Tent camping

[rbork]

I don't recommend a 500$ tent right out of the gate either.
We like to camp. We still use a 10 year old Coleman 10x14. It's finally wearing out. But my boys will use it still this month for "winter" camping. (I draw the line at 20 degrees )
You could buy a decent tent, campstove, sleeping bags, lantern and 5gal water cooler for under 500$. Key is keeping the stuff in good shape. Take your time, clean it good and store it good after each trip.
We have a pup too and it paid for itself after the 1st year.
We do almost all dinner cooking on the camp fire and all breakfast cooking on the camp stove. I only bring one pot, one fry pan and one cast iron dutch oven. We do a variety of tenting and rv'ing and have gone from FW to Canada.
On the other hand if you decide that you really like camping, you can invest in a piece at a time. My DS14 is getting ready to camp in NM this summer and his sleeping bag alone costs $300+. It will be his last sleeping bag...he will need to keep and use it into adulthood.

 

[MrsPete]

Depending on the season I would buy sleeping bags. There is not way blankets are going to be good for extreme weather.

That's absolutely true; a sleeping bag is always warmer than blankets because it wraps all the way around you. However, I'd suggest that they stick to blanket weather 'til they're sure whether they're camping people.

When you do decide to invest in sleeping bags, choose good ones and they'll last. My sleeping bag still looks brand-new, and it was my 15th birthday present -- I'm 44. I've camped across the US, spent about eight summers at camp both as a camper and a counselor, and worked in an Outward Bound-type program during college. That sleeping bag has done a good job for me.

We always have had wonderful memories camping and it did save quite a bit of money so we could take long trips.

I agree with the wonderful memories part, but I'm not really on board with the saving quite a bit of money part. Campgrounds run $15-40 per night, we have an investment in equipment, and we always seem to spend more on camping food than we do home food. Add in firewood and propane. Remember that camping means we have to drive our big SUV (because my little Honda can't fit the tent, cooler, sleeping bags, sleep mats, etc.), and that means more than double the gas. Camping isn't all that cheap -- and that isn't including the time you need to prepare your gear. In contrast, I can always find a cheap hotel for $50 or less, which will include clean linens and often breakfast. I don't think camping is a whole lot cheaper.

This year I need to replace the two kid-sized sleeping bags for our 10 & 7 yo since they're getting small (those have been passed down the line from our sons) so I'll be looking for a deal on those.

Try eBay. Stores often sell off last year's models.

one question...what is a good layer under the air mattress? I do find it colder than the thermarest I used to use....

An air mattress is an okay choice if you're trying to use something that you already have at home, but it will never be an ideal piece of camping equipment. It will always be cold because the air will always match the temperature around it. If you get serious about camping, you should get something better.

We have something similar to this: http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/mattresses/camp-and-comfort/dreamtime/product

Ours is actually a different name brand, but it's about 4" thick and is filled with foam. Unlike air, the foam stays warmer and provides you with a good layer of insulation from the cold ground. Unlike an air mattress, you won't find yourself stick in a "puddle" if your mattress leaks a bit. It's actually MORE comfortable than an air mattress, and it's self-inflating. The one negative: It takes a bit of effort to roll it up.

 

[MrsPete]

I don't recommend a 500$ tent right out of the gate either.

Renting a tent is an option.

We do almost all dinner cooking on the camp fire and all breakfast cooking on the camp stove.

Another cooking tip: I try to do as much as I can ahead of time at home. For example, if I'm going to cook Beef Stew, I'd chop up the vegetables at home and bring them all in one ziplock. It's just easier.


And a question: DH and I have talked about the possibility of buying a Teardrop camper for just us two after the kids are gone. Anyone have experience with these?

 

[disneynewbeemom]

We have tent camped for about six years with our two sons. We use air mattresses and sleeping bags. We bought a piece of indoor/outdoor carpet that we keep at the outside entrance to the tent. It really helps keep our tent clean. We also put small dustpans and brooms in our boys' stockings one year for Christmas. It is now their job to keep the tent free of dirt! We usually take a fan and an extension cord with us as it gets hot in the summer. I pack all of our clothes in a rubbermaid stackable drawer set. Each person has a drawer. It keeps us organized. Buy a pop up hamper at the Dollar Store also! I bring my drying rack to put our pool towels on. We love Yogi Bear Campgrounds. They have great kids activities. Good luck!

 

[Vijoge]

Who loves it? Who hates it?
I was thinking a 6 person tent - any recommendations?

