Camp for less than £50

I would like to point out, that unless you are a backpacker, have a car and can afford the little extra, to choose a tent the next size up from what you need.

So if there are 2 of you then a 4 person tent, 4 of you a six person tent, you will find the extra space comes in handy. Also look at the ease of erecting the tent, just think of doing it in the wet, and say to yourself, how easy and quickly could I put this thing up :)

There are many sites on the net, but don't forget the bare essentials need adding on to the cost, Unless you are going to eat out all the time, then cooking equipment can be purchased quite cheaply, and the water carrier. Don't forget little things like first aid kits too, good for the kids with their bumps and cuts.

Why buy a tent when 'borrow' is so obviously the answer?  Asking to borrow a tent is not an admission of poverty!

Rather than trying to save money on a tent ... I think it would have been better to advise where to camp, cheaply. For expample, http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/camping_and_caravanning/planning_your_holiday/prices.aspx  (sorry about the long url, in the UK, we believe in burying the prices really deep!) compare, for exmple, http://www.forestcamping.com/ - which is the US equivalent.

I have camped much more in the US than the UK, and can very much recommend it - although you will get *looks* when you turn up with a small tent, in the cheapest hire car!  Open your mouths, and you will become the centre of attention!

I agree with most comments already made in that 'size matters'. This is because you need to consider those times you spend in the tent, e.g. very bad weather, cooking time etc., and especially for 'bored' children, so space is required!

I am not sure about borrowing a tent because I would not lend my carefully chosen tents to any 'beginner'. My suggestion here would be to 'try before you buy', and go camping with Eurocamp, Keycamp and Forest Holidays in the UK & Europe or Canvas Holidays in Europe only. If you are on the edge and not sure then go for the 'static caravan' (or chalet) version of these holidays just to get a 'taster'. Don't forget to check site location and most of all 'facilities', dependent on whether you prefer tranquility or full on entertainment. Ferry's can be expensive and don't forget that the UK has just about the most things to do (along with scenery) of any location in Europe. Check out the country you actually live in!

Once you have had the experience and want to invest in camping, then I suggest you shop around, both physically and online. I can see the simplicity of buying from Tesco's, Argos etc., but what advice do they offer? Personally I would check out Blacks, Cotswold, Go Outdoors, Millets etc., and pick up their catalogues. Trawl through these (out of season=no pressure), and look at the techy stuff, compare spec.'s and prices for your needs. Modern tents have some great features, but consider how easy it is to pitch, i.e one person or two required? Best thing is to actually look at a pitched tent (at an exhibition), even better to watch someone pitch it or do it yourself. It's amazing what a difference pitching the tent makes on a dark and windy night! As for the 'gear', I would accumulate this over time. Firstly make sure you have some serious 'all terrain' tent pegs, use them for the storm guys and pitch anyway even if the weather is fine - it can change when you are not there, or during the night. As for cookware, unless you are limited by space (motorcycle) or weight (backpacker), just take the pans from home, bowl, cutlery and most common items you use. Heating tinned food will become familiar....

As for bedding etc., in a bigger tent scenario I no longer use sleeping bags, but prefer an airbed, sheet(s) and quilt. This allows plenty of space but don't forget to insulate the airbed from the ground with a blanket or newspaper, because you will get condensation. Take a dustpan and brush and a doormat, and allocate a tent corner for wet gear.

Most of all enjoy the fact that you can choose how, where and when you camp and it's all down to your imagination. Perhaps that's the 'why'?

I recently bought a £125 tent from Go Outdoors for £95 by using their 'never knowingly undersold' feature. I found a cheaper tent online and took details to them and they, with very good grace, honoured it.

Of course, I now use them for all camping accessories! They are also good on advice.

I would agree about not buying the cheapest or smallest tent. I bought a Vango Omega 3 for my wife and I. You can't stand up, but it is reasonably specified and very quick to erect (after the first time!).

Being middle-aged(!), we also bought a small porta-potti which sits in the living area at night but which is hygenic and does not smell! How glad we are we did!!

I'd definitely agree with the comments above. A few years ago we bought a cheap 2 man tent from Halfords for a week's camping in Norfolk. We had amazing weather all week, apart from one night of rain, and the next day we were hanging our sleeping bags off the car doors all day to dry. We also found on the days it did not rain that condensation was a real problem. The tent did not have an inner 'skin' and so it was just one piece of material between us and the outdoors. The following year we bought a decent 4-man tent from Millets and had a much more comfortable holiday. Not to mention the good amount of space under the awning at the front for eating when it rained, and storing our gear. The cheap Halfords number was a false economy.

SiGI26 - fair point but spending £50 on a tent and having a bad experience that's puts you off camping or spending £100 and having an experience that opens a whole new world to you...which would you go for?

I'm not a camping enthusiast by any means, nor an expert. I'm just a lateral thinking consumer.

If in doubt borrow!

Hey,

agree with most of the above comments:

- probably a good idea to borrow first time so you don't spend £££ on a high end tent just to figure out that you will never do it again.

- We had a 3 man tent for festivals etc for years (me and my brother that is) and that was just about ok space wise. Always have 50% more "people" in the tent than you actually have (if that makes sense)

- Always double skin!!! ALWAYS!

Recently at Glastonbury I saw "2 second tents". I'm intruiged. Does anyone have any experience with them?

Jimmski asked about where to get a Porta-potti.

I got ours from Go Outdoors.

Try their web site: www.gooutdoors.co.uk/

They have three differnt sizes. We chose the Thetford 335 as its the smallest!

tremend

We were forever camping in the UK as nippers 45 years ago & my father bought 2 ex-army bell tents made from heavy duty canvas. Very picturesque. From memory we always seemed to be lucky with the weather. The tents were sturdy against wind & rain - tho' our camp site was once invaded by cows, while we were away, on the South Downs & we had to go home early. Very happy memories!

My only recommendation would be to avoid 'campsites' at all costs. My parents never touched them. My advice to anyone who is interested in camping in the UK is to hire an empty field from a farmer in your chosen  area of the country. It needs to be safe & accesible to your car. Bring your own potty + dedicated tent - the contents will need to be buried every other day so a spade is important. Other than the obvious items which you will always need, this form will require you to bring along a series of large water containers, for cooking & washing 0- not too much of the latter (you are camping after all not living at home. Arrange with the farmer for refills of water each day & get permission to cook on an open fire & that you will have access to plenty of fire wood.

This I think is really camping! It is great fun & the lack of creature comforts is part of the charm. For me camping at one of the commercial sites would be an unimaginative act of desperation. 

HstG