What are you 'treating' yourself to, for camping this year?

[Wolfgirl]

My extra little buys are:

new LED lantern (big one); luxury inflatable mat; snuggly warm sleeping bag; Kampa Karze toilet

Will be getting as well: x2 single air beds, x2 self inflating mats, a carpet for the tent (not got one, and I think it is beyond essential ... what else! Mmmm.... I'm sure there just has to be more.

Oh, and I want a combi cooler, one that hooks up to same gas cylinder as the stove thingy.

Icey Tek arrives Weds am. Best part of £100

jamais, we are camping in France in the summer - near La Rochelle and then near Blois - any good?!

Inflatable sofa! Hope you don't get a puncture Is it for a tent or a caravan?

glitterkitty what size did you get? And colour?

bigtillymint I think that might be a bit late for us, need them sooner rather than later! Actually I think one of the DS can have my old sleeping bag, just need to buy another for DS2 (4) and a new 3 season one for me because I feel the cold.

25l (the smallest)- white.

Take duvets and sheets, much nicer!

I am waiting to hear back on postage to France for the icey tek.

I'm not sure about duvets, I will probably bring a bottom sheet though and maybe open up my sleeping bag if it's warm.

We bought one of these as we are camping our way to Italy from Calais, staying for a week and then camping back. We've had it out three times now and can honestly pitch it in 5 mins and get it back in the bag in about the same time. I'm in love!

we need a new Tilley stove - the regulator has gone on ours and now it spurts flames suddenly after behaving normally for a few hours

I've just bought one of those Quechua pop up tents for when I'm camping on my own with the DCs. DD has just started to walk and I can't face trying to pitch our big tunnel tent whilst trying to keep an eye on her and refereeing the DSs squabbling. Therefore I am v pleased to read your post lostinWales!

Going to take it out to the park next week to practice taking it down as I can see that being a bit of an issue!

Icey Tek here too.
Seats that aren't kids would be good too.

You sit in your kids?!

My hint for the pop up zonkin would be to watch the you tube video of how to do it a few times. I stood upstairs crying with laughter watching DH and DS1 attempt to fold it down until I walked out, calmly lifted one corner with my foot and folded it in on itself. DH and DS2 (a tiny 9 year old) can put it down together in 5 mins quite easily.

I WANT an Icey Tek, what sizes do people recommend?

I want an Icy Tek too, looking at the 40 litre one. Just need to measure the gap between ds's and see if it will fit.

Also air bed for dh to go under the dozer. That will be it I think, spent a fortune already this year!!

Doyouthinktheysaurus why does your DH need an airbed uner the dozer? Am thinking of ditching airbeds in favour of thermarest/dozer/vango equivalent. I've always found airbeds comfortable but cold, and am sick of them getting punctures. Does your DH not find the dozer comfortable?

fearnelinen at DH!

rantyMcrantpants yes, I just bought a Kampa Karza thingy-ma-jig... but it was a suncamp one. Not used it yet, last year we used a toddle pottette thingy.

Interested to know how you keep the tent carpet clean. That was on my list of purchases, and then I thought...Hmmmm.... might have to get a battery op hand held hoover to go with it.

glamping ha ha. Yes, that is what we do nicely!

oh yes, pans. But I saw the coleman ones recommended on a diff. thread, in GoOutdoors... thought they were too big n chucky. May as well take what I have at home already.

Mmmm.... what to do.

I'm looking for a new cooker and stand. We are currently using one of those concertina type stands which we hate because we always manage to trap our fingers when putting it up or down, and two single rings (the type that take small canisters) which only fit on the stand if they are sideways. It gets interesting trying to squeeze your hand in between to switch them off so not really a good idea.
We went to a big camping shop yesterday but still haven't agreed decided on what we want.

Lostinwales - thanks for the tip!

Meant to add we went camping over half term and I decided to ditch the air beds and buy the alpkit self inflating mats. Dozers for me and DH and Dirtbags for the kids. DH moaned beforehand about me not taking the air beds but is now totally converted. Best camping sleep we've ever had!

Wolfgirl we looked at those and the ones where you put chemicals in. Think we will probably go with the Khazi because of the simplicity.

When we had a carpet I just used a dustpan and brush while I was away to get the worst off, then bunged it over the washing line and hoovered it when I got home.

He's old fatsatsuma

He has a dodgy hip and struggles to get comfortable. I use a dozer as well and am pretty pleased with it. We had thinner sim's before and the dozer is much better.

Oh I see. I think I need to find somewhere where I can actually try a dozer out. I have some back problems and couldn't bear to spend £££ on a dozer and then not find it comfortable.

Hope the dozer/airbed combo works for your DH

I ordered this camping gaz bivouac kit yesterday.

Am hoping that it will be the answer to our camp cooking prayers for our 6 week trip.

Its that and the Cobb and that's it. No stove, no giant gas bottle. No multiple saucepans and sieve, no camp kitchen table, no utility tent. Nadda.

It's minimalism-a-mundo from here on in.

I don't think you can get Dozer's in the shops fatsatsuma. Whereabouts are you? You're more than welcome to give mine a try if you live near East Manchester-ish.

bilblio that's a really kind offer, but I'm nowhere near Manchester

I had a feeling it would be tricky to try one out - but I really would like to do that before shelling out for one...