We have a truck so we have plenty of room for our stuff. Coolers - check. Lantern - check (we used to tent camp all the time). No sleeping bags. Could we use an air mattress and blankets/sheets from home? We have a single person cot that DS could use, so he can definitely just use a blanket/sheets from home. We have pots and pans we can bring from home. And plates, cups, silverware. Do we need a propane hot plate/burner? I'm thinking not at first - we could always add it later if we find we really enjoy camping. I will probably cook most of our meals while we're camping (cook being a relative term - dinner will be deli-meat sandwiches, chips, fruit, etc. most breakfasts will be quickies, with lunch being our big cook-on-the-fire meal). I'm sure we'll eat out a couple of times...it is vacation after all!

Am I missing anything? I was thinking mid-late spring for our first venture. Somewhere close to home. Maybe this summer we'll venture out further. We would love to go to South Dakota. And, of course, Fort Wilderness!

Thanks!

Ok, we've been camping for a gazillion years, so . . ,

You're in Minnesota, correct? You NEED sleeping bags, especially if you're planning to camp mid-late SPRING. It's going to get cold at night. Blankets aren't going to cut it.

You do not need a propane stove. We don't use one. We cook over the campfire. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And we cook a lot! You'll need a grate for the firepit-an old oven rack usually works great. And a stirring stick to stir the fire-find a branch about 6 ft. long and about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and put your son to work peeling the bark off of it. This stick will last you for several years if you don't leave it sitting in the fire. Pick up a fire starter log and cut off small pieces to start your fire. Leave the lighter fluid at home. It stinks up the campground and it's dangerous.

You'll need a wash tub for washing dishes, as well as a big pot for heating the water to wash them. And a dish drainer.

You have a lantern-take a couple of flashlights also, as you'll need them at night for trips to the latrine. And bring some toilet paper, just in case.

Xtra shoes, lots of socks, cold wet feet are miserable. . .

A heavy duty plastic tarp for underneath the tent, make sure it's big enough so it's a bit larger than your tent footprint unless you enjoy sleeping in cold, wet, sleeping bags.

As for the tent itself, I agree Eureka is probably one of the best choices, but they're pretty expensive. Coleman also makes some nice ones. Maybe you could borrow a tent from someone for your first trip out. Ater that, I'd recommend the biggest tent you can afford. There's no such thing as too much room and tents are sized assuming people are lined up in there like sardines in a can. You're going to need room to move around, and room for your gear. And when it rains and you spend two full consecutive days in your tent. . .well, you'll be happy for the extra room.

 

[Vijoge]

And a question: DH and I have talked about the possibility of buying a Teardrop camper for just us two after the kids are gone. Anyone have experience with these?

I have a friend who bought one a couple years ago. He just loves it. We do too, but the grandkids always want to go with us so it's not an option for us right now.

 

[mum of two pirates]

We live in the northeast and camp about 8-10 times a summer most of the time without DH. We camp in the woods with no elec. Just a creek or on a lake, sometimes on the river and here are a few things I love.

I have a bag like this one, It is the best camp acc. we own but mine has a top that zipps. I paid $20 for it on sale from $30. I love it. We put all are paper plates, plates, cups ect in one. first aid and game stuff,wind up flash light from costco w/ radios plus all the small mis stuff in one. that leaves the other two. /we can just grab one bag when we go atving along with the camp stove and know we have everything in it we need plates, silverware, napkins, spatchula down to a zip lock bag with wetwipes to fix a lunch.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/mo...and-camping-accessories~d~163/&colorFamily=70


This is the tent we have, its really big but paid $175 for it and have had it for 4 years now. People joke that here they come with there cabin but I love being able to stand up in it, it fits 4 queen size air mattress and we still have room to walk around in it. I can sit it up by myself and do it all the time, even when DH is along. I set up he takes down. make sure you take a flat head screw driver along to push the click wires out because they hold well and it's easer to do that way.

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_089W016665030001P?prdNo=8&blockNo=8&blockType=G8

We have about 4 of these egg holders and pick them up at the thrift store for friends all the time. They work and we camp for a week at atime and need lots. I cut the handles off so they fit in the cooler better.

http://www.rei.com/product/696008/coghlans-6-egg-holder?cm_mmc=cse_froogle-_-gpeLink-_-product-_-696008&mr:trackingCode=B2A815C2-B849-E011-AFD7-001517384908&mr:referralID=NA&{copy:s_kwcid}=&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=9960887045&mr:keyword={keyword}&gclid=CIzJ7bX9ia4CFacbQgodW1Aa3g


I use a coleman lantern that has a click start button on it. It takes the green propane and stores in the maroon plastic case. If you leave it on in your tent for 15 min before going to sleep or while reading it heats the room up allot more than the propane heater we bought from coleman.



