From foam wash to hammocks, these are the non-negotiables seasoned campers swear by – and the kit they’d happily skip
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Packing for a camping trip isn’t easy, especially if you’re not an experienced adventurer. Newbie campers often overpack while simultaneously leaving more useful items at home.
As a lifelong city dweller, my lack of knowhow has been exposed on trips with my camping-savvy family in the US. It turns out that House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski and a medium-sized Bluetooth speaker aren’t must-haves on a four-day wilderness hike. Who knew? An extra water bottle would have been a better use of that space, something I learned through a series of hardships.
For guidance on this topic, I asked experienced campers – including parents with young kids, festival-goers, outdoor guides and lone wild campers – for their must-pack items. Whether you’re taking a £20 tent to a muddy field, glamping in a yurt or going fully off-grid, this list is sure to feature an item you’ll be thankful you threw in the bag.
