Top Tips & Tricks For Your Next Camping Trip
Summer is upon us which can only mean one thing, it’s time to go camping!
Whether you are looking to go to some weekend music festivals this year or just to go out into the wild for your holidays, we’ve got some great camping tips for students that will help you have the best time, in a safe way.
The summer is full of possibilities, from interrailing in Europe, to staying in the UK and seeing what it is all about.
It is always important to have some knowledge in your back pocket whatever you are doing, and our tips and guides are here to help.
Camping Tips For Music Festivals
There are so many music festivals in the UK and quite a few of them are long weekends where punters can camp on site for the duration.
Think of Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Bestival, and Green Man festival and the fun you can have watching your favourite artists perform on stage and having a wild time with your mates over a long weekend, camping together.
These are the times of your life, but it is best to be as prepared as you can if you are planning on camping at a festival this summer.
We’ve put together some music festival camping tips for you.
1. Buy A Larger Tent Than You Think
It is easy to think that all you need is the cheapest tent that you can find, because you’ll spend most of your time outside of the tent anyway, watching bands, drinking, meeting new people etc.
However, you do need to buy a tent that is larger than you think so that it will provide you with enough space to be comfortable and securely store your things for the weekend.
Trust us when we say, the better your tent, the better sleep you’ll manage to get.
2. Take A Good Sleeping Mat
Talking of sleep and comfort, another good camping tip for the festival season is to invest in a comfortable sleeping mat.
This is an essential part of your survival kit, a self-inflating mat that adds an extra layer of comfort that helps you to get some good sleep at the end of a long day of live music, dancing, drinking, and time in the sun.
Whilst some people take an air bed with them if they can’t survive a proper comfortable bed for the night, these tend to go down and they’re more faff than it’s worth – in our opinion anyway!
3. Arrive Early & Choose A Pitch Carefully
The earlier you can arrive on the music festival site, the better spot you can get for your tent.
Arriving late will mean you have to park further away from where you end up staying, and you’ll most likely have to squeeze your tent into whatever space is left over.
Always think about what you need, so make sure you are close enough to the toilets that it isn’t a pain to get to them, but not too close that you have to deal with the smell.
Avoid being too close to the footpaths as this makes it harder to get some quiet and sleep.
We’d also suggest clearing the ground before you pitch your tent to make sure there is no debris, or sharp stones and other materials that could damage your tent.
4. Prepare For Cleanliness
For both your personal hygiene and the cleanliness of your pitch, be as prepared as you can.
Bring bottled water with you to stay hydrated, but also to splash on yourself to cool down and to add some freshness and cleanliness to your body.
Wet wipes are an absolute essential for this very same reason, offering you an emergency shower if you can’t get to the shower units or they are that unpleasant (always a possibility).
Other than that, bring your own bin bags to dispose of rubbish and any waste. No one likes the person who lets their rubbish blow around in the wind.
Remember, you should always try and leave no trace when camping at music festivals, leave the space in the same way as you arrived!
5. Plan To Charge Your Phone
You’ll have your phone and maybe other bits that require charging over the weekend, so a portable battery pack that is fully charged is always one of the best music festival camping essentials that you can take with you.
You can also buy portable solar charging mats that you can use to power your essentials the whole time you are away, giving you some of your comforts.
Camping Tips For Out In The Wild
If you are thinking about going on a camping holiday this summer, as opposed to camping for a weekend at a music festival, the approach will be slightly different.
Here’s our top tips to help you out!
1. Decide On The Best Location
The UK has some fantastic camping opportunities for you to take advantage of.
With a wide range of different climates and terrain from the beaches of West Wales and along the South West of England right across the South Coast, to the Lake District, Peak District, Scottish Highlands, and everything in between.
There is something for all tastes, budgets, and if you are camping, plenty of camping sites for you to sign up to.
Make sure you choose the best location for you and your friends, that it is easy to travel to and from, and that it gives you the best experience for your tastes.
Whether you want somewhere close to the beach for water sports, you want to hike in the mountains, or just relax and chill out for a few days or weeks.
2. Follow The Rules
Every campsite will have a different set of rules. Always check with the specific camping site that you are due to pitch up at what the rules are exactly.
This could be quiet after a certain hour, a site that is child and animal friendly to a wide range of other stipulations.
Make sure you do not disturb your fellow campers during your stay by being too noisy, especially during the night.
3. Choose The Right Tent
If you’re wanting to get a good night’s sleep whilst on your camping trip, or perhaps you’re going on more than one adventure this summer, it pays off to invest in a good quality tent that sleeps as many people as will be in your group.
A good quality tent will have a better chance of surviving rain and leaks and staying undamaged during use.
They also offer better comfort levels!
4. Check & Practice Before You Leave
Before you leave for your summer camping trip, check that all your equipment is present and in good working order before you pack.
This goes for even the new equipment you have bought.
Practice setting up your tent and other camping gear, so you know what to do when you arrive on site and won’t be struggling to put a tent up as the light disappears on your first night.
5. Clean Up After Yourself
Take plenty of bin bags with you, and containers with lids that you can use to tidy up after yourself every day on site and before you leave to go home.
There is nothing worse than campers who litter on a site and have no care for other people staying close by.
6. Keep Warm & Be Prepared
Whilst it may be summer, you’ll still need a waterproof jacket and a fleece/hoodie to protect against the elements and to stay warm at night when the sun goes down.
Always check the weather forecast beforehand, as British summer time is wildly unpredictable.
It can vary to such a degree that you might have hot clear weather in the morning and a torrential downpour an hour later, you just never know what to expect!
7. Pack Enough Food & Drink
Take just enough with you so that you are not wasting food and drink through perishable goods.
Think tinned food and other food that can be cooked quickly on a fire or barbecue and will keep you going throughout your trip.
Of course, you can’t forget to bring some marshmallows to toast around the campsite!
Make sure you have plenty of water for your camping trip and stay hydrated, especially if the weather is hot.
8. Disconnect & Make Friends
One of the best things about a summer camping trip is to disconnect from the world for a bit.
Stay off your phone and social media for as long as you can, go for walks in nature, clear your mind from the stresses of university life, and speak to the other campers around you, making friends along the way.
That’s what camping is all about!
Whether you are heading out for a camping holiday this summer or you are looking for advice before you go to a music festival for a long weekend with friends, our camping tips are here to help.
We’ve covered both angles to let you know what’s best to take for a festival, and how to approach a few days on a camping site.
Where are you heading this summer for your own camping experience? What camping tips of your own do you have that our student community could benefit from? We’re always keen to hear your stories!
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