The last couple of times I've gone camping I've really enjoyed it despite being massively unprepared. This time I'm determined to be prepared, so I'm making...a list!

Items to take camping

Beer.
Tent
Bivi Bag
Ground mat
Toilet paper
Magnesium block firelighting thing
Knife
Headtorch
Music player (mp3/cd)
Cards
Food (bread/hot dogs and such)
Water
Soap
Plenty of changes of clothes
Electric toothbrush

What am I missing out and what tips can seasoned campers give? I'd appreciate any advice

You forgot about the girl to make out with. If everything else fails and you get attacked by a bear, You can always make out until you bleed to death, Then make a dramatic ending like "I will always love you no matter what" *Head flops over

Or you could just bring some tasty Mountain Dew, That could work to

String. You always need string.

If you are by a river...fishing poles? And flashlights and a Lantern, or is that what a headtorch is?

Camping in the UK isn't quite as exciting, sadly

You need more beer amp88. Always more "beer". I'd also probably take an extra blanket and some plastic bags of some kind. Rubble sacks work quite nicely for keeping stuff dry, or wet stuff wet. Possibly add some plasters or something if someone else isn't taking any.

Assault Rifle

1. More beer.
2. Unless you're camping in the back garden, a map might come in handy.
3. Money.
4. A mobile phone and a list of the nearest hotels.
5. A regular toothbrush for when you finally realise there's nowhere to plug the electric one in.
6. Toothpaste.
7. Much more beer.
8. Extra socks.
9. A compass, a whistle and a survival blanket.
10. More money.
10b. A caravan..

And an Outback to get you there

Quote from amp88 :

The last couple of times I've gone camping I've really enjoyed it despite being massively unprepared. This time I'm determined to be prepared, so I'm making...a list!

Items to take camping

Beer.
Tent
Bivi Bag
Ground mat
Toilet paper
Magnesium block firelighting thing
Knife
Headtorch
Music player (mp3/cd)
Cards
Food (bread/hot dogs and such)
Water
Soap
Plenty of changes of clothes
Electric toothbrush

What am I missing out and what tips can seasoned campers give? I'd appreciate any advice

Depends on how long you are going, but always consult the god of camping.....


Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding for Ray Mears

Bug spray. It's a must around here.

Camp in a hammock like this. It's a lot more comfortable than being on the ground or in a tent, and it keeps you up and away from things on the floor. If there's a chance of rain, just stick a tarp up. It takes about 5 minutes to put the whole lot up and it all packs down tiny.

Since I got my hammock I've not looked back.

1. Alcohol, doesn't matter what it is, long as it ain't £2.99 cider
2. A tent
3. Food, assuming there isn't a tesco within 5 miles. Supplies to build fire are optional, easy to improvise
4. Bog roll, you never know
5. A female, who enjoys the idea of spending time alone with you in the middle of nowhere by the light of the fire
5a. Failing the above, a football and a group of mates who also have alcohol and a tent works well. Espically when you mark out the goal posts with fire, so you can still keep busy at 3am

And that would be my idiots guide to camping

Quote from th84 :

Bug spray. It's a must around here.

You can use the assault rifle for that.

Quote from amp88 :

Beer. - Naturally
Tent
Bivi Bag
Ground mat - Not required
Toilet paper
Magnesium block firelighting thing - Not really required as a box of matches will do the same job
Knife
Headtorch - A normal torch is usually better, head torches are really for cave climbing and the like
Music player (mp3/cd)
Cards
Food (bread/hot dogs and such)
Water - Make sure you take enough, you want about 2 litres per person per day, increase that amount if you intend to partake in sports or if it is going to be a hot day. This amount doesn't include cleaning water.
Soap
Plenty of changes of clothes - 1 outfit a day, then take about 3 spare is usually more than enough.
Electric toothbrush - A manual will be a better option.

Now if I was going on a camping trip I'd include.
First Aid Kit
Map and compass (if you suck at reading a map, a decent personal GPS device, has to be water proof, can take a beating, plus have a long battery life)
Glow sticks (more of a precaution than anything)
Duct tape
Small sewing kit

Last time I went camping these are the supplies I took. 4 of us went....

