Planning For The Camping Season

Finally, the weather is warming up and we are starting to get outside more and more. 

We are weatherproofing things as much as possible and preparing for outings in good weather and bad since we know that our English weather never really plays ball.

Over the last 2-3 years we have really understood that outdoor family time is the way forward and with our air tent ready to go for this camping season we are following these tips to keep camping in all weathers from camping site to the back garden! 

Air Tents

Gone are the days of poled tents. They are great for a few first-time camps but having swapped to an outwell air tent 2 years ago we wouldn’t look back. 

They offer better space options, they are much much quicker to pitch and pack! However, bear in mind your space in the car. Air tents tend to pack larger than most standards poled tents. They can also be heavy so make sure you plan that in. 

Having camped for years using both styles of tents the benefits certainly outway any negatives you might get.

Camping Mats

Air beds are painful. There I said it they are just painful. If you suffer from back or hip pain 2 nights into a camping trip on an air bed you will be in agony. 

Last year we upgraded our sleeping option and we purchased 2 double self-inflating camping mats. They are made of memory foam and are self-inflating. However, you can add extra air in there to make them slightly firmer with a quick blast of an air pump. 

Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags are not all made equal and we have found over the years that you get what you pay for. As a couple, we prefer to have a thicker sleeping bag and extra wide so through warmer nights we can open it up and use it as a duvet and when the nights are super cold we can zip it back up and keep in the warmth! 

Bedding

Don’t pay for expensive sleeping bag liners and camping sheets. Over the years we discovered that buying a flat sheet to use between the sleeping bag and the body and using a standard household fitted sheet makes it feel like luxury and makes looking after your sleeping bags easier! 

Pack Well

Think about what you pack regarding clothing and personal items. Plan to pack easy to wear items that can be rolled up and stored easily. 

Plan for the weather and always always pack waterproofs! 

Don’t pack big coats and jackets. Layering and taking a quality waterproof is the way forward. Jacobs this season is from Lighthouse Clothing.

Click & Collect

Forget trying to pack your car with a camping kit and the holiday’s food. We take the stress out of it by planning an approximate time of arrival and allow several hours for fully setting up the camp then I book my shopping at the local supermarkets click and collect service. Once camp is set up we head off to collect food. It’s so much easier!