A major attraction of camping for many people is the idea of retreating to a simple lifestyle without any home comforts, at least for a few days. In that sense, experienced campers often like to ‘rough it’ and really get back to basics. At the other end of the scale there are less dedicated campers who are doing their best to fit in and enjoy it, but really would like some ‘luxuries’, even if they are definitely keeping it real and are far from pandering to the less authentic glamping lifestyle. So if you are somewhere in between these two extremes, as most people are, there are certain essentials that you need, and storage and transportation are a big part of that and are a major factor in what you bring.
Most campers are wary that you can’t take everything you might want to on a camping holiday, but at the same time there are some practical considerations. You might have to walk a fair distance from your car to the campsite, if you are at a festival for example. And you definitely want to keep items safe and dry, so storage and transportation are high priority, and that is why these top 5 essential camping bags should be high on your list:
- Camping chairs
It might be a stretch to call a chair a luxury item, but camping chairs are essential for a basic level of comfort and to keep yourself dry and warm, rather than sitting on the grass. If everyone brings a camping chair this helps to build a community spirit and means everyone can sit together. These can also be used inside a tent, if the tent is big enough, when it rains. So a bag for your camping chair is the first essential and most camping chairs are collapsible, lightweight and easily transportable.
- Sleeping bag
Needless to say, when you are sleeping outside you need all the warmth you can get, but you also need a sleeping bag to stay dry. A protective bag for your sleeping bag keeps it dry and warm and easy to carry, and many people roll theirs up each day to make a small tent tidier and create more room. Making it smaller and more compact in this way also protects the bag should it rain and you discover a leak in your tent.
- Laundry bag
In the confined space of a tent things can very quickly get out of control, and with two or more people living on top of each other, organisation is a must. A laundry bag is therefore essential for easily storing dirty clothes and keeping them in one place. It also means searching for new clothes in your bag becomes easier each day, which might sound like a small thing, but after a few days under canvass the small things become more and more important.
- Boots bag
There is nothing worse on a camping trip than someone trailing mud all over the inside of a tent after a walk. It can feel like there’s no escape from the great outdoors and that every possible surface is somehow covered in mud. Therefore it is essential to store muddy boots in a specialist individual bag, and confine the mess to that, leaving everything else as clean as possible.
- Windbreaker bag
A windbreaker might not be the first thing you think of as a camping essential, but most experienced campers swear by them, and given they roll up nice, tight and small they are easy store in a vehicle too. When sleeping under canvass any protection from the elements is a godsend, and a windbreaker helps to prevent the constant noise of even the gentlest breeze on your tent overnight. Pitching a windbreaker just outside a tent could be the key to a good night’s sleep, so make sure it is protected and easy to transport with a windbreaker bag.
So here you have some valuable tips for how to enjoy a camping holiday and make it that little bit more comfortable. If you are on a big family camping holiday these items can be just the thing to keep spirits high and tensions at bay, and they need to be protected and easy to transport. So check out our range of camping bags at Bags & Covers Direct and order what you need for your camping holiday today. Our camping bags are strong, robust and practical and can be ordered in a range of sizes or made to measure to suit your exact needs.