To think to enjoy camping you need to invest in the best and it’s a huge risk

[Raspberryberetthekindyoufind]

Just that really. I went camping in my early adulthood and hated it- small tent, shit facilitates, bucket for toilet etc
A few years ago my husband persuaded me to try it again and I said yes on the basis we would spend some of his bonus on getting decent stuff so we got
Blow up big tent which goes up in ten minutes with porch and lots of storage plus had a put up extra bedroom you can use a toilet cubical. Also bedroom are covered in black out material.
Portable flushing toilet with bags that you just take out and dispose of
Extra ground footprint
Extra roof protective sheet
Extra indoor roof liner to stop condensation

Tent carpet
Amazing thick comfy blow up beds
Inflatable sofa and chairs
Put up clothes storage unit
Storage rack for porch for shoes, toys etc
2 other fold up storage boxes

Tent Lighting unit
Good camping stove plus kitchen unit for it to sit on
Fire pit
Thick sleeping bags that can be used as a quilt of if like me you need your legs to be free
And the most important thing/ the best most expensive earplugs that don’t let a dam thing through
Also always go to a campsite with electric hook ups so you can charge phones, plug in a hairdryer etc (some people even bring a telly)
The reason I am posting this is to say I understand people’s misery and I used to think have all singing and all dancing camping stuff would be useless but it really does make a difference.
unfortunately it means a big outlay as well at the beginning
We took the risk and it payed off. I now love it and have been converted but it so could have gone the other way.

Just wondering if anyone agrees or disagrees with me

I would definitely agree. You need to find your comfort level and select camping gear accordingly.
We don't have nearly as much as you byt we did get a big tent for room and a table to sit at. This is my comfort level and it made a big difference after years in small tents on stools. We also have a tiny caravan which suits our needs too.

I agree. But we don’t have anywhere to store all of that so can’t buy it.

DH would totally agree with you!

I've camped all my life, with my parents, friends, guides, scouts, sister, etc etc. I like some of the luxuries, but can cope with roughing it. He has been a few times with me and the kids, and each time there has been a new 'essential item' we have to take (kettle/duvet/lights etc). We haven't been for a few years now, but he's recently been looking at a full on kit with double height air beds, black out bedrooms, etc

Absolutely. We thought camping would be a great cheap holiday so bought a cheap Halfords tent and cheap airbeds with cheap sleeping bags. We were cold and miserable but the kids had a great time so we upgraded the kit. I blew a small fortune on an inflatable tent and an obscene amount on a carpet, comfortable chairs and a decent airbed. It makes a massive difference!

I've got a good sized 6 man tent, comfy chairs, good kitchen set up and extra porch, and it didn't cost very much, all of my kit was less than £400 I think.

I do think you need to find a level that suits you. It took me a while to get it right, I'd rather slum it slightly than spend too much time setting up camp. I do like EHU though.

If your level is a flushing portapotty, then that's fine. Plenty of people will be more than happy with a bell tent in a field (which I'm sure will be demonstrated ).

Some people need a full fridge and TV, along with a speaker a constant music. Also fine.

Well yes, if you can afford to, you can spend a lot on it - just like anything else. Or you can buy/borrow a decent enough tent, camp beds and folding chairs and do your homework to find camping sites with decent toilet and shower facilities. It's just a question of what suits you, and what's in budget.

Agree to a certain extent. We have a huge tent which makes it much easier. We don't take storage for clothes, just live out of bags. Standard blow up beds but lots of layers/padding to make them more like a mattress. After our last camping trip ear plugs are on the list for next time!

I’m not interested anymore until we have a caravan/camper sorted out. Doesn’t even have to be a posh one. Just leak proof with a decent bed.

I would 100% agree blackberry but what do you cart all that in? A lorry? I'm just jealous, we go well equipped but I'd like to take more but don't have room in our estate car and roof box

Should have said I have a chronic pain disability so need to be comfy and we are lucky enough to have a huge attic to store (I forgot car roof box to add to the list)
It really paying off now bacuse my husband has taken a part time job in the field he wants to work in that he has been training for so we are on a lot less money for the time being. So glad we have all the equipment now and can have cheap holidays

I think it depends, I started camping when a two ring gas stove was considered a pointless extravagance and you slept on a thin foam mat. Over the years we’ve got more and more equipment to add to our comfort but tbh most of it is not necessary and just adds to set up and take down time. Some set ups I see look fab but actually, the tv, the games console, the colour matched kitchen accessories the tents the size of a house, corner sofas all take away from the simplicity I love about camping. But each to their own. The good thing about camping is it’s like sex you can do it however you like so long as all participants enjoy it

You would be amazed how much is flat pack or fold up. We never have a full car

How to you find folding up the inflatable tent? I've got a chronic pain condition as well and can manage to fold up my poled vango OK, but I'd love an inflatable one. Are they much harder to pack up?

