Camping advice please

[Patchninja]

We are NEW campers! We're having our first attempt at Vinstock.
We have :
small tent, matress, single gas burner, chairs and table repair kit for mattress hahaha.

Can you seasoned campers give me any tips of essentials, please?I know this maiden voyage into this supposedly fun activity is pretty safe : 1. it's chez Bob, 2. it's only 2 hours from home!!! But, we hope to have quite a few forays into the countryside and don't want to come a cropper.

[Two_Sheds]

Prepare for the worst weather: bring lots of wine, iPod, books etc in case you're stuck in your tent, as well as the usual

[Glutton4...]

Wet wipes!

Matches, spare socks and undies and extra towels.
Roll of bin bags in case it's wet.
Emergency food and drink, ready made or bought.
Torch and spare batteries.
Camera.

You'll love it!

[Headfry]

Matches can and do get damp over night! no morning cuppa for us! I found that out first camping trip! we store them in the car overnight.

Huge dust bin bags for tent if wet when taking it down!
Kitchen roll
Mallet and something to remove tent pegs when taking down tent! hoof pick type thingy!
Washing up bowl + liquid (bio if poss) tea towels - pegs to hang up damp things- string for washing line for said damp tea towels etc

Will have a look at my camping list later in the day, see if anything jumps out!

Lucky lucky you....I LOVE camping!

[chris]

I had a storm lighter (or something like that) and a zippo for when I've camped in the past. The zippo was useless in windy conditions, despite being the highest wind resistant one. The storm one, was like a jet flame, amazing!

pyrochris.

I'd take a bit pot too mind, as bob just has got some geese

[Florence Fennel]

Pot Chris?

[rustylady]

I'd take a bit pot too mind, as bob just has got some geese

??? Am I missing something here???

[scarey55]

Don't worry Patchninja, we're camping too and I usually bring way too much so, if there's anything you haven't got - we'll probably have at least 3 spares

[jackie j]

When we have been camping OH takes just about everything, ended up with a bigger tent so had to get a trailer, not happy with not getting everything in he bought extension bars lol. I do like my home comforts so we bought some really comfy chairs, moonchairs, big but fold in half x that by 3, picnic table, two ring cooker plus single one, obviously bedding, clothes and toiletries. So to put all this tidy in the tent he then went and bought camping cupboards, they fold flat for packing away, insists on taking every size pan, dishes cutlery. For cooking in he bought a large gazeebo, add to this windbreaks to go round tent for privacy, toys etc for kids and us lol. Then add food that he insists on taking including too many bottles of coke cos of course there are no shops around. Glad to say we wont be camping anywhere ever again.

[Dane End Dolly]

My list is
wind break
corkscrew
tin opener
sharp knife and chopping board
camping kettle
bottled water or something to store water
picnic mat (i have one with a waterproof base) and fold up chairs
torch & spare batteries and a wind up torch
camping lantern (so i can read my books at night)
warm clothes and something warm to wear at night, it can get cold in your sleeping bag if you do not have a super thermal one.

most importantly, take your sense of humour with your as there is always something that can go wrong

[Patchninja]

Thank you all. I feel more in control already! And we won't be alone...........

[TonyF]

We are NEW campers! We're having our first attempt at Vinstock.
We have :
small tent, matress, single gas burner, chairs and table repair kit for mattress hahaha.

Can you seasoned campers give me any tips of essentials, please?I know this maiden voyage into this supposedly fun activity is pretty safe : 1. it's chez Bob, 2. it's only 2 hours from home!!! But, we hope to have quite a few forays into the countryside and don't want to come a cropper.

If all else fails there are 3 beds available in the gite!!!

[Comfreyfan]

Looks like most things are covered, in addition the only thing I would never go without is a large fishing style umbrella, so you can use the cooker whatever the weather! Fishing umbrellas are good, they work like large pub table parasols, you can change the height and the angle and also tie them down if it gets windy.

Other than that I'd totally agree with Dane End Dolly - don't forget your sense of humour!

Have fun all of you, I'm so jealous!

[Sanjo]

QUOTE "Warm clothes and something warm to wear at night, it can get cold in your sleeping bag if you do not have a super thermal one."

Couldn't agree more. We are currently in our trailer tent Camping in a field in Norfolk and last night was so cold I had to put on TWO pairs of socks and we added a blanket to our sleeping bags and were still cold.

[Nicos]

Yup- I'd go with the extra nightwear too.
It's worth bringing an extra blanket or two to go on top of the blow up bed as the air cools down underneath you...then makes you cold from below!

Also...being a girlie n all and not liking wandering about in the dark with a torch just for the want of a wee- I used to take an old tupperware to pee into during the night ( but shush...that's one of my many little secrets!!! )