A wee tip for you...Watch out if you buy the enamel plates and mugs from the likes of Poundland... Bought 4 of each the other week...Mugs..no problem...Nice big cuppa and the heat does not transfer to the handle....Plates...Not so...Tried one of them with a cooked meal(stew, beans,etc) and could not hold it for long with the heat from the meal transferring to the plate quite rapidly...Ok if you sit at a table for your meal..Dodgy if like me you hold the plate or rest it on your lap..Recommend a tea towel on your lap or you get burny knees.......
Jelboy.
PS: Ok for salads...or food prep to transfer to another plate!!
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
Thanks all. Lots of great advice here. Still undecided on whether to buy the carpet for the tent. Does it add much in the way of warmth/insulation? Not really bothered about it if it just looks good. We will have to get a stove at some point but I can't see me extending far beyond soup or beans. Think that we are planning to eat sandwiches/pot noodles on the first trip although we do have a stupid number of plastic plates due ro having 2 small children.
Carpet does add warmth/insulation, but if you are just starting out then rather than spending money on a carpet which you may need to sell if you decide you do not like camping, get some foam backed picnic blankets or a simple fleece for the floor, you will soon see the advantage and if you decide camping is for you then you can upgrade.
Get yourself a shoe box & make that your 'odds and ends' box/ tool box. A small set of screwdrivers, some duct/gaffer tape, some wd40, and some cable ties. If its stuck and it shouldnt be, use the wd40. If its broke and it shouldnt be, use the gaffer tape! You could also put bits in like a spare pack of batteries, plasters, spare bottle opener. Its all in one place that way & you know where it is.
Also the real cheap ikea stuff is ideal for first time camping. The blue £1 fleeces fold small, and wash well. They are ideal for using inside your sleeping bag, or for lining the chairs if you sit outside in the evening (I find my back gets a chill through our chairs, & these help stop that). I think Ikea also do a set of knives for £2, and a set of pans for £8. The stuff I have at home is heavy, so I did buy new stuff just for camping, but I know lots just use what they have. Also hot water bottles!
Lastly, if you collect the tesco vouchers, keep an eye on their camping bits in store. I got our big camping gaz grill for £20 worth of vouchers, and the small suitcase stove for a tenner.
I have to say that we were a bit sceptical about buying the tent carpet and footprint thinking what do we need those for but we are converted now! The footprint keeps the bottom of the tent dry and more protected from sharp stones and also insulates and the carpet is just a luxury we now can't do without, its so much warmer underfoot and makes the place homely however as the above poster said, you can use a foam backed rug for a similar effect but its not the same for me as the real mccoy.
The problem is once you start buying stuff you just can't stop!
------------- A problem shared is a problem halved
Oh and hotwater bottles for each person are a must for us. When the temperature drops we use them on our laps when sitting around at night then top them up just before bed and put inside each sleeping bag for 10 mins before you retire and its lovely to get into a warm bag.
------------- A problem shared is a problem halved
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: New to camping - What do we need?
