite. If you like to eat out whatever the weather then you might want to consider a small BBQ. I would recommend having some form of table to put your cooking equipment to keep it safe. Most campground won’t let you put anything hot on the grass as it kills it. You’ll also need pots and pans and a kettle – can’t go without a cup of tea or coffee! Plus some cutlery, cooking utensils and plates to eat from.
If you want to have access to electricity then you will need an electric hookup cable. Don’t skimp on thi – make sure you buy a proper high quality cable with safety features such as an RCD and a water tight box. It’s not worth the risk getting a second hand one.
You might want to get a cooler or mini fridge to keep small amounts of perishable food in to make life easier. Before getting a camping fridge I would put milk in a thermos flask and store it in the shade and it would last 2 days maximum before going off.
Lighting
Make sure you have lanterns or torches for going to the toilet block after dark and some form of lighting for inside the tent.
Other Camping Supplies
Other things you might want to look into are items if you have a baby or toddler camping with you – travel cot and baby carrier. There is also dog camping gear to remember if you take a dog with you – a travel bed, leash on a stake, backpack, lots of poop bags, tweezers for removing ticks etc.
We started off with a cool box but it wasn’t long before we bought a camping fridge and paid for electric hook up. This year we decided to upgrade our fridge to a bigger one and it was much easier to plan ahead for meals. Here we look at a few of the most popular fridges for campers.
I have slept on most types of camping beds and so know which ones were comfortable and provide good insulation. This is what I think of various camp beds and some tips on how to make them more comfortable. Plus what is the best selling one on amazon.
When going camping you must have something to sleep in and sleeping bags are the easiest thing to use. They are lightweight and can be packed away quickly and into a small bag so don’t take up much room in the car or rucksack. Here we look at the different types of camping sleeping bags and the pros and cons.
If you take your dog camping with you then you might want to look at these dog backpacks and get your dog to carry stuff for you.
Here are some great backpacks that have an internal lightweight frame so are easy to carry and still durable.
Taking a young baby or child camping or walking is much easier with these child carriers. Here are some of the most popular ones.
