My youngest is desperate to go camping. I used to camp a fair bit in my late teens / early twenties but currently have no gear and no clue where to start.
Plan is to go to a campsite that is easy to get to by train for the first attempt. We will choose when we go based on weather forecast, so hopefully shouldn’t have to account for terrible conditions, low temps overnight or whatever.
Was looking at the Alpkit Jaran 2 for a tent, need sleeping bags, possibly inflatable pillows… not sure what to do about cooking / eating…
Just going to get gear for camping with one (small) child and then if I end up doing it with other larger kids in tow in future will get another tent etc…
Wondering if anyone on here had any recommendations for essential kit or any other useful advice?
Beg steal or borrow.
If you get the taste for it you will upgrade quickly and landfill the mistakes.
You only need to be dry and warm. And have water.
As for food you can’t go wrong with a few MRE and porridge pots, and a stove that can heat water. Don’t overachieve.
Then, it’s a rabbit hole of YouTube videos and kit!
Like Steve says, borrow first and then you’ll work out what’s actually useful.
You mentioned the train? Transport choice makes a big difference as to how much and what you’ll take.
When we went out in the campervan we had the luxury of chairs, a washing machine drum fire pit, big cooking stove and gas etc. On the train you’re going to have to think carefully about the use vs carrying weight equation.
Might be worth seeing whether there are any sites with pre-pitched (i.e. quite large) tents, as in EU. Then you could just rock up with what else you need (prob. bedding, clothes and food) which would make the journey a lot easier.
I always had the car when I camped with the kids.
The problem I have with borrowing gear is that the friends who camp tend to just bivvy in a ditch or hammock in a tree for luxury. Can borrow a stove, but will take the hit and buy a tent and sleeping bags for two (and a foam mat). I do have various bags to transport by bike and might take bike on train for the short distance between train station and campsite. The tent I was looking at (which was recommended to me) and Alpkit sleeping bags seem to be a reasonable weight to transport that way.
OK, so not so bad. One 7 year old and you will be fine in that tent (looks a good choice though the pole structure will be a bit delicate for rumbustious kids and soccer balls on a big site).
Plenty of facilities on site, and not too far from home in case bailout is needed.
Hope all goes well, then you could think of more remote areas.
Oh, and hope the wee beasties aren’t too much of a problem - DEET and mozzie coils if they are
Prob just do one night for the first trip - get the train early on Saturday, travel back Sunday afternoon
Had thought about doing Friday as well but with work at the moment would be tricky to get there at a reasonable time to figure things out and pitch tent early enough- probably least stressful to just do the Saturday for first attempt
Self inflating mattresses will give you a better night’s sleep but will add to the bulk.
They have what look like decent ones in Aldi currently for less than £20.
We go camping every year with the kids and have done since they were 8. It’s great fun. The worst camper is Kerri, who is lucky not to be in several small graves across Cornwall. Mostly this is down to sleep, or the lack of it. We have been right through the possible bedding options. Blow-up matresses are a one hit deal. Generally they get a hole by the next year and we have ended up getting another. We now all have folding beds and self-inflating matresses.
Make sure you have more than one torch.
I really enjoy cooking whilst camping, and make that part of the entertainment each day.
I’d go by car, so that when it rains, and oh yes, it will, you can go somewhere else rather than sit in the tent. We have been for a whole week of rain and wind before. Make sure you have card games Uno, etc for entertainment.
I think I will order that Jaran 2 tent and a couple of their basic 2-season sleeping bags. Will look at getting a foam mat of some kind as well. Will borrow my mates stove and can get gas at the site.
Best kip mats I’ve found are composite - part foam, part inflatable - still light and fairly compact.
Under trees = tent covered in sap.
Not under trees = too hot to sleep by 5.00AM this time of year!
Small separate tent for the nipper maximises their sense of adventure (and inevitablises them hearing an owl or a fox and diving into your tent with you at 3AM )
Started sodding-off with my little mates on our pushbikes and crappy little nylon tents to the New Forest aged 8! Parents would be locked-up if they allowed that now!
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