These days there are numerous gadgets and accessories to make camping very easy, but it’s also easy to get carried away with buying lots of stuff that you probably don’t need. You’ll have seen plenty of people absolutely packing their car to bursting point full of stuff they think they’ll need, and then not use most of it. For an eco-friendly camping trip there are things you can buy that will make your trip pleasurable and easier but also won’t harm the environment. And apart from the actual tent, I’m trying to choose things that would come in handy in other situations as well; as well as only choosing the stuff you actually need for a camping trip! Many of these items would also be handy for an emergency survival kit, if you like hiking make sure you read through that too.
One of the things that really baffles me is how many people seem to abandon their tents and camping equipment. We’ve seen a lot of this happening since lockdown measures eased, with tents and rubbish being left behind by awful people in scenic locations. However it’s been happening for years at music festivals, and it’s something I just don’t understand. Why do people buy something that can be used numerous times and then just leave it behind? Anyway, rant over…
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Eco-Friendly Camping Essentials
The Tent
In some ways it’s incredibly difficult to find an environmentally friendly tent. Most are made of synthetic materials, understandable really as they’re more likely to be waterproof. You can, however, buy canvas tents, teepees or yurts being a great example of this. Having said that, as long as you intend to reuse your tent for years to come, rather than just using it once and abandoning it (grr), any tent you buy will be at least somewhat eco-friendly.
When buying a tent, think about the type of camping trips you’ll be using it for and how many people need to sleep inside it. My biggest piece of advice is to invest in a decent tent that’s not too big for the number of people going camping. In many ways, buying 2 smaller tents is better than buying a massive family tent as you’re more likely to make use of them in the future. Another reason not to buy a massive one is that it will take ages to put up and take down, and that might put you off future camping trips, making your purchase a bit pointless.
Tents for short breaks
If you’re going on the type of camping trips where you stay in a different place each night, or you’re only going for one or two nights, you certainly don’t want to buy a tent that will take a couple of hours to set up. When you’re going on a cycling & camping trip (something I used to love to do), then you also need to consider the weight of all the equipment you’ll have to carry on your bike.
Bearing the above in mind, a pop-up tent is worth considering. I’m assuming you’re not camping in the arctic so a lightweight pop-up tent should be more than adequate.
Tents for longer camping trips
If you tend to head to one spot and camp there for 3 or more days before moving on or heading home, sturdier tents are worth considering. In these instances canvas tents are much more ‘eco-friendly’.
Sleeping
These days a lot of people take blow up mattresses to go camping, I’ve done it myself. I feel like it’s cheating though! And even though the beds are quite small when packed away, they’re certainly not suitable for cycling or hiking trips. So what are the options?
In the past I always used to sleep in a sleeping bag on a camping mat and use a folded up jumper as a pillow. These days I’d take my pilates mat, which doubles perfectly well as a camping mat and means you own something with multi-uses. It’s then up to you whether a sleeping bag or your existing duvet would be best for the type of camping trip you’re going on. If you need an actual pillow, just take one you already own.
- Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats (double as camping mats)
- 8 eco-friendly sleeping bags
Cooking & Eating
Whatever you do, don’t take a disposable BBQ with you (avoid single use items, wherever possible). Take a good old-fashioned camping stove which can be used numerous times, and is also incredibly handy if you ever have a power cut at home.
If you already own stainless steel pans I see no need for you to buy specific camping pans. Wherever possible it’s always best to use what you already have. They might not be suitable to carry on a bike though, so I’ve included a few stoves that come with suitable pans.
Camping Stove or Stove with Pans
- Foldable Camping Gas Stove – ultralight aluminium alloy and stainless steel.
- Camping Cookware Set With Stove And Pan – 6 pieces camping cookware kit includes 2 Aluminium Non-Stick Pots + 1 Camping Stove + 1 Spoon + 1 Cleaning Cloth + 1 Carry Bag
- All-in-one Camping set – 1Pcs Camping Cookware Kit including 1 mini stove + 2 aluminium non-stick pots + 1 spoon + 1 fork + 1 knife + 1 stainless steel cup (16oz) + 1 silicone insulated cup protector + 1 Tank Bracket + 2 Carry bag. Suitable for 1~2 people.
