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We used to take a great mountain of stuff. Then we went, just once, on a lightweight camping holiday by public transport, carrying our gear in bags. It was a great holiday, and we realised we do not really need most of the stuff we used to lug around.

As Colin Chapman (Lotus Cars) used to say, Nothing is lighter than nothing. In other words, instead of buying a super lightweight titanium TV stand, ask yourself, do we need this? 

Quote: Originally posted by bentondeep on 16/12/2012

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I really think if we didn't have all the home comforts we have it would have been a disaster.

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When we forst started we bought eveything we thought we needed and didn't use half of it!

I now have my perfect camping kit and, although it's nice to have a "wish list", I know I now have everything I need for a comfortable and cosy camping trip with my current set ups.

Apart from replacing any broken or damaged items, it's just petrol and ptich fees for me again next year.

We started with a cheap Vango tent with suitcase stove, chairs, and airbeds and bedding. We now have a Bear 4 and extention, trailer, newair beds, EHU, tables, chairs, electric cool box, kettle, toaster and now we have our perfect set up we are thinking of selling up. We have rented a house for the last 2 years off a friend and we quite like having our own toilet. Although we do miss sitting outside the tent and chatting to other campers.

It really is as cheap or as expensive you makeit. It all depends on what you want to take really. 

For us getting our own kit was a no brainer, following years of renting statics in Southern France during July for a fortnight.

Prices had got well past £500 for a week and were starting to hit £750 per week.

So back in 2008 we decided to ditched the renting of a static, and replace all our old camping kit with new.

This we did and despite the outlay, we have now more than re-couped our outlay.

We only go camping once per year to the South of France in July, although we are only on the campsite for a fortnight we are away for 3 weeks, due to the over nights stops, to and from the main campsite.

For us it is working out a whole lot cheaper than renting a static, and we still enjoy the holiday just the same if not more.

It's a definate win win solution for us.