Camping

[Harold_Shand]

I've been camping a few times, but this year it's going to be a serious business. One 5 year old, one 3 year old and a wife whose only concern is a warm, comfortable nights sleep.

I've had a camp bed and sleeping bag set up, it was too narrow and was wet in the morning.

Had an airbed, which was ok but did lose air. You're kind of knackered if one goes wrong in the middle of the night.

I like the look of fishing beds but they are pricey and will take up too much space in the car...

What's your sleeping kit like, any recommendations, or ones to avoid?
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[hellkat]

Camping sucks like a motherfucker.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[.....]

[hellkat]

Do not get a double airbed, or you will end up divorced.

For your Mrs, get her a decent airbed, let her take the duvet and a pillow (and take a spare sleeping bag in case it rains). I would advise against responding any female queries relating to plumbing the electric blanket in from the cigar-lighter socket. Just pretend you have gone temporarily deaf on that one.

Bedrolls for the anklebiters.

In fact, booking into the nearest Holiday Inn is a much more comfortable arrangement.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

[Harold_Shand]

It's good fun for the kids. When it's sucked for me, it's been no ones fault but my own due to a lack of planning and the wrong kit.
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[Rogerborg]

Budget for putting her into a hotel, or a divorce lawyer, it's your call.
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[J4mes]

Get a coleman double airbed that has separate chambers to inflate it. Stops you bouncing each other all over the place, doesn't get damp and is pretty comfortable as it's double thick. The missus and I love camping!

[Tenko]

I've 3 kids and we use self-inflating mats - you can buy them from camping shops at about £40 a throw and they are worth every penny. You'll find that as yours grow and start having 'not much sleep-overs', you'll get a lot of use out of them as well.

A decent double sleeping-bag is worth it for you and't missus - again about £50 but if you want 'relations' it is the only way. Plus she won't winge as much if she has you to keep her warm...

She insists on quilts & pillows so I go along with it. I don't know how big your car is, but if you need to do this to keep the peace it may be worth thinking about a van or at least a Berlingo. I have a poor-man's Popemobile (Berlingo) because it is perfect for work and camping. Be warned though - any mates with penis size issues won't want to be seen in it!!!

Essential kit - babywipes and black plastic bags.

[stinkwheel]

Mummy sleeping bags come with a left and right zip. If you get one of each, you can zip them together. Then you are together but each have your own foot bit and hood.

Mrs stinkwheel and I have a pair of blacks ones, hers is a female specific one (which is shorter, wider round the hips and harmer).It zips to my mans one in such a way as to have your heads level.

Mrs stinkwheels favourite if we've taken the van and have plenty of room is to have both of our therm-a-rests on the floor of the tent (I put that rubber mesh stuff under them to stop them sliding about) then cover them both and the whole floor of the bedroom part of the tent in one of those thick, fleece overblankets. We then use a double duvet instead of a sleeping bag.

If you were wet in the morning, that is a problem with either the errecting or waterproofness of your tent. If waterproofness of the groundsheet is an issue, a cheap and easy fix is to put one of those big blue decorators tarps under the whole lot, just don't let it stick out beyond the flysheet.

Thompsons water-seal is very good for re-proofing a flysheet. CHeaper and more effective than those sprays you get. Thin with white-spirit and spray on with a garden sprayer or sponge on. Do it on a hot, sunny day and give it LOTS of airing time for the white spirit to evaporate.
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[Harold_Shand]

Like the look of thermarest, but would an old school mat ( the old blue ones ) underneath a fleece, underneath a Vango self inflated mattress provide a good budget version?

Pay your money, take your choice, I suppose.
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Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

When I'm on my own, I use a 3/4 length self inflating mat (think it's a Coleman, know it's not a Thermarest), but in the larger tent I use a lounger with a thicker, wider self inflating mat on it. Won't go back to airbeds.
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[Harold_Shand]

[Tenko]

I'd avoid the Argos camp-bed as you'll probably tip it over as you climb off for a jimmy in the middle of the night...

Thermarest are good - we have one of those but the others are Lidl jobs and work just as well.

Stinky's idea about using a seperate sheet beneath the tent is a good tip - if you've ever camped on thorns you will know how much water the base can let in.....

[Harold_Shand]

Thanks to all who took the time and trouble to give advice.

It's taken all day but I'm going to go with the Coleman comfort double airbed and the kids can have the other double airbed we've got. So, the inner sleeping bit of the tent has a sewn in groundsheet but I'll lay another one down before that goes in. On top of that will be a pair of thick curtains I acquired from a charity shop yesterday, on top of that will be a large picnic rug, the type with the waterproof back. Then the airbeds. Sheets on the airbeds, us in sleeping bags with fleeces on hand for under us or over us should the need arise and proper pillows all round.

We'll be on a site so I'll just take my 240v pump. Think that's the sleeping arrangements sorted... next!
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BCF's 6th favourite poster 2009-2010

Harold_Shand's theory might be the best explanation.

[stinkwheel]

[hmmmnz]

my money is on the self inflating mats, ive had my thermorest now for 12 or 13 years and its never let me down,

the mrs like to take the air bed, but i detest the thing and never have a particuly good night sleep on it,

kathmandu (do you have it in the uk?? ) sell there own brand of thermo rests which are good, there is also the exped down mat,
which is just fucken luxury, its has the usual self infalting bollocks but with feathers in it as well which makes it super warm,

bivouac in nz have them and ship free to the uk, im sure there must be uk resalers as well, but thats who we went through a few years back as it worked it cheaper at the time,

get the biggest thickest one for your mrs, and i bet you won't hear a peep from her about a bad nights sleep,
although she'll still complain about everything else
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[J4mes]

Spotted this: https://www.caseysoutdoorleisure.co.uk/coleman-comfort-bed-double-airbed-276-p.asp

half the price they normally are!

[Harold_Shand]

[Walloper]

Rule No. 1.) Ye canny take enough/too much gear with you when camping.

Wot you got is right

For a bit of comfort take a couple of ground sheets incase the ground gets wet. It suck trying to do everything on one's hunkers.

Take one or two of those windbreak things. Having respite from wind is vital for long-term.

Microfibre towels all around. Dry in minutes and work well.

I think if you get yer nut around it and take reasonably decent gear it makes it more enjoyable and maybe more incentive to use the gear again.
Getting set up is not cheap though.

Look for a Wilkos for stuff you can use and then dump. Argos for stuff is not bad too. Tesco some stuff not bad. Lidl and the other German shop I can't remember the name of.

Take a few bin bags for your rubbish. And torches.
Rule No. 2.) You cannot be five and go camping without a torch.
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[J0Al1]

My X said he used to sleep better camping.. Despite no air bed etc.

Can't be right. . . . You hear every single squeak outside, the light wake you early. Air beds are OK for comfort, but sleeping bags are restrictive and mean you cant wrap the duvet through your legs and snuggle up properly.

Intoxication is th only way, but then you feel worse than if you had a bad night sleep un-intoxicated.

One night I can do.. if decent wash facilities about

Oh and I warn you if your kids have net been before they will be very excited. Mine (age 7 then).. sang IM A ROCK STAR (ful blast) until after midnight.. It was hysterical but somewhat embarrassing.