Dumb camping questions...

[Dreamer]

OK, so having missed Hograost yet again due to other commitments, I'm thinking about venturing up to East Midlands event from the Soft South... but I haven't been camping for about 20 years....

So, what do you happy campers recommend these days? My plan is to do the CHEAP version... if I like it I can get decent kit next year, if I don't I'll ditch it.

Foam mats vs. self-inflating mats? (or don't bother... real men sleep on the ground?)

Is a kettle + stove worth having for a brew, or not worth it for a couple of nights? If so, recommendations? (I fancy a www.kellykettle.com/ , but probably not the best thing for 'field camping')

Anythink else I'll need?

Any better bargain seller than www.gooutdoors.co.uk ?


BTW, I'm assuming you have booked sunny weather for the weekend? I'm not camping in the rain!

How does this look... ?

 

[brassmonkey001]

How about a sleeping bag?
An inflatable mattress is much better than a foam one. Unless it gets a puncture.
You can pick up cheap stuff in or probably any supermarket these days.
I also recommend foam earplugs to wear while sleeping, the snoring can exceed WELs.

 

[Buckaroo]

The best way to guarantee a poor camping experience is to go camping with bad gear. If there's a chance of rain or bugs you'll want a tent. If it might rain a lot, you'll want a tent with enough room to move around a bit, maybe even take a piss in a bottle. In the States, decent tents are easy to come by without spending a lot, I'll trust to your mates to advise for the UK.

You can wear a lot of clothes in a cheap sleeping bag and still stay warm, so you can save some Sterling here. Bring a watch cap, long underwear/sweat pants, dry socks to supplement a cheesy bag. Bring a mylar survival blanket for extra warmth. Get a bag that packs reasonably small, probably a synthetic fill like Quallofil, Holofil 2.

I like air mattresses because they pack small, but you do risk a puncture. For a short weekend, a cheap one should be fine. Talk to your fellow campers about what works for them.

The cheapest stove is methyl alcohol in an Altoids tin. Or build your own alcohol stove like this: http://zenstoves.net/CatCanStove.htm

Or bum some hot water from a camp mate and make a new friend.

Whatever you do, never ever cook in a tent. Carbon Monoxide is NOT your friend.

Hope you have a good time, the world needs more happy campers

 

[EPP]

Me Too

Hi Ive not been camping for ages and just had a great weekend away recently even though it chucked it down for a day, so was in the same position. This is what i found.

Go outdoors is a great shop loads of stuff to look at but some of it can be bought alot cheaper on Ebay.

I bought a Trangia cooking set the army versions available on ebay for about a tenner or the commercial version is 45.00 ish. However if theres a Lidl near you they have exactly the same commercial set for 8.50 a total bargin. see this link it will show you how the trangias work, self contained and real easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4l1JveEAdE&feature=related

having used a self inflating mat I will be buying an inflatable mattress from Millets did not really give the kind of cushioning off the ground i was hoping for, a mate who had an inflatable packed it in his pannier easier than my self inflating mattress packed. I also bought two camping pillows.

I found the first night I was freezing like cant get to sleep cold even after copius amounts of beer. sleeping bag was a two season mummy so next day went to a local camping shop and got a sleeping bag liner which inceases the bag by a season next night was brill. Liner is a good idea keeps the bag clean and if you get to warm take it out.

I looked at the Gelert tents and they did seem good value for money but i spent a little extra and got a Khyam which has the rapidex pole system and goes up in about 2 minutes great if you arrive and its raining, no poles to thread.

Last thing i got was a travel towel from go outdoors about 14.00 but well worth it, it packs up into nothing and works really well.........I hope my recent experience helps.......good luck and i hope you have a great time.

 

[Dickieboy]

One of the single best items I've bought and used is a Gelert Microfibre Towel

http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/0138404452.html

 

[STUBBS]

waterproof roll top bag to keep it all dry

 

[KTMmartin]

Make sure you can store all your kit dry.

This sounds obvious but, unless you plan to sleep in your biking kit you'll want to have enough room to store it. As it might stink, perhaps not where you are sleeping?

Whilst I kept my helmet and boots in my topbox, my worn night clothes left not enough space for my day leathers, and as such required an extra waterproof bag - that was used while riding to carry everything else in their own smaller bags.

In summary make sure you can put everything away so if it rains and you're butt naked, only you get wet.

 

[skyenet]

Go Outdoors is pretty good but plenty bargains to be had in Aldi, Lidl, Argos, Poundland, Tesco and Army Surplus stores. Just a matter of shopping around and the better the gear the easier it will be to sell if you don't like it.

One useful thing I picked up was a Turboflame Military lighter in Black from GO Outdoors for only £6.30. Great lighter for camping and getting BBQs lit.

The Turboflame Original Military, like the Turboflame Original, is essential for any outdoor enthusiast’s survival kit, but now with a new soft rubber body in military colours. Its jet-like precision flame reaches temperatures up to 1300c and has a lock on flame that makes it a handy pocket blowtorch, which can withstand 10 minutes of continuous use.

Turboflame ‘clean burn’ technology means it can also melt synthetic materials without depositing black carbon, so outdoor equipment can be quick fixed without discolouration. Outdoor enthusiasts include Turbo flame in their emergency kits to melt p-tex, seal micro - cracks in boards and canoes, cut and seal nylon rope in addition to lighting fires in less than ideal conditions. They have been tested to work up to 3000 metres and don’t ‘self-combust’ at high altitudes.

 

[Deleted account W]

The Turboflame Original Military, like the Turboflame Original, is essential for any outdoor enthusiast’s survival kit, but now with a new soft rubber body in military colours. Its jet-like precision flame reaches temperatures up to 1300c and has a lock on flame that makes it a handy pocket blowtorch, which can withstand 10 minutes of continuous use.

Turboflame ‘clean burn’ technology means it can also melt synthetic materials without depositing black carbon, so outdoor equipment can be quick fixed without discolouration. Outdoor enthusiasts include Turbo flame in their emergency kits to melt p-tex, seal micro - cracks in boards and canoes, cut and seal nylon rope in addition to lighting fires in less than ideal conditions. They have been tested to work up to 3000 metres and don’t ‘self-combust’ at high altitudes.

You should write adverts for them, I'm impressed

 

[brassmonkey001]

An led head torch is a useful bit of kit to have. You can see what you're doing and still have both hands free to do it with.
You'll need at least a 2 man tent if on your own, or a three man if you're taking the Mrs. preferably with a spacious vestibule or "bell-end" as they used to be called as motorcycle camping necessitates that you have more stuff to store than a backpacker (Helmet, leathers, boots etc.).

 

[Dreamer]

Thanks for the ideas guys... it's always good to learn from others' experience . I'll get meself organised now!

PS: I've already got sleeping bags from previous sailing trips, which is why it wasn't on my list. Even I'm not dumb enough to forget that.

 

[lampwick]

Dumb camping questions...

And a simple solution, if you buy a roll up water carrier, fill it with milton baby sterilizing solution and soak for 24 hrs before us, or you'll get that loverly,plastic and rubber flavour to you cupper