Tent
−17%
only 3 of 9 remaining on sale
CHF147.– was CHF177.–
High Peak Tunnel tent Como 6.0
Tunnel tent, 9 kg, 6 persons
10 camping essentials for families
5.8.2025
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Martin Rupf
As a former scout, my earliest memories of camping go back a long way. But that didn’t help me much when I took my family on a camping trip. Now I know better. Here’s everything you need to pack to enjoy a relaxing camping holiday.
This summer, the time had finally come. We’d spent the occasional day on a campsite in the past, but this year we decided to do a full 2-week family camping holiday. We wanted to split the time between two campsites in Switzerland, but because it was so rainy, we spontaneously decided to head to a campsite in Tuscany.
Unsurprisingly, preparing for the trip was more time-consuming and nerve-wracking than booking a holiday home, let alone a hotel. The main questions were: what do we need to take with us to ensure we have a pleasant stay at the campsite? Which camping accessories will make our holiday a breeze?
Fast-forward a few weeks and we’re back from our trip, unpacked our luggage and dried the tent. And we’ve definitely learned a few important lessons.
Here are my key tips and insights for a smooth family camping trip.
1. Tent
First of all, we needed a decent tent. As this was a trial camping holiday and we didn’t know if we’d do it again, we didn’t want to spend too much money. After some research, we went for a six-person model made by High Peak.
Priced in the lower mid-range, it seemed to offer enough space and comfort. And the tent did its job. Even after a thunderstorm on the last night, it kept us dry inside.
But we weren’t entirely satisfied with our purchase. Why? Two of the fibreglass tent poles broke under the pressure. We were still able to put the tent up on our second stay in Ticino, but not without tiny fibreglass splinters piercing our fingers. Ouch.
My conclusion: if we were to go camping more regularly, I’d invest in a higher-quality tent.
Tent
CHF320.–
Easy Camp Familien-Tunnelzelt Leka Twin 6 (olivgr?n, Modell 2025)
Tunnel tent, 13.40 kg, 6 persons
Whichever tent you choose, always put a tarp under it so the floor stays dry.
Placing a small rug in front of the tent entrance proved to be extremely practical. It forced the kids and us parents to take our shoes off before stepping on the rug and later the tent floor.
2. Sleeping bags and camping mats
That’s the tent sorted. But what would we sleep in, and more importantly, what would we sleep on? We didn’t need to buy sleeping bags, we already had four. They all have synthetic fibre filling, which means they’re lighter than down sleeping bags and absorb less moisture.
Of course, down sleeping bags would’ve worked too, as they typically offer better protection against the cold. But they’re also bulkier and heavier.
Speaking of cold, the nights in Ticino were pretty chilly, and we were shivering in our thin polyester sleeping bags. Luckily, we’d borrowed silk sleeping bags that go inside a regular sleeping bag. And lo and behold, the thin silk layers actually kept us warm.
When it came to choosing camping mats, we weren’t sure what to do. Buy expensive mats or get cheap ones? In the end, we were able to borrow excellent camping mats from friends. They’re quite pricey, but worth every penny. After all, they’re literally the foundation of your sleep, and who wants to sleep poorly on their holidays?
3. Cooking equipment
We didn’t plan on cooking often during our holiday, but wanted to be able to make our morning coffee and the occasional bowl of pasta. So we borrowed a double gas stove from friends.
If there’s one gadget that’s essential for any camping holiday, it’s the Bialetti coffee maker.
If you prefer a slightly smaller cooker, a fuel stove is also an option.
And if you don’t want to rely on gas and have access to electricity, an electric hob is a great choice, too.
4. Cooling boxes
We almost took a regular cooling box with us.
However, knowing the temperatures in Italy would be about 30 degrees, we decided to go for an electric cooling box.
Fortunately, my brother-in-law let us borrow his. An electric cooking box keeps dairy products, meat and vegetables fresh and durable for a long time.
5. Camping tableware
When it comes to camping tableware, there’s an enormous choice. Galaxus alone offers over 2,000 products. As a general rule, camping tableware should be as light as possible yet robust. One thing we didn’t have and I missed dearly was a foldable water canister.
Another must-have is a foldable dish rack, which you can fill with dirty dishes and carry to the washing-up station.
And because a bit of style isn’t forbidden on a campsite and nobody wants to drink wine from plastic cups, I recommend getting plastic wine glasses.
6. Camping table
When it came to the table, we – unfortunately – chose a low-price model. Turns out it was too small and very unstable.
It’s definitely worth spending a bit more on a higher-quality table and making sure your drink doesn’t spill when you slice bread at breakfast.
7. Camping chairs
Almost more important than the choice of table is the choice of chairs and stools. Again, there’s a huge selection – almost 1,000 products. The classic choice for a campsite are folding chairs. They’re affordable, but not very comfortable.
If you have enough space in your car, it’s worth bringing one of these chairs with you.
However, we were particularly impressed by this model. We regularly lounged in these chairs and watched the sun go down. Very comfy.
8. Lighting
If you go camping for the first time, you’ll soon realise how much you miss having a light switch. My tip? Use a headlamp, so you always have both hands free.
For light inside the tent, we used a rechargeable battery-powered lamp that simply hangs from the tent roof.
If you want light on the table so you can see what you’re eating, I recommend this gas lamp.
I was particularly impressed by the small LED lights strung together on a string, giving every tent or caravan a magical touch.
And for the romantics among you, the good old barn lantern is a good choice.
9. Laundry accessories
I must admit, I felt like a complete noob when I started making clotheslines – quite a few of them – out of parcel string. Nothing beats metres of string to hang wet towels and clothes on.
I envied my neighbours, who had a proper camping washing line with them.
What’s more, a good rope is a must-have. You’ll always need it for something.
If you don’t want to hang your laundry on a line, I recommend this camping cupboard.
Or even more convenient, this hanging laundry rack.
10. Comfort
If you have enough space on your plot and it’s surrounded by trees – another plus, as they provide shade – I highly recommend bringing a hammock.
And if you like things particularly comfortable, not to say decadent, you can even take an inflatable sofa with you.
Conclusion: a nice holiday with room for improvement
Well, we didn’t have an inflatable sofa with us. Nonetheless, I’d describe our first proper family camping trip as a success. Having said that, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.
We’d thought of almost everything and remembered to pack all the essentials. In addition to a decent tent – although it’s best to only go to places where there’s little to no rain anyway – it’s especially important to invest in good, comfortable camping mats. After all, you can only really enjoy your holiday if you sleep well.
Header image: Martin Rupf
Martin Rupf
Senior Editor
martin.rupf@digitecgalaxus.chHalf-Danish dad of two and third child of the family, mushroom picker, angler, dedicated public viewer and world champion of putting my foot in it.
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