[Closed] Family camping -what do we really need?

Table. Chairs. Cooker. Pans. Plates. Cutlery. Light. Stackable storage boxes. Coolbox.

Not much more really. You'll no doubt acquire more as you go but stop being so precious about shared shower and toilets!

And once you’ve got all that and paid the site for your pitch, Etc you may find it’s not as big a bargain as you think... so unless the actual camping is part of the aim then you might want to look at youth hostels - most now have private family rooms.

stop being so precious about shared shower and toilets!

Not being precious, just don't enjoy having to walk across a field to pee in the middle of the night and I'm too uncoordinated to get dried and dressed in a cubicle without getting wet socks!! 🙄

As poly suggests, maybe camping isn't really for you then.

one of everything in the shop is what you NEED

and

a microwave
projector
toaster
heater
tent carpet
beds
duvets

plus
no ability to put your tent up and no imagination for the kids to play out.

Could not believe the last 2 times we went and all the above was going on around us. It was proper willy waving...keeping up with the jones's

Use a pee bottle at night and buy a pair of shower shoes.

using a shared toilet/shower block!

Not sure if trolling!

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dressed in a cubicle without getting wet socks!!

No-one goes to the shower in socks.

You're camping, out in nature*. Flip-flops/crocs/barefoot around and aboot (inc showers) piss in the hedge, or a jar/bottle.

*ymmv, ie:

No peeing in hedge:

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Hedge-piss a distinct possibility:

[img] [/img]

Always, always ask yourself why you're going camping.

Sorry, I'm not trolling, it's just my experience of camp sites is limited to a few bike trips where the weather has been so poo that we've felt the need for showers and didn't really think about just wearing flip-flops 😳

I think the kids would love camping and the plan is that we can visit more places which are just a bit too far away for a day trip and have the flexibility to do it on pretty short notice.

It was proper willy waving...keeping up with the jones's

This is what I want to avoid, hence asking what we actually 'need' rather than what the shop wants to sell us!

Scotroutes has pretty much got it but make sure you invest a bit in quality bedding arrangements as nothing spoils camping more than putting up with the family after not enough sleep. The best thing we bought was a Vango 10cm thick self inflating mat that we put a proper sheet and quilt on - just as good as sleeping at home but obviously not minimal.
Oh, and I piddle anywhere although the bell end of our two man tent at 3am was deemed unacceptable by my Daughter.

Remember that you might need a generator for the wifes hair straighteners.

(You'd think I was joking, but.....)

Family camping -what do we really need?

www.premierinn.com

Basically what the others have said - if camping and being in the outdoors isn't one of the primary reasons for doing it then all your stuff will stay in the garage and never be used.

Saving a few quid doesn't seem quite such good fun when it's rained for 24hrs solid and you're trapped in a damp tent!

As above premier inn or a glamping pod.

Last pod we tried had a microwave, fridge and kettle plus heating!

How about book a pod or ready-erected bell tent or similar for your first weekend outdoor family experience. Maybe not as cheap as a family tent pitch but a bit easier to cope with and no unnecessary expense on all the camping paraphernalia until you've decided family camping can be fun.

Alcohol & Scrabble.

Wow, I wasn't expecting quite so much negativity, however the point I was trying, but obviously failed, to make was that we want spend time in the 'outdoors', enjoying the British weather etc with the kids, but are only (currently) planning short trips so don't need the kitchen sink, but what do we need to make it as enjoyable as possible?. Thanks for the advice above.

Radio / bluetooth speaker. Can't always guarantee a radio signal, rechargeable speaker is the best thing i've got for camping.

^

Sorry, was just making sure! Have been trolled a fair bit of late. But still think you may want to rethink your idea of 'outdoors' if foresee 'shared shower blocks' are a potential problem. Not being funny, just have seen a lot of families very miserable having tried camping 'for a few days' only to look completely uncomfortable with the whole 'outdoors' shebang and then literally dumpiing half of their stuff in a quit-rage before heading to nearest hotel. The kids then also learn to 'hate the outdoors'.