1. 1/4 keg of beer

2. My truck, first, needed the 4wd to cross the creek to get to the spot, and second, the bed of my truck was my sleeping quarters. The other 3 could sleep on rocks or up in trees for all I cared.

3. Sleeping bag for sleeping in the back of my truck.

4. Saw, for cutting up wood for the fire.

5. This is the other community supplies we took. 1 package of hotdogs, 1 package of hotdog buns, and ketchup.

We thought we were good for a week worth of camping. The following day, we left the campsite for more beer and to raid my buddy's girlfriend's place for some good venison.

Thanks for the replies guys, couple of things added to the list (more beer included!). Been busy buying a few things over the last couple of days. Decent pair of 'waterproof' boots (last time we went I climbed a Corbett in a pair of wellies!), tent, sleeping bag and head torch. Knife with inbuilt fishing line is ordered and on the way...

Here are a few pics of my new tent (it's not straight but neither's the garden, plus I put it up myself).

let people know where your off to, and for how long, if you die, they come looking for you(if they care)

Quote from amp88 :

Thanks for the replies guys, couple of things added to the list (more beer included!). Been busy buying a few things over the last couple of days. Decent pair of 'waterproof' boots (last time we went I climbed a Corbett in a pair of wellies!), tent, sleeping bag and head torch. Knife with inbuilt fishing line is ordered and on the way...

Here are a few pics of my new tent (it's not straight but neither's the garden, plus I put it up myself).

That tent doesn't look set-up right, so I'd expect it to leak, which reminds me, never let the skins touch or you'll wake up in a bath.

Quote from P5YcHoM4N :

That tent doesn't look set-up right, so I'd expect it to leak, which reminds me, never let the skins touch or you'll wake up in a bath.

Funnily enough there was quite a heavy shower about 20 minutes ago so I went to check there and it's totally dry on the inside. There's a little bit of water on the groundsheet in the porch but I think that's more because it's on the downward slope of the grass. I think the reason it doesn't look quite right is because the grass is sloped down and slightly cambered. Of course, since this is a new tent I could be wrong, so if anyone's got a similar tent (or the same one ideally), I'm all ears for pointers. On the skins touching, the inner is hung on little clips from the flysheet, which I think is a pretty neat touch. Keeps the two sheets separated by a couple of inches at all points.

Quote from amp88 :

Funnily enough there was quite a heavy shower about 20 minutes ago so I went to check there and it's totally dry on the inside. There's a little bit of water on the groundsheet in the porch but I think that's more because it's on the downward slope of the grass. I think the reason it doesn't look quite right is because the grass is sloped down and slightly cambered. Of course, since this is a new tent I could be wrong, so if anyone's got a similar tent (or the same one ideally), I'm all ears for pointers. On the skins touching, the inner is hung on little clips from the flysheet, which I think is a pretty neat touch. Keeps the two sheets separated by a couple of inches at all points.

I think the level of the ground is probably it, as I try and pitch my dome on the flattest ground I can find.

Twin skins like that is very common in tents. But if you say lone a bag on the inner skin it can very easily press on the outer skin and leak. As for the wet porch, it is normal, that is what they are really for, though a groundsheet in your porch is a nice feature.

Quote from LFSn00b :

A Sniper is better

Why would you want to take some dude over a gun?

Also... guns have never saved my life on camping trip. Condoms have. Therefore bring condoms - lots of them.

My last tent was a horrible A Frame made probably in the '70s, so there are a hell of a lot of neat touches on this one that I'm noticing, but like you say they're probably common on modern tents.

On the subject of condoms...only guys going on this trip so I dunno about that. The local sheep, on the other hand...

Pup tents are awesome, I used to be able to have mine up and ready to rock in under 1 minute, though they were a hassle at live in for extended amounts of time, dome tents do take quite a bit longer to setup, but are much easier to live with. But there are two kinds, play tents that are single skin, and camping tents, that are double skin.

Quote from LFSn00b :

A Sniper is better

How about we scatter a few nukes around the forest? Exactly... It's a great idea.

Towels.