HOWTO: Go Camping (according to my Twitter network)

The more time I spend in front of a computer the more I feel the need to temper it with being outside. We bought two tents last weekend – a family-sized one and another for Ben (my 3 year-old son) and I to go away together. It’s something I really want to do regularly so it’s second nature to him.

Tonight we’re going camping as a family for the first time so, naturally, I asked my Twitter network what kinds of things I needed to make sure I brought along. I received a fair few replies, all within the space of 20 minutes! Here’s some of the responses, broken down into categories:

Health & hygiene

Baby wipes / handwash (@daviderogers, @beckacurrant, @ambrouk & @Joga5)
Toilet roll (@daviderogers & @_MisterG)
Mosquito repellent (@mbarrow)
Microfibre dishcloths (@jobadge)
Bathroom plug (@Joga5)
Candles – bug/nice (@daviderogers)
Bucket (@MrsThorne, @jobadge)
Sun cream (@mbarrow)

Sleeping & relaxing

Decent mattress (@chris_1974)
Inflatable bed (@Ideas_Factory)
Thermarest mats (@ForesterJo)
Hot water bottle (@jobadge, @cathellis13)
Lots of tent pegs (@_MisterG, @billgibbon)
Folding camp beds (@mberry)
Folding camp chairs with beverage holder (@daviderogers)
Games (@daviderogers)
Waterproof, rip-proof ground cloth (@onlineteacher)
Picnic blankets (@daviderogers)
Pillows (@ianaddison)
Cool Camping: Kids book (@ejasprey)

Eating & drinking

Hip flask (@daviderogers)
Thermal mug (@chris_1974)
Jetboil (portable stove) (@svanstraten)
Gas mini grill & full gas canister (@Mark_C)
Integrated cutlery (@ForesterJo)
Matches, and spare matches in another location in case they get wet (@mwclarkson)
Wine/beer (@mbarrow)
Whisky for coffee nightcap (@ambrouk)
Toast gadget (@ForesterJo)
Corkscrew (@Sarah111well)
Stove for coffee (@daviderogers)
Disposable BBQ (@mbarrow)
Tin foil for BBQs, etc. (@daviderogers)

Clothing & footwear

Wellies (@misetak, @shirlpj)
Flip flops (@stujohnson & @mbarrow)
Waterproofs (@Mark_C)
Warm clothes, even in summer (@daviderogers)
Umbrella (@stujohnson)

Storage & carrying

Picnic rucksack with plates, etc. (@daviderogers)
Shoulder bag (@jobadge)
String (@Sarah111well)
Rhino tubs (@stujohnson)
Collapsible water carrier (@mwclarkson)
Old carrier bags (@jobadge, @mikemcsharry)
Washing-up bowl (@ambrouk)

Technology & gadgetry

Torches – or torch app on iPhone (@daviderogers & @beckacurrant)
Wind-up lamp (@chris_1974)
Spare batteries (@sarahgb)
Shovel (@Joga5)
Headtorch (@ForesterJo)
Swiss army knife (@Sarah111well)
Pocket-sized lastolite (@mikemcsharry)
Lantern (@daviderogers)
LED light to clip in tent (@svanstraten)
Cigarette lighter to plug socket adapter (@paddymcgrath)
Fire steel (@_MisterG)
Power sockets for electric hook-ups (@Mark_C)
Lighter (@mwclarkson)
Tin opener (@_MisterG, @Sarah111well)
Star map (@daviderogers)

Misc. hints & tips

Have all camping gear put away in storage boxes for ease of loading. Helps with last-minute/seize-the-day decisions! (@ForesterJo)
Save any checklist you make and add to it after every trip (@ottonomy)
Runswick Bay camp site (North Yorkshire Moors) is lovely (@dughall)
Spiers House in Cropton near Pickering middle forest has activities (@ForesterJo)
Take wine glasses – it’s not the same out of a mug! (@alisonlones)
Take cans of beer instead of bottles (@mikemcsharry)
Use a hammer and 6-inch nails instead of tent pegs for hard ground (@gillferrell)
Take half the clothes you think you need for yourself, but double the amount you think you need for your children (@Joga5)
A large fabric softener bottle is the ultimate midnight pee solution as it’s apparently unisex! (@simfin)
Take more socks than you think you’ll ever need (@billgibbon)

Is there anything you’d add to the list? What advice would you give newbie campers? 🙂

Image CC BY-NC simpologist