Hey!! all you TENT FANATICS, over here please.......

[LadyTophamHatt]

This year we are going to start buying camping equipment for future holidays, been camping pre-kids and always went on camping holidays as a child.

Ok, Dh thinks we should get a big frame tent. I'm sure you know the thing I mean. Big window at the front, 2 layers of canvas.
I prefer the big dome tents, they look so much more 21st century for a start.

Which is better?

Also if you have any other helpful hints and tips of stuff to add to our list I'd be grateful.

ahem you saying we look like the hillbillies eh?? We were actually complimented on our 'bungalow' last year I think I went into one in the loos telling this poor woman what a pile of crap it was

Not at all . I doubt whether yours has the same lived in look that ours did. It's over 25 years old!!

Ours is newish but believ me the styling is still terrible, green,red and orange flowery curtains yuk

Twiglett, we have opposite problems. i really watn to go camping and dh doesn't. I haven't camped in england since i was 13 but have done basic site camping in greece etc during my 20s.

This year we have no cash so camping might be an option. So we want a cheap tent in case it doesn't work out and cos of skintness. dds are 3 and 1 so i don't want them to far away. and fear of hte outdoors prompts me towards a sewn in groundsheet.

What do you think of the Vango Venture 500 at £90? or would we be better off with the deal one with airbeds and so on? (we've got sleeping bags and stuff already so really it's the tent we are interested in). Does the venture have sewn in groundsheets? it refers to g/sheets but it doesn't specifically say 'sewn in'. Also, any recommendations for cheap places no more than 4 hours drive from west london?

If you are looking for a tent with a SIG then how about something like

Campus Yale - 2005 Family Clearance Tent

The Yale is a 6-berth tunnel tent with a vis-à-vis sleeping arrangement but unlike the Indiana 6, which has removable inners, the Yale features an all-in-one inner tent giving the advantage of a fully fitted groundsheet, which prevents drafts and all manner or other potential intruders (hopefully not groupies). The flysheet is 2oz polyester 185T double coated with taped seams giving a hydrostatic head of 3000mm. The inner tent is breathable polyester and the poles are colour-coded fibreglass with the ring & pin system. It comes complete with the all-in-one inner tent and has a living area of 240x200cm.

Pack size: 69x32x24cm;
Packed weight: 17.2kgs;
External dimensions: 180+200+180 x 240cm;
Inner height: 200cm;
Colour: Khaki/Dark Green/Pistachio Trim/Orange Guys;

RRP: £170
Bopped!

Megastore Price: £99.99 (€145.78)

The link doesn't work diresct but have a look \link{http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acatalog/Family_Clearance_Tents.html\here at the picture}

Sounds silly but if you DO do decide to go for it

Potato peeler
Tin opener/Corkscrew
Sharp knife
Washing up bowl/liquid/sponge
Salt/Pepper
Tea towels
Toilet roll

These sound really really silly but I can remember forgetting them at one time or another and it drove me mad.

For beds, this might only work with a frame tent but \link{http://www.kays.com/AgNet/shop/Kays/-c15187-p257851-s6-b0/-Anywhere-bed/product.aspx\this} is ecstatic.

not just loo roll, but a toilet bag, with soap, toilet roll and hand towel. Much easier to grab the bag

That bed looks comfier than mine at home ucm!

I can assure you that it's fab. I spose the mattress is the same as any blow up, but once it's on the frame.......zzzzzzzzzzz

ooh we've made it to the home page!

Just to add to UCM's list:

1. Plastic bags: food bags, bin liners, smaller bin bags. For wet clothes, rubbish and food (especially if you're in the New Forest where horses like to nosey around).

1. Citronella candles - keep the midgies away and provide a lovely romantic setting!

1. Those pop-up fold-up laundry baskets you can get. The can be used for toys, shoes, fleeces or dirty washing. Take up no space in the packing but hold loads once you get there!

One other thing, camping is the best hol in world if the weather's good (there's nothing better than sitting outside with a glass or 10 of wine, staring at the stars & debating the meaning of life, with kids safely snoring after a day in the fresh air) - but in the wet it's bloody awful...