Anyway, that said: Recommend minimum stuff but good stuff. Good outdoor clothing (esp in the UK) are more important than endless cheap plastic camping tat-ernalia. Hardly worth cooking anything OTT over a weekend, may as well eat out/takeout and do pot noodles and porridge with single burner and kettle. Fryup breakfast also possible with single burner.

Headtorches

Agree with the 10cm self-inflator bed options. Although I have slept for years on a 7.5cm and was always a great kip. Much better than rolling, creaking, cold airbeds.

but what do we need to make it as enjoyable as possible?

probably add some OS maps and a williness to get up aff yer arse and actually do something rather than sit about the tent all day!

Seriously, try a glamping pod for a weekend before you drop several hundred quid on camping gear that will give you a less comfortable experience. You’ll still experience the outdoors

Board games
Floor cushions or chairs/table*
Radio/Rechargeable speaker
Frisbee/cricket set. Anything to play outdoors
Local leisure OS map
Forgot to say the headtorches with red light options are great as they are less disturbing if need to nip out in the night and everyone is alseep. Also useful for reading/night-hikes, map-reading and stargazing.

*chairs/table this is something that I would avoid just for a weekend tryout. Good folding chairs and tables are likely to be expensive. Cheap ones end up in the landfill in no time. And how long do you plan on sitting down at a table for over a weekend? Read in bed, choose a site with picnic tables, sit on floor in tent on cushions, maybe somethign to serve as a small table/rest just for the kettles and cups/food-serving. You may even have one already at home.

Eat everything out of wide bowls. Sandwiches go in napkins.

A good point on the cooking front, no need to bring a whole kitchen as one of the joys of getting out and about is checking out new restaurants.
For our last trip I made an outdoor bucket fire which was great for marshmallows and sausages cooked on sticks (take one zinc bucket, drill four holes at 90 degrees about 10 cm from bottom. Put bolts through holes and use these to support a metal grid (old one from the kitchen oven) cut round to fit. Drill loads of further holes above and below the grid for air circulation - works a treat).

If on a proper camp site with electric hookup then a machine to make a passable espresso (I picked up an on sale Lavazza one for camping.)

That and an inflatable tent so you’re not spending ages trying to erect the tent with impatient kids clambering in and over it.

Oh and for dog, a long line and a screw in stake thing is handy.

joys of getting out and about is checking out new restaurants.

If the OP’s 2yo is anything like mine when they were 2 then A meal at a restaurant is far from a joyous experience 🙂

That and an inflatable tent so you’re not spending ages trying to erect the tent with impatient kids clambering in and over it

Wait, kids don't get to help/learn? (Babies/toddlers excepted)

*edit.

2yo

As you were 😉

A cheap Mazda Bongo so that you always have somewhere warm and dry to sleep, somewhere to keep all your stuff all the time, something to get you where you are going and to get you home when you have had enough "fun" 😉

Wait, kids don't get to help/learn? (Babies/toddlers excepted)

My 5yo is actually now pretty helpful with that sort of thing. My 3yo daughter on the other hand 😆

[img] [/img]
By British weather. One of these. Job done! 😉

Radio / bluetooth speaker.

Yep. And don’t forget to download loads of podcasts etc to your phone. Nice to be able to sit around, have a beer and listen to some spoken word while the youngsters sleep.

Look, I can understand the OP’s view of toilets and shower blocks in the UK. Some of them, despite good reviews on Cool Camping etc saying they’re good are just shite.

OP, might mean committing to a longer trip, but consider a trip to France - there are lots of medium sized campsites which have plenty of facilities - bar/cafe, swimming pool etc but are not sprawling sites with thousands of pitches and fixed units. Try Huttopia sites - their washing/showering/toilet facilities are fantastic - and always plenty for kids to do. Generally no campfires though.

Shared shower blocks really aren't a problem, for a few days, but could be for a week or two.

