Basics for first time campers - advice needed from veterans under canvas!

[puddle]

We're really going to do it this year - we're going to buy a tent ad go camping. My plan is to go away for short periods - a couple of nights only - although if we love it we may end up doing a week somewhere.

Can all you camping experts tell me what I will need as a basic starter pack. We have NOTHING, not even a tent - so any tent recommendations would be good, best blow up matresses etc etc etc.....

Any ideas for campsites too - we are in Brighton so looking at a two hour drive max.

I did do a thread on this last year (we decided dd wasn't quite old enough in the end) but can't find it in the archives, so apologies if you have already given me advice.

Thanks in advance.

New Forest is lovely for camping.

Bumpimg for the camping folk.

wahey another camping thread !

Sadly I have \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=3&threadid=8402\this thread} in my watch list from ages ago, might be worth a squiz.

So how many of you are going to be sleeping under canvas? Do you like it cosy or a bit 'fresh-air-round-the-edges'?

Can you borrow any stuff for a first time outing?

P.S I'm here until about 2.15pm, and like nothing more than to chat camping

See if you can borrow a tent and some kit first to make sure that you all like camping before you shell out.

When you have decided that this is your thing (and why wouldn;t it be ) get the biggest teant you can reasobaly use....if there are 4 of you go for an 8 berth.....if it rains you need the extra room. Get a tent with a minimum hyrostatic head of 3000mm for use in the UK

Don't buy a tent off Ebay unless it is areputable brand....there are some crappy tents on ebay

Get good bedding. Use you own crockery from home and buy extras in dribs and drabs

That's great lucy thanks. there are 4 of us and kids are 3 and 6.

I'd really like some suggestions for a good mid priced tent. I don't want to borrow one as I think it'll be a good investment to get our own, also we're planning to go with other people sometimes who'll be using their tents at the same time! I have camped before - I know the kids will adore it and so it's more for them than for me (IYKWIM) - I am definitely a fair weather camper at heart. So would like it cosy if poss!

Come on Lucy - what do I need? I'm thinking tent, blow up mattresses, sleeping bags, something to cook on....now I've run out of imnspiration.....

martianbishop - no idea what the best brands are - is there a good website for this sort of thing?

Ok yes definately a tent, how many bedrooms do you want? we have 3 but only use 2 (our dd's are nearly 3 and nearly 6 and like to share) it also means that we take the spare bedroom down and use it as storage space.

Blow up beds, we've gone for ones like \link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3407796.htm\these from Argos) so the dd's don't slide off them in the night and you can pput an extra sleeping bag inside them if it's chilly!

We got the adult version from Tesco and it's great, get a battery/ mains pump though!

oh crap \link{http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3407796.htm\try again} ahh that's better!

In terms of website you have to try ukcamping - be warned it's nearly as addictive as mn!

Try \link{http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Family_Clearance_Tents.html\here for an idea about tents}

they seem pretty good prices and should give you an idea about layouts too.

You will need a bucket with a lid (obv!)

Those beach mats made from raffia make ideal flooring - groundsheets are slippery and cold so treat yourself to a couple of beach mats for the living area.

A cooker with a grill as everyone is happy with hot buttered toast and a hot drink on the wettest of days!

I can't wait to go again (I was a newbie last summer and we had great weather and we loved it - came home after a week and half for fresh clothes and a bath! and set off again a couple of days later). I'm a fair weather camper though so too cold for me atm.

erm kbear .....bucket with a lid is not obvious to me...
For toileting purposes you mean?

with a name like Puddle it should be obv!

I bought a tent recently \link{http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8780453893&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1\this one} It's for 4 of us (ds's 2 & 7) for short breaks too. I had a go at putting it up and it was really easy on my own. I want to try it out now!!

We bought a couple of those plastic backed picnic rugs for the inside of the tent and underneath the airbeds, about £3 from Dunelm Mill.

Oh yes, bucket with a lid! deffo

Excuse my sarky response but with small children it's essential unless you want to traipse across dark wet fields in the early hours!

kbear
Yup, it's obvious now.
This is just why I started the thread!

Try to get some waterproof trousers, my 2 wore them most mornings and they stop trousers getting too wet, try Decathlon if you have one near, they should be getting all their camping stuff in soon.

Table and chairs - essential for short trips? or just nice to have?

Yes, waterproof trousers are a must for dewy mornings (or after torrential rain!) - I had to change my DD about four times in an hour the first time we went because she kept slipping over on the mud as we pitched our tent. Also put your waterproofs in a bag in the back of the car so if it's raining when you reach the site you and DH or whoever have them to hand and can stay dry when pitching camp!

oooh psychic moment - up has popped my email from Lidl and \link{http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20060413.p.Nappy_Bucket\look a nappy bucket for night wees!}

We've got a cheap fold up picnic table & chairs, all in one £20 from Netto and it's fine for us as long as the ground is fairly level, otherwise some of those fold up chairs are good and the kids can always sit on the floor to eat (or you can all go to a cafe!)

Chairs essential - we managed with trays on laps last time but I'm going to get a lightweight aluminium table this year I think.

Also, a couple of windbreaks out the front of your tent give you a bit of privacy.

Don't take gas tilley lamps - they get red hot and you know how kids and husbands are!! DH burnt his arm on ours and I was paranoid about it the whole time in case it tipped over. Now have florescent lamps.

Torches that fit on your head - great for the kids - Woolies sold them for about a fiver last summer. Also great for sorting the beds out in the dark - you have hands free and can still see.

Hmmm, I'll be here all day now.

The first time we went I made it easy on myself by eating out in the evening. Loads of big country pubs that sell great good, with big gardens - kids loved it - were so excited to go into a PUB!!

or great food....!

That nappy bucket holds 16 litres!! thats a lot of wee to carry to the toilets to empty out in the morning - a whole wine box full! did I mention wine boxes? they are great, even if you knock them over you don't spill the wine - remember nothing in camping is stable or completely flat!

campoing thread make me type all wonky too kbaer - it's the excitement