From tents to cooking equipment, practical essentials to keeping connected, these camping must-haves make sure your trip is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible
With more Brits embracing staycations than ever, camping has become the go-to way to explore the outdoors without breaking the bank. Whether you’re heading to the coast, countryside, or a festival field, having the right gear can make or break your trip.
Camping doesn’t mean compromising on comfort, it just means being smart about what you pack. With a mix of practical gear, clever tech, and a few comfort upgrades, you can turn a simple staycation into a memorable outdoor escape.
Here’s a practical, well-rounded guide to camping essentials featuring some standout products to upgrade your setup.
Sleep and shelter
A solid night’s sleep is the foundation of any good camping trip and tents come in all shapes, sizes and price points.
The Vango Whitby Air 600xl is a luxurious 75 Denier polyester family tent. Featuring an excellent six-berth family tunnel shelter, with an inflatable design, large living spaces, and full standing height throughout.
The shelter has a three-zone design with an enclosed porch area, an ample integral living space with a sewn-in groundsheet and Lights-Out bedrooms for a better night’s sleep. The inflatable design: each tube is individually inflated for quick pitching and packing away, perfect for short-term camping trips. Available for £699.99 from Outdoor World Direct.
The FastPitch Forest Lodge 4 is perfect for weekend getaways and festival camping. Its FastPitch frame is lightweight and can be set up in minutes without any hassle, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your time on the campsite.
The pitching system allows you to set up your tent’s inner in under 2 minutes with no hassle. The pre-attached steel frame folds outwards to lock into position, providing a sturdy structure that can easily withstand windy conditions.
Rain is kept at bay by the flysheet, while Coleman’s UVGuard technology offers SPF50+ sun protection. Reflective guy lines boost the tent’s visibility at night while an integrated internal storage hammock, organisers, and an electric cable management system ensure everything is tidy and close to hand. Available from Coleman for £299.99.
For a cheaper option, the new Darwin 3 Plus Summer is the perfect tent for warm weather camping adventures both at home and abroad.
Designed to keep you cool when temperatures rise, it has a full inner mesh construction which provides exceptional breathability and airflow, so you won’t feel like you’re cooking inside your tent.
The lightweight fibreglass pole structure makes pitching quick and stress-free after a long day in the heat, while the polyester, PU coated flysheet provides SPF50 protection from the sun
Easy to transport thanks to the carry bag which has mesh sides to keep your pack weight down, the Darwin 3 Plus Summer is perfect for campers prioritising staying cool in hot weather. Available from Coleman for £99.99.
Brand new to the market this year is the Aldi car tent perfect for SUV adventurers.
This clever tent is a must-have for anyone planning to pitch up at seaside or country campsites. It attaches directly to your vehicle and sleeps up to three people. It’s an affordable alternative to some of the bigger tents on the market and comes with a groundsheet for added comfort.
The Aldi car mattress (£19.99) is designed to fit neatly in your car boot, and transforms your vehicle into a cosy sleeping space – ideal when paired with the car tent.
For those who prefer a more traditional setup, the YAWN self-inflating double airbed with built-in headboard offers extra comfort and space for couples or families.
Available from High Street TV from £79.99, it combines the convenience of an air bed with the luxurious feel and comfort of a real bed for a perfect night’s sleep. It also inflates and deflates in just five minutes.
The vibrant red Fathom EV 400 Sleeping Bag, £61.99 via shopping.co.uk is a well-priced find for such a luxurious lightweight item. Perfect for festivals and family camping trips, it’s also ideal for all weathers and comes with its own carry bag.
Cleaning and practical essentials
Camping can get messy but these items keep things fresh and functional. The Kärcher OC3 Foldable Portable Washer is a compact and USB-rechargeable portable washer perfect for rinsing muddy boots, bikes, or even pets after a long day outdoors. Available from from £129.99.
Vamoosh Rapid Stain Wipes are a lifesaver for spills and stains. These wipes available from B&M work instantly on clothes, carpets, and upholstery, no water needed.
It’s also important to keep yourself clean with Rock Face – the UK’s first refillable deodorant made just for men. Tough on odour, kind on the planet, they are made from recycled materials and come in three aftershave-quality scents that lasts 48 hours. Forever case £8. Refill £6.