Cutlery, Plates, Cups
Again it’s worth mentioning that you might have suitable items at home already, however it’s nice to have lightweight items when camping so here are some of the more sustainable options available. I avoid plastic, you probably know that already, so I’ve stuck with natural materials with these options.
- Stainless Steel Mugs
– Various styles. - Camping Set (8-Piece Set) – Stainless Steel Plates, Bowls.
- Stainless Steel Portable Tableware Kit with Zipper Case, Spoon, Fork, Bowl for 2 People
- Bamboo Cutlery Set – with jute carry case
– Various styles.Torch
When you’re camping, it can get very dark! It’s always a good idea to own a torch, even if you have one on your phone, in case your phone runs out of charge. If you use rechargeable batteries already, you’re already avoiding single use batteries which would be suitable for most torches. I like the idea of a torch that can be recharged with a USB though. It’s worth considering a waterproof torch too, especially if you’re camping in the UK!
- USB Rechargeable Torch
- Waterproof, Zoomable, Rechargeable Torch – Comes with USB charger, and even a cycling handlebar mount and case to keep it in.
If you’re looking for a seriously cool bit of a kit, why not get yourself a torch that doubles as a USB charger for your phone, tablet or other devices. It can be charged using a USB port, its built in solar panel or by using a hand crank.
- Torch + Solar powered USB charger – 7 hours of battery life (or reduce the output for 48 hours battery life). Charge it using the built in solar panel, the hand crank or via USB port. It even has a USB port and can be used to charge your device. 1 minute of hand cranking provides around 20 minutes of light.
Solar Powered Charger
Another thing worth thinking about is a solar powered charger. This is certainly useful and not just for camping. There are numerous styles of solar powered chargers available. I would get one that is suitable for a variety of equipment rather than one that’s specific to one thing.
- Solar Charger – Foldable, Waterproof, 3 USB ports
- Solar Chargers (All)
I particularly like the Nomad 7 Plus solar charger (pictured) which you can purchase with an optional power bank to store energy for later use.
The Nomad 7 Plus is ultra lightweight and weather resistant. The battery pack even has a torch and can recharge your phone or tablet.
Maps & GPS
I have a tendency to get lost, so having a maps app or GPS would probably be a very good idea! Ordnance Survey provide both.
- Ordnance Survey Maps App – subscription service. Great for exploring Britain with access to 607 official OS maps. Download a map and access it when you have no wifi.
- GPS – for the serious outdoorsy types, these hand held GPS products are very handy indeed. Know precisely where you are and be able to communicate where you are to emergency services if the worst happens.
Other Handy Eco-Friendly Camping Accessories
There are so many things you can buy for a camping trip, a table and chairs being one of the most popular items. To be honest, I’ve never really seen the need to carry either, I’m perfectly happy to bring my camping mat outside and sit on that. However if you want to take a chair, try to buy well made ones that you would use at home in the garden anyway. If you’re driving you could take foldable wooden ones. They can be very lightweight, but obviously not as lightweight as synthetic materials. You could also try to find canvas chairs, but they might not last that long and canvas will take longer to dry if they get wet.
- Wooden / Canvas Camping Chairs
- Folding, camping picnic table
- Eco-Friendly Travel Essentials – toiletries, sunscreen etc
- First aid kit – handy to always have one of these in your car anyway. A basic first aid kit for minor injuries.
- Walkers kit – includes a small first aid kit, subscription to OS maps for a year, an emergency blanket, flask, compass, dry bag and more. If you’re going on a hiking & camping or cycling & camping trip I think this is a great bit of kit to take with you.
I’ve always loved camping but haven’t actually been on a camping trip for many years now. There’s something about waking up, crawling out of your tent to make a cup of tea and slowly waking up outdoors in a beautiful spot that just appeals to me. Enjoy your eco-friendly camping trip, and remember that anything you take with you, should come home with you! Don’t litter!
Camping not for you? Check out the best eco-friendly hotels in the UK.
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These are perfect. Thank you for the great post!