Is it worth buying cheap equipment?

[PMmehunx]

We would like to try camping this summer. I've only ever done it once as a child, but I don't know if I'll still enjoy it so don't really want to spend loads on a tent, sleeping bags etc if we end up hating it and never using them again.

Any recommendations?
Thanks.

To minimise cost of the kit, assuming you are a back to nature/happy to rough it sort of person

Borrow what you can
Don’t go if the weather is bad, avoid very wet or cold.
Eat out, choose a site with a cafe for breakfast, then you don’t need stove etc. Many sites allow a bbq if you want a bit out outside cooking.
Use quilts , torches etc from home. Quilts are fine if it’s fairly warm. Just take extra. And hats.

That only leaves the tent and something to lie on that is comfortable and warm. Most cheap tents will be fine if the weather is gentle.

In a nutshell, no.

Why not use a company who hires out tents to see if you like it? We had our first few holidays with eurocamp, for example.

I bought a 4 man tent from Halfords in their camping sale a few years ago for £50 and it was fantastic.
I also got a camping burner from Ultimate Outdoors for a tenner.
If you can find bargains in a sale, definitely go for it - worked out perfectly for me.

Make sure your tent has good reviews in rubbish weather though, and don't get cheap sleeping bags :)

It's a catch 22 situation - you don't want to buy expensive equipment in case you don't enjoy it and don't use it again, but on the other hand if you buy cheap stuff, the likelihood is that you are going to have a cold, uncomfortable night in a leaky tent which will put you off ever wanting to camp again. As other posters have said, try to borrow or buy second hand and take plenty of warm clothes and blankets.

Thanks all.
I didn't know you could find sites with a cafe, or that you could hire tents!

I've looked at loads of sites, and didn't see cafes, but I will start including that in my search and loads will probably come up.

I have also just Googled some websites that hire out equipment, and they look reasonable.
I'll be looking for sales now, or even used. And will look at ultimate outdoors. We definitely want to do some cooking and make smores
We'll probably be going in July or August, so weather should hopefully be fine.

We've actually been wanting to try it for a few years, but I just no idea where to start. I was looking at very cheap tents people would use for a festival or something.. Thank God I found out about this section on here haha!

Caravanning and Camping club do some sites called 'Ready Camp'. It's not exactly glamping but it's functional and you get the gist. And only £25 a night too compared with glamping sites. Have a google!

Better to buy a second hand tent than a dirt cheap one. Cheap tents are really awkward to erect and don't stand up to the elements well. Mid range tents are fine, eg. the ones from Decathlon.
Or, better still, as @MIdgebabe suggested, borrow.
Bear in mind that your first night camping you will sleep badly. Sleep improves once you've settled in, so don't write it off straight away.
And unless you get a blackout tent, use eye masks, else you'll be up at the crack of dawn. And either spend on a camping pillow, or bring your own pillow from home - sleeping with your head on rolled up clothes is rubbish.

Plan on a weekend and don't go if the weather is bad until you've found your feet.
A mid-price tent can be very cheap in the sale, or second hand (don't buy more than 2 years old if second hand). Don't be tempted by bottom of the range new: some of the imports are dreadful.
If you want s'mores you are looking at a campsite with real fires, so look on ukcampsite.co.uk and use their search facility.
get or borrow a waterproof tent with a porch or living area.
Buy sleeping bags, foam mats and cheap airbeds. The foam mats will stop the ground chill cooling your airbeds. If you like camping you can change up to SIMS or campbeds in due course. To start off with make sure that you are dry and warm. Keep yourselves not the tent warm.
Concentrate on the fun stuff of camping rather than the deprivations. (s'more's good, waiting longer for a kettle to boil not so good, so concentrate on the s'mores etc.)
How many of you are going and any DC?

Ready camp looks really good! And some really nice locations.

Thanks so much for the eye mask tip. I would never have slept otherwise, and would have come home very crabby at the end of it all. And I'd never have thought of that myself.

And air beds! Brilliant. I definitely wouldn't have thought to buy air beds for camping. I've seen some with built in pumps too.

There will be 2 adults, 3 children aged 13, 7 and 2. The 2 year old is potty trained and sleeps just about anywhere. I was thinking of the 2 year old sharing with me at night for warmth too.

Personally I find the air mats very uncomfortable and prefer the self inflating mats (Aldi do cheap ones at certain time of the year). I would try and borrow stuff and look for second hand stuff. Recycling centres often have stuff. If you like camping then build up your kit gradually. Have a look at this website www.ukcampsite.co.uk/. Lots of information on everything to do with camping.

Choose a site wisely incase the weather is bad. For your first few I would buy second hand but see the tent up and check for rips and working zips.
Watch Youtube videos of how to put a tent up.
Practice cooking and erecting the tent in the garden so you can resolve any issues before you go then enjoy kids will remember it for ever but won't have a clue how much the stuff cost.
We bought a caravan for £100 never looked back

Just read this so you fully understand it, as above keep you warm not the tent
www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/camping-safety/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/

A decent tent and decent sleeping. Don't skimp on sleeping comfort. No blow up beds.

If you can nail the sleeping then you're sorted.

Ebay for camping equipment!!