I’ve completed several wild camps over the last few years, and in those camps I have really learned some valuable lessons. Like remember a spoon.

On my first wild camp i went to a place called Brockwell Woods, it was a semi-wild camping experience. I had a Highlander Blackthorne 1 tent and enthusiasm. Firstly, I hadn’t fully realised how cold and dark it would get on 25th October 2016. Also I couldn’t light a fire, and I didn’t bring anything to eat my food with. I remember humping in 5l of water and several tins of All Day Breakfast. Once I’d opened my tins,  “I’ll whittle a spoon!” I thought and promptly cut my finger. I was so under prepared, I was in my 1 man tent/coffin by 8pm. I also had no ear plugs so got woken in the early hours by the terrifying screams of some nearby foxes.

Fast forward nearly a decade and I’m slightly better prepared. I have a British Army bivvy and DPM Tarp for a shelter. I have a Thermarest sleeping mat and a Vango Cobra 200 sleeping bag, with a German army square mat to go under everything.  I have a crusader cup, stove and gas canister cook set. I have proper layered clothing and hats an gloves for autumn too.

I also have the experience and confidence go to local open access land and find myself somewhere quiet to hide away for a night when I need it.

My Kit List for a one night Autumn Wild Camp

Shelter & Sleep System

Osprey Rook backpack 65l

DPM camo basha tarp (2.5 m × 1.8 m) with paracord at corners

British Army bivvy bag (front zip)

German Army folding mat (underlay inside bivvy)

Thermarest Trail Lite sleeping mat

Vango Cobra 200 sleeping bag

Cooking & Food

Crusader cup (cook + eat from same pot)

Gas stove + fuel canister

Left-hand heavy-duty gardening glove (for hot pot handling)

Spork / spoon

Small pot scrubber

Food for trip: couscous/rice, dried sausage, wrapped cheese, protein bars, coffee, hot chocolate

Water & Hydration

1.5l plastic bottle

1l spare bottle (for filtering in to)

Sawyer Mini water filter

Hygiene & Health

Orange toilet trowel

Toilet paper + zip-lock waste bag

Hand sanitiser

Moisturiser / barrier cream

Anti-chafe balm / Vaseline

Spare socks and underwear (1 clean set)

Any medication

Navigation, Electronics & Safety

Compass (and back-up)

Map case

OS Maps app with offline GPX

Rechargeable headtorch

Anker PowerCore 10000mh power banks

Samsung S24 FE smartphone

Akaso EK7000 action camera (128 GB SD card)

Whistle

Mini first aid kit

USB-C headphones

Emergency Orange Plastic Survival bag

Clothing & Footwear

Montane Terra Pants – Flint

Montane Fleet Shield Jacket – Shadow

Montane Featherlite Down Jacket

Mountain Warehouse Downpour over-trousers

Scarpa Rush GTX boots

Darn Tough socks

Ice Breaker Boxers

Buff

Woolly Hat & Sealskin Gloves

Tools & Miscellaneous

Duck tape wrapped around hiking poles

Paracord & bungee cord

Small stuff sack

Osprey bag liner

Foldable sit mat

Leki Khumber Lite AS trekking poles

This come in at 11.kg without food or water. I definitely think I could lighten up on the tarp and bivvy bag. I have a Mountain Warehouse bivvy but I’m not sure how strong or water proof it is compared to the safe and sturdy British Army bivvy. It is all a trade off.

I feel like I have enough kit to make it a few days out, and that’s one of my goals to hit some remote locations for a wild camp and to stay in the same spot for a day or two. Obviously leaving no trace!

What are some suggestions or changes I can make? Add to the comments below!