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Packing for a First Camping Trip

Throughout the spring and summer months, hundreds of thousands of Brits head to the countryside for a holiday break in the great outdoors with family and friends. However if you’re one the many that have never set foot on a campsite, then it’s never too late to head on your first trip. Spring is a great season for first time campers: the weather is warm and mild, flowers and plants are in full bloom and there’s a ton of wildlife to spot. Let us help you get sorted for your first trip with our first timers packing guide.

Whilst camping, your campsite will become your home for the duration of your stay. This means you want to make your environment as comfortable as possible. There are hundreds of camping gadgets out there directed at campers, many of which can be quite gimmicky. While the latest camping tech can be fun and entertaining, it’s not always necessary to have a good time. Make sure your budget covers these basics first:

A good quality sleeping bag – we recommend visiting your nearest outdoor shop for this one. This way you can test the quality and feel of your sleeping bag and ask for expert advice when you need it. Sleeping bags are tailored to suit a range of climates, asking for expert advice will ensure you choose the right bag for your trip.

A sleeping mat or camping bed – a good quality camping mat will keep you warm, dry and comfortable in your tent. It’s surprising how many first time campers skip this one thinking a sleeping bag will be enough, but it makes a huge difference to your comfort level. Camping beds are a little more luxurious and certainly more comfortable than camping mats, but can be less budget friendly and take up more cargo space.

Tent – It’s more than obvious you will need a tent for you camping trip, but selecting a tent for the first time can be tricky if you’re not sure what to look for. We recommend choosing a tent that’s slightly bigger than you think you’ll need. If there will be four people on your trip, a five or six man tent will ensure you have enough space for all your belongings as well as yourself. Tents with a foyer will help to keep the inside of your tent as dry as possible, as it provides a space to change out of muddy shoes or wet clothes just before entering the tent.

Tarp – keeping dry is a must for comfortable camping. A tarp shelter over your tent will help prevent water from entering your tent. A tarp shelter can also provide a dry place to relax outside of the tent also. Camping stove – gas camping stoves are a must for mealtimes, tea and coffee. Good camping stoves should be compact and be easy to carry.

Suitable clothing- the best way to stay a comfortable temperature day and night when camping is layering clothing. As the temperature drops in the evening as it usually does during UK springtime it’s easy to throw on some warm layers that will keep you comfortable throughout the night.

Lighting- it’s best to have a mixture of light sources on hand when camping for use inside and outside the tent. Headlamps can be useful for midnight toilet trips or finding your tent in the dark, while camping lanterns and torches are best when you’re inside the tent or sitting by the campfire.

Make your journey even more convenient easy with our range of roof boxes and camping trailers, perfect for safely and securely transporting the extra cargo that comes with camping.
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