[Closed] Camping!

Salt, Pepper, Oil. These are the things I normally forget.

I don't think a coolbag will be of much use to be honest since you are going to be away for several days and a cool bag will only really work for one day at a push.

Trangias aren't that bad. Granted there are better stoves these days for simplicity and realibility (and the ability to burn any flammable liquid) you can't really beat them. That said I generally use an MSR unless I'm car camping in which case I use a proper multi ring Butane stove.

I am with gonefishin on Trangias - their main advantage is reliabity. When you have had a gas stove fail because the temp is too low to vaporise the gas then you want a trangia. I also have loads of half used gas cans.

When you have had a gas stove fail because the temp is too low to vaporise the gas then you want a trangia.

Not an issue for 99% of the camping population.

MSR Whisperlite/XGK for the win, anyway. No gas problems, use most liquid fuels so easy to find, no cold problems, can simmer and boil quickly.

Oh yeah - another tip - thermal mug. Sounds overkill but tea goes stone cold really quickly in a normal one, unless it's a really hot day of course.

Maybe not but all stoves are a compromise and a trangia is simply a different one. Main drawback is the fuel is smelly.

Molgrips thanks for offer but not in Cardiff for a while but thank you. Bought a saucepan set from Tesco this morning. Ooo got day off tomorrow to buy long list of stuff don't thnk it will be that warm so should be okay without cool box just have pasta for first night, BBQ 2nd and maybe a cheeky pub for 3rd.
Where you staying? We are at Cae Gwyn farm

I'd say Trannies are heavy (as a set), fuel is smelly and gets on your fingers, only two heat settings which means cooking without burning can be tricky, they are also a bit of a risk if knocked over - the fuel can spill out* and they are uneconomical on fuel.

Advantage is they are unpressurised so nothing to explode, fuel is available in most DIY shops and Tesco Extras etc, the pan set is fairly neat and comes with a wind guard etc.

Personally I hate the cooking experience, which is the main reason for me not using them.

* before anyone accuses me of irrationality this apparently has happened and set fire to stuff, and it's NOT the reason I don't use one.

MSR Dragonfly.. stove porn.. 🙂

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Folding utensils!

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Storage containers that fit inside your pans!

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I splashed out £10 on one of those Sunn-Gas cookers, that come in a case. Despite shonky quality it has done numerous trips & has a nice big burner thats controllable. The gas cans are cheap, about a £1 each. If your car camping why compromise. We keep one in the boot with a pan, great for impromptu hot-dogs when taking the kids out. 🙂

Wellies might be a good idea though, this weekend might be wet.

Only two settings on a trangia is one more setting than on any of the msr stoves I've used! They're great for boiling water, but pretty much anything else gets cremated.

Trangia with gas conversion is the bees knees 🙂

Only two settings on a trangia is one more setting than on any of the msr stoves I've used! They're great for boiling water, but pretty much anything else gets cremated

Ah yes.. the ones with the valve on the bottle do require an extremely careful touch, in all fairness, but it's not unmanageable once you've got the hang of it. The one I posted above has a valve on the body though which is meant to be much better.

Trangias are infinitely variable as well.

We used the MSR dragonfly snow camping, we were only melting snow and boiling water (dehydrated food). It had the valve on the body, and was ace. huge amount of heat if you needed it, but controllable down to a simmer and quite economical.

It looked like it had seen a good few expeditions over the years, but never missed a beat in 2 weeks of fairly heavy use.

Bloody noisy though!

OOO Takisawa when I lookd it said "light rain" still plenty of time to change, annoying after todays sunshine if it does rain.

How the heck d'you manage to tip over a trangia? 😕 They are about the single most stable stove out there, except for the flat heavy type that take blow torch canisters.

Reliable. Definitely. Bought mine when I was in Scouts and it's still working perfectly 25years later. Except for the o-ring on the lid, but that's no issue at all.

Not the best for cooking on, but more than adequate for boiling water for tea, heating a tin of beans, cooking a curry, etc...

Expanding on the torch subject...headtorches very handy

Never tried the dinky LED lanterns, nor the wind-up ones. Parents have them, and are apparently quite handy.

How the heck d'you manage to tip over a trangia?

You kick it on your way in or out of a tent, you kick it when moving around not looking carefully enough etc etc. I've kicked stoves before.

LOL at the trangia haters - I have a windpro and a trangia, they both have their plusses and minuses.

Trangias are super reliable and impervious (even prehaps better) to the wind. You can boil stuff rigerously, or scramble eggs on them without welding them to the pan. If you know what you're doing that is. Completely hassle free.

The MSR stuff is lighter, packs smaller, is more intuitive on burn settings, more powerful on full chat, and can use a wider range of fuels. Messing about with bits of foil as wind sheilds and cleaning the line if you've been forced to use rubbish gunky petrol is WAY more faff, plus they are much more fragile. I only use mine if I CAN'T take my trangia. Sorry.

