First time camping. What do I need. (Silverstone F1)
Discussion
48Valves said:
I did suggest a tent for them them and one for me 
I'll be going for an air tent. I'm not keen on the idea of camping as it is, so I need to make it as easy as possible to get set up.
I do like the idea of buying new gadgets though.
Just saw this - harder to get two pitches together on alot of busy campsites. And if you try and book 3 or more pitches you'll REALLY struggle if you were to go away with other friends......get the biggest you can afford. my 5 man one was great for the 4 of us. I'll be going for an air tent. I'm not keen on the idea of camping as it is, so I need to make it as easy as possible to get set up.
I do like the idea of buying new gadgets though.
All I would add is this.
The success of any camping experience, is down to how much sleep you get. If you don't sleep well, the next day is shafted.
So, spend as much as you can afford on sleeping. Don't bother with mats or a Lilo to sleep on. Get a proper Aerobed or similar. Take your duvet and your pillows. Forget sleeping bags. Earplugs and eye shields are a must.
A 6 man tent for a family of 4 will give ample room.
Take cereals, tea, coffee, milk and a small stove. Let somebody else cook the rest and buy it.
The success of any camping experience, is down to how much sleep you get. If you don't sleep well, the next day is shafted.
So, spend as much as you can afford on sleeping. Don't bother with mats or a Lilo to sleep on. Get a proper Aerobed or similar. Take your duvet and your pillows. Forget sleeping bags. Earplugs and eye shields are a must.
A 6 man tent for a family of 4 will give ample room.
Take cereals, tea, coffee, milk and a small stove. Let somebody else cook the rest and buy it.
Nobby Diesel said:
All I would add is this.
The success of any camping experience, is down to how much sleep you get. If you don't sleep well, the next day is shafted.
So, spend as much as you can afford on sleeping. Don't bother with mats or a Lilo to sleep on. Get a proper Aerobed or similar. Take your duvet and your pillows. Forget sleeping bags. Earplugs and eye shields are a must.
This man speaks sense. Something like this:The success of any camping experience, is down to how much sleep you get. If you don't sleep well, the next day is shafted.
So, spend as much as you can afford on sleeping. Don't bother with mats or a Lilo to sleep on. Get a proper Aerobed or similar. Take your duvet and your pillows. Forget sleeping bags. Earplugs and eye shields are a must.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intex-Ultra-Airbed-Electr...
Quilt underneath, quilt on top, proper pillows, ear plugs. Ear plugs are vital. These are good and don't fall out:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hush-Plugz-Silicone-Earpl...
Outwell make amongst the best family tents. Don't get suckered in with GoOutdoors HiGear stuff, spend a bit more and do it properly. The Hi Gears not going to last.
The little heaters are well worth having when it's colder:
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-portable-gas-c...
SpeckledJim said:
"My tent is too spacious."
Said no camper, ever. Especially one who took his kids with him.
Pfft. I HATE big tents. With a vengeance. Buy the tent that's biig enough for your needs. Admittedly I'm generally solo, but I use the smallest tent humanly possible. The bigger they are, the harder they are to put up.Said no camper, ever. Especially one who took his kids with him.
abbotsmike said:
Pfft. I HATE big tents. With a vengeance. Buy the tent that's biig enough for your needs. Admittedly I'm generally solo, but I use the smallest tent humanly possible. The bigger they are, the harder they are to put up.
And, more importantly IMO, take down. Last thing you need when it's time to pack up and go home is a ton of gear to try and stow. abbotsmike said:
Dog Star said:
And, more importantly IMO, take down. Last thing you need when it's time to pack up and go home is a ton of gear to try and stow.
Especially if it's wet. Then you get wet. And it's twice as heavy, and you've got to put it up again when you get home to dry it!Then you'll really get on with the air-beam stuff.
I don't know if they make many that can be stood up in or even if that's a priority for you, either way a cheapish tarpaulin pegged out, above your tent will keep you 'extra' dry and allow the tent to be packed up with even less moisture...
Or if its sunny, provides shade/sun protection...
I don't know if they make many that can be stood up in or even if that's a priority for you, either way a cheapish tarpaulin pegged out, above your tent will keep you 'extra' dry and allow the tent to be packed up with even less moisture...
Or if its sunny, provides shade/sun protection...
abbotsmike said:
Pfft. I HATE big tents. With a vengeance. Buy the tent that's biig enough for your needs. Admittedly I'm generally solo, but I use the smallest tent humanly possible. The bigger they are, the harder they are to put up.
