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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

Bought a tent, what do we need now?

104 replies

hmb · 25/07/2004 16:51

I have finaly worn dh down and we bought a tent this weekend! It is a colarado 8, anyone used one, and are the ok?? (insert worried looking face!)

Now that we have the tent, what would you camping experts recoment for a reasonably comfortable stay. Kids are 5 and 7, dh and I too old to admit . Like a bit of luxury, so not into rubbing two boy scout together to light the fire.

Your help greatfully received!

OP posts:
Janh · 27/07/2004 11:03

Diablo 900

Good luck, 3P! [evil grin]

Actually I really wanted that one but DH said we would be sleeping in the car for a couple of days while he worked out how to put it up - every time...!

Original poster
hmb · 27/07/2004 13:28

They make inflatable matresses that are double sided, one side flat for aults and one side with a ridge around the edge for littlies

see

www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Outdoor_Megastore_Air_Beds_262.html

But this one is a double, don't know if they do a single version

OP posts:
3PRINCESSES · 27/07/2004 16:46

We put it up on Saturday in the garden Janh - it took 4 adults (with 6 children 'helping' just over an hour, but my top tip for next time is to crawl inside before positioning the poles and peg out the ground sheet first.

(And not to start drinking until it's up.)

It was rather gorgeous when finished and, I felt, compared very favourably with home. we will be the only people I know who go camping for a bit of luxury .

gscrym · 27/07/2004 17:03

HMB,

The mummy style sleeping bags are great. They do them in various lengths and widths (no offence meant). When you get a sleeping bag, check how many seasons it's rated for. I had the misfortune of sleeping in a one season in winter. It's like sleeping outdoors with just a sheet. There's also a type of air mattress called a Therma-rest. They're a bit pricey but you can get cheaper ones. They're self inflating and dead comfy. They don't take up much room. If you know anyone who has a Makro card or have one yourself, they have some nice cheapy camping stuff like stoves and cooking sets. Tiso always have a good stock but they are very pricey. My friend just bought a titanium pot and it was about £70. It doesn't make the beans taste any better.
Hope you have fun. Take waterproofs and as much insect repellant as you can pack.

2PRINCES1PRINCESS · 27/07/2004 19:25

Do you think that the tentsellers kill themselves laughing every year as yet another family decide to " do camping"? It's our turn this year and I'm definitely trying to keep a stiff upper lip, as my memory of a campsite dates back to about 1971. Please, please, please tell me it'll be alright. We're going into it as a happy (enough) family..... At least the children seem excited...

roisin · 27/07/2004 19:56

He he he! I was just reading this thread, and thinking whether we should hold off purchasing a new tent, and wait to see if there are any on offer second hand on this thread in a few weeks' time!

Seriously though, campsites are amazing nowadays, or at least the ones I've stayed at have been. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time.

I used to go camping with the Scouts: We had to cook on campfires, fetch water for washing from the river, carry water for drinking/cooking 1 mile, gather wood for fires from the forest, and dig the latrines ... honestly!

PS - 3P your tent looks fab

3PRINCESSES · 27/07/2004 20:13

2P1P - It'll be alright as long as you get on OK with the family you go with! (Or should that be the family with which you go?)

Roisin - what on earth were you doing camping with the SCOUTS, you hussy? Bet it was much more fun than camping with the guides. Ooh, and you sound like a great person to have along on a camping trip, so we could alawys sqeeze you and yours into our tent in return for a spot of latrine construction...

roisin · 27/07/2004 20:42

3P - my dad was a Scout Master, so we all went on all the camps. I did water skiing, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, all sorts before the age of 12 when they told me I couldn't go any more.

I joined the guides and was VERY disappointed with their idea of camping. Once the guide leader told us to each sit in a corner of the field, and write down every sound we heard for an hour ...?! I left the guides shortly after that.

3PRINCESSES · 28/07/2004 09:06

Elliott - do they do those sleeping bags that go over the shoulders in a sort of 'waistcoat with sleeping bag attached' style, big enough? We've got a very ancient and thin one that I'm sure my girls were using on late night car journeys etc until they were about 4. Bought it 2nd hand, so couldn't say where to look for one, but I'm sure some clever mummy on here will know

We haven't sorted out the bed thing yet. DH wants four poster airbeds and the full works but my feeling is that we're not going to be in 5 star comfort anyway, so we may as well save the money. Am I mad? How basic would be too basic?? (I bet the scouts didn't have airbeds, Roisin!)

