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?

I’d see if you can find any family friends who are more experienced and equipped than you and go with them for the first time for a weekend. you’ll still need the bigger tent though but you’ll get to experience a lot of the nice to have extras from your friends, plus things like tables- you can share theirs, but you’ll need to bring a few of your own chairs, but they’re cheap and useful for other things, etc etc. That’s how we started, decided we loved it and have slowly added to our gear over the last few years, and now we’re the “friends with gear” and have introduced DH’s brother and family and a few school-friend families to it. The kids have a ball because there are others to play with who they already know.
i think 4 nights is too long for the first time!

There are sites that charge per person rather than per pitch. Often the more spacious rustic / rural / back to basics pitches. (I don’t go to busy sites where tents are in rows close up next to the neighbours)

Definitely try and borrow a bigger tent. You need to keep your DH onside if you want to make camping part of your family time, and 4 nights crammed in a tiny space in the rain won’t do it!

Then gather gear: my Dc were v happy being given their own camping chair as a birthday present, for example. Buy your DH a tent for Christmas 😂

Thanks for the replies. I do think even with our two small tents it will be a squeeze, so will hopefully be able to borrow a bigger one. As someone said, I want to get DH on board so cramming into tiny tents isn’t the way forward,

We are definitely happy to go basic, it’s how we did it before we had kids, and now we have kids they are luckily very easy going and don’t need much to entertain them. Plus we have a small car so can’t take much with!

It’s been great to read all the recommendations, I’ve made a list on my phone already!

I would get an air bed or 2
the floor is bloody hard

Successful camping for us is ‘death by list.’ Not as bad as it sounds, just write a list of what you need and then each time you go tick it off, saves any aggro and getting into the middle of nowhere and realising you’ve forgotten something essential. Also, everything else follows a comfortable night’s sleep, make sure you have a blanket or rug to insulate from the ground, then SIM, then blanket/good sleeping bag.

We camp with sone very basic equipment, didn’t even have EHU for a few years but I’d be tempted to check out eBay and FB got a cheap but bigger tent. I think that a couple of chairs will really improve your stay too.

You'll have a wonderful time. Pack an 'entertainment bag' for the DC:
felt tips
colouring book or word search
A5 blank notebook for drawing / scrap book-ing
sticker book
pack of cards
memory game / pairs
Top Trumps
Dobble game
animal / plant ID card pack
frisbee
etc for them to enjoy snuggling in the tent in the morning before you're ready to wake up or if it rains.
We camp lots and my DC, although much older (tw/eens), still love their 'entertainment bag' for hanging out in the tent and relaxing.

Definitely check the weather before you go

And take plenty of food, camping is hard work

If you’re too squashed in, you’ll be against the fabric, and that will let any moisture from rain or dew soak through. Also, you’ll make a lot of condensation from four people breathing!

Get another cheap tent and go 2x2.