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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Camping

50 replies

Kidsaregrim · 25/01/2023 20:20

I haven’t camped since I was a child but have great memories of the adventures we had as children
I am a bit worried about the PlayStation and other electronics burning the brains of my children and think they need to go back to nature a bit more!

AIBU to my poor family for wanting to go and get a massive (air) tent and try and recapture my youth?

if I am NOT being unreasonable have you got any ideas, suggestions, must haves, places to see or other top tips 😊

OP posts:
Gymmum82 · 25/01/2023 20:23

Do it! We have a MASSIVE tent and camp multiple times a year. Kids absolutely love it. We love it. There’s loads of lovely camp sites around. Our faves have been in the lakes and Devon.
Id maybe do a trial first if you can before you buy all the kit and then your partner/someone else hates it. It doesn’t all come cheap

Original poster
Kidsaregrim · 25/01/2023 20:27

I’m learning that fast lol, did you go for the proper self inflating air beds or something less sturdy? Should we “rough it” and go for flimsy ones?

everything will be second hand for now otherwise it’s all crazy expensive but I have done some research and am trying to go for the “best” second hand where we can!

have you got 1 thing that you are REALLY glad you bought/take with you?

OP posts:
HoldingTheDoor · 25/01/2023 20:29

YABU. Camping is the invention of Satan. Actually, that's not fair, even he would draw the line at inventing actively choosing to sleep in a tent.

gogohmm · 25/01/2023 20:34

Try it out before you buy lots of kit.

PuttingDownRoots · 25/01/2023 20:38

Try a weekend in a pre erected tent first before you spend ££££.

squashedalmondcroissant · 25/01/2023 20:39

I've been camping since I was tiny and absolutely love it! Literally my very first memory is of camping, we had absolutely no gear and just slept in the back of my parent's car 😂

Best advice I can give is invest in the things that will keep you warm and well rested!

Being cold, uncomfortable and unable to sleep will mean the difference between absolutely hating it and never wanting to do it again and loving it so much it becomes a regular thing. Everything else you can build up gradually.

BeanCounterBabe · 25/01/2023 20:42

YANBU. You don't need an air tent though. That's a lot to spend when you don't know whether you will enjoy it. We started camping because it was all we could afford during the nursery years. Kids were rubbish sleepers anyway and it was a change of scene. Now they are teens we go every year. Me and DH sleep in our van and the kids have a four man tent to themselves. We have an open ended extension without a groundsheet for cooking and sitting in of an evening. Love a firepit and a bit of stargazing. We've also been to big Eurocamp type places and saved a fortune on accommodation.

CalistoNoSolo · 25/01/2023 20:42

Camping is vile. Damp, grubby and cold. Or damp grubby and hot.

MaMisled · 25/01/2023 20:44

Do it, do it, do it!!! As poster above said, don't buy lots of kit incase you all hate camping. Borrow a tent or buy second hand. Choose a site where you can park next to your tent so you can ease yourself in by easily taking some comfort with you, without having to haul it across a campsite. Don't take too many clothes, just a few basics, old stuff. You'll get grubby! Make absolutely sure you have plenty of warm bedding. Cheap airmats and sleeping bags will do and cover floor of tent with blankets to protect from cold ground. Plan easy feasts....food is key! Have fun!

NEmama · 25/01/2023 20:45

Omg. No . I'd rather stay at home

ghostyslovesheets · 25/01/2023 20:46

I LOVE camping (didn't like the air tent I had and took it back - I have a nice little tent

BUT I have LOTS of kit including electric hook-up - I like to be comfortable and cosy - it's gets expensive

I have 3 tents - big family tent, my 5 man and a cheap 'festival' tent that I wont cry about if some drunk wanker falls on it and kills it - this was less than £100 - start with a cheap one and spend money on decent camping mats, bedding, chairs and cooking gear

Oigetoffmylawn · 25/01/2023 20:58

I love camping. We have a huge (expensive) set up, but I actually really like very basic and rough camping, so we do some wild camping as well.

Original poster
Kidsaregrim · 25/01/2023 21:00

I love the range of opinions!

I am taking everything on board and appreciate the good and bad!

everyone seems on board at the moment so I’m keeping fingers crossed that we all enjoy it! Does anyone have any experience of quechua tents - I’ve found an absolute bargain!

