Don't forget your outdoor furniture when you go caravanning. One of the most relaxing things to do is to sit outside (with a drink or two!) and just watch the world go by. There is always something interesting to watch happening on a caravan site!

Folding chairs can range from a very basic fold up chair to a seat with an adjustable back, headrest and footrest!

Choose either nylon or polyester canvas outdoor furniture as this will last longer than cotton out in the sun. Also check for anti-rot fabric. The material should be a meshed material as this will allow your skin to breathe while sitting on it.

An aluminium frame is the lightest but both steel and aluminium are very sturdy. Look out for chairs with foot bases which prevent the chair from sinking into the grass.

When buying chairs don’t just sit on them - try folding them up to see how easy it is and also pick them up to make sure they are easily transportable.

Two of caravanners favourite brands are Lafuma and Dukdalf. If you walk around a caravan site you will see lots of outdoor furniture made by these two manufacturers. They may cost more than a basic chair but they will definitely have all the best features and will be as light as possible.

This is a folding table with four attached stools which folds up into a rectangular suitcase-sized case for easy transportation.

These are quite heavy but they are terrific value and an excellent buy. We have one of these which we leave outside all the time as it is made of metal and plastic. Ours is a very cheap basic one, which is why we leave it outside all the time. Alternatively you can buy more expensive ones which are made of aluminium. It’s your choice.

Seats 4 people. Folds into carry case. Size as table (H)67, (W)85, (D)65cm. Size folded (H)10, (W)85, (D)39cm.

We say - a very handy piece of caravan kit.

Lightweight item folds into carry/storage case. Size of table height adjustable 54, 58, 63 and 68cm.Size of table (W)90, (D)52cm.Weight of table 4kg.Size of bench when assembled (H)40, (W)94, (D)28cm.Size of bench when folded (H)12, (W)95, (D)30cm.Weight of bench 3kg.

These are useful for outdoor cooking and food preparation. Most fold up and some come with their own carry bags.

We have a Superlite Extra kitchen table which is made of aluminium and folds up into a very compact storage bag. It has a detachable fabric larder/storage space with mesh on the front to keep out insects.

This is a very useful piece of kit which we always use for cooking on outside. Before we had a built-in microwave we used this table in the awning to keep our microwave on so it didn’t take up valuable space inside the caravan. The microwave fitted perfectly on the underneath shelf of the table.

Have a look around and see what kind of tables are available.

Steel frame with clip on slat work top and shelf, additional fold out MDF table with telescopic legs and suspended fabric larder with 2 removable shelves. Stows away in a polyester shoulder bag. Size as unit (H)79, (W)119, (D)46cm. Folded size (H)10, (W)85, (D)55cm.Weight 8.5kg.

Inflatable furniture is lightweight and very easy to pack. It is made of tough PVC material so is extremely useful for camping and caravanning.

Some inflatable chairs and sofas can fold out into a bed which makes them even more suited to camping and caravanning. They are quickly inflated using a 12v pump and when deflated, fold down into a small bag.

We have an inflatable chair-bed which we use in our awning. It is a very comfortable lounging seat and very handy if we have an extra person to stay as it quickly transforms into a single bed. The only downside is trying to deflate it and fold it up! If you have kids they will definitely be fighting over one of these!

We have two sun loungers as they are so handy. They can obviously be used for laying outside enjoying the sunshine (did we ever get that summer we were promised?!), but they can also be used as a camp bed if you have people to stay. Our kids used them to sleep in the awning during the summer holidays which they really enjoyed. Very handy as they fold up quite narrow when stowing away in the caravan.

If you have a favourite piece of outdoor furniture, please send us a picture.

We have only touched the tip of the iceberg on outdoor furniture - there is such a wide range of products to choose from. We have only mentioned the products that we are using at the moment.

Look at the outdoor chairs and tables other caravanners use. If you see one you like, ask them about it. Caravanners will always help!