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 started with a small VW camper, and loved it but found that it was just too small for two adults and a large dog, and that we ended up using hotels every 3 nights or so for a shower (we don't like large official campsites where you are corralled into tiny spaces close to other vans).

So last year we upgraded to a Fiat Ducato based van - fixed bed, somewhere to sit around a table as well, and more importantly a loo and a shower. We've just come back from a fab holiday where we stayed on a Greener camping site in mid Wales - for most of the time we were the only van on a 10 acre field, and we could cook over fires etc, it was fantastic. In 2019 we had a month exploring Orkney and some of the Outer Hebrides.

Having read your last update, I’m going to suggest you try out a motorhome at some point (I’m interpreting “camper” to mean no bathroom, but I know the terms are sometimes used interchangeably so ignore me if not relevant).
I wanted a camper van but dh wanted a motorhome. And for this stage of life I think he’s on to something. In the rain, we can put all our wet gear and shoes in the bathroom, turn on the heat and close all the vents except the bathroom ones. That, more than any other feature, makes the difference to where we can stay and what we are willing to do. We’re not hampered by the weather.
It’s not the same as camping, by a long way, but it’s a reasonable compromise. The motorhome isn’t quite as versatile as a car or van, but as long as it’s not a monster it isn’t wholly impractical either. Parking hasn’t been as difficult as we expected. After a while you start to spot the kind of spaces that are less obstrusive. On the rare occasions where we couldn’t, dh has dropped me off and gone for a drive with the dc (eg for shopping) or dropped us off and caught us up on the bike. And anyway, bike rides and hiking have always been part of the attraction for us anyway.
It’s a tricky mental adjustment as there’s no real romance to a motorhome. But I’m just saying don’t rule it out completely and if you have an opportunity to try one you might be surprised at how well it answers the impractical side of camping with kids and aging bones.

VW Campervan! We love ours. I was in exactly the same boat as you, I liked camping but it felt like such a slog (mostly for me).
We changed our car for a VW Ocean and haven't looked back. I love that we can just nip off for a weekend at the last minute if the weather looks good. Everything lives in the van.
I also use it for working in when I have to spend interminable afternoons watching kids hockey, or picnics, or everything really. Im forever bunging the kettle on for hot chocolate, it's amazing for camping in the summer but it's all round use is brilliant.

A blazing row is usually had at some point. Plus 2 hrs AT LEAST in reverse.

Glad it's not just us that have the blazing row!

Totally agree with the lifecycle of camping thing. DH and I used to love going away in our little two man tent with just a single burner and a kettle. Then we had a vw T25 and it was heaven. Park, put roof up, open side door and get a cold beer out the fridge. Did three weeks round Europe that we'd never had done in a tent, plus loads of UK trips. Sold the van when we had first DC as we couldn't afford to keep it maintained and couldn't see how it would work with a DC and a dog. Now we have two DC, dog and have a massive tent, kitchen set up, chairs, etc etc and we haven't actually been camping for two years. It all seems like too much hassle and we're wondering about getting a van again!

Gosh I know exactly what you mean about the packing! I usually pack on my own and it feels like moving house! Once I packed in 36 degrees of heat.
I don't know what to advise or what hasn't been mentioned already. I still love camping but for me it has to be at least a week to make it worthwhile. Our last camping holiday was 16 days (France). I don't get how people can go camping for a weekend - way too much hassle!

I like camping but only for two nights tops and accept the lack of sleep and comfort. I have a tiny tent and a thermorest and sleeping bag and we just eat snack food rather then cook. The trick is short and sweet and we also wild camp (possible in many places if you're discreet and tidy) so that we don't have to book anywhere and only go if the weather is good.

DH has always had VW transporter for his business, the current one is a LWB Kombi we had an idea of converting when it was finished with. You've got me googling conversion kits now! The thing is unlike other vans they are decent to drive and reliable.

We always book an extra night at the campsite than we intend to actually stay. This in effect gives us a 24 hour window in which we can decide when to pack up and leave depending on the weather. So if it's raining the morning we planned to leave we just go out somewhere (eg restaurant for brunch, or a day trip) and come back to pack up the tent in the afternoon once it's dried out. If the forecast is heavy rain all day we can choose to leave the evening before or the morning after. Takes the rush and stress out of having to pack up!

The kids help with the setting up and taking down. When younger this was just little tasks (eg sit over there out the way and pump up the air bed!) but now they are (pre)teens I recon they could do the whole thing between them if needed. In practice one helps dad put up the tent, while the other helps me put together the beds, chairs etc. So by the time the tent is up we then just put everything in. All done in under an hour. Same in reverse at the end.

We have a trailer which we pack everything except bedding and clothes into, and it all stays in there until our next trip. Bike rack on top of trailer. Works well for us!

Definitely the life cycle thing.

Never wanted it to be our main holiday but as pp's have said, it takes as long to pack for a week as a fortnight when you've accumulated so much luxury gear, so started camping for a couple of 4/5 nights and also having a main holiday or two.

For the past few years we've been doing a winter sun holiday as well and have run out of work holiday to do longer camping trips. It's just not worth the effort for a couple of nights so haven't been for the past few years. I missed it.

This year I did go and camp near friends but the weather was so atrocious flooding that we ended up spending our time at our friends house rather than having the camping experience which we planned. A lot of effort for little reward.

I can see us resuming it when it's just us without the kids. We can use the back seats to avoid the Tetris game, and do it much simpler, probably abroad for the weather.