Keep tags on your valuables with UGREEN’s Fine Tracker 2.0 – a bluetooth item tracker designed for Apply Find My. Perfect for attaching to keys, bags or wandering kids.
Food and drink storage
Keeping food fresh is key, especially on longer trips. And planning ahead can save you money from buying from expensive food stalls or farm shops.
We wouldn’t be without our BUNKER cool box (available in 18L/42L and a massive 66L). Built tough and designed to keep contents cool for up to five days, these are ideal for everything from drinks to full meal storage.
Nothing’s going to leak out of these cool boxes – use them as an ice box for your drinks, without worrying about any mess. The no-sweat exterior also keeps the outside dry. Available from BUNKER from £179.95.
The Flinta Insulated Lunch Jug 0.55L (£37.99 from Primus) keeps meals hot for 10 hours or cold for 28 – great for soups, pasta, or chilled snacks on the go. Made from durable stainless steel with vacuum insulation, a wide opening and silicone sleeve for easy handling.
Flasks are handy for staying hydrated and carrying multiple drinks efficiently. The Tappwater BottlePro Adventure Filter bottle (available from £54.90) is a must pack when you’re on the go with filtered tasty drinking water.
Its advanced filtration technology, developed by NASA, eliminates more than 99.99% of pathogens, making non-potable water safe.
Made of stainless steel, 740ml capacity, internal straw and long-lasting cartridges, its isothermal design keeps water cold for up to 24 hours.
The Tufa Narrow Insulated Bottle 0.6L (from £33.99 at Primus) is a compact bottle made to keep your drink hot or cold during everyday adventures.
Primus ThinCore double-wall vacuum insulation guarantees high insulation while being extra lightweight and durable.
The 44mm narrow opening makes it easy to drink straight from the bottle.
Splitflask (from £44.99) allows you to carry two drinks in one bottle, making it a great option for relaxing evenings at the campsite without needing to pack multiple bottles.
The popular Air Up range has launched its Twist Pro Twist Pro Steel which takes its most popular bottle to the next level. With durable stainless steel, a refined matte finish, and double-wall insulation, it keeps your scent-flavoured still or sparkling water cold for 24 hours.
Leak-proof, dishwasher safe, and effortlessly chic, it’s perfect for camping and is available for £54.99. Also, just in time for the spring and summer weather, the twist pro goes well with these holistic-inspired flavours from £6.99.
Cooking and food prep
Eating well outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated. The Zyliss Easy Pull Food Processor offers a simple, electricity-free way to chop and purée ingredients using a pull-cord mechanism, so it is perfect for campsite food prep, whether that’s dips, salsas, sauces or even smoothies.
It is compact enough to pack easily but still practical for family use and helps make prep quick and hassle-free.
The Zyliss 3 Piece Y Peeler Set is another great camping tool as it is lightweight and easy to store with the rest of your kit. With straight, julienne and serrated peelers included, it gives plenty of versatility for prepping everything without taking up much space.
Trail’s 2 person camping cooking set with kettle (15-pc) available from £31.99 has everything you need to cook and serve a meal for two. Stacks into a compact size for easy storage with a mesh bag to easily carry.
The set includes a 1700ml cooking pot with lid (17.2cm x 8.9cm) and frying pan (18cm x 4.3cm) to cook food. Plus, a 1000ml kettle (15cm x 13.5cm) to boil water.
The Lifeventure Ellipse Camping Tableware Set is the perfect companion for family campers who want convenience, durability and style on the go. Made from lightweight, durable, BPA-free plastic, this set consists of a mug, bowl, plate and set of cutlery which are designed to be compact and easy to pack. Available from Lifeventure for £12.99.
Quechua’s XL portable BBQ for 4 to 8 people (from £69.99) is another excuse for families to get back to basics and enjoy more of the simpler and tastier things in life.
The BBQ’s conveniently large cooking area makes it easy to rustle up an entire meal for the whole clan.
Easy to transport, quick to set up and suitable for use with wood, coal and briquettes, it’s suitable for all types of getaways, from camping to holidays and picnics—or even at home in the garden.
If you prefer to cook on gas, the compact, clever and ready to go Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas Grill makes outdoor cooking simple.
The Stack ‘n Go design keeps everything neatly packed for easy carrying, while the wooden lid doubles as a chopping board for prep on the move. A cast iron cooking surface delivers even heat and reliable searing, powered by a 2.6kW burner with quick twist-start ignition.