Don't agree you have to make an investment. The whole point of camping is to be outdoors away from the house and home comforts.
We have an ex-display 3 man tent for £50 and love it. We are slowly building up more things as we need them now we have a car but no point making an initial outlay if you aren't sure you're going to use it.
We recently camped with friends and they had so much stuff, packing it all was so stressful whereas we chucked it in the car and were good to go.
Plus if you have lots of stuff you have to store it all!

It depends on your level of comfort you want as other PPs have said. We have a camper now but it's a basic rock and roll bed. We have an awning but nothing extravagant to go in it. Camping stove sits on table. Standard camping chairs as don't spend much time in them anyway and if it's dry i prefer to sit on the floor anyway. But then we quite enjoy the rougher side of camping and usually go to festivals etc. It's too much faff to bring half the stuff you've listed (for us anyway).
Never really understood peeing in a bucket in your tent though, if you're on a campsite just walk to the toilets? What exactly do you do with the bucket afterwards? (not goady genuinely curious)

The earplugs are amazing to have.

This was after in our earlier camping days there was a group of about 20 teenagers who decided to pitch up at about midnight (I guess without the campsite knowledge as they didn’t allow big groups)
When they started singing and playing instruments I stormed out of the tent and gave them both barrels.
I can back in tent and said to my husband proudly who had got up by this point “they looked at me shocked and said ok meekly”

My husband pointed at my chest and said “maybe they looked shocked as one of your boobs is hanging out of your PJ top and they don’t want crazy boob lady to come screaming at them again”

How do you take all of that stuff with you?

I think it is partly the need to replace bits that gets me. My mattress gradually deflates overnight. DH thinks that's ok . But I think it is another £20 to get a new one.

I'd guess we've spent over £1000 on camping kit (albeit with 3 tents for different reasons, one now given away). We've probably camped for 10 ish nights so far. It will get cheaper if we carry on, but I might end up wanting better kit.

Tell me about your toilet please .

The inflatable one is great for me as I found putting together detaching all the poles, and clipping them on and off the tent really hard as I have it bad in my hands and wrists.
Folding it up as with all tents can be a pain but no more then a pole one. We got a bigger tent bag as he one it came with was impossible to get it back into

Ah OK, that's what I thought. I've got bad hands too, and I've is weak, but I can manage to put up the tent OK, it's the folding it into the bag I struggle with.

Lol at crazy boob lady 🤣😂

Blow up big tent which goes up in ten minutes with porch and lots of storage plus had a put up extra bedroom you can use a toilet cubical. Also bedroom are covered in black out material
Portable flushing toilet with bags that you just take out and dispose of

Ewwwww why are you shitting in your own tent???

I think I’ve been the full circle. Started off with very basic stuff, upgraded, bought more stuff, fancier beds, thicker sleeping bags, ehu, stoves, electric blankets etc and got to the stage I just couldn’t be arsed with all the organising- getting everything out the loft, carefully packing car, getting there, unpacking, putting everything up, getting organised and then having to do the reverse a couple of days later. Also paying £20-30 quid a night for a patch of grass sandwiched between other people and their kids.
We went back to basics and now only go for one night wild camping with minimal equipment. Dinner will be cooked on the fire and following breakfast will be a MacDonalds. Much more enjoyable and less hassle.

That said, one possibly two nights is my limit. And not at all if the weather forecast is poor.

Hmmm.

DH and I have camped all our lives with family, Scouts, Guides, DofE etc. In the early days of our relationship we had a tiny, 2 man tent and a single ring stove and had a fantastic time.

Over the years we’ve upgraded slowly and tend to buy one new thing each camping holiday. As a result we have a wonderful carpeted, 8 man tent with room to stand up and walk around, great air mattresses, table and chairs, fancy stove and my favourite - an inflatable sofa and arm chairs.

It doesn’t have to be one big huge financial outlay. You can work up to it.

We’re currently pondering a small portable fridge but wondering if that might be a step too far.

OP loves this thread! Have just spent a small fortune (investment??) on camping kit for first ever camping trip next week. Let’s hope you are right!

I don’t shit it in but I have kidney problems that mean I need to go about 6 times a night. It’s like a freedom toliet but you don’t empty it by tipping the water out you empty a bag. You can put cat litter in it to sock up the liquid.

You put toliet sanister with water in a compartment of it and that is the flush

Have fun. Remember earplugs bold and beautiful
Real wax or silicon ones are best