Camping Thread

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#1468439 12-Jan-2016 13:58

I have been camping with my family over the past two summer (5 days each time). First time was with myself, wife and 9 month daughter; this year myself, wife and 22 month daughter

I picked up one of these

http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7RTFN5AT/title/torpedo7-apartment-large-family-tent---3-room

when it was $450.

Dome tents are noisy in the wind, but they are a lot cheaper and smaller packed up. For multi day camping a tent you can stand up in makes a huge difference as does multi rooms, main room for wife and I, one side room for baby and second for gear. The bigger the tent the easier it is. A tarp plus a few spare poles makes a nice sun/wind shelter

First time I took a weber clone, however they take up a huge amount of space, can't be used inside the tent if need be, and they just don't get hot enough (IMO. This year I took a 3 burner camping stove ($99) from the warehouse and a 2kg gas bottle (2nd hand $30 from mata gas onehunga)

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Gascraft-Camping-Cooker-3-Br-High-Pressure-Camping?SKU=1304277

a table makes cooking and eating much more pleasant something like this http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/red/catalog/product/Lifetime-Table-and-Benches?SKU=1862787 or http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7RFTN5QT/title/torpedo7-quattro-aluminium-table---double-bench-set

An airbed makes sleeping much more comfortable.

Each year we pick up one or two new pieces of kit.

All up it fits into the back of a Subaru legacy including chilly bin, toys, pots pans, food etc.

For the past two years we have gone up to Matai bay in the far north, however if you are looking for a nice site in Auckland Whatipu camp site in west Auckland is nice, feels remote but only 40 km from town, good fishing, lots of hiking, a safe beach. http://regionalparks.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/whatipu/whatipu-lodge-campground

Thing I like about camping is it is just so much cheaper, you can cancel/change plans at the last minute and most of the money you do spend is a oneoff, you get to keep the stuff that you spend money on unlike baches/motels

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BTR

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#1468458 12-Jan-2016 14:27

I have a cheap $50 rebel sport tent that I used when i was single, its about 9-10 years old and still does the trick for boys weekends however if the mrs is coming we are taking the 3 room tent which was over $1000 that we got on sale before the shop closed down and even though its nylon it still weighs 38KG

Camping while single is a lot easier

tent + sleeping bag + food and a pillow if you really must.

blackjack17

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#1468468 12-Jan-2016 14:49

BTR: I have a cheap $50 rebel sport tent that I used when i was single, its about 9-10 years old and still does the trick for boys weekends however if the mrs is coming we are taking the 3 room tent which was over $1000 that we got on sale before the shop closed down and even though its nylon it still weighs 38KG

Camping while single is a lot easier

tent + sleeping bag + food and a pillow if you really must.

I know the feeling 3 day tramp around Mt Ruapehu with food, tent, cooking stuff, water, safety equipment and my pack weighed 14kg. 5 days with my family barely fits in a stationwagon.

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networkn

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#1468518 12-Jan-2016 15:31

gzt:
networkn:
frankv: Go with the F&C... Cooking requires a whole lot of extra stuff to be taken along, washed, and brought home. Forget one critical thing and you'll be eating F&C anyway.

That's actually a really good point about the cooking/cleaning.

I prefer to cook portable because it enhances the experience. Paper plates minimise the washing up. Paper towels to wipe pots/pans before washing. There is a wide variety of really tasty food available either as specific camping food or as 'one pot' meals from the supermarket. But easy to cook your own prior and freeze it then it is a simple reheat. Remembering to take it out of the chiili at the right time minimises gas use and cooking time. For one night maybe chilled instead of frozen anyway.

I think I'll start simple and work from there. Night in the tent, if it goes well, 2 nights in a tent, third time, 2 nights and food.

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#1468522 12-Jan-2016 15:34

Air mattress + bring own pillow from home.

MikeB4

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#1468540 12-Jan-2016 15:43

I know this will sound daft but bear with me. If its your first time in a long time and you have a garden with the room do a trial run at home first so you can put up and take down the tent and to make sure your
sleeping, cooking and lighting equipment is sufficient and works. It will make when you do it for real less stressful and more enjoyable.

Normal ain't coming back, the crazy stays.

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jonathan18

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#1468574 12-Jan-2016 16:07

I'd go one step further and suggest to those going camping for the first time with kids, not only put the tent up in the back yard but also spend a night in the tent with the kid(s).

Camping is (initially) an alien experience for most kids, given nearly everything is totally different to their norm - it's a big enough jump dealing with the different location, noises etc, so spending a night in the tent is not only fun (for the kids anyway!), but gets them used to many other parts of the camping experience.

