Planning your camping trip is one of the most exciting parts of going away. Once you’ve got your basic equipment together, rallied the troops and planned your activities for the camping break, it’s time to think about your camping checklist.
Of course all of the normal things will make their way onto your camping checklist – a camping cooker, tent equipment (or not, if you’re using a TentBox!) and the kinds of clothes you’ll need to weather any storm (did someone say waterproofs?!).
However, there are always a few classic things that people forget to take, that can be the difference between a smooth camping trip and a disastrous one.
Here’s our top list of items to pop on your camping checklist if you’re planning on going away with a TentBox as soon as lockdown is lifted!
1. Tent Equipment
It goes without saying that if you are going away to camp, you need to ensure that you have tent equipment that will keep you dry and cosy.
We may be biased, but we know from personal experience and our amazing reviews from the TentBox Community, that a rooftop tent is the best way forward. A TentBox makes camping a comfortable and carefree experience. Plus, it’s so easy to install on your vehicle – all you need are two cross bars.
Once you have your rooftop tent securely fixed to your car, it’s time to hit the road. With a built in mattress, and plenty of room to fill your TentBox full of cosy blankets and pillows to create the snuggliest of sleeping pods for two.
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2. Food & Cooking Utensils
Another essential camping must-have, that will make your trip memorable for all the right reasons,is the right food and cooking utensils. Our top tip when it comes to food is to plan ahead and think about how you will cook things.
Create a list of what you would like to eat and go through step by step to figure out how you will cook it and what you will need. There is nothing worse than bringing a cool bag of delicious food along, only to realise that an essential utensil, cooking tool or cooking essential is missing from your bag.
On your camping checklist there should be:
- Enough meals to last the duration of your trip
- Some great snacks to get you through the day (especially essential if you’re planning an active trip!)
- Bottled water
- Refrigeration: cool box
- Cooking essentials: oil, salt, pepper, sugar, tea, coffee
- Cooking tools – camping stove or BBQ, pots, lighter or matches
- Utensils – plates, forks, wooden spoon, mugs
3. Appropriate Clothes
If you’re venturing further afield, you need to make sure that you have appropriate clothing for your trip. Packing light is a great idea, but equally you need to make sure you have everything you need if the weather turns on you – there’s nothing worse than being cold!
Hats and gloves are great items to put on the camping checklist for winter camping, whilst in the summer you should remember those essential items that are needed in sunshine like your sunglasses and a sun hat.
Whatever the season, waterproof clothing can be a game changer, especially if you’re planning on hiking or exercising outdoors. If you’re exploring some of the best places in the UK, it’s safe to assume that the weather can change at any time, so preparing for cold or rainy weather is a great idea.
Think lots of layers and waterproof top layers that will keep you dry. Shoes that will allow you to roam and will keep your feet dry are also a must! However, you might also opt to pack some flip flops or casual shoes for relaxing around the campfire at night.
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4. General Camping Gear That Will Save Your Life (Quite Literally)
There are certain things you need to add to your camping checklist for safety reasons and just because it’s camping best practices to have these items close by. These camping essentials are:
- A torch
- A knife
- Extra batteries
- A lighter or matches
- Fire starter
- Extra blankets or layers (this is always handy to have in the car in case of a breakdown)
- A first aid kit
- Petrol
- Maps
5. General Cleaning Items
These types of things are often left off of the camping checklist, however they can be very handy and will allow you to leave the natural area exactly as you found it. This is of course a very important part of being a responsible camper!
Remembering things like anti-bac wipes, rubbish bags and poo bags if you have a dog will come in very handy when it’s time to clean up and move on.
6.Personal Hygiene Items
When it comes to the items you’ll need for yourself, there are a few that are not to be missed off the camping checklist. Here are the personal hygiene essentials:
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Wet wipes
- Medication
- Toilet paper
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7. Fun Items To Help You Make The Most Of Your Trip
Once all of the serious items are ticked off the camping checklist, have a think about what you want to take to make the most of your trip.
For some, this may be more extravagant items like bikes or paddleboards, whereas for others a simple book and boardgame may suffice. Whatever you plan to do, make sure you take those small but mighty entertainment items that will keep you busy and ensure you make the most of your camping trip!
We’d love to help you create an amazing camping experience. To learn more about TentBox, discover our online store today! Alternatively, you can read up on what we can expect from travel after lockdown, and what that means for your next camping trip.
