Camping checklist. Planning your perfect camping trip ....

Ok .... picture the scene, you and you're family have decided to go camping. It’s just a short trip. You're going for a weekend in Keswick.

On the day of the trip you get all the gear out of the shed/garage/basement ( incidentally ... all theses areas can end up very damp) throw the gear in the back of the car, pack a few sandwiches, load the kids up and off you go.

Sounds perfect?

Unfortunately not! You get there, unpack the tent and find it’s riddled with damp and no longer waterproof. Little Johnny, bless him, went camping with the scouts at Easter, took the sleeping bag and forgot to put it back in the shed. The gas for the stove has all but run out, you’ll probably have enough for one kettle full, a nice cup of tea while you contemplate packing up and heading home.

This weekend is either going to be a complete disaster or a very expensive one.

So what’s the answer? … two little words.

Camping checklist

First thing to do is get as much information on the camp site as possible. Research online, talk to the site owner, brochures are always good. Find out things like toilet facilities, hot water, showers. Do the owners allow you to have fires (99% don’t) is the ground level, how far from major amenities? All this information really can help you to have a great break.

Ok so the location is sorted, what about the kit. If we’d spotted the damp tent earlier or if it had not been left in a damp shed/garage/basement we could have sorted it. Mould, if it hasn’t started to break down the material fibres can easily be dried off, and cleaned.

A good way to make sure you have everything is to make a camping checklist and have it laminated, that way it’s good for all weathers. Things you should include on the list are …

Tent
Ground mats
Sleeping bags
Food and food storage
Clothing (remember in cold weather more thinner layers)
Waterproof coats
Broken in boots
Maps
Compass
GPS if planning a hike
Stove
Gas
Torch and batteries
Cooking utensils and plates

The weekend, or a couple of days before the trip, get all you’re gear out and give it a good check …. Make sure Tommy’s bag is in there….. make sure all the zips work, are any of the poles damaged? have you plenty of gas, are the batteries are charged etc.

So, the bottom line is, if you have made all the right camping preparation you will have a great time whatever the weather.

Rather than an expensive, trouble riddled trip, be ready for all that can go wrong and you're sure to have a fantastic break.

Prepare for anything and have a great break!

Return from camping checklist to lake district discovered homepage

Return from camping checklist to lake district camping