Portable, practical and built for outdoor moments. Available from Cuisinart for £199.99.
Trail’s Kitchen stand with windshield from £67.99 is compact to carry and easy to set up. It’s a perfect work station for campsite chefs. As well as a shelf for a gas stove, it boasts a windshield to shield the flames while cooking.
Plus, a folding side table, worktop to prep meals, and cupboard for your cookware, dinnerware, and food.
Lighting, power and connectivity
Stay powered and visible after dark with the GLOW Recharge Lantern from Silva (£39.99). With USB-C rechargeable functionality, the durable build, and a warm ambient light, it’s the go-to for eco-conscious adventures. Available in the colourways black, blue, and yellow.
Lifesystems Intensity 552 Lantern is the ultimate lightweight accessory for family camping trips. The lantern is perfect for illuminating the campsite after dark thanks to its bright 552 lumen output, five lighting modes and three colour options of white, red and green and 12-hour battery life. Available from Lifesystems for £29.99.
Keep your phone powered up with this Twelve South PowerCapsule Power Bank from £49.99. I’ts slim, magnetic, and powerful, offering wireless and USB-C charging for your devices.
Stay connected – even off the grid with the NETGEAR Nighthawk M3 5G Mobile Router (£399). The high-performance hotspot with Wi-Fi 6, 13-hour battery life can support up to 32 devices and is ideal for streaming, navigation, and emergency access.
The Nighthawk M3 is a powerful 5G mobile router built for life off the beaten track, delivering fast, secure Wi-Fi wherever your adventures take you – from campsites and campervans to remote trails and coastal hideaways.
With coverage in over 125 countries and easy SIM swapping, it’s ideal for everything from weekend camping trips to extended road journeys, and even doubles as a handy home backup when you’re back. For campers, van-lifers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the M3 is the pocket-sized essential that keeps you connected to what matters, wherever you roam.
Transport and storage
Make hauling gear easier with BiGDUG Folding Camping & Festival Trolleys from £78. With a 150kg load capacity, all-terrain wheels, and fold-flat design, this trolley is a game-changer for transporting heavy gear across campsites.
It also folds flat in seconds for ease, compared to bulkier folding wagons that are more awkward to transport and comes with handy side pockets.
Sleek, durable, and designed for organised travel, Gomatic’s travel bags and organisers are ideal for camping, helping keep clothing, toiletries and essentials neatly packed and easy to access- whether in a tent or car. It takes a lot of the stress out of packing for family trips where space is limited. (Available from £195).
A simple but brilliant accessory for hanging gear anywhere is the Hero clip. A really handy addition to any campsite setup, Heroclip lets you hang bags, lanterns or accessories from tables, chairs or tent poles, keeping everything clean, dry and within reach.
Clothing and outdoor wear
Prepare for unpredictable British weather with this range of outdoor essentials. TOG24 Craven Women’s Waterproof Jacket (£37.50) is a ightweight, breathable, and fully waterproof—ideal for sudden downpours. With fully taped seams and a water-repellent coating for good measure, this packaway jacket will definitely keep you dry.
The Zone3 Active-Flex Changing Robe is a performance-focused robe with fleece lining and water-resistant shell—great for warming up after swims or chilly mornings, available for under £100.
The Online Home Shop also has a huge range of water resistant drying robes, suitable to all of the family from juat £16.
Another great outdoor retailer is Decathlon with many outdoor clothing items to choose from. Stay dry with the women’s MH100 Long Waterproof Jacket for £59.99. Blokes who love the outdoors will love the men’s MH500 Lightweight Jacket for £69.99.
The women’s MH500 Cycling Shorts for £24.99 are also great for the sunshine and don’t forget the kids with these Waterproof Walking Boots Crossrock for £27.99 – perfect for little explorers.
Meanwhile, Helly Hansen has recently launched its Spring/Summer collection, developed with professional mountain guides and designed for Summer alpine adventures, ideal for intrepid campers.
Leading the range is the new Odin Infinity Minimalist Jacket – the brand’s lightest-ever fully waterproof mountaineering shell (just 220g). Developed alongside professional guides including JF Plouffe and US guiding company Mountain Madness, it’s designed to live in the pack until the moment a storm hits – delivering full weather protection without slowing climbers down.
