Outdoor clothing and footwear
As with any trip, it’s important to pack the right clothes and footwear and, just like when you fly abroad and are limited by the size of your suitcase, so, too, are you limited by the amount of storage space in your campervan.
In bigger campervans, you may have bespoke wardrobes and cupboards for your clothes. In smaller campervans, however, any storage space is likely to be given over to other things, such as gadgets and gizmos. Instead, consider getting a holdall for your clothes. This is better than a suitcase because it’s soft and squashable, so is easier to pack in the campervan. A holdall is also easy to grab for a spontaneous weekend away and can easily be brought back into the house when you get home.
What you pack will depend on the time of year, where you’re going and what plans you have when you get there, but there are some basic guidelines you can follow.
First of all, clothes that are lightweight and quick-drying are very practical. Any outdoor shop will sell a vast array of such clothing, so consider investing in a few shirts and t-shirts, as well as a couple of pairs of trousers, shorts, etc. If you get caught in a shower or need to do any laundry, specialist outdoor clothing is easy to hand wash and will dry quickly, compared with cotton garments and heavy jeans, for example. Similarly, a good alternative to bulky jumpers is fleece tops, which come in a wide range of weights and thicknesses, with or without zips. Such clothing doesn’t need to be neatly folded, so can easily be squashed into a holdall, or rucksack when you’re out and about. A versatile coat is another campervan accessory essential. A popular choice is a three-in-one jacket, which is a waterproof coat with a fleece that zips inside – both the waterproof and fleece jackets can be worn individually or as one. Another option is to buy a waterproof jacket and an insulated jacket separately. Whichever you choose, these will be easier to pack in the campervan and will perform better in the outdoors than your finest coat for a night out on the town is likely to.
Whilst you may not think you need to pack a hat and gloves unless you camp in winter, it can still get chilly in the evening when you’re camping in the great outdoors, so these are handy items to keep in your campervan, too.
When it comes to footwear, storage space in your campervan is likely to be very limited – especially if you’ve got a whole family to pack for, so think carefully about what you really need. For relaxing on the campsite and strolling to the facilities block, a pair of flip-flops, Crocs or similar is best. Bear in mind that grass is often wet, so opt for something made of rubber or plastic rather than leather or canvas. It’s also a good idea to keep something on your feet when using the showers on campsites, so things like flip-flops are ideal.
Campsites are often muddy places, too, so a pair of welly shoes (which take up a lot less room than welly boots) will also come in handy. Both types of footwear can easily be kicked off before getting back inside your campervan, which will help to keep mud, sand, etc, outside.
For day-to-day wear, this really depends on you but, as a general rule of thumb, a pair of trainers (comfortable for driving and walking around town), as well as a pair of walking boots (best for general walking in the outdoors), should prove suitable for most campervanning adventures.