I have a three man pop up tent. They call it a 3 second tent because that how long it take to put up. It fold up to pack away quite quickly as well.For car camping and as a new camper, id recommend just taking as much stuff as you can from your home, so pans cutlery, picnic plates, bbq, garden furniture (if it folds), etc etc
only thing you really need to buy is a tent, something to sleep on (you can use your duvets), and a cooker of sum sort, the flat gas ones are great from the likes of home bargains/b&m.
as recommended decathlon is great, I like stuff from pound shops too/
Also put stuff in stack boxes, take a cheap door mat (or off cut of carpet) for storing boots inside without messing up your tent,
only thing you really need to buy is a tent, something to sleep on (you can use your duvets), and a cooker of sum sort, the flat gas ones are great from the likes of home bargains/b&m.
as recommended decathlon is great, I like stuff from pound shops too/
Also put stuff in stack boxes, take a cheap door mat (or off cut of carpet) for storing boots inside without messing up your tent,
Edited by Foliage on Thursday 29th September 17:07
There's definitely two different strategies: minimal and palatial.
Don't try to take the palatial equipment if you've only got a minimal tent.
Don't restrict yourself to minimal equipment if you've got a palatial tent.
Minimal is much better for setting and striking your camp.
Palatial is much better for the period in between.
Don't try to take the palatial equipment if you've only got a minimal tent.
Don't restrict yourself to minimal equipment if you've got a palatial tent.
Minimal is much better for setting and striking your camp.
Palatial is much better for the period in between.
LeadFarmer said:
I camped at F1 Silverstone Woodlands a few years ago. If you've got a non electric pitch then at least you should be away from the noisy generators that run constantly all day all night...
Don't you have that the wrong way round. If people have an electrical hook up why would they be running a generator? I have camped at Silverstone for the F1 twice in the non electric pitch, admittedly in one of the areas deemed noisy but a generator being cranked up at 12pm is not cool.I did Britcar24 a few years back and that was much better. My modest set up
We got into camping this year - just 2 of us, but I'm amazed at how much space all the kit takes up! - We filled the boot of my 5 series with camping stuff and ended up with clothes bags on the back seats of the car!
We have a Quechua Fresh and Black tent - it's a bit tight with us both in it and there's no place for cooking / sitting if it rains. Quick to put up, sometimes difficult to take down... however, I'd not have anything other than an air beam tent these days.
Inside we have a double self inflating camping mat - a 50 quid bargain from Sports Direct. In fact, we stocked up on a fair bit from them recently - a small BBQ in a carry bag - we can also put our camping pan set in there (also from SD).
Bought a butane powered heater - small, but powerful enough to take the chill off you when sitting outside on late summer evenings. Bog standard camping gaz type single ring cooker and a Peltier cool box which can run on 12 or 240v.
Folding chairs and a collapsible table are also useful - chairs were 2 for 15 quid from Go Outdoors and the table from Lidl when they did a camping week.
I did buy a windbreak from Halfords, but it's too difficult to put up to make it worthwhile. May buy a cheap gazebo thingie to give us somewhere to cook when it rains.
Worth getting an electric hook up cable - that was an absolute godsend on our recent trip.
As for lighting - we have a wind up lantern which works a treat in the tent - plus an LED strip inspection lamp. Need something more like an LED floodlight for cooking in darkening conditions, and we also have an oil lamp - the cheap 10 quid hurricane jobs. They can be messy, as you need to carry them upright to stop leaking - however, if you burn citronella oil in them you get light, a little heat and keep the bitey insects away.
We have a Quechua Fresh and Black tent - it's a bit tight with us both in it and there's no place for cooking / sitting if it rains. Quick to put up, sometimes difficult to take down... however, I'd not have anything other than an air beam tent these days.
Inside we have a double self inflating camping mat - a 50 quid bargain from Sports Direct. In fact, we stocked up on a fair bit from them recently - a small BBQ in a carry bag - we can also put our camping pan set in there (also from SD).
Bought a butane powered heater - small, but powerful enough to take the chill off you when sitting outside on late summer evenings. Bog standard camping gaz type single ring cooker and a Peltier cool box which can run on 12 or 240v.
Folding chairs and a collapsible table are also useful - chairs were 2 for 15 quid from Go Outdoors and the table from Lidl when they did a camping week.
I did buy a windbreak from Halfords, but it's too difficult to put up to make it worthwhile. May buy a cheap gazebo thingie to give us somewhere to cook when it rains.
Worth getting an electric hook up cable - that was an absolute godsend on our recent trip.
As for lighting - we have a wind up lantern which works a treat in the tent - plus an LED strip inspection lamp. Need something more like an LED floodlight for cooking in darkening conditions, and we also have an oil lamp - the cheap 10 quid hurricane jobs. They can be messy, as you need to carry them upright to stop leaking - however, if you burn citronella oil in them you get light, a little heat and keep the bitey insects away.
We own a huge 6 man air beam tent. We did 3 weeks non stop in it this year and for family camping it was great; it's massive. It takes 15 minutes Togo up but much longer to go down as we have to vacuum the air out to get to fit it in the car with everything else. We take a lot of stuff!
For Silverstone I took my old small 4 man (2 really). A gazebo might also be of use. The pitches are quite small, especially if you arrive late.
Lighting wise don't bother, it's light quite late!
For Silverstone I took my old small 4 man (2 really). A gazebo might also be of use. The pitches are quite small, especially if you arrive late.
Lighting wise don't bother, it's light quite late!
Edited by Simes205 on Thursday 29th September 23:47
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