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

Totally agree. You need all the kit.

I think camping isn't for everyone.

I love camping but generally prefer a basic campsite, can't be doing with cats next to tents, electrical hook ups and tents that should be holiday cottages. Each to their own I guess, but if you need that level of comfort to even vaguely enjoy camping then just don't bother!

Having said that, unless I'm hiking between campsites, I do like to be able to stand up to put my trousers on and an airbed! But they aren't essential to my enjoyment.

I have done a far bit online, and found blacks and millets to be largely useless unless you know exactly what you are looking for. There's a Facebook group called something hideous: 'camping with kids/ family camping' which is really useful (if you can ignore the endless repeated questions.).

Go outdoors is quite good imo. I found the NEC camping show to be interesting and meant I could see what I was buying. Argos for things like travel kettles. Mountain Warehouse is good for travel towels/socks etc.

Unfortunately there is a certain amount of trial and error, replacing the crap stuff with better versions and accepting that you will waste money here and there. Camping does seem to be a case of 'buy the very best you can afford' IMO.

We've gone back and forth with style of tent.

Initially we had a tiny two man tent.

Then we had kids, and we got a huge tent with separate sleeping compartments. But it was huge and took so much time to put up.

So we got rid of that, and now we have a cabin-style tent that is tall and is just one big room, and which we can stand up in. It goes up and comes down pretty quickly. You can also carry it around a campsite without dismantling, we found. If anyone wants their own space we have a couple of spare 'easy up' small tents that they can have.

We don't live in the tent much - we just sleep in it. We cook and do everything else outside. It doesn't tend to rain much here, and we pretty much always camp in the woods, so you can usually get some shelter if need be. And we set up a canopy or two.

It's all about finding what you need for that stage in life, innit?

One day I plan to have one of those little teardrop shaped caravans and drive around the world in it.

We're in the US so we buy some kit (like the tent) from LLBean, and most from Walmart.

Agree we started one or two nights and over the years invested in more and more v large tent, comfy beds. We then invested in a large trailer and go to south France every year for two weeks. It’s bliss and fun xx

Cobblers if you want new then Decathlon and Go Outdoors are good places to start. Put also look at Gumtree or local selling pages on Facebook too.

@ThunderOnlyHappens I have sent you a PM!

We also started off with the basics as I was sure I would hate camping and have then added to it and upgraded each year since. We now have a huge 7 man tent with extra zip-on pods (ideal place to stick the loo) for the 4 of us and really comfy SIMs.

There are a lot of camp sites that do ready tents so you can have a try before you buy so to speak

All silicon earplugs are good, have not had a bad pair yet
Those asking about cost over the next couple of months is the best time to get things as it’s coming to the end of summer and everything will start to come on sale. Blow up chairs and storage units go quite cheap at this time of year as do camping stoves and portable toilets.
Also don’t go for branded vango or other names stuff for example - we have a collapsible storage box for our tent to put bits in. The vango one was £18 but I looked at car boot organisers which are the same thing and got it for £4
We got an ex display tent which was cheaper then half price but perfectly fine. Always worth asking if money can be knocked off for a display model.
We got the carpet and a blow up sleeping mat for DS second hand on eBay
We also asked for bits such as pots, pans, kettle, collapsible washing up bowl for birthdays and Christmas.
All in all I would say we have paid just over a grand. Which to say the full price tent would have over a grand we have done well

We have a caravan and have slowly upgraded from one that cost us £500, we went all over Europe in it and have little problem going to sleep or with weather. Even our £500 one had a fridge, heater, loo and electrics so you can have anything within a budget. I think if you want to try camping or caravanning
on a small budget look at end of season sales or people who have upgraded and are selling off their equipment on eBay/gumtree

My bell tent goes up in less than 15 minutes. That's one of the reasons why I bought it - plus it can be put up by one person. So leaving someone else to put up chairs etc. The canopy takes longer! And it stays dry, even in big downpours. Just because you have a big tent it doesn't mean a long set up time.

I used to have a Wynster 7 tent - the 90 minute erection was just too much

I’ve decided it’s all down to the weather.. 3 days of torrential rain, everything felt damp or cold or both and we were sleep deprived and ready to throw in the (damp microfibre) towel..
3rd night of rain was so loud I had to abandon DD’s bedtime story as I was shouting and she still couldn’t hear me!

Day 4 it’s dry (after another rainy miserable start) and I can see what the fuss is about.... red wine under a starry sky after a day on the beach.. bliss.

Sleep mask has been a lifesaver.. budget earplugs not so good..

Camping is definitely a marmite thing.

The people saying "why not just book a hotel?"
My dd just last weekend was learning to ride her bike at 10pm to the cheers of all the other campers and kids.
Nothing compares to the atmosphere. The fun had until late. But not too late, an hour or so after the DC have gone to sleep, to watch the stars and satellites with a wine in hand. Bliss.

Each to their own. personally I can't understand the whole electric hookup, portable 3 bedroom cottage thing. But I do require a comfy double airbed, big sleeping bag and a duvet, coolbox, and china mug for my morning tea. Which to my friends who camp with a bivvy bag and a carrymat and a sleeping bag and a trangia and a water bottle all in a small backpack is just decadent.