Thinking about getting a tent

[hmb]

Having had a few happy caravan holidays in France I am thinking of getting a tent as it will slash out costs and let us take more short breaks etc.

Dh thinks that I am mad!

Advice please on the best sort of tent to buy (there are 4 of us) and what sort of kit is vital/helpful/a waste of space and cash.

[hercules]

Will follow this with interest.

[gscrym]

Will ask DH. As many years of being a scout leader and hillwalker/rockclimber/all round out-doorsie type, he might have some good advice.

[hmb]

Thanks, that would be great. Oh, and we are softie types, so no rubbing two boy scouts together to light a fire stuff

[Zerub]

We've just bought one of these . We had a little Khyam tent before dd, and they're marvellous. Haven't managed to put the new one up yet so can't tell you what its like. But, basically, the whole range of tents is designed so you can put them up really quickly (the little 3-person tent took me about a minute on my own, plus pegging time). All the poles and the material are fixed together, and you just have to straighten all the joints and click them shut, and lo! you have a tent. Not that cheap though (although other people sell them cheaper than the manufacturers).

Personally I feel that a gas fridge and a gas heater are essential equipment but I'm a wuss...

[hercules]

Dh and I were considering camping this year and were looking at a list of prices for a camp site. I said well at least we wont have to pay the £15 for a plug point. Dh was shocked and said "But where will we plug the fridge in?"

[Janh]

Well your camping expert is Katherine, but I haven't seen her for ages. She has recommended wildday for buying stuff because they have some really good prices.

We have always had a v large frame tent (6/7 berth and huge high living space) but the frame gradually got bent and DH chucked it the last time we used it. The nylon slot-together type as recommended by Zerub seem to be the way to go; the only drawback to my way of thinking is that the living area seems to be surrounded by bedrooms, instead of them all being at one end, which makes it hard to keep Stuff tidy. (To the extent that my inclination now would be to get a 3-bedroom 9-berther, even for 4, just to have a spare space for stowing Stuff.)

Head height in bedroom sections isn't that important but I think it is in living part.

[hmb]

What is the advantage of these geodesic/tunnel tents over the frame tents? Is it that they pack down smaller or are they easier to erect? I agree that the sleeping areas don't need much height as the living areas.

What would you recoment re cooking stuff? are fridges practical if you don't have a trailer/estate car? How much would you gestimate for a reasonable set up with a reasonable degree of comfort (we are real softies )

[StripyMouse]

after using both types hmb, def. reccomend the lightweight geodesic type tents - much easier to put up and takes up less space in a car than the old fashioned frame tents. Do it - camping with kids is just fantastic fun.
We don?t bother with a fridge or heater - just make sure the campsite has a shop on site with good opening hours ( or even a garage down the road) so you can buy food and milk in small quantities as and when needed. As for a heater - we take sleeping bags and then our big double duvet to throw over the top - if the weather is warm enough, we just put it underneath the sleeping bags for a comfier base.
Tripod chairs and a collapsing small table is good too - really cheap (our chairs cost less than a fiver each and are so compact) It is nice to have something to sit on other than the ground.
Here is what we take :
Tent with sleeping stuff ( sleeping rolls, sleeping bags, duvet and pillows) torches and one that converts to a table lamp for evenings spare tent pegs and two mallets ( I hate waiting for DH to bash them all in himself!)
Food stuff - camping stove, lighter, spare lighter, water carrier, little camping pans set and kettle, small good quality cool box, picnic rucksack with full set of plates, cups etc., basic food like tea, sweeteners, biscuits etc. so can have a cuppa as soon as the tent is up, washing up bowl with squeezy, cloths etc., pen knife with tin opener, bottle opener etc. on it
Games for kids (footie, frizbee, books, crayons, cards etc.)
Clothes for all weathers - esp thick socks, waterproofs etc (esp. in August!)
Soap stuff and a camping mirror (never again will I take a normal mirror camping - DH stood on it on day one and had to walk through the whole site looking a sight to get to the washrooms..)
We also take a collapsable table and chairs as we like sitting up for meals rather than balancing it on our knees.
Camping is great - can?t wiat until we go again, can be a real family "bonding" adventure - hard work but worth it. HTH

[mrsjingles]

I'm also thinking about a tent holiday for me, dh,dd & ds, but have no idea what sort of cost it is to stay a night at a campsite these days.

When we used to go when I was little it was a couple of pounds I think, I'd imagine it's a lot more than that now, anyone know the rough cost per night for a 3 bedroom tent????

[israel]

We have loved camping for a good few years now.
We started off with a small dome tent, 4 man...It was so simple to put up.....then came along our ds...so we decided to upgrade....still a dome tent but it sleeps 9..(3 domes)..it has a large middle domes where we could sit and eat...out of the cold and rain.
Like someone said earlier it is a great bonding experience for all the family....when the sun shines its wonderful and when it pi**es down all you can do is laugh at each others expense... nipping to the loos and showers with wellies on. I did always feel cold at night and must have looked very sexy in my thick thermal socks and wooly hat.....but yes it was great fun..hard work at times but fun....I would definitely recommend it to anyone with children.

[roisin]

Mrsjingles ... you can pay anything really!

this is a gorgeous campsite we've stayed at - lovely clean bathrooms, great facilities, and plenty to do. Tent with 2 adults and 2 children high season costs £18 per night.

HTH

[StripyMouse]

mrs jingles - they vary widely, have a look at a few websites for an idea. The last two we stayed at cost about 12 pounds a night for a family sized tent if memory serves me right.

[hmb]

I have been doing some sums and it would seem that we could go to the same campsite in france next year, by the same crossing and buy the tant and all the 'bits' for less money than we are paying for 2 weeks in a campsite in a caravan.

