is buying all the stuff for camping worth it

[Sarah510]

soooo, am thinking about holidays, kids are 12 and 16, and I'm wondering would camping be a good 'bonding' experience for us. I just feel we are becoming a bit isolated - I know this happens as they get older, but it feels like it's gone by so fast, so quick! It's just me and the kids, and since lockdown we've spent a lot of time separate in our rooms with our different screens, it's hard to get them to come on days out. But the initial outlay for camping seems quite a lot - is it worth it. Also, I've turned 50 and need to pee a lot in the night... Also should I get 2 tents - a separate one for me as I snore..... Grateful for helpful hints on camping for beginners....

Is the tent from Harry Potter available to buy? That would be stupendous!

I've given up looking at the weather forecast before we camp. I take the hot/wet/cold weather stuff and hope for the best. As for drying the tent out, so far we have been lucky, if it's wet we remove the carpet in the boot and just chuck the wet tent in on top of the spare tyre cover and put everything else in bin bags. Last time we went it just started to drizzle as we had to pack away so it was a rush job to get the tent in the car ASAP. Of course when we got home it was brilliant sunshine again.

Most campsites in Dorset still have lots of room.
But I'm wondering if it's a bit late for you?

We have done caravanning since Ds2 was born and my 2 are now older and it gets to the stage with older children that they've had enough of it. Many of Ds1's 'camping friends' who came every year, every May, now aren't coming.

So don't spend too much.

Oh dear.

I'd have stuck with a chalet or caravan of I were you OP.

But as it is done, def second hand or borrowed. You might be surprised how many friends have camping stuff and be willing to lend it.

My most hated camping 'thing' is all the condensation inside the tent. YUCK! Especially if you are popping to the toilet block in the night.

Also check your site terms and conditions. Most in the UK (or maybe only Wales) are not accepting people who need toilet/shower blocks.

We are going camping tomorrow, the DCs have asked to go and we have now got a second hand tent. I have anxiety and I am nervous at the thought of taking two teens on my own. Please reassure me

Also check your site terms and conditions. Most in the UK (or maybe only Wales) are not accepting people who need toilet/shower blocks.

Two sets friends have been away in their camper vans to different places using sites which allow use of toilets and shower blocks with social distancing. That's North Yorkshire and Dorset.

Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but get one of those reflective blankets (I used to buy them in the £ shop) for underneath your air bed / SIM etc, keeps the cold out a treat.

As PP's have said, a decent warm nights sleep will make the rest of the day so much more bearable

You can get little bags with crystals in to pee into. The crystals absorb the pee and you just throw it away in the morning. Saves going out of your tent in the middle of the night.

If you do decide to go, is there anyone you could borrow the tent and equipment from? Or even buy second hand? DH and his DCs had always camped when we met, so we gave it a go with my DC. I loved the idea, but hated the reality of it and I'd never go again. The lack of privacy was an issue, being surrounded by so many others. You could hear everything going on around you, including snoring, and communal showers and loos just aren't for me.

We've got a motorhome now, and wild 'camp' in countries it's legal to do so. Much better for us. Oh and if DH wants to camp, he goes on his own

Our ‘kids’ (32,21 &20) still come with us! They bring their partners now.

That said, I’m off on my own for the next few days because they’re all working, including DH.

I will meet up next week with DB, SIL and the next generation of campers though 😃.

You will be fine @slippingshipyards 😁
Can't think of anything else to say to reassure you.
Let me divert you with a funny story. Many years ago when I was camping I had a few too many in the campsite bar. I staggered back to my tent, twanging a few guy ropes along the way and collapsed in a heap inside it.
I woke up the next morning with a jackhammer going off in my head and a large Swedish man demanding to know who I was and what the hell was I doing in his tent.
Yep, In my alcohol fuddled state I had staggered into a completely random tent, which didn't even look anything like mine and gone to sleep 😳
In my defence, the bloke must have had a skin full too because he never even noticed a random woman in his tent until he woke up the following morning.
Worse still, my OH just assumed that I had woken early and had gone to shower!!

We've camped as a family since the kids were toddlers and have spent a fortune on camping gear.

Now the kids are 12 and 14 we are thinking we may only have a couple of years of camping holidays left as they won't really want to do it once they reach 16.

So I wouldn't be be buying lots of gear if I were you.

I read this morning that lots of people are camping for the first time because of the travel restrictions and yet this year we've cancelled our camping holiday. I just couldn't see it being the same with Covid restrictions in place.

You could hear everything going on around you, including snoring, and communal showers and loos just aren't for me.

And this ^^ is exactly why I have no desire to ever camp again.

For teens, more small tents is better than one big one!

And yy to whatever sort of cushy mat/air mattress you can borrow or buy. You want a comfy night's sleep.

Love camping. We make our tent super pretty and cosy so it's more like glamping really.

My advice is forget sleeping bags, no one wants to be trapped in a bag, take your duvet from home, so toasty and warm. Take a hot water bottle if you get cold.

