SET off for your camping trip? You need to make sure that you arrive prepared, as you'll be far away from any shops.

Whether you’re pitching up at a festival or off for an exciting trek in the mountains, there are lots of things to consider to survive tent life.

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of living out of a backpack and camping without wifi or the comfort of your home, all snuggled up with friends.

So that it’s just exciting and doesn’t turn into a sketchy episode of Bear Grylls, you have to think of a few things in advance.

From sleep situations to having enough rations, there’s a lot to consider to fully enjoy staying in the wilderness.

To ensure you get a peaceful night's sleep and avoid any catastrophes, we’ve put together the ultimate guide of what to take camping.

Camping Sleeping arrangements

Sleeping arrangements will be among some of the most important things to take camping.

Tent: We might be stating the obvious, but you really can’t afford to forget a tent if you’re going camping.

There are many tent options out there and it's often an investment so make sure to think in advance about a few things before splashing out.

Love going on solo trips? One-person's tent might be what you need, and it'll be less heavy therefore easier to carry if you've got a hike planned. But if you're often going on a family's trip, invest in a larger and more spacious option.

Sleeping bag: Another obvious camping staple is a sleeping bag. We suggest investing in a quality purchase that would serve you years to come. 

We've created this handy sleeping bag guide helping you to find the right sleeping bag to suit your needs. As a rule of thumb, we'd suggest investing in a warmer sleeping bag and opting for synthetic fill as it can dry out quicker and weight less.

• MSR Elixir 2 Backpacking Tent, £275 from Costwold Outdoor – buy here

• Rab Solar 3 Sleeping Bag, £121.50 from Go Outdoors – buy here

Sleeping mat or an air bed: depending on the season, it might be extremely cold to sleep directly on the ground. Make sure you've packed a sleeping mat or an air bed to protect you from the cold that comes from the ground. Air beds are often a cheap and reliable option, giving you a good level of comfort. However, if you're going on a camping-hiking trip, make sure to choose something light and compact.

Pillow: going in a car? Then there's no need to compromise on space, so you might as well pack a pillow. However, if you lack space, a folded sweater can serve you well.

Camping chair: if you don't want to stand or lay down all the time, a camping chair is a must. We've created a handy guide helping you to choose the right camping chair to suit your needs.

• Sea to Summit Aeros pillowcase, £12.60 from Go Outdoors – buy here
• SilentnightDouble Flock Pump Airbed, £45 from Millets – buy here

Camping clothing and footwear

Depending on the length of your adventure, you'll need to have enough extra clothing and comfortable footwear.

We suggest buying your outdoor clothes in shops specialising in outdoor and sports clothing as you'll get a good variety of waterproof and windproof outwear.

Check out the likes of Go Outdoors, Millets, Dectahlon and Mountain Warehouse.

Jacket: weather can be unpredictable and we suggest investing in a quality jacket to protect you from cold, rain and wind. Even in summer evenings, the temperature can drop significantly so you need to be packed with a proper jacket.

Layers: in addition to obvious things like comfortable trousers and tops, we suggest packing a few warm layers. That might come in very handy if the night turns to be colder than you thought.

Underwear and socks: make sure to pack extra underwear and socks.

Quality footwear: if your camping adventure involves hiking, proper footwear is a must. Look out for waterproof options, and we'd also suggest testing out your shoes before the actual trip – you don't want to have blisters on your feet when on a trip.

• Berghaus Women's Glissade III, £129 from Millets – buy here
• Berghaus Men's Kinglas Pro Jacket, £126 from Millets – buy here

• Women's waterproof walking shoes, £44.99 from Decathlon – buy here
• Men's mountain trekking shoes, £64.99 from Decathlon – buy here
• Women's fluffy leggings, £15.99 from Mountain Warehouse – buy here
• Betty Merino Wool base layer, £63 from Sweaty Betty – buy here

Camping kitchen essentials

Eating alfresco can be a wonderful experience, bringing the whole family closer together.

In order to have an enjoyable experience, you'll need to be properly equipt and sort out all of the tools and gadgets in advance.

If you're mostly camping with your partner, you won't need to invest in a massive grill.

Off with the whole family including kids? You might want to invest in larger pieces of alresco dinning as it will take less cooking time.

Outdoor kitchen equipment can vary in price too. We suggest not trying to save money in this area: often pricier items are made of better materials, meaning they'll last longer.

Camping tove/BBQ: a good stove is one of the essentials and will come in extremely handy when you'll be craving for a warm meal.

You'll most likely to find some great two-burner stove options as they tend to be rather popular. Always think in advance about how much space you'll have for packing.

Fuel and matches: make sure you've got the right fuel for your stove and something to light it up with.

Camping pots and pans: we suggest investing in light and compact options, saving you precious packing space.

Mugs plates, and cutlery: similar advice as with pots, look out for light and compact sets. There are some great multifunctional cutlery sets that can save some extra space.

Camping food: the last but most definitely not the least in our camping kitchen essentials. We suggest deciding on the menu way before the trip, so you can do your shopping for each meal in advance to be fully ready. Usually, camping food involves a lot around pasta and noddles.

Handy items and entertainment

It's normal to feel a bit confused about camping entertainment, if you're new to the game. The answer depends on your likings: you can cook, chat, read or simply go exploring the surroundings.

However, you can pack a card or any other game to keep you and your family entertained for a long period.

First Aid Kit: we suggest packing a full first aid kit in case of an emergency.

Torch: off to explore nature during night? A good torch is a must.

Cards: all the tricks you've ever learned will be something to show off.

Group games: especially if you're travelling with family, we'd suggest packing a game to keep you all busy and engaged.

• 90 Piece Premium First Aid Kit Bag, £16.99 from Amazon – buy here
• Uno Card Game, £4.40 from Amazon – buy here
• Aneco Toys Toss and Catch Paddle Game Set, £11.99 from Amazon – buy here

• Aomees LED Torch, £13.99 from Amazon – buy here

Take a look at our extensive guide if you're looking to purchase a sleeping bag.

Off to a hike? Here's the full list of the things you'll need.

Sun Selects is designed to help you find the right product for your needs.

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