It can be a very daunting task making lists for your camping trip, especially if you are bringing children along.
The lists can be endless, and often you feel the pressure of making sure you haven't forgotten anything as a lot of campsites are out in the wilderness with no nearby stores.
There is the basic equipment which if you are the head of a family is a no-brainer such as sleeping bags, cutlery, adequate clothing etc.
But the absolute essentials that are not necessarily apparent would include:

1. Mallet.
   Without a mallet your camping trip will not be going far, if you have ever tried to push tent pegs in by hand you will know what I am saying.
   A camping mallet is essential for hitting in those camping pegs and also other odd-jobs around the campsite.
   
2. Tent pegs.
   Now you may be thinking this is obvious, but what I am talking about here is plenty of spare tent pegs.
   Believe you me they just disappear, it's like your loose change down the back of the sofa going into a black hole.
   One popular type of tent peg now is the biodegradable plastic, so if you do lose them at least you know it will really disappear.
   
3. Water container.
   It will save you time, often your pitch is a distance away from the campsite communal tap.
   You really do not want to be going back and forth every time you wish to boil the kettle for a cup of tea.
   
4. Fuel.
   Spare fuel for your gas stove, either in a cartridge or liquid fuel if that is the fuel you are using.
   You do not really understand how much fuel you use before you go camping; it puts into perspective how much you use for cooking etc.
   
5. Headtorch.
   This is really a great little tool for freeing up your hand so you can use them for task such as lighting stove, or finding something in your tent in the dead of night and also for reading in bed.
   
6. Air pump.
   If you are going to be blowing up airbeds you need one.
   Do no try and attempt blowing up airbeds by hand it is pretty much impossible.
   A foot pump or electric pump will do the job adequately.
   
7. Tarpaulin and poles.
   This is great to chuck in the back of the car for your camping trip.
   If you are planning on using a kitchen area outside your tent you can easily pitch a make-shift kitchen area with tarpaulin and poles.
   It may also benefit you to bring some spare cord to pitch it so it is more stable, this will in effect be a make-shift guy rope.
   
8. Duct tape.
   This for me is my number one essential for camping.
   It can pretty much repair anything instantly in the world of camping.
   I have used it on tears on my tent as a temporary repair and punctured airbeds.
   It really is a cheap versatile repair kit for camping.