Camping: what to pack?
Even though camping holidays have a lot to do with minimalism and the simple life, there are still a few staples you absolutely to have with you. The right clothes are just as important as a basic set of tools, a small first-aid kit and, of course, the appropriate travel documents.
To avoid stressful situations on holiday, we have put together a list of what to pack, including all the items that shouldn’t be left out of your luggage.
Clothes
To save weight and space, you should limit your choice of clothing to the bare essentials. Also bear in mind that almost all cities and towns, and even most campsites, have launderettes, or at least sinks so you can hand wash.
Your basic kit- which should, of course, be adapted to the weather conditions - should consist of:
- Underwear
- Socks
- Sleeveless shirts/vests
- T-shirts
- Sweatshirts/jumpers
- Warm jacket
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long trousers/jeans
- Multifunctional or light scarf
- Flip flops (especially for showering)
- Sandals
- Trainers/ballerinas
- Walking/running shoes
For warm destinations
- Bikini/swimwear
- Baseball cap or sun hat
- Shorts/dress
- Extra T-shirts/tops
For cool destinations
- Thermals
- Scarf/multiple scarves
- Gloves
- Thick socks
- Hat
Body care
Even in a camper van, there’s a certain amount of personal hygiene to be done. The standard kit consists of the following hygiene products:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Towels
- Soap
- Deodorant
- Shampoo
- Toiletry bag
- Razor
- Nail file and nail clippers
- Toilet paper
- Cotton buds
- Sunscreen
Documents and finances
It is particularly important that personal documents as well as cash and other means of payment are not left behind at home. The following items must always be in your luggage:
- Identity card/passport
- Cash
- Credit card/EC card
- Emergency ID card
- Booking confirmation for campsite or rental vehicle
- EU ID card for your dog
- Green card as proof of insurance abroad
- Health insurance card
- International health insurance
- Tickets (ferry, train, plane)
- Documents required for entry
- Vignettes for vehicle border crossings/toll tickets
Cooking and food
You should get yourself a small camping cooking set so you can take care of your physical well-being whilst on the road. Among other things, you will need the following items for your "mobile kitchen":
- Camping barbecue or cooker
- Pots/pans
- Cutlery
- Crockery
- Spatula, tongs and cooking spoon
- Sharp knives
- Ziploc bags
- Storage containers
- Washing-up liquid
- Dishcloths
- Washing-up sponge
- Bucket/washing-up bowl
- Lighter/matches
Accessories for your caravan or motorhome
Your camper van too needs some tender love and care while on the go. We therefore recommend the following accessories for protection against theft, rain and dirt:
- Anti-theft protection for your caravan, for example a drawbar lock with safety ball and support locks.
- Drawbar coupling head security device when your van remains parked for longer periods
- Jack
In addition, a high-quality safe will do an excellent job of keeping your personal documents and credit cards safe when you are not in your camper van. To ensure that boxes, suitcases and bicycles don’t set off on a journey of their own, you should also pay special attention to making sure they are securely mounted: Hard-wearing tension belts/lashing straps for lashing down boxes, e.g. in the boot
- Special lashing straps for securing bicycles or motorbikes, e.g. B. Spannfix from SAWIKO
- Lashing rails or fastening sets for transporting bikes and scooters at the rear
- Other useful accessories you can install yourself are available on our online shop.
Extra equipment
For a stress-free, relaxing holiday spent in comfort, we recommend preparing for a few different eventualities: Unexpectedly cool weather, minor repair work, spontaneously needed laundry, a power cut or an unplanned odyssey through small mountain villages are just as much a part of everyday camping life as sitting outside in the evening, staying in touch with loved ones at home and capturing your best memories in pictures. Therefore, you should also think about taking the following equipment with you:
- Maps/navigation device
- Mobile phone
- First-aid kit
- Blankets/sleeping bags
- Camping mat
- Pillow
- Torch
- Batteries
- Clothesline
- Clothes pegs
- Camping chairs/table
- Multitool or basic tool kit
- Camera and memory cards
- Laptop
- Chargers
- Water bottles / canisters
- Kitchen roll
- Washing powder
- Laundry bag
- Waste bags
- Candles/tea lights
- Sunglasses
AL-KO would like to wish you a very happy camping season and hopes you enjoy your adventures!
