Lightweight camping just with rucksacks - is it an impossible dream?

[zippy539]

Has anyone managed to devise a method of feeding, sheltering and clothing four people out of two rucksacks and two small backpacks?

I've finally managed to persuade DH and the dc's (aged 7 and 8) to try camping - which I love (but haven't done for years).

The long term goal is wild camping but until we get our camping legs I'm looking at expeditions to small, back to basics sites (compost bogs, a shower if we're lucky). In the spirit of back to basics we'll be travelling by public transport.

I've been looking on hiking/cycling sites for inspiration re lightweight tents and gear etc but can't find any articles on focusing on family camping (most seem to be aimed at single travellers or couples).

The main problem at the minute seems to be finding a tent that doesn't weigh much more than 11kg and provides a bit of storage/sitting space (we won't be able to keep back-up gear in a car). It's possible to get 4/5 man tents that come in around 12.5 kg but that's still pretty heavy to lug around. One idea was to get 2 two man tents, or a three man and a 1 man for dh. That way we're not lumbered with one huge heavy tent to lug around.

What d'you think? Any advice/tips much appreciated.

It's possible to get 2-man tents at 3 to 4 kg each, and then maybe you could also take an ultra-lightweight single tent to bung extra stuff in? But presumably you'll also be carrying all the sleeping stuff for all four of you split between you and DH? Tricky.

Should admit to being the opposite of a lightweight camper these days...

Thanks Lancelottie - the two man tents we're looking at are 3.5 kg which is really manageable - hadn't thought about getting a single to bung stuff into - if it was lightweight enough one of the dc's could carry it.

Then me and dh could strap one tent each onto our rucksacks along with a sleeping bag each and another one each inside the rucksack...

Only downside I can see is three times the usual amount of arguments as we try to erect THREE tents!

Bump for the evening crowd.

Even if someone has a really light weight piece of kit I'd appreciate knowing about it.

Insert desperate emoticon here (got to prove that this is possible to DH, my Dad, random blokes in camping shops..)

Well, how about a 2-man and a 3-man tent between you -- prob not much more weight for a bit of extra space?

I think Riven is your woman for this -- they bung everything into a couple of wheelie bags and head off on the train.

We, on the other hand, now seem to take the kitchen sink. And on at least one memorable occasion, a euphonium.

Thanks Lancelottie - I've a feeling the 2-man and 3-man is the way to go.

Got to go out now but will bump later in an attempt to hunt down Riven - she sounds like a woman after my own heart!

Although very much liking the idea of trying to accomodate a euphonium - did it increase your popularity on the campsite late at night?

I have camped lots with DS and a backpack, bothe here and abroad, so if it possible for one adult and one child it is possible for double that!

I'd recommend two small two man tents, the kind designed for backpacking, that is what we have, very lightweight, very easy to put up and pack away, but very low too so not high enough to sit up in for an adult (fine for DS).

I hiked all over the Carpathian mountains once for ten days with DS aged 3, it was ok but a bit of a struggle too as we had so little stuff and it kept getting wet in the rain.

Mostly it is great fun though, DS especially likes all the public transport we take to get to various campsites

Wish I could help but the idea of this makes me shudder now - we managed to get everything we needed for three into a Honda CRV and a roofbox but it was a squash and a squeeze and our tent is a six man one which weighs 55 kg

Another tip, I have always trained DS to carry his fair share of stuff in a good quality rucksack that fits him and supports his back. No reason why the adults should carry all the gear!

SleepingLion I think people take as much stuff as they cxan when camping, so if you have a car and a roofbox you will fill it, if you had a trailer as well you would fill it, and if you only have a rucksack you will fill that

You don't need half the stuff you've packed, but it will probalby make for a more comfortable camping trip

DO you really need the extra berth. Lightweight camping generally means one space each no frills. IF you can get your dcs to carry their own clothes then I can't see why you couldnt carry a light 2 bed each.

