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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Useless things for camping

60 replies

Andie20521 · 30/03/2012 09:14

Whilst looking at the Aldi camping bits I started thinking about stuff I thought would be fab but was a waste of money/space, the kind of thing most people try once and throw away.

For me it would be the camping toaster (the type you put on top of the stove). I was sooooo excited to get it! Breakfast would be revolutionised!

I burnt myself, used half a can of gas to get a vaguely coloured piece of bread (I can't bring myself to say toast, it clearly wasn't) whilst trying to convince OH that it hadn't been a waste of money.

I soon bought a double burner with grill, which is actually fab for toast!

OP posts:
lancaster · 02/04/2012 13:34

We actually use our camping toaster quite a lot - really useful fr bean on toast. Totally agree about the water containers though.

chipmonkey · 02/04/2012 14:58

I am glad I checked this thread. I was going to buy a water container with a tap.

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 21:05

Don't want. While I love dual-purpose camping gear, I would be uncomfortable using this as a chair, knowing where it's been.

pictish · 02/04/2012 21:34

Deffo don't want either!!

fossil97 · 02/04/2012 21:41

Agree re the nonstick cookware (ruined first outing). just take a decent big frying pan from home. And a 5 litre bottle of spring water with a carry handle.

Cheap headtorches where the clip breaks.

Sporks on the other hand, are the business. Cannot believe we didn't get them years ago.

pictish · 02/04/2012 21:55

Opinions please on this ?

The frying pan is a decent size. It all fits into each other. It's red and funky and looks good.

Will it be wafer thin and burn everything? I think it will.

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 21:59

Now that looks quite nice. Like the Le Creuset of the campsite. Will probably be shite though

amistillsexy · 02/04/2012 22:09

Coleman cookset linked to is fab! I got it free when I bought our stove, and it's been fantastic. We're about to use it for the 4th year!
I don't think it did it much good to be used over an open fire last year Angry but that's communal cooking for you!
Well worth the money. The large pan is as big as any of my pans at home and does a 'camping stew' for 5 hungry campers with stew to spare!

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:10

I want it to be good, but I know it won't be.
Mind you, it has been years since I tried camping cookware. We have taken a battered frying pan and an old saucepan from home for years.
I quite fancy the smug retro set, but worry I'll be throwing my money away.

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:10

Oh! Cross posted.
So that's a vote for yay. Hmmm....

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 22:14

Oh that sounds good then

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:18

The ever expanding list.

We are having to buy roof bars this year. It cannot go on.

santac · 02/04/2012 22:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:21

Oh - and what stove do you have that the coleman cookset came free with?
Dh is agreeable to a new stove btw, to my surprise. He wonders why we only have a single burner anyway?

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 22:25

I've had to ban myself from buying the bell tent I covet more than anything because my boot is so pathetically small it would take up the whole thing and I wouldn't have room for anything else. I so want one though :(

MegBusset · 02/04/2012 22:26

I bought the water carrier in Aldi this week Blush. And the collapsible washing-up bowl. At least I resisted the camping toaster!

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:31

MAKE room...somehow. We have a bell tent. Bought it last year. It's just delightful and worth every penny and all the hassle to fit in the car. We love it very much. Pic on profile.
Buy one.

pictish · 02/04/2012 22:33

I did say we were having to buy roof bars this year. Wink
So worth it.

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 22:38

Oh it's beautiful. Went to a festival with friends last year who had one (DD and I were in a 2-man and 1-man Eurohike respectively) and I spent the entire weekend salivating over it. It's not just the tent though, it's all the accessories I would have to get too (scatter cushions, tea light chandelier, little tables)...there's no way my tiny Daewoo would tolerate it!

chipmonkey · 02/04/2012 22:38

I got a collapsible washing up bowl. It looked crap but the boys lost it anyway!Hmm The Coleman cookset gets mixed reviews on Amazon.co.uk, pictish, a lot of people loving it and around equal numbers saying the non-stick coating is rubbish.

hellsbells76 · 02/04/2012 22:40

RE: beginning of thread and toaster woes..Fried. Bread. The end.

Plaguegroup · 02/04/2012 22:47

I had some collapsible glasses that leaked, but they don't quite win the uselessness prize as they were relatively cheap and this is why I don't buy camping gear from poundland anymore.

A drinks cooler, which appeared to be battery operated, was the most useless item ever. We were given it for Christmas, took it on a camping trip, then discovered it needs freezing for 24hours before use and doesn't remain functional for more than a few hours, it thawed out quicker than the freezer packs in the cool box. Utter rubbish.

CalmingMiranda · 03/04/2012 14:23

I wouldn't take a special camping cookset - we just take our normal hardwearing pans. Except for a special iron pot for using on campfires. And an unbreakable cafitiere. Otherwise I don't see why camping requires special pots and pans.

pictish · 03/04/2012 14:25

It doesn't except for the fact that they pack down smaller. When space is at a premium it can matter.

Hebiegebies · 03/04/2012 14:37

Camping pillows, never big enough!

Love camping towels though

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