We're planning on doing things fairly last minute (with weather forecasts being a big influence) so the British weather won't be too much of an issue.

As someone who has done their first few family camping trips this summer (loads of other camping pre baby).
Cooking:
Backpacking stove and pans did us fine. if we did not already have them we would have bought one of those cheap single ring bench top stoves.
Sleeping:
Normal backpacking self inflation sleeping mats and double duvet for us. Tesco popup baby cot and normal sleeping gear for baby.
Tent stuff:
Family tent, cheap decathlon 4.2 something or other two bedrooms and a communal area you can stand in. Added the decathlon "carpet / floor blanket" for a bit more comfort. Also took a cheap cut off of builders tarp to put under the carpet if we wanted to put it outside on slightly damp grass. Camping Decathlon tarp, made a excellent massive sun shade or extra out or rain area.

Misc:
Mini decathlon table. About 20cm X 40 cm and 25 cm tall. Folds up to a small case. We still on the floor perfectly comfortable but nice to have this kind table for stuff. Led lantern.nhead tourch. flip flops. 10l water container with tap. Mini rhyno bucket washing up bowl. On second trip we did buy a 12v / 220v cool box and some ice packs. Mainly for baby food. Only ran it on 12v while driving, cool blocks the rest of the time.

Piece of piss. Cheap and fun.

We already had sleeping gear and cooking but the stuff we needed to buy cost < 200 including tent.

Actually I think it was £210 for what we bought extra.

It's a tricky one OP. We've been been camping as a family for years and have accumulated way too much stuff. Wasn't so bad when we had a van but now we've downsized it's made me realise how much shite we have. If you can genuinely just go when the weather looks great then outside of being comfy and warm at night you can get away with relatively little stuff. You'll be out most of the day anyway right? Personally, I always get electric hookup. Better lights, better heating, ability to charge things, easy to pump beds up, Mrs can dry her hair in comfort etc etc.

We go for longer trips where the weather can't be relied upon so a "living room" in the tent was deemed essential. Somewhere to stand and cook under cover if it turns nasty is also a life saver and twin ring gas cookers can be had for peanuts these days.

We tend to venture to the coast more often than not. A wind break would be on my top ten of must have items.

Anyway, we all love it. France is the best place for it though. As someone said up there, it needs a longer break to make it worthwhile but it really is once you get there!

A serious answer then!

Choose your campsite well - trawl through the reviews on here...

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/

...IME they are pretty accurate.

From experience the bigger the site, the bigger the mess. Avoid ones with bars/entertainment/pools etc. As they seem to attract parents who get tanked-up and let their kids run ferral. Unless the site management is brilliant this is were toilet and showerblocks get messed up by 'playful' kids.

And buy a good portable BBQ.
As most campsites don't allow fires we just light some charcoal and use it as a heat source to sit around on the colder nights (even if we aren't cooking anything).

Crocs and a pee bucket or little camping toilet.

And buy a bundle off eBay off somebody who has decided it's not for them..

Oh and pack the tent last. I watched a great argument develop as Mr and Mrs precious had to unpack the beemers boot to get to thw tent. The sent precious jnrs to the toilet block with all the kit. I assume they'd forgotten waterproofs as no-one would stand around in a lashing lake district downpour in a wool jumper voluntarily.

we've decided against any longer camping as neither of us fancy more than a long weekend using a shared toilet/shower block!

You need a hotel

We still go camping ..but next year could well be the last as the kids are getting a bit older and aren't as keen ..but we will see..
We couldn't go just for weekends though as it just wouldn't be worth the effort to pitch a six man tent with all the additional equipment for that length of time.
My missus just wouldn't entertain going anywhere without an electric hook-up and a few extension cables ..I will not go into the level of electrical goods that are deemed essential ..but let's just say that the experience is camping 'lite ' ..but among said equipment are a few heaters & an electric chiller box ..
Still a hell of a lot cheaper than hotels & B&B's..and apart from packing the car in which every available inch of space is used ,erecting & taking down the tent itself ..stress free ..
My top tip ..get a decent "kitchen" at least 2 rings & a toaster (calor) ..which gives you better scope to make decent meals.
Have fun ..

