Top 10 Family Camping Essentials for First Time Campers

Have you ever considered taking your family on a camping holiday? As well as being a fun and often much cheaper alternative to an overseas holiday, you get to see some beautiful areas of the UK that you may not have had a chance to experience before.

But before you start packing for your very first camping holiday, you'll need to stock up on supplies. There are all kinds of vital pieces of kit that will make your camping holiday a lot more comfortable and ensure that those camping newbies among you have the best holiday possible. Have a look at the following list of the top ten essential items you will need to get you started.

1. A Tent (big enough for everyone)

The biggest mistake you can make as a first time camping family is getting a tent that isn’t big enough to fit everything in! There are many different shapes and sizes of tent including our Swiss Military 2-3 Person Pop up Tent and Swiss Military 3-4 Person Pop up Tent. While it will always state how many people the tent will fit, always try and overestimate as there will always be extra items you will need to leave in the tent, such as clothing, toiletries and cooking supplies.

2. Camping Mallet

Putting up a tent for the first time can be a bit of a challenge, though if you've bought yourself a pop up tent you'll be able to set up in seconds with little to no instruction! The most important part of putting up a tent in fact, is to make sure you have plenty of tent pegs and guy ropes fastening it to the ground. Use a mallet such as our Swiss Military Rubber Camping Mallet to ensure you do a proper job.

3. Sleeping Bag

It can get a little cold overnight in a tent, so your sleeping bag will become all the more vital in keeping you and your family warm. Like tents, there are plenty of different varieties, but make sure to find one that is thickly insulated to keep you toasty. Our Swiss Military Mummy Sleeping Bag will do just the job.

4. Inflatable Air Mattress

As much as a sleeping bag would be enough for most camping trips, nothing beats the outdoor luxury of an inflatable air mattress to sleep on. It feels much more like a home away from home, and chances are you will have fewer complaints from those other members of the family less inclined to go camping! Try our Bestway Comfort Quest Inflatable Double Bed and prepare for a great night’s sleep.

5. Torch or Lantern

A vital piece of equipment while camping is a handy torch or lantern to illuminate the camp when it gets dark. If you plan to stay on a proper campsite you should at least have a bit of lighting to guide your way, but if you are in the middle of a field out in the countryside, a light source becomes very important when the sun goes down. Our Swiss Military Camping Lantern will ensure you don’t get stranded in the dark.

6. Water Container

Chances are the campsite you are staying on will at least have a water tap where you can get fresh water, so you’ll need a container you can fill up and take back to camp. Our 5 litre Water Container should certainly help keep you and your family hydrated, along with water for cooking, washing up and cleaning.

7. Gas Stove or BBQ

When it comes to cooking on camp, it really depends on what meal you would like to make. If it’s anything more complicated than a Pot Noodle then you'll need a gas stove such as our Swiss Military Camping Stove along with pots and pans to prepare your meal. Alternatively, use an Instant Disposable BBQ where you can prepare burgers, kebabs and even roasted vegetables quickly and easily. Delicious!

8. Cutlery

Once you’ve prepared your tasty camping meal you’re going to need some cutlery and plates to eat them with. By getting camping versions of your cutlery from home you will be safe from breaking delicate plates and you will be able to pack them easily. Our Camping Cutlery Set and Camping Plate will definitely come in handy during meal times.

9. Kettle

There's nothing like rising and shining from your tent just as day is breaking, and enjoying a fresh cup of tea or coffee. As twilight descends, a steaming hot chocolate makes the perfect companion for a magical evening under the stars. So it's a good job our Stove Top Kettle is lightweight and easy to fill, whilst our Camping Mug will also give you something to drink out of, as well as being exceptionally easy to clean and pack away.

10. Windbreaker

Lastly, a great piece of kit that will come in handy on windy days on site is a Windbreaker, which can be set up to shelter you while cooking or even just to shelter the tent if it's a bit blustery. Make sure to hammer it in using your rubber camping mallet so it doesn’t become dislodged on the windiest days.

Have you planned to go on your very first family camping holiday? Remember to share all your best camping pics over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for everyone to see!