Message Forums

Hi everyone, just wanted to say what a fantastic site this is!! I sit here for hours reading all the info!

We are going camping with our 2 kids (4 & 7) this weekend for the first time!!! I just wanted some general advice and tips for a first timer. I also wanted to ask about air beds. We have got air beds but do we need to put something underneath them or are they ok to just go straight onto the SIG? Also is it wise to buy a windbreak and if so which is the best kind??

Thanks

Hi,

I'd advise you to put something under or on top to prevent condensation (and hence wet beds). We use plastic backed picnic rugs. As for windbreaks, they can be useful for sheltering your cooker and keeping kids in. In my experience, the beach ones are the best as they're stronger.

My general advice is that part of the fun of camping is finding out what you need for your next trip by seeing how your first trip goes, if you know what I mean! The first time you go you'll find that there's things you wish you had taken, or left behind (kids not included lol), so you'll be better prepared next time. We have a camping list that we keep on the PC which reminds us of all the things we need. As you go along you improve your kit etc and find what best suits your needs. We are 'everything but the kitchen sink' campers, others manage with the bare minimum.

Most of all, just enjoy the sense of freedom!

We use airbeds and dont bother with anything underneath them for insulation.  We havent had a problem yet!, and in fact have never considered that it would be a problem! 

For windbreaks - beach ones are the best as they tend to be the strongest (after all, they are designed to be on the beach and therefore withstand the windy conditions from the sea!!), and if it is bad weather then guy them down if neccessary.

I would say similiar to last post - just go with the kit you have this weekend, and you'll soon work out what else youmay need for future camping trips (no one persons list is the same, each to their own!)

Have a great trip and I hope you really enjoy it!

we have a outwell wind break with the guy ropes on them i wouldn't really recommend that type as they do go abit floppy after the wind has got hold of them i would, if i had the chance again go for the beach wind break ............as for the rest of the stuff you will need ,take a notepad and pen and write a list of the things you have forgotten when you are there

                 have fun 

Welcome to UKCS - have you come across this checklist yet? I take ours with us and then add onto it anything that comes to mind when I'm away.

Hopefully you'll have some lovely weather for your first trip, you lucky thing!!

Have something to entertain the children whilst you're setting up your tent (mine are 4 & 2, so we keep them in the car with a DVD), and they also seem to be hungry, so we keep some snacks at hand.

Enjoy!

Thanks everyone, advice is very much appreciated! Checklist is great!

If the weather stays like it has been today should be good. We're so excited!

Thanks again

We use 2 collapsable plastic boxes, the type you get in pound shops/tesco's etc. They store everything we use for our camping trips, we camp using the basics so our list is probably much smaller than others but our essentials are;

Cutlery, plates, cups (all plastic, not ideal but unbreakable), lights plus spare bulbs/batteries, pump for airbeds, cooking untensils and cooking pots/pans. Tent, airbeds, sleeping bags, pillows, cooker, gas bottle, cooking table, collapsable chairs and table, washing up bowl and a bucket (useful for all sorts of things), washing up liquid and sponges, teatowels. All of this is cleaned/replaced and placed back in our camping kit once we get home. Then of course our washkits, we prepare these about a week before we travel again replacing anything that needs renewing and placing these with our other kit. Add clothing/towels and we're ready for the off ;-)

One item we repeatedly forget is a tin opener, I've no idea why this happens but we must have a dozen of these things in our kitchen draw yet rarely leave one in our camping kit boxes, I'm off to check our kit now as we're away for 2 weeks on Sunday!