Has anyone downsized their camping kit and enjoyed it more?

[CallTheRozzers]

We've camped for two decades - though no longer as our main holiday - and in that time we've built up an insane amount of camping gear (I'm a bit of an over-aquirer/overpacker by nature). Not glamping (I'd consider this to be something that you you can't achieve independently) but very very very well equipped camping with lots of little extra gadgets and things that make it all very comfortable.

Recently though I've found myself thinking what a bloody faff it all is to set up and pack up, especially as we aren't camping anywhere for extended periods at this stage in our lives. We've got a massive tent which takes ages to pitch and then complicated bulky SIMS, a camp kitchen setup, plus a million bits of 'stuff' (wine spikes, fluffy blankets, toasties gadets, cafetieres, S hooks for coats, fsiry lights, 8 piece crockery set with side plates salad bowl etc...)

I'm seriously considering cutting this all right down for the next trip, and going back to basics a bit more, but I'm worried that I'll miss all the creature comforts. Has anyone else downsized their camping, and how did you find it?

Depends how long you go for?

Sounds a complete ball ache to me though

These days it's 4 days max.

I love camping, by the way!

All that effort for 4 days… no wondering you’re considering down sizing!!

We camp maybe 2x a year 3 nights average length
We dont do fairy lights or large crockery set ups. We have minimal amounts of stuff basically because i CBA with the pack up at the end! Downsize it. If you enjoy camping youll enjoy without the bits!

We've downsized from a 10 man tent and lots of accessories
. Now have a 6 man as only take 1 dc (not 4 now )and our 2 ddogs.. Bigger tent had a porch which we don't use now. Camping is usually only 3 nights these days. Bbq one night. Take out 1 night. And cook 1 night!!. Hell I remember rustling up an Indian curry +rice and warming sides under the grill at one point.. Also only take 3 bowls /plates etc not the whole lot! A couple of pans not a full set!

We're looking at doing similar as I don't think we'll ever camp again for more than 2 or 3 nights at a time and we have accumulated so much kit over the years.

I'm keeping the tent, chairs, table, lights and sleeping stuff just now (because we know it works) but pruning all of the other 'stuff'. The plan is to put all of the extra kit to one side and try a weekend with the new 'pared down' boxes.

So far I've put away one briefcase stove (why do we need two?), half of the crockery/cutlery, several sets of fairy lights, glowsticks and candles, three picnic blankets, two frying pans (whatever did we need three for?!), washing up bowls x2, ramekins (why?!?!), numerous packs of card games (never played), washing line, badminton net (!?!), gas lanterns (never used), inflatable armchair (DC wanted it), toaster, several head torches and a porta-potty (never used).

As long as when we go next time I don't find myself cooking a picnic meal for 12x people in the dark who then want to have a game of badminton I'll assume I'm safe to get rid of the excessive kit!

We have a rule of if it doesn't fit in the car (as in no roof box/trailer in addition) then we have too much stuff and it doesn't come.

We usually camp for 2 or 3 nights maybe 5 times a year and have a box with all cutlery/pans/cups etc. If the lid doesn't shut then we scale it down.

We have a tent that takes 5-10 mins to pitch. Usually takes 30 mins in total to make the bedroom and get everything in from the car and chairs set up for relaxing. I'm not here for massive giant tents with poles, it has to be quick and easy.

2/3 night camping?…. Go glamping!!

I downsized when I started to go alone, it's a lot easier to pack/unpack.
Basically only take what you need not what you think you may need.
No more camping kitchen to set up and fill or hook up to drag through the wet grass and bare minimum furniture/crockery and general stuff.
Tent
Chair
1 Box of food and stuff to eat/cook with.
Bag of clothes
Bed
Bedding
Table
Lamp
Washing up bowl
Book/s crafty things to do onsite.

OK, it looks like all in favour of jettisoning the bedside tables!

I'm quite excited to do some back to basics trips now, actually!

Yes I wouldn’t take our family tent away for a short trip; I now have a 4 berth tent that I can put up in 15 to 20 minutes on my own. I make sure I’m warm so mats under lilos and warm bedding and I need to be able to brew tea.

I’m a scout leader and family camper. With scouts, I take bare essentials, with family I take a bit more. I’d hate the hassle of having so much stuff though.

I prioritise physical comfort - so a good bed set up, extra blankets, a pillow, a comfy chair.

stuff like bedside tables that has a purpose but doesn’t improve my physical comfort actually detracts from my physical comfort - because of the extra effort in packing it, setting it up etc. so that’s my deciding rule on whether a luxury is worth taking!

I go once a year for three nights and as the kids have got bigger I have taken less and less (for CBA and space reasons) and so should really declutter as my camping corner in the loft has got out of hand!

Pick the 5 most frivolous items you take and leave them home.
If you miss them put them back in your kit when you get home.
If you don't, then sell them or give them to charity.
Then the next time pick another 5.
Keep doing this until you find a comfortable balance.

Wine spikes - probably not needed.
Fairy lights - very twinkly and good for identifying tent in dark field. Might miss them.
Eight piece crockery set? - unless you're doing formal entertaining and have a portable dishwasher then WTF?

Yes I find packing and set up the worst bit and in any case sometimes am on public transport. I have a dome tent with two bedrooms at each end which is the easiest I could manage to sleep 4, plus air beds, sleeping bags and basic cooking stove. All of this will fit in a garden trolley. Works for me. Though I also sometimes do hosteling as less faff still

We have a large tent but really we are still quite low key campers. Our biggest extravagance is the stove and cool box. We do also have table and chairs but actually can just live with the chairs and one very small metal table to put the stove on. Kitchen stuff in a box. Not sure what a wine spike is but you can get wine in cans if it helps. We just have sims and sleeping bags but no other furniture. Just keep clothes in a holdall. Plus a bin bag for dirty washing.

Bag in a box ftw

I take a hard vanity case.. Opened up it houses my glasses and phone alongside my toiletry stuff overnight!

I decide what cooking set up to take and what meals to cook using one set up and restrict what I take to that. I used to have BBQ, campfire grill, Dutch pot, pie irons, two burner stove… Now it is often just campfire grill and one burner stove!

I ditched my cupboard for a small folding table with a couple of small stacking / folding crates on. Prep gets done on one table.

I just take what I really need to be comfortable.

But stuff also gets added. My current otherwise minimal set up includes a beach mat recliner thing which enables me to sit up in bed in my sleeping bag and read.

My tent is usually on the back of a bike. My set up for a week fits inside a 60lt rucksack or panniers, maybe a small extra bag of clothes and toiletries on sites. I also take my wee Vango chair as well if I'm on site.
I have just never got the huge faffy set ups and loads of kit...