Any avid and experienced camper will already have their camping holiday plans in place for 2026. Once the mornings and evenings start to get lighter and the first buds of spring start to appear on the ground, we typically start to think about our summer holiday, and for those who enjoy camping, the warmer weather is just the invitation they need. But the success of any camping trip is based on three categories:
- Essentials – Those things you simply have to bring along to enjoy a basic level of comfort, hygiene and survival.
- Organisation – Those items that make the holiday more practical and enjoyable in a confined space exposed to the elements.
- Luxuries – A limited number of ‘luxury’ items which we can’t live without and, although they fly in the face of the ‘back to basics’ ethos of camping, simply make sense for everyone involved.
These should form the basis of your summer 2026 camping checklist, and all the items listed below neatly fall into one of these three categories. Experienced campers know that you can’t have enough equipment, and that this needs to be checked and stored correctly over the winter months. Investing in camping equipment can be an expensive business, and the market is flooded with items which fall into the grey area between ‘essential’ and ‘luxury’ depending on your tastes and standards. Nevertheless, the first two items on your checklist of things to remember are:
- Storage – When you pack away your camping equipment after your final trip of the previous year, is it suitably protected to prevent moisture and damp ingress? Make sure you invest in camping equipment bags and covers to ensure your items are suitably protected over winter.
- Inspect – A few weeks before your camping trip, inspect all your equipment and check it is still in good condition. If you need to replace items because they haven’t been adequately protected with camping equipment bags and covers, it may take some time to organise replacements.
After that, you are preparing for your holiday and need to check-off the following items:
- Tent – You need to check your tent condition and air it before your trip, including your ground sheet.
- Bedding – Sleeping bags, pillows and memory foam mattresses are essential for your overnight comfort.
- Clothing – Travel light, but think about layers because you can add and remove these as necessary. Also think about waterproof gear and how muddy you are likely to get.
- Food – You need basic food that can be cooked and warmed up on a gas stove or a barbecue, and which can be stored suitably without a fridge. You should also bring plenty of utensils, a washing up bowl and a portable table.
- Lights – Portable lights and torches are essential for getting ready for bed and during the night.
- Hygiene and safety – Porta pottis, a first aid kit, wipes and tissues will all come in handy.
- Comfort and luxuries – Take your pick here, but these could easily include camping chairs, windbreakers or a gazebo.
- Organisation – Keeping the inside of your tent clean and tidy is essential for everyday functioning, so small things like a tent peg bag, sleeping bag cover, walking boots and wellies bag and a laundry bag can be really useful for maintaining a clean, dry and practical space in your tent.
At Bags & Covers Direct we can supply protection for your camping equipment with bags and covers for many of the items listed above. Our bags and covers protect your equipment over winter, enable you to transport them easily on your trip and also help to keep a small tent space tidy and organised during your trip. So check out our range of camping equipment bags and covers and get ready for another year of camping fun in 2026.