Awesome. Sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun.
Gear tends to get discussed a lot, but what matters more than anything else is attitude. Hit the ground with optimism & enthusiasm an you are pretty much garanteed a good weekend with anything. Go out expecting trouble an even the best stuff won't save you. Kit is often a very personal thing, what works for one person causes someone else grief.
I have got a lot of milage out of getting cheap kit as hand-me-downs from folks discarding it/off ebay/low-ticket items. By using cheap kit I get a better idea what I am looking for when I upgrade/replace it & I don't care if it happens to suffer because it got wet/blown away/squashed/whatever.
Camp beds are colder than a roll mat, but it is nothing an old blanket out of the cupboard won't solve an I find them much more comfy.
There is no subsitute for a good nights sleep. If you are warm & dry at night, then the daytime can throw what it likes at you. Cold, tired & miserable is a bad way to start the day.
So, decent sleeping bag - the warmer the better. You can unzip a bag if you are too hot, but there isn't much you can do if it is too cold.
Seperate night clothes. You day kit will get sweaty, dirty & otherwise manky. Keep some clean dry clothes to sleep in & resist the temptation to put them on before you go to bed.
Hand warmers/hot water bottle: Don't knock it 'till you have tried it.
Mess kit: One of the best meals I have ever eaten was a tin of beans. I was cold & tired so a tin of hot beans was heavenly.
Good luck & have fun boss!
------------- My opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it.
I actually think camping IS a cheap option. If you're tough, and keen, and don't mind roughing it, you don't need top-range equipment... just warm, waterproof clothing, decent boots/wellies, a reasonable tent and a good, warm sleeping-bag. Everything else can be got second-hand.
My lad is a 'wild' camper. He was given his sleeping-bag by a student pal who decided camping wasn't for him. He buys decent, but not always high-price clothing, owns a medium-range Khyam tent (cost £99) for when his mates camp with him, but is just as happy camping with his girlfriend in my little Eurohike dome, which I paid £20 for years ago in a Millett's sale.
Since he loves mountain walking, he would have to buy the clothing and equipment for that even if he weren't camping, so spending on that isn't really a camping issue.
He cooks on a Swedish log and takes plates, pans and cutlery from home. His basic camping style means that he's spent very little on his setup, and of course once it's bought, it lasts for many camps, saving him loads of money over time.
He camps in the foullest weather and seems to be dry and happy, and his simple kit takes him minimal time and fuss to assemble for the trip and deploy in the field. I tried it his way once, and it was bliss to have everything so simple! But being more than twice his age, my bones need chairs and soft things to sleep on if I'm camping for more than a couple of nights!
Finally, I agree with Lostdreamer... attitude is everything. You can survive the camping learning process if you're positive about it, and take everything that's thrown at you with a cheerful grin! The weather might be wonderful, and the whole thing idyllic, but if it rains or the site owner is grumpy or your pan of beans blow off the stove in the wind, you'll enjoy it a whole lot more if you're resilient!
Sounds like you're going to have a great time. Have fun, and good luck! And do come back and tell us how it went.
Quote: Originally posted by Alexobrien on 02/3/2011
Hello all,
This is my first post, and I'm in need of advice.
Money being in short supply, camping seemed like the best option. I'm 36, and not afraid of a bit of cold or rain, and I'm certainly not afraid of living without creature comforts.
I have booked a night at a site near FoD at the end of March, and I guess my first question is, is this crazy or normal?
My next question is really quite an open one: I have a one-man tent, that I've never opened (it was a gift), and no camping equipment. Is there a list of 'must haves' that i can use as a shopping list for my trip into the wild?
Cheers
Alex
Okay, as money is in short supply (isn't it for all of us) and you're only going for one night, the list should be kept to the minimum, especially as you can do without the creature comforts.
Use your own tent that you already have. Buy a foam camping mat and a 2 season camping bag. Bring along a long sleeved sweatshirt and hat if you have one, to wear at night if it's cold. Plus bring a pillow.
That will do you, you don't really need anything else for one day and one night. Obviously bring some food (sandwiches), drinks (plus beer) and maybe a flask of coffee/tea.
Now, depending on the location of your campsite, you can either walk or drive to a local pub/food outlet to get a hot meal for the evening. Alternatively you can buy a small camping stove, take a pan from home and take something tinned, such as those all day breakfasts etc (take a spoon/knife/fork).
One other small problem will be, that it will still get dark early and your one man tent will be tiny. No room to sit up or move about I would think. With larger tents, you just pull up a chair and hang a lantern up and read/listen to the radio/drink beer/wine.
You could buy a cheap camping chair and sit outside if it's warm and people watch if there's anyone else there. Alternatively, try and find if there's a pub within walking/cycling distance and spend a couple of hours keeping warm in there.
As a mountain biker I expect you have a head torch, use that in the tent and for cooking, pouring beer, visiting the loo, as it will be dark early.
Also some form of all round light for sitting about is a good idea. Everyone has their own idea of what is best. Some prefer LED UFO lights, cheap and economical on batteries, others swear by gas or petrol lantern, for atmosphere and heat.
Have fun!
------------- Yes, the car is bigger than the 'van.
Quote: Originally posted by Alexobrien on 02/3/2011so you need either a traditional foam rollmat (preferably two) or a self-inflating mat (usually abbreviated to SIM) Again, good intel. I was actually planning to get one of those camping beds... are these any good? Would they keep me warmer (as they're off the ground)?
A camp bed will work, provided, you also use a roll mat (or similar) on top to act as insulation along with a blanket draped over the bed, hanging over the sides - keeps the draft out from underneath. Used mine a couple of weeks ago in that fashion. AND of course it fits in your tent - not just according to the dimentions either, dont forget you will still need to get on/off the bed, in/out of the tent - and there is also the height to take into account.
I'm not saying not to do it, just trying to help make it a little more comfortable for you.
------------- Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
As a few reports mentioned last year, especially in Sherwood, your main problem could be bike security at night, if you have room put it "inside" your vehicle when going to showers/bog/bar.
You mention taking the family later on. Well once you try it you will soon find out what does & doesnt work.
Theres nothing worse than cold miserable kids /misses especially at night so spend what you can on getting a good nights warm comfortable sleep & the days will take care of them selves, as for a tent for the family theres loads of used ones around that are worth the money as a starter, just stick to the better makes.
That's how we started! Back in the day when tents didn't have SIGs. A nephew bivvies and posts photos on Facebook that fill me with equal measures of joy and dread.
I remember a rather nice trek top fuel going missing from a fellow mtb's roof rack during the night a couple of years back when camping near coed y brennin.
i now camp with an over sized tent just so the bikes can go in a spare bedroom. for non bikers an off the peg DH bike can happily cost 4 grand and whatever locks you use bicycle insurance will rarely pay out as they normally specify concrete ground anchors etc as security requirements...
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! Really Badly!!