Sorry? You'd better be tranny boy!

Oh - another advantage to trannies is that you can use the meths to clean your discs and pads rather well 🙂

Lilo (sleeping)
inflatable settee
Tin/bottle opener
Loo roll
Big old plastic marg tub and /or big plastic bottle to wee in at 4am. Yes, you can do it outside your tent but someone else will be in your pitch after you

Always used to go camping with as little equipment as possible but haven't looked back since first taking electric hook up, cheating I know. Lighting, heating when needed, mini fridge and yes a tv/DVD for kids to watch DVD as mum and dad have well deserved drink sitting on inflatable settee in the sun when getting back to tent after a day in the great outdoors with the kids. Maybe electric hook up an age thing??

Lilo do these things still exist!!!!

It took a while for loo roll to be mentioned.

From my last experience at Cae Gwyn, take waterproofs and pitch your tent with wind in mind. It's pretty nasty when the wind comes howling up the valley at night.

Tosoinalake thanks for that! I was hoping it was going to be like today (hot and sunny) although having heard the forecast it's going to be cloudier and drizzly! Booo I can cope with cooler just don't want rain 🙁

MSR - Cheap fuel, fast boil times but only really 2 heats - hot and really hot. Can be dangerous in tents (as can all stoves but leaky petrol is mental).
Trangia - even cheaper fuel, bomb-proof but flame adjustment is fiddly, slow cooking times (though some see this as an advantage), smelly fuel and dirty pots.
Gas - expensive, wasteful packaging (but can be recycled if totally empty) PITA when cylinder is low on fuel / cold, clean on pans, adjustable flames, predictable.

I tend to use gas simply because its the easiest and most predictable. I like to use a tripod type one that connects with a flexible hose. Otherwise you can get 'feet' to make the stand up ones more stable. You can also get all sorts of little adapters that mean you can use all sorts of different canisters.

For torches and good tent lights check this website //"that I happen to run" {Mod}// [url=www.torches2go.co.uk]Torches2Go[/url] Also sells camping gear.

Thanks Horwichman .... after all my excitement I won't be camping for a while! we went to CyB with all my stuff .. Mr MC fell off 10 minutes into ride, crashed on innocous silly wet rock and has broken his olecranon (bone in elbow which connects tricep to elbow!). this was 2 weeks ago .. still got another week to wait before we find out if he needs surgery. So we came back from CyB promptly, we won't be camping in Chamonix in June so that's it! CAmping stuff packed away right to back of cupboard for now!!!!!!! Booooo

240v electric hook-up
fridge
tv
laptop
microwave

Ouch. Sorry MC, that sucks. Hope he gets better soon.

--

On a point of note, Horwichman is promoting his own business rather than providing impartial personal recommendation.

(From the Forum Rules:

"No Trade or business advertising – except bona fide retailers may respond to genuine enquiries from potential customers."

Dunno if this constitutes a "response to a genuine enquiry" though. Mods?)

Dunno if this constitutes a "response to a genuine enquiry" though. Mods?)

Thanks Cougar I hope so too! As we have a trip to Sierra Nevada planned for Sept, since we can't do Chamonix I haev to have something to look forward too 😉

An umbrella is a very useful accessory for all outdoor situations.

A bit naughty for a first post, no?

Now edited, it seems. Very good.

Sorry guys. I thought I would be allowed to post this. HONEST.

Link didn't work anyway ....

How is the patient MC? Was he operated on?

I thought may be able to [i]scrape[/i] through as a response to an enquiry.

+1 for ear plugs
we had a big verbal scrap last night at a camp site in Peebles which woke us up at stupid o clock.The whole thing was because somebodys kid never done the dishes. 😆

💡 shewee ❓

just back from a crackin 2 nights of 'dads and boys' at Hoddam, near Dumfries. 3 of us, each with our 2 boys, aged around 8 and 5. bit cold though. I was ok in a 3 seasons sleeping bag, but had to get the boys well wrapped up with blankets etc. stuck my nose (and other bits) out for a pee at 4 am this morning - thick fog and a frost - mid summer in Scotland !

My basic 5 man Vango Go Outdoors tent wants to become an Outwell methinks 🙂

@ Emma82, well the last hospital appt was pointless! he is having a scan tomorrow then we find out on Friday whether or not he needs surgery, fingers crossed he doesn't!

Heater is usefull incase its cold and if you get a good soaking after riding. MP3 player, can/bottle opener. A quite campsite is essential and some are not that quite.
There is a great one at Pencelli Castle close to Brecon, great for riding and can launch kayak from there to and good local pub. Canal path is part of the route for The Gap.