Nik & Max Berg took convertible camping to extremes in their Caterham Seven

When the great outdoors comes calling do you really need an RV? Jenni Doggett says a drop top and a bit of planning works perfectly.

My Skoda-owning cousin often mocks my little Mazda MX-5. While she can pack half a house in her capacious estate and a dog to boot, my car is altogether less suited to our frequent camping trips. I have toyed with a camper but my convertible is so much more fun, particularly on a long drive, that I can't quite commit to a solid roof no matter how much easier it might be. Plus the savings on fuel fund the odd night in a hotel. So over the years I have honed the perfect camping kit and packing hacks for the best of both worlds.

Jenni heads for beach in her perfectly-packed Mazda MX-5 Photo Roz Gordon

Downfall

It seems obvious but avoid luggage Jenga piling up in the passenger seat. I’ve had snack mountains topple across me on roundabouts and rogue wellies wedge the gearstick. I also need the cabin clear to access the petrol cap release which is hidden in a compartment only a contortionist can reach. Ditto the glove box which I smugly pack with vital items which become completely inaccessible when the passenger seat is stacked up with stuff. Something I always forget until I’m on the motorway in urgent need of sunglasses.

Divide and conquer

One of my many mistakes in the early days was buying one large unwieldy wheely bag that filled the boot completely. It proved so heavy and difficult to manoeuvre when full it was impossible to get past the rubber boot lip without damaging the seal. Plus it required me to all but empty the entire thing if what I needed was at the bottom. Spoiler alert, it always was. I ditched it after the first trip.

Much better to segment the packing so now I use small collapsible sports bags. One contains everything I need for the first night. So if I arrive in darkness or bad weather I don't have to root around to find what I need. I think it through chronologically, tent, mattress and sleeping bag are stuffed behind the seats so I can reach them first. Then the essentials – torch, pyjamas, squashable feather down rubber sole slippers (easy to throw on and off for dark chilly bathroom trips) toothpaste, toothbrush, biodegradable wet wipes and a bottle of water all go in my first night grab bag.

All the other bags are in general categories – toiletries in one, electronics in another, stove/cooking utensils, clothes, miscellany (extra pegs, duck tape, bungies – I never leave home without duct tape and bungie cords, officer) each have their own bag and it has easily halved my rummaging time.

I keep important spares in the glove box – batteries, torch, matches, masks, sanitiser, midge spray – along with a cap, a woolly hat, suncream, sunglasses, spare specs, leatherman, coins, gloves and a multi-use snood. A-Z in seat back pocket, jump leads and tyre pump in one compartment behind the passenger seat, chargers, first aid kit and any other grabbables in the other driver’s seat compartment and voila, the passenger seat remains safely clutter free.

Spend wisely

Some products are really worth investing in and some not so much. These are the things that I’ve found have proved worth the extra spend in terms of space, weight and durability.

A super light compact camping chair like the Moonlite by Nemo Equipment is worth the heavy price tag. It packs up to almost nothing, is easy to wedge, and is surprisingly comfortable.
A good quality air mattress. The Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Mat is worth paying a bit extra for, it comes with an ingenious idiot-proof inflation bag so there are no irritating pumps or parts to lose. It’s a decent width and deep enough that you're properly cushioned from the cold. It also has velcro base patches so you're not sliding around the tent.
A good quality compact down sleeping bag is key when space is at a premium so you don't need bulky extra blankets . At a featherweight 400g the Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Down Sleeping Bag is hard to beat. I was sceptical about silk sleeping bag liners at first but they are tiny and punch well above their weight for extra warmth and comfort.

Life-size luxuries

The lightweight camping gear leaves room for a few full-fat luxuries that are worth their weight in gold.

A proper pillow. I have never met an inflatable pillow I like. Following one too many princess-and-the-pea sleepless nights I bought a full-size down cloud and will never go back. It can be rolled up with bungee cords, slotted behind the seats or I just sit on it while driving.
A heavy duty powerbank. After trialling smaller cheaper versions I invested in an Anker 533 Powerhouse and it has transformed my trips. It will charge my Macbookpro at least twice on one full charge with power to spare for various USBs. It has high-speed charging, is solar-compatible and generates enough juice to jump start my car. It has some heft (4.62kg) and is roughly the size of a loaf of bread, but it has freed me to work far away from mains power for days at a time. I wrote this in my tent on an Outer Hebridean beach on my fully charged laptop.
Dryrobe. Bought for a cold water diving trip it is an absolute revelation. Variously it has been a seemingly indestructible sleeping mat for beach naps (thick enough to protect against pebbles) or a second layer of mattress for bumpy camping terrain, a cosy extra blanket layer, a person-shaped tent to sit out in the rain to escape cabin fever – so warm and robust I’ve sat out in icy squalls happily ensconced for hours. It’s also perfect for its intended use as a post-swim cocoon. Bulky but so versatile it's worth it, it tucks nicely behind the seat or hang the hood over the headrest.
Hot water bottle. Simple but effective on chillier nights and can be used to fill up a thirsty radiator at a push.

Chill out

I once unthinkingly packed all my freshly bought food in the passenger footwell so after an 8-hour drive with the heating on I’d all but poached the perishables. Now I keep an old suitcase on the luggage rack and fill it with ice packs, food, disposable barbeque, kettle and so on. First it is the coolest part of the car, second it is easy access for impromptu picnics and third, if it gets stolen, it is the easiest to replace of all my gear although my patented granny knots seem to have so far frustrated any would be snack thieves.

Words Jenni Doggett Instagram

If camping with tiny cars tempts you, you may also like 7 Days, 7 Great British roads and a Caterham 7.

Who says you can't go camping in a convertible?