Camping Thread

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Networkn
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#1191670 8-Dec-2014 16:04

KiwiNZ: Dome tents are noisy if the wind gets up and makes sleeping tricky, but they are light and a piece of cake to put up. Canvas is best if you are intending to stay for more than a few days and they are quieter. Give yourself plenty of room, buy a small tent and you will hate it especially if you get bad weather and you are inside
the tent for long periods. Also a larger tents means you can stow stuff better and you wont be falling over thing constantly.

Next is get very good sleeping equipment, Inflatable beds are very comfortable and stow easy for travelling. Camp stretchers and uncomfortable and noisy. Getting a good nights sleep means you will enjoy your days way better.

Get good lighting.

Thanks all good options.

Do most private camping places allow camp fires or not any more?

ObidiahSlope

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#1191672 8-Dec-2014 16:06

netwrkn; You may be able to persuade your reluctant partner to participate if you choose a nearby location and promise if the weather turns bad you will close the tent and dash home until the sun returns.

Obsequious hypocrite

networkn

Networkn
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#1191673 8-Dec-2014 16:07

ObidiahSlope: netwrkn; You may be able to persuade your reluctant partner to participate if you choose a nearby location and promise if the weather turns bad you will close the tent and dash home until the sun returns.

Hi. You are right, which is good, as it's how I would deal with camping for the first little while. I have no desire to be wet or cold whilst camping.

Also my limit for camping unless it's pretty glampy, is to only do 1-2 days at a time, or 1 night 2 days!

MikeB4

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#1191674 8-Dec-2014 16:08

Most DOC and Council run don't normally but many provide basic cooking facilities. Personally I don't like fire the are risky and make the equipment and your clothes stink. We have a Great Outdoors LPG gas cooker that we have used for something like 30 years and its still going great.

mrdrifter

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#1191675 8-Dec-2014 16:09

If you want some good deals on tents, I can recommend equipoutdoors.co.nz - They are based in Hamilton but sell a lot of items online, they also do some very good clearance prices. I'm using an ultralight tent from equip as my portable 2 (3 at a squeeze), this rolls up to about the size of a large drink bottle. Our family tent is a big three room dome from dwights, so might be overkill for what you need.

Most tents will last well if you look after them and ensure they are dried out properly, the most important specification I find is the floor water proof rating [Edit: assuming the dome/roof rating is about 1500mm+], especially if an attached tub style floor, with kids it can also be good to have at least a small vestibule for shoes etc...

MikeB4

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#1191679 8-Dec-2014 16:12

These guys have very good tents both Dome and Canvas plus a great range of other equipment, plus they really know what they are talking about.

http://www.dwights.co.nz/

SepticSceptic

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#1191705 8-Dec-2014 17:06

Camping requirements change over the years. First few times I went camping, it was togs, towel, sleeping bag + beer. And a pup tent.

Then with kids in tow, it was an A4-sized checklist, covering everything from antacid to Zoggs. (Zoggs are swimming goggles).

Sans kids, list is a wee bit shorter - don't need to accommodate all their paraphernalia, but still a long-ish check list just to make sure our camping is "comfortable".

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BTR

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#1191961 9-Dec-2014 09:28

I bought a 3 (more like one) person tent from Rebel sport 10+ year ago for $59, still got it and its still in excellent condition and works well. Then the Mrs came along and wasn't happy with sleeping bags and the ground so we bought a 3 room Freedom tent (Around $1000) and air beds which are used with sheets and duvets.

I would recommend spending extra and buying a quality tent, even though my $59 tent is a good tent the quality of the bigger more expensive tent is much better.

Have fun camping, don't forget don't use any butane cookers or lanterns inside your tent and stay safe!

floydbloke

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#1191973 9-Dec-2014 09:50

networkn: ..

Tent Town near me have a 2-3 person tent with a waterproof rating of 25% off (Coleman) for $149.
...

Does that mean 3 out every 4 rain drops come through the tent?

Think I'd go for the hundy myself.

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

networkn

Networkn
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#1191975 9-Dec-2014 10:00

floydbloke:
networkn: ..

Tent Town near me have a 2-3 person tent with a waterproof rating of 25% off (Coleman) for $149.
...

Does that mean 3 out every 4 rain drops come through the tent? Think I'd go for the hundy myself.

Lord. Sorry. It's rated at 2000, and it's 25% off the price.

networkn

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#1191978 9-Dec-2014 10:03

Warehouse has tents on special.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Navigator-South-Ultimate-Tongariro-Tent-4-6-Person?SKU=1861780

Is this a decent tent does anyone know the brand? Specs?

Incindre

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#1191979 9-Dec-2014 10:07

I cannot stress enough the importance of avoiding a cheap tent. I've had 2 self destruct within days while set up on the lawn with nary a breath of wind or drop of rain to affect them. The high quality fabrics are far less likely to tear under the stress of the tension rods.

As the age old saying goes: Quality remains long after price is forgotten.

networkn

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#1191981 9-Dec-2014 10:09

Incindre: I cannot stress enough the importance of avoiding a cheap tent. I've had 2 self destruct within days while set up on the lawn with nary a breath of wind or drop of rain to affect them. The high quality fabrics are far less likely to tear under the stress of the tension rods.

As the age old saying goes: Quality remains long after price is forgotten.

Right, but how does one know other than price? Is there a particular spec/Material I should be looking for?

MikeB4

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#1191988 9-Dec-2014 10:13

networkn: Warehouse has tents on special.

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Navigator-South-Ultimate-Tongariro-Tent-4-6-Person?SKU=1861780

Is this a decent tent does anyone know the brand? Specs?

I would avoid these, NZ weather can turn harsh fast and these would just fail very quickly and you would be coming home early. Cheap tents = false economy.

Geektastic

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#1191996 9-Dec-2014 10:26

networkn: Hi There!

I have fond memories of the few times I have been camping, including school camps, though I wish I knew where they were held, so I could return.

I thought it might be an interesting idea to start a camping thread and hear ideas on good equipment, good locations, tips and tricks.

My 5 year old boy has recently been asking about going camping and I had been toying with the idea of a smallish tent for the back yard to introduce him to it and then if he is keen, perhaps try upgrading to a larger one and involving the whole family.

I don't want to get carried away spending loads, but do want a quality breathable waterproof tent that would comfortably fit 1 adult, and 1-2 kids which is easily assembled.

Tent Town near me have a 2-3 person tent with a waterproof rating of 25% off (Coleman) for $149.

I am trying to get my wife interested, but her earlier years did not contain any good experiences with camping (Quite the opposite) and she is pretty reluctant.

Eventually I'd like to find a place near Auckland we can camp and do a little fishing near a river but I am not sure how realistic that is.

Feel free to chime in with some advice.

When I was small (sub - 10) I used to head down to the New Forest in the south of England to stay with my grandpa in the summer for a week or two. He had a lovely thatched cottage with beautiful chocolate box looks and gardens. I once asked him if we could have a tent and so he made me one - it lived in the garage between visits and came out every year!

It was a simple affair - a tarp with a couple of inverted V frames, a ridge pole (all from 2x4 IIRC) and string and my grandma's kitchen skewers as pegs. It was certainly not designed to be a true campaign tent. We did, however, spend the night in it several times every year if the weather was good.

I've owned loads of tents since (still have a massive Coleman one) and carried them on my back all over the UK and Europe to camp in national parks etc (what you call 'freedom camping' here but we call 'camping' in the UK!) but that one that grandpa made is still the one I have the best memories of!!

If you're just going back garden camping to start with, try making one with him.

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