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 Topic: Back to basics
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28/9/2024 at 4:46pm
Location: North Devon
Outfit: Robens Fairbanks Coleman Phad X3
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If you've got enough height in the bedroom then Decathlon's inflatable camp bed plus an air mattress or for real luxury a decent SIM is the way to go.
I think you can post Wanted ads on here which may be worth a punt for your tent, especially at this time of year.
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Sean
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28/9/2024 at 10:09pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Outwell Nevada M Sunncamp Pathfinder
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Joined: 11/9/2010 Gold Member 
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Another recommendation for the decathlon bed bases! We have two with an outwell dreamboat sim on top, omg its pure luxury! Its better than my bed at home.
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01/2/2025 at 8:49pm
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Joined: 02/6/2010 Platinum Member 
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We did loads of camping when we were young and skint.
Then our daughter arrived and we did quite a lot of camping when she was young. Then school and life got in the way and no longer being skint we were in a position to have more exotic holidays.
Now she has left school and working we are free spirits again and its reignited our interest. Me and daughter had a couple of nights away last year and this summer we will be back to early Friday finish, pack the car, drive an hour or so and live in a field for two nights.
Just had a massive clear out of gear which had been in the loft for years and now have camping gear down to a couple of boxes. Just need a few replacement bits and we will be off again. Can't wait.
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02/2/2025 at 8:54am
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Joined: 05/8/2013 Platinum Member
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There's nothing wrong with using old kit in good working order, start with a local camp or in your back garden to see what still works. Replace gas hoses if they appear a bit crispy or replace them anyway.
Materials and technology have changed since you last camped and the market is flooded with cheap stuff that doesn't work.If you need to buy something research is required. Once you get camping look at what other people are using and compare.
Everyone camps slightly differently, discover your own priorities.
The tea drinkers need kettles, the wine drinkers need fridges and the meat eaters need BBQs. The nerds want solar panels while the adventurous want storm proof tents. prioritise and compromise!
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Enjoy the liveliness of the syntax.
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04/2/2025 at 3:31pm
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Joined: 02/6/2010 Platinum Member
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Agree about old kit and everything we have kept works.
We threw out broken items (why keep such things I ask myself!), some items went on Vinted or Trashnothing, everything else was tipped.
As regards new gear I think the biggest change in 30 years since we started camping is the evolution of low wattage electrical items. The availability of lithium battery powered items (especially lighting) which are very compact and can be charged from small solar solar panels or in car chargers has been a game changer, as has the smartphone for games, radio, TV etc.
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04/2/2025 at 6:19pm
Location: London
Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Joined: 17/9/2015 Diamond Member
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Another one happy with old kit. My two burner CampinGaz stove dates back to the late 60's/early 70's and was inherited from my dad, as was my genuine LiLo rubberised canvas air bed (which TBH I don't trust on age alone, although air tight and appears in good order, so I use modern PVC ones which inevitable fail!  ). The stove is in remarkable good nick and looks like it may have been used for a season, rather than many decades!
My 3 way camping fridge must be 15-16 years old, branded Electrolux, which dates it, and was obtained s/h around 10-11 years ago.
Eternally grateful for the modern LED lamps though! Got an assortment of old lamps from incandescent bulbs (about as good as a candle) to fluorescent lamps which were good on light, but chomped disposable batteries quite hard! Even got a couple of CampinGaz gas lamps with mantles that I've acquired along the way, although may have only used once. No desire to utilise old lighting, but in a way miss the character of the gas lights, the roar, the warm light colour etc.!
My main tent, which I haven't used in around 7-8 years must be be 12-14 years old now, as acquired s/h at around 2 years old.
Must have countless 'bits and bobs' in the way of camping accessories that were either domestic cast offs like pots and pans or cutlery, or acquired specifically, many decades ago.
Even the caravan is getting on a bit, that's nearly 9 years old!
Nothing wrong with old kit whilst it performs it's purpose well enough. No interest in 'bragging' with all the latest kit for the sake of it.
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05/2/2025 at 9:27am
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Joined: 02/6/2010 Platinum Member
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One item tipped was our venerable Khyam quick erect tent which we had had for 25 years. It has been all over the UK and survived some heavy weather, in its last few years it was used as a pitch side shelter/changing room for winter rugby festivals, but the fabric was thinning. Shame they have gone bust as they were great tents.
Our Oakland XL was sold on to a local family with a 1 year old who were also getting back into camping.
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05/2/2025 at 9:34am
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Old kit that functions becomes classic or retro.
Old kit that fails becomes junk.
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Enjoy the liveliness of the syntax.
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via mobile 28/9/2024 at 4:11pm
