Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[theherd123]

I always loved it as a girl guide and have very fond memories of camping out under the stars.

 

After eventually persuading the OH that camping might be worth a shot Im not really sure where to start!

 

Any recommendations on tents, sleeping bags, other camping essentials, camp sites or anything else that you think would help?

[chickric]

We are thinking about getting into camping as well.

Last year we stayed here in a rent-a-tent pitch, to see how we enjoyed it before splashing out on all the equipment.

It is a very basic camp site (but very beautiful) in the middle of nowhere and despite a few disasters we really enjoyed it. The couple who run it are great and couldn't do enough to help.

We are very much still looking at getting our own equipment when we can afford to and (I) spend hours drooling over tents on the web

[Lizzie50]

Glam! Camping is now glam - we bought a tent last year but due to weather have had one weekend away with it to West Wittering! Tent accessories include fairy lights, candles, bunting, duvet, blankets and lovely big cushions from Ikea. You can also try the new Yurts, tipees or even airstream caravans (the Isle of Wight have an excellent airstream caravan hire place). We ended up with so much stuff we could not fit it in the car and just as well the kids were not coming as they would not have got in car either!

Husband thought I was absolutely nuts as his idea of camping is in the style of two sticks rubbed together to make fire (he fancies himself as a bit of a Bear Grylls) - he wants to eat out of tin buckets whilst I want to collect china plates from antique shops

So...this year...........if we get a good couple of weeks of sunshine we may once again pack up and who knows we may get further that 20 miles up the road!

[AJuff]

OH took the kids camping last week. He said it was fine apart from large family with two noisy dogs pitched their tent next door. Their kids were up half the night playing music and talking laughing loudly.

[Snowy]

Whatever camping you go for, don't skimp on your tent! Invest in a decent one (doesn't have to be expensive) and decent sleeping bags. Everything else can be picked up cheap of local ads, ebay or freecycle. Warm and dry is the optimum, everything else is a bonus! I'm a glamper - cosy, plush beds; rugs on the floor; bunting and lanterns round the door. I love it!

[bronze]

campings only glam for glampers

 

there are different types of campers. I'm not a glamper but go for more luxuries than I used to now that we have to take all the children and we go in the car. When yo have to carry it all you do tend to be more minimalist.

 

My next trip I'll be camping in my brothers back garden which will be fun

[Olly]

However many people you need to sleep in it, add 2 - so if you need room for 4, get a six-berth tent. The sizes are intended for very small people sleeping like sardines. Porches are useful for wet boots/bikes/storing extra kit etc, and a tent you can stand up in will make it all much easier.

 

I'm not a glamper, but I know lots of people who take their duvets and pillows away with them - tbh, I think a decent sleeping-bag is warmer. If you search on here, there have been some previous threads about buying tents with recommendations for different types.

 

Camping can be as glamorous or as hardcore as you choose - personally I like a site with lots of toilets/hot showers, and I prefer eating out to cooking on a camp stove, although there's nothing like eating your egg and bacon on a lovely sunny morning with dew still on the grass and skylarks overhead.

[patsylabrador]

Vango make good quality tents. Take a porta potty, it saves those late night/ early morning treks to the loo only to find they've been shut for cleaning. I've often used the mens out of desperation.

My favourite bit is in the evening when the gas lamp is hissing and burbling and I'm reading a good book with wine and chocolate which seem to work together when I'm camping.

Think back to guiding days and storm pitch your tent then if you have bad weather you can sit securely or help other campers catch their tents.

The cool camping books are excellent guides to some nice sites.

Happy camping!

[foreveryoung]

hello, we started camping for the 1st time a year ago, didn't find it as cheep as we thought but it is fun (excluding buying the equipment) lol.....

 

we brought this tent http://www.camping-intl.com/products/tents/2010-gelert-horizon-6-package-1-xxxx/

there's more then enough for a family of 4 and a dog . ooo and all that we needed-

 

tent

air beds x2

duvets x 2

4 pillows (very much needed)

cool box

plates

cutlery

stoves (not everywhere will allow BBQ,s etc)

cooking equipment

lanterns x 2

fold away table

 

we do bring the kettle and the george forman as we havent got anything bigger then a single stove. we are hopping to get to into a position where we dont need the electric hook up

 

the kids love it and are off playing with the other children....

