I've scanned and stumbled on this forum for a few years and truly value what you all contribute to.
This is my first post!
Let me introduce myself and perhaps share my current state of confusion :)
I have a family of my wife, and 2 boys 6 and 9yrs old. We live in the new forest.
First camping experience was when I was 15 in a proper dark green canvas troop tent in a large group (youth project) with mess tents, toilet tents etc in purbecks., and I still remember the sound smell and look of those tents, the calming flapping of the walls, Dutch lacing, rolling back your mats and bags on waKey wakey rise and shine, cool and shadey in the day, warm in the night, creaking of the wooden poles. I really want my boys to experience that.
A few festival stays at reading in my late teens were great but not because of the camping!
As a family, the first tent we had was a bundled deal at Cotswold outdoors, polyester 4 man dome - identical to style of the vango Icarus when our 9yr old was 1 - and an old mate came with us. I barely slept with the worry of our precious toddler in a travel cot, but still a few beers and great bbq pork steaks were enjoyed with my old pal's guitar for ambiance. This was in the new forest for one night in the summer. During that year we went away a couple more times and then invested in a metre 500gsm canvas bell tent. Something from the scout tent was there but it wasn't for us. For me, it wasn't dark green and it wasn't the ridge shaped. For my wife,but lacked an awning, inner tents...
So we then get a cabanon frame tent and appreciate the quality but we're surprised by how hot it got. I was surprised by how
Much work was needed in getting it erect (sorry!).
We then decide camping is too stressful with all the boys and bibs we'd got together for it, trailer mods to fit it al in and time prepping packing and setting up, so sold most of our gear.
This year we feel the call to canvas and I invest in a cabanon trailer tent. Very refined stuff and most impressive but it was still too much to set up and prep but I found the call inside me for the tradition of a sleeping tent and a tarp to cook and eat. So we sell the trailer tent and my wife is not wanting to continue camping - which I understand and appreciate.
Now I see the opportunity for a few weekend one night pitch ups with a small tent for me and my boys with the tarp too - and feel we need something like a bct task force 4 with extension and bell, or a vango force 10 mk5, or maybe a cabanon Guadeloupe... But I can't afford more than a couple of hundred and now I am stuck with the polyester tents for availability and have settled with a vango Lauder 500 for this weekend. I know autumn is coming and nights are drawing in a bit, so going to poly from canvas is going to be an obvious cold night and condensation in the morning.
I think ideally we would hire a ridge tent to see if it's for us, but then being unsuitable for family of 4 plus a Labrador, there's little chance of my wife joining in and finding the bug again. For now, it's a lads weekend away and the lab keeps her company in bricks and mortar!
We've never gone beyond new forest in the tent so it would be nice to discover more with the tent and still have room for more my special ladies to come too after U.S. Lads re recruit!
You need to get her glamping, try one of the ones the sites that have them already set up, just take your clothes etc.
We take a heater, electric blanket just in case, even my hair straighteners make an appearance occasionally.
You need to appeal to the comforts that can be had whilst camping and as much as I love the New F there are loads of lovely places out there to explore.
Hi I am looking at maybe selling my canvas ridge tent .We used it for a 3 night stay at Maison Lafayette , and for an over night in the Jura,and similar last year.The 3 of us were very comfortable. It is 100% cotton and kept us warm and dry.
I will have to wait for help with posting pictures. It must be 20 years old or so and I cannot find a makers name on it.
My recommendation from my recent(ish) return to camping (I camped as a child and, like you have very happy memories of those alfresco hols)...is learn to love the "setting up" bit. You are creating your home away from home even if it is for just one night...this will be your shelter from the cruel, harsh world, so you want it to be safe and comfy (so it is going to take a bit of time and effort). With the boys - achieving this should be easy...go all Bear Grylls, Ray Mears...choose a site that allows camp fires and turn it into a wild adventure, you are essentially building a nice den (they will never forget it)....Your good lady may be less impressed with this approach...but I heartily endorse Duffs54 suggestion about the glamping (the "if you build it them will come" approach).