We gave our boys a tent for Xmas last year, and thus far have only used it with them on the back lawn! (This thread is reminding me to take them camping.)

MikeB4

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#1468576 12-Jan-2016 16:11

tip if you have a dome tent with bending poles be very careful when bending a placing the poles. If they slip out of your hand and travel between you legs I guarantee (personal experience) your eyes will water a lot.

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Handle9

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#1468625 12-Jan-2016 18:02

We're off to Mangawhai tomorrow with the kids for the first time for a couple of nights. It'll be the first time for my 1 and 4 year olds but we're all really looking forward to it. We've bought a Dwights Trio 280 (3 room) which I was really impressed with, and a 4wd self inflating matress from equipoutdoors.

We've been able to beg, borrow and steal the rest from family so fingers crossed the weather plays ball.

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#1468627 12-Jan-2016 18:04

Handle9: We're off to Mangawhai tomorrow with the kids for the first time for a couple of nights. It'll be the first time for my 1 and 4 year olds but we're all really looking forward to it. We've bought a Dwights Trio 280 (3 room) which I was really impressed with, and a 4wd self inflating matress from equipoutdoors.

We've been able to beg, borrow and steal the rest from family so fingers crossed the weather plays ball.

URLS to your products. They sound interesting.

Also camping with such young kids, you ARE brave.

Handle9

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#1468638 12-Jan-2016 18:26

networkn:
Handle9: We're off to Mangawhai tomorrow with the kids for the first time for a couple of nights. It'll be the first time for my 1 and 4 year olds but we're all really looking forward to it. We've bought a Dwights Trio 280 (3 room) which I was really impressed with, and a 4wd self inflating matress from equipoutdoors.

We've been able to beg, borrow and steal the rest from family so fingers crossed the weather plays ball.

URLS to your products. They sound interesting.

Also camping with such young kids, you ARE brave.

Tent is this one:
http://www.dwights.co.nz/Escape-Trio-2015?page=24

Mattress is this one (but they did it for $269). It is more comfortable than many beds I've slept in but it's HUGE. Thank god for roof racks:
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1306_Roman_4WD_Mat_with_Pillow_-_Queen.html

We also bought this lantern which is pretty bright:
http://www.kathmandu.co.nz/camping/lighting/lanterns/retreat-530-lantern-blue-grey.html

I didn't really want to spend that much on the tent and mattress but we are more glampers than bush warriors. The thing I've always disliked about camping is uncomfortable sleeping. Friends of ours recommended the mattress. The self inflating mattresses with foam in them are far better than airbeds.

I also didn't want to go cheap and then have to replace stuff in 2 years time. We had intended to go away to a motel for a few days but then thought we'd be better investing the money in camping stuff as we'd get much more use out of it as the kids grow.

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Handle9

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#1468639 12-Jan-2016 18:27

Oh, also Dwights have an excellent store in Sylvia Park drive where you can see there tents erected. Made making a decision much easir.

MikeB4

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#1468642 12-Jan-2016 18:45

Handle9: Oh, also Dwights have an excellent store in Sylvia Park drive where you can see there tents erected. Made making a decision much easir.

Dwights are excellent.

Normal ain't coming back, the crazy stays.

mrdrifter

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#1468655 12-Jan-2016 19:13

Tent is this one:
http://www.dwights.co.nz/Escape-Trio-2015?page=24

The Escape Trio is the same as my tent mentioned on the first page of this thread. We have had ours out a few times with the kids (starting when the youngest was 6 months), the zippers have lock clips on the inside and out of reach of the kids, so they can't exit via the end door which helps. its handled some pretty heavy rain as well. Very happy with ours.

Dwights often have them on special and their service is excellent, we had one small issue with the sewing of a corner join, and the elastic in one of the poles snapped. They sorted both issues out within a week and made sure all the corners were re-sealed. I'm keen to pick up one of the add-on sun shelters at some point.

Edit: for clarification

blackjack17

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#1468668 12-Jan-2016 20:17

Handle9:

Mattress is this one (but they did it for $269). It is more comfortable than many beds I've slept in but it's HUGE. Thank god for roof racks:
http://www.equipoutdoors.co.nz/contents/en-us/p1306_Roman_4WD_Mat_with_Pillow_-_Queen.html

.

I would save $200 on the mattress and instead spend it on the tent/accessories.

Something like

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5QH/title/torpedo7-queen-hi-side-airbed-with-12v-pump

would be more than enough

or even

https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/T7AIQN5Q5/title/torpedo7-queen-airbed

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