Camping, What do i really need to buy?

Rachie_B

heehee ! i am lucky and have straight hair that doesn't "misbehave " much lol

MORPH3US

I would tend to disagree with people that say "buy an expensive tent" or "minimum xxxx hydrostatic head"

I got my tent from Argos about 5 years ago, they still sell it today:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3400085/Trail/searchtext>TENT.htm

It has a 1200 Hydrostatic Head and has never once rained in. We have been in it in some of the worst thunder storms I have ever experienced......

If you are going to a campsite (as opposed to camping on the top of Snowdon) then you will not need an expensive tent.

IMO all you need to buy (unless you can borrow / get one free) is a tent and just get a cheapie as I linked to to start with to see if you like it.

No need to buy special water carriers (empty plastic bottles) sleeping bags (quilt) airbed (blankets unless you really need an airbed) cooker might be one thing you need but if its only for one night to start with then just eat out at a pub if possible.

gingerdad

jess1974 wrote: »

My advice is to always pay a bit extra per night for electric hook up, that way if its chilly you can plug in a little fan heater.

I also take my duvet and pillows, i can't stand sleeping bags, i take my kettle from home, and also a portable loo, its no fun traipsing across the site when you need a wee at 2.00am....

My advice is why bother with electric hook-up, by a decent sleeping bag.....

we tend not to camp on sites with electric hook-up - if i want the telly, toster, kettle, etc - i'll go to a hotel. i like the peace and quite not some one with the telly blasting all day.

rosekitten

Rachie_B wrote: »

we have been wondering whether to go for EHU or not,but on ukcampsite.co.uk forums they say that the EHU pitches on most sites are not the best!

as they are near to / in with the caravans and often noisy!

For us camping will be back to basics type holiday with no games consoles / TV etc like some people bring camping ?!!

of course some can't live without hair straightners etc :rolleyes: lol

We always go for EHU mainly to use a kettle
and definatly a little fan heater so if it turns
cold we can make the tent toasty warm
and its much easier to dry yourself off and
get warmed up if you get caught in the rain.
Also takes the coldness out of everything
and any condensation that might be lingering.
Very useful to charge up all the phones as well

Its the same electric supply that the touring
caravans use you dont have to be on top of
the caravanners to get too much noise some
tenters can be just as noisy.I have stayed on
plenty of sites where its been mostly tents
and all sites have to comply with British
safety standards so its safe.never yet stayed
on a site where the EHU was poor ?


.

jess1974

gingerdad wrote: »

My advice is why bother with electric hook-up, by a decent sleeping bag.....

we tend not to camp on sites with electric hook-up - if i want the telly, toster, kettle, etc - i'll go to a hotel. i like the peace and quite not some one with the telly blasting all day.

Each to their own but i like to enjoy my holiday and not just endure it....

miss*whisper

We camp most weekends and have steadily increased our list of "must haves"

We have a Coleman 2 ring stove and take deck chairs & a fold up table.

Essential is: camp site near a pub. Nice for a meal if its persisting down and you can't cook anything outside and also the loos are usually nicer/cleaner than those on site. I am very fussy about where I park my bot!!

Make sure you have blankets as well as sleeping bags. Waking up at 2am COLD is not good.

Tin opener, bottle opener, lights/torches (we get ours from poundland) matches, cutlery plates mugs etc. Dustpan and brush - amazing how much grass gets carried into the tent!

Washup liquid and tea towels.

Loads of carrier bags to use for a bin.

Empty cola bottles are good for water.

We take a wind break for shelter too.

Have recently got a camping fridge, runs on a gas cylinder. Nice to keep the milk fresh (and the beer cold! )

From experience, double check you have the tent pegs. And 2 mallets. :rolleyes:

Anything else is down to what you feel you need - you can always borrow a tin opener etc from another camper if necessary or buy from the shop (but they do have whopping prices usually, so best to make your list and check it off as you pack!)

Hope you have a great time. I love it and can't wait to go again.

Rachie_B

rosekitten wrote: »

We always go for EHU mainly to use a kettle
and definatly a little fan heater so if it turns
cold we can make the tent toasty warm
and its much easier to dry yourself off and
get warmed up if you get caught in the rain.
Also takes the coldness out of everything
and any condensation that might be lingering.
Very useful to charge up all the phones as well

Its the same electric supply that the touring
caravans use you dont have to be on top of
the caravanners to get too much noise some
tenters can be just as noisy.I have stayed on
plenty of sites where its been mostly tents
and all sites have to comply with British
safety standards so its safe.never yet stayed
on a site where the EHU was poor ?


.

sorry you misunderstood.... i mean the pitches ( for EHU) were poor not the EHU

I am only going off threads i have read on camping forums,not from personal experience

gingerdad

jess1974 wrote: »

Each to their own but i like to enjoy my holiday and not just endure it....

ditto - am happy to wait 3-4 minutes for my cuppa

eamon

Last September I went "posh" camping on the Isle of Mull. Sheer bliss best describes the experience.

http://www.shielingholidays.co.uk/ensuite.htm

jenhug

decathlon has a large range of camping equipment in at the moment.
If you are using airbeds, buy singles rather than doubles for you and partner, that way you will not be disturbed when they roll over in the night. you need to insulate the airbed from the ground, either put an old blanket, or some cardboard under the air bed, and many people recommend putting a fleece underblanket on top of the air bed, if you don't insulate the airbed will draw all the cold from the ground, and you will be cold and miserable.
2 mallets are very important, take a first aid kit and spare batteries.
Kids are better off in cropped trousers and wellies rather than long trousers.
take hats and gloves if its very chilly at night a hat will make you feel toastie in your sleeping bag!
something to inflate your airbeds too!
Good luck, you will have a great time. and dont forget to check out www.ukcampsite.co.uk its great!