I reckon if camping is not for you....Then it's not for you...And I think from the description of some of the tents/units you have had(which all sound comfy enough to me) camping is just not your wife's cup of tea....
I understand she is a BIG part of the family and naturally you want her to be part of any family pastime/activity but sometimes it just does not work out for whatever reason....
I would be concentrating on building memories for the two boys by having the odd "Lads" weekends away(With the wife's approval of course)And agree with the Bear Gryill's Ray Mears approach to make it a big adventure for them...
Plenty of people on here have partners/children with no interest in camping and still manage to get off and enjoy the pastime....Same applies to any sport or hobby...You don't see many husband/wife combo's on the golf course/fishing/football match or down the local WI bake off...
Concentrate for the moment on the boys....You never know their excited chatter on returning from a trip might just be the spur she needs to once again join in...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
My OH used to go off on hobby weekends with his tent, and as soon as son was old enough, about 6, he took him along too. It was very basic camping on an airfield, with just a toilet and sink and cold water. They used to come back filthy, but enjoyed it with a hobby and like minded people.
I heard all the horror tales, and nothing would have made me go. However I started camping with a friend on proper campsites with hot showers, and once we had been to France, there was no stopping me. I got OH interested, and we've not looked back. Now we have the campervan, it's a lot better, no worries about the weather. OH still uses the 'van for his hobby weekends, but goes on his own now, son is all grown up.
thanks all for your generous feedback and advice. at duffs54 - for me, glamping is a good idea but I think, rightly, that she deserves a hotel and I'm quite happy with that too.
at jimmysrabbit at jelboy53 at franbee
Indeed, there's nothing wrong with a lads trip, and we don't all need to be into the same thing. It's just nice to feel that you are sharing the experience but of course it isn't the same if you don't both enjoy it!
The boys love going scouring for dry wood to store for wet weather, zooming around on their bikes (if raining - biking through muddy troughs of field water is excellent!) but indeed, helping create the den is exactly what it's all about, as is helping make the camp out stew!
We remember the finest of details as kids, so I want to give them all they can enjoy as explorers.
Turning over logs in the woods to bug hunt is a great treat.
For me, play areas, bars, pools et all aren't the same. Its about escaping and all getting back in touch with your self. Nice to come home to carpet, heating, oven and bath!
If we had a caravan or camper, then I'm sure we'd enjoy that in a different way and my wife would be happier - but that's a huge investment and involves lugging too much around. Would be better to pop up at other locations I think.
I prefer taking less, a mug each, a big pan to stew or use as a washing bowl, one knife to prep food and split kindling with a knock of the peg mallet, a fork and mess tin each. Minimum change of clothing - but great care in keeping it all dry!
With the huge trailer tent... the inside of the awning/living space was pretty bare, save for the clothes and food larder. In heavy rain, we still sat outside under the sun canopy or the boys would be in the tent/pup tent with loom bands or cards.
It's subjective of course - each to our own.
at icepop many thanks for the pic of your tent. This is just the ticket. What's the dimensions? I am interested. It looks great.
Hi Domjolly
Re dimensions , with out pitching and measuring it.
we fitted 3 sims mine is an exped megaga mat xl and that is 197cm long and 77cm wide,my husband and daughters sims are not as long or as wide in the main sleeping compartment pale blue cotton a frame.
I can stand up at the tallest point by exit of sleeping compartment and fly sheet .I am 5ft 1 inch.the porch area in big enough for bags folded camping chairs ,have to bend to get in at this point.
Thanks ice pop. Looks great all round - only it is smaller than expecting and seems to rest too high off the ground (shrunk) hence the skirts meeting the fly about 4" higher than ideal.
My one night in polyester was as expected: poor acoustic, thermal and breath ability vs canvas, so I remain in a state of being keen for canvas. Just something quick to pop up and ideally with a central / single front poke to which my tarp can extend from if not serving as cool/dine shelter.
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: Thanks for everything and here`s my first
