If money is not a problem you could go all out on some glamping luxury, but that’s not an option for most of us on a small budget.
So instead, here are my Top 10 recommendations for camping gear that will provide you that little bit of extra comfort.
1. Ergolife chair
If you have any back pain, or just find sitting on the floor uncomfortable, I couldn’t recommend this chair
2. Larger gas stove and coolbox
We used to go to festivals with tins of things and a tiny little camping stove. Now we have a two burner camping stove
We use a Coleman 33L Xtreme Hard Cool Box
With a good quality cool box you can bring meat for the BBQ and wake up your neighbours to that amazing fresh morning bacon smell. Or for vegetarians – how about fresh grilled mushrooms topped with runny cheese? For me, it’s not a holiday without some lovely food too!
3. Travel Coffee Press
I’ve just discovered the Bodum Travel Press
4. Wine Glasses
I couldn’t leave out the wine drinkers from this list! Drinking wine out of plastic cups doesn’t feel right somehow, and as parents we spend more time hanging out by our tent in the evening. So why not get some properly shaped wine glasses
There’s just something about drinking out of a wine glass that feels like a real luxury…
5. Fire Pit
After envying other people last year, I am planning to get a Portable Firepit with BBQ Grill
Don’t forget to pack Mystical Fire
6. Camping table with chairs
If you have enough room in the car a proper camping table makes a huge difference. I recommend the metal ones as they are more sturdy – there are cheaper plastic versions but I feel that’s a false economy as some of them are quite flimsy and will break after a few trips.
We recently replaced our solid top folding table with an Easy Camp Rennes Camping Table
7. Tent Carpet or Rug
Many of the family camping tents have carpets
They are very heavy however, which is a problem if the camping is a distance from the car park, and they are quite expensive. A cheaper alternative is to get one or two fleece picnic rug
8. Decent Camping Mat
Inflatable beds are not well insulated so are often cold, and of course there is the hassle of pumping them up. We recommend a good quality self inflating mat
I have some serious back problems so after reading reviews I have recently treated myself to the Exped MegaMat
9. Rechargeable lantern
If you don’t like messing about with torches at night time (especially when you’re trying to get several small children changed for bed!) a lantern
The excellent Mr.Beams lantern can also charge your phone!
Just remember that they cast great shadows so don’t undress between the lantern and the tent wall!
10. Toilet
Look away squeamish people! Last but not least is the all important portable toilet
With only one child we started off with a bucket
It’s fantastic for the children of course – they don’t have to use the festival toilets at night – but I’ve also found it invaluable for me too. If I need the toilet and there are no other adults around I can’t exactly leave other children in the tent on their own!
If you line it with a compost bag you don’t even have to clean it out – apart from the annoying trek to empty it in the morning – it makes camping life so much easier. I can’t say that I miss those night time treks to the loo!