First time at camping

DCFC79

jammy_dodger wrote: »

i call car camping , taking all your gear in a car rather than wild camping and carrying everything with you in a ruck sack
ligt weight tents are lighter to carry but do not compramise performance hence they are expensive

a tent should come in two parts an inner tent .. the bit you sleep in and an outer tent thats the bit that keeps you dry and is exposed to the outside elements

you should aim to buy a tent that pitches outer first as your inner tent woul get wet if putting it up in the rain

some tents have the inner already attached to the outer so it all goes up together without having to attach anything so makes it easyier to put up

i would advise see a tent you like price etc and google it for reviews

thanks for your tips, re car camping yes its what would be done, car to the campsite then pitch the tent

jammy_dodger wrote: »

have a look here http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/tipstentchoose.htm

thanks again ill check it out

creased-leach

Don't buy Argos Pro action brand-they're dreadful. Look for something with a HH of at least 2000.

d-seven

frome wrote: »

Hiya, I'm one of the forumers from UKCampsites and I'd recommend that you look at the weekend range from Vango as an ideal starter tent. The Icarus 500 has standing height throughout, easy to pitch in 15 mins and has a Sewn In Groundsheet (SIG) as well as an all in one pitching (that means you don't have to insert the sleeping pod separately).

Avoid 'Halfords Specials' or any Argos alternative. They are flimsy, the gear they come with is unsuitable for our climate. You already have the sleeping bag and the mat, look at UKCS for suggestions but I would say if your sleeping bag is an under £20 take extra blankets with you.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but Frome, do you have any reccomendations for a compact sleeping bag, i.e. one smaller than the normal size when rolled up, but maybe 2 or 3 season. I need a smaller one to give more space in a backpack.

Thanks in advance

Gloomendoom

d-seven wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread, but Frome, do you have any reccomendations for a compact sleeping bag, i.e. one smaller than the normal size when rolled up, but maybe 2 or 3 season. I need a smaller one to give more space in a backpack.

Thanks in advance

If you want a sleeping bag that rolls up small, look for one filled with pure down (duck or goose). IMHO they are superior in every way to synthetic filled bags... unless you get them wet.

WestonDave

Or get a compression "spider" - basically two caps with straps between that you put over the sleeping bag case, and pull it all in tight. Don't keep your bag in it though as keeping them compressed long term will reduce the insulation factor.

http://www.tauntonleisure.com/compression-spider/p4334

DCFC79

creased-leach wrote: »

Don't buy Argos Pro action brand-they're dreadful. Look for something with a HH of at least 2000.

thanks, id looked at some from argos but id rather speand my money on 1 from a site dedicated to camping etc, you get better quality as well

frome wrote: »

Hiya, I'm one of the forumers from UKCampsites and I'd recommend that you look at the weekend range from Vango as an ideal starter tent. The Icarus 500 has standing height throughout, easy to pitch in 15 mins and has a Sewn In Groundsheet (SIG) as well as an all in one pitching (that means you don't have to insert the sleeping pod separately).

Avoid 'Halfords Specials' or any Argos alternative. They are flimsy, the gear they come with is unsuitable for our climate. You already have the sleeping bag and the mat, look at UKCS for suggestions but I would say if your sleeping bag is an under £20 take extra blankets with you.

yes im a member of the forums as well and ive had a look on there for tent reviews

the Icarus 500 is a little of my price range but thanks

DCFC79

frome wrote: »

Hi all, I can't recommend a compact sleeping bag as I'm a car camper, but I do know that there is an ebay shop called Nearly New Tents which is selling half price Vango Nitestars at the moment. It might be possible to vacuum pack with a travel bag to reduce the air in any sleeping bag. UKCS has a backpackers section and they're experts in lightweight gear.

To the OP, keep an eye out for a sale or a bargain on the ebay shop I mentioned. A tent worth considering is the Vango Beta range but to get one under a £100 you could get the Lichfield Cherokee which is similar (Lichfield and Vango are owned by the same company). Recently that Ebay shop had Lichfields from £30 but it was an auction rather than buy it now. As far as I know they didn't sell and were re listed.

Only go for one of those tents if you're happy enough to have a tent you can't stand up in. For a 2nd hand bargain keep an eye on preloved, gumtree, ebay etc. I recently sold a Lichfield Kiowa 5 for a disappointing £31!

to be able to stand up in a tent it would cost alot wouldnt it so ill forgo that and just cope with sitting down, i might even buy something to sit on,

thanks

sooty&sweep

Hi

Another recommendation to have a look at ukcampsite.co.uk for advice on tents and campsites.

Things to consider

1) How long are you planning to camp for ? Just a weekend then you want a smaller tent thats quick & easy to erect and take down. But if you're planning a weeks holiday then you may want slightly bigger to cope with more things.

2) How many of you are there ? The berth sizes in a tent tend to be very small. Our tent has two compartments that should take three in each. They're fine with two in each but you would need to be very friendly & small to put three in them. So if there are two of you think about 3 - 4 berth tent. Four of you think about a 5 - 6 berth tent.

3) Do remember that you do need somewhere to store your bits & pieces.

4) If possible try to get along to a tent display or two to see them in the flesh. But if you find a tent you like check the internet to find out if you can get it cheaper on line. Some of the big retailers are also registered with Quidco.

5) Buy a reputable make, there are lots of things that look like tents but won't stand any wind or rain and are a false economy. Be careful with ebay there are bargains to be had but also alot of rubbish.

6) The Hydrostatic Head HH will tell you how waterproof a tent is. The recommendation in Britain is 2000 HH or 1500 at a push. The good makes like Outwell or Vango are 3000 - 5000 HH

Jen

Norman_Castle

I borrowed an 3 man aldi tent from my niece a few years back to take rent-a-dog camping.My own tent is far to small for me and a retriever.My neice had managed to break a pole and rip the outer tent.I blamed her.After repairing it I used it.It was dire!.In a slight breeze the whole thing would flop sideways,every other tent around it would be motionless.The quality of the poles and fabric was very poor.For the next trip I bought a vango Zetes 300.The difference is immense.The fabric,poles pegs,groundsheet,zips and elastics are superb quality,all of which I expect will last for years.The small extra cost between a cheap tent and a tent from a reputable maker is well worth paying.
Its also worth finding a tent display and getting inside any tent you are thinking of buying.Its also worth raiding the kitchen cupboards for old saucepans etc.It saves a few quid!
Happy camping

DCFC79

I went along today to attwools who have tents on display and had a look, i deceided it possibly wasnt a good idea to buy 1 that has a pole in the middle but to buy 1 of the other type where the poles go in an n shape kind of thing so like this 1 or 1 like this