Alongside it, Helly Hansen is introducing the Odin Breeze Hooded Fleece, a new ultralight knitted fleece (210g) engineered specifically for high-output mountain days. Developed with mountain professionals on Rainier and in the US Cascades, the fabric delivers an exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio and breathability – addressing one of the biggest complaints guides have with traditional fleece layers. Available from Helly Hansen.
Comfort and campsite living
Make your pitch feel like home with Trail’s Serin padded camping chair (from £29.74) which provides comfortable seating for relaxing evenings. With wraparound padded design for all-round cushioning and comfort, it eliminates draughts to keep you extra warm and snug in colder weather.
There’s no point going anywhere if you can’t make a good brew. The new Morphy Richards lightweight Compact Travel Kettle is the ideal solution for camping trips.
Coupled with two tea cups, this small electric 0.5L water capacity kettle provides just the right amount of water for a quick cup of tea or coffee, without using excessive energy or taking up too much space. Available from Morphy Richards from £24.99.
If you’re one of those people who can’t be doing with creases, even while camping, then the Morphy Richards Steam Compact 400W Travel Steam Iron is for you.
Easy to use, this mini travel iron boasts a detachable water tank for quick refills as well as a single temperature setting for reliable and consistent performance. Available from Morphy Richards from £24.99.
For those who like to check their reflection, the iMira Travel LED Mirror incorporates smart features in a convenient travel size, with the 20cm mirror display providing high-definition reflection. The support stand is fully adjustable for the perfect angle and doubles as a cover for protection during travel. Available from EKO Home for £34.99.
Entertainment and extras
Because downtime matters too, portable projectors are a great way to keep the whole family entertained. Soundcore Nebula P1i smart projector with WiFi and Bluetooth, available from Anker from £369.99 transforms your camping nights into an immersive entertainment experience. It’s the world’s first smart portable projector with flippable speakers.
The soundcore Nebula Capsule Air ultra Google TV mini projector is also a great pocket sized choice. It operates on Google TV with access to over 30,000 apps (including Netflix, YouTube).
The Fresh n Rebel Code Junior Headphones (£29.99) are great for kids, with safe volume limits and long battery life. Children can listen wirelessly or plug in with the included Buddy Beats cable for endless music and movies.
The Buddy Beats cable also allows two pairs of Code Junior headphones to be connected, meaning kids can share music with their best friend or watch their favourite movie together. Available from Argos.
These pocket games Hoddog and Sosig are compact and fun – perfect for evenings in the tent. Available from Amazon from £7.99.
Safety must-haves
Acme Survival Whistles are lightweight, reliable, and essential for emergencies—no batteries required. Survival whistles are an excellent means of communication and are not reliant on a source of electricity.
I never go anywhere without my electrolytes,. These ones from O.R.S Hydration are ideal for taking on trips to stay hydrated and healthy from £7.99.
Towels & beach gear
Don’t be caught out by forgetting towels, perfect for camping trips by the sea. Online Home Shop have all of the essentials you need for a stylish summer. With picks from as little as £3, shoppers can stock up for holidays or staycations, without breaking the bank.
Keep the whole family fresh and dry on your next camping trip with Lifeventure’s new Striped SoftFibre Recycled Towels. Lifeventure’s highly absorbent SoftFibre fabric is made to absorb nine times its own weight in water and also dry eight times faster than a conventional towel. Available from Lifeventure for £21.99.
It’s worth noting that you can get some good second-hand bargains if you want to keep costs down.
New data from Gumtree reveals a 42% month-on-month increase in camping-related searches in April 2026.
Demand is being driven by essential kit, with camping tables (+81%), camping chairs (+70%), tents (+44%) and camping stoves (+38%) among the most searched for categories, as consumers look to cut the cost of getting outdoors.
Andy Harper, CEO at Gumtree, said: “Camping is fast becoming one of the most affordable ways for Brits to get away this summer, and we’re seeing a clear shift towards second-hand first as people look to cut costs.
“At the same time, it’s a big opportunity for sellers. A lot of this gear is only used once or twice, so people can easily turn unused items into extra cash while helping others enjoy the outdoors for less.
“People are looking for the full camping set-up and not just browsing tents. Shoppers can save hundreds of pounds by opting for pre-loved over new.