i would just like to say what a great forum this is and how adictive it is :-) and everybody is so helpful.
The only bad(joke) points are I am so confused now on what sort of tent to get and where to go so much great advice has bombozled me
can someone help
I have a nissan micra with roof bars and hopefully getting roof box this year, want to take my sons (9,5) camping, will be solo this year as hubby going in for knee op, but will also need convincing it is a good idea ready for next year.(not camped before)
Not sure if i should just get halfords special 4man with acc or go for something on ebay a bit bigger (ready for next year) max budget £200 allin. need to be able to fit table and chairs in (english weather!)
Also got some more questions, (have only been camping as a kid in trailer tent 20yrs ago)
1) footprint what is it?
2) breathable ground sheet?
3) some sites have pitch size? is this the size of tent only or the size once pegged out with guideropes?
4) do any site do mobile phone charging or would I have to get electric hook up?
5) cooker/bbq 1ring/2ring gas bottle or the tiny canisters?
1) footprint is an additional groundsheet that sits under your main tent groundsheet and offers a bit more protection
2) ground sheet with small holes, made from plastic that grass can still breathe through
3) usually size of tent
4) don't know, sorry
5) depends on what you eat. We use 2 ring for longer trips and single ring for 1/2 night + BBQ. Bottle better than canisters as they can get expensive if you cook a lot
6) just mad, but then we are all and don't care
Re tent, better a quality second hand one than halfords/argos special. There are plenty of threads why, just holler if you need some links. There are lots of cheaper tents from quality tent companies e.g. Vango and Sunncamp
Good luck x
------------- Campers: Nature's way of feeding midges!
2010
Easter - cancelled 8-(
April - Hawkshead
May - Riverside Cononley
May - Keswick Mountain Festival
May - High Yedmandale Farm
June - York Cycle show
August - Hartlepool
August - Riverside, Cononley
September - Pillaton "The Return"
Hi and welcome.
the halfords tent packages are not the best quality tents, have gaps around the bottom which can be very draughty in windy weather.
the sleeping bags are not warm enough really, so you will end up taking duvets to keep you warmer, or buying better sleeping bags, unless you only camp in very fine weather.
they sometimes have the packages including airbeds and sleeping bags on half price special for £99, in which case they can be okay as a starter set to see if you like camping. I wouldn't pay the £199 for one though, you will almost certainly want to upgrade it next year.
I think you would be better buying a decent brand tent froma well known brand , that way you are more likely to convince OH that camping is a good idea.
1. footprint is an extra groundsheet put under the sewn in groundsheet to keep it clean, easier to clean a footprint groundsheet than a sewn in one.
2. breathable groundsheet has small holes to let the grass grow through , is for caravan awnings . doesn't apply to tents.
3.If the site says pitch size is, for example 9mx9m, that means your tent has to fit in that space including guylines. some sites may say tents not exceeding certain sizes ,so its best to check with the site first really.
4.Not sure? never use a mobile myself, but not worth getting hookup just to charge a phone, someone else will sure to advise. can't you charge it in the car ?
5. Cheapest way to start is a single suitcase burner about a tenner, with disposable cannisters £1.50 each. Double burners will need gas cylinder , but are cheaper to run in the long term.
6. You can do it, lots of solo parent campers, the kids will love it.
PS re: mobile phone charging. Could you charge up in the car ot use a solar charger (dunno how good they are)
------------- Campers: Nature's way of feeding midges!
2010
Easter - cancelled 8-(
April - Hawkshead
May - Riverside Cononley
May - Keswick Mountain Festival
May - High Yedmandale Farm
June - York Cycle show
August - Hartlepool
August - Riverside, Cononley
September - Pillaton "The Return"
PPS If using a roof box don't forget to check what the maximum weight load for your car is. Might not be a lot for a Micra
------------- Campers: Nature's way of feeding midges!
2010
Easter - cancelled 8-(
April - Hawkshead
May - Riverside Cononley
May - Keswick Mountain Festival
May - High Yedmandale Farm
June - York Cycle show
August - Hartlepool
August - Riverside, Cononley
September - Pillaton "The Return"
1) A footprint is an extra groundsheet that goes under your tent's groundsheet. Its main purpose is to keep the tent's groundsheet clean which makes it easier to pack away, especially important when you have a SIG or ZIG (sewn-in or zipped-in groundsheet)
2) I believe this is more of an issue for caravan awnings, but they do less damage to the turf. Not really applicable to a tent.
3) I think tent only - but I avoid these sites.
4) A few do. But one of the joys of campign for me is I generally have no coverage!!
5) Bottles/cylinders are more economical than canisters. You probably need more than one ring but many make do with two "suitcase" stoves. Personally, I have a double burner with grill and a suitcase burner, but I'm usually cooking for six or more.
6) You don't have to be mad to camp, but it helps. But believe-you-me, you and the kids will love it.
Agree with all of the above especially the don't get the Halfords tent. For the same one you can get something decent.
this is the Halfords one you mean pitched opposite us at Easter - on day 2 they went out and bought quilts!!
