HOWTO: Go Camping (according to my Twitter network)
The more time I spend in front of a computer the more I feel the need to temper it with being outside. We bought two tents last weekend – a family-sized one and another for Ben (my 3 year-old son) and I to go away together. It’s something I really want to do regularly so it’s second nature to him.
Tonight we’re going camping as a family for the first time so, naturally, I asked my Twitter network what kinds of things I needed to make sure I brought along. I received a fair few replies, all within the space of 20 minutes! Here’s some of the responses, broken down into categories:
Health & hygiene
- Baby wipes / handwash (@daviderogers, @beckacurrant, @ambrouk & @Joga5)
- Toilet roll (@daviderogers & @_MisterG)
- Mosquito repellent (@mbarrow)
- Microfibre dishcloths (@jobadge)
- Bathroom plug (@Joga5)
- Candles – bug/nice (@daviderogers)
- Bucket (@MrsThorne, @jobadge)
- Sun cream (@mbarrow)
Sleeping & relaxing
- Decent mattress (@chris_1974)
- Inflatable bed (@Ideas_Factory)
- Thermarest mats (@ForesterJo)
- Hot water bottle (@jobadge, @cathellis13)
- Lots of tent pegs (@_MisterG, @billgibbon)
- Folding camp beds (@mberry)
- Folding camp chairs with beverage holder (@daviderogers)
- Games (@daviderogers)
- Waterproof, rip-proof ground cloth (@onlineteacher)
- Picnic blankets (@daviderogers)
- Pillows (@ianaddison)
- Cool Camping: Kids book (@ejasprey)
Eating & drinking
- Hip flask (@daviderogers)
- Thermal mug (@chris_1974)
- Jetboil (portable stove) (@svanstraten)
- Gas mini grill & full gas canister (@Mark_C)
- Integrated cutlery (@ForesterJo)
- Matches, and spare matches in another location in case they get wet (@mwclarkson)
- Wine/beer (@mbarrow)
- Whisky for coffee nightcap (@ambrouk)
- Toast gadget (@ForesterJo)
- Corkscrew (@Sarah111well)
- Stove for coffee (@daviderogers)
- Disposable BBQ (@mbarrow)
- Tin foil for BBQs, etc. (@daviderogers)
Clothing & footwear
- Wellies (@misetak, @shirlpj)
- Flip flops (@stujohnson & @mbarrow)
- Waterproofs (@Mark_C)
- Warm clothes, even in summer (@daviderogers)
- Umbrella (@stujohnson)
Storage & carrying
- Picnic rucksack with plates, etc. (@daviderogers)
- Shoulder bag (@jobadge)
- String (@Sarah111well)
- Rhino tubs (@stujohnson)
- Collapsible water carrier (@mwclarkson)
- Old carrier bags (@jobadge, @mikemcsharry)
- Washing-up bowl (@ambrouk)
Technology & gadgetry
- Torches – or torch app on iPhone (@daviderogers & @beckacurrant)
- Wind-up lamp (@chris_1974)
- Spare batteries (@sarahgb)
- Shovel (@Joga5)
- Headtorch (@ForesterJo)
- Swiss army knife (@Sarah111well)
- Pocket-sized lastolite (@mikemcsharry)
- Lantern (@daviderogers)
- LED light to clip in tent (@svanstraten)
- Cigarette lighter to plug socket adapter (@paddymcgrath)
- Fire steel (@_MisterG)
- Power sockets for electric hook-ups (@Mark_C)
- Lighter (@mwclarkson)
- Tin opener (@_MisterG, @Sarah111well)
- Star map (@daviderogers)
Misc. hints & tips
- Have all camping gear put away in storage boxes for ease of loading. Helps with last-minute/seize-the-day decisions! (@ForesterJo)
- Save any checklist you make and add to it after every trip (@ottonomy)
- Runswick Bay camp site (North Yorkshire Moors) is lovely (@dughall)
- Spiers House in Cropton near Pickering middle forest has activities (@ForesterJo)
- Take wine glasses – it’s not the same out of a mug! (@alisonlones)
- Take cans of beer instead of bottles (@mikemcsharry)
- Use a hammer and 6-inch nails instead of tent pegs for hard ground (@gillferrell)
- Take half the clothes you think you need for yourself, but double the amount you think you need for your children (@Joga5)
- A large fabric softener bottle is the ultimate midnight pee solution as it’s apparently unisex! (@simfin)
- Take more socks than you think you’ll ever need (@billgibbon)
Is there anything you’d add to the list? What advice would you give newbie campers? 🙂
Image CC BY-NC simpologist