It seems mad not to give it a go!

Quick question. If we don't go for a fridge, which would be hard for us to transport, is it easy to get coolbag packs frozen for you on site?.....daft question I know but I like my white wine chilled......and I suppose the kids milk would be better fresh than sour

[Janh]

hmb, IIRC French campsites (unlike English ones) are pretty good at offering overnight freezer facilities for the coolbag icepacks. You have to remember to get them in every evening though.

We have a huge coolbox which works OK on a daily basis without icepacks but, obviously, is much better with.

Are you sure you couldn't fit one of those small fridges in your car though? You can plug them into the cigarette lighter en route and then get a pitch with a plug-in when you get there. (I think you need some kind of transformer but a big camping equipment shop could help with that.)

[Crunchie]

HMB last year we bought a massive dome tent, 3 bed sleeps up to 12!! There is 4 of us. It was brilliant, We didn't put the bedroom inner compartment in the back bedroom, so we had double living space, we stored everything there and could still fit the table and chairs inside one evening when it was spitting. We din't have a porch area My basic list of necessities are blowup air beds, this year I am upgrading to ones with an electric pump. 2 burner cooker and small table/stand to put it on (stops kids trying to help too much), I took my old normal saucepans rather than special 'camping' ones. A washing up bowl and stuff for dishes. A folding table and chairs I like comfort A big cool box and 2 0r 3 ice packs. Everywhere does a freezer service for about 25p they will 'lend' you an ice pack whilst yours refreezes. I got two new ones everyday (sometimes twice I think) and found the coolbox kept milk fine for 2 or 3 days. You could also do this with a wine chiller sleeve if you want am sure - for cold white wine I drank red I like the gas lamps and a couple of decent torch/lamps for the bedroom. I look at fridges, but TBH I can't be bothered with them. We bought fresh when needed and used our cool box thingy very sucessfully. Also if you don't need electricity the cost of camping is so much cheaper every night and you can be more flexible. The good sites get booked solid for the electrical hook up points well in advance, we got prime august dates without problem on great sites at the last minute (in Cornwall).

Personally I would go for it, if you usually go in summer holidays you will save far more than the cost of the caravan in one year and can do more flexible things. This year we have been able to have three holidays for less than £750 one at Centre parks in Feb, one in whitsun week in france and we still are plaaning a summer week in Cornwall which will cost about £200 (inc petrol) if we go to 'posh' sites. The most expensive site I have come across was about £21 a night, cheapest in peak season about £14.

[hmb]

Thanks for all this feed back!

Glad you mentions the self blow up air beds,I thought that they sounded a great idea, but wasn't sure that 'real' campers would use one!!

We already have a good sized cool box, so would probably go for that, at least until we find out if camping suits up.

TBH the last caravan holiday we were hardly ever in the 'van, as it was so hot.....so why pay more for facilities you don't use? And the kids love camping. We did it once and they had a great time even if we didn't because the weather was so bad. But the way I look at it, if we have our own tent and the weather is awful we can just come back home. Whereas lastime we had paid a small fortune to be there so we had to stick it out!

[helenmc]

ooh I'm sooo excited - we've just bought a family tent on e-bay !! Originally it was we could stay at my mums (all B&Bs seem booked for August bank holiday in Devon), but I think we'll have to try it out a few times before we go.

[MadameButterfly]

THere is a tent for sale on the noticeboard here

[Janh]

I had a look at that Madame B, it's the style DH wants to get, but you can get a brand new one delivered for that price!

Crunchie, I'll show DH your post about using the 3rd bedroom space for storage, it's exactly what I want to do - how easy is it to erect? He's been to a camping place and had a look at them and obviously the 2 bedroom ones will be easier to put up, is a 3-bedder much harder, do you know? What make have you got? I was just looking at the Vango Colorado 1200 DLX, it's huge and £290 delivered. I also like the look of the Diablo 900, it has integral groundsheets and is £340.

???????

[Janh]

hmb, I've found a fridge which can run on gas as well as electricity - here - it's quite expensive and although it gives daily gas consumption (252g a day) I've no idea what it means or how long a bottle would last.

Would be so nice not to have to mess about with ice packs and to have cold drinks all the time!

[Soozi]

DH and I have been a couple of happy campers for years but now have an 8mnth DD and wondering what is best for her to sleep on. I hate to take tons of clobber with me and would appreciate any tips that doesn't involve a travel cot (it takes up more room in the boot of the car than the tent does)

We used to rough it pretty much but are now looking to trade in our wee backpacker tents for a family one.

[Thomcat]

I had my first grown up (ie not with the brownies!) camping holiday when I was 6 months pregant with Lottie and we stayed here
It was so lovely, right on the beach, under pine trees, next to the dune, lovley shop, restaurant, clean showes and loos, just scrummy!

[Janh]

Soozi, this is £85 but look at the packed-away size!

[Janh]

Suspect the mattress may be extra though...

[cuppy]

Hi. we have been capming for the last 3 years - have yet to go with dd though!

WE've just sold out trailer tent and bought a fab 9/12 berth, 3 double bedroom , brand new tent off of e-bay for £165. Its a dome tent and fab. Its 1.95mtrs high and took us about 30mins to put up. Folds down into a bag, which is great if dont have much space.

Essential for us is definately an electric hook up - we take a kettle, hairdryer, heater and a plug in cool box( which solves the fridge problem) and a light.MMM. looking at that it doesnt really sound like camping does it?? .

Would def recommend this type of tent for your family, as you can use bedroom as storage space if not used. Let me know if you'd like the link and Ill try and send it to you.