Total novice needs help!

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We are thinking of buying a tent for short weekend breaks mostly in Scotland. It will need to fit 2 dc under 8, 2 adults and a bouncy dog.

I have vouchers for amazon and Argos so if I could get something from there that'd be ideal to cut the cost a bit.

Really needs to be as low cost as possible BUT want something that will be warm enough, waterproof and have a bit of room. Big ask I know!

Also what else would we need to buy? Off the top of my head I'm thinking....
Sleeping bags
Camping stove
Cooking and eating equipment
Foam mats / blow up beds

Errrrrr.....see, total novice! Can you help?

Argos have a sale at the moment.
Waterproof wise the absolute minimum hydrostatic head(HH) you should be looking at is 2000.
When looking at berth of tents you need probably a 6 berth. When tents aay 6 berth/man they mean that 6people lying on nothing will fit. In reality with camp beds andcaurbeda and even roll mats you need more room than the same berth.
Cooking wise you need a stove and kettle. I use pans from home. Ivtaje China mugs from hone too but use cheap melamine plates and bowls. Look out in supermarkets fir reduced sale stuff.
The 2 most important things not to scrimp on and research well are the actual tent and sleeping bags/beds.
Cheapo sleeping bags are rarely made for proper camping. You want a 2/3 season bag.
UK CAMPSITE us a fab website for advice and info.

Go Outdoors are offering bug discounts this week so check out their website too. They also do price match.

I agree with everything Doris said.

Also with a tent I'd avoid getting one that doesn't have a sig (sewn in ground sheet). It will be cheaper but then the living area will be colder, wetter and less bug proof.

I'd go somewhere like go outdoors where they have a good selection of tents set up and also sleeping bags and sleep mats /camp beds set up so you can have a try and get a better idea of what suits you. Then if you can find the same on argos / amazon fine but I think as a novice it would be very hard to know what you really want without checking it out in person. I bought my first family tent from argos not really knowing what I wanted and although it was fine I replaced it after a couple of trips.

If you want to minimise initial outlay until you know you're going to enjoy it you don't need sleeping bags. Take duvets from home.

I love camping!

Thanks both.

Tips about sig and hh (am learning the lingo!) very very much appreciated as I'd never even heard of them before!

Off to look at go outdoors online. We live in middle of nowhere in Scotland so not sure one near here. There's a Tiso store a wee way away though - might see if they have anything?

Any more tips gratefully recieved!

Any store that has set up tents would be worth a visit.

Also think about what type of camping you'd like and what your own comfort deal breakers are.

So you want an all singing all dancing site with ehu, restaurants, shops etc. Or back to basics with nothing. Or anything in between. This might influence what kit you need.

Regarding comfort deal breakers mine is a proper pillow, nice fresh food and cold white wine. And I like back to basics campsites with no ehu.So for me a proper good quality passive cool box is an essential. If you drink red and food is functional only, or you're going to sites with a shop /restaurant onsite, you wouldn't need that.

So it's worth having a bit of a think as to what would make camping most enjoyable for you.

Cheap as possible? Look on eBay for second hand tents then refine the search so it's sorted to shortest distance first. Then you can look at what's available and research that before bidding.
As an example, I have an old Vango 4 berth tent- still in good condition but old. It would do you for a couple of weekends away to see whether you like it or not before you commit to a big purchase. A similar one sold recently for £35
If you have an Aldi nearby their camping event starts tomorrow. I don't have the leaflet to tells what's on offer but you can see online.
Take duvets rather than buy sleeping bags (we always take duvets when family camping) Older pots and pans from home and paper plates etc if necessary.

Agree with everything above!
Adding...we are outside Perth (wondering if it's this Tiso you're talking about?) ...and camp a lot on the West Coast. Where are you thinking of heading? If you're heading anywhere other than the east coast, a sewn in groundsheet is an absolute necessity because of the midges!! Also...if you can try and get something that you can keep closed off but big enough for you all to eat in...because of the midges!!
I'd go with duvets rather than spend on sleeping bags too at the moment.
Take lots of dry fluffy socks for the kids - they seem to forget the ground will be damp and run around in socks all day then have chilly toes later on!!
Don't take jeans...the ends can get damp and its really uncomfy having wet jeans flapping at your ankles. I go for the cut offs with flip flops and sometimes even socks look!! My DH calls it my continental look!!
Warm blankets, dog towels. Try and take as much stuff from your kitchen cupboards as possible because if you buy it all now, chances are, you'll buy the wrong stuff. Get a feel for whether you like it then you'll see what other people are using and campers are friendly and nosey people...we like to talk kit with our neighbours!!

Thanks all and yes Perth Tiso.

Ok so definitely a sewn in groundsheet! Will be hoping to be in trossachs / highlands I think.

Wht is ehu?

I'd prefer more back to basics - only be for one of two nights here and there and just want us to spend quality time together and chilling out not arcades and pools!

Oh and good tip re duvets etc makes more sense!

Random question - can you lock yourself in a sleeping compartment? Dd (3) sleepwalks and so do I

Not really but I used to worry the same when my DC were small. I put the zips up high in the hope that they may not be able to reach them and I would hear the long unzipping if they did.

Good point . I guess I could put tape or something over the zip bit just to complicate it a bit.

Tie a small bell onto the zipper and you'll hear if anyone is playing with it

Take non stick pans...those camping sets are often a nightmare to wash.....