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!

I felt like you and refusing to camp because of all the work that fell on me. We ended up getting a static caravan in a remote park.

@Rumtopf - when on site what do you do if you need to drive anywhere e.g. to the shop, pub for lunch? Or do you only stay on site?

Plussizejumpsuit - I like staying in cottages too! It’s just that camping is different. We often go with friends, there’s something special about sitting round a fire pit together. I also like being outside and being more aware of nature and weather.

I love campimg but twice a year is my max because of the hassle and amount of stuff we have to take and unpack.

My parents used to take us camping for the whole summer because once the tent was up it was easier and cheaper to just stay than entertain us at home. It was a very cheap campsite though. Even campsites can be pricey!

@WhyNotMe40

Oh and we now have dedicated cutlery, saucepans, crockery etc plus 2 gas stoves all permanently packed in a crate. Collapsible stackable crates for food stuff and kids stuff.

Me too. When we return, I make sure it is stocked up, and ready to go for next year. Has all the dishes, cutlery, matches, clothes line... all that stuff. Camp beds are easy and comfy as well.

There’s one more option we are considering - hiring a tent. At the last site we went to there was a guy taking down bell tents, they hire them out for the weekend, so you just rock up and your tent is all set up for you!

@MiniMum97
I can't find the exact one online (they were 3 drawer rather than 4) but were like this, just fitted heightways in our Volvo estate. Also pad and pen and every time you think of something write it down and include it next time.

Just to throw something else into the mix.... We had a similar problem but changed tack a bit and now only camp in Europe. If the weather's nice you need far far less stuff, even with small children. Clothing is minimal as you are normally in swimming clothes. Bedding again minimal as it doesn't get cold. No wellies/ waterproofs / big coats. Nice camp sites have communal areas so you can share cheap pizza for tea. You can eat nice food with the need to "cook" at all.
Once the world gets a bit more back to normal I'd suggest a mooch around the eurocamp website for inspiration and then booking a pitch direct. I admit it doesn't work for a weekend away but if you are looking for a week or more away then you won't go back to UK camping.

We have camped for about ten years and do the usual posh camping thing; think carpet, TV, fan heater, a few little luxuries and we dont go for less than a week.
I admire friends who announce they are going camping for "the weekend" or "a couple of days". It's just as much work and faff camping for two days as a week or 10 days with all the packing up and unpacking/washing/sorting the other end, what a faff! The only thing with a short camp is you don't feel as damp and uncomfortable for as long.

I think there's also a value in teaching kids to manage a certain amount of discomfort and temporary privation without whining. Being cosseted and catered to 24/7 doesn't produce resilient, resourceful people.

Why not explain to them that camping lacks all the comforts of home, and to just get on with it?

[quote AlwaysLatte]@MiniMum97
I can't find the exact one online (they were 3 drawer rather than 4) but were like this, just fitted heightways in our Volvo estate. Also pad and pen and every time you think of something write it down and include it next time. [/quote]
Brilliant thanks for posting. Such a great idea. Will measure the car! 🙏

Camping is awful even with shedloads of equipment.

We went camping when I was five months pregnant with ds2. Ds1 was five at the time.

There was a storm that night and the horses in the next field kept running around. I was frightened and started getting frantic braxton hicks with abdominal pain. Ds' tent leaked and we had to bring him in with us during the night. It was very cold. We didn't sleep a wink and got up to a land of mud the next morning.

Dh had spent all day packing stuff up and we had to go back home the next morning. A complete waste of time and effort.

@Squidsister we either take bikes, make sure the campsite is close to a bus stop before booking or put the outside stuff away in the tent and then go off out in the van. This is why we prefer to use a dome tent which takes about 10 mins to put up instead of awning on the van.

@PerveenMistry it’s not the kids it’s me! I used to stay up until midnight with my DH then fall in to bed and sleep until 10 and it didn’t matter that the bed wasn’t that comfy- we weren’t bothered and it was fun. Now I get a bad neck and a bad hip and I need to be up at 7 (at the latest) when the kids wake. We don’t really have “home comforts” for the kids even but we need enough dry clothing and food and somewhere to keep it all. And cooking for 4 means you need more pots, pans, plates and food than for 2. That’s half the battle really, four is twice as many as two, so there’s an unavoidable increase in some things. Add in a few comfortable things for creaking mother and father and it all starts to turn a bit epic!