I also have two small red rubbermaid containers. They hold about a gallon of water and are about 12 inches long 6 inches tall and 8 inches wide, with lids. These are nice to heat wash water up and put in it with the lid on so it stays warm while you heat enough rinse water up. They then stack .


One other thing I love and cant find online right now is my swiss gear pop up storage tent. I bought it at cabalas for $5. it was on sale online. normally $20. I got 6 of them and gave them as presents. Anyway it is blue and grey and is a small pop up tent with poles that sits on your pick nick table or inside the tent for storage. It is about 12 in x 12in and 24 in tall. Has a zip door and two poles just like a pop up tent. It has 3 shelves inside it. We use the one on the table for paper plates and plastic silverware, the bottom one for ketchup, mayo, mustard, (we do put these back in the cooler) salt and pepper. and a tub of wet wipes ect. then the top shelf for napkins ect. Then you can just zip when not in use to keep the dust out. The one in the tent is used for my book, flashlight, bug spray, t.p. some first aid stuff we use, wet wipes and whatever else we have so its not laying around in the tent and you don't have to dig in bags for it. These are a few of my fav. things. I love to camp and we camp with about 15 family members every 4th of july and these things are very handy for me. good luck and have a blast.

 

[mum of two pirates]

from the dollar store, 10 in a pack hook 3 of them together to make a frisbee. it kept us intertained for hours one night, you can roll it on the ground like a ball and it will come back to you. or through it like a frisbee. kids loved it. We also have a small blow tourch that we hook onto our green propane tank to start the fire, it was around $15 at big r now we dont need kindling and paper to start our fire. Very easy.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

When my kids were young and I was a SAH Mom, tent camping was the only summer vacation we could afford!
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but it is something you may consider in the future, if you decide on more camping trips: besides our tent, we purchased an inexpensive screen house on sale (under $100) and would set it up over the camp picnic table. It not only kept the bugs out, but gave us a nice place to sit and cook on the campstove if it rained!

 

[hsmamato2]

mumof2pirates,you rock! where did you get that 4 bag thingy for 20,or even 30 dollars? I want one! and how much would you say each cube holds,like paper plates,etc..... enough for how many days and how many people? I need to figure out a good way to pare things down this summer.......

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Ok, a 6 person seems to hold about 3 and gear. were a family of 5 in a 6 person tent and its miserable. sleeping bags are so not a necessary, neither is the stove. Dont go buy a bunch of gear till u know if you like camping. Our tent cost $30 at walmart (now up to 50) and is a osark (sp) trail. Its been through a few storms, alot of wind and the torture of the neighborhood kids and is still standing. I agree with everyone else to set up in your back yard. Heck while you got it out there have a test run, sleep outside in the back yard. Its fun and gives you a idea of what you really need. The best gear tote I ever bought was a simple rolling duffel bag, Our tent poles and tent live in the bottom, our sleeping bags in the main section, one side holds cooking crap the other our bathroom gear.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Ok, a 6 person seems to hold about 3 and gear. were a family of 5 in a 6 person tent and its miserable. sleeping bags are so not a necessary, neither is the stove. Dont go buy a bunch of gear till u know if you like camping. Our tent cost $30 at walmart (now up to 50) and is a osark (sp) trail. Its been through a few storms, alot of wind and the torture of the neighborhood kids and is still standing. I agree with everyone else to set up in your back yard. Heck while you got it out there have a test run, sleep outside in the back yard. Its fun and gives you a idea of what you really need. The best gear tote I ever bought was a simple rolling duffel bag, Our tent poles and tent live in the bottom, our sleeping bags in the main section, one side holds cooking crap the other our bathroom gear.

Oh and my best caming secret ever! Shh dont tell Go to goodwill! we got our first tent there and all that was wrong with it was a broken zipper ($15 dollar fix). They also had nice sleeping bags for $5 a peice (coleman even!)

 

[hsmamato2]

I wish our local goodwill had good gear...if they did,they'd try to charge full catalog price.....

 

[North of Mouse]

I'd rather set fire to my own hair than go camping.

