Camping lists. What do you take?

[Watchman]

My family does "glamping". Camping in as much comfort and with as many gadgets as we can find a use for them.

We already have a fire basket, all the cooking kit (including a kitchen tent), inflatable canoes, aerobeds, WiFi and 3G, music, etc...

Any suggestions for cool camping kit? What do you take?

[abbotsmike]

I do 'I have to carry my stuff' camping.

Essentials include (on top of the normal stuff):
Self-inflating rollmat (lighter, smaller packed down and more comfortable than a foam one)
Mess tins
Lighter/matches
Leatherman
Big torch
Little torch
Minirig (portable speaker, dependent on when/where/what i'm doing)

If I'm being a scout leader, then I'll have the car and need to do organising so as above plus:
Inverter
Laptop
phone charger
Bigger torch

Not really much good for the whole glamping thing am I?!

[Watchman]

Some good ideas, thanks. We have torches, leathermen (plural), big hunting knives (mostly just to show off when "whittling" around the fire), axes, fire lighting, bikes, PMR radios, backpacks for days out (walking and/or cycling), kites and other kids' toys (we have 16 children in the party)... and a massive trailer to put it all in.

[Watchman]

And that's just me.

[abbotsmike]

Also, nothing quite like a gas lamp (just not in the tent) We use tilley lamps run on paraffin, or coleman petrol lamps. The tilleys require some fettling and maintenance, but that's part of the charm!

Also found that simple polystyrene boxes (the ones we use are from a printing firm, they have ink delivered in them) are often more effective than expensive cool boxes! And if there are that many of you, an aquaroll makes a good drinking water container, without having to carry it to the tap!

[cornet]

abbotsmike said:

Also, nothing quite like a gas lamp (just not in the tent) We use tilley lamps run on paraffin, or coleman petrol lamps. The tilleys require some fettling and maintenance, but that's part of the charm!

Also do not gas based tillys/stoves in any enclosed space (tent/caravan) especially if you intend to sleep in shortly after.

Edited by cornet on Wednesday 17th April 00:06

[Watchman]

Thanks for the ongoing suggestions. We have a Coleman gas lamp for use in our very airy gazebo which we use to sit in at night as a whole family.

I have a proper compressor fridge/cool box already which can actually freeze stuff if you wished.

I'm working on some clever electrics to power both mains and 12v from multiple sources at the mo.

[Vladimir]

A rather OTT camper van. I have a mixture of smugness and cringeyness when turning up to a campsite.

Diesel remote heater, a kitchen, etc, etc but still need a load of clobber. Our expensive camper and its posh electric roof is less waterproof (the canvas bit) than a cheap tent! Stick a cover on it and all is fine.

[Watchman]

I totally get the "smugness vs cringyness" comment. Having listed here only a few of the things you'd find at one of our camp weeks you probably get the picture that there's a small element of competition amongst us... To see who has the best stuff.

My brother normally wins although I provided some stiff competition last year. This year, having bought an inflatable canoe I thought I was in with a chance but he's only gone and cheated and bought a caravan.

[Watchman]

I forgot I posted about my little iPod docking station last year:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

That's what I hoped would help me win last year.

This year I've bought a Sevylor Tahiti:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sevylor-Tahiti-Plus-Kayak-...



I'm not going to win though. Need some more inspiration...

[Vladimir]

Anti aircraft roof system? Simply fire your boards at overhead planes...

[Watchman]

Vladimir said:

Anti aircraft roof system? Simply fire your boards at overhead planes...

You should - using Nerf guns.

[Vladimir]

Watchman said:

You should - using Nerf guns.

We have two...for my four year old boy of course...

[Piglet]

Vladimir said:

Anti aircraft roof system? Simply fire your boards at overhead planes...

That looks like my kind of camping, a field and not much else. I can't bear the whole competitive camping of "I have more gadgets than you do".

Our best gadget is the portaloo which means we can do basic camping away from the madding crowds and the collections of solar lights and music systems!

[Vladimir]

Piglet said:

That looks like my kind of camping, a field and not much else. I can't bear the whole competitive camping of "I have more gadgets than you do".

Our best gadget is the portaloo which means we can do basic camping away from the madding crowds and the collections of solar lights and music systems!

It's actually a relatives field we can use any time; no facilities but their house is only a few mins walk away. Definitely similar to you; much prefer the slightly wilder stuff.

Every site around here seems to be stuffed with 40 somethings in fully blinged up (lowered, massive alloys, etc) Transporters trying to outcool each other. Not my idea of fun!

[Piglet]

Vladimir said:

It's actually a relatives field we can use any time; no facilities but their house is only a few mins walk away. Definitely similar to you; much prefer the slightly wilder stuff.

That sounds fantastic. We have a favourite C&CC CS which is only 7 or so miles away from us (we do live on the Dorset coast so it's a nice area). It's far enough away to be camping but close enough to make sure we are around for the Olds. It's a field, with a CDP and a tap and a five minute walk to the beach. It's glorious and the normal campers are very straightforward and easy going.

There was a family there two years ago (we missed last year) with a set up that looked like yours, a young family from London, with three children from 18 months to around 5 years old - they spent most of their week sitting in the lower field with mother reading a book under the tree and the kids climbing trees and playing in the field - it was bliss for them, the kids never got to just play like that - there's a lot to be said for wild (ish) camping.

[Watchman]

My friend made me a bracket so I can mount my magnetic-base antennae (plural) on a mast. I thought it would be something simple but I forgot he doesn't do simple. He does perfect. In fact, not content with making the best mag-mount bracket around, he's had it galvanized so I don't even need to paint it.



Wifi and 3G.

[Pints]

Including, but not limited to, the following luxury items:

Double-plated electric stove
Inflatable mattress and pillows
Kettle
Rechargeable lamp
AC/DC mini fridge
Camping chairs and fold-up table

[knight]

Vladimir said:

It's actually a relatives field we can use any time; no facilities but their house is only a few mins walk away. Definitely similar to you; much prefer the slightly wilder

Similar to us, my wife has an uncle who lives just inside Dartmoor national park and we camp in one of their fields, last year we shared the field with a flock of sheep!

Only pic I can find at the moment is of our view towards Dartmoor

[Watchman]

Spent today working out where I could mount the antennae mast. Decided the least impact on the trailer would be to drill a single hole in the spare wheel carrier. I'm still waiting for a 1" U-bolt (ordered 3 weeks ago) but didn't stop me from making a mount. The idea is to pull the mast tight against the tyre, so that the friction will help to keep it upright. Fairly confident it'll work.