OP posts:
Champagneforeveryone · 25/01/2023 21:01

PuttingDownRoots · 25/01/2023 20:38

Try a weekend in a pre erected tent first before you spend ££££.

Absolutely this.....

I would also suggest that there are good deals around on the continent with Eurocamp and their ilk in their pre-erected tents. Though not practical for just a few days away.

Decent stuff, even second hand will be £££s if you don't have anything already and nobody you can borrow from. The camping board on here is also a mine of information (at least it was the last time I looked. DH threw an uncharacteristic wobbly after we nearly got trench foot one year and refused to ever set foot in a tent again)

Sleepy86 · 25/01/2023 21:06

Definitely try it out first, then if you enjoyed it keep your eyes peeled for any deals. My parents got a brand new air tent from go outdoors last year for a really good price as it was last seasons stock.

We've recently upgraded from a tent to a touring caravan but I do miss camping.

Inkpotlover · 25/01/2023 21:09

Do it! We camp every year with a set of friends and we love it. The kids go feral, everyone chips in with food etc and in the evening we just kick back round the campfire. I would do what others suggest and go somewhere with pre-erected tents so you can decide whether you like it though, because the cost of the equipment adds up. But definitely go and definitely go with friends. I think if we went as just our family unit we'd hate it!

Eileen101 · 25/01/2023 21:09

Yes! Do it! But invest in things to keep you warm, dry and comfortable at night, or you'll not convince them.

Don't get an air tent though.

Original poster
Kidsaregrim · 25/01/2023 21:09

Oh I did not know there was a camping page on here! I’ll head over and have a look - thanks!

family have a lot that we can borrow but thinking if they can survive the bare bones then they can cope with anything else we get!

I hate to say but we have a puppy and the thought of leaving her for a week in Spain is swaying my decision, I’m just researching pet health checks to see if we can take her away with us - the more guaranteed sunshine of France appeals to me!

OP posts:
SnackSizeRaisin · 25/01/2023 21:19

You can get cheap tents and sleeping bags on Facebook marketplace. Self inflating mattresses are the best but an airbed is a cheap alternative. Always take your own pillow. Then you will need a camping chair, plenty of warm clothes, a basic camping gas stove, a torch. Food and something to cook it in and eat it with. Wine. Some extra blankets. Waterproof shoes or wellies for the wet grass. That's more or less it. If you don't mind second hand you can probably kit out the family for £100.
I love camping. So nice to be outdoors and hear the owls and sheep at night.

whiteroseredrose · 25/01/2023 21:21

We did loads of camping when DC were little and I loved it (so did DC at first).

My key things are to be able to sleep at night, and to have a tent that you can stand up in. So we had thick self-inflating mats and very warm 4 season sleeping bags. Both were expensive but have been used a lot by DC sleeping over at friends' houses or them sleeping here.

I'd second having a couple of trial runs in ready set up tents before you commit the £££ to buy your own tent.

These were our main holidays so over time we built up stuff to include Electric Hook Up with electric chill box, fan heater and also a bucket loo for DC nighttime wees.

YourWinter · 25/01/2023 21:21

We used to go to France with Canvas Holidays when the kids were small. More difficult when the eldest got to 10, issues with privacy, and the longgg drive, but nice when they were little. In the days before internet, let alone PlayStation!

I love caravans too.

Only camped in a tent once after eldest turned 12, when I took them all to a festival for three days. We had to drive into the town and use the swimming pool as DD refused to use the site showers, again the lack of privacy was a bigger gripe than actual discomfort.

Accompanying DS when the Beavers went camping was a breeze compared to camping with a pre-adolescent girl.

mewkins · 25/01/2023 21:21

Decathlon tents are good and they have a repair service I think. Get decent sleeping bags and enough blankets to keep you warm. One of the best things is a camping gaz party multi stove (I think other brands do them too) which you can use as a grill, hob, wok etc. We use it at home as well as when camping.

Also choose a campsite with a decent loo block!

ghostyslovesheets · 25/01/2023 21:24

Also choose a campsite with a decent loo block or a bog in a bag /portable loo + cat litter!

whatsup44 · 25/01/2023 21:24

Def try camping -I don't know any kid that doesn't love it.

But maybe try glamping first ?

chinny421 · 25/01/2023 21:25

Camping is one step up from sleeping in a doorway

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