Okay, been reading this thread and got to thinking...what could us experienced types put together as a budget starter pack for a family of four? We did this a few years back and we came up with some really good suggestions.
Guidelines:
£300 budget. Only new stuff. Online or national chains only. (Forget the p&p.) Supermarket stuff allowed. Camping season running from April-September. Weekends or one week trips. Kids happy to share a pod.
List:
Family tent 5-6 berth.
2x adult sleeping bags. (Remember the seasons, please.)
2x childrens' sleeping bags.
2x single airbeds or 2x self inflating mats.
Double airbed or self inflatig mat(s).
Airbed pump if required.
Cooker. (Lets asume they inherit a gas bottle if necessary.)
Table.
Chairs x 4.
Lamp.
They are a lucky family...they have fleece blankets, pillows, suitable pots and picnic crockery and picnic rugs already, so don't get side tracked. I'm sure they get a free mallet with the tent as well, okay?
Grrr. Why does work get in the way of interesting stuff like this ?
Great idea Val.
You'd think Yeomans et al would do something similar, sourcing reasonable quality gear as a starter pack of essentials. They could do it at a discount compared to the total of the individual items, given it'd be a package.
It'll be interesting to see what folks come up with.
B&Q are doing what looks like a good starter pack for £100 I think it is, but no chairs or cooking equipment as far as I'm aware. Car boot sales and charity shops are often a good source for certain things.
The thing I like about threads like this is that everyone finds different bargains at their favorite stores. These Vango airbeds look a really good buy, as do the Wilderness bags.
Interesting to see the Dutch kit as well. Ta, Angie.
It's not easy though to get everything you need to start for £300, is it? £350 would take you a lot further. If you needed to buy pots, pans, blankets, gas, coolbox and all the rest you'd be looking at £500 and that's before you even went near the much touted "essentials" of EHU, heater, carpet, footprint etc. And yet blessed Halfords and B&Q have the cheek to call their £99 bags of cheap kit "starter packs".
You are right Val. Expensive business starting from scratch and easy to see why people are daunted by the price of sleeping bags and SI mats in particular.
Those Vango Wilderness bags do look good. I can't remember the rating but proper 3 season for £24.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: £300 challenge for fun.
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