Am with you Twiglett I am not at all keen on camping but dh likes camping in a small tent on a beach with no facilities etc. However I have been camping a few times (only on a proper site though) and the time I went with my niece and nephew they had so much fun I decided I'd go again if I had kids. When ds is older (at least 3yrs old probably more likely 4) I'd like to go again - only cos hildren seem to like it so much though. If it was just down to me it's be 5 star hotels all the way (I wish )

Am with you Twiglett I am not at all keen on camping but dh likes camping in a small tent on a beach with no facilities etc. However I have been camping a few times (only on a proper site though) and the time I went with my niece and nephew they had so much fun I decided I'd go again if I ever had my own kids. So now I have ds I may be persuaded but not until he is older at least 3yrs old probably more likely 4ys old. I'd like to go again - only cos children seem to like it so much though. If it was just down to me it's be 5 star hotels all the way (I wish )

thanks very much everyone. I like the look of the campus yale but the kids would be the other side of hte living area. can you see if this has sewn in ground sheets? otherwise i'll get that one I think. bed does indeed look more comfy than home but I think that's a bit of an investment for our first 2 nights away!

Thanks also for the advice. it seems to have changed so much since I was 13 in a very small tent. tent as follows
Vango Venture 500 - 2005 Family Clearance Tent

(Doubles as an even faster motorbike). The 500 will accommodate 5 people in comfort with a stable dome sleeping section and spacious tunnel porch for cooking and or storage. The flysheet is Hytex Dura polyester with fully taped seams (2,000mm hydrostatic head) with external poles sleeves to allow flysheet first pitching. The 500 has been updated for 2005 with a new roof tension pole, which raises the porch area and enhances pole stability. The porch also features a permanent groundsheet, re-shaped windows and increased porch height and volume. Other features include, two doorways, mesh vent panels on the porch, breathable Polyester inner tent, polyethylene groundsheet included, F2-Fibreflex poles, bathtub inner tent groundsheet for climate protection, handled carry bag, repair kit.

Pack size: 62x40x17 cm;
Weight: 12.5kg;
Inner Dimensions: 270+220 x 270 cm;
Inner Height: 190 cm;
Colour options: Bluestone/Lead;

RRP: £120
Superhero!

Megastore Price: £84.99 (€123.91)

Yes the campus Yale does have a sig, so ice and dry (and warm!) I can see your point about the kids being across the other side of the sleeping area, stumbling across the tent in the dark is erm interesting!

The Vango also has a sig, so the choice is yours! Can you get to a camping display (or campsite!)to have a look at some tents?

Oh.... just saw airbeds mentioned in this thread ...
Don't go there ... airbeds are uncomfortable and after a few glasses of vino under the stars are guaranteed to enhance motion sickness each time one of you wriggles.

Get Thermorest - camping matresses. Not the cheapest, but worth every penny. You will get a brilliant nights sleep, and they pack away to the size of a packed sleeping bag.

The children have two single ones pushed side by side, DH and I have double one so we don't fight about sleeping on the gap :-)

Happy camping

As we are just about to start camping as a family I have been avidly reading this thread, so thanks to the original poster and everyone who commented. Your advice, as always, has been invaluable.

One question.... have any of you who camp in Europe had problems pitching a large tent on the size of pitch allocated? We are planning to camp in France and Spain and have heard that often the pitch size isn't that generous and has to include your car too. So we are wondering whether we should be thinking of a 'small as possible' tent rather than a 'large as poss' IYSWIM. Any advice??

Pitch sizes seem to be quite good from what I see in France. Worst case you can always park your car in the car park of the campsite. We have a big tent - T-shaped with 3 bedroom pods and I am not expecting to have a problem, may have to do short ropes!

If you are concerned then I'm sure that the campsite will confirm the size of their pitch, you could always go for a tunnel type tent which can be put to one side/the back of a pitch rather than a dome tent with pods that come out at angles filling the pitch!

Oh no I'm still confused!

I still can't decide which to get.

Remember

Black bags

thanks for the reminder, they are needed so desparately when you are camping

Sorry, thank you Miss BB, that is one thing I always forget

ss what for? I have never taken them :)