[Alis girls]

WET

[Willow]

I remember when we started looking at getting a tent one of our neighbours mentioned they had 5 of different sizes/types Now we've done more camping I can start to see why. We have a big Vango family tent that is 6 berth so does 4 of us comfortably and 5 (with 3 children using carry mats) easily. I bought an additional huge porch after the first time we used the tent in rain so it is better for wet weather. This is great for 1-2 week hols with space to air wet suits etc.

 

But if we were just going away for a w/e it would be too large so I'm thinking of getting another 4 berth but tall enough for proper head room and a small living space for w/e's as a family and would also like a 2/3 berth suitable for backpacking or as an overflow tent for if we were camping as a family and the kids brought friends.

 

I found it was all the additional equipment that cost much more than the tent so I wouldn't feel bad about getting more than one tent for different uses once you establish you will use it. Most of the equip you can buy over time and use stuff from home initially. Again after a wet camp where the towels never seemed dry I bought camping tech towels and they are great. We pack the tent and all the equipment in the car so everything needs to be as compact as possible. If you use a trailer it would be easier.

 

This year I bought 40L mountain equip wet and dry bags for the kids clothes for sailing as they would also be great for family camping. I wish they came in a wider range of colours as ideally every family member needs a different colour bag.

 

Biggest problem is where to store all the gear

[C&T]

Love camping!

 

But my OH had hardly ever been, and I did not want to splash out on equipment, if he was not going to enjoy it...

 

So, 2 or 3 years ago, I bought a cheap tent package from Halfords for £99 - which they still do - for a 4 sleeper tent (perfect for 2 - one bedroom for sleeping, one for storing stuff!). It came with 2 double lilo's, 4 sleeping bags (not the best quality - but a couple of blankets and they are fine), a couple of torches. It has lasted much longer than I thought it would and it gave OH an idea about camping, without committing hundreds of pounds. It isn't the warmest tent, and isn't double lined, but apart from that is hard to fault, especially for the money. We keep life pretty simple and basic - a one ring "stove" and BBQ is mostly fine for cooking for example.

 

As OH has enjoyed camping, each year we are starting to add accessories, last year was nice chairs and a kitchen unit, this year will be a decent Gas light and maybe better sleeping bags. And when the tent does eventually go to the great campsite in the sky, we will spend some "proper" money, and get a decent tent.

 

So guess I am saying you haven't got to get everything in one go, and going cheap to begin with and building up is not a bad way to go.

[Busybird]

We started camping 3 years ago. Having moved from the prospect of luxury hotels to holiday cottages to tent I was not convinced that I would cope so we started with a cheap (£100ish) 4 man tent for the 5 of us. We each had an insumat and a sleeping bag. We took along a one ring gas stove, a couple of billy cans, plates, bowls and cups, cutlery and a torch. We loved it! Our 3 camping trips that summer moved from 2 nights away to 5 nights and it rained every time.

 

Last year we upped the luxury level by buying chairs, airbeds and taking pillows. We also kept a bucket in the tent to avoid trips across the field in the night. With that we did a few long weekends (3 to 5 nights) and a 6 night stay. It still rained every time and we still loved it. This is our trusty 4 man tent pitched on a site in the Forest of Dean.

 

 

This year we decided that we wanted to do longer trips. Given the 'challenge' of cooking and eating a meal in a small tent in the rain we decided to upgrade. We bought a 6 man Outwell Montana with a front awning (close to £600 ). We also bought a 2 ring gas stove with grill, table to put it on and store food, a camping table and proper pots. Last week we used it all for the first time in the New Forest. It is enormous! My OH and DS1 preferred our little tent - much easier to pitch and gives the 'authentic' camping experience. DD and I liked the comfort of the big tent but there does seem to be a lot of wasted space. However, last week the sun shone so we didn't have to be inside the tent as much. This is the big tent.

 

 

If you are just starting out camping and aren't sure if you will like it then I would advise you to buy a cheap tent and the minimum of equipment to see how you get on. If it suits you then you can upgrade later. A lot of people say buy bigger than you need. Having done that I would say it doesn't suit everyone to have to deal with a huge tent and a lot of equipment. We just about fitted all our stuff and ourselves in our car.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Airbeds or those inflatable carry mats and a down sleeping bag are the only essentials for me. Oh and ear plugs. I neeeed my sleep !

