The Camping Forum

[Leedalton]

Get a good sleeping bag, there's nothing worse than being cold in the morning when you wake up.

As for the tent being too big, we have just swapped from a 4 man to a 7 man tent so that we have some room to be inside on rainy days. Our 4 man tent was fine for summer camping, but there wasn't room to stand up in it, and no room to sit about either really. Plus it had those plastic poles, which are fiddly. Im hoping our tunnel tent will be easier to pitch.... ;o)

[MrsPitStop]

Get a good sleeping bag, there's nothing worse than being cold in the morning when you wake up.

As for the tent being too big, we have just swapped from a 4 man to a 7 man tent so that we have some room to be inside on rainy days. Our 4 man tent was fine for summer camping, but there wasn't room to stand up in it, and no room to sit about either really. Plus it had those plastic poles, which are fiddly. Im hoping our tunnel tent will be easier to pitch.... ;o)

I must admit Im with you on the tent we are a family of 3 with a small dog and have the tigris 800 so on rainy days we can sit inside and not be claustrophobic. We only have the pods up down one end so it gives us an area without carpet for muddy days when you want to get in before taking your shoes off. Also in the long run we have room for guest if they wish to join us.

The key to having the larger tent is getting use to pitching at home first and have jobs that each of you are responsible for, ie I put down the footprint while hubby takes the dog for a quick walk then we both do the poles together, after whilst he is fidling getting it just right I go round pegging out the guys and making sure they are secure and tight enough. I do the lower part of the pods whilst he does the higher (he's taller than me). Our daughter is responsible for running the mallet between the two of us and dishing out the tent pegs.

[KLCG]

Dont buy a tent bigger than you need!

Good point heating a ten berth tent for just two of you is a bit of a waste!!! X

Not only that but how many times do you see a couple or small family turn up on site and spend hours battling to put up a huge tent, way bigger than they need, usually descending into a full on domestic. I've seen irate novice campers snap poles and rip flysheets.......... on one occasion i saw a particularly agitated bloke jump in his car and drive off leaving a half pitched tent (a ridiculously big 8 man dome) and a bemused girlfriend behind............. thankfully he did come back a few hours later, looking very sheepish, by which time me and my missus had pitched the tent for them and made the poor girl a brew.

thats me and my bloke!!!!

have a practice run somewhere very close to home first, that way you can see what you need and how you sleep on airbeds etc after our disaster camp last sept we are going to use roll mats instead of airbeds now as we slept awfully on the airbeds. and take plenty of cheap fleece blankets to layer up if need be.

[KLCG]

From very recent experience dont buy a tent that is too big to properly air out somewhere for a few days i.e like your garden! Because thats what i have done and i think my tent is now ruined

[Guin74]

Definitely invest in good sleeping kit. You can deal with anything after a good nights sleep. After a couple of disturbed nights tempers can fray and it's not fun anymore.

[badger]

Wat a great topic

Theres sooooo many things...... But i would have to say pick a good site,do some research and read reviews; No point packing everything and your snug at night etc... If the site fails to impress. This is very important if you are taking the kids along too; They dont miss the 'bottle opener' or 'spare gas canister' They just want to run free like nutters,use the pool,arcade,footy nets or see any wildlife thats about...

The material things you can nip and get while you there,or beg and borrow off other campers.