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Sorry camping dad you must have posted as I typed!!

Quote: Originally posted by camping dad on 11/4/2010

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ok, took some advice and went to a tent exhibition near northwich earlier and have decided to buy the vango icarus 500 with groundsheet, carpet and sun canopy.

im happy with that, so more advice please

what equipment do we need, my children are 7 and 5 any recs on either air beds or fold out beds. are portable toilets worth the money? any stove recs.

im planning on doing some cooking along with using the facilities on site too.

thanks in advance

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Coleman Comfort and Aerobeds get widely recommended on this website. We have the former and are very happy. Regarding portable toilets - we use the traditional folding style - the Highlander folding toilet with a flexible chopping board attached loosely to the frame with a tie as a lid. Works as a loo over night (sturdy and very easy to clean) and a waste bin during the day (the lid keeps the wasps away!). Very compact and all you need.

With regard to stoves - take a look at the Campingaz Camping Kitchen Extra which has two burners, a removable griddle, attachable legs, shelves, cupboard, windshields etc. You can use or leave off the extra bits for short trips or have the equivalent of a camping kitchen (without needing a separate piece of bulky furniture) for longer trips. The fabric cupboard folds inside out to make a storage bag for it all. You can't buy the shelves, legs or windshields separately so you need to buy the whole thing if you think you may want them later. Shop around - we got ours last year for less than £50 (even the basic stove costs £30+) - so a bargain!  For a smaller set up the single suitcase style stoves are excellent too...

For a toaster - go for one of the single slice folding toasters (eg gelert's) - does toast lovely in seconds over a burner and folds flat and small (a party trick!). Don't bother with the 3 or 4 slice versions - they don't work!

I bet you'll also get a few other suggestions. Happy camping!!!

Helen

Vango flock airbeds are on offer at the moment at around £9.99 for singles £14.99 for doubles.  We have them and love them.  We've tried self-inflating mattresses, camping mats and camping beds but mattresses are our fave.  Just be careful with them as they can puncture.  I have kept my camping mats and put these under the mattresses with picnic rugs to protect  them from any sharp objects getting through the groundsheet.  Adds a little bit of insulation too.

Hi-gear and Gelert make the same type of stove at around £35 with double burner and grill.  I have seen a new type this year with said single slice toaster attached to a double burner, cant remember make though.  Gelert make a steel kitchen with hanging storage and wind protector at around £35 it is quite sturdy.  On the other hand there is a de-luxe type model Outwell are doing with fold back work surface revealing kitchen sink.  I just have fold down boxes to transport my dirty pots to the pot wash (£2.99 ish Wilkisons and the like).

Its great fun shoppping for camping gear. I confess to being an addict!  Happy Shopping!

Quote: Originally posted by HardyLardy on 08/4/2010

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Hi,

The Icarus is a good shout(we have one) but my choice this year would be the Vango Artemis 600,it's very similar to the popular & best selling Icarus(a very good tent) only it has steel poles which add strength & stability.

For just under £300 you could afford the tent and the carpet...... anyways whichever you decide on have fun and welcome to the forum.

 

i picked the artemis 600 for my first tent, hope to try it out half term week

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