Total Camping Virgin - please tell me what's what!

[nobutyeahbut]

So as we are not going abroad this year i thought maybe we could go camping - we have never done this before. Maybe to East Wittering, i think best to make the first time in the u.k?

Can anyone tell what a good starter tent is for a family of 4?
Do you get camping beds or is it all sleeping bags?

Also any essential equipment we would need?

And also how does an electric pitch work - does it just have plugs.

Please speak to me like i'm an idiot and pass on your knowledge.

TIA

1. For the starter tent is depends a lot on what your budget is. I'm a firm believer that you get what you pay for with regards to tents. Not sure where in the country you are but it's worth taking a trip to somewhere like GoOutdoors as you'll be able to see the tents pitched and have a look at what might suit you. They come in so many shapes and sizes it's wise to take time to go and walk around some if at all possible.

2. There are a few options really. A nice starting option might be to go with airbeds as then you can use normal bedding or sleeping bags depending on the weather. It does get colder outside at night though :)

3. Again, this depends. If you're on a site with toilets/showers and plan on eating out or takeaway every night then you need very little. Bear in mind that even if you're eating out you might still want a small stove to make hot drinks on. www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/checklists.htm have a very comprehensive checklist that you could pick and chose from.

4. To use electric hookup you'll need to purchase something like this www.gooutdoors.co.uk/pennine-leisure-delta-3-socket-caravanning-mains-kit-p106504. Bear in mind that many sites will only have hookup on hardstanding (concrete/gravel) pitches for caravans although more and more are starting to cater for tents too.

Hope that helps, feel free to pm with any questions and I'll try to help. Bear in mind though that there are almost as many ways of camping as there are campers :)

Thanks for this thead nobut - I'll watch with interest and hope for some idiot-proof advice! I've been reading through the threads, accumulating knowledge and we're off on our first 'proper' camping trip this weekend (i.e. not in a mobile home or ready-pitched tent). I've been to Go Outdoors today and have realised you could actually buy a whole house worth of gear to camp with if you had the budget and a big enough car! And thanks for the links Nixea - will continue to research from there.

After reading lots of tent reviews on ukcampsite.co.uk I bought an Outwell Nevada M tent with front extension from allweathers.com for a good price (2011 model but makes no difference from what I can see).

I'm not doing electric hook-up (that's my only technical term so I'm going to use it ) yet to minimise costs. I'm yet to choose sleeping bags but am wondering if 2 season (just learnt this one too ) plus a duvet at this time of year would be enough? My dh says we need proper mummy-style heavy duty ones but he was heavily into scouting and throws in the word 'hike' every now and then which is giving me the jitters about it all...

Have a look at the ukcampsite website/ forum..its fantastic for advice and sorted me out when I was also a camping newbie.
My best bits of advice are to get a much warmer sleeping bag that you think you need and take duck tape with which you can fix almost anything in a tent

Have a look at the ukcampsite website/ forum..its fantastic for advice and sorted me out when I was also a camping newbie.
My best bits of advice are to get a much warmer sleeping bag that you think you need and take duck tape with which you can fix almost anything in a tent

oops, sorry!

Villa With regards to the sleeping bags, I hate mummy bags as they make me feel claustrophobic so I always use a combination of a duvet and blanket for summer camping. When we go away over winter or to higher altitudes then I concede to using a 3-season down one but still negate any benefits by leaving the zip open to my ankles!!

2 season literally means it's designed for warmer Spring/Summer camping. Depends on the brand but it should keep you warm and toasty. If in doubt, why not pack a lot few blankets and duvets in case and see how it goes.

We always take a warm fleecy blanket to go under the sleeping bags. I'd rather be too warm than too cold, so if in doubt, I'd go for warmer. Though you can always sleep in the car if it gets too much.

I prefer the army-type beds rather than airbeds. The latter always seem to get a slow puncture at 3.30 a.m. However, army-type beds are rubbish if you want to get up to anything rude.

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/therm-a-rest-prolite-plus-reg-2012/fuseaction/products.detail/code/83120086/id_colour/157/group/240/level/3 If you really want to splash out and ensure a comfy and warm nights sleep then I highly recommend one of these. They're not cheap by any means but mine's been going for 11 years now and I still wouldn't camp without it. Self inflating and small enough to fit in a backpack.

Thank you all for the advice so far, i will be checking out the recommended sites later.

Am still working on dh, he has visions of doggy shower blocks in manner of Carry on Camping!!

Many people now prefer self inflating mattresses (SIMs) to airbeds - they are warmer, don't need loads of pumping (or an electrical pump to use in your car battery socket thingy), but some people may find them a bit too thin for comfort.

A basic camping set up is mattresses, sleeping bags and pillows, a fold up chair for each person, a folding table, something to cook on, a washing up bowl , pots, pans, plates, mugs, utensils etc, flip flops fr easy on-off on and out of the tent and invaluable in the showers, possibly a bucket to wee in in the night, torches and a couple of lanterns. A cool box is useful.

Then you can decide whether you are a wilder camping sort or a an all-mod-cons type.

A portable BBQ? Will you go to sites that allow fires and cook over your fire, in which case you need a Campfire Grill or a tripod and flame proof pans.

All mod cons include cooking stands, camping khazi toilets, tent heaters and I don't know what!

