Camping Tips

Chairs?? (We are not driving anyway.)

And remember, don't sleep in your clothes. You'll regret it.

No bears in the UK, eh? Still, some light rope might come in handy.

I don't think Canadians should post to this thread - we're all, like: pepper spray, 30% deet solution, tarp x2, gps, crampons, a canoe. But packing everything in ziplock plastic bags is always good. I can't imagine camping without building a fire - won't they have a woodpile there? And why has no one said: booze!

Cheese requires no cooking and is very forgiving about how you store it.

Do not challenge the bull in its own field. It will take umbrage and you may have regrets.

Some cheese, that is. I would advise against cheddar or anything that has a lot of oil. After a couple of days that oil just leaks everywhere. In my experience, part-skim mozerella has held up the best over long periods w/o refrigeration. Bagels hold up well as far as breads go, as does hard salami.

Remember rope and a tarp.

Are you sleeping in a tent?

http://www.pps.net.au/4wdencounter/articles/checklist.html

Thanks for all the great suggestions (maybe I'll skip the lawyer and the instant mashed potato which is the DEVIL'S FOOD, but I *will* attempt to whittle an obscene item, just for hstencil). No doubt I will report back on what we forgot, what we used, what was pointless and whether the Olde Tea Shoppe would actually serve us in muddy boots.

Don't forget, beer=fun.

We didn't use: spare torch batteries, penknife (boo!), sun cream, spare socks.

I wish we'd taken: ziploc bags for opened food items, a hand mirror so I could have ventured out without looking like an orang-utan, and booze. (We were told not to bring alcohol onto the site but looking at the number of empty bottles in the bins area, it didn't seem that others observed that rule, and maybe I would have slept better). I didn't sleep well. Because there were rats. And very high winds.

We filled up a van with secondhand sofas last time we went. You can get collapsible jobs in Asda for less than a tenner, but they're still a bugger to carry.

Wait a minute. You brought sofas? Now you're talking my language. Sofa Sherpas!

because there will be rain, and i don't want there to be tears.

But you do have a tent, right? The tarp is just for extra?

yes! the tarp goes over the tent.

this is the first time either of us have been camping as adults so it will be uh quite an adventure, but i think once the tent is set up properly we'll be fine. i just want to make sure i come prepared.

thank you for the knots!

Put the tent in a high place with lower ground all around it so you won't end up sitting in water if it rains. If you're not sure water won't collect underneath, put another tarp under the tent as a groundsheet. Fold it so it doesn't stick out from under the sides of the tent, you don't want the groundsheet to catch any rain.

^otm

If such a high spot completely surrounded by lower ground doesn't present itself, a less attractive but useful alternative is to pitch on a broad, slight slope without much higher ground above it, and slanted enough that any water that may run toward the tent does not collect there, but continues on its merry way. You do not want to pitch in a place where you are in a watercourse that funnels water toward your tent.

I have a tent bought in a camping sale about two years ago. Great tent but it now has a broken pole and a few missing inner clip (which hold the inner lining to the outside?). Try as I might, I can't seem to find spares for it anywhere. Maybe the model's been discontinued or something. Any ideas what I can do?

reevaluate the tent.

loool

I still have my sister's tent in my basement, should I return it or would it entice her to rejoin the debaucherous world of camping?

Resurrecting...

We - me (40yo dad), E (36yo mum), N (4yo daughter), and C (17mo son) - are going to camp this weekend as a dry-run for Green Man, where we are going in August.

Apart from one abandoned (after one night) trip to Cornwall (inclement weather) when N was about 2, we've not done this before (E and I camped for about 4 nights in Ibiza once when we were younger, but no kids, tiny tent, years ago = doesn't really count compared to life as it is now).

We are playing it safe by not going too far, and by camping near to where E's dad owns a restaurant (so we can eat out for free!), as we are V New to this.

We have a big new bell tent, inflatable sleeping matts, sleeping bags, and that's about it. We'll be in North Devon. Please give bespoke advice for our situation!

camp in your garden first

Garden's not big enough to put the tent up in, sadly. Bloody garage. This is the closest we can do to that though, I reckon.

Just expect to make mistakes, chiefly forgetting to bring some item that turns out to be greatly missed. It happens to all first time campers. Try imagining the phases of the day and various sorts of weather and make lists of what you think you may need. You'll still forget something, but fewer of them.

As I said in my first response to this thread, staying warm enough is urgent and key, while staying dry is only urgent and key to the degree is impedes staying warm enough. Small kids get cold, overheated, or dehydrated much quicker than adults, so if there is a chance of any of these happening keep a close eye on your tykes.

Being wet and cold in windy conditions is very bad and should be avoided at any cost. Strong shivering should be viewed as a red flag and dealt with immediately by any means at your disposal!

thread covers most things but some essentials: take torches, insect repellent, make sure you pick some nice dry ground and ensure your head is higher than your feet

Advice I have received thus far (from here, Facebook, and my office):

Camping tips!
• Freeze some bacon
• Freeze some milk
o Keep them in your coolbox
o Defrosted the next day!
• Box of white wine
o Remove bladder from box
o Freeze the bladder of wine
o Keep in the coolbox!
• Take leftovers to heat up on the first night
• Clear plastic box with all stuff in
o Pots and pans, torch etc
o One for each family member rather than a bag – easier to find stuff
• Don’t forget cooking oil
• Camping chairs
• Pillows – take real ones!
• Blankets
• Hat
• Hoodie
• Plastic wine glasses
• Washing up stuff – including a bowl
• Earplugs – bio ears, silicone
• Toilet paper
• Warm clothes
• Camping kettle
• Camping mugs
• Headtorch / Torch
• Barbecue
• Tinfoil
• Blankets – extra blankets for Green Man
• Dutch oven
• Washing line
• Insect repellent