"camping in the garden" type tent

[WellTidy]

DH and the two DSs (6yo and 10yo) enjoyed sleeping in our 2 man pop up tent from Trespass (cost all of £29.99) earlier this summer. I think maybe we could all venture out and camp out overnight somewhere, maybe do a weekend, tops.

I don't want to spend too much as we won't be holidaying in it, and will not be out in bad weather or anything. This is just a little activity for us all to enjoy.

I have never camped before. DH used to be a scout, and camped many a time in his youth.

Please recommend me a cheap tent that would sleep 4 comfortably for maybe two nights a year, and the minimum (cheapest) things we will need for maximum comfort!

Can't help on tent front other than to say go for a 5 or 6 man tent for comfort. Decent floor liner and decent air mattress or other form of under bag mattress thing. Good bags for sleeping. I would have a two ring gas stove with grill so you can do decent brekkie and also reasonable evening food even if its a tinned curry and rice. Good sharp knife, washing up bowl, tea towels, one set of cutlery, crockery and a mug each, spatula and tongues for cooking, couple pans and kettle. A cool bag or box are also useful as often camp sites have somewhere you can freeze cool blox. Also some sort of windbreak for cooking behind. 4 x camping fold up chairs, warm blankets or clothes for sitting out at night, couple of lamps/torches hmmm not such a short list ha.

Golly, camping requires more than I thought!! We don't have a budget as I have no idea what decent-enough camping equipment costs. But an £80 tent would be great. I will look at Decathlon.

I saw camping as more of a put the tent up at about 5ish, send DH out in the car for a takeaway pizza and some takeaway coffees in insulated mugs, all go to bed at about 9pm and go out for breakfast the next morning type affair.

But now I'm seeing that camping maybe should be more of a complete experience than that! I am sure the Dc would love it.

I really appreciate the advice. I am obviously clueless!

I agree with previous posters 5-6 man tent with a separate area for food and muddy boots, tents should b a bit cheaper if u buy out of season.

Buy a rubber mallet for the tent pegs and don't forget a tin opener or bottle opener!

Don't forget the evening beverages!!

Inexpensive 5-6 man tent. We bought a Coleman Mosedale 5 - budget tunnel tent, but big enough for 4 to sleep comfortably, with a reasonably large living area and blackout bedrooms (great for avoiding children waking at 4am).

To sleep on, we've stuck with airbeds so far. Everyone says they're liable to leave you cold as they don't insulate you from the ground, but we're very much fair weather campers and being too hot has been more of an issue so far.

For cooking, if you only camping for a couple of nights a year then a double burner with grill seems OTT. A cheap single burner like a Campingaz Bistro should do for your first few trips.

Buy things you can make do with and see if you use them. Better to spend £20 on an airbed or stove and find you love camping and want something more elaborate than spend hundreds on nice SIMs and cookers and find you never use them!

I don’t think you have to start with everything!! The cheapest and least risk option would probably be to buy another £30 2-man tent for your first few trips to see how you get on and then spend some more if you get the bug!

Oh, yes, the Dc will love it and you will be hooked :)

Have a look on the GoOutdoors website: there is an £80 tent, the Freedom Trail Colville 5. Better would be the Freedom Trail Sendora 6 (£134) because it has a fully sew in groundsheet in tne living area and better still the HiGear Enigma 5, £149.

Kids are fine sleeping on roll out foam mats (as am I as it happens) and Decathlon sell nice thick ones v cheaply with a silver foil backing which adds to the warmth and insulation. Saves all that pimping, too.

A one ring ‘suitcase ‘ stove, frying pan, packet of bacon and a pan and mugs for tea, magic! Take old stuff you already have.

Go to a site with Woods, that allows campfires. You can search for these sites on PitchUp.com using the ‘campfire’ filter, and by choosing ‘Wild camping’ style. Sit round your fire, have a packet of marshmallows, get the kids to whittle a stick with a point and toast marshmallows. Sit out late looking at the stars.

Er, pumping, not pimping. Oh dear!

This is such great advice. Thank you so much. I am actually looking forward to it now!

I think the general advice for starting out camping is invest money on the tent and the sleeping mats and bring everything else from home. Suitcase stove and camping kettle too (along with your own kitchen pans) so you can do a token bacon sandwich and coffee out in the open for the "experience". We have the Icarus 500 which is a great tent for weekend camping. Have fun!