Basic camping advice needed!

[Knobblywobbly]

Hi everyone,

I haven’t been camping for donkeys years, and have to confess that I never really cared for it very much. It always ended up being a cold, wet & quite miserable experience!

But without camping I’m missing out on such a lot of trips which I’d like to do, so I’m giving serious thought to giving it another go. Can anyone give me some basic tips on how to make sure I enjoy (or at least can bear) my camping trips? And when going on a bike, where do you put your wet gear?

[Boris]

It's easy to go overboard but for me the most important thing is to stay warm dry and comfy at night. With a decent tent with a porch (3 man for me) a thermarest mat and a good sleeping bag. You are 90% of the way there.

Clothes make a great pillow and if you are going away for a couple of days yesterdays t shirt makes a great towel. Toiletries etc. just get small versions of what you usually have (or nick them from hotels)

You don't need stoves and all that stuff as there are usually plenty of places to eat (if not wander about looking hungry and another camper will feed you) although for me one of the great things I like is the sausage, bacon and eggs in the morning and it's great to make everyone round you jealous with the cooking aroma.

That's it. Everything else is just additional things to make life a little easier (and I cart around a bunch of stuff) but for the minimum necessary no avoid it being a chore the above has it.

Oh and don't pitch your tent next to DC

[outrunner]

Oh and don't pitch your tent next to DC

+1 on that! I have made that mistake twice.



Andy.

[blueskycamping]

It's easy to go overboard but for me the most important thing is to stay warm dry and comfy at night. With a decent tent with a porch (3 man for me) a thermarest mat and a good sleeping bag. You are 90% of the way there.

Clothes make a great pillow and if you are going away for a couple of days yesterdays t shirt makes a great towel. Toiletries etc. just get small versions of what you usually have (or nick them from hotels)

You don't need stoves and all that stuff as there are usually plenty of places to eat (if not wander about looking hungry and another camper will feed you) although for me one of the great things I like is the sausage, bacon and eggs in the morning and it's great to make everyone round you jealous with the cooking aroma.

That's it. Everything else is just additional things to make life a little easier (and I cart around a bunch of stuff) but for the minimum necessary no avoid it being a chore the above has it.

Oh and don't pitch your tent next to DC

I think this is good advice. Wish I'd followed it more closely over the years - always end up loading the car with plenty of gadgets and gizmos that I then forget to actually use!

[davsato]

It's easy to go overboard but for me the most important thing is to stay warm dry and comfy at night. With a decent tent with a porch (3 man for me) a thermarest mat and a good sleeping bag. You are 90% of the way there.

Clothes make a great pillow and if you are going away for a couple of days yesterdays t shirt makes a great towel. Toiletries etc. just get small versions of what you usually have (or nick them from hotels)

You don't need stoves and all that stuff as there are usually plenty of places to eat (if not wander about looking hungry and another camper will feed you) although for me one of the great things I like is the sausage, bacon and eggs in the morning and it's great to make everyone round you jealous with the cooking aroma.

That's it. Everything else is just additional things to make life a little easier (and I cart around a bunch of stuff) but for the minimum necessary no avoid it being a chore the above has it.

Oh and don't pitch your tent next to DC

good advice, although for me a stove is essential. i started out camping at bikeshows and never bothered, just eating hotdogs and drinking grey ersatz coffee from some very dodgy places. then i started with boiling a pan of water for my own coffee and now i wont dream of not doing myself a decent nosh in the evening and a decent brekky. nothing flash, a one pan stew or whatever and bacon+eggs or a CBH. the money saved on junkfood paid for the stove setup in a year, have you seen the price of a hotdog at a show these days?

[stuhaynes2]

Hi

I think that Boris got it mostly right. You need to stay warm and dry, that's number 1 on my list. I'd also add that I agree with another reply, a stove is essential, with a small non stick pan and small kettle if there's room. Something like the Triangia would be good by bike.

