What to Take Camping

If you grew up camping, you’re lucky! My parents weren’t into it, and I didn’t discover it till my 40s. And the first time I went, I had no idea what to take camping.

I like to keep my camping simple: that way there’s less time spent packing, and more time spent actually camping.

Here’s my basic list of what to take camping:

• Tent. Or you could sleep in your vehicle, if it’s suitable. I have a stationwagon, and a foam mattress fits in the back when the seats are folded down.
• Sleeping bag or duvet. Hint: If you’re going to a music festival, take something that’s easy to wash afterwards, as there’s a high chance you’ll end up with muddy feet – either from dancing barefoot, or from mud.
• Pillow.
• Mattress/yoga mat/etc. Something to make sleeping more comfortable than just the hard ground.
• Camping chair.
• Sleepwear.
• Ear plugs. For a better night’s sleep, especially if there are noisy neighbours.
• Toiletries. Keep it simple, face wipes are great for cleaning your face. Remember your toothbrush and toothpaste!
• Towels. I generally take a shower towel and a separate beach towel.
• After sun lotion.
• Solar lanterns and/or fairy lights. They create a lovely twinkly ambience, and are safer than candles. Plus they help you find your tent in the dark!
• First aid kit.
• Baby wipes for washing yourself with. Ideally also take a face cloth, bowl, and soap as that’s more refreshing than just baby wipes.
• Water, for drinking, washing yourself, washing dishes, etc.
• Electrolyte drinks: great if you get dehydrated or overdo things. Coconut water is my favourite, as it’s 100% natural.
• Mug or cup to drink out of.
• Handwashing liquid – you can also use it to wash dishes.
• Hand wipes or hand sanitiser.
• Insect repellent and insect bite relief cream.
• Toilet paper. Just in case.
• Head torch, in case your phone battery gets flat from taking too many photos. Not all parts of festival sites are well lit, so a torch of some kind is highly recommended – and a hands-free one is best (hello, portaloo).
• Battery bank, so you can charge your phone without a power outlet.
• If you are cooking, a stove, spare gas, frying pan, wooden spoon, saucepan, plate, cutlery, tin opener, sharp knife, chopping board, plus your food.
• Snacks: muesli bars, nuts, fruit.
• Supplements to replenish your energy level, and also to boost your immune system. Consider Vitamin C and Zinc as the basics.
• Prescription medication.
• Clothes and shoes.
• Jandals, slides, or Crocs: easy-to-slide-on footwear for the shower blocks and toilets. Because going barefoot here would be yucky and unhygienic.
• Paper towels (kitchen roll). Always useful.
• Spare plastic bags: yes plastic bags are environmentally unfriendly. But they’re invaluable for keeping things dry; for putting your shoes in so they don’t muddy everything else; for using as rubbish bags; and for dirty laundry bags.
• Chilly bin: not only does it keep your food cold for a while, but it keeps insects out, and prevents things from getting squashed. Bonus tip: if you take your meat frozen, it will last longer. (But don’t take risks with food hygiene.)
• Rubbish bag: take your rubbish home with you.

How to pack your clothes

Instead of folding your clothes – roll them! My dad was an avid world traveller in his retirement, living out of his suitcase, and he proved to me you can fit more into a suitcase or bag when they’re rolled rather than folded.

I pack my clothes into plastic bags. All my tops go into one bag; bottoms in another; undies in another, and so on. This not only makes it easier to find clothing, but it prevents ‘clothes explosions’ where things burst out of your bag and are hard to organise and drive you crazy. (Compressing things in a plastic bag is a great space saver.) Also, this is super handy when it’s wet, as there’s far less chance of all your clothes being saturated! I even double wrap an emergency outfit, just in case.