First time camping. What do I need. (Silverstone F1)

[48Valves]

Hi,

My lovely wife has got a family 3 Day ticket for the F1 next year. Kids will be 6 & 8. Shes also booked camping in the family bit of Woodlands with no electricity.

Whilst all this is very good. The only bit of camping equipment I own, is a £13 2 man tent in the garden that the kids play in.

Whilst I could borrow a tent and other equipment needed, the wife has said she would like to buy a tent and associated stuff to do more camping in the future.

She then started to show me a Tesco 6 man tent that was £59! Discussions were stopped at that point.

What is a reasonable tent? I was thinking of an inflatable tent to make setting up and packing away as simple as possible.

So what else do I need for the experience to be remotely enjoyable and as stress free as possible?

thanks

[48Valves]

I looked at camper vans but they were expensive for the dates.

The budget will be significantlying more and we'll be doing a few trips before.

[48Valves]

Thanks guys. Lots of hood ideas.

The decathlon tents look ideal and aren't too expensive.

[48Valves]

Rosscow said:

Now is a superb time to get camping bargains on eBay. That would be my first port of call.

I've been looking on eBay. I presumed that I should get a job lot of gear for a bargin over the winter.

[48Valves]

Quickmoose said:

No substitute for higher quality .

But from personal experience the inflatable range from Decathlon, or at least the 3 man I bought, is very well made indeed, and the fact that you can erect the thing single handedly in under a minute or two is a bonus, especially if the weather isn't playing ball...

Also...just an idea to kick about.... at 6 & 8 (or 7 & 9 by the time you get going) get two tents, adults and kids or his and hers...

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.

[48Valves]

Thanks for all the good advice guys.

Already have some of the stuff for picnics and days out so that will help.

We will probably only be going for 2/3 days at a time so I was thinking prepping food before and freezing. It should stay cool in a cooler box for a few days.

[48Valves]

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!

This is why I'm tempted by an air frame tent. I'm not the most patient person at the best of times.

[48Valves]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Which size tent is that?

[48Valves]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Thanks

It looks quite big. I have just been looking at the 6 as its quite a good price at the minute but I was concerned by the length with it being 7.3 meters. The pitches at Silverstone are 7 meters.

But I liked the 6 because the sleeping quarters were at opposite ends of the tents.

[48Valves]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Mine don't go off to sleep that well but tend to stay asleep when they do. The 6 would also give us the option of splitting them up.

And the 6 can be had for £407 through hot uk deals.

Might ask on the F1 forum if anyone has used on at Silverstone. Don't want to buy it only to find out it cant be used

[48Valves]

Thanks everyone for your contributions.

I have a berghaus air 6 being delivered tomorrow. Got it from Millets for £407. Which seems reasonable.