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 Topic: Lost the will to live with tent camping
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28/5/2017 at 11:43pm
Location: Denmark
Outfit: None Entered
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Joined: 27/4/2011 Platinum Member 
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I wouldn't be keen on erecting an easy piych tent like the Khyam Chatsworth single handed in windy conditions...
A bell tent can be erected single handed, and it can be pegged down all the way round before erecting it, so it will not take off like a big balloon at the slightest wind. Some years ago I managed to pitch my 3 m poly bell tent in 15 minutes - and that was even while I needed a crutch when walking!
When I was camping as a single Mum with 2 kids I could pitch my Montana 6 single handed - but only when there was no wind at all! And it took about 2 hours until the tent, the airbeds and all the other stuff where in place. I ended selling the Montana 6 and kept my (loads of) easier-to-pitch tents, but the damage had been done - my oldest daughter had lost all interest in camping, because she was tired of Mum shouting, swearing and breaking down in tears at the start of the holiday (my youngest daughter even wrote a text at school -"Write about your holidays" citing my language when pitching the tent - very embarrassing!). Not to forget the end of the holidays with things going on in reverse order and Mum breaking down twice - when everyting was packed down at the site, and when it had to be unpacked, dried, and stored in the right places at home.
I know, it is no option for you, but since last summer I have a little 3 bed caravan, a minimum of things to load or unload, and my daughter, now 17, has become a happy camper again! I kept few of my smaller tents though, for my solo camping trips (hope I'll have time for them!).
So my advice is to buy a tent like a bell tent or a pyramide that is easy and fast erected by one person - and to downsize the equipment!
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Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
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02/6/2017 at 9:09pm
Location: Derbyshire
Outfit: Zempire Aero TL
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Joined: 22/6/2009 Gold Member 
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We have been through all the various stages of camping. After the cubs and scouts camping as a kid I used a two man blacks tent and a single campingaz burner for years. Once the family came along we moved onto bigger and heavier tents and more and more stuff. We went through exactly the same as you with the tent, fighting with a outwell sunvalley 8 with an extension for years. We got sick of that and someone offered us a cabanon jupiter trailer tent for a great price. That last about 3 trips. Although the main unit was a pleasure to put up the awning caused divorce/breakdowns every time we put it up. Hated not having the sewn in groundsheet too and the beds were just uncomfortable. We sold that and bought a Vango Maritsa 700. We thought metal poles might be easier to put up. It was still hard work and always caused a row. Heavy too. The poles were stupidly heavy. We also got camping beds to try and be more comfortable and various other bits. It took forever to put it all up and pack it all away. At that point we gave up for a couple of years but we missed it so had a rethink and decided to go back to basics a bit.
We now have an inflatable tent and electric pump which I can easily put up AND take down and pack in 15 minutes on my own without breaking a sweat, a couple of camping chairs, a cooker, frying pan and kettle, a little table, some 7.5cm self inflating mats and sleeping bags, a hookup cable, a little outwell coolbox and a lamp. Its quick and easy for a couple of nights trip but will do for a week too. it all fits very nicely into my little 4x3 trailer and most importantly, no rows, no stress, takes half an hour to set up and a leisurely 45 mins to pack away. Going back to basics a bit has made it fun again rather than a huge stress and it allows me to take the kids on my own if my wife doesn't want to go sometimes. It is easy to get sucked into the "I need all this stuff" mindset but it can make it more hassle than it is worth. Worked for me anyway :)
The only thing i would say is be careful of weights with inflatable tents. Mine is 25ish kilos and I wouldn't want to be dealing with some of these that are 40-50 kilos. I'd be back to hating putting the tent up!
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I got Bargains!!
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03/6/2017 at 10:27am
Location: London
Outfit: Vango Kalu Hypercamp Eldorado
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It is a whole different ball game with young children. Also, I note that it is MsBearLake who is most put off. All families are different, but depending on how a household runs any self catering, and especially camping, can feel like all the same parenting load with twice the work.
In our house all parenting and domestic is split 50/50, and when we are camping we cook over a fire (corrrction I cook... other half is mostly a camping refusenik) and that IS the fun. Because we like to do it. Me, and the kids who are now old enough to properly help, as well as go to the toilet block / shower unaccompanied, etc etc.
I did camp from when mine was 3, minimal kit, long weekends.
The line between fun, relaxed, chilled, and bloody hard drudge can be a fine one, with small kids.
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03/6/2017 at 8:28pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700; Isis 600 + canopy
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I get where you're coming from.
We have a Maritsa 700 for our big tent, and that's heavy enough, but I don't think it's as heavy as the bear lake.
We have a trailer, that always makes me slightly nervous, just in case anything happens.
And we have two children, one with special needs and setting up can be challenging to say the least! I've tried to reduce the stuff we take, but I'm not sure what else I can reduce - we have a table, beds, four chairs a small kitchen unit and a stove. But we are still at about 3 hours for set up.
Last time, what we did that worked for us, is we got the tent and poles done together (which means mainly me doing stuff, and him holding things), the main guy ropes done so it won't fall down or blow away.
Then, I take the kids out somewhere. Anywhere. While my husband does the rest of the pegging out, and setting up. Then when we get back (bringing beer with us) he has a shower, while I make tea! That worked so, so much better because we weren't yelling at each other the whole time. Yes, more work for him, but he swears he prefers that to me nagging at him!
I can see that an air beam would help a lot, but whatever tent you've got, it still needs pegging out - and that's the bit I really don't like.
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