Take headlights, Aldi do them for £2.99, you will look like a miner but you won't care.

Buy an additional headlamp and put that on your 10 litre water butt (can get these from ebay for a few quid), you have water on tap (invaluable) and the headlight around the water butt creates a lovely, ambient light in your tent.

I would buy a two ring stove if I were you. Otherwise, your eggs will be cold by the time your beans are ready or the kettle has boiled.

Take some solar fairy lights and bunting for the tent for inside and outside, it makes it so cosy.

Windbreakers for creating an area outside the tent, great for privacy and also keeping space between you and other tents. Some campers are massive space invaders. This method keeps them at bay

Get a tent you can stand in, with a separate area to sleep and sit. All these little extras, which don't cost much, could be the difference between everyone loving the experience, or not. As you aren't sure whether everyone will enjoy camping, go second hand where possible.

One other tip. We camp with dogs. We play white noise on our phones all night so that they aren't disturbed, this also helps prevent hearing other people snoring, etc. Obviously this is not so good at preventing space invaders who pitch their tent right next to yours but if on a decent campsite, with nicely spaced pitches, white noise is the way to go for a peaceful night. Ear plugs come in handy too.

Also don't forget solar chargers for phones and ipads, we bought one from Amazon this year, it was amazing, we had fully charged appliances at all times.

Honestly? We’ve been camping for years with our two boys. The oldest is 12 and I can see that the end is nigh with him.

If you do want to do it I’d suggest:

Separate small tents for your boys to sleep in. The lack of privacy in a shared tent really bugged my 12 yr old this year.
Focusing less on the camping Itself and more on the activities you can do together: inevitably these have to be outdoorsy eg walking / hiking, swimming, visiting places. This summer we are going camping 3 times and our activities will have included...river swimming, rafting, lake swimming, messing about in a dinghy, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, accrobranche, hiking, fishing, visiting caves, learning to sail a mini catamaran, sea swimming, snorkelling and crab catching. When we aren’t doing activities, all the 12 yr old wants to do is chat to his friends on his phone. They do go and play in the campsite play park, but the days of them making a big bunch of random friends to run around with is past.

Have to say I'm having second thoughts about it now :( seemed like a great idea the other night at 2am when I was desperate to just go away, get away somewhere!!! Its only 2 nights, so I'm going to resist buying a load of stuff and bring literally the minimum. Funnily it's the 16 year old who is really into it - my 12 year old is more wary of the whole idea!!!!! I think he will miss his fortnite friends. I'm very scared that I will hate it, but keep telling myself it's only 2 nights so I will survive and if the worst comes to the worst we can drive home. Th'ats the other thing, it's a 4 hour drive. I'm really worried about it all!!! And worried that I'm not fit enough for all the stuff that will need to be done... Going to a camping shop tonight. Maybe I should just get a couple of small tents that dc's can use as they get older, with friends etc.

I love camping - we pick eco camping sites as I hate these big campsites. Honestly if you’re 16 yo is into it that’s half the battle. We have way too much stuff which I’m trying to whittle down.

Tbh even if it rains I love it. There’s nothing more cosy than being in a tent and it bucketing it down. But we have a big tent which means we aren’t on top of each other.

You’ll have a great time

I wouldn't at 16 unless you can go in groups with their mates.

Get a tent with 2 sleeping compartments (most sites charge by the rent) but keep the amount of gear to a minimum - all you need in addition is sleeping mats/air beds, sleeping bags (or old duvets) and something to cook on - everything else can usually be old household stuff eg chipped mugs and plates, old or v cheap pans. Personally I favour eating dinner at a pub so one fry pan and a kettle suffices for the kitchen, single burner. Take folding chairs ideally but some sites provide picnic tables. Improvise basically (I personally prefer sleeping in the car back seats flattened my double air mattress fits!)

Ps, unless you plan to stick to the sw on good days, make sure it's robust for wind, we live on windy isles!!! Mines a mountaineering tent reduced to 1/3 of price in the sale (£100 vs £300)

Decathlon are great for inexpensive camping gear.

Bare minimum would be
tent good option
sleeping mats or airbeds
duvets and blankets from home
Canister stove
Cold bag and ice blocks
couple of pans and some picnic crockery
Flexi tub with handles makes a great washing up bowl
5 litre bottle of spring water
Folding chair each person
Box for a table.
torches

That's enough to work out if you think there's scope for enjoying it in the future and survey other family's set ups so you can decide what other kit you want another time.

I really like the flexibility of camping - it's cheap and cheerful, you can always move on or go home without being stuck in a week's rental that cost you £700. We still talk about the night in Wales when we all watched a meteor shower in perfect dark skies.

Actually getting 2 small tents that they can use once they start festival going is not a bad idea!

It's great that the 16 yo is into it!

What site have you booked?

Oh - the pound shop is a good place for stuff - plates, cups etc.