This cracked me up I agree wholeheartedly if it means in a tent. We made it a whole 3 nights, then it rained, and that was IT Could not stand the muggy feeling - DH nor I. We have camped all our married life and worked ourselves up from small trailers to our last two are MH's. We would not go any other way - way prefer it to any motel we could stay in including any at Disney - not interested. It's the Fort all the way for us Have stayed there for years, most of them in Loop 100 our fave. We put in an extra comfy mattress and sleep like babies. We do enjoy camping in the Smoky Mtns. every year though, and always cook outside there - just love it but never again a tent for us - would rather stay home

 

[arthuruscg]

Check out thrift stores, yard sales, and for higher end gear check out Craigslist for camping gear.

FYI: I totally understand your husband wanting to get a $500 tent. The $100 special Target, Walmart, ect are hit or miss on quality.

I suggest getting the standard 2 burner Coleman propane stove and a case iron griddle. Lodge logic (available anywhere) makes high quality but cheep cast iron cook ware and are made in USA.

 

[fletchers5]

I absolutely LOVE camping. We go as much as we can.

You have gotten a lot of great tips on here.

A few of mine are:

I bought a couple of big bins with lids. I put all of my cooking supplies in one and the other one is used for non perishable foods. ( I painted the outside of the lids: COOKING and FOOD). This keeps the bugs and rain out. When we get home from camping, I leave everything in the bins ( except the food- unless it is canned goods)

I bought a few plastic containers with lids. ( about 8" x 12") One holds all of our silverware (plastic and real). The other one holds spices and sugar. Went to the dollar store for the spices. These items stay in my containers all summer till the camping season is done.

These few ideas make it so much easier when getting ready to camp. So much less to pack.

Another item that is nice to have is the TRIPOD....you can get these at Walmart for around $20.00. It goes over the fire for cooking. You can cook just about anything on it.

Hope these ideas help

 

[weeluvdisney]

I am sorry to butt in but I would like to tent camp more often. We have went 3 times in the last 3 years. Several of you have mentioned putting a tarp under the tent. Is this to not have that horrible overwhelming wet feeling on everything? I have camped twice in late August and once in September in Ohio and did not sleep at all because the dew getting on everything in the tent kept me up all night. Any thought or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[beansmom]

wow! this is a great thread! DH owns an island (it SOUNDS much more impressive than it is .. ) and we have been wanting to go camping for a long time now. I like camping but not sure how to make it 'better'. Thanks for the tips.

Maine, here we come (after Memorial Day when it's warmer!)

 

[iheartpeterpan]

I LOVE camping, we go multiple times a year, generally in summer. I would suggest you ask around to your friends and see if you can borrow a tent for one trip out just to see if you like it. If you HATE it then you have not wasted big bucks on a tent.

We have splurged on the REI Kingdom tent for our family but we love to go and it is worth it for us. I love having the room to stand up and the "garage" for gear on the back. However, my teenagers still use the Coleman 10x14 dome tent we bought many years ago and is still going strong. I would urge as others have that you waterproof your seams and get a bathtub bottom. I also will not go without an extra large tarp that I throw over our tent, to protect from rain. We tent camp in the smokies every summer.. and it's gonna rain. Sometimes a lot. I use an easy up over the picnic table, but you could do that with tarps too for a lot less. We just use it all the time at soccer games too so double duty!

I could not live without my coleman propane stove. I put everything in Rubbermaid tubs. I use lighters rather than matches, because it doesn't matter if they get wet. I use a french press for my morning cup of joe. We camp with aerobeds and sheets/blankets but only in the summer.

Camping is awesome but we are outdoorsy and you either love it or hate it. I'd really suggest that you try it out once on borrowed gear (if possible) to see where you fall before you invest too much. Camping is really cheap for us because we've collected so much over the years it's only campsite fees ($10 a day or so)

I also cook ahead, spaghetti sauce, chili, etc. I then freeze that and it helps keep cooler food cold. One of my favorite things I recently got was a coleman oven that goes on top of the stove, we can bake potatos, cook cookies etc...

 

[arthuruscg]

Well, you only need the tarp under the tent to prevent damage to the floor. Since this is for a car camping tent, the standard blue tarps are great and will last as long as the tent.
Don't roll all 4 sides of the ground cloth/tarp up, if you do, water will be trapped between the tent floor and the tarp and eventually get forced through the fabric. Also, do not have any part of the ground cloth visible, if you can see it, rain can get to it. It is better to go to small then to big.

I have never needed to add a tarp to the top of my tent and my ground cloths are cut to fit my tent with out rolling. I never have a problem with getting wet.

Which Kingdom tent did you get? I bought the Kingdom 8 tent during the last REI coupon sale and am hoping to use it a lot this summer.