To think camping is absolutely bollocks

[FuckYrBellTent]

It's crap isn't it?

Everyone else has fancy tents you can stand up in, we have a squished up, leaky four man. There's a puddle in the middle of it. It's rained non stop. My head is aching. I had an argument with DH over putting up the tent. Everyone has a sore back. Nobody can dry out. The kids (7 and 10) tag teamed us by needing the loo all night and wanting one of us to come with them. We are meant to be here for one more night. Aibu to go home early?

We used to enjoy camping, but I think our tent days have reached a natural conclusion. It's shit unless it's blistering sun. If we wanted to be stuck indoors with whining kids we could do it in the comfort of our own home, with ready access to toilets and kettles. It always ends up raining and it's really properly lashing so not even the type you can go out in anyway

We are poor and this is the only type of holiday we can afford, but I really don't think it's worth it

STBXH was an 'all the bells and whistles' camper - huge tent, alongside double height airbeds, proper bedding, all the accessories, electric hook up - you name it.

Quite frankly it was a pita. The tent was ridiculously heavy and an utter bastard to pitch, especially with a 12" height difference, and don't get me stated on trying to pack the bloody thing away. It was so expensive that control freak ex was constantly fussing and nagging about ventilation, taking your shoes off 'indoors' (even when it was dry and sunny), ensuring everything was tidy and 'just so'.

It felt like we should be having a marvellous, comfortable time 'glamping' but all the extra equipment just made it really bloody hard work.I

Now we're separated I've got a lightweight 3 man tent that I can pitch singlehandedly and will be taking it on short breaks at places that allow campfires so no need for stoves, gas etc.

Short stays with minimal equipment are the way to go imho.

I think I may have converted to a mildly happy camper.
Tried it a few times when DS was younger. We got this huge behemoth sized tent that took hours to put up and always seemed to go when it was raining. I'm a light sleeper and a frequent night wee-er neither of which work well with camping.

We tried one night at our local campsite last year after which I declared that I never wanted to see a tent again. Well DH interpreted that meant we needed a different tent so bought an inflatable Decathlon one. Also a really comfy mattress for me.

As the tent only takes 20 'mins to erect we can go for one night only so we pick somewhere sunny or not raining the day before. Some kind mumsnetter also recommended taking a sleeping tablet when camping which has helped enormously to get some sleep and generally get round the night time wee. I had bought a she wee for last nights trip for use with an empty milk bottle but haven't quite mastered it yet and didn't fancy sodden pjs so made it to the loos.

oh and I refuse to cook so we go to a local pub for dinner which reduces the dull time at the tent.

I may even build up to 2 nights to try and improve our camping costs per stay ratio. At the minute it's cost us the same as staying in a 4 star hotel and I'm hopeful of bringing it down to Premier Inn level soon.

I used to love camping in France years ago. You say that your tent leaks and that is obviously the source of much misery. I feel for you.

Maybe save up for longer and take fewer holidays staying somewhere better, it's not compulsory to get away every year. We certainly didn't as children and we were none the worse for it.

but if you have hardwood floors and sofas and wardrobes - why not just stay in a hotel?

Yanbu, it's really shit.

Not all tents are equal in waterproof-ness. Like jackets some are OK for showers, heavy showers and some are made for monsoon style downpours.

It's likely that the Halfords one isn't waterproof enough.

The thing that fucks me off the most about camping is that thecamping wanker says it's a lovely relaxing break and I can't help but think that's because I do all the fucking work. Well, camping twat has decided that we are going camping tomorrow. I've been asking him for DAYS to definitely make his mind up so I could prepare and he's dithered and not let me know. So, tomorrow when camping twat realises the cool box hasn't been cleaned out (stored in shed) the cool blocks haven't been frozen, the camping barbecue hasn't been cleaned since he last dumped it filthy in a heap somewhere, nothing is packed, he probably hadn't got clean jeans...you get the picture. We shall see how relaxing he finds it when he realises how much work I normally do to make it happen. There are going to be screaming rows for SURE. Maybe, if we trade just the right insults I can stay at home and not go at all?!

I never thought I would ever camp after traumatic Guide camp experiences, but Frènch camping converted me. I think it's easy to get caught up in chasing the perfect kit but I'm a middle of the road camper - i like hot food so do take some kind of cooker but now prefer a small tent which is less of a beast to pitch. I may be unusual in liking the night time stroll to the loo, i also like that there's always something that needs doing but nothing that matters very much.

Leaking tents = instant retreat though. There are limits. Get your money back from Halford.

PickledLily, as they say on the relationship boards, you haven't got a camping problem, you have a DH problem!

Just don't get camping,I grew up with loads of siblings in a confined space with very little comfort and few things to do. I worked hard to get away from that! Why would these same things now be a leisure activity ?

