Up until about 4 years ago you couldn’t pay me to tent camp. Then I came to realize that if I wanted to get away then I had better find a cheap way to do it or we will be stuck doing nothing. I wanted my kids to be able to look back at their childhood and say they actually did something. My older 2 do nothing but play video games, watch tv and play on the computer. So about 2 years ago we went camping with friends. And even though we didn’t have the best experience (but it was our friends that dragged us down with them) I decided after that first outing I would go again. The second time was OK, but we went with an additional family and I will never camp with them again.
First, what I did was a search on camping. I think I researched about tents specifically before I purchased the one I did. I was telling my friend yesterday that there are things people don't take into consideration before buying them. One is do you want to be able to stand up straight in the tent? For us the answer was YES so I made sure to get a tent with side walls rather than a dome, our tent is a 7ft high tent. We have a Eureka N!ergy 1310 Family Tent that “sleeps 10” yeah right!
You can see some dome tents in the background. And even though they say they are 6.5 ft tall, that is only in the middle. Also the people count. What they consider a 5 person tent, is what I would consider a 2 person tent. They mean that 5 sleeping bags would fit creatively. Not 5 twin size blow up mattresses. Also I think they assume the 5 would huddle together for warmth. Check out the sleeping arrangements on those smaller tents.
Our tent has a power pack that I purchased separately so we can plug cigarette lighter items into it, we have a fan and a lantern that we can plug into 3 outlets in the corners (the tent is wired in the corners to this power pack). We didn't use the power pack this past weekend BUT I do think we will use it when it gets warmer. You can see by what we are wearing it wasn't real hot out. Also in tent purchasing...One thing that we completely lucked out on was tent shape (specifically foot print). Our tent, which is 10x13, BARELY fit on the pad (you can see it hanging off). Most tent pads are about 10x10. We ended up moving to the next site after that picture was taken. If you had an 18x10 ft tent then really you are going to massively hang over the tent pad. The tent pad is gravel for a reason (which is also a reason to get the tarp for underneath). When it rains the water won't run under your tent.
As far as other gear, there are things that some people might have on a list. What I would hate for anyone to do is buy a bunch of things for camping then not like it and be stuck with things you won't use. I guess an argument can be made that if you did buy a FAMILY SIZE Tent (meaning 8-10 people) you could set it up in your back yard and use it. But would you use a stove if you decided to never camp again? Maybe you might use it if the power was out for a few DAYS. One more thing, you don’t want to set up a tent and leave it for weeks at a time unless there is a tarp over it. The sun will break down the threads and fabric; we are going to buy a tarp to put over the tent before we go camping again. Also I think it will help with the temperature inside the tent. When the sun Is beating down on it, it warms up quickly in the afternoon.
The first time we went camping as a family we used our neighbor’s tent. I did borrow some blow up mattresses and I think we had a few too. I even borrowed the sleeping bags from our other neighbor. The ONLY thing I bought were flash lights which would be the ONE thing I suggest you do buy. I know we ALWAYS need flash lights. Go to Walmart and buy the $1.97 small flash light and ONE FOR EACH PERSON. And if you manage to make you way into the camping area, resist the urge to buy those cute tiny little lanterns. Buy the flash lights or you’ll regret it. The second time we went camping our other neighbors went with us and she got those lanterns….all her kids wanted were our small flashlights. You can point at things with them, swing them around…just take my word on this one.
Since we have been camping and decided it is something we want to do I have purchased things specifically for camping:
The reason I bought eating utensils and cups and plates is I didn't want to generate a bunch of trash while we were out. Had I used paper plates, and plastic utensils we would have had to take the trash to the dumpster everyday. However, I do not suggest you do this, disposable is fine. Also if doing dishes is an issue then paper works. I don’t mind doing the dishes at the campsite. I had TONS Of fun boiling water over the campfire. I know, I am easily entertained, but my mother in law claims you can’t boil water over a fire. Once I proved her wrong I had to have a pot of water over the fire at all times boiling that water. Though it does come in handy, for dishes also one of our camping staples is Mac N cheese and I would rather get the water hot over the FREE fire than the propane bottle I had to pay for.
I also took things from my kitchen. I did take strainer, pots, utensils, plus I don't know what else. I did notice our vehicle (extended mini van with half back seat removed) was FULL and a lot of the vehicles that went buy didn't have nearly as much in them...BUT while we were out we were NOT going out to dinner. There are people that use the camp as a place to sleep nothing more. I like to be prepared so I tend to over pack. I have learned from the past 2 times we went that you can never be too warm at night either(I WAY underdressed for a 5000 ft elevation camping trip) 40 degree sleeping bags still mean you need warm sleeping clothes (which mine were long underwear and sweats and hoodie that I had on my head at night this past weekend at about 3500ft).
The cheap public campgrounds typically DO NOT have water at each site, or electric. Private places do BUT they charge twice as much AND the flat fee covers 2-4 people and you must pay for anything over. The place we were going to stay in NY charged $42 per night for TWO adults, I had to pay for one more adult and 2 kids PER NIGHT...Then there was a "resort fee"...For those fees we got electric at our site and water at our site, and fire ring plus whatever the resort has to offer as far as extras like the Pool and game room that you still have to pay to play, flush toilets and shower with hot water.
For $16 a night for 6 people we got a tent site, fire ring, flush toilets that weren't too far from our site, COLD water, and community water pump. We were allowed to collect sticks and stumps to make a fire (private places make you bring your wood or pay $5 per bundle). The collapsible water jug was handy it comes with a rope you tie to the lantern post and then hang the bottle, it is almost like running water…well it trickles but water none the less! The first 3 times I filled the jug (yes 5 gallons is heavy) then I decided that is man work and they needed to fill it for me.
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