Camping

[ClausThomsen]

Me and Mrs CT are considering buying a tent and getting into the dogging camping life. Figured I'd ask the wise people of GOT before I go and waste a load of dough in Go Outdoors.

Any advice or recommendations for first timers?
Are these new fangled air-tent things any good?
What's a good set-up in terms of air mattress / ground mat etc?
Should I find a Bernard Bresslaw-esque mate to ensure a trip full of bawdy and farcical comedic situations?

 

[Jamiednm]

 

[Jimishorts]

Don't get your tent from Temu.

 

[Simo]

Minefield.

Just returned from a two nighter with the family. And still have similar questions/list to upgrade our comfort levels.

I generally stick with Vango range on tents. There seems to be more vw vans at campsites than tents nowadays

 

[COYBL25]

I`d see if you can borrow some gear off someone you know that`s got any, just to give it a try out and see if you like it, could save you a fortune and also stop you ending up with a load of gear stuck in the loft or the garage.

 

[Simo]

Me and Mrs CT are considering buying a tent and getting into the dogging camping life. Figured I'd ask the wise people of GOT before I go and waste a load of dough in Go Outdoors.

Any advice or recommendations for first timers?
Are these new fangled air-tent things any good?
What's a good set-up in terms of air mattress / ground mat etc?
Should I find a Bernard Bresslaw-esque mate to ensure a trip full of bawdy and farcical comedic situations?

Oh and don't ask the missus to help put the tent up.
Extra groundsheet/tarp for underneath the tent to start with...saves cleaning the tent when packing away, easier to clean the tarp

 

[BainesontoastNEW]

Don't underestimate the cold of the night. Invest in decent thermals.

 

[COYBL25]

Minefield.

Just returned from a two nighter with the family. And still have similar questions/list to upgrade our comfort levels.

I generally stick with Vango range on tents. There seems to be more vw vans at campsites than tents nowadays

You can`t go wrong with Vango.

It`s expensive, but it`ll never let you down, as long as you look after it and last for ever.

 

[Thomasc]

This sort?

 

[COYBL25]

Me and Mrs CT are considering buying a tent and getting into the dogging camping life. Figured I'd ask the wise people of GOT before I go and waste a load of dough in Go Outdoors.

Any advice or recommendations for first timers?
Are these new fangled air-tent things any good?
What's a good set-up in terms of air mattress / ground mat etc?
Should I find a Bernard Bresslaw-esque mate to ensure a trip full of bawdy and farcical comedic situations?

Oh and never camp near a stream, as you`ll wake up in the middle of the night, to the sound of rats scurrying around outside or even worse, gnawing through your groundsheet to get at your food - I`ve been there !

 

[Simo]

You can`t go wrong with Vango.

It`s expensive, but it`ll never let you down, as long as you look after it and last for ever.

Yes, the camping is fun and extremely reasonably priced. It's the packing/unpacking afterwards to clean/dry the tent out. Just spent a few hours Sunday gone doing that.
Going again next weekend

 

[Rita_Poon]

Someone mentioned tents recently, how they'd not put the bleeder up in a year and wanted to air it out and the canes or frame or some other shiz was either a problem or broken or full of mold. They then suggested they'd go out and buy new and learn their lesson this time round.

Who? No idea. When? within the past week or so.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Yes, the camping is fun and extremely reasonably priced. It's the packing/unpacking afterwards to clean/dry the tent out. Just spent a few hours Sunday gone doing that.
Going again next weekend

I mean, this could be the most spectacular piece of timing going...

... maybe...

 

[COYBL25]

Yes, the camping is fun and extremely reasonably priced. It's the packing/unpacking afterwards to clean/dry the tent out. Just spent a few hours Sunday gone doing that.
Going again next weekend

Cleaning and drying your gear afterwards, is the thing that most people forget to do and leads to having to spend a fortune replacing stuff that you`ve already paid a fortune for.

I sleep in a tent, but store all my gear in my van, as it stays properly dry and if the weather gets really nasty, I just swap to sleeping in the van.

One thing I`ve noticed, is that the standard of campsites in general has gone up massively, as has the prices of staying too !

 

[chrismpw]

I usta love camping with my old canvas ridge pole tent. Up an in, in around 2 minutes. Then it rotted and I got a nylon ridge pole tent. Similar, but more faff as it needed an inner. Then the nylon fell apart because of the uv. The stupid floppy pole modern dome tents eventually tried my patience so I bought a camper van. That was great, but not used enough to warrant me servicing it, tax, mot and insurance.

Last year I bought a canvass Bell tent ... 1 pole and its up! (Well after 30 pegs, or so) ... loads of space, no faffy inner. Would recommend.