Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Camping

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

Original poster

I'm going camping!!!

19 replies

hulababy · 03/07/2006 17:56

Never thought I'd say that, lol! Not really proper camping as such. Our local farm is having a camp night later this month. We are going along with a family we are friends with. We camp over night - provide our own stuff - and there is a band, BBQ and entertainment. Sounds fun.

But other than as a child (went with parents when little) I have been camping once. DH once only also - we were 18 ans went to a concert, camped to save money.

I have no tent, no anything!!!

Been looking at those pop up like tents - apparantly take seconds to put up. Then if we aren't keen and don't go again, then DD can play with it in the garden with friends as she gets older! Just going to get a small 3 person tent too, to save cash to start with as we really might hate it. DD has a sleeping bag but me and DH don't. And what do we sleep on - I can't just do the ground!!!

What have I let myself in for? Why did this sound a good idea last month after a few drinks with friends? Help! What are my bare essentials?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 03/07/2006 18:01

There is a great one you can get from Outwell, that costs about £49. It is very much a 'real' tent and takes less than 5 mins to put up! I have seen one and it looks excellent for 2 people.

You want to get airbeds or if you want to spend a bit more , self inflating sleeping mats. These keep you nice and warm and take up less room. Sleeping bags are a must. Torches. What are you going to do for breakfast?

You'll have a great time!

purpleturtle · 03/07/2006 18:02

Hula - don't go spending money! Our camping stuff has residence at PandaG's house; let me check out whether it's in use when you need it. You're most welcome to borrow stuff.

When are you going? I know a big crowd of people who are going away the first week of the school hols, so I would have to check what's not being used then.

Blandmum · 03/07/2006 18:02

thermarest are the best self inflating mats but pricy.

Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 18:06

Really purpleturtle? It is very end of July I think - last Friday of July. It would be lovely if we could borrow a bit of stuff to get us started. We really may hate it and never want to do it again!!!

martianbishop - all food provided - BBQ tea and bacon, sausage and eggs for breakfast. Told you, not proper camping really. This is camping for wimps, lol!

DD has a single airbed witha foot pump. The only one me and Dh have is a huige double height one - no good for camping.

OP posts:
Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 18:07

PT - think that date may clash with first week of school holidays. Typical, eh?!

OP posts:
purpleturtle · 03/07/2006 18:11

I'll check whether our tent is in use then. If nothing else, we have a couple of adults sleeping bags which zip together as a double which you are more than welcome too. If you're not cooking then there won't be much more that you need really. Most of the camping paraphernalia seems to revolve around cooking and washing up!

Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 18:14

Sleeping bag lend would be lovely if okay. Otherwise I'll have to just take my duvet!

Will have to have a trip to Declathlon this weekend or next...seen they have tents outside at the moment, so gather they sell them. Can have a look at least.

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 03/07/2006 18:27

Have you not considered a lovely caravan?

Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 18:31

LOL - not sure my little Smart could pull one.

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 03/07/2006 18:37

Course it could! It's only little you know! Single awning and very family friendly! In fact I'll donate 'The Contented Little Baby Book' too!

Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 18:38

Ah well, with the book...it's a bargain Maybe one day, lol!

OP posts:
LucyCampCat · 03/07/2006 19:16

thought mb would mention brekkie!!

LucyCampCat · 03/07/2006 19:28

if you're going to Decathlon then the best tent to get is the Quechua 3 second pop up tent, we can fit 4 of us in it at a push, ours is great and the extra room that you get in the 3 second tent compared to the 2 second is huge.

Decathlon do cheap sleeping bags too as their Blue products - fine for warm weather camping - about £7 IIRC.

I spend a fortune whenever I go to Decathlon

Original poster
hulababy · 03/07/2006 21:18

Will have a look at those, thanks.

OP posts:
vix1 · 03/07/2006 21:32

I want to go camping too! Im looking for a cheap second hand tent, needs to sleep 4 really. Ive tried Ebay but dont know of anywhere else to try, any ideas? Would spend up to £50

LucyCampCat · 03/07/2006 22:16

How about Argos? something like this may be ok?

PandaG · 04/07/2006 11:36

Hula - Purle's tent is not in use on that date - you can borrow that by all means. Would you like a single gas burner so you can brew a cup of tea too? Will also have a couple of roll mats if you think you and DH could cope on them for one night - you could always take duvet too and sleep on that as extra padding - save the cost of an airbed for 1 night. Any other time you want to camp we now have a lot of the gear, huge tent, stove, table and chairs decent sleeping bags (ours), and lots of stuff that we have on long term loan from Purple too, just a shame it is the week we are camping. BTW we put up purple'e tent in about 30 mins, never done it before, so not bad for a first time try - it is very straightforward, although granted not as easy as a pop up!

PandaG · 04/07/2006 11:36

Purple that is!!

Original poster
hulababy · 04/07/2006 20:27

PandaG - that would be fantastic if we could borrow all that Thank you so much for the offer.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page