Sleeping pad

Campers should bring a thick sleeping pad, as much for insulation as for padding. A self-inflating type will be welcome in the mountains or in cold areas. If your pad of choice inflates in any way, bring a patch kit.

Stove

The “Gaz” butane/propane stove is the king of the European campgrounds, and its little blue cylinders can be purchased all over Europe. If you have one of these stoves, remember that the airlines will go berserk if you put one of those little propane bomblets in your luggage. The same thing goes for the bottle of gas for liquid stoves. Open fires are prohibited in most, if not all, European campgrounds, so if you’re camping, you’ll definitely need a stove. Note that stoves are for campers only; you won’t need one if hosteling.