The camping paradox...and can it be solved?

[taybert]

Just back from camping. Loved it as usual despite pretty terrible weather at times but after packing up this morning I’m struck by how long it all takes and how much hassle it is.

Before we had kids we packed light with a small tent and we were happy to tolerate some discomfort for the fun. Now my tolerance for discomfort is much lower and I know we all have a worse time if we don’t sleep. Subsequently we have super comfy sleeping mats, good chairs to sit on which are comfy but lightweight and fold down. The kids need to be fed food they like and we need to be able to cook it so we have what feels like an elaborate cooking set up /kitchen and we take loads of food. Camping in a tent in the UK so take lots of spare clothes and shoes as we can’t easily dry things and we need layers for the cold. We have a full car and roof box and it took a good 2 hours to pack away today. I now have a mountain of washing to sort and equipment to clean and dry before packing it all away again for another year. We packed over a couple of days and it took several hours of planning.

So when I step back and look at it the problem is all the stuff we’ve got to make it better and more comfortable- foam roll mats would take seconds to put away, a disposable bbq and a single ring stove and kettle is hardly anything, we used to sit on some cheap camping chairs which fold in a second. But I know if we did that we’d be uncomfortable, not sleep well or eat well and it wouldn’t be as nice when we were there (though setting up and packing away would be soooo much easier).

So what’s the answer? Just accept that it’s like that and it’s something we can only do a couple of times a year because of the hassle? Or do we really need to accept that tent camping is no longer for us and think about a campervan? And does a campervan actually solve those problems? In my head the quicker bed set up, the kitchen already being in existence and the fact that the camping stuff could be left in the van could make all the difference, as well as the fact that some things might stay dry and wet things could dry off. But is it really like that? Or do you just create a different set of problems?

Answers on a postcard!

We’ve glamped a couple of times and just found it a bit disappointing/expensive. Those people aren’t as good at camping stuff as me .

@taybert

We have an airbeam, dedicated crockery/cutlery etc, just got collapsing crates, my set up is a sight to behold! To be fair this year it took longer as it was the first and only trip and I couldn’t remember what was in the boxes and had to go through them all and search everything out after being packed away for a year- subsequent trips are usually quicker in the set up department at least.

A trailer tent sounds interesting but we’re usually accompanied by 4 bikes, and by far the best way to carry them is on a towbar rack. We’re both shorties so lifting them on to the roof of a 4x4 is to be avoided if possible!

We took bikes on bars that fit on top of the trailer. (Used the same bars for canoes one year). We have large dogs in the car-boot and need to open it easily.

Ok, will definitely have a look at the trailer tents. And also book a camper van to hire at Easter weekend next year to give it a try.

That's why I booked the travel lodge!

I know exactly what you mean, we used to go backpacking to beautiful remote sites and loved it. We don't drive, so after attempting to be minimalist with two kids and so a much heavier tent and still no sleep because we couldn't carry all the necessary home comforts we've given it up. We're going with pods/glamping until they are a lot older and can help carry things. At least it's getting more common a lot of sites at least have wooden pods or a teepee in these days. One thing I would recommend is not taking food and cooking equipment. I know people often see cooking campfire food as part of it, but we pack really light and pans, stove, food etc is too heavy and bulky to justify taking. We just treat ourselves to meals out/picnic type food from the nearest shop and local cafes will fill up flasks for tea/coffee. Feels like more of a holiday if I don't have to wash up pans of burnt beans too!

@taybert "Those people aren’t as good at camping stuff as me"
I hear you, with your high standards and quality stuff!

My tip (pinched from another friend years ago) for post- camping washing mountain is:

Fill a blue Ikea bag with all your washing
Take to local launderette who does service washes
Pick it up the next day washed, dried, folded.

One of the things that used to put me off camping was the washing mountain on our return. So curing that (yes it cost about £25-30) was soooo worth it.

Folding campers are much quicker to set up than trailer tents by the way, unless youre putting up an awning. It only takes about 15 mins to get ours set up so it's quite feasible to move from site to site.

Weve just come back from 2 nights in a pod as opposed to normal tent,to be honest we sleep better in tent with blow up beds.

@BikerWife do you mind if I ask a few more questions about your van? What sort of size have you got and how many of you are there? How much space/storage is there for stuff in the van? How feasible is it to camp without a “proper” awning for storage? I love the idea of rocking up and that being it but we’d still need somewhere for shoes, coats and all the general stuff and I’m thinking if we have to pitch an awning before we can do anything then we’re not really gaining much.

I do think we’d use it a lot for days out though and if there’s a reasonable amount of room then it could revolutionise our (usual) drive through France in the summer.

I have simplified our set up.

SIMS straight on the floor. Plenty comfy enough, very comfy actually.

I table, 1 side table with a 1 ring stove, I cupboard. We make a thing of cooking over the fire pit, either grilling / bbq , or stews, curries, roasts in the Dutch Pot. Simple but good food, roast or casserole a whole chicken with the potatoes, onions, carrots in the same pot.

A chair each. This type of chair for adults, simpler for kids www.millets.co.uk/15903136/hi-gear-kentucky-classic-chair-15903136

No windbreaks, no gazebo or event shelter, no EHU and collection of associated equipment.

We did a few tent holidays and then switched to borrowing a friends towing caravan. I loved the caravan. (don't think I could go back to tent) We had a gazebo type thing so well had the outdoorsy bit plus extra space.
Unfortunately my friends have sold their caravan so no more. I would love a camper van rather than the towing type but unfortunately We can't drive (or could afford) our own. I do spend hours looking at pictures of them on Google !!
The only problem with a camper van is you can't just park up in the camp site and then leave the van to go off to somewhere else unless it's walking distance or cycling. Where you go - the van must go. Although I saw I lovely looking camper van the other day on the motorway and they were towing their little car behind !! (That was a jealousy moment!!)

