Wanted Camping gear

Wanted camping gear, just wandered if anyone was getting rid/ thinking of an upgrade?

Kids want to go camping and I’ve been threatening to buy a tent for years now. Wanting a tent ideally with x2 sleeping compartments and a reasonable living area and also after all the gubbins that go along with it.

First stop, the back garden!

Collection obviously in accordance with social distancing.

 

I've still got that tent we talked about last year if you want it Bob?

 

I was looking for the thread and I couldn’t find it! Yes definitely interested, could you possibly resend the details?

 

Might be this thread?

http://www.staffordforum.com/xf/index.php?threads/camping-and-caravanning.18281/#post-374374

 

It is indeed, though I think the link has expired for the tent @Lucy was selling

 

I've still got my 3 bedroom tent that we talked about last year as well.

 

Thanks so much @Thehooperman and @Lucy sorry I've been a little distracted the past week or so with one thing and another, finally found a couple of minutes to look at options and I've succumbed to the kids pestering.

So in 3 to 5 days I will be the proud owner of this. I know it's last year model but still seemed to be a pretty decent price for a complete impulse buy.

https://www.charlies.co.uk/vango-stargrove-600xl-tent-treetops-green.html



Next question - What do I need?

I've ordered two single airbeds for me and hubby (we have a super king bed so a double airbed wasn't going to suffice) I figured that we could just chuck a king/superking sheet over the keep them together along with a king sized duvet - I'm not a lover of sleeping bags so it's blankets all the way - would I need two maybe? I like a cold bedroom - no heating and windows fully open, I think we shut them twice over winter and that wasn't my doing so the cold isn't really a problem. Kids have a double airbed and a sleeping bag each and I chuck an extra blanket in for each of them too.

I like my creature comforts so we're talking essentials and them some, I'm not talking about totally OTT and bring the telly but I will be remembering to pack the corkscrew and the kindle charger!

I wasn't planning on spending £350 on a tent so the budget is totally blown, has anyone got a good (also tried and tested) cost effective camping packing list?

 

We've got our eye on the Stargrove. The Vango models hardly change year on year.

We use a double airbed each, but then there are 2 of us in a 6 man. Airbeds sometimes move a little so you might want 2 duvet.

Aldi are likely to do their camping event pretty soon and they have some really good offers. Our stove was £25 from there, and it uses a proper canister rather than the catridges.

 

It ticked all the boxes and the kids are going stir crazy, I hoping a change of scenery will be good for them, even though we’re still technically at home. As soon as we can we’ll go actual camping!

It it fits we’ll invest as we go, for now it’s finding the balance between not spending for the sake of it but not hating every second because we scrimped on what we needed to be able to enjoy it.

Trial run at home will be good for that I guess.

shout if you spot the Aldi event though!

 

Tesco and Millets do a fairly broad range of inexpensive camping accessories. I've bought odds bits and pieces from them, mainly for Superbike races rather than camping and they're ok for what you pay.

In terms of a camping packing list once you can venture out of the garden try thinking about what the family needs in order to have a happy time. So here's what I would think about.

Assembling the tent - tent pegs and a tool to knock them in with.

Food - how will you store food, how will you cook and eat, how will you wash up? If you're travelling around then camping pans are light and stack together, small two ring gas hobs are inexpensive but if you're cooking loads of food it takes a bit of juggling. Plastic plates,a cups and cutlery are light to transport.

Sleep - you've already mentioned this but how will you inflate the mattresses. You can get a battery operated pump which makes life easier. Don't forget pillows.

Loo - how to get to the campsite loo in the dark - torches, wellies, loo roll.

Entertainment - what to do if it rains, where will you store stuff?

Other stuff to take if you have room
Fold up table
Chairs
Gas Heater for evenings
BBQ gear
Wet weather gear
Hot weather gear
Windbreaker to claim a bit more territory as well as shelter if it's windy.
Matches/ lighter.
Repellents
Sun cream
Wine
Beer
More beer
Swiss army knife or similar
Mains extension lead

You'll soon find out what works for you and at the end of the day it doesn't matter if you've missed something it's part of the fun improvising as you go and you won't forget the next time.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, that's a good list to go on!

I was assuming that the tent comes with the pegs - will I need to buy more? We have a rubber mallet, I've already rescued it from the garage and put it on the camping pile.

Storage: I was going to order a load of plastic boxes - the kind you use for under the bed, a different one for different items then they can just shove back n the garage when were done and everything is all in one place. I like the idea of a good stock of paper plates but need proper cutlery! I think there is a box of stuff we had in the caravan up in the loft with plastic cups and plates etc.

We have a decent car battery operated air compressor, again bought when we got the caravan though is only really used at the mo for the paddling pool, I will remember to dig it out!

I'm debating a toilet tent or at the very least this for when the kids want a night time number one!

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15908583/hi-gear-portable-camping-toilet-15908583/?istCompanyId=c2ec8a5d-93c1-4850-a97a-f4d89d7c99c8&istFeedId=caf85954-1122-4d0b-81df-b8aba2f58e49&istItemId=wapirtwaw&istBid=t&msclkid=4cd978910c5713d8e6ad2654603f077d&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=*NEW - #2 - Hi Gear - [GS]&utm_term=4581802396561270&utm_content=Hi Gear - All Other - [GS]&gclid=CNGEro__wukCFZEQGwodfUYNeg&gclsrc=ds

God knows what they'll do if it rains, I'll drink wine and read my kindle - what do other people do in tents when it rains? Go to the pub? I don't like the sound of this, I think I might be a fair weather only camper.

 

For rainy day entertainment for my kids I took a few travel games, cards and post it notes.

Nowadays I guess it would be mobile phones and Nintendo switch but I think kids enjoy and remember holidays better where they do something different from their usual pastimes.

That travel loo would double as your BBQ seating if you bought a few of them

Poundstretcher had those under bed storage boxes on offer a couple of weeks ago.

 

You need different pegs for the terrain. The tent will come with pegs but only good in normal soil. We always end up pitching on sandy soil and need different pegs for that. We have a special box that has a load of pegs, a peg remover, mallet and our cutlery in.

 

To stay cozy on cooler nights a single size quilt trapped under a fitted sheet on the air beds with your normal double/king duvet on top works a treat.

 

I’ll have to try that one, thanks

 

No Nintendo switch in our house, 11 year old has a phone but limited to 1 hour of ‘games a day’ unless she does something to earn more.
Thanks I’ll check out poundstrecher too!

 

^The above.

 

You'll always end up with more stuff than you think you need, but use most of it. This should give you an idea of how much we take to Scilly, for 2 of us.