A simple camping trip debrief

By the Overlanding.info team · Updated 21 October 2026 · Sources checked 21 October 2026

The short answer

After each trip, spend ten minutes on six questions: what you used, what stayed packed, what was hard to reach, what got wet, what needs cleaning or repairing, and what you'd borrow or hire before buying. Write the answers down, deal with anything wet first, then update your kit list before the next trip.

The full list is below, ready to copy. Do the drying first: TentBox, for example, says a roof tent packed away wet should be reopened within 24 hours to avoid mould and mildew. TentBox FAQs.

The checklist

Do this on the day you get home:

• Open the tent, or unpack a ground tent, and dry it as the maker says.
• Take out the mattress and bedding and air them indoors.
• Empty the cool box and wet-kit box.
• Hang up waterproofs and dry boots as their makers' care labels say.

Then, within a day or two, answer these:

• Used: Which items did we use every day? Which did we use once?
• Stayed packed: What never came out of its bag? Did we bring it "just in case", and was that case likely?
• Missing: What did we wish we'd brought, and what did we use instead?
• Hard to reach: What did we have to unpack the car to find? What should travel nearer the door next time?
• Wet: What got wet: tent, mattress, bedding, clothes, boots? Did water come in, or was it condensation?
• Cleaning: What needs cleaning before it's stored?
• Repairs: What's damaged, worn or missing: zips, poles, pegs, ladder parts, fixings, stove parts?
• Borrow or hire: What would we try borrowing or hiring before deciding to buy?
• Next trip: What are the three changes we'll make?

What did we use?

Note what earned its place. Items used every day stay on the list. Items used once might be worth bringing if they solved a real problem, or swapping for something that does more than one job.

This is the part to compare with your list from the kit list builder. Mark each item as used, unused or missing.

What stayed packed?

Anything that stayed in its bag for the whole trip is a candidate to leave at home, unless it's safety or emergency kit, which you'd keep even if you never needed it. For everything else, ask whether you'd have been worse off without it.

Leaving unused kit at home frees space in the car and keeps weight down. The overlanding kit list explains what each core item is for.

What was difficult to reach?

Write down anything you had to dig for: waterproofs under the bedding, the stove under the cool box, the head torch at the bottom of a bag. Next time, pack those last, or give them a fixed place. Our guide to packing a car for camping has an example layout.

What got wet?

Work out where the water came from. Rain getting in through an open window or a zip is a different problem from condensation, which builds up inside on cold or damp nights even when the tent is sound. See condensation, drying and storage for the difference and what helps.

TentBox's storage guide says closing a tent while it's damp is the biggest cause of mould. It suggests checking the underside of the fold-out base and the fabric along the hinge line, and storing the mattress and bedding indoors because foam holds moisture for longer. TentBox storage guide. Follow your own tent maker's drying instructions.

What needs cleaning or repairing?

Clean before you store. The same TentBox guide recommends mild soap and warm water, and says to avoid household detergents and solvents because they can strip the water-repellent finish. It also suggests reproofing the fabric once a year and, if the tent stays on the car, re-tightening the fixings every few weeks. TentBox storage guide.

For repairs, start with the maker. Some sell replacement parts for specific models: TentBox, for example, lists ladders, ladder mounts, fixing brackets, covers and mattresses. TentBox spare parts. Check the warranty before you fix anything yourself. TentBox's excludes failures caused by not following its storage, installation, use or maintenance instructions, and repairs by anyone other than TentBox or an authorised provider. TentBox warranty policy.

What would we borrow or hire before buying?

If the debrief points to something new, try it before buying it. Borrowing from friends costs nothing. Some roof tent hirers also hire extras: Midlands Roof Tent Rentals lists roof bars and camping equipment such as chairs, tables and fire pits, and Adventure Equipped offers extras such as a kitchen-in-a-box and furniture. Midlands Roof Tent Rentals; Adventure Equipped. Check what's available and the current price with each hirer.

If the big question is the tent itself, our guide to hiring or buying a roof tent helps you weigh it up.

Update your kit list

Take your three changes and the used, unused and missing notes, and update your list in the kit list builder while the trip is still fresh. Then you're ready for the next trip.

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