Technology has moved on since I did this sort of camping so I'm guessing it will be even easier now

omdb - you are very right, we didn't need the stuff but I wanted it (happy sigh at the thought of the snuggly camping duvet, the picnic table, the three burner stove...)

Wow - thanks for the replies everyone.

Bronze - you're probably right about the extra berth - the reason I was thinking of including a three man was because lots of the lightweight 2-man tents we've been looking at don't have any extra space for storing gear - but then I might be over-estimating how much gear we will have! Also we'll be camping mainly in Scotland so anticipating lots of inclement weather and would be nice to have a teeny bit of space to sit in when the weather closes in.

Overmydeadbody - hats off to you re the carpathian mountains. Like your ds I love a bit of public transport - the more foreign the better so have no qualms about that aspect - just lugging the gear . Did I read it correctly that you use two 2-man tents for you and your DS? If so - how do you use them practically - you and ds in one tent, gear in other? Also - out of interest what make is your DS's rucksack - def planning on getting the DC'S to do their fair share of carting gear!

Sleepinglion - rofl at your 55kg tent - bet it's bloody lovely though!

Put the tents on wheelies, we have a sort of trolley and this year I plan to take a wheelie type bag as I need a bit of comfort when I sit down.
It was easier when my back was more flexible but we have found a light tent we can the chairs in and stand up to dress.
DP and I have done this with children and it was fine , lots of fun, Good Luck EM x

I really think you'll find you wont have much stuff to worry about. Minimal cooking stuff, clothes become pillows and boots by the door. You won't be able to carry it otherwise especially taking 4 people stuff between 2.4 of you.
Sound sgood though, don't think I could ever tempt my dh. Will have to o with one of the dcs one day

We take our 3 dds backpacking, generally for just one night wild camping. They are 10, 8 and 6 but we've done it since dd3 was 4. It's been surprisingly easy. But we do have all the proper backpacking gear, having been keen campers and backpackers before children. We use a 1-2 person tent, and a 2-3 person tent, both very light. all 3 dds will carry a backpack with their clothes, toys and sleeping bag. dd1, small but wiry at 10, will carry one tent, we carry the rest of the stuff. we have a trangia to cook with.

BUT frankly I wouldn't try it in Scotland for more than a night, we did camp a lot in Scotland in the past but find the amount of gear you need a lot more than in more temperate parts of the UK.

But we have had some fantastic backpacking wild camping trips, really memorable. We camp on campsites with big tent and car too, but the backpacking wild trips stick out, the children remember them very fondly.

Thanks so much everyone - I'm really encouraged by the positive stories here!

Earthymama - Lancellottie mentioned that Riven did a similar wheelie thang - will investigate that further. What kind of tent do you have for the standing up dressing/chairs bit?

Bronze - when I started looking into this I was totally overwhelmed by the amount of kit it seemed we would need - but the more I've read/remembered I've realised that it comes down to cooking and sleeping - looking at it that way I reckon it's easily manageable. DH was also initially very reluctant but he loves cycling and was inspired by that programme on the other week about the early camping cyclists. You just need to find your DH's weak-spot then play on it!!!

Fennel - interesting that you do it with roughly the same tent combo as we are thinking of. Someone suggested getting a big mother of a tent then divvying it up between the two adults to carry - not sure how that would work out in terms of weight per adult?
Really chuffed that the wild camping type nights are the ones that stick in your dc's memories - in all honesty I'd camp anywhere but DH is a privacy freak so has an aversion to the big sites. Re the Scotland thing - we'd be camping here because it's where we live so it's easy to travel to good sites/locations. I guess the key is catching the temperate nights out of midge season - no mean task! Certainly initially we'd only be looking at a night or two out and about and having some VERY sturdy and waterproof tents (though obviously still lightweight!)

Fennel - out of interest what additional gear did you feel that you needed in Scotland over camping further south? [gets pencil and paper out prepared to take notes....]

