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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Essentials- what are they?

146 replies

bronze · 26/03/2010 13:03

Not having ben camping for a while I'm not much up on campsite camping (with children) so was wondering what people consider are the essentials?

My kind of camping always consisted of stove, pot, tent, sleeping bag, waterproof and boots etc. Now we are going in a car an dI understand it can be almost luxurious so what do I need/want?

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:20

right, I will definately buy some air mats then.

Is it true that they keep you warmer too? Anythgin to be warmer while camping, i hate the cold and hate resorting to doing push ups in my sleeping bag to get warm...

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:21

Thank you missal, yes they might be a bit big, I will have a bit of a reasearch and find some that will actually fit in our tent...

~Can you get kiddie ones or should I just get Ds a full size one? Or can you get double ones?

Slubberdegullion · 27/03/2010 21:22

Oh yes, they keep you much warmer. In fact they are far better than airbeds and camp beds etc. Something to do with the little holes inside.

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:24

oooh ooooh oooh I am excited!

MisSalLaneous · 27/03/2010 21:25

Yes, I bought a "Wee Airic" for ds. It's £20 vs the £50 for Fat Airic (though you do save £15 if you buy 2 FAs), and I reckoned not only would we save space in the tent, he needs less cushioning than me as my bum presses my hips to the ground .

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:26

£40 not bad is it?

Slubberdegullion · 27/03/2010 21:27

Here are the thermarest fast and light mats

I like the women's one with extra insulation in the torso and foot

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:27

oh yes just found the wee airics for £20! Perfect for DS!

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:29

slubbs wish I could invest in a thermarest but just c\n't afford £100 odd quid for one

Love the idea of extra insultion in the feet, that's where I need it!

Slubberdegullion · 27/03/2010 21:30

680g

v light

Slubberdegullion · 27/03/2010 21:30

oh

ok

will shut up about the thermarests

MisSalLaneous · 27/03/2010 21:32

It's really great, and although FA considerably thicker than Wee, the Wee is still very comfortable (comparible to a Thermarest, but not sure which type, I've borrowed on last trip).

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:34

lol

Ok, I will get DS a wee airic and myself a normal one, and forget about a bigger tent for now.

Anythbhing to keep warmer! Plus, my joints are not what they used to be!

Slubberdegullion · 27/03/2010 21:34

£69.99

JetLi · 27/03/2010 21:35

Haven't read all the thread but did spend 24 hours a couple of years ago, vomming into the later discarded washing up bowl, due to lack of lidded bucket. Slubber's lists are v.good. I have realised BIL & SIL are actually the Outwell family

Some nice gear here

MisSalLaneous · 27/03/2010 21:35

I haven't seen anyone admit it, but I'm happy to believe that Thermarest might be slightly better than Airics. But I think in this budget, reviewers felt A's excellent value for money. I've clearly spent too much time reading reviews lately. (Lots on UK Campsite and on here.)

overmydeadbody · 27/03/2010 21:38

Thanks slubber, that is cheap for a thermarest, I think I will start off with the airics for now, it will still be a HUGE improvement on sleeping on the bare ground which is what I am used to...

tootootired · 27/03/2010 21:38

Wishing to defend the plastic boxes; if you get a Really Useful Box they are sturdy enough to double up as a seat or table.

I like my Thermarest (had it years), my view would be any self inflator beats a Karrimat or airbed, but then you are making a decision on pack size more than anything else.

MisSalLaneous · 27/03/2010 21:39

omdb, this beats slubber's and mine: Tada!

tootootired · 27/03/2010 21:40

PS my thermarest is a Womens Trail Lite, I think they are about £50.

JetLi · 27/03/2010 21:43

On slubber's list I am Utalitarian (numerous plastic boxes) but I do aspire to glamping.

I heart this

LadyBiscuit · 27/03/2010 21:43

I am a rubbish camper - I sleep on a fully inflated airbed

slubber - I have LOTS of she wees. They are brilliant

MisSalLaneous · 27/03/2010 21:47

Ooh JetLi, that looks lovely!

LadyBiscuit, why do you have lots??

JetLi · 27/03/2010 21:48

OK, what do you do with the she wee afterwards? Surely it needs washing between uses? Then wouldn't you be staggering off to the toilet block to wash the ruddy thing anyway? Or am I missing something? They do seem bloody brilliant, but I can't somehow get past the hygiene aspects.

LadyBiscuit · 27/03/2010 21:52

Ohhhh have just understood! There are things called she wees which are a little tube thing (I have one of those too) and things called She Pees which is what I meant which are little Moroccan slipper shaped bits of cardboard which you wee through and then dispose of (a ziplock bag is good for carrying them until you find a suitable place to do that).

Having tried both, I would say that the latter is much easier to use than the former

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