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Where can I buy budget camping gear for my daughter’s trip?

28 replies

Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 14:40

DD has a camping trip coming up over the Summer holidays. I am clueless about all things camping. Where can I buy her budget camping bits?

OP posts:
Riddlemesenseless · 05/07/2026 14:41

Facebook marketplace

MyballsareSandy2015 · 05/07/2026 14:41

EBay or Facebook marketplace … a lot of people buy all the gear and find they don’t actually like camping!

if you want new stuff then decathlon are good.

FinalFrog · 05/07/2026 14:42

We bought a huge tent for £100 from Amazon, known brand too.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

friedaddedchilli · 05/07/2026 14:57

Aldi have loads at the moment

tobermoryisthebestwomble · 05/07/2026 14:58

I would also see if you can borrow off someone, rather than buying, even second hand. Unless you're going to use the stuff regularly, it's just not worth buying. Ask around your family, friends, colleagues.

I'm genuinely thinking about starting a community borrow bank for exactly this kind of thing, anything that people only need to use infrequently like camping kit, Power tools, kids fancy dress, ski clothes, garden equipment.

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 05/07/2026 14:59

Charity shop, local one to me has tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks, camping stoves etc

Shodan · 05/07/2026 15:03

Lidl also has some things- including a two man tent for £19.99! Of course there's no guarantees about how waterproof it would be or how long it would last but for trying out camping it might be a good cheap option.

weirdoboelady · 05/07/2026 15:05

If you have the budget, what you are looking for is a Quechua 2 man 2 seconds tent. The only double skinned pop up tent IIRC. 2nd hand should be fine.

mugglewump · 05/07/2026 15:05

Decathlon has very reasonable and reliable equipment - they also have a second hand dept.

Planesmistakenforstars · 05/07/2026 15:10

Decathlon.

tarheelbaby · 05/07/2026 15:13

I need a whisk - FB site - where people give away things and make requests.
Ebay
Charity shops
Ask neighbours/friends to loan gear

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 05/07/2026 15:14

Borrow as pp said or try freecycle. Don’t buy loads of extra stuff in case it’s her one trip ever. Depending on what’s she’s doing you really only need a tent, sleeping bag, pillow from her bed, mattress pad (maybe) and that’s it. That’s if she’s eating drinking in pubs/cafes. Last camping trip that’s all we had we didn’t even have anything to make hot drinks on. And it was unusually cold in late August, so cold we bought extra stuff from a local big sainsburys (dressing gown, jumper, bedsocks) and definitely ate out! If she’s a light sleeper ear plugs and sleep mask. My DB and his wife who goes more often than me has all the gear, camping stove, special camping coffee pot, portable toilet, bbq, big tent and lots more.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 05/07/2026 15:15

Cantthinkofadifferentname · 05/07/2026 14:59

Charity shop, local one to me has tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks, camping stoves etc

Good shout.

Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 16:09

Sorry got caught up with other things. Will read the thread just now.

OP posts:
Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 16:11

Thanks so much everyone lots of great ideas for me to look into.

OP posts:
InfoSecInTheCity · 05/07/2026 16:12

If this is something that happens every year through school then can you contact any of last years parents to see if you can borrow or buy the stuff they got for their kids and then shoved in a cupboard and forgot about.

Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 17:14

It's things she's going to need and use frequently over the next few years for one of her hobby groups. On Decathlon buying some bits they have a sale on. Thanks mumsneters I hadn't heard of this store before.

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 05/07/2026 18:33

Homebargains sell some camping gear too.

Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 18:58

Roselilly36 · 05/07/2026 18:33

Homebargains sell some camping gear too.

Thanks. Think I have everything I need now. Just Superdrug for some toiletries and Tesco for snacks.

OP posts:
BiddyPopthe2nd · 05/07/2026 19:27

A lot of the Cubs in my Scout unit get theirs from Lidl and Aldi middle aisles, and Decathlon. Regattas is also good or Mountain Warehouse.

What does she need? Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, rucksack, crockery (plate, mug, cutlery) etc? The full kit?

Or more like a sports bag to carry her clothes, a sleeping bag and something to lay that on? You could ask neighbours, especially any into scouting or family camping, if you can borrow things. Unless there’s a long walk from the car/transport to the tent, a normal sports bag should be fine - but a small backpack (like a school bag or pe bag) is handy for going out and about.

Rummage out the winter wear. Fine her warmest PJs, a woolly hat and something thick socks for bedtimes - and she may want to wear a hoodie as well if the nights are chilly. Covering your head makes a HUGE difference to sleeping in tents! At least in Irish/UK weathers.

if you have any kind of bag that will hang on a door handle, that would be useful for bringing wash gear to the toilet block and keeping off wet shower floors. A travelling wash bag with a hook, a small cotton tote bag…

Have a good look around home before going mad buying things. If you have any plastic picnic crockery, that’s perfect.

One thing I’d definitely make sure she has is a torch - preferably both a head torch and one to carry in her hand. And you can find cheap versions of both (some are wind up, but others need batteries so send a spare set of batteries in that case).

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 00:48

Dontswearjerry · 05/07/2026 17:14

It's things she's going to need and use frequently over the next few years for one of her hobby groups. On Decathlon buying some bits they have a sale on. Thanks mumsneters I hadn't heard of this store before.

Depending on if others take them don’t worry about a camping stove. There’s a 3 in 1 camping starter kit of kettle, gas stove and 4 gas bottles. Then add cup a soups, pot noodles, instant cappuccino/latte sachets. £26.99 on Amazon won’t let me link. Long life milk in cartons is a good idea or if she doesn’t mind it Coffee Mate.

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 00:49

You can also get collapsible kettles.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 06/07/2026 00:50

tobermoryisthebestwomble · 05/07/2026 14:58

I would also see if you can borrow off someone, rather than buying, even second hand. Unless you're going to use the stuff regularly, it's just not worth buying. Ask around your family, friends, colleagues.

I'm genuinely thinking about starting a community borrow bank for exactly this kind of thing, anything that people only need to use infrequently like camping kit, Power tools, kids fancy dress, ski clothes, garden equipment.

A community borrow bank sounds an amazing idea
we have a toy library near us it’s wonderful but this would also be useful
can we add jet washers to this list!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 06/07/2026 00:52

Hard sided cooler with ice packs. Any of those small sachet type foods, pasta mixes you add hot water to.

JustGiveMeReason · 06/07/2026 02:30

She needs to talk to the people she is going with / arranging it with.

Why do each of them need their own tent ?
Are they moving between sites (eg for a DofE expedition) or staying put ?
Is it a festival type situation or will she be somewhere more isolated?
What are they doing about food?
How are they getting there (ie, in a car, and if so will the car be by them, on site - or does everything need to be carried on public transport).

It makes a big difference to what you should be getting.