@DidoAtTheLido to be honest that’s not massively different to our set up- it’s just the SIMs are big thick ones with a memory foam topper so take ages to roll up and get back in the bags. The chairs are the lightweight ones which collapse- they don’t take long to collapse but it’s the same with everything- when it’s multiplied by 4 it takes time. I pared down the stove from a camping chef to one with disposable canisters (a double) but it sits on a kitchen unit......which needs assembly.

We don’t drive off the campsite that often because we bike and walk and we like being on site anyway,

We do the cottage thing and because we try and do so many outdoor activities we spend ages packing (kelly kettle, fire pit, kayak, body boards, wetsuits, etc etc) and unpacking.

I think packing and unpacking and pile of washing is one of the prices of any holiday. Whatever that looks like.

I'd love a camper van though. My dream.

I'm not likely to camp anymore. I did enough of that in the military...and at least I was being paid then!!!

We have a VW T4

Can park it in an ordinary parking space

double bed in van, can have a double bed in pop roof and we have a cab bunk that goes across front seats feom window to window that DSS (12) sleeps in

My dc are grown up, so usually just me, DH and the dog. We have a 2 ring hob, fridge and sink with running water. We can hook up to electric but also have a leisure batter to run fridge. We take out bikes, usually on tow bar carrier but can also fit them in the van. We leave most stuff in there, I always say it's like a ready pitched tin tent

DH and DSS are away in it tonight in gale force winds and rain! They have watched a dvd played games and said they are cosy.. This is DSS with us fairy lights in the cab bunk

How old are you? The best campers are bigger and if you are under 40 you need a license to drive them. Saying that transit sized campers are still better than camping, comfy beds less set up time. Even if we set up a tent I still appreciate the van.

We have this side shade and windbreak we sometimes use, the awning is a freestanding tent that has a hood to join it to van. Awning also has bedroom in. When we pack up we just sling things in back of van, most stuff has permanent homes in cupboards and under seats.

Yes it's the answer!!! I have a camper van and all I have to do is pop fresh bedding in, fill the fridge and clothes

It has all the other stuff in it already 😁 like chairs, dry food, cutlery etc

Kids sleep in the pop top and I have a full width bed , dog pops under the bed for the night

Easy

Sounds like you do need a campervan plus awning set up OP.

Or perhaps some of those camping boxes that can be fitted, temporarily or permanently into the back of a car. You Tube has videos of different set ups stats and MPV type vehicles or in microcampers. That way your camping stove is a slide out unit so no table assembly needed and there is a place for everything. But it would eat into packing space so I don't know how this would work for you.

Other than that I think I would look at streamlining the meals severely or buying ready made as and when.

Or if it adds up financially, go for a a seasonal pitch on a site you like. If you get a small caravan that was fitted out as basically a kitchen (mmm, posh food truck!) and storage you would still be forced to sit out! The 'Puck' caravans are very cute and small so easier to take it off site if you want to.

I have wondered if hammocks would be a comfy option instead of beds. I have never minded them on boats. Or like vintage military officers beds, straps across metal frame. We can't do thin mats anymore and don't want to us plascticky air beds but have not been able to go away for a few years so not found an answer yet.

We started 'glamping' for this reason. We just don't have the car space for everything g we need.
We tend to take less and less each time.
Our basics now are kids sleeping bags, camp chairs, food.

We went for a caravan but don't bother with electrical hookup or hardstanding.

We choose remote campsites and retain the authentic camping feel with none of the downsides!

@AlwaysLatte

When I camped in tents (we gave in and got a caravan in the end!) I bought two sets of plastic drawer units, everything we needed like plates, torches, batteries, air bed pump, cutlery, salt and pepper, etc etc etc etc in designated drawers, and a drawer for the dog bowls, bags, spare food. All the contents written on each drawer with Sharpies. They stood upright in the back of the car. Then we had a big wheeled crate in the garage with airbeds, sleeping bags, folding kitchen and other large camping stuff. All in one place and ready to go for the next trip, kept next up the roof box. We used to make sure everything was clean/fixed/replenished when we got back so we could just load up and go next time.

Excellent ideas! Love it! What does your drawer unit look like?

You can also get towbar bike racks that allow you to tow at the same time

You need to be careful with those, otherwise you can overload the tow hitch with the combined nose weight of the trailer and bikes. The maximum nose weight allowed should be in the car handbook.

I think there is a sort of lifecycle of camping.

People who like the outdoors have enjoyed lightweight camping with a handful of gear.

Then you have kids and work out its a cheap holiday, and get a slightly bigger tent and some chairs.

You notice other people on the campsites with a giant tent, table sofa, beds etc seem to be more comfortable and you start improving your set up. You might get a trailer, roof box or bigger car. (DH work van in our case!)

You have some brilliant holidays but gradually realise the packing and unpacking is becoming so much faff that it outweighs the enjoyment of going away.

You sell the tent and get a caravan/motorhome/give up

We had a huge set up and some memorable holidays, but also a smaller weekend tent. When the DC got old enough to want their own little tents, we realised we much preferred the smaller tent.

We've started moving back to a smaller, smarter set up. Its still most of a day to prep for a big holiday but I'm working on it. To be honest I think family camps will be over soon and with just 2 of us it will be much less fuss, hopefully.