BuyingTheNecessaryEquipment

There is a printable check list on another page which lists the essentials, however, on this page I’ll list a few extras that may enlighten the whole camping experience. Also, I’ll give details of why I think the more mundane things should be brought along.

Buying the necessary equipment

Without any forward planning or indeed knowledge of camping, it is very difficult to foresee what equipment may be necessary for you to enjoy a hassle free break… That’s where this ickle page comes in handy...

HOW DIFFICULT CAN IT BE?

Buying everything you need is a doddle right? You gotta get a tent, some sleeping bags and a stove, yeah…? Oh, and a tin opener!

Not quite…

This site is designed for small families taking up camping, and I promise you, even if you have all sorts of entertainment lined up for the day, if you haven’t got the right gear, you’ll resent going back to the tent, and probably sell the thing as soon as you get back home. You see, people who enjoy camping like to spend time together inside and outside their tents—it isn’t just cheap accommodation, it’s everything! Therefore, for you to enjoy camping, it needs to be your little home from home, with all it’s necessary mod coms [?] - albeit in a

compact, basic form!

My son Keaton, then aged 3, trying out one of our sleeping bags.

THAT’S JUST SOOooo MUNDANE..!

Ok, lets check the list, A Ground Sheet? But my tent already has one! Yes, but as the condensation builds up, mud and grass stick to the underneath, when you get home you’ll have to unpack the whole tent, just to give it a hose down! If you put down a separate ground sheet first, this is all you’ll have to clean—it’s a lot easier to hang a separate sheet on a washing line than an entire tent!

Bedding, but I have a sleeping bag—and it’s nice and, er, squidgy!

How nice, but have you ever tried to sleep on hard ground? Remember, a sleeping back doesn’t remain soft once it has a person lying inside it. Most sites do not have bowling green type pitches!

I’ve spent £30 on a stove, and now you want me to buy a proper stove stand? Why?

Because I wrecked my perfectly good plastic patio table when trying my stove out for the first time; I also left a nice black rectangle in my lawn where the grass used to be. The underneath of these things get hot. Damn hot! Oh, and another thing to remember when buying your stove, make sure you buy some gas hose [a bit of your garden hose is not sufficient] and a connector for your gas bottle [there are a few designs out there, make sure you get the right one] as these two items do not come with a new stove.

My stove sits on this stand that includes a tabletop and handy shelf type things..etc

You mention pots and pans and crockery and cutlery and stuff, do I have to buy these, or can I use the stuff from home?

Of course you can use items from your home, however most of us will have a set especially for camping [Thing-Me-Bobs and Woolworths are good places to find inexpensive pots and pans and plastic plates].

What exactly are essential food items, can I not just bring the contents of my fridge?

If you like, personally, I now only pack a few items, teabags, small carton of milk and maybe a bread roll or two. The reason I suggest to only bring the essentials is the lack of space in my boot, taken up by the tent and the other items on the list-my partner and me once packed a big box of food, and found you can’t fit it all into an Escort!!

I suggest, buy the essentials, get to the site, empty the car, have a cuppa after building the tent, then go and find the nearest Tesco.

MUNDANE IN DETAIL

Let me quickly explain a few more points that you may not be aware of.

The Repair Kit: almost all tent manufacturers include a spare pole or two, spare guy ropes, and maybe a patch repair kit [they don’t often give you any adhesive to attach it though]. Always remember to bring this little kit along with you [you just never know]. One addition that I’d advise is a can of waterproofing spray [expect to pay around £5]. Adhesive and waterproofing spray should be available from your local tent supplier.

Tent Pegs: your tent will almost definatly come with tent pegs, they’ll most likely be bent metal pins, which do a very good job at holding a tent in place in firm, well packed soil. However, I strongly recommend purchasing heavy duty pegs—these are normally made from ABS plastic and are longer in length, broader, and the best ones tend to have ridges up their length. These pegs really do stay put and are handy for renowned windy areas or where the ground is either less firm or sandy. You really only require enough for each of your guy ropes as it’s these that hold your tent down.

A mallet and pegs, yesterday.

Cool box: please remember to freeze the blocks before you go away, and remember to retrieve them from your freezer on the day of departure! [Yeah, I know it sounds obvious, but it’s sods law-if forgetfulness can happen, it bloody well will happen!]