The Liberty Camping Survival Guide
Whether you’re a hesitant novice or want to make camping as you know it far more luxurious, make your new home away from home the envy of the campsite with the help of this glamping packing list
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The Liberty Camping Survival Guide
Whether you’re a hesitant novice or want to make camping as you know it far more luxurious, make your new home away from home the envy of the campsite with the help of this glamping packing list
By: George ElliotCamping in its traditional, pared-back form isn't for everyone. In fact, as you’re here reading this glamping packing list, there’s a strong possibility that you’re either A) a homebody that loves their creature comforts and so has never set foot on a campsite before, B) a well-meaning friend that's reluctantly agreed to a camping trip and wants to make the experience as painless as possible, or C) someone that wants to go camping but isn't prepared to “rough it”. Either way, you’re in luck as this checklist includes everything you’ll need to make your time in a tent far more ritzy than rugged. Whether you’re prepping for a festival or you’re joining your family on a literal escape to the country, here’s how to master campsite life, the Liberty way.
A Big Bag
First off: luggage. On your way to camp, you’ll no doubt be trekking over rugged and potentially muddy fields so forget anything with wheels or that’s back-breaking even before you’ve filled it to the brim. Instead, have Liberty’s Print with Purpose Fantasy Forest Tote, £245 to hand, a lightweight and robust bag that’s got enough space inside for all your new and improved camping kit.
Read more: The Best Designer Bags to Invest In
A Little Bag
Next on your list is a small shoulder or cross-body bag that’s both roomy enough for your everyday essentials and totally hands-free in preparation for whatever activities your itinerary has in store. It’ll have to be one of the season’s most coveted, too. Practical but far from boring, the Eastpak x Telfar Small Shopper, £105 ticks all the boxes.
Shop nowTwin-Sets and T-Shirts
Like socks and sandals or fake tan and white shirts, it’s long been said that camping and fashion also don't mix. But in reality, it is possible to go camping while maintaining some sense of style – if you pack smartly, that is. The trick? Opting for some twin-sets and t-shirts from your favourite brands, a mini capsule wardrobe you can easily mix and match into a larger lineup of looks.
Read more: How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe
Athleisure
It’s likely that your group’s “head camper” – the most experienced and enthusiastic member – has an itinerary of activities in store for you, from hiking to cycling and perhaps even horseback riding. This means saving space in your bag for the kind of athleisure that’ll help you look and feel great, miles on end, namely the Puma x Liberty Printed Shorts, £60 and matching Hoodie, £90.
Read more: Become a 'Hot Girl' in these Athleisure Outfits
A Dress (or Two)
Can’t bear the thought of leaving your summer dresses behind? Fret not as adding one to your camping kit like Liberty’s Margaret Annie Tana Lawn™ Cotton Gallery Dress, £225 is a must (if you fold and roll them up, make use of the gained space by adding a second). After all, you never know when you might come across a nice restaurant, or fancy channelling your inner Wuthering Heights era Kate Bush. Again, think practically as anything longer than midi-length will only get dirty and ultimately ruined.
Read more: The Best Dresses for Summer
An Extra Layer
You may be hoping for bright blue skies and balmy temperatures but let’s face the facts, British summers have a nasty habit of taking a turn for the worse. It’s best then to prepare for all weather-related eventualities, starting with Missoni’s Zig-Zag Metallic Woven Cape, £230, a throw-on-and-go layer that’ll combat any unwelcome chill. And in the case of a downpour, Moncler’s Veirade Parka Coat, £800 will stop your trip from being rained off.
Read more: How to Dress for Indecisive Weather
Sleepwear
When it’s time to retire to your tent, you’ll want to slip into a pair of pyjamas that are as delightful to lounge in as they are to look at, just like Liberty’s Shepherdly Song Short Set, £245. Blooming with charming florals and made from soft breathable hemp, they’ll help keep you cool on hot summer nights.
Read more: The Best Pyjamas for Relaxation
An Eye Mask
If the slightest ray of sunlight streaming through a gap in your bedroom curtains is enough to disturb your sleep, then achieving a full eight hours while staying in a tent will be virtually impossible. Enter Liberty’s Felix and Isabelle Tana Lawn™ Cotton Eye Mask, £45, your new light-blocking camping companion that’s essential for blissful, uninterrupted slumber.
Shop nowBedding
Camping in the great outdoors on a blowup mattress will never be as comfortable as sleeping in your own bed, but with a chill-cancelling blanket like Liberty’s Paramount Throw, £325 to keep you snug at night, you’ll get pretty close. To further ensure you get a good night’s sleep, take the pillow you lay on every night with you and cover it in Slip’s Queen Silk Pistachio Pillowcase, £89; it’ll help keep your hair and skin in tip-top condition.
Shop nowPillow Spray
It’s surprising just how comforting and important to sleep the familiar smell of your bedroom is. Sadly, you can’t bottle it, but a pillow spray infused with naturally relaxing and soothing essential oils is the next best thing. With notes of lavender, sweet basil and jasmine, the Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist 30ml, £22 from NEOM Organics is bliss in a bottle.
Shop nowOutdoor Diningware
Whether you decide to cook on a portable stove, barbeque or open fire, you’ll be giving the phrase “dining out” a new meaning while tent-side. But forget about hastily grabbing some mismatched cutlery and ultimately fragile tableware from the kitchen before heading out. Instead, do things properly with hardwearing, lightweight pieces practically made for alfresco dining.
Shop nowSPF
Wearing SPF yearound is already highly advised, but it's nothing short of paramount if you’re going camping and spending more time than usual outside. For maximum protection, opt for a broad-spectrum SPF 50+ to protect your skin against UVA and UVB rays, both of which cause hyperpigmentation, premature ageing and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Read more: The Ultimate SPF Guide
Hair Essentials
Even if they’re on offer, the risk of shockingly cold water, queues and long treks to and from the cubicles is enough to put even the most avid camper off communal campsite showers. This means maximising the time between hair washes with a few nifty products, like OLAPLEX’S No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo 250ml, £28. And if those roots get too greasy to cover, know that a simple hat can cover a multitude of hair-related sins.
Read more: Best Hats for Summer Sun
Fragrances
On a related note, because you won’t be washing yourself as thoroughly as you usually do at home, packing some items that’ll make you smell nice should also be high up on your agenda. Things to consider: your signature scent in a miniature size, a deodorant that’ll help keep you feeling fresh and specifically Diptyques Citronnelle and Geranium Body Spray 100ml, £46, a vibrant scent that also repels mosquitos.
Shop nowSkincare
There’s no need to put a complete pause on your beauty regime, but you will need a pared-back version. The closest thing you can really get to giving your face a good wash and especially refreshing for when the climate gets hot and muggy, NEOM's Organic’s Big Day Energy Face Mist 75ml, £26 will come to your rescue. Take MALIN + GOETZ’s Healthy Skin Starter Set, £28 with you too for nourished and purified skin, wherever you pitch your tent.
SHOP NOWEntertainment
Last up: entertainment. The joy of camping lies in its simplicity and its ability to let us switch-off, both metaphorically from daily stresses but also literally from the kind of electronic devices most of us spend hours on end staring at. So, instead of downloading Netflix shows onto your iPad, take inspiration from the good old days by taking a pack of cards with you and something riveting to read, like the latest edition of Liberty’s The Book.
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