 

Re the airbeds though...if you are planning on camping at any time other than the summer, go for the inflatable carry mats instead. Airbeds turn into giant convector heaters using your body heat to warm the ground so you get absolutely freezing. We used our airbed one Easter in Scotland and had to give up and go to a B&B cos we were so cold. We got inflatable carry mats after that

[chickenNutter]

Two essentials - If you are using airbeds, fleeces or blanket to put under your sleeping bag - it's amazing how much cold comes up from the ground int he middle of the night. Secondly your own loo! We have one now and it really is worth the expense for those middle of the night pennies you need to spend, especially if you have small children and evenif you don't! Worth it's weight in gold.

[PurpleTree]

We're members of the Camping & Caravanning Club, http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/and usually stay on their Club Site, so we know the facilities will be of a high standard, but they also have a network of much smaller sites, some are literally just fields so you need to take your own toilet etc.

 

There's lots of advice on their site about starting out in camping.

 

My husband has always camped with his family, and his parents are still very keen caravaners. They bought us our tent, a Cabanon, and we've used it for fortnight holidays abroad and long weekends in this country.

 

 

Here's me sat outside our tent in Boroughbridge, as you can see we use a trailer to transport all our stuff. It's only a 4 berth tent, two bedrooms, and we've found it fine with the two boys, although not quite sure where we're going to put the third

[lheurebleue]

Have a look at this site: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ Loads of info with a campsite location search tool and a good forum.

 

We've been to Dorset for the sea fishing the past three years but have decided on Cornwall this year. Hope we get some decent weather!

[theherd123]

WOW!!!

 

I didnt realise so many Omleteers were campers or glampers - you have opened a whole new world to me!

 

Now ive sold the idea to the OH, I think the more luxurious option of airbeds, duvets and pillows will be more for him. I remember thinking I had luxuries if there was a decent ground sheet when I was a girl guide!

 

The eBay hunt is on and I can see a trip to Go Outdoors in the very near future.

 

Is a double skinned tent a better first option to start with esp with a 20 month old?

[PurpleTree]

I bought a lot of our equipment from Towsure http://www.towsure.com/ they mostly seemed cheaper for a lot of things.

 

I've got the boys this air bed each http://www.towsure.com/product/15376-Eazy_Bed_Junior_-_Blue They've been great as the sides mean they don't fall off. Oliver was about 16 months when he first used his, along with a baby sleeping bag and a blanket. We always take our own pillows with us, although we use good quality sleeping bags, I would think they're warmer than duvets. We always put roll mats and a couple of old blankets under the airbeds to help keep the cold out.

[foreveryoung]

this is the tent we have.... its a 6 person tent and theres plenty of room for the 4 of us and our dog blue.

[sezra]

We have been camping with the children for about 6 years now. We have a fabby Outwell tent and every year I treat myself to make the trip more luxurious! We like to use electric hook up as camping is so much easier with a fridge! I would also reccomend http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk, I always look at this site before booking especially if I am going to a new area, just remember that often people only post on these sites if they want to moan!

 

There are lots of lovely sites around, we always find a family friendly one but without discos etc I personally can't stand big commercial sites, but everyone is different!

 

We are going here for a weekend and visiting Longleat (using a well known supermarket vouchers) http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=4633.

We have never been before but it is a little farm where they take the children round to feed the animals. Seems really nice!

 

Unfortunately the weather plays a big part on whether your camping holiday is a success or not. There is only so long you can 'grin and bear it' when it pours with rain everyday!

 

Good luck!

 

S.

x

[theherd123]

I've got the boys this air bed each http://www.towsure.com/product/15376-Eazy_Bed_Junior_-_Blue They've been great as the sides mean they don't fall off.

 

That looks fab! What a great idea.

 

Have saved all the links to my 'favourites' and will be looking at them in great detail for all the best bits

[Willow]

We have a fabby Outwell tent

 

We bought a Vango but I realised everytime I thought 'thats a nice tent' on sites they were Outwells !

[Pipichick]

We have been camping a couple of times now and have been v snug in our Vango tent. The main mistake we made was being lulled into the 'bargains' at Go Outdoors We bought lots from their budget range, the kettle handle broke the first time we filled it up, the airbeds puntured and deflated after 3 nights and the sleeping bags definitely weren't suitable for the temps it stated on the box!!!! Go Outdoors is a great 'everything you need' camping shop we just wish we'd spent a little more in the first place.

[Jules.]

Here's a couple of links to earlier threads

 

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=29162&p=469939&hilit=camping#p469939

 

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=37347&p=574696&hilit=camping#p574696

 

Me & then 4yo stayed in this tent 2 years ago

 

 

and then last year upgraded to this

 

 

Camping is