No car backpack camping - how do YOU do it?

[Mombojombo]

DH and I are seasoned campers, don't drive, everywhere by train (or bike, but I think those days are behind us since arrival of DS), so need to pack as light as humanly possible.

DS will be 8.5mo on his first camping trip in June. We have a Kampa Shanklin 3 (discontinued now, but it was the lightest, tallest, largest dome tent we could get for the money at the time - it's a palace compared to the 2-man we used to have).

I'm considering a SIM as I kinda hate airbeds, DH will probably continue with his. Don't know what we'll put DS on - probably just build him a nest between us. We currently use 2 little calor gaz stoves, but I don't much like those either as they're a tad unsteady.

Pre-DS we used to pack everything down into 2 big rucksacks (with chairs strapped on the sides, and sleeping bags/rolls underneath), then occasionally a large wheely suitcase if taking a lot of bedding, or shoulder bags if necessary. Basically portable between 2 of us. With DS we'll now have his bedding, clothing etc, and his buggy or stroller, and I'm wondering how best to do it.

I'm interested to read how light others travel if not afforded the luxury of a car (dang it, I wish sometimes I could drive!). Where's best to splash our cash to make things easier for ourselves? Thanking you all.

I'm generally a no-car-camper although when my DS was small, we had a car and used to full it to bursting with all the stuff we thought we needed!

My DS is now 7 and I aim for him to carry his sleeping bag, a SIM, his folding chair and his clothes at the very least! If he was still in a buggy, I would allocate him the space in the shopping basket. Maybe that sounds mean, but the best way to work out how to get everything carried between you. Can your DS share your bed? Also consider if it would be easier to pull a giant wheeled hold all and carry DS in a sling.

My first camping trip with just the two of us was me carrying everything except DS (then 4) carry his clothes in his rucksack. I shared an airbed with him in tiny 2 man tent, I think I had one large beach bag/shoulder bag and one large barrel bag which I may have had on a folding trolley. It was bloody heavy and quite tricky when we had to walk single file along busy main roads with no pavements. I have since upgraded to a bigger but lighter tent, a compact sleeping bag for DS (who does not feel the cold at all), an extremely light weight SIM and a camp bed (the one the legs slot into). I know the weight of most of my kit and have researched any new purchases to get the lightest/smallest stuff.

I am currently looking into getting a new folding trolley (mine finally gave up) that is lightweight and compact but also rugged enough to drag across a field. The other alternative is a large soft collapsable trolley bag.

I have Trangia type stove and a compact gas one. I take deep plates instead of bowls and plates.

Balloons or a beach ball are great lightweight toys, a small child can be left to play in the tent with these with the mesh screen closed while you are cooking or doing anything else that you need them out of the way for.

These instead of chairs? www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&cp=17&gs_id=83&xhr=t&q=folding+camping+stool&pf=p&biw=1143&bih=421&sclient=psy-ab&oq=folding+camping+s&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=8aed629e7cb27e23 Amazon have some very lightweight towels. Sorry if no help, many years since I went camping.