Camping has long been an excellent way of getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Camping allows you to be at one with nature, whilst spending quality time with family or friends. 

An estimated 1.2 million people in the UK are choosing camping for their holidays each year, and it’s not hard to see why – it’s affordable, flexible and a great opportunity to get away from it all. 

Regardless of whether you’re a camping newbie or a seasoned veteran, it’s essential to make sure you have all the right kit and equipment with you to make your camping holiday stress-free and a roaring success. To make sure you don’t get caught short on your next outdoor adventure under canvas, here're seven useful items you should never forget when camping. 

Pocket first aid kit

You can never plan for injuries and accidents, but naturally, when you’re camping outside, you’re more likely to get a few scrapes, cuts blisters or insect bites. Having a pocket first aid kit to hand, that’s well stocked with those essentials such as plasters, bandages, antibacterial wipes, scissors and antibacterial cream, will mean you can treat any minor injuries or ailments on the go. 

European travel adapter

If you’re heading off to Europe on your camping holidays, then it’s always a good idea to make sure you pack a European travel adapter. Most modern campsites will have electricity points for campers or certainly you can find somewhere close by with access to a plug, so making sure you have the right European travel adapter to charge your phone or use your electrical devices will make life so much easier. 

Combi lock 

Taking a high-quality combination or ‘combi lock’ with you on your camping trip will give you peace of mind that your tent and possessions are safe and secure, whether you lock it from the inside when you’re in it, or whilst you’re off exploring. Combi locks are robust and have the bonus of not needing a key, just a personal combination code that you can select yourself, so it’s easy to remember. 

Camping stove

Another camping essential to keep with you on every trip has to be a camping stove. It doesn’t have to be anything particularly high-tech, but having the means to cook a meal or make a fresh cup of tea in the morning will just make your camping experience so much more enjoyable.
 

Swiss Army knife

These multi-functional knives are a must-have for any camper. You don’t have to be going for an all-out survival trip to make use of Swiss Army knife, though. By having a pocket sized knife, that essentially has everything you need from a choice of blades, scissors and tweezers through to a can opener and corkscrew will mean that wherever you are and whatever utensils you may be lacking, you should be able to get by with one of these. 

Insect repellent and treatments

Insects are an unavoidable part of camping and can be a plague to even the most experienced campers. This is why you should never forget to take insect repellents and burners with you, along with antihistamine creams and tablets for treating any insect bites you may get. Whilst these aren’t going to stop every insect bite, they will go some way in keeping them to a minimum. 

Torch

One core piece of kit you definitely shouldn’t leave out of your bag is a torch. Navigating your way in and out of a tent, finding your sleeping bag or negotiating your way to the toilet in the middle of the night can be challenging on a camping trip, so make life a lot easier and be sure to pack a decent torch, headlamp or even a portable lantern. Also, don’t forget to take replacement batteries for your torch to last your whole trip. 

With these useful pieces of kit in your bag, you should now be well on your way to having a relaxing, rustic and stress-free camping experience, at one with nature in the great outdoors.