The best camping equipment, according to a wild camper of 14 years

Next, there’s nothing like a hot chocolate under the stars or a warm coffee while you listen to the dawn chorus, and for that you need a mug. It’s expensive, but I love the classic Kuksa, a hand-carved wooden mug made by the Sámi, an indigenous group who live nomadically in Scandinavia. I’d choose this every time over a metal cup, which I find leaves the liquid too hot and burns my tongue, whereas wood is perfect and water drunk from it tastes divine.

To keep my phone running, I always take a powerbank. My cheap and cheerful Belkin model does the job and doesn’t weigh much.

Everyone should take a water bottle to camp, but I always take a Sigg Traveller, because it conducts heat rather than contains it. Before I go to bed I boil water, fill the bottle, wrap it in a fleece and use it as a hot water bottle. Then by morning, it’s cooled down so I can drink it.

The camping kit you can live without

As long as camping has been mainstream, there have been manufacturers trying to sell you “must-have” items. Ignore them. They will take up space in your bag, and eventually, in landfill.

Examples that spring to mind include lamps (a headtorch strung from the roof of your tent works just as well) and French presses. For me, cowboy coffee – boiling the ground up beans and letting them settle in the bottom – is where it’s at. Camping kettles are also redundant; your stove will do this job and nearly all have pouring lids now. Another bugbear of mine is portable radios with torches, they are unwieldy, unnecessary and will annoy your neighbours. And don’t get me started on tent heaters. Finally, I’d veto marshmallow toasting sticks (find a stick – they are free).

Phoebe Smith is host of the multi-award-winning Wander Woman Podcast.