Long time since I’ve been on these forums, fell out of love with camping, we had a huge canvas tent which took almost the whole boot of car up, electric hookup, big gas bottle and double stove, loads of chairs and tables, cupboard, electric cool box etc etc, I used to have a double height Erde 102 and largest Halfords roof box, was great once set up but loading and unloading and setting up and the reverse a week later was such a massive chore.
So recently stayed on a small campsite in a static caravan, it was great but then kept looking over at the campers in smaller tents with bare essentials and they were having a great time, I thought to myself that looks great, less is more so to speak, so just ordered a Regatta Kivi 4 vis-à-vis tent for me and the wife and 2 children 10 and 6, £132.99 bargain, now having sold all the bigger stuff I want to go camping for 2-3 nights with bare essentials.
Can anyone give any tips on this as in loading car to what gear to get, alcohol stove or gas etc, I don’t want to use a roof box or trailer!!!
with the best will in the world you are outnumbered, the must have equipment can and will increase
The path to hell is paved with good intentions
yes been there, done that
as for what to take for cooking talk to OH or you will buy what you think will do, and then you will get what is needed. .
welcome to my world
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Oldham's response made me laugh out loud!
Two suggestions:
Find the most space-efficient way to give everyone a warm night's sleep (which is half the battle to be honest)
Minimise cooking and associated paraphernalia by eating out or doing 'short-cut' meals (soup and sandwiches, local chippie etc won't hurt for a couple of days)
Good luck! I camp alone mostly in a 3 man tunnel tent and my gubbins just about fills my Corsa, so I'm a fine one to be making suggestions...
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Definitely want a warm nights sleep! First night we camped as a family was in May time and had a frost over night in the Peak District, absolutely freezing, hardly slept and woke about 10 times for a wee!! I stopped drinking beer at night and went onto whiskey, to save the trips! After first night we bought 4 more sleeping bags so have now got 8 sleeping bags which again is room… any tips for staying warm with minimal bulk? I do quite like the sims
pack as much as you can using vaccume bags, so clothes , bedding even your tent can be "flattened". pre cooked and frozen meals so only need reheating on a suitcase type stove, folding washing up bowl, folding kettle, folding water container. aldi did the lightweight chairs that packed into the size of a pencil case!
Same situation here my friend. I have been used to having a 6 man vis-a-vis for my 2 kids and I, camping chairs, airbeds, 2 stoves, clothes, teddies and food, not to mention a box of utensils for eating.
Most of it doesn't get used.
The eye opener for me was last week, went camping for the first time with my partner and her son. She's been travelling and backpacking and was shocked by the amount of stuff I packed and the cheap quality of what I did have. I am used to pitching up in a family friendly campsite for a week and that's where I stay, but last week we hit up 4 different pitches. I very quickly realised I need to rethink the equipment i have as it's all unnecessary and bulky.
I'm looking at a 3p backpacking tent and some ultralight equipment. No more airbeds, just a roll mat and mattress, no chairs, no cooking meals at the pitch, just eat out or in-bag meals on a lightweight canister stove. I can't wait to be one of those cool campers that make it look easy!
For staying warm with minimal bulk, I've read a decent mat will keep the cold off you and a decent lightweight sleeping bag, although this is likely the most expensive item you'll buy.
Some great ideas, much thanks to you all, pre cooked frozen meals great idea, and vacuum packs, never considered those, I ordered 4 x 3/4 length Self inflating mattresses off eBay on special offer just under £60 for 4, think I’ll have to get some foam roll up mats for underneath and seen a tip regarding using hot water bottles in sleeping bags and thermal clothes, also looking at suitcase stove and foldable washing up bowl, my kettle is only small anyway.
Not sure I could cope without camping chairs though and I do have 6 of them! Maybe just take 2 and let kids sit on floor.
At the extreme, you could get everyone a bivvy bag and be done with it. It'd be great if the weather is nice and you don't mind sitting on the floor and eating out. That is what we used to do years ago. However when you starting wanted a chair each, a sleeping bag and want to do a bit of cooking and somewhere to shelter and relax in inclement weather then you need a bit more. I nice half way house is a tent like you have which is just used for sleeping, a couple of low level lightweight chairs, and small table and tarp kit and a small canister fed cooker and waterproofs. The tarp will stop you getting wet and you could use your tent and your car as a windbreak and indeed the car can be a place to store stuff. That way you could cook and eat in a decent environment, have somewhere to sleep and be equipped to go out and about, which in a nutshell is what camping is all about.
Get your gear together and practise loading so everyone's comfy but you can get the essentials out first - just in case the heavens open at the wrong moment!! Have a check list - I always managed to leave something behind!
------------- " When I die I don`t want my life to flash before me in an instant, I want it to be a 3 hour epic !"
My suggestions are, a tarp for extra sheltered space where you can set up table and chairs and cook. For keeping warm, wooly socks and layers of bed clothes. Get your mattress as insulated as possible. And for cooking get a couple of Trangias.
but I will suggest for under bed You choose which type
I use breathable ground sheet, yes I know it's for awnings but I had a bit left over and it works very well in sleeping pods, warm under foot latticed to let air move, quick clean, packs smaller than most under bed carpets, cardboards, mats. Any off cuts make excellent not slip table mats. Cost not bad
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
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: Minimalistic Camping
via mobile 12/8/2021 at 6:28pm
