Hi forum newbie here needs advice.

[chippy1970]

Hi I am looking into buying a tent and a few other bits and pieces to go camping with my eldest son.

We are a family of 4 so even though its just me and my eldest son (aged 9) at the moment I think I should get a 4 man tent just in case the wife and youngest son ever want to join us. Also I suppose I need some sort of cooking equipment and maybe an air bed.

Can anyone recommend tents and equipment to buy etc etc so far I have just looked at Millets online but all the tents look similar.

Cheers

Chris

[dumb blonde]

hello chris, Im a newbie too.Halfords have got a lot of tent packs where you get everything all in.(airbeds etc). Also have a look in Argos,they have some too.Dont know about the quality of them tho as I havent used them, in fact i havent u8sed my own yet! Exciting isnt it.
Anyway best of luck with it and let us know how you get on .
If you need to, there are review sites for tents, sorry i cant post any links tho.

[chippy1970]

Thanks

[2gocampin]

Hi Guys,

If you are both looking at camping as a long term thing then please dont go for anything from Halfords or Argos or any other package deals as these tents or the equipment are not good at all. Ok if your going to a festival and binning it all afterwards, if it lasts that long, but thats about it.

Ok where do we start, look I will put together a break down of whats what and some questions you need to ask yourself first which should give you some ideas of different tents, materials and pitching styles etc. Ive started doing this already for something else that I am doing so I will cut and post it on here if I can.

Gary

[2gocampin]

Hi again,

Right Ive had a look at doing this and its too big to post on here so if you want to send me a private message with an email address then I can email it too you directly.

Gary

[dumb blonde]

oh no youre getting me worried now. I didnt buy one of the packs but i did buy an Urban Escape Kurai 6 from Halfords.Admittedly it wasnt my ideal choice but funds and limited choice of shops didnt help.Have i made a big mistake???????

[2gocampin]

Hi,

Sorry didnt mean to worry you, bit thoughtless of me opps !! No its ok to get you going and if looked after should be fine for spring and summer camping. If you decide you like camping then you will do as we all do anyway when the bug bites and want to upgrade so dont panic.

There is a lot more to choosing the right tent and if you want to send me a private message with your email I will send some info through.

Have fun thats the main thing and I am sure you will.

Gary

[dumb blonde]

thanks gary, Im sure i will have fun, when i can find a campsite that is, didnt know it would be so hard.The teenagers want an indoor pool and the hubby wants pub/club.Tried Waveney River Centre but they are all booked and i dont like big (Haven) type sites as im not one for dolling up in the evenings to go to the big clubhouses.Will try Pentney next (cant remember what its like as looked at so many websites but i wrote the number down so it must have been a possible choice.Will let you know how i get on

[chippy1970]

Thanks Gary will send you a pm.

Best advice I have got so far is to make sure the tent has a sewn in ground sheet.

At the moment we are just dabbling in camping we normally go abroad but last year we spent a fortune going all inc to Antigua so we are a bit on the skint side this year so thought we would give camping a go.

I normally like to buy the best quality things I can afford so would rather get a decent tent than a cheapo one.

[dadsbeaniemad]

Hi Chippy - if 'money is no object' and you have space then why not go for a Cabanon or dutch Canvas tent. I have a couple of Cabanon frame tents adn they are brilliant quality - warmer when it's cold and cooler when hot (not that that would sway you in British weather!!)
These are a good choice if you ae thinking of any sort of continental camping.

Failing that then look to the Outwell Polycottons - Bear Lake or Norfolk Lake or the one DaveS has on his posts (all around the £800+ mark)

I agree - don't buy the Halfords pack or the Argos pack.
Saying that the one dumb blonde has is one of the slightly better Halfords stock (work there one day a week - Kendal). Any problems with it just return it straight away and get a refund.

There are lots of good, well looked after tents on eBay - especially Cabanons or Relum etc

ESVO is a good dutch site with great tents and FREE UK shipping too. (remember to choose the English flag so you can undrstand it all)

The most important things are the tent and your sleeping things - warm and dry.