Must Haves For Camping Beginners!

Now we’ve been camping as a family for a few years now and although we were pretty novice when we started, we have grown to know what works and what doesn’t. I have a pretty great camping kit after collecting over the years, but I do still have a few things on my wish list so if you’re a newbie camper and are looking for some ideas then this post might be the one for you…

I always joke, why do we leave a perfectly decent house with Netflix, running water and all other mod cons to go and sleep under a tarpaulin?! But the thing is… We DO! Because it’s fun and the kids love it! The trick for me is to make it as home-like as possible. Roughing it with all you need in a backpack simply doesn’t cut it when you’ve got three kiddos in tow, but we genuinely LOVE the experience and just find that bringing home comforts with you, albeit in a smaller way, makes the holiday so much easier. Now we have already got some pretty nifty things but here’s a list of what I’d be buying right now if we were starting from scratch!

• Choosing the right tent is the absolute first must do. I adore the Mackenzie 6 with BlackOut bedrooms that we have now and the BlackOut element is a bit of a lifesaver with children who run wild in the evening and need to sleep come day break. You can read my review of it here,but if, like me, you also are thinking of going it alone with the babes in tow then you might want to think about a Valdes Air tent – which STILL have the BlackOut technology in the bedrooms, phew! The Valdes range is next on my dream wish list for camping because it would mean I could pitch without the helping hand of another adult. I’ve watched these beauties going up when other people have been pitching and I can’t wait to have a go myself! I’ve got my eye on the Valdes 6XL which gives you a porch area AND that all important FastPitch! Oh but whichever way you go, Mackenzie or Valdes, you will get that FREE Camping and Caravanning Club membership with Coleman! At the moment, when buying any Mackenzie BlackOut Bedroom tent or Valdes Air Tent from selected Coleman Tent retailers that you will receive FREE Camping and Caravanning Club membership worth £45?! Enjoy Camping and Caravanning Club Membership benefits like over 1,500 exclusive sites to visit, a monthly award-winning magazine, 30% off club sites (with over 60s getting an additional 25% off), exclusive selected retailer discounts of 10%, discounted tailor made insurance, break down cover and more! And if you’re already a member, you can still request the pack and just wait until your current 12 month membership is up then use it upon renewal! See the Coleman website HERE for all the details, but wow – what an offer!

• You need to see the light! Getting a good lantern is key because though BlackOut is brilliant for early risers, pitch black darkness is no good when finding your way around in the night. Coleman do some really great ones like the 360 Sound and Light LED Lantern. I have this on my wish list because it is a 2-in-1 device offering a full 360° of light and then the wireless capability of a Bluetooth speaker to boot! Popping on a favourite playlist long after the sun has set is perfect and it also has up to 400 lumens of hands-free light, is made from weather-resistant materials and is IPX4 water resistant. This lantern serves as a crucial component of camping gear and is also a great piece for backyard entertaining. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a USB port for charging, making it easy to pack up and go, staying powered along the way. Its battery allows for up to seven hours of light at its highest setting, or five hours of light while streaming music on its Bluetooth speaker.
• I am also really keen to get an event shelter because somewhere to cook and sit under cover is what all the pros seem to have, and while we flail around trying to get stuff out of the rain (this is the UK remember) other people are still happily sitting and cooking outside! I have designs on the Coleman FastPitch Shelter L which will go up in less than 5 minutes (great for the beach too)! With 99.9% UV protection (up to 7x more protection than other shelters), the FastPitch™ Shelter L also reduces the temperature by 5°C with an advanced coating of the inner fabric and sunwalls for a higher level of UV protection with a UPF 50+. The shelter has four retractable legs to quickly adjust the height and securely stabilise the shelter and removable sunwalls and doors are also available as an additional accessory. Sounds perfect for us!

So that’s my current wish list (always growing) and I also have a list of family must haves for anyone wanting to take the kids camping. Here’s some essential for your next tent adventure!

• A bucket – this can be purposed in many ways… If you know, you know!
• A Stokke Flexi Bath (this folds flat and means that you can still bathe the baby while under the stars)!
• A torch – for those who don’t need a bucket!
• Bin bags – can never have too many!
• A camping rotary clothes line – this will be a game changer!
• Pillows, bed sheets and blankets – we make up proper beds and unzip the sleeping bags to act as a duvet. So much nicer!
• Camping plates, bowls and a washing up kit!
• Invest in a good camping stove like ours which is the Campingaz Party Grill!

There’s loads more I’m sure but these are my staples!

So what are you waiting for – grab a tent (and your FREE Camping and Caravanning Club Membership with a new Coleman Mackenzie or Valdes tent purchase) and get out under those stars – it’s beaut!

Collaborative post.

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