It takes as long to pack for a week as a couple of days.

We bouught our campervan after a stormy weekend in a tent and have never looked back. If you like being outside you could try a small autosleeper with awning. Or a T4 convert. Our Autosleeper is pretty much all windows so you feel like you are outside with none of the damp. Plus it fits in a supermarket carpark space or tucks into a forest layby. We keep all the kitchen stuff and mattresses in there so just have to pack clothes food and quilts. Theres room for 3 to sleep but with an awning a couple could sleep outside too.

Sort of wish I’d booked the campervan weekend earlier than Easter now....

I went through all of this 10 years ago. I had every modern convenience for camping but certainly not OTT. With 4 kids it would take me 2 days to pack and 2 days to unpack. I was knackered from my so called holiday. Added to that I can only cope with 4 days of camping before I get itchy for home. So 4 days pack / unpack for 4 days holiday lol. Anyway we sold the lot and decided to go to caravans with a decking or cottages with a garden. I can manage 7 days now before I get itchy for home. To be honest if I could afford a catavan / motor home I would go for it!!

A camper van is a cramped holiday cottage.
If you want the camping experience to be less full of kit then have less kit.
Save the full rig for longer breaks and have a simple weekend setup for one or two nights: keep your beds and chairs but lighter tent, single ring, saucepan and kettle, cereal bars and juice boxes for breakfast. Warm up premade and frozen curry and rice or pasta in sauce for dinner. Sandwich or pot noodle lunch. For the short breaks you are less likely to go when the weather is bad anyway so you won't need so mane clothes .

But a caravan. That's what tends to happen.

We’ve never done snack food and pot noodles when camping. I appreciate this might be quite unusual but for me part of the fun of it is having a really nice meal in the camping surrounds- we do one pre cooked and frozen meal but everything else is generally freshly cooked/prepared. It’s part of the enjoyment of it for me- that’s the paradox I refer to really- the things that make it fun are also the things that make it difficult but there’s a point where it tips in to being unenjoyable if you don’t include them.

"this might be quite unusual but for me part of the fun of it is having a really nice meal in the camping surrounds"

I get this and I'd hate having pot noodles and cereal bars for 3 days. For us it's finding the balance between nice food and needing lots of kitchen stuff - and a good cool box helps.

King prawn fajitas with guacamole, soured cream, salad, cheese etc. is lovely but still only needs one pan. We'll often get nice cheese, pâté, bread, olives, dips etc. from a local deli which feels like a good meal but no cooking. Fresh pasta with sauce and Parmesan also only takes one pan. I've even done kippers for breakfast (boiled in bag and served with with bread and butter) although I'm not sure that it helped us make many friends...

Oo kippers, definitely an outdoor breakfast!

OP I could have written your post! I feel just like this. I keep trying to downsize but it still takes ages to pack and unpack.
This year I ditched the kitchen unit (took a small table instead, smaller and easier to pack away), also ditched the camping carpets (just took one smaller rug for sitting on), no camping toilet, and only took one gas burner .... but with 3 DCs who are now too big to have stuff under their feet, the car is still very cramped.
Not helped that our tent takes up most of the boot if the car (airbeam polycotton, lovely but does not pack away small at all!)
I have done most of the suggestions here (all the camping stuff in one place, in boxes ready to go etc)

We live in a terraced house, without a garage, so a trailer isn’t an option.

We do enjoy camping and I know what you mean OP about sitting outside the tent with a cuppa. Just wish it was easier to set up.

We've always been festival and weekend campers. This year camping was our main holiday so we spent a week in the tent. We have a massive 6-man tent with loads of living space etc. Semi wild camping and no cars on site so everything had to be carried down the valley to the pitch. It was fab.

We've decided that next year kids will be 9 & 11 and they can have shall pup tents and we will downgrade to a small 4-man so we'll have space for them if nec but without we'll have enough living space for us all. That ll take up less room in the car and be much more portable. Kids can carry their own tents!

I take minimal kit, a 1 ring stove and also cook over the fire and we love making great food! We have never eaten a pot noodle or a tinned potato while camping

I did once get an instant porridge pot for Ds once.

We got a motorhome, mainly because of festivals and wanting my own loo and hot shower. She's old but perfectly formed.
From April to October it's kept fully stocked with bedding, towels, toiletries, dried food and tins, bottled water, wine and drinks, crockery, pans etc, camp chairs, table, foldaway firepit we also bbq on and our tent as 17yr old dd prefers sleeping in there with our big dog for company.
Then just clothes and fresh food to pack which takes me about half an hour.

When camping we rock up, level the van, I get dinner started while dd and dh put the tent up and we're normally sat with a glass of wine within about half an hour. Packing away is easy as everything has it's home in the van and is kept tidy. Once any washing up is done and the tent collapsed and stowed we're good to go, again about half an hour I suppose.

4 days prep and packing for a 4 day trip. Same when you get back.

You literally have to take the kitchen sink.

Sorry but this is one of the many reasons camping isn't for me. Is it loads better /cheaper than a B&B or cottage? (I have no Idea about the cost of camping!) I feel packing for holidays is hard enough without having gear like this too.

Food wise we have sandwiches /hotdogs for lunch with homemade soup and crudités then a proper dinner, which is usually what I've made the week before and frozen (so it acts as a massive ice block) I. E bolognaise, chilli.

I also did BBC Good Food summer in winter chicken, defrosted, then added spinach and toms. Super good with garlic bread done in a pan!