Camping essentials?

we are going camping in the summer for the first time although i always went as a child
this is what we have got so far

tent
airbeds
pump for airbeds
stove
gas canisters for stove
camping kitchen
lamp
simple portable toilet (i can't face getting up to go to the loo in the night with the boys 0
a cold box
a folding table
a camping saucepan set

still to get
a kettle
cutlery
a mallet
I want a wardrobe- but i need to measure the car first



I think this is all going to fit in my car (a fiat multipla) but i will be able to take 1 back seat out to give us extra room

I would add chairs, plates, cutlery and cups, cooking utensils and a washing line. We also have a mini spice/herb/condiment set because I love cooking proper food on a campsite. I would also replace the air beds with good quality self inflating mats (much easier to set up/put away, more comfortable and more compact for travelling/storage). I've never bothered with a toilet but we have 8 people so there would be a long queue for it.

Baby wipes!
and I always take a dustpan and brush to clean out the tent before packing up so it doesn't have to be unfolded and cleaned out once home
a small towel for by the door and one of those bendy trug things, use it to transport stuff in but once there use it for wet boots/jackets/clothes etc

Bug repellent and a really good sense of humour were my first thoughts

last time we went camping was near where I was brought up so I knew the area and sent DH and friends out for a take away we also made sure we were near the sand dunes and lit a wee fire in out bbq to sit round.
Wine that is another essential

we are going camping in the summer for the first time although i always went as a child
this is what we have got so far

tent
airbeds
pump for airbeds
stove
gas canisters for stove
camping kitchen
lamp
simple portable toilet (i can't face getting up to go to the loo in the night with the boys 0
a cold box
a folding table
a camping saucepan set

still to get
a kettle
cutlery
a mallet
I want a wardrobe- but i need to measure the car first



I think this is all going to fit in my car (a fiat multipla) but i will be able to take 1 back seat out to give us extra room

I would add chairs, plates, cutlery and cups, cooking utensils and a washing line. We also have a mini spice/herb/condiment set because I love cooking proper food on a campsite. I would also replace the air beds with good quality self inflating mats (much easier to set up/put away, more comfortable and more compact for travelling/storage). I've never bothered with a toilet but we have 8 people so there would be a long queue for it.

ahh yes- my mum is in charge of plates and cups etc- she wants some emma bridgewater ones i am all for paper ones and save on the washing up
a washing line sounds a good idea and the table does have 4 chairs attached but we need at least one more as there will be 5 of us we will be taking v little in the way of clothing thankgoodness sam is out of nappies- or we would have had to buy a trailer or leave someone behind

Tin opener
Corkscrew
Wind up torches/lanterns.

We have a good, sturdy tripod stove that comes with pans (wok, grill, griddle, think it can be used as an oven even, but not tried that), which all packs down together in it's own bag. I'd have to dig it out to get the name though. It doesn't take little gas canisters, tbh, if you're cooking decent meals then they'd probably not get you far. We have a smallish gas bottle (must refill it this year!), lasts us at least 2yrs camping trips, if not 3 or more.

We take a collapsible clothes horse thingy too, invaluable for damp towels after days on the beach and showers.

We had a tri fold aired which folded really flat and it was great for drying towels etc

I wouldn't go without a toilet of some kind personally. we just have a 'posh bucket' type but they take up quite a bit of room in the car.

A small table for your evening wine outside

those candles that repel midges, not sure if they really work but they make me feel better!

Zach was 3 when we went first time and hated his sleeping bag we had to go out and buy him a quilt but he slept very well with that.

Picnic blankets are good for making a 'carpet' for a bit of added warmth on feet.

A lantern torch thing that you can use like a lamp or head torches - just so you have hands free in the dark.

Oh, we found those fold up plastic water bottles next to useless and it was much better buying a very large bottle of water from the supermarket (the ones with a handle to help pour) and refilling that.

Take a washing basin with you! Although most sites will have sinks for washing your dishes many don't have plugs. It's also very handy for carrying the dirty dishes over to get washed too.

My boys lived in wellies when we went camping last week, no croc's here!!