We bought an ancient folding camper for £400 and it was great until it sadly died. Husband does not like towing a caravan and I don’t like sleeping on air beds so it’s a good compromise. It’s so easy to set up, basically just crank a handle and pull out the sides and you have a teeny caravan with a fridge, cooker, sink and cupboards for all your plates etc. Also has plugs for charging and plugging in lights etc. Oh and surprisingly comfortable beds. Despite being from the 1970s it was totally waterproof until this year. Only problem is staying on little quirky sites that are tent only isn’t allowed. We now have a tent and I really miss the folding camper.

Looked kind of like this

We bought a van and made it a camper. It’s a 7 seater four sleeper, plus more if you have an awning etc although then your in for the “stuff” issue.
It’s actually no bigger than a family suv.
Trailer tents or caravans are a great idea if you’ve somewhere to keep it securely

We've transitioned from tent to a campervan this year and we love it. We've got an awning for extra room. I love that you can just pull up on a Friday night after work with no setting up and it's loads more convenient. We went this weekend and nights were really chilly so it was nice to cozy up in the van with wine and music on. It feels like zero hassle at the moment after years of a tent but still feels like camping.

Only problem is staying on little quirky sites that are tent only isn’t allowed

We have found that trailer tents are usually accepted at tent only sites, so use that term when booking.

We've gone through several permutations:
1 Small tent, travelled light but no children
2 Campervan with awning - where children slept. Fine until the big storm which ripped away the awning
3 Trailer tent which was great - proper beds above ground so warmer, great kitchen and living space. Took about an hour to erect/take down which my husband loathed
4 Another camper and small tents for kids (now teens)
5 2 bedroomed frame tent as I couldn't cope with not having enough head height (by now kids grown up and left. But beds not great on my older bones/joints

1. We now have a motorhome - brilliant but is an ongoing expense even when we can't use it like at the moment

We have a folding camper (Conway Cruiser). It has a massive awning which is a pain to put up so I've adapted a small caravan porch awning by sewing a zip onto it. It's cosy and warm and the beds are very comfy. With EHU we have the luxury of a toaster, kettle, lights and heater. Without EHU we are as flexible as a tent and can go anywhere. It has a fridge that runs on EHU or gas. It has a cupboard full of games for when it rains. I love it.

I've also got several tents and everything for nights or weekends away if it's just me and one DS. Both boys are getting bigger now and the joy of running around a dark field in jimjams with torches is fading.

We usually go to campsites France every summer and stay in Eurocamp/Vacansoleil tents or mobile homes.

I am dreaming of having a motorhome one day.

This is one of the most interesting camping threads. I'm cooking yes right now but will come back later to join in

Sorry obv cooking tea not yes 😂

The fun thing about camping is the spontaneity. Like tripping off for a last minute dirty weekend. It's just impossible with kids!

It took me 2 yrs to convince my husband to camp and our first camp was in 2010. After a fairly disastrous first time borrowing a tent and having little kit we decided that if we were going to do it, we should do it well. So now we we have a pretty good set up. By the way we have 2 kids now 15 and 12.

5 man tent for anything more than a weekend, 3 man tent for weekends (you can stand up in both and DH and I sleep in the living space of the 3 man when we use it).

Both tents have open extensions. This is the key part for me. It means we can sit sheltered from the rain if necessary although camping for us is all about being outside, by the fire.

In the extension I have a kitchen unit with my single burner stove. Store all crockery and food there too. I also keep my cool box in the extension.

Bedding: we all have SIMs in fact DH and I changed from a double to two singles as they are easier to pack (and sometimes I camp with the kids only). Sleeping bags for all usually but in hot weather we take cotton sheets and duvets instead and it takes up no more room.

I usually have a supermarket delivery to the campsite on day of arrival so very little food to pack, however I have usually prepared something for the first night that can be easily reheated, just in case there is a problem with aforementioned delivery.

Camping chairs, one each and a couple of tables too.

I have a spreadsheet which I print off a few days beforehand. We live in central London with not a lot of extra space so have a local storage unit where the camping gear is stored (amongst other things), so it's a quick trip there the day before to load up and then pack our personal belongings and we are good to go.

Recently got a bike rack so obv if we are taking bikes that's a 20 job to load.

On return I just ask the kids to dump dirty clothes by the washing machine and usually 2 or 3 loads will sort it.

All in all it's worth it for me. The joy of the outdoors and the campfire are very special.

Not sure what I'll do when the kids leave home, maybe buy a camper van 😂