Essential Camping Gear

South Devon is a great destination for a camping trip. Whether you want to camp by the coast or in the countryside, at a small site or at a holiday park with lots of facilities you’ll find it here.  

But if you’re a first time camper it might seem a bit daunting. There are a few items which will spring to mind when we think of planning a camping trip but there are also many essentials which we might not instantly think of. 

Here’s our list of essential items which should be included in your packing list for a camping holiday to South Devon. 

Tent and Sleeping

• Tent, the most important camping essential 
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Sleeping mat, airbed or camp bed to make sure you get a comfortable night’s sleep 
• Air pump if you’re taking an airbed
• Mallet and spare tent pegs 
• Torch and head torch, vital for late night trips to the loo
• Tent repair kit which could include Duct tape, cable ties or a sewing kit
• Windbreak, to create an enclosed area around your tent or to shelter your tent from the wind
• Table and camping chairs

Cooking and Eating

• Camping stove or BBQ
• Fuel, lighters or matches – make sure these are stored safely 
• Cool box or fridge
• Cooking equipment including pots, pans, kettle, chopping board, cooking utensils
• Plates, bowls, mugs and cutlery 
• Washing up liquid and bowl, dish cloths, sponge and tea towels
• Rubbish bags
• Tin & bottle opener
• Water container or water carrier
• Enough food for the number of meals you plan to cook

Personal Care

• Toiletries like soap, shampoo and conditioner
• Tooth brush and toothpaste
• Hand sanitiser
• Insect repellent
• Sun cream and after sun
• Towels
• Personal medications plus some extras just in case
• A travel first aid kit 
• Earplugs and eye mask
• Shower shoes or flip flops
• Toilet roll and tissues 
• Portable shower and portable toilet if your camping spot doesn’t have a shower block

Clothes 

• Waterproof jacket, trousers and umbrella
• Clothes suitable for the time of year and weather forecast
• Woolly hat and gloves
• Sunhat and sunglasses 
• Suitable footwear
• Spare underwear and socks
• Clothes made of lightweight and fast drying materials

Other Essentials 

• Booking details, tickets, money and travel insurance documents
• Breakdown cover details
• Storage to help keep your clothes dry or keep food fresh and secure 
• Electric hook up or spare batteries, portable charger and cables
• Dustpan and brush 
• Penknife 
• Extra guy-line or string, useful if you need an extra guy-line in bad weather or as a washing line
• Wet wipes or cloths for quick and easy cleaning
• Navigation tool, map and compass or GPS
• Games, books and entertainment for the evening

But don’t worry if you do forget something, part of the fun of camping is getting back to basic and using natural resources to fix a problem or if you’re staying at a camp site the onsite shop often stocks a range of camping essentials too.

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