Introduction
If you are reading this you are probably new to camping, or you may even be a seasoned camper and are looking for ideas. We have shared our knowledge and expertise, producing this as a knowledge guide primarily to assist anyone new to the world of camping and we hope this provides you with some helpful top tips regarding decision making. We have also produced part 1 to this guide which covers choosing your first tent, we hope you enjoy this too, to see our guide on choosing your tent click here: https://glamperscampingclub.wixsite.com/theglampers/post/part-1-choosing-your-tent
Always check the weather ahead, this can be very beneficial to you and the family depending on your plans. For example, pitching in the rain is not a desirable experience, furthermore when it comes to packing up at the end of your stay, you must try to avoid it raining or the tent being wet when packing it back in its bag, this will save you having to pitch the tent in your garden once you get home to air off and dry. Also and more importantly check the wind speed in the location where you are camping, heavy gusts and cross winds can damage your tent. Most weather forecast apps are pretty accurate these days within a 5 day advance cycle so take advantage of this where you can.
Choose the right campsite for you!
Do you require electric hook up (EHU)?
Are the pitches grassed or hard standing?
Are the pitches level and flat?
Does the campsite have a shop and children’s play area?
What attractions are nearby the campsite?
Does the campsite have a good shower and toilet block?
Does the campsite allow dogs, if so is there a charge?
Does the campsite allow gazebo’s or shelters to be pitched, if so do they charge extra?
Can you park your car next to your pitch? (most allow this, but some don’t)
What are the restrictions on camp fires and fire pits?
These are just some of the basic considerations when selecting and booking your campsite.
Packing the car for camping can certainly be interesting at times, In the camping community we call this “Car Tetris”, meaning that you have to often have to take things out or rearrange what you have already loaded to make other items fit, this is why we would always recommend taking items that are collapsible and fold flat. As a good guide – start filling the point that you will unload last with the least essential items, and the items you will need first at the front, for example your first items should normally be your tent bag and foot print, so these should be easily accessible first.
Depending on your camping style we have listed some basic must have items which we consider as important on our camping trips:
Foot print (this is the tarpaulin sheet that goes under your tent to protect the floor of your tent from the from the ground, it also plays a vital role in keeping your tent clean when rolling it to pack it away. We would always recommend buying the specific foot print for your tent, however we are aware that some people use just a standard piece of tarp, just be aware that if you do this you must ensure that the tarp does not stick out from under the tent as this will cause water to pool underneath the tent if it rains. Ensure that you cannot see your footprint at all once the tent is pitched.
Kitchen unit and cooking – all successful family camping trips must involve a cooker unit and cooker, these are items that are pretty much standard must-have items. There are many models and styles from different brands, here are some great quality cooking and dining must have items: https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/313-storage-kitchens
Carpet - Depending on your camping style you may want some added luxury in the form of a fitted carpet for your tent, this will give your tent a homely feel and will make your tent warmer in the evenings, Vango offer fitted carpets for most of their range of tents, here are the current range: https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/254-carpet
Lighting
Sleeping - Airbed, SIM or camp bed with sleeping bags.
Seating – Chairs or inflatables
Heating – electric fan heater or gas stove heater
THE storage holdall
Some campers have a storage holdall which holds all their essential small items, we strongly recommend this, the holdall stays packed constantly so that when we go camping everything is there in its place within the holdall. This prevents you running around the day before your trip throwing everything into a bag. Our holdall constantly stays packed with the following items:
First aid kit
Tent repair kit & duct tape
Washing up liquid & cleaning products such as wipes
Coffee, Tea, Sugar containers
Cutlery (including the essential bottle opener for you beer!)
Pots, Pans, Plates, Plastic drinking glasses
BBQ tools
Stove toaster
Spare Gas cylinders
A few basic tools for repairs
And more……
Meal planning The fulfilling part of any camping trip is deciding what you are having to eat, although we do recommend you thinking about this before you get to the campsite if you can and prepare in advance. We recently introduced our Camp Cook book blog page, here you will find a variety of dishes that you may fancy whipping up on the campsite. To access our Campers Cookbook, click here: https://glamperscampingclub.wixsite.com/theglampers/post/camping-cookbook Pitching your tent for the first time
Pitching your new tent for the first time can be fun, it isn’t complicated and it doesn’t have to be stressful. However, we do recommend that you pitch any new tent in your garden beforehand prior to getting to the campsite, this will give you practice at pitching and will also ensure nothing is missing from the tent bag. It would be a disaster if you got to the campsite and realised that a set of fibreglass poles were missing! Both Airbeam and Pole tents are pretty easy to pitch, as a top tip, ensure all the doors are open on your tent when attempting to stand the tent upright, if not this will cause a vacuum inside the tent making it difficult to stand up. Oh and make sure you know where you would like your tent entrance door facing before pegging the corners, and check the ground before pitching to ensure there are no sharp objects such as broken glass as this will damage your groundsheet. We have included two of the best instructional videos available below for you for both pole and Airbeam tent pitching: Airbeam - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muiCMaTgEh0 Pole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuHTWtsrMY8 Sleep Better
One of the most important part of any camping trip is sleep and relaxation. Most people sleep better when camping and we have read a study on this. Here are a few helpful tips to help you sleep better in the great outdoors;
Choose the right bed! The choices are great, you may prefer a high rise airbed so that you feel as though you are at home, or you may decide on a SIM (self-inflating mat) these are very good and more reliable in terms of punctures. Or you may want to go old style and invest in camp beds with a sleeping bag on top.
Consider ear plugs and a blind fold, these are great to prevent you waking up early to sunlight rays or the sound of cows in the nearly field.
If you don’t have darkened bedroom pods, you may want to consider covering the bedroom pods in darker blackout material, some campers have previously done this and with some success.
Your sleeping bag is also important depending on the season you camp, you now can buy different togs of thickness depending on your preference, or you can take the quilt and pillows from home as many campers still do!
Always ensure that all of your tent ventilation points are open during the night, this will ensure a good circulation of fresh air throughout the tent, reducing condensation within the tent and aiding better sleep throughout the night.
Vango have introduced the “Sleep Better” range for the 2020 season, this includes lots of great products that enhance better sleep, we are particularly impressed with the Vango Blissful airbed, this airbed stays inflated even with a puncture due to an intelligence motor that detects any air loss throughout the night and keeps the bed inflated to the original firmness setting. Have a browse at the sleep better range from Vango: https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/239-sleeping
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