There's one good thing about camping and that's that if they weren't camping some of them would be in hotels where civilised people go!

Hotel with kids in the rain =stay indoors, usually with them moaning. For some reason when camping = off exploring, playing games, or just drinking hot coffee under the awning while the kids don't even notice the rain and play out as if it was the sunniest of days.
Plus I've had as many bad noisy nights in hotels due to neighbours, bars or even the lifts/air con as I've had bad neighbours camping

Camping is only ever good when the weather is good which is why we always used to go to the south/south west of France.

Go home OP and have a nice glass of wine.

I'm in the love camping camp ☺ get a tent with a good head height and as high a hydrostatic rating as you can afford. As others have said have a larger tent; we have 8 birth for 5 people. Also a porch and carpet, plus electric hook up for fridge, kettle and toaster. earplugs and eyemasks are a must! We stay at places with kids play areas so they've got somewhere to have fun without parents if they want. so I can drink wine and read 😀 I'm surprised 7 and 10 yr olds need night time toilet trips though.....but yes camping in non stop rain with the wrong equipment is not pleasant 😞

Agree that staying in cheap hotels often miserably noisy, and airless. At least if I'm awake camping I can open the door and watch the dawn break over glorious countryside from under my duvet.

I am a good camper - I have great kit, regularly do wild camping, etc. But I don't have kids to amuse and keep dry, and I know that constant rain makes it very onerous indeed. I would call it a day and head home!

Can you think about hostels instead in future? Airbnb can be very cheap too.

Pickled I'm always on hand if you want some truly blistering insults

@PickledLilly oh I get your pain about the amount of prep work you need before you even get camping!

If we decide to go away camping for the weekend I do all the pre camping 'thinking' re ice block freezing, tesco order etc and I usually work from home if we are going to go on a friday and finish early so I do all the car packing.

DP has to deal with the bike rack as his penance though whilst I nip inside for a shower.

Went camping for the first time this year a few weekends ago - OMG how much easier living in a house with a driveway is compared to being in a 2nd floor flat! It was a dream packing the car up this time.

There is a defo a fine line between being comfortable, and having so much stuff that it is a PITA to pack the car and set up the tent.

We have a full head hight tent but its only 3 poles and we can get it up in 20 mins.

Mmory foam mattress so nothing to blow up. picnic blanket put in the tent, mattress dumped ion top of it, duvets and pillows on top - done.

Two camping chairs, a table and a cool bag, box of food and camping stove go in the pooch - done.

We don't have electrical hook ups, we don't have a camp kitchen, no cooking or difficult food for breakfast (just hot water for my coffee), no washing up (bag it up and take home) and eat out either all nights or just cook once if money is a bit tighter (cook something like pasta and pesto nothing hard!).

I'm surprised 7 and 10 yr olds need night time toilet trips though...

I need a night time wee, especially if camping and get woken at 3am with birds.

For our stay on Saturday night we managed to get the packing time down to less than an hour and I was in the shower for most of it (DH did have a list though !)

I deliberately remove myself from most of it as DH is the one who is keen on camping - a strategy I'd highly recommend PickledLily !
I make sure I have the stuff that matters to me - eye mask, ear plugs, sleeping tablet, pjs and crocs and decent coffee and leave the rest to DH. We did miss a few vital items this time like pillows (improvised with stuffed sleeping bag holders), no wine glasses or proper mugs ( deliberate on DH's part ) and DS had no pjs packed for him, but most things are liveable with, particularly if its a one or two night stay.

I live in a lovely, comfortable home - why the fuck would I want to spend my holiday living like Cro-Magnon man?

I live camping and it's taken about 8 years to get the gear together.

Makes me laugh when OP says she can only afford camping and then people suggest a camper van (around £20k?) or a Eurocamp holiday (mega bucks!).

OP check eBay, lots of head height tents available. No way I could cope with not being able to stand up.

From there it's a case of building up as you go along.

The "worse conditions than at home" argument is what baffles me about families who choose to all pack into one hotel room on holiday when they have a spacious 4 bedroom house at home... No matter how plush the lobby and how extensive the buffet breakfast, 4 or 5 people living in one room for two weeks certainly isn't something that says "holiday" to me...

It's about being in a different location presumably.

You do need a lot of kit to be able to enjoy camping. I absolutely love it but our trailer is bursting at the seams. I get very stressed about towing it but we couldn't camp without it. I keep looking at those lovely big Nissans with the massive trailer sized boot and dreaming that we could afford one! Also think that taking two cars would be good but DH not happy about the petrol costs!

Every time we camp eye up other people's kit and we discover a new thing that we simply must buy ( Large inflatable sofa was the latest thing)

we managed to get the packing time down to less than an hour

That is quite impressive!

I have a 'camping packing list' that lives with the camping equipment since we take the same things every time.