Essential for us with one child.
Tent with living area and two pods.
Camping stove single ring
Folding BBQ for bbq's and camp fire.
Self inflating double sleeping mat (alpkit) for us.
Camping cot now kampa inflatable bed.for child.
Warm individual sleeping bags.
More alcohol than originally seemed necessary.
Those porrage sachets. And ready cook rice sachets for easy meals when plans go pear shaped.
As luxury items folding chairs and a folding table.
Lego sticker books , favourite soft toy (once forgotten NEVER AGAIN)
Head torches with red light option.
Wet wipes .
Oh some more alcohol.
We still use our army surplus mess tins for plates/bowls .
I metal SIG rip off in neoprane jacket makes an excellent hot water bottle for cold nights.

We camp lots! insert joke.

You need electric.

Do NOT camp without an electric hook up.

I don't understand this electric hook-up nonsense. That is not camping! That's just rubbish caravanning.

And once you’ve got all that and paid the site for your pitch

Site fees needn't be expensive. Some are, many aren't. £15/night is a lot cheaper than a budget hotel, and hanging out on a campsite is far more fun than hanging out in a hotel room, for those times you aren't out doing stuff. Choose sites carefully - there are many crap ones - the smaller more out of the way ones are a lot better imo.

If going to the loo in the night bothers you, you can get standalone toilets and a toilet tent if you want your own. But it needn't be a chore. Sleep in pajamas, put your flip flops/Birkies/crocs on. Such items are very useful when camping. As for showering - don't. Or at least, don't do it every day. You don't stink after a day.

For the kids, get loads of outdoor toys. At that age we had toy golf sets, toy kites, foam swords, balls etc etc.

For sleeping get a thick foam self inflater, not an air bed. [url= https://www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/outwell-dreamcatcher-double-10cm-mattress.html ]This Outwell 10cm job[/url] is really nice, we have one. The kids can have cheaper thin equivalents cos they aren't as heavy.

Wee bottle obligatory.
Emergency poo bucket optional .
Colouring in books.
Soft balls ,loads of torches & spare socks & tea towels.
Snacks.snacks& more snacks.

With 2 kids:

Decent sleeping bags + self-inflating mats. We've had the odd sub zero night (unplanned), so best go overboard on the season ratings.
Fire pit. A cheap one is ideal.
Hatchet and bowsaw.
2 burners. Gas is easiest, but we still have an old msr, for the noise, faff and to remind me how we used to camp.
Biggest water container you can carry - minimises trips to the tap.
Storm lantern. Much nicer than a harsh gas lantern. Also good with citronella oil.
Gazebo - extra outside covered space.
Chairs, 2 tables.
A big bbq if you can fit it in.
Big stacking boxes for cooking stuff etc and one for food storage. You don't want an unwelcome furry thing raiding your food stash in the middle of the night.
Smidge or other repellent. Ticks, midges, mosi's - does the lot.

Boules, frisbee, cards, battleship etc.

Have fun.

[quote=senor j ]Wee bottle obligatory.
Dunno. I always prefer a full-size one.

🙂

Your kids will love you for taking them camping. Personally I'm not a fan and have a van. But my kids love it. Nobody remembers the time the hotel reservation got lost. Everyone remembers the time the tent got blown away in a gale in Anglesey. We do overnighters in the Highlands.

Some French campsites have a toilet : shower block per pitch.

take one zinc bucket, drill four holes at 90 degrees about 10 cm from bottom. Put bolts through holes and use these to support a metal grid (old one from the kitchen oven)

DO NOT DO THIS.

Not with a zinc bucket.

Why not?

Ticks, midges, mosi's - does the lot.

