One of the essential camping accessories is a water container. As well as for drinking you may need water to wash your cutlery and plates, yourself or even your clothes!

There are a number of options available for your water container. Firstly the simplest and cheapest option is to pop down your local supermarket and buy a 2 or 4 litre bottle of cheap mineral water. 4 litres are better as you usually get a carry handle although they can cost more than two 2 litre bottles.

Up from this is to get yourself a flexible water carrier from one of the many manufacturers. These are made from non-toxic polyethylene and come in sizes from 4-25 litres. Although the larger sizes mean you don’t have to visit the tap as often they can be too heavy to carry any distance so think about how much water you will use before purchasing. They usually always come with a tap end that can be used to stop and start water flow. Again with many you will need to pick up to pour or alternatively site them on a small table. Some accordion or concertina designs allow you to pour water from a seated position by pushing down on the container thus forcing water out. Prices start from £1.99 - £9.99 based on size and features. One of the main problems with flexible containers is the difficulty in getting them dry after use. Water can collect in the corners which then gets musty and makes the container unhygienic. Consequently people often buy a new container each season.

The most expensive type of water container  is the more solid type also called a jerrycan. Camping versions are made from non-toxic hardened polythene. The basic models just have a screw cap whereas pricier models include an on/off tap at the base. These are much more robust and are good if you do a lot of camping. However the main disadvantage can be their physical size. Unlike their cheaper counterparts they are not collapsible and so can take up considerable space in your car. However they are easier to clean and tend to dry without problems. The most expensive models, which are mainly developed for campervans and motorhomes , are cylinder shaped and can be rolled across the ground so no heavy lifting! Prices start at around £7 with top models costing over £40.