Hi, not posted on here for a very long time as we left camping and went through folding campers and then to caravans then on to seasonal pitches and now kids have grown and not bothered anymore we sold up and started holidays abroad and hotels again but I really miss camping and to be fair always have as I’m a camper at heart. So my question trying to convince wife that we are not too old for camping 😂😂 I’m 55 and she’s 46 but she always suffered with a bad back after sleeping on airbed so what are folk using, think we will be wanting separate beds not double.. looking forward to getting back under canvas with the wife and 2 small dogs, only for weekends but can’t wait. Looking at trying to buy a outwell Indian lake tent as I’ve always liked them and think for the 2 of us and 2 small dogs one would be ideal. Only found one for sale and it’s 200 miles away so a bit of a trek … anyone have one they want to sell ??
Thanks
If you have a big enough tent you should try the decathlon inflatable base bases. They are singles but can be linked. They are pumped to a high psi so are solid and have sprung wooden slats They pack down about the same size as a double sim.
You then need a good mat on that. Have a look at the Exped mega mats.
For context, I have always had spinal problems - spinal bifida occulta. This system has done us well and now I have had even more back injuries, (fractures) I am still confident that it would be comfy.
Another recommendation for the decathlon bed bases! We have two with an outwell dreamboat sim on top, omg its pure luxury! Its better than my bed at home.
lol … it’s only for 1 or 2 nights in summer months, not like we used to do with kids full car a trailer and a roof box. I never preferred the caravan if honest it was just a bed on wheels and most time was spent in awning which is practically a tent 😂
I had this problem with a friend who didn’t want to go to a folk festival & stay in a proper tent, 35 years ago. When she arrived on site, we offered her a chilled white wine or a G&T with ice & lemon (ice in a wide mouth thermos lasts all weekend). She’s never looked back - albeit like us, in a MH now.
We did loads of camping when we were young and skint.
Then our daughter arrived and we did quite a lot of camping when she was young. Then school and life got in the way and no longer being skint we were in a position to have more exotic holidays.
Now she has left school and working we are free spirits again and its reignited our interest. Me and daughter had a couple of nights away last year and this summer we will be back to early Friday finish, pack the car, drive an hour or so and live in a field for two nights.
Just had a massive clear out of gear which had been in the loft for years and now have camping gear down to a couple of boxes. Just need a few replacement bits and we will be off again. Can't wait.
There's nothing wrong with using old kit in good working order, start with a local camp or in your back garden to see what still works. Replace gas hoses if they appear a bit crispy or replace them anyway.
Materials and technology have changed since you last camped and the market is flooded with cheap stuff that doesn't work.If you need to buy something research is required. Once you get camping look at what other people are using and compare.
Everyone camps slightly differently, discover your own priorities.
The tea drinkers need kettles, the wine drinkers need fridges and the meat eaters need BBQs. The nerds want solar panels while the adventurous want storm proof tents. prioritise and compromise!
Agree about old kit and everything we have kept works.
We threw out broken items (why keep such things I ask myself!), some items went on Vinted or Trashnothing, everything else was tipped.
As regards new gear I think the biggest change in 30 years since we started camping is the evolution of low wattage electrical items. The availability of lithium battery powered items (especially lighting) which are very compact and can be charged from small solar solar panels or in car chargers has been a game changer, as has the smartphone for games, radio, TV etc.
Another one happy with old kit. My two burner CampinGaz stove dates back to the late 60's/early 70's and was inherited from my dad, as was my genuine LiLo rubberised canvas air bed (which TBH I don't trust on age alone, although air tight and appears in good order, so I use modern PVC ones which inevitable fail! ). The stove is in remarkable good nick and looks like it may have been used for a season, rather than many decades!
My 3 way camping fridge must be 15-16 years old, branded Electrolux, which dates it, and was obtained s/h around 10-11 years ago.
Eternally grateful for the modern LED lamps though! Got an assortment of old lamps from incandescent bulbs (about as good as a candle) to fluorescent lamps which were good on light, but chomped disposable batteries quite hard! Even got a couple of CampinGaz gas lamps with mantles that I've acquired along the way, although may have only used once. No desire to utilise old lighting, but in a way miss the character of the gas lights, the roar, the warm light colour etc.!
My main tent, which I haven't used in around 7-8 years must be be 12-14 years old now, as acquired s/h at around 2 years old.
Must have countless 'bits and bobs' in the way of camping accessories that were either domestic cast offs like pots and pans or cutlery, or acquired specifically, many decades ago.
Even the caravan is getting on a bit, that's nearly 9 years old!
Nothing wrong with old kit whilst it performs it's purpose well enough. No interest in 'bragging' with all the latest kit for the sake of it.
One item tipped was our venerable Khyam quick erect tent which we had had for 25 years. It has been all over the UK and survived some heavy weather, in its last few years it was used as a pitch side shelter/changing room for winter rugby festivals, but the fabric was thinning. Shame they have gone bust as they were great tents.
Our Oakland XL was sold on to a local family with a 1 year old who were also getting back into camping.
I sold most of my gears as a tenter when I switched to a van.
With hindsight, I should have kept the following:
- My trusted Coleman 424 Dual Fuel stove - very quick to light up compared with the Cobb if I fancy a quick meal outside
- A couple of the foam mats for use outside the van
- One of the two Therm-a-rest Luxury Map XL SIM
I kept most of my kitchen equipment, some of them I had from Day 1 back in 2006/7, except for the cooking utensils as they are not compatible with the induction hob. I use the MSR Alpine Stowaway pots at home all the time now.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
BTW, I am seriously toying with the idea of getting a replacement Coleman 424 as I missed mine that much.
There had been occasions when I needed extra stoves to cook when BBQs would not be suitable.
It is compact and very efficient even at low temperature.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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: Back to basics
via mobile 28/9/2024 at 4:11pm
). The stove is in remarkable good nick and looks like it may have been used for a season, rather than many decades!
