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 Topic: Thanks for everything and here`s my first
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27/8/2015 at 11:07pm
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I've scanned and stumbled on this forum for a few years and truly value what you all contribute to.
This is my first post!
Let me introduce myself and perhaps share my current state of confusion :)
I have a family of my wife, and 2 boys 6 and 9yrs old. We live in the new forest.
First camping experience was when I was 15 in a proper dark green canvas troop tent in a large group (youth project) with mess tents, toilet tents etc in purbecks., and I still remember the sound smell and look of those tents, the calming flapping of the walls, Dutch lacing, rolling back your mats and bags on waKey wakey rise and shine, cool and shadey in the day, warm in the night, creaking of the wooden poles. I really want my boys to experience that.
A few festival stays at reading in my late teens were great but not because of the camping!
As a family, the first tent we had was a bundled deal at Cotswold outdoors, polyester 4 man dome - identical to style of the vango Icarus when our 9yr old was 1 - and an old mate came with us. I barely slept with the worry of our precious toddler in a travel cot, but still a few beers and great bbq pork steaks were enjoyed with my old pal's guitar for ambiance. This was in the new forest for one night in the summer. During that year we went away a couple more times and then invested in a metre 500gsm canvas bell tent. Something from the scout tent was there but it wasn't for us. For me, it wasn't dark green and it wasn't the ridge shaped. For my wife,but lacked an awning, inner tents...
So we then get a cabanon frame tent and appreciate the quality but we're surprised by how hot it got. I was surprised by how
Much work was needed in getting it erect (sorry!).
We then decide camping is too stressful with all the boys and bibs we'd got together for it, trailer mods to fit it al in and time prepping packing and setting up, so sold most of our gear.
This year we feel the call to canvas and I invest in a cabanon trailer tent. Very refined stuff and most impressive but it was still too much to set up and prep but I found the call inside me for the tradition of a sleeping tent and a tarp to cook and eat. So we sell the trailer tent and my wife is not wanting to continue camping - which I understand and appreciate.
Now I see the opportunity for a few weekend one night pitch ups with a small tent for me and my boys with the tarp too - and feel we need something like a bct task force 4 with extension and bell, or a vango force 10 mk5, or maybe a cabanon Guadeloupe... But I can't afford more than a couple of hundred and now I am stuck with the polyester tents for availability and have settled with a vango Lauder 500 for this weekend. I know autumn is coming and nights are drawing in a bit, so going to poly from canvas is going to be an obvious cold night and condensation in the morning.
I think ideally we would hire a ridge tent to see if it's for us, but then being unsuitable for family of 4 plus a Labrador, there's little chance of my wife joining in and finding the bug again. For now, it's a lads weekend away and the lab keeps her company in bricks and mortar!
We've never gone beyond new forest in the tent so it would be nice to discover more with the tent and still have room for more my special ladies to come too after U.S. Lads re recruit!
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29/8/2015 at 8:49am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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My OH used to go off on hobby weekends with his tent, and as soon as son was old enough, about 6, he took him along too. It was very basic camping on an airfield, with just a toilet and sink and cold water. They used to come back filthy, but enjoyed it with a hobby and like minded people.
I heard all the horror tales, and nothing would have made me go. However I started camping with a friend on proper campsites with hot showers, and once we had been to France, there was no stopping me. I got OH interested, and we've not looked back. Now we have the campervan, it's a lot better, no worries about the weather. OH still uses the 'van for his hobby weekends, but goes on his own now, son is all grown up.
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29/8/2015 at 12:02pm
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thanks all for your generous feedback and advice. at duffs54 - for me, glamping is a good idea but I think, rightly, that she deserves a hotel and I'm quite happy with that too.
at jimmysrabbit at jelboy53 at franbee
Indeed, there's nothing wrong with a lads trip, and we don't all need to be into the same thing. It's just nice to feel that you are sharing the experience but of course it isn't the same if you don't both enjoy it!
The boys love going scouring for dry wood to store for wet weather, zooming around on their bikes (if raining - biking through muddy troughs of field water is excellent!) but indeed, helping create the den is exactly what it's all about, as is helping make the camp out stew!
We remember the finest of details as kids, so I want to give them all they can enjoy as explorers.
Turning over logs in the woods to bug hunt is a great treat.
For me, play areas, bars, pools et all aren't the same. Its about escaping and all getting back in touch with your self. Nice to come home to carpet, heating, oven and bath!
If we had a caravan or camper, then I'm sure we'd enjoy that in a different way and my wife would be happier - but that's a huge investment and involves lugging too much around. Would be better to pop up at other locations I think.
I prefer taking less, a mug each, a big pan to stew or use as a washing bowl, one knife to prep food and split kindling with a knock of the peg mallet, a fork and mess tin each. Minimum change of clothing - but great care in keeping it all dry!
With the huge trailer tent... the inside of the awning/living space was pretty bare, save for the clothes and food larder. In heavy rain, we still sat outside under the sun canopy or the boys would be in the tent/pup tent with loom bands or cards.
It's subjective of course - each to our own.
at icepop many thanks for the pic of your tent. This is just the ticket. What's the dimensions? I am interested. It looks great.
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