2PRINCES1PRINCESS · 28/07/2004 09:34

3P
I'm sure that you are right - going with friends can only improve matters!
OK, OK, so my upper lip has relaxed a little.
I'm still not sure that the whole thing isn't just a displacement purchase exercise, given that I can't justify any new clothes in the sales.
Anyway... Vango seem to be the rage...not sure if putting off drinking while it is put up is the way to go.
After all - drink enough and maybe it won't matter so much.
Seriously though - any recommendable campsites in Abersoch, anyone?

pesme · 28/07/2004 09:36

Best camping mattressesy things are thermarests. They are really thin and light. They self inflate with a wee bit of air but it is like sleeping on a bed. They are pricey but so worth it - airbeds are a big faff and not really comfortable IMO. They are alot cheaper in america so if you have any friends going over put in an order. We use ours when people come to stay. Good luck with the camping I really miss it and can't wait until dd is abit older.

triplets · 01/08/2004 06:40

Hi all,
Just back from France last night, stayed in a house but gathered lots of leaflets en-route on campsites as we have recently bought a secondhand trailer tent, not had chance to even look at it yet. A thought has occured to me that when we use it if the site has a kids club mine won`t be able to use it as they are normally for the kids on package holidays, unless you know different! Can anyone recommend some nice sites, not too big but with a few facilities for us all, in this country or France?

Welshmum · 01/08/2004 20:18

2P,1P - yes there is one beautiful campsite that I know of near Abersoch. When I went it had no facilities at all but the most fantastic views from the headland out across the sea. I was with a bloke at the time who was a bit of a hippy - he played Fairport Convention songs on his guitar as the sunset......don't know if the campsite is still around (the bloke sure isn't)

zaphod · 08/08/2004 01:03

I have followed this thread avidly, as I bought a large tent on a whim a couple of months ago. There are 7 of us, my youngest is 1 year and eldest is 10. We went to a campsite in a forest park about an hours drive away, the theory being that if we hated camping we could pack up and come home quite quickly. All we bought was a one ring gas stove that was half price in Tesco. We used duvets instead of sleeping bags, and had 2 air mattresses. One of them leaked on day one, and the other we deflated to make room for the travel cot in our room. The baby slept with us and the 2 year old in the cot, the other 3 slept together in the other room. I have to say that I really really loved it. Dh was not as impressed as I was, but the kids all loved it, even the baby. And I could'nt get over how much they ate.... the fresh air worked wonders on them. We will definitely camp again, though will not use air beds. And I will bring more warm clothes next time too. I got a lot of good advice from this thread, so thanks to everyone, and I hope that you other new campers enjoy it as much as we did.

3PRINCESSES · 09/08/2004 19:46

Got back today and have had a fantastic time too. Went up to the Lakes, to Ullswater, and it was pretty much idyllic, with glorious weather until 8pm last night, when the hills disappeared behind a blanket of mist and it RAINED, which actually added to the excitement of the whole adventure as far as the children were concerned.

On the way home did a quick straw poll of what was everyone's favourite thing about the holiday, and all 3 of my girls listed 'weeing in a bucket' in their top 5. Which goes to show that you don't need to spend a fortune to keep them amused! (Or does it just show that my children are a bit odd and need to get out more?)

Anyway, like Zaphod want to say a huge thanks to everyone for their advice, which was totally invaluable. Especially whoever suggested ( Janh on another thread I think - I've studied them all) the Bucket Idea. Oh, and 2Princes1Princess and her DH and children for being perfect camping partners...

Can't wait to do it all again.

roisin · 10/08/2004 15:13

I'm really pleased you had a great time 3Ps ... Why is that it always rains when we go to the Lakes? We only live 30 mins drive away, but whenever we plan to go it's always hideous. We've just had 48 child-free hours up there, and it has not stopped raining for a single one of them! Fortunately we weren't under canvas, and we still did quite a bit of walking, and the waterfalls were SUPERB ... but it was very, very, very wet!

CountessDracula · 10/08/2004 15:15

a hotel

Blu · 10/08/2004 15:20

ooh, I have just sent for the sleeping bags in JanH's link below. You are my camping goddess, JanH!

Blu · 10/08/2004 15:21

CD, don't be so nesh - anyway, aren't you used to sleeping on earth????

CountessDracula · 10/08/2004 15:25

No dahling silk lined wood with lid

what does nesh mean?

roisin · 10/08/2004 15:30

nesh is a great word for weeding out the nesh southerners CD!

CountessDracula · 10/08/2004 15:35

HA I'm only half southern though.

Seriously I don't get camping. Waking up baking hot at 5 am. Last time I went I woke up with a bloody cow's head in my tent, it was horrible.

I am prepared to try it again when dd wants to but NO COWS

So what does nesh mean?

CountessDracula · 10/08/2004 15:36

( I must point out that the head was attached to the cow and I was not the subject of some horrible Godfather style revenge)

Blu · 10/08/2004 15:38

Erm it means generally a bit weedy with things like feeling the cold or doing outdoorsy things. Refusing to go out in rain, or walk over mud at the seaside, or contemplate going on any holiday where you might need a windbreak.
DP is the absolute epitome of nesh - which is why I am so excited that he has actually suggested camping! (it'll all be off if I mention cows, though)

Blu · 10/08/2004 15:39

LOL re Godfather. thought it might have been for a little vampirish snack in the night!