The days are getting longer, the air is starting to lose its icy chill, and the gentle hum of midges waking after their wintry slumber can be heard drifting along the wind: it must be camping season.
But if that perfect Scottish Highlands camping holiday has so far eluded you, then don’t worry! Arnold Clark Autoparts is here to provide you with the gadgets and gizmos that are guaranteed to boost your camping experience to new heights of family fun.
Setting up
Finding the perfect spot for your camping trip can be tricky to say the least. And of course, what constitutes the perfect spot will be different for everyone; some may want a perfect view, some may want nature trails nearby, and some may want a hotel room. But what you can do is have the tools on hand to make setting up that much easier, and maybe a few extras to help make it even better.
One of the big issues when setting up your tent is missing components. One missing peg can spell disaster for your camping comfort. Avoid that nightmare by bringing along spare parts that can be used in an emergency (or if you just want to add some extra support on a particularly windy outing). The Peg & Mallet Kit from Arnold Clark has everything you need in case important parts of your tent set-up are missing. It’s small and easy to carry and can give you peace of mind that you won’t need to sleep tentless.
But just ensuring you have a tent doesn’t quite constitute a perfect camping trip, so make sure you bring along the 500cm x 140cm Polyester Wind Break Blue as well. This lightweight wind break is ideal for protecting you and your family from unwanted wind and is ideal for any trips to the beach you might want to enjoy during your camping trip. It may not seem like much, but being able to create a little extra shelter for your campsite can make or break a trip, and considering how easy this wind break is to pack and carry, there really isn’t much of a reason to not bring it.
Finally, if you plan on making the most out of all the available space, don’t forget to utilise your car! With the Inflatable Car Mattress from Arnold Clark Autoparts, you can turn the back of your car into a makeshift bedroom. Perfect while travelling on the road or as extra space for children. The mattress comes with extra pillows and reinforced stitching to prevent any slow punctures.
When you are set up
Camping may be great fun, but it does suffer from a lack of some of the modern amenities we, as a society, have come to expect. Don’t let your camping trip suffer by including these handy camping essentials to bring the comfort of the city to the great outdoors.
First, it is easy to overlook our furry companions when it comes to our outdoor adventures. Afterall, they love the outdoors, what more could they need? However, it’s important to remember that our pets need some rest and recovery time as well, and if it happens to be particularly hot (as shocking an idea as that might be), then it can be difficult for them to find adequate shelter from the heat. Bring along the Pet Cool Mat, with its waterproof and hygienic wipe-clean surface and gel technology that safely dissipates your pet’s body heat, to ensure that every member of your family gets the perfect camping trip they deserve.
From furry babies to actual babies now. When travelling anywhere with young children, toilet facilities are always a concern. Bringing a Travel Potty can go a long way to help alleviate the worry that comes with holidays and little bladders. This is a great tool to have for campsite, but also for the journey to get there, as it’s not always a guarantee that there will be a rest stop available in time while driving through the wilderness. This makes having a potty easily to hand essential for any family travelling with young children. This travel potty is easy to carry, includes secure fastening and is ready assembled, so it’s ready for any emergency.
Cooking
What is a camping trip without outdoor cooking, sizzling meat over the fire, and the inevitable arguments on whether an undercooked sausage will hurt you? (It will, by the way.)
Some may feel confident in feeding their entire family from a campfire that they managed to wrangle from twigs, branches and sheer determination, but don’t worry if that’s not for you! If you want an easy and effective way to BBQ while exploring the great outdoors, you can’t go wrong with a portable grill such as Yoga BBQ Grill / Camping cooker. This effective and easy-to-clean grill runs on batteries and charcoal to give you the perfect BBQ experience wherever you roam – and requires absolutely no gathering of branches.
And while BBQs are an important part of camping, a good cup of tea is an essential part of any experience. That’s why it is so important to bring along an effective kettle, such as the Collapsible Travel Kettle from Arnold Clark Autoparts, for all your hot water needs. Not only is this ideal for a proper brew; it is quick, effective, and takes up almost no room while travelling.
Of course, if you are going to dine outside, you will need appropriate crockery and cutlery to boot. There’s no point bringing the fine china to the middle of the wilderness, and paper plates and plastic forks are a massive hassle for any trip longer than an evening. Finding resilient crockery that is also pretty stylish is hard to find, unless you check the Arnold Clark Autoparts website, which has the 16 Piece Table Set available right now.
Cleaning up
Of course, it’s always important to clean as you go when camping. Whether you're a mountain biker, a dog walker, a camper or simply love spending time in the great outdoors, trailing mud into your car, tent or caravan is never a happy end to the day. What's more, leaving dried-on dirt on your outdoor equipment doesn't do it any favours - it's much better to rinse it off as soon as possible. That's where the Kärcher Portable Cleaner comes in - a simple and lightweight solution for cleaning on the go.
Meanwhile, for those concerned about personal hygiene, why not try the 12V portable shower? Perfect for caravan holiday makers, campers and festival goers, it’s durable, lightweight and it's purposefully designed for where there is restricted access to a mains water supply. You might also want to splash out on the portable flushing toilet, with capacity for up to 50 flushes at a time.
Going the extra mile
Finally, if you really want your camping trip to stand out, make sure you bring something that gives it that little bit extra. Try giving it a festival vibe and bring your favourite tunes for everyone to enjoy – if you really are out in the wilderness, you won’t be disturbing anyone except the sheep (and who knows, maybe they will love your Spotify playlist). If you don’t have any suitable speakers to hand, try these travel friendly speakers, available as both large and small, that will bring pack big sounds into a small frame.
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Image credit: Header image by Kranken Images via Unsplash.com
