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Contents
Introduction
No one can forget the excitement of their first camping holiday. The passing of years tends to add a romantic slant to the whole experience, with campfires, toasted marshmallows and nature walks helping to erase memories of soggy sleeping bags, torrential rain and numb toes. Theres no denying the thrill of a camping trip from the planning and packing, to choosing a pitch, setting up camp and cooking food over an open fire.
Camping provides a rare chance to connect with your inner child, reigniting the adventurous spirit that has been worn down by the daily grind. And kids thrive on the freedom and adventure of a holiday where the regular routine is tossed aside and no one nags them about personal hygiene. Its also a great opportunity to give them some responsibility, which will be richly rewarded by the freedom theyll enjoy.
If youre going to fully embrace the camping experience, its best to leave the modern world at home as far as possible. Its difficult to bond with nature if youre trying to get a Wi-Fi connection to pick up work emails, or you cut short the campfire banter to go inside and watch telly. Camping is all about removing yourself from the frenetic pace of everyday life and taking a step back to basics. Its about having a conversation over dinner, rather than sitting in silence on the sofa; its about teaching your kids that nature can compete with smartphones and tablets on the entertainment front. And of course, it wouldnt be a true camping experience without spending at least one entire day inside watching the rain pour down.
WHAT TO PACK
When you pack for a camping trip every scrap of space is at a premium, which is why you need to be methodical perhaps verging on the obsessive about making lists and getting organized well in advance of departure day. Unless you have all your camping kit and supplies constantly packed up and ready to go at a moments notice, youll need to begin preparations a week or so beforehand. The last thing you want to do on holiday is spend hours trekking around out-of-town shopping centres searching for vital bits of equipment that you forgot to pack.
The exact contents of your car will be dictated by the type of camping camp you fall into: purists will take the bare minimum and will be happy to survive on canned food and one change of clothes; glampers will need a few more luxury items in order to enjoy the experience; and those travelling with kids will be lucky to get away with an inch of free space remaining in the car or van.
TENT
If youre camping under canvas, your tent and sleeping kit are obviously the big priorities and will also take up the most amount of space. As a rough rule of thumb, the bigger the tent the more likelihood there is of everyone still being on talking terms by the end of the holiday. If you can afford to, buy a tent with separate sleeping and living areas and enough space to stand up straight and move around it might not seem such a big deal during a heat wave but youll appreciate the extra space when that freak thunderstorm unleashes itself over the site.
BEDDING
If you love the idea of camping but also love the idea of getting some sleep while youre on holiday, its definitely worth considering inflatable mattresses or air beds. Sleeping mats have their place but its usually on survival expeditions. Theres no shame in packing a few home comforts and your joints will thank you for it in the morning. If you have space, bring duvets and pillows as well: it gets cold in a tent at night. If you think about it logically, the only thing separating you from the elements is a sliver of man-made fibre why on earth wouldnt you bring a few extra sleeping layers? Youll have the last laugh when the temperature plummets and youre snuggled up in your 15-tog double duck-down duvet.
LIVING & SLEEPING CHECKLIST
Tent, tent pegs and mallet
Groundsheets
Sleeping bags
Duvets and pillows
Air bed and pump or sleeping mats
Fold-up table and chairs
Rugs and blankets (for chilly evenings)
Towels
Wet weather gear
Spare socks
Flip flops (for shower and toilet trips)
Wellies and hiking boots
FIRST AID
You can pretty much guarantee that someone will get a cut, bite, headache or stubbed toe within minutes of your arrival so a well-stocked first aid kit is essential. If youve used it before, always check it before you pack and top up anything that has run low. Keep the kit somewhere easy to access and make sure everyone knows where it is so theres no fumbling around for sting relief in the middle of the night.
KEEPING CLEAN
The campers code accepts that grooming standards can be lowered queuing for a shower that wouldnt be out of place in a penal colony is a sure-fire way for personal hygiene to take a nose dive. Its a bit like eating garlic: if everyone becomes a soap dodger, no one will notice the smell. But, there should be a token nod towards grooming and you should at least pack towels, shower gel, shampoo and toothpaste. And it goes without saying that you can never have enough toilet paper.
FIRST AID & TOILETRIES CHECKLIST
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Razor and shaving cream
Shower gel
Shampoo
Deodorant
Toilet paper
Hairbrush and hairbands
Nail scissors and tweezers
Sun cream
Insect repellent
Antihistamine
Thermometer
Antiseptic cream
Plasters and bandages
Painkillers
Prescription medication
OTHER USEFUL EQUIPMENT
Camera
Mobile phone charger
Clock radio
Travel clothesline and pegs
Multi-tool and penknife
Torch
Maps and compass
Sewing kit
String
Travel wash
Umbrella
Duct tape
Wet wipes
Ear plugs (for next-door snorers!)
Coins (for showers or lockers)
Toys and games
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