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Quote: Originally posted by Rik Brooks on 21/3/2010

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I don't honestly see why this debate has to be so polarised because I have a foot in both camps.

I have the big Cabanon, the Carri Chef Deluxe, the carpet, cut glasses, proper crockery and cutlery, table cloths and all the rest of it.

I have also the back packing and moutaineering stuff along with the skills to use it.

Isn't it largely a matter of what's appropriate? You try carrying a Cabanon up a mountain and similarly, why eat your "Wayfarer" back packing meal out of a bag when you can cook yourself a proper dinner and eat it in a civilised manner?

Where I differ from the classic "glamper" even when I watch the sun going down over the Aruba drinking vintage port out of cut glass after dinner is that the skills I use and the kit I take are based on my mountaineering skills, there's just a good deal more kit however I don't have EHU and all that goes with it and I keep my food cool by wrapping it in a wet towel.

I think the "fault line" is that I get told that EHU and all the rest of it is "essential" and sometimes I feel that the skills I have learned as a hill walker are dismissed and sometimes patronised by my fellow glampers when actually they would make life a lot easier and camping more enjoyable for them.

Still, each to their own so let's all enjoy!

Take care

R

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As many have said before me, horses for courses...

I envy the backpackers I see on campsites.  There's a beautiful freedom in being unhindered by technology.

The trick that really kills me is when a new camper says on the boards "I'm setting up and need a recommendation for a decent tent for me and OH and the two kids, and my budget is £200.", and there's always someone who'll come on to tell them "You'll never get a decent 4-man for less than £400!"  So what's the guy to do?  Give up his dream, or get into debt, or feel that he's got to camp in a pile of trash? 

I spent my first two months on this site thinking I'd bought a rubbish tent because people told me nothing short of polycotton would do.  Mine is polyester, and actually, now I've used it quite a bit, I'm thrilled with it!  It's not suitable for weeks and weeks of continuous use in terrible weather (though I suspect it might stand up to even that!), but it's perfect for me and OH - light, airy, easy to erect and very spacious.  And only cost £179 new, which left lots of £££ for the wine and beer!

To tell a mountain man he should have EHU is pretty sad!  Sad and patronising.   Telling someone committed to their way of camping-life that they should be camping some other way is rather like telling the round-the-world yachtsman that he should be flying, because it's faster!

FoO

What an interesting thread this is. It`s certainly had the response I think Smashing was hoping for. However, I`m about to start Backpacking for the first time.  I Have three tents from a three man weekend Khyam up to an Outdoor Revolution Scenic 6.2 for week long trips. I also have a full setup for gas only trips as well as a full setup for trips with EHU for the colder months.

So why you might ask would I want to start backpacking at 46 having recently had an ankle fusion, which I`m still recovering from. The answer is simple for me. My wife works most weekends and we only have one car which she needs to get to work, it`s miles away and not on a bus route. So I will be able to get out camping when she can`t. She has encouraged me to start collecting my lightweight gear. I`ve got my tent and rucksack and trangia. Just really need my sleeping bag and mat now apart from the other less expensive bits and pieces. So there it is, some may say I`m mad and they would probably be right Lol. But it will enable me to get away at weekends when ordinarily I wouldn't be able to. When my leg will allow me that is. I`m lucky that we are close to the Lakes and a train or bus will be fairly easy going.

I will then have a perspective from all sides, which may help me out on this forum from time to time.

Martin.

Martin, your post inspires me!  I've been offered an ankle fusion, and wondered whether there would be life after it.  I know everyone is different, and I'm considerably older than you, but it's good to hear of someone dusting themselves off after major leg surgery and getting out there.  Thanks for the boost to my camping morale!

I hope your plans give you many more years of happy camping!

FoO

Hi FoO.

I must admit it has been a very difficult 20 moths for me, and my wife. I came off a ladder and fell 15 ft, smashing my tibia and ankle joint. A pilon fracture he called it. My fusion was the final operation. I did have huge reservations about having the fusion, but after doing lots of research and getting a lot of reassurance from my surgeon decided to go ahead with it. He told me I would have to have it in the near future anyway so decided to get it over with. I only have a slight limp now and ok I can`t run, but at my age I don`t need to. I`m glad I did it, almost pain free now and can`t wait to test it with a backpacking trip. You should do it, ok the recovery is several months but it was well worth it for me. I wish you all my best.

Martin.

Quote: Originally posted by mphigham on 22/3/2010

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Hi FoO.

I must admit it has been a very difficult 20 moths for me, and my wife. I came off a ladder and fell 15 ft, smashing my tibia and ankle joint. A pilon fracture he called it. My fusion was the final operation. I did have huge reservations about having the fusion, but after doing lots of research and getting a lot of reassurance from my surgeon decided to go ahead with it. He told me I would have to have it in the near future anyway so decided to get it over with. I only have a slight limp now and ok I can`t run, but at my age I don`t need to. I`m glad I did it, almost pain free now and can`t wait to test it with a backpacking trip. You should do it, ok the recovery is several months but it was well worth it for me. I wish you all my best.

Martin.

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Many thanks for this, Martin.  Your encouragement means a lot to me. 

What rotten luck you had, but I suppose it's good you fell on your feet and not your head.

Sounds like you're very glad you went ahead with the surgery and it looks like a very worthwhile hurdle to have got over.   I really wish you all the best with your new adventures!  Please come back and report when you've made your first sortie!

FoO

Quote: Originally posted by Merry on 21/3/2010

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Hi Rik. Hibernation over for another year?

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Indeed Merry. 

Off for my first trip of the year tomorrow so I'm a lit later than usual!

Take care

R

Quote: Originally posted by padster75 on 20/3/2010

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Each to their own and provided it doesn't harm or offend others then so be it. Camping is as camping does

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I don't like big tents or cars right next to my tent (and I mean less than a metre away so on the guys!).  I get a bit miffed when my guy lines are unpegged as the big tent next door is bigger than anticipated and get really miffed when a big tent is pitched over the entrance to mine (my tent was visible inside theirs).

All the above happened just in the last year.  Glampers - bless 'em - can go right ahead but they don't seem to realise it can impact on my camping.  The people in all the above were unapologetic and, frankly, gave the impression that my small tent (4m x 1m x 1m - so not tiny) was some kind of irritating blip in their way.

Having the car, windbreak, 8 man tent at least 2-3m away doesn't seem so outrageous in my book but I was shot down here for saying such things...so let the shooting match begin again.  Perhaps someone could shed light as to why it's getting harder for a small tent to not get swamped.  I see another thread here where someone asks where to go to avoid being surrounded by touring caravans - so I'm not entirely alone.

I'm not anti-glamper at all but do want them to realise how it is in a low tent when they rock up next to you.

Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 19/3/2010

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Well, if it wasn't for WANT being stronger than NEED the credit card industry would probably go out of business

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Want is created in these advertising times.  Need is...well what you need.

Have a look at Edward Bernays on Wikipedia to see just how want is made.