We used to camp in Scotland a lot, and we had more serious boots and more woolly/fleecy clothes. Now we camp a lot in the SW (we go wild camping on Dartmoor) and you don't usually need such serious gear. Scottish camping experiences can be extremely wet, as you probably already know.

What we do do with the wild camping is only go if the weather forecast is good, so we don't take gear for cold or very wet weather.

It was the highlight of my 4yo's summer 2 years ago, the first time we wild camped on Dartmoor. She went on about it for months. It feels totally different from camping on a campsite.

tent combos - we already had the bigger heavier one for car camping and the super-lightweight small backpacking tent, so we just added one more 2-3 person tent. We camp a lot so it's useful to have various tents for various purposes, one of the backpacking tents isn't particularly expensive and is good for the dds to use on their own, would be OK for festivals or teenage trips too, the other is a bit expensive, the sort you could take on a serious winter expedition, and we save that for ourselves.

I seem to remember Dartmoor as pretty wet too, especially for the two friends who fell in a lake
~I agree about it being totally different. It's one of the main things I miss most about being free, single and childless.

Dartmoor can be rugged and wet, teenagers are always being airlifted off it when they get lost doing expeditions. But it's not like Scotland or Snowdonia or Cumbria, not if you're used to those places.

and it's full of lovely little sheltered valleys with woods and streams, great camping spots.

Light weight camping would be the ideal for us too, unfortunately DSs too small at the mo. But we have this tent:

this tent

which is super light weight but we have used it for cycle touring, enough room in porch for panniers shoes and space to cook. Admittedly it is pricey, think we got ours in the sale though. But it seems the smaller the tent the bigger the price tag! It is really waterproof and durable. Pre-children we would wild camp on Dartmoor (surprised its not run over with campers with all these MNers up to it!) our friends have the same tent and would pitch opposite us so we would each sit in our tents with the doors open and chat, cook etc over the space in the middle.

When we cycled toured we went super extreme, no carry mats, and after pitching would get flattened cardboard boxes from supermarket to sleep on!

What else are you taking kit wise? Whilst we camp with the car I'm always trying to cut back on stuff (can't bear that living out of the car feeling).

My fave space savers are:
-the pack dry microfibre type towels. Dry faster than normal towel and are light and pack small.

• waterproof bags with a roll top. these. We pack our clothes in these, squeeze out all the air and clip them shut. Helps reduce size of the packing and keeps dry too

Me again, I should have made clear, that was the tent we used for 2 people, not as our family tent! Although OH and his mate spent 2 weeks camping in it, and they are both 6ft+!

Thanks everyone - this is really useful.

Jumbs - thanks for posting the links. Love the tent! You're def right about the smaller the tent the more expensive! Esp with lightweight ones.

I am def thinking of the microfibre towels but hadn't thought about the stuff bags - they're a great idea.

Other than that I've got some self-inflating mats that are really lightweight (I plan to strap them to the DC's ) - I thought they could double as something to sit on in the tent if it gets torrential! Also thinking about a small single ring stove, a couple of collapsing lanterns, already got some sporks. Would love to splash out on some ridiculously expensive, light-as-air titanium cooking pan but that's SOOOO not an option so regular small pan.

Sleeping bags, waterproofs, basic food supplies, penknife, warm clothes, things to drink out of, foldy up water carrier, midge repellent... strong string to lash passing sticks into random useless tripods. What have I forgotten?????

Our smallest tent is also by far the most expensive. It's had a lot of use though.

Thermal underwear or similar lightweight clothes to add another layer without being heavy to carry.

Wine decanted into plastic bottles (or whiskey, better alcohol-weight ratio).

We take carrymats, they hardly weigh anything and add a lot of warmth.

Actities to amuse dc which weigh very little. Pack of cards, a book to read aloud, my dds are keen whittlers so we take a couple of knives and they will sit and make things out of wood, which is a very lightweight hobby.

Matches and marshmallows if you are somewhere you can make a fire.