Do you have a ‘lovely’ camping set-up ?

[ViaRia01]

I’m looking for inspiration on how to get together a collection of ‘lovely’ gear for camping with my family - two parents, two preschoolers.

So, what I mean by this, is that while we are away we still want to have comfort, quality, colour and - did I mention - comfort?! We don’t want to ‘pack everything and the kitchen sink’, but for the things we do need, we want them to feel nice.

I’m struggling a bit to explain this I think but does anyone understand what I mean and do you have this sort of set up?

Examples I’ve found so far include:
I’m thinking the Heston Everdure mini barbecue. It’s pricey but the quality looks good and I think it will serve its purpose while being nice to use.

Wooden directors chairs as opposed to standard folding camp chairs. I know they’ll be a little more heavy/ bulky but I think I’d put up with that in order to have the nice look and feel.

I’d want a plug in cool box as we will want to keep food fresh rather than having very basic meals/ rations.

We will have an 8 berth tent rather than being all squashed into a 4 berth tent.

I really hope it makes sense but do let me know if not! Do you have this kind of lovely set up? Can you share the products you’d recommend/ avoid? Maybe some lovely photos too if you can?

Thank you

canvas tent that we can stand up in has made a massive difference. no sweating under plastic and no crawling around.

We have a pretty basic set up but always use duvets (one underneath and one on top) and proper pillows. On top of basic self inflating mattresses. Very comfortable. But - very bulky to pack!

Also - enough ‘furniture’ to make it easy, so we have a table inside and outside the tent.

finally - a black out (but basic decathlon) tent has changed the game. Dark and cool.

I had light easily carried high backed chairs, with warm fleece blankets in lovely colours, over them for cosy evenings. Fairy lights and bunting are easy to add, and make it look magical.

I have this self inflating mattress. It's absolutely brilliant and very comfortable. They do them in a double size too. It is bulky but well worth the space it takes up!

Outdoor Revolution Camp Star Midi 100mm Self Inflating Mat - Outdoor World Direct share.google/kp54JKHZQlo1tSUWu

I tend to sleep in my van and use a large attached gazebo as the living space. This means that we can have up to four vans backed onto the gazebo as “bedrooms”.
I have a fold up mattress in the van which is very comfortable with pillow and duvet, plus as much tat as I can cram in.
This includes a carpet, wrought iron folding shelves, for food and books, a couple of those Indian brass topped folding tables, lamps, throws, bead curtains, etc.
Over the years I have collected as much pretty but useful camping items as I can, including Cath Kidston hanging shoe storage,hanging shelves and folding chairs, gorgeous melamine plates and mugs, and proper cutlery.
I have a child's large wooden kitchen in the van, which can be unbolted and placed in the gazebo. The toy tap has been replaced with a USB powered one, with the water bottle in the cupboard below, and the gas cylinder stove sits on top. This idea came from a friend, who had this set up in her van, and it is genius, especially considering what van refits cost.
They can be painted in whatever colours and patterns you like.
DS2 bought me a huge Anker power unit thingy which, when charged, will run everything for ages. It does weigh a ton, though.
And I wouldn't be without those wine bottles and wineglass holders that just push into the ground. No more spilt drinks for us!

I always add frozen bottles of water, diluted juices and pre made meals (usually stew) to my cool box - helps keep everything cold and can be used on day two or three once it’s defrosted 😀

We had a 10 berth tent for 4 of us, it also meant my Mum and the childrens friends could come sometimes. Also there was a big enough lounge/cooking area for bad weather days and we always had one bedroom for storage bags and things.

Sometimes is about quality not quantity. We have thermorests, sleeping bags rated to below zero, trekking chairs (fold to a tiny pack) camping stove, inflatable pillows - all packs into a sailing bag that fits on the motorcycle. The key for me is a decent pub within a few metres that serves breakfast too, means you don’t need so much stuff

Have you done this kind of DIY glamping before?

I asked because when my daughter was small we decided to get kitted out for camping. We had the 8 man tent, double height inflatable airbeds, electric hook up, full camp kitchen, tent carpet...etc etc.

Honestly it was really bloody hard work and an
absolute ball ache to set up, pack away (especially after rain) and store.

When I got divorced I swore I'd never camp
again, but ultimately discovered that I'm much happier chucking my little 3 man and a few basics in the back of the car and making it up as I go along.

I appreciate you need a bit more with small kids in tow but I'd suggest building your kit gradually or you may end up with a lot of expensive, unnecessary equipment.

Double height air beds definitely worth it though, and a tent with enough space to hang out 'indoors' comfortably.

@mamagogo1 that sounds amazing and all so compact. Having had a quick look, thermarest is a self inflating mat but engineered to be ultra compact and effective - is that right?

I do expect I’ll want to have rather more ‘home comforts’ than you’ve described but I think your set up sounds great for what you need.

@SummerCanDoOne No I haven’t done it before but I figured you have to start somewhere. We’ve done various self catering, outdoorsy, basic holidays but we’ve always had walls! We’ve been camping (although nothing comfortable or glamourous about it) years ago, before the children.

Its going to be a fine balance - what we need / will enjoy but without making the process so time consuming and heavy that I don’t actually want to do it. We have a double height airbed at home for guests so I know how much space/ weight that takes up. Plus the bedding.

I appreciate hearing your thoughts on it though, from your experiences of camping and what has worked/ not worked for you. I think I’m going to need a certain amount of stuff from the first trip but I agree it makes sense to build up the full set over time. My priorities to get started are somewhere comfortable to sleep and some decent food storage/ cooking equipment.

