I have never been camping in my life

[ComeAlongPond]

I've never even so much as slept in a tent in the garden and have, for some reason, agreed to go camping in the summer with some friends - IF we can get ourselves sorted and it can be fairly cheap. (Doubtful.)

1 - We have NO knowledge of camping or what we need. Though we might have someone with us who did D of E at school. If she can come.

2 - We are poor students.

But I'm sure we're capable. It'll be like... an adventure. Like the Famous Five or something. "Five set fire to their tent and get eaten by wild animals," probably.

Help?

I like that you have put a question mark after your help, like you are not even sure if help is what you need.

I am currently reading a Famous Five book to the dc and they are RUBBISH campers.

Sleeping on a bed of heather - stupid idea with minimal thermal rating
Non waterproof tent - I pity the fools
Food is mostly stale sandwiches - constipation

What do you need to know Pond?

All the Famous Five used to do was drink lashings of ginger beer and eat slabs of fruit cake IIRC. You would get slightly better advice from Swallows and Amazons I think.

Actually, I would recommend this tent.

hahahaha at the playmo tent. I bet it's waterproof though.

Well it would be if it didn't have an open front .

Seriously, Pond, slubber is the woman to advise you. I am a very part-time camper and know nothing....

I bet Famous Five Ginger Beer was actually neat vodka.

Camping is sleeping outside, with insects and the hard ground and that mangy tent smell and sharing toilets.

I bought a cheapo tent last summer for back garden camping, and it's still in the box.

I may consider it, when they do walls and beds and private toilets and somewhere to plug in my straighteners.

Am not a wimp byw, I have backpacked in SE Asia, but camping is just Too Far.

I don't know that much tbh.

I can tell Pond about good pegs and mallets.

First you'll need a tent
Most have ground sheets sewn in
YOu can sometimes get cheap dome tents from supermarkets though I reckon when they say sleeps 2 they mean sleeps 1 and gear.
Practice setting up before headin off, you dont want to be fiddling about in the rain wondering how to set up the tent.

A sleeping roll or airbed to keep you off the ground, makes it a bit warmer and more comfy

A sleeping bag or duvet

Some thing to cook on, either a camping gaz stove or a solid fuel camping stove
www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=solid+fuel+camping+stove&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=6867621680&ref=pd_sl_4r55f2hm1j_b

pot, tin opener, knife spoon fork

TORCH a wind up one is best so you dont need to go fiddling for batteries

depending on if you have transport you can add in a folding chair
tins food, bottles water

Avon skin so soft- the original dry oil body spray works quite well as an insect repellant

google or ask about campsites

Oi!

no slagging off of camping in the camping topic mugglewump.

Mangy tent smell my arse.

CANVAS tents smell bloody gorgeous like all your best childhood holidays rolled into one lovely scent.

Ooh I love camping - we're going to take the kids backcountry camping this year now that ds2 will be three and can walk a mile or so. But start off small and camp near a pub (for meals), drink wine rather than beer so you don't need to pee in the night, and wear thermals and if it's really chilly, wear a wooly hat overnight!

And take plenty of teabags!

How about a Base Seconds 4.2 pop-up tent? Apparently pitches in minutes, so good for a short and first trip, I think. We bought a "normal" family tent (Vango Orchy, which in fairness, is good) as our first tent, but knowing what I know now (bell tent campers), I wish I'd rather bought that BS pop-up first, as should be useful for overnight trips.

What you need is a list of all the stuff you'll need. I could reproduce my own camping list (for what we take for a weekend) if you like. You can always alter it if you think you might need different stuff (depending on your eating/drinking etc habits).

you could go to a campsite that has wigwams or camping 'pods' to the poncerati. that way you don't have to bother investing in a tent.

see here

wine and a bottle opener are essential.

Agree with Viva - wine, corkscrew, glasses, mugs, kettle and stove, teabags and milk. Then you're sorted. (for the evening and the next morning!)

Oh dear DB, I have just watched their promo vid (the teepee folk) and it was all going rather well despite wailing native Indian music. No bunting and plenty of zip up fleeces....and then they went and spelt hassle free wrong at the end.

I second the Base Seconds tent.

this is camping not pedants corner!

wigwams are good and fairly close to the true camping experience

I would take the following:-

Tent, mallet, spare pegs, something to sleep on (either camping mats, airmays, airbeds etc), sleeping bags or duvets, pillows if you like.

Folding table and chairs if you have them.

Cool box, couple of large plastic storage boxes, cutlery, plates, bowls, cups, glasses, sharp knives/chopping board if you are going to cook for yourselves, food items (at least basic tea/coffee/milk/juice/wine/bread/butter etc).

Washing up bowl, liquid and cloth/sponge/scourer.

If you want to have a barbecue and already have one, take that. Camping stove (there are loads of types, can't really advise you), matches. Loo roll, kitchen roll, foil, torches.

Clothes, including waterproofs, towels, wash things.

Have probably forgotten loads of stuff, but at least that's a basic list.

Yes yes

But it is their VIDEO.

Someone spent a lot of time capturing the family fun to be had there and then let themselves down with the spell check fail.

It does look very nice though.

Sorry Pond.

Yes what Norman said, and ratspeaker.

try having a look around a 'go outdoors' store - very reasonable and helpful staff

i think the big lists can be scary. go with people who have all the stuff and bring a torch

Camping is excellent.
I agree with Normans list, that should cover all. We found self inflating mats better than airbeds as no chance of it going down in the night and warmer, but is each to their own really as some prefer airbeds.
It is always to good to buy the best you can afford but as it is your first time probably best to only buy basics incase you hate it. You can always buy more or change them next year.
Plus it is quite addictive and shopping never stops!
Good idea to look on ukcampsite for advice. very helpful and they have lots of lists to look at.
Canvas tents smell fantastic and I cannot wait to go again, just waiting for weather to warm up.