[steveR]

Hi everyone,

But without camping I***8217;m missing out on such a lot of trips which I***8217;d like to do, so I***8217;m giving serious thought to giving it another go. Can anyone give me some basic tips on how to make sure I enjoy (or at least can bear) my camping trips? And when going on a bike, where do you put your wet gear?

A big "drysack" is essential for bike camping, you can get your mattress and sleeping bag in there along with a small stove or some dried foodstuffs. Think about a cheap airbed, 6-7quid and a fiver for a 12v compressor as a cheap alternative to a pukka thermarest mattress. Howver, do not be persuaded by the thin self-inflatable mattresses unless you are one of of those hardy souls who can sleep anywhere!

Last year, I was with a group of guys doing an 8 day Spring trip around France in some cool and damp weather some of the time. A good tent with as others suggest, plenty of space is important. I have since found that 2 bags is a good option for Spring/Autumn camping as it allows you to adjust your temp to suit. A fleece hat is a must! Get a cheap fleece bag liner and a intermediate main bag, and you should be fine. If all else fails wear yer thermal undies too!

I like hard panniers as I prefer the security they give. A pair and a drybag will give you loads of space.. For instant hot meals without a stove, either takeaways or try HotMeals that will self heat are good tho' the food is cack.

[Boris]

Howver, do not be persuaded by the thin self-inflatable mattresses unless you are one of of those hardy souls who can sleep anywhere!

I have to take issue with this. Cheap mats such as Gelert, Higear etc.(with one exception [1]) are rubbish. I've tried a few in the shops and no matter what I do I can't get comfy. Thermarests mats on the other hand are a different class and I have had no problem with them.

I have also used airbeds and when I'm away with the missus we use a double matress and it's great. However they have let us down and we ended up sleeping on the ground and I'm just to old for that. The other thing with airbeds is when it's cold they don't insulate well. I (well my hip) was freezing last time I used an airbed but it was -1 outside. I've had no problems with the thermarest in the cold.


[1] The one cheap one I do rate is an Outwell one that only cost less than 20 quid. I bought it for my son as he (well was) is a hashy git but it's almost as good as the thermarest. see What equipment to buy? for more info

[steveR]

I have to take issue with this. Cheap mats such as Gelert, Higear etc.(with one exception [1]) are rubbish. I've tried a few in the shops and no matter what I do I can't get comfy. Thermarests mats on the other hand are a different class and I have had no problem with them.

I have also used airbeds and when I'm away with the missus we use a double matress and it's great. However they have let us down and we ended up sleeping on the ground and I'm just to old for that. The other thing with airbeds is when it's cold they don't insulate well. I (well my hip) was freezing last time I used an airbed but it was -1 outside. I've had no problems with the thermarest in the cold.


[1] The one cheap one I do rate is an Outwell one that only cost less than 20 quid. I bought it for my son as he (well was) is a hashy git but it's almost as good as the thermarest. see What equipment to buy? for more info

Agreed, airbeds can get cold if the ground is very chilly, but a cheap solution is a foil blanket! As for the mats, I agree a real thermarest is a different ballgame, but at a cost and the original post was from someone coming back into camping so I was making a guess that a spend of 70-80 quid may not be the starting point! I was almost comfortable with 2 of the cheapy self-inflates, but I have come to the decision that for comfort, i want either air, or one of the mega thick, Exped down filled mat @ £130! Now those are nice....

IKWYM about the "sinking" feeling as my Sis had that problem in Greece 2 summers ago, and I noticed my cheapy was starting to get soft after a nights rest last time out, but at a fiver, I can afford to chuck it before the season starts.

[Mabels Old Man]

The other thing with airbeds is when it's cold they don't insulate well. I (well my hip) was freezing last time I used an airbed but it was -1 outside. I've had no problems with the thermarest in the cold.


[1] Th

I've got an Exped down 9 airbed and it's excellent, comfy and warm.