What car camping gear to take with you?

Camping gear I personally use

I have listed more various items below, but here are my top personal picks that I carry to every camping trip. They add another level of comfort (or are absolute necessities).

A car camping tent (SUV tent) – extend your living space:

My top picks (see full review here)

I go camping with my girlfriend and dog, and this tent is more than enough.

MY TOP BUDGET PICK – Decathlon Arpenaz Base M

Lukas Cech – Nimblecamper.com

If you don’t mind it’s not meant to be used as a car tent – but it actually can do the job pretty well, you’re in for a treat – at only 99 GBP / 99 EUR (yep, cheaper in EU), you will get a pretty good tailgate tent – or a side door tent, you can make it fit both. Better for cars like Caddy, Berlingo, Shara etc – with lower height compared to a Multivan (as most car awnings are made for those). Confirmed to fit a Berlingo & Kangoo (see images below).

– Very cheap!!

– Height : 2.15 m | Floor area: 6.25 m2 | Comfortable for 6 people

– Openings on 3 sides | 3 mosquito nets

– Waterproof (200L per hour per m2)

– Packed size – rectangular cover | 57 x 18 cm | 18 litres

– Weight 8kg

– Easy set-up with a free-standing structure | Fibreglass poles

– The fabric filters UV radiation with a UPF of 30

– Withstands force 6 winds – around 50 km/h | Wind tunnel test

– doesn’t need a rail to be attached

– will not fit exactly as it’s not meant to be used with a car, but should do the trick – the opening is high enough for the tailgate + the sheet will protect from rain.

99 GBP / 99 EUR

Available at any Decathlon website for your country.
I recommend buying this foldable table + 4 chairs too – good ratings, price and takes up almost no space.

4.8

BUY on decathlon.co.uk

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  Renault Kangoo

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  Citroen Berlingo

I’d recommend this one for bigger families or even longer camping trips for 2 people – always good to have more room :).

Inflatable luxury for 6 people (3 bedrooms)
+ 170cm opening for any tailgate

Fits MPVs, SUVs, Bedrooms:140×210 cm | Stand-up living room:7,1 sqm with zipped basin groundsheet
Fresh fabric: reduces heat inside your tent in the sun

£549.99 – BUY NOW
at Decathlon UK

A foldable camping table – to eat from, cook, play games

You can sleep in your car, but if you don’t have a camping box fitted with a table – you’ll want some flat surface to put your coffee/tea/beer on. And breakfast, lunch, dinner. And cards or any other table game. And your portable cooker. Well – there’s plenty of need for a camping table + chairs. Make sure it’s a foldable one!

I have bought this one – it’s the smallest I’ve found (including 4 chairs) and pretty light. Works well for 2 and I’d say even more people. The chairs are basic – no backrest, I’m probably going to buy 2 bigger ones. But the table is still great – you won’t find any better at this price – 39.99 GBP.

Small, foldable and sits 4 with plenty of space for food preparation

BUY NOW
at Decathlon UK

Need a dedicated cooking area you can fold away when finished?

Foldable kitchen unit

BUY NOW
at Decathlon UK

Stay fit – portable exercise equipment

Exercise works best if kept regular – no need to stop if you are going camping – I carry these little helpers with me on every longer camping trip. You can find out more about them in my full portable camping exercise equipment review + other items I recommend.

Other camping gear I carry with me

Camping gas stove

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Buy at Decathlon.co.uk
£19.99

Need something more robust?

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Buy at Decathlon.co.uk
£99.99

Aeropress coffee maker

Because there’s never a good time for bad coffee! Quickly Makes Delicious Coffee Without Bitterness.

Buy at Amazon
£26.78

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Multitool

Because there’s always something to fix.

Buy at Amazon
£175

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More camping gear you might want to take

Car camping cooking stoves & sink/hob combo

Europe

(the URL will link to Amazon best for your country, despite the prices being in GBP)

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Storage nets for car camping

…because there’s never enough storage space 🙂

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Car camping other useful gear

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Car / SUV tents & awnings

Extend your living room + shaded area