This will be our fourth year camping and our kits changed completely since the first year.
To test if we liked it or not we bought a tiny 3 birth tent where 4 of us squeezed into it, our other kit only consisted of was sleeping bag/foam mats and one of the single ring gas cartridge cookers.
Now we have an 8 birth tent, camp beds, EHU, storage unit, table, kitchen unit and one of those ovens with the two rings on top.
We also only used the boot of the car to take all our kit, now we have a roof box and trailer!
Do yourself a favour, and something I should have done! Research. Research. Research. The tent we bought was not the best suited, but was an eBay buy, and I wish I had researched and looked about more. Now, after 3 trips away in it I cannot imagine it will be coming again! I wish I had bought standing height kitchen tables, as cooking and bending are a nightmare. Also, we took so much stuff last time it took 4 hours to pack and unpitch!!!!! 4 hours!!!! So, before you buy it, think, "will I use it/do I NEED it, and do I want the hassle of building/dismantling/cleaning/packing up/taking up room in car or trailer".
That said, enjoy. We came to it late, only last year. We started with nothing, 4 trips later and a trailer on I'm still buying.
We only started camping as a couple last year......OH was a late developer......but we love it and spend ages on this forum, looking at camping outlets online and going to camping displays in our local area and always seem to find something that we have to have.
In a year we have bought 3 tents and now think we have bought the right tent for us..........for about the next 6 months anyway
It's just the 2 of us as our boys are all adults now, but going camping brings back very fond memories of lots of laughter camping as a child, but with the amount of kit we take you would think a large family was in our tent......we do like to be comfortable lol
Poppet sounds much the same as my story and I think if you start with very little and build it up it can be come very addictive im hoping that after 10 yrs of this camping malarkey my set up is everything that I want .....but deep down I know that every time aldis or go outdoors send me a news letter with camping gear in it I will go like a shot just to have a wee look mind you lol !!!
Ok so we have narrowed down our tents to a new vango Maritsa 500 or a second hand vango aspen 500 DLX only thing putting us off the aspen is the pitching any info/suggestions would help.
------------- Returning to camping ....... Forgot how good camping can be.
2013
April - Faskally, Pitlochry
May - Witches Craig, Stirling
May - Auchinlearie, Gatehouse of Fleet
I'm new here too and in the process of planning my first camping trip. The advice here has been fantastic. I was saved from a life of an Argos value tent and CO poisoning.
I got the bug before I've ever been camping. I've always wanted to go though and now my life and finances are permitting.
Welcome here. Look to your purse and bank statements. Wave goodbye ;).
EDIT: Carey a quick youtube search has found this video of how to pitch the tent so it may give you an idea. Apologies for not being able to code the link on my phone.
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: Got the camping bug!!!