Which reminds me, as well as the SAK and phone, the only thing that I *always* try and remember to carry when camping is a tick-twister. It lives in the daypack.

We've camped a couple of times, but did it with friends and the camps were within an hour of home. Great laugh. As others have said you only need the basics. Fry up is easy, and for evening meal, pub or pre-prepared food ! You want to make a weekend easy !

I have friends who won't go to basic sites - the shower block must have mirrors and plug points for hair straighteners etc, and electric hookup !

Gunz - Member
Why not?

Zinc fumes is nasty

Why not?

It's galvanised and will release toxic nasty fumes and residues.

Fair enough. I've now done a bit of investigating and it seems that if you're well ventilated (outside) it's not too much of a problem.

"Table. Chairs. Cooker. Pans. Plates. Cutlery. Light. Stackable storage boxes. Coolbox."
Cobblers
Tent is good! Something to keep you warm when sleeping is good. Blankets work perfectly. Job done. Anything else is a luxury. I would take other things but the above kept us happy as a family in days gone by.

A week in a eurocamp tent is going to be cheaper at this rate

We are in our fifth year starting from scratch.
Don't get swept up in what is available to buy, it'll just make it a burden to get set up.
Decent mattress is key, self inflating is really comfy.
We use those air sofa bags to sit on.
Simple briefcase style picnic table with child 5 sat on the cool box.
But, more than anything, it's the site.
Good site, better chance of good times.
Nightmare site, it'll be a nightmare and as said earlier, while mgmt might say they are strict, if they aren't then it's awful.
Case in point, our very first camping trip was ruined by tents crammed in and kids running round, ultimately resulting in one tripping over the guy line at the back and ripping the tent.
No idea who did it so just had to suck it up.
Haven't been back, Silverdale if you want to know one to avoid.
We have found two or three that are perfect for us, small clean and well run.

We've stayed at one campsite where you had your own private toilet and bath in a block. Handy for locking the bike in too 😀
Couple of others we have stayed at have had family bathrooms, where if you time it right you can have a carp whilst the kids are in the bath

You don’t need loads of kit for a few weekends in the summer. The kids will love it, they always do.
A basic family tent, Argos, Halfords.
Sleeping bags & roll mats.
Basic cooker.
Cool box & ice blocks.
Ikea plastic crock set.
2 for £10 Tesco chairs.
Eat on your laps.
If it rains head to the pub.

I must admit I quite like a table, but there are lots of cheap fold flat options at Go Outdoors or similar.

But, more than anything, it's the site.

This is true. I scope mine out on Google Earth before booking. You can see how they pack the tents in.

We used to use fathers static caravan.
We camped when kids were little.
Mrs_OAB froze, I got fed up of noisy sites and the mass of drying without a garage when we got home, and then I worked out the (increasing) cost of a good/nice site (this for me can include farmers field). Increasingly you pay per head as well as pitch, £2+showers etc.

For the last decade we have self catered, youth hostelled and Travelodge/Premier Inn'd.

I think it is cheaper, and makes a happier family. Hostels can have brilliant family rooms these days.

That said, I am a massive fan of this type of camping.

[url= https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2227/2530818162_7abc3b3164_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4RD74U ]100_5276.JPG" target="_blank">https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2227/2530818162_7abc3b3164_b.jpg [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/4RD74U ]100_5276.JPG"/> [/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

But detest this.

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Here is my list (keep lots of it stored in boxes ready to go)...

Ohh, and Top Tip - *DON'T* buy it all new, just get yourself on Ebay and get it all for a fraction of the new price - we got the whole set-up (including to family tents) for £180 (pretty much everything listed below)

Items ready-packed
Tent
Inflatable mattresses
Kitchen unit
2-ring stove with grill
Large single gas ring
Single gas hob x 2
Calor Gas bottle
Gas heater
Foldaway table with integral chairs
High volume hand pump
Electric pump
Electric hook-up with RCD
Adult foldaway chairs
Cooking utensils
Crockery and cutlery
Water carrier
Piezo lighter

Additional things we need to pack
Bin bags
Tea towels
Girls’ camp chairs
Mini fridge
Can opener
Mallet
Washing-up bowl
Light for tent
Head torches
Maglite torch
Mini torches for girls
Extension cable
Windbreak
Sleepings bags x 2
Washing up utensils

That said, I am a massive fan of this type of camping.

