I'm just making up list of what we need to get before camping next year - especially as all the sales etc now mean it's a good time to buy -
we're getting the Outwell Hartford XL - there are 6 of us 4 children, 2 adults.
so..
beds - we have 2 campingaz flock top airbeds that get plenty use at home for sleepovers etc, what would you do? get another 2 singles and a double the same? or is here anything else you'd recommend? what about self inflatings?
which are warmer, are airbeds particularly cold? I'm a veteran of the roll up hi dens foam karrimat, but I want a tad more comfort these days!!
would you get a junior sleeping bag for a 10 yr old? we have 2 adult mummy bags already so we need a few more?
stove & lamp recommendations please. we have a Trangia backpacky stove but obviously need more now there's a few more of us LOL
water carriers? soft or hard?
anything else you wouldn't be without?
I'm tempted to get a luggable loo as we have small ones...worth it? I thought we could put it in the living area at night and store it in a pod during the day.
as regards to types and makes of equipment a lot of folks on here including myself like the Coleman comfort airbeds. you can get single and double in this make.
I also use a rechargeable pump for inflating and deflating.
I have now got both gas and EHU for heating, lighting and cooking. If you are sticking with gas the canister suitcase type cookers are really good you will also need a cookhouse for preparing all the food consumed while camping. (never seen so many bacon butties) as it will be safer and can be kept out of the way, the revolution outhouse is a good size but if you have the packing room you could get a day tent.
then to fill that you will need a camp kitchen and table and chairs.
there are plenty of threads on here about keeping warm on air beds. basically you need to insulate between the ground and the airbed and also your sleeping bag and the air bed. the odd fleece from ikea comes in handy here as they are a good price roll up small.
get the best sleeping bags you can afford. i would not worry about buying a smaller size one for the 10yo.
most campers on here use a BWL. bucket with lid. some put plastic bags inside and add cat litter to absorb and mask smells. so hope that little lot keeps you going for a while.
there will be plenty of folks here later with loads more great advice.
The luggable loo is great! Much better than a bucket, but that's all it is really, a bucket with proper comfy seat and lid! Makes all the difference. Just use it at night, empty the next morning and spray with a little zoflora disinfectant. Then you can use it with a bin liner during the day for rubbish. Dual purpose!
I'd recommend a hard water carrier as the roll-up ones are very hard to clean out - they can go sorta mouldy inside. If you use a hard one, just use Milton sterilising fluid to clean it between camping trips. Alternatively, you could just buy a 5 litre bottle of mineral water at a supermarket near the campsite, and refill it while you're there, then bin it when you leave - saves packing space in the car
Your 10 year old will soon need a full sized sleeping bag anyway, so buy one now. If you're worried about him/her sliding down inside the bag, just tie a strong strap or string around the bag at the bottom of the child's foot length, gathering it tightly so the child can't slip down to the bottom of the bag.
for sleeping bags go for the best you can afford but IMO stick to makes like vango, gelert and coleman. go for at least a 300gsm. some like the mummy bags as they do keep you warmer but do constrict movement, also get a few fleece blankets as extras. staying relatively warm is the priority plus you can always take layers off
good time of year to be buyig kit as there may be bargains about
thanks for the advice so far -
the 10 yo is the eldest of the children, I think I'd go with adult bags for her & the 9 yo and go for junior ones for the 3 & 6 yos. does that sound sensible? I'm confident choosing good ones though - as my name implies I used to camp lots but we've never really camped en famille, Dh is a reluctant camper so I really want to get the comfort and convenience levels right so he's not left saying "never again" Fleece blankest & the like are in no short supply here so that's ok!
jax do you use the doodie liner things with your luggable, or just an ordinary liner/litter
If you buy full size sleeping bags for the Kids a useful tip is to tie the bag off half way or three quarters way down. That stops the smallest ones disappearing and getting starved of oxygen -
Don`t forget an EHU and get one of them halogen heaters, gives heat and light. The EHU also allows your kids to recharge their mobiles very importent (geddit, importent) Also one of them portable gas stoves, pyramid or sunncamp they have several names and you will see them in most camping stores, the refills are quite cheap as well.
It sounds like we are in a similar position. Our children are 10, 8, 6, 3 and 6mths. We camp once or twice most years and, although we haven't been camping with our youngest yet, the others all love it.
I would concur with previous advice. We have junior size sleeping bags for the 6 and 3 year old, but they probably work better if you anticipate using them with further children. In your case, if you are buying new, I would go for full size versions (there is usually little or no difference in price)
We have found Ready-Beds to be good for children - they are inflatable mattrasses inside a thin fleece sleeping bag. They take up less room than full size airbeds (both inflated and packed), and there is a good chance of your child still lying on it in the morning (although we have found our eldest son lying underneath his from time to time !). They need to be used with a sleeping bag most of the time, but can be used on their own on a warm summer night. If you still have your old Karrimats, use them underneath the air beds for insulation.
We've had to brave a few middle-of-the-night trips to toilets (it always seems to be pouring down and blowing a gale - the worse the weather the more desparate the child !), so some sort of emergency loo sounds like a good idea, although we've never used one - I may have a re-think now it's been mentioned.
For lighting, we have used 2-3 small gas lights in the past, but plan next year to bite the bullet and go for electricity (EHU). In anticipation, we have bought some LED Christmas-decoration style lights to run inside the tent - does anyone else use these ?
Good luck, and keep us posted on what you finally decide on.
Water is heavy so get a water carrier with wheels, or at least a trolley. You don't want a bad back!!!!
Trust me here, you really dont!!!
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
If you can afford the outlay I would go for a Cadac cooker. I bought one a couple of years ago and do the whole shooting match on ours ( fry ups to roasting the odd chicken!! ) they aint cheep but IMO you get what you pay for.
------------- Bugs are no excuse for not camping.Your house is full of them!!.
George,Lorraine and Clyde (border collie).
Quote:
jax do you use the doodie liner things with your luggable, or just an ordinary liner/litter
I don't use a liner at all... Just number ones go in there, so easy just to empty down a loo/chemical waste, spray with disinfectant, then use for waste water during the day. A bucket with a lid would do the same job for little ones in the night - bucket and chuck it!
If you were camping wild though (I haven't yet) I think perhaps you may need to use a bin liner+litter for number twos! Or attach a bag to the bin, do the jobbie and tie up the bag and dispose of in a dog poo bin!
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Topic: Equipment recommendations please!