Airbeds are a good choice for your first camping trips - not too expensive and you can always upgrade to self-inflating mats later. However, ALWAYS put something more than a sheet between you and the airbed - the air in the bed gets very cold from the ground so you need a fleece blanket or an open sleeping bag under you. A duvet over you is a good and cosy option if you have space in the car.

Tent-wise, if you don't need masses of space, a pop up family tent from Decathlon is a good option. They are really easy to put up once you get the knack and there are online videos to help. Saves spending half an hour or longer putting your tent up when you arrive on the site - you can crack open the wine much earlier on!

We have a 5m bell tent - they look great and are also very quick to put up - stick up the centre pole, peg the guys out and off you go. However, they only really appeal if you are into open-plan living, although you can get inner tents for them now.

For cooking, I think it is worth bringing at least a small camp stove like this:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORTABLE-GAS-STOVE-COOKER-CAMPING-FISHING-BARBEQUES-ETC-/180841716049?_trksid=p4340.m185&_trkparms=algo%3DDLSL%252BSIC.NPJS%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D130616341646%252B130616341646%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D7317682957522994403

or this if you want something a bit bigger:

www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=3402021&c_4=4%7Ccat_14419397%7CCamping+Stoves+and+Cooking+Accessories%7C14419406&c_3=3%7Ccat_26036006%7CCamping+and+Caravanning%7C14419397&c_2=2%7Ccat_16849255%7CCar+and+Travel%7C26036006&c_1=1%7Ccategory_root%7CGarden+and+Outdoors%7C16849255&&cmpid=AFPFD&_$ja=tsid:18771

You will also need fold up chairs of some sort unless you like sitting on the ground and lots of warm clothes and layers for the evenings which can get quite chilly even in summer. Choosing a site near a pub or which allows open fires is a good idea so you can keep warm (and cook marshmallows too in the case of the fire).

A coolbox for milk, wine and beer is also essential even if you are planning to mainly eat out. It is also nice to be able to have a cup of tea in the morning so tea, sugar and plastic/enamel mugs are also a good idea at the very least.

Most of the rest you can build up after your first trip when you have a better idea of the sort of camper you are and what equipment would suit you best.

Oh and bring a good torch for everyone and a lantern of some sort to light the tent. Campinggaz do good gas lanterns - I wouldn't use one of those if you have small children though as you don't want to risk them knocking them over. A battery powered one would be better in that situation - we have one like this but you can get all sorts of different ones from places like Millets, Robert Dyas etc:

www.decathlon.co.uk/11-w-neon-rechargeable-lantern-id_8090100.html

Anyway, whatever you decide have a wonderful time!

Bear in mind that for the 2 burner stove you will need a gas bottle - a bit of an investment because you have to pay the deposit on the re-fillable bottle. Whereas the single ring ones run on gas cannisters that look like aerosols and are dsiposable and wideley availble.

Thank you so much for all you wise words, i am taking them all in and getting quite excited about it now!!

Remember if you are cold DO NOT bring a gas cooker or barbecue into the tent to keep it warm - several people have been killed by fumes, so make sure your area is well ventilated.

marking place

Thanks for the great advice Blu, oranges, nixea, world! I bought one of these when I was on a spree in Go Outdoors and am wondering how you safely use it. Does anyone have any experience of them?

A note of caution on Go Outdoors - I was overcharged on three items in my basket of about six things, and had to go back to get a refund. If you shop there make sure you check your receipt as you walk out of the store!

Main things you need IMO are somewhere comfy to sleep , somewhere comfy to sit and decent light. Airbeds are fabby but you need camping mats at bottom or camp beds.Rule if rhumb is as much below you as abovek you. I take sleeping bags cheap quilts and pillows.If camping anytime pack hat, fleecy pjs abd crocs.Tents can be roasting or freezing

I would not buy an air bed, our first camping trip was in September and it was freezing at night. Our friends had air beds and were suffering; we had self-inflating mats and were much better

We got these www.yeomansoutdoors.co.uk/products/multimat-camper-50-single-self-inflating-mat-00000.aspx

though they were only £22.95 then.

Have got camp beds now....

I recommend the Outwell website for camping porn.

The fitted carpet was a good buy.

Get a good tent, a discounted one is a good way to go, but make sure it's a good one. And get a bigger tent than you think you need.

The aforementioned Nevada M is a good tent, but you absolutely will NOT regret getting a larger one, whereas buying into a small tent is still quite an investment when you've bought the carpet, groundsheet, etc. Although you can get extensions, popup kitchen tents, and so on.

Something like the Outwell Montana 6 is a tent that you won't regret.

We've got this tent (but 2010 model) which is a great starter tent, easy to put up and spacious.

Quick update - we had a fabulous time although it was very cold on Saturday night! The sleeping mat was excellent and really kept the heat in underneath, but the air in the tent was so cold that my chest hurt a bit on Sunday. However many sleeping bags and mats etc. you have there seems to be no escaping breathing cold air!

The tent was great and although we've got the front extension that goes with it we didn't put it up and had enough space for a weekend away. Opposite us was a family with a Montana 6. I watched them put it up and it was very impressive, and huge-seeming, but they had a 4x4, a roof box and a trailer for all the kit that went with! And they also said that although it gives a lot of room (and their children were a bit older) a drawback of having a big main tent is that you are restricted to places with big pitches, and that not everywhere will have pitches big enough. I wondered about whether everywhere has room for putting up an extension. Do you ever get told that you can't or find that you don't have space on the pitch?