See.. hanging out there for an afternoon would be a joy. Sitting in a Premier in room all afternoon would be awful. And yes I know you go out, but being out all day every day can be tiring, sometimes you want to chill on holiday. And the riverside would be far better chilling.

If you want to be able to sit around in the rain without lying in a tent, you could get a gazebo - my sister has one of those sideless dome Coleman ones - or you can use a large tarp like we do. It's not as good as the gazebo in wind and rain mind.

Ooo, love the idea of a weekend by that river! How do you find places like that? 🙂

My top two tips would be to go to Decathlon for a popup family tent (cheap 4 berth, put it up inside five minutes, clever design, surprisingly robust for the price, much cheaper and lighter than air frame), and to use two single mattresses to sleep on - you tend to roll together with a double. Two singles with a double bedsheet and duvet FTW. 🙂

this is STW and no-ones mentioned a wood burning stove?
So Wood burning stove and some peat
[img] ?1395410704[/img]

I've mentioned this before, but I don't really like the idea of camping as a family on one of those big sites

The faff of 'moving house' is a right turn off - packing car, getting to site, making camp, then decamping and packing car, drying stuff off when you get home etc

I camp/bivi regularly, but it's always back to basics. I love that aspect of it.

All family (and dog) trips have been self-catering/AirBnB. Less hassle, if ALWAYS rains on one of week long holidays

I'm fine with being wet, and my kit being wet. But everyone else being wet is less fun..

I'll probably do a bit of family camping next year, just for kicks. And despite the above. But only for a long weekend I'd guess

I'd like to add that with 2 small kids and my wife and I both being 8 hour sleepers our first camping experience with them was tough. They were up at 4:30-5am jumping all over us so we splashed out on a black out roomed tent. Kids now sleep past 8 am (better than they do at home) and everyone's happy!

I camp/bivi regularly, but it's always back to basics. I love that aspect of it.

We've de-faffed. We have a 4 person dome tent that is only big enough for the four of us to sleep in; then we have a large tarp for outdoor shelter under which we can all sit on four camping chairs. It's quick to set up.

Re sleeping - we're just lucky, our kids are always 7am risers. Unless it's a school day, then it's about 15 minutes after we need them to get up.

this is STW and no-ones mentioned a wood burning stove?
So Wood burning stove and some peat

I had a friend with one of those canvas teepees and wood stoves, they were both absolute and unmitigated s##te.

Camp at the YHA's
Toilet/ Shower block.
Self Catering kitchen.
On the doorstep of Grizedale forest
Ace weekend away
Bike shed.
Slap up meal in YHA if you CBA

I've got a canvas tent and a wood burning stove (not the one in the pic). And they are both unmitigated brilliance.

I've done all kinds of different camping, and what you "need" really varies depending on what you want to get out of it (home from home, or back to nature?).

I don't want to repeat what people have said, so i'll chuck in a few random things:-

- sitting around outside in the evening in the UK at any time of year is miserable without a fire - check you can at least have a bbq that you can then cheekily chuck on a few bits of wood later for a mini blaze.

- expect rain in the UK - if camping with kids a laptop pre-loaded with films (and enough charge to get through a few of them, or some way of charging it) is a lifesaver for those rainy bank holiday weekends.

- actually, if you're in a tent just cancel it if heavy rain is forecast all weekend, or plan a lot of time in the pub 🙂

- decent, thick, self-inflating mattresses for the adults are a life saver if you don't like waking up with a dead arm

- campervans are much, much better but won't save you any money in the long run - I think our last one worked out about £250 night over the two years we owned it, taking everything into account.