Now that you've convinced the family to go camping with you, you're next step is to make sure they have a great time without it costing a fortune. Here is a basic inventory of the camping gear you are going to need to buy to make your first trip a success.
Choosing a Tent.
Borrow one. That's my advice if you want to go cheap, phone a friend and take it out for the weekend. If you don't want to risk a stinky tent and would prefer your own then this is what I recommend - buy one bigger than you need. I know this isn't exactly a money saving tip but I have a good reason for this. If you're a family of four, for example, you will not fit comfortably into a four person tent and have a good night's sleep. Why is this? In my opinion, to get a good night's sleep while camping you're going to need air beds. Four air beds will not squeeze into a four person tent, that is the basic facts. If you can, go bigger, get a five or a six person tent and I guarantee you'll enjoy the experience much better. If you enjoy it, you'll go back and then you'll be getting your money's worth out of the tent.
Buying Sleeping Bags
A two season sleeping bag will get most people through the summer months. If the bag has a temperature rating make sure its 'Lower Comfort Zone' is round about +10 degrees C. Like I said, this applies to most people but if you're the type of person who wears bed socks and a night cap in July I would consider upgrading to a three season sleeping bag or a bag with a lower comfort zone closer to zero degrees C. Take an extra blanket just in case.
Air Beds
This is a simple one: air beds (or at the very least self-inflating mattresses). If you're a first timer, don't go for the foam mats, you need to be an expert to be able to get a wink of sleep on those things. Four air beds will give you a fighting chance of getting some sleep, but four air beds will not fit into a four person tent. Don't forget to take a pump.
Choosing a Stove
We all love the idea of a barbeque in the evening outside the tent, but if you have to make the choice between a barbeque and a camping stove, I'd go for the stove. A camping stove is easy to set up, it's quick, it's cheap and it burns fuel that you can get from the site shop. A foldable barbeque is great in the evening with a bottle of wine, but not so go in the morning, when everyone is shouting for bacon butties. Go for a single burner canister-style stove.
Other camping gear to take
The rest of the camping gear you can steal from your house. From the kitchen grab some pans, knives and forks, mugs, spatula and plates, those cheap plastic ones from the back of the cupboard will do fine. Take your washing up bowl and washing up liquid. From the bedroom, grab some pillows and a spare blanket. In the bathroom get soap and your toothbrush. Stuff some warm clothes in a bag and you're ready to go. Enjoy your trip.
Choosing a Tent.
Borrow one. That's my advice if you want to go cheap, phone a friend and take it out for the weekend. If you don't want to risk a stinky tent and would prefer your own then this is what I recommend - buy one bigger than you need. I know this isn't exactly a money saving tip but I have a good reason for this. If you're a family of four, for example, you will not fit comfortably into a four person tent and have a good night's sleep. Why is this? In my opinion, to get a good night's sleep while camping you're going to need air beds. Four air beds will not squeeze into a four person tent, that is the basic facts. If you can, go bigger, get a five or a six person tent and I guarantee you'll enjoy the experience much better. If you enjoy it, you'll go back and then you'll be getting your money's worth out of the tent.
Buying Sleeping Bags
A two season sleeping bag will get most people through the summer months. If the bag has a temperature rating make sure its 'Lower Comfort Zone' is round about +10 degrees C. Like I said, this applies to most people but if you're the type of person who wears bed socks and a night cap in July I would consider upgrading to a three season sleeping bag or a bag with a lower comfort zone closer to zero degrees C. Take an extra blanket just in case.
Air Beds
This is a simple one: air beds (or at the very least self-inflating mattresses). If you're a first timer, don't go for the foam mats, you need to be an expert to be able to get a wink of sleep on those things. Four air beds will give you a fighting chance of getting some sleep, but four air beds will not fit into a four person tent. Don't forget to take a pump.
Choosing a Stove
We all love the idea of a barbeque in the evening outside the tent, but if you have to make the choice between a barbeque and a camping stove, I'd go for the stove. A camping stove is easy to set up, it's quick, it's cheap and it burns fuel that you can get from the site shop. A foldable barbeque is great in the evening with a bottle of wine, but not so go in the morning, when everyone is shouting for bacon butties. Go for a single burner canister-style stove.
Other camping gear to take
The rest of the camping gear you can steal from your house. From the kitchen grab some pans, knives and forks, mugs, spatula and plates, those cheap plastic ones from the back of the cupboard will do fine. Take your washing up bowl and washing up liquid. From the bedroom, grab some pillows and a spare blanket. In the bathroom get soap and your toothbrush. Stuff some warm clothes in a bag and you're ready to go. Enjoy your trip.
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To get more advice on buying a tent or required more information about where to find cheap camping gear then these links are very useful.
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