You can just about make out light blue patches on the front - this is the colour the tent started out. It looks like it soaked up a lot of the mist (was like that for 3 days - thick heavy mist all day)
Similar sentiments to all the above. Remember, roofboxes are only for light stuff. Vital things are a good tent, something good to sleep on, something to keep you warm at night and someway of getting some good grub inside you. If this is your first attempt, could you beg, borrow or steal some of the equipment? A lot could be borrowed from home. I bet you use lovely warm duvets - take them! The other point to remember about tents is that manufacturers are'nt generous with their space allowance for sleeping. For possibly the four of you I would be looking at a six berth at least. And remember you do need space to sit inside if it is wet. There's no point being able to sleep four people in comfort if there's only sitting space for two. What you need to do is a trawl round the camping shops - those with displays of tents erected and see what you think you would be comfortable with. By all means then ask again but beware - all the decent brands have their staunch supporters
on here so you will get a variety of responses.
Welcome to the site, and good luck with your camping.
Going to see if I can find somewhere localish to have a look at tents erected might give me a bit more of an idea to living space, but like the look of vango tents. I live in surrey any ideas?)
Also think I will need to invest in some proper sleeping bags as the ones I have were just cheapies from tesco.
was not going to put to much in roof box just sleeping bags and pillows/cloths was only to free up some leg room in car lol. Have been reading up on the hippo(soft boxes) which might be a better option as I can probably fit it on roof myself
Will have to get my cig lighter fixed in car to charge mobile (can't be without it when I'm on my own with kids)
i would just like to say what a great forum this is and how adictive it is :-) and everybody is so helpful. The only bad(joke) points are I am so confused now on what sort of tent to get and where to go so much great advice has bombozled me
can someone help
I have a nissan micra with roof bars and hopefully getting roof box this year, want to take my sons (9,5) camping, will be solo this year as hubby going in for knee op, but will also need convincing it is a good idea ready for next year.(not camped before)
Not sure if i should just get halfords special 4man with acc or go for something on ebay a bit bigger (ready for next year) max budget £200 allin. need to be able to fit table and chairs in (english weather!)
Also got some more questions, (have only been camping as a kid in trailer tent 20yrs ago)
1) footprint what is it?
An extra groundsheet that goes under your existing one, usually used for tents with a sewn in groundsheet. Keeps it all clean for easy packing !
2) breathable ground sheet?
Usually used in awnings for caravans etc but basically it allows the grass underneath to breath.
3) some sites have pitch size? is this the size of tent only or the size once pegged out with guideropes?
The size of the tent as shown on your tents description. Be careful as some sites are getting tough on larger tents. Better to go for long and narrow to have more choice of sites you can use imh.
4) do any site do mobile phone charging or would I have to get electric hook up?
Have you see the solar "freeloader chargers you can buy ?http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freeloader-SC8088-Solar-Charger-Silver/dp/B000ODRNDA?
5) cooker/bbq 1ring/2ring gas bottle or the tiny canisters?
We bought our vango a couple of years ago off ebay, it was second hand but they had only used it once, we got it with cooker, gas bottle, camp kitchen and loads of other stuff for about £160 which was a bargain so you can get some good deals on there.
Last weekend we went to the lakes but had to come home early because the weather was atrocious, 2 tents next to us blew away (a coleman and an outwell) but fortunately ours was still standing so I have complete faith in my Vango!!!
Ebay for the tent, but be rudent to make sure you get a good manafacturer(search the forum for this).
Chairs, B&M or tesco....shop around, roughly 5 or ten pound for one.
Footprint, buy a tarp from screwfix(cheaper) or B&Q.
Search on here for sleeping bags vango nitestar seem to be a fav.
Beds, your choice.........carpeting the tent, fleeces asda 2quid for one.
Cooker already mentioned above.
A little internet research or camping suppliers and work out what comforts you want and then you'll know what tent budget you have and what will fit in the Micra.
Also check freecycle and maybe try borrowing some kit from friends till you find your feet.
Some people spend a fortune on kit and some are quite happy roughing it.....which are you.
------------- Trio trinidad(died)/ Bispace400(still going strong15 yrs later) /ESVO Walnoot(had to surrender) / Cabanon Latitude(dead after the first outing). Vango illusion 500xl tc.
I have just bought these Sunncamp sleeping bags for £17 (looks like they've gone up a bit £21.50) but this is still a good price as they are £35 on other sites. Haven't used them yet but they are very thick and warm .
As stated above I wouldn't buy the Halfords tent as they don't have great reviews. You can pick up really good tents for not much more than these. Some of the most well known and trusted tent manufacturers are Outwell, Vango, Coleman, Royal, Khyam and Wynnster. Kampa tents are also getting some good reviews at the moment. We had a Coleman Lakeside 4 as our first tent which stood up to a lot of bad weather. You can pick it up for about £100 now. It doesn't have a sewn in groundsheet though only a flat one so not sure if this would be an issue for you.
Which ever tent you decide on try to see it up at a display and also check out the tent reviews on this site.
I have just bought these Sunncamp sleeping bags for £17 (looks like they've gone up a bit £21.50) but this is still a good price as they are £35 on other sites. Haven't used them yet but they are very thick and warm .
As stated above
The sleeping bags have gone up since last week . I bought 4 last week as a wedding present for my sister to replace her rubbish tesco ones, and they were £17.50 then , and I only paid £15 for mine last year . they are excellent bags though, really warm.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: advice needed
