Basic set up- is it worth it?

[Tellmewho]

Our DC (8 and 5) are desperate to go camping. We‘ve already got our holidays booked this year (and maxxed out our budget) so any trips would have to be (very) cheap.

DH and I camped a few times before we were married (11 years ago). So we‘re not totally inexperienced, but it’s been a while and we‘ve never camped with the kids.

We have a 3 man tent, soft ground mats, sleeping bags, portable gas stove, torches etc. All very basic. No budget to buy anything else.

We could go 4 nights at the end of May. I think it would be an adventure, DH thinks it would be hell (we need a bigger tent, more equipment etc).

What do you think?

How are you going to get 4 of you in a 3 man tent? Could you borrow another small tent to use as well?

A 3 man tent with 4 people in is going to be awesome squeeze, is it one room or do you have a separate area for bags/ so you can sit while your children are sleeping? I would be tempted to ask around and see if you can borrow a bigger tent from someone.

You’ll definitely need a bigger tent. After that I’d keep it simple incase the kids hate it and never want a repeat. Camping is meant to be basic anyway so what you have sounds fine for now.

I would get some cheap folding chairs and a little table. Even if they don't fit in the tent you can leave them in the car at night. Also if you have a small tent, a tarp and couple of poles gives you extra shelter. Decathlon perfect for all this. That means you have somewhere to sit and relax/ watch the sunset/hide from a shower. Otherwise, choose a nice campsite with a view and good facilities and it should be great.

Hold on, just notice you said 3 man tent. That won't be big enough for 4. We managed with a 4 man tent for a while (us and 2 DC) but then upgraded to 5. It doesn't have to be huge but you ideally need space to stand up and for DC and their gear.

Can you borrow a bigger/second tent? We have a 4 man tent just for two of us. Any smaller and we’d struggle. Somewhere big enough for everyone to sit under cover if it rains is a must!!!

Can you consider glamping instead? Lots of campsites offer pre- pitched yurt- type tents which maybe more comfortable and enjoyable (proper beds!).

A three man tent only sleeps two people comfortably. I say comfortably, but I hate sleeping on a hard ground.

Can you not just pitch the tent in your garden and let the kids sleep there?

I can barely get 1 person in a 3 man tent 😂 But other than maybe needing a new tent I'm sure you'll be fine!

Something we enjoy doing (after starting in a single skinned £10 pop up...) is any time you're feeling cold/like you need more, add it to a note on your phone of things to buy before the next trip.

Maybe don't go too far from home, just in case you all hate it.

It’s just a small tent with a little porch. We are often crammed into our bed all together at home but the tent is probably smaller.

We do have another small tent, but as far as I‘m aware we can’t put two tents on one pitch? We‘d have to pay for two.

Will ask around if anyone has a bigger one.

I don’t think you need a whole load of new equipment (other than borrowing a tent). We take home comforts with us (eg proper plates, pillows, duvet, blankets, cooking pot etc) rather than buying duplicates of everything in plastic from a camping shop. You can also batch cook in advance and take food in Tupperware to simply heat up at the campsite.

Campsites often let you have a "pup tent" on your pitch as part of a booking

Ask around, lots of people have camping equipment they use once a year at most! But a bigger tent or additional small tent would be good.

Camping chairs also, I borrow a friend's as we don't have them, her son borrowed a rucksack when he did DofE. Take your usual bedding e.g. pillows, blankets/duvets, leave them in the car if you don't need them.

There is at least one company that matches people with equipment to rent and people needing to rent, if you have a Google.

Alternatively some campsites have a number of pitches with tent in place.

It’s worth asking if you can put two tents on one pitch, especially if they are both small and you don’t encroach on anyone else’s space. I have a two man tent for myself and it’s a bit of a squeeze.

In terms of equipment, I’m a really basic camper and would add a chair each and a table to what you already have but not much more.

Start with just one night? We started when our kids were a similar age. They purely wanted the experience of sleeping out over night. One night somewhere close to home was perfect. You can always then build up. We took minimal gear. A one bedroom tent as long as you can all fit is fine, especially when kids are little and you want to keep them close. We take blow up mattresses and our regular pillows and bedding. If you look up family camp nights you can find ones with food or activities included and lots of other kids.

We go camping alot with our DC (DD3 and DS7). Personally I wouldn't in such a small tent and with so little stuff but I know people who do. Personally I wouldn't be enjoyable for us.

A tent you can stand in is a must for us with the kids.
And one with a separate bedroom and other area - what will you do if it rains the whole time you are away? Or a gazebo outside the tent works as well.
Camping chairs or something to sit on it a good idea so you aren't on the ground all the time.

Like Roy Schneider said…you’re gonna need a bigger tent!

I suggest a test run in the garden if you have space.

Just do it kids will remember it forever long after the beach holidays are forgotten

Let the kids "camp" in your garden.

Many campsites do just size of pitch not number of tents, so if you loom around you should find something suitable for a 3 berth and a 2 berth tent... many tents are massive these days (it seems to be Camping and caravan club sites that insist on the one tent thing... we avoid them as we couldn't deal with the stress of the rules!)

Alternatively sign the children up to Beavers and Cubs and let them try camping there.

Test run in the garden - you may fit since the kids are small

Only go on a great weather forecast

Perhaps pick a slightly more expensive site - with a playground and cafe - if you can - go for fewer nights

Have a great time

Yes, make a note of everything you come back into the house for - and make a plan for when the house isn't there!

Go for one night (or two if you've done a night in the garden first). Be prepared to cancel if the weather forecast isn't dry. Once you're in the swing of things some rain showers aren't a problem, but you want to get comfortable in the dry first.

You need a proper big tent

A six man tent you can stand up in

You need a tent you can stand up in for a decent camping holiday

Look at Decathlon they do excellent tents

A piddly 3 man tent will not be big enough

It's barely big enough for one person and a back pack

The campsite will very likely let you put up two small tents. Most places you pay per pitch plus probably a supplement per person rather than per tent.

Some great ideas, thank you all so much! We already have camping chairs but no table.

If we don’t manage to borrow a tent I think I‘ll look into getting a bigger one for next year. Reading this thread and thinking about camping has got me all excited 😂

A test run in the garden is a brilliant idea, the kids would absolutely love it!

It would be worth checking whether you can put two or three tents on one pitch - I took two tents and a trailer tent a couple of years ago! Last year I had a mini caravan with awning and a 3 man tent on the same pitch.

It's worth getting an adjustable height table like this https://www.therange.co.uk/leisure/camping/camping-furniture/camping-tables/height-adjustable-camping-table/?gQT=1#2458373
as sometimes you want a lower table with those folding armchairs or for DC to use comfortably, also you can compensate for not quite level ground. Kids need somewhere flat to put their drink of squash or bowl of cereal, you don't want spillages in the tent.
Also a sealed bugproof box like this for your food/cooking gear box doubles up as a table or kids seat.
And these tubs flexi tub make a good washing up bowl that can be stuffed into the car.

I'd say all these are essential for a trip of more than 1 or 2 nights but then you just end up with a slow creep of "essentials" until you are looking at trailers and roof boxes...