@ViaRia01 that sounds like a good start,

Tbf I suspect some of my issue was with the company as much as the equipment 😂

@all @Itsarecipefordisaster
i know a few different people suggested Cadac bbq / cooking system, I’m looking into these now and just wondered if anyone can help - little more?

Which version works for you? I was looking g at the Carri chef 50. I’m aware the diameter is quite large which shouldn’t be a problem but I just can’t figure out whether/ how well it can be packed down in terms of height. And what is the height once it is packed down into the carry case. Does anyone know/ estimate?

Also it looks as though I could use it like a hob to boil water and then afterwards add the grate to bbq food (or add pizza stone/ paella dish). Is that right?

Mine’s a Safari Chef. It’s 30cm diameter and 26cm high when it’s in its carry case.
It comes with various cooking things. A big pan (I think it’s really a deep lid - it has handles) which you could boil water in. Then take it off and put the grill or the frying surface on to cook something different. It’s the perfect size for 2 of us. My only gripe is that the middle gets really quite warm (often burns things) while the outer edges are cooler. So we have to stir all the time.

@ViaRia01 I’ve just seen you’re looking at a Carri Chef. Sorry, ignore the above! The internet says the Carri Chef 50 is 58x50x30cm when packed. You get different pans with it too. Everything sits on the metal frame (a bit like a gas cooker) so you could put a pan on it to boil water.

Plug in fridge is good
the Weber mini barbecue is great
Decathlon low profile air mattresses are easy and comfy
a gazebo or awning is good to have outside your tent - we set up our cook station under this
A builder’s trug is great to fill with warm water and “bath” babies or infants in
Decent comfy camping chairs.

most of the stuff Decathlon sells is pretty good and not expensive.

I thoroughly recommend buying kit to support electric hook up. We have a long lead and a double plug that pegs into the ground.

Adding more on a Things I’ve changed after 8 years of camping” theme:

Proper set of cutlery - not crappy plastic stuff
Ditto set of melanine / bamboo large plates and bowls not teeny camping versions
Ditto proper mugs

Outdoor garden rug runner for along front of tent for muddy shoes / wet barrier

Decent fold up laundry bin helps so much with tent tidiness

1 camp kitchen PLUS 1 table with 4 matching stools - camping chairs are too low for most

We get everything in our people carrier plus roof box but it’s a huge relief if we’re relatively local or other logistics mean we can justify taking two cars!!

I upgraded my tent from a basic tunnel to a tunnel with a canopy at the front - to be able to cook under when it rains and stand under the shelter to pull off rain gear and boots before stepping inside.

I love the look of a cadac but I cannot justify it for my camping reality - I have a basic 1 ring gas stove (and a wind shelter)and a mini charcoal bbq. But I did get a foldable firepit and am planning to get a tripod to be able to cook over that.

And I have a small sized set of 4 chopping boards in a holder, and a set of proper sharp knives, each with a sheath to protect fingers rummaging in the kitchen box, as well as a decent collection of the kind of kitchen tools I always use in my 22l Ikea box holding most of my kitchen elements. So a proper peeler, a decent corkscrew, a full size wooden spoon and a metal serving spoon that can take abuse and a proper tongs.

Also, a set or 2 of either kids play tiles or mechanics foam tiles to use as a floor over the groundsheet - both very useful to insulate against cold ground and. To keep the worst of the dirt off the groundsheet. (I also keep a dustpan and brunch in my camping tub).

I haven't read the whole thread but for me a luxury is to have an appropriate bed for s good night's sleep.

We don't have the self inflating mat mentioned above but the Vango Shangri-la and at 15cm inflated, it is fabulous. Some people pair it with a Decathlon base to gain additional height.

https://www.funkyleisure.co.uk/vango-shangri-la-ii-self-inflating-mat---grande-15cm-11115-p.asp?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21251086691&gbraid=0AAAAAD95d30PwdBRw5MrOAl165wZqOiSG&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwZDFBhCpARIsAB95qO1o-EsdSsJQ8XeRet9XoKBmz2egOqsgUfu8NokEKJYY0fA_N2kFvzkaAgbbEALw_wcB

These are space dependent in your car.

Thanks for the additional pointers today.

So… I’m realising that even the main gear - tent, beds, bbq/ hob - can easily add up in terms of bulkiness for transportation. I still want those well-made lovely-to-use things but I know I need to keep my kit fairly streamlined if it’s all going to fit in my car/ roof box.

I bought a cool box online (Ninja frost vault I think it’s called) and it is a beast.

After reading lots more on here and elsewhere, I’ve returned my new mini coal bbq (Heston everdure cube) and plan to buy one of the cadac systems instead - they are a similar size but more versatile it seems and, as they are gas fuelled, I expect more reliable for cooking. I do love cooking on coals and the authentic bbq aromas but it is really not going to be much fun if we find ourselves unable to keep the coals hot especially as it’s only a small grill as well. Plus it has its own stand whereas the Cube one would need some extra table or something to stand on, which is yet another thing to pack.

Just got back from a trip and thought about a couple
of other things that I feel make it lovely, but aren’t massive or expensive.

• proper cutlery. Much nicer than plastic stuff and barely any bigger.
• a cute table cloth.
• We also have a plastic bottle that looks a bit like a glass milkshake bottle (I think it came with my breast pump many moons ago!) and put wild flowers in it. Looks nice and the kids enjoy finding the flowers.
• a cafetière to start the day right.

The ninja wood fire has been our game changer.

@thaisweetchill hace looked at the ninja as well. It’s powered by electricity though isn’t it…? I think I just want to stick with gas tbh.

We would have EHU but that would be really just for charging phones, etc. well, that’s my thinking at the moment anyway.