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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

I want to try camping with the kids, DH is dead against the idea.

19 replies

Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 14:32

How do I convince him?!

And what would be the absolute minimum equipment we'd need for a short experimental trip?

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Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:17

C'mon camping girls!

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handlemecarefully · 27/07/2006 23:19

Don't know how we can help you unless you elaborate on why your dh is dead set against it?

Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:22

Just a bit of a home comforts sort of guy. Worried about sharing the loo and creepy crawlies!

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KBear · 27/07/2006 23:22

Tent (obv!), airbeds or campbeds, good sleeping bags (don't scrimp here). Gas ring stove. Eat out in the evenings in the pub if you think it might soften the blow! He'll love it I'm sure.

handlemecarefully · 27/07/2006 23:24

On the minimum equipment to take on short experimental trip:

Airbeds
Pillows
Sleeping bags
Torch
Some plastic / tin bowls, plates, cups, cutlery
A camping stove (or you could just eat every meal at local pub!)
A couple of folding chairs and folding table from which to eat would be helpful

I tend to take more than that. My view is if camping is too minimalist and you go poorly equipped then it won't be a pleasant experience so you will be disinclined to repeat it

GeorginaA · 27/07/2006 23:24

Hire a touring caravan and go for camping with a few more creature comforts?

handlemecarefully · 27/07/2006 23:27

Creepie crawlies - if you get a good tent you won't find many get in...

On sharing the loo - campsite loos and showers are generally pretty clean and no worse than using the conveniences in a shop or restaurant.

Tell him it is lovely to sit under the stars enjoying a beer or three on a summer's night.

Also the kids will have a brilliant time. Camping might well turn out to be one of their treasured childhood memories

Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:28

That's what I'm worried about, hmc. If I splurge on equipment and he really does hate it, I've wasted loads of money. OTOH, if we don't spend a bit on comfor, he'll get a bad impression!

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Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:29

Not a bad idea, Georgina. How would we do that?

I think he might be persuaded on the beer under the stars!

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handlemecarefully · 27/07/2006 23:30

Well you should be okay on the list I have given you if you are only going for a couple of nights (and in good weather...)

Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:37

I do have a friend we might be able to borrow a tent from. Eating out sounds like a good idea for starters. We could manage breakfast though, I'm sure.

I should also say that we went to Italy last year with Keycamp and I think he was put off by the raging heat. During the day, the tent became like a furnace. DD also developed toothache, the site was very busy and noisy, he was eaten alive by mosquitoes and sunburnt very badly.

Now you or I can see that all these factors were not directly related to the fact that he was camping, per se, but he has a bit of a closed mind on the subject as a result!

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GeorginaA · 27/07/2006 23:44

There's a few companies that rent caravans - varying in prices depending on the luxuriousness of the model (of course, then you'd have to get a towbar fitted which is an extravagance... and check that your car can pull the weight... hmmm).

Hire a motor home? the first company that is returned by google .

I'm pretty much a fair weather camper myself and I'm assured being a bit higher of the ground (either with a trailer tent or camper/caravan) makes the world of difference.

However, borrowing a tent might be your best bet Either way, make first trip short - one night max.

GeorginaA · 27/07/2006 23:46

Ooo and get the cool camping book - and leave it lying around for him to read Really wets your appetite for camping, and there's a whole list of sites there suitable for first time campers to make sure your first experience has the best chance of being a great one.

Original poster
Gillian76 · 27/07/2006 23:49

Yeah, was thinking about the Cool Camping book. Seen it mentioned a few times. But it's England. We're in Scotland. Is there an equivalent?

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GeorginaA · 27/07/2006 23:51

Don't know - I'm looking for a Wales equivalent (am not in Wales - but close to the borders, and grew up with a lot of holidays in North and West Wales...)

GeorginaA · 27/07/2006 23:56

Looks like that Cool Camping: England book was only published April of this year - perhaps the Scotland and Wales books are being planned for next season?

snowgirl · 28/07/2006 07:55

If you're in Scotland you'll obviously have to choose your time and place really carefully. The midges in some places would put even the keenest camper off ever doing it again!!
I do think choosing a good site is really important. An over-crowded site or, at the other extreme, a really basic (no hot water) site could put him off as well. Perhaps if you posted where you were thinking of going MNers could give some suggestions??
The other thing that might convince him is how much the kids will love it. Also, I think that it is genuinely relaxing because on campsites kids tend to look after themselves, exploring, making friends, etc. And it is nice to sit out with a bottle of wine once they've gone to sleep.
Sorry, think I've gone on too much there...bit of a camping evangelist!!!

Original poster
Gillian76 · 28/07/2006 09:30

Thanks, not at all! I was hoping for camping evanhelists giving me their raving reviews, really!

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Original poster
Gillian76 · 28/07/2006 09:30

evangelists

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