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?

Chairs? Wine spikes? Fairy lights?!😮

Not been camping in years, but it was our holidays as a kid.
There were 8 of us… kit was:

1 massive brown and orange tent ( 2 kids slept in the back of the van)
1 groundsheet
8 sleeping bags
2 Bunsen burner thingies
one pan one frying pan
1 bowl and cup for everyone
washing up bowl
A torch

We ate beans, sausages, burgers and eggs cooked on the camping stove, sat on the groundsheet.
There was no cafe/ takeaway, no shower block and certainly no Wi-Fi!
Not even an air bed or any pillows!

Was brilliant- just ran wild, washed in the sea and under the 1 cold water tap in the field. Went to sleep when it got dark.
Thats camping to me, so YES ditch the extras!

I am fascinated by the die hard "all you need is a tent and a blanket" people, they love deprivation on holiday.

I'm far too soft for that and need comfort and luxury. If my holiday isn't as comfortable as being at home then it's not a holiday to me. I've stayed in awful beds in Airbnbs, my thick camping SIM is comfier than all of them. I don't camp because I like to live back to basics. I camp in luxury to stay in the most beautiful spots in the Lake District, Scotland and Wales for the lowest price which means we can afford to go away every other weekend.

Sometimes yes, absolutely, the rougher and more natural living without the luxuries and fuss, and the contact with the ground and outside, is absolutely a wonderful thing and I love it!

We go weekends to motorbike rallies but in the car, so ours is tent (large one) airbeds, sleeping bags ,duvets, pillows, I like to sleep in comfort, two chairs and a camping table, I small suitcase each for weekends worth of clothes , a portable pump for the airbeds and a usb power pack for my phone ,a light for in the bedroom, tea bags,powdered milk ,all in one coffee sachets, sugar and a small gas burner , kettle 2 cups and a teaspoon for making brews, toilet roll and bin bag in a bag for life that's it we eat out its my weekend away don't intend to spend it cooking , takes about half an hour to set up and about the same to take down and pack away

Following this thread with interest as I’m keen to start camping again - and am at
the other end of this problem - my minimal kit is old and needs upgrading so this thread is ideal to see what I should prioritise.
Lots have said good sleeping stuff is essential so please can anyone recommend a decent camp/airbed option?

Cheap, cheerful way - and I'm disabled, being warm and comfortable to sleep is an essential - thin thermal folding mat on the ground that folds up small, then any old cheap airbed and a closed cell foam yoga mat on top which rolls up tight when travelling. I normally bring a second old sleeping bag to put on top of that as additional padding as otherwise its a princess and the pea situation (it is at home on a full proper mattress) before my sleeping bag, and then blankets to match the season, but have never been cold on that even with frost on the ground.