Short Camping Trips with Kids
Discussion
We have always enjoyed camping, but with young children (aged 3 and 1) we haven't bothered since before the kids arrived. I expect most of our "proper" holidays will be abroad, either at hotels or a lodge on a Eurocamp style campsite in France.
But we are keen to get the kids involved in the great outdoors and we are toying with the idea of getting a tent for short breaks (think ~3 nights), but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. Thinking about a bell tent (something like a Robens Klondike Grande) that can be put up quickly, and just taking the bare minimum (mats, sleeping bags, basic cooker).
We are in Surrey so there are loads of nice places within a 2 hour drive.
Does anyone do something similar?
But we are keen to get the kids involved in the great outdoors and we are toying with the idea of getting a tent for short breaks (think ~3 nights), but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. Thinking about a bell tent (something like a Robens Klondike Grande) that can be put up quickly, and just taking the bare minimum (mats, sleeping bags, basic cooker).
We are in Surrey so there are loads of nice places within a 2 hour drive.
Does anyone do something similar?
We have a Vango Vango Icarus 500 Deluxe Family Tent,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08C5JDHRX/ref=cm_sw_r...
It easily has enogh space for the two of us and can be put up in 20 minutes. Maybe the next size up needed for a family of 4 but you could happily fit a 3rd adult in.
As long as your notcwild camping you will most likely be finecwith ammenities on site.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08C5JDHRX/ref=cm_sw_r...
It easily has enogh space for the two of us and can be put up in 20 minutes. Maybe the next size up needed for a family of 4 but you could happily fit a 3rd adult in.
As long as your notcwild camping you will most likely be finecwith ammenities on site.
Bell tents are great, can be up in less than 10 mins and ours has withstood some pretty crazy weather when other normal tents around us have not.
However... they aren't great if you want some separate space from the kids, they are big and heavy when packed down, and if you've had to put it away damp/wet they are a bit of a nightmare to dry out if you don't have the space to put it up at home. Unless you get a porch attachment, there's not a huge amount of covered outside space for when it rains.
Whatever you decide, it's great to get the kids involved in camping - in my experience they get loads out of it, especially if you can find a site that has a decent amount of non camping space for them to run around in and wear themselves out.
However... they aren't great if you want some separate space from the kids, they are big and heavy when packed down, and if you've had to put it away damp/wet they are a bit of a nightmare to dry out if you don't have the space to put it up at home. Unless you get a porch attachment, there's not a huge amount of covered outside space for when it rains.
Whatever you decide, it's great to get the kids involved in camping - in my experience they get loads out of it, especially if you can find a site that has a decent amount of non camping space for them to run around in and wear themselves out.
We've been camping since our child was little and have always enjoyed ourselves. We still go even now my son is 18.
We started off with very basic stuff and just grew our equipment slowly over the years. If you're prepared to put the tent up by yourself whilst your partner keeps the little ones occupied then you'll be fine.
We started off with very basic stuff and just grew our equipment slowly over the years. If you're prepared to put the tent up by yourself whilst your partner keeps the little ones occupied then you'll be fine.
We’ve got two little ones - took the plunge last year when they were 6 and 4 and it’s been a great experience. We did a lot of research before buying the tent as, for us, it was a big investment and we wanted to get it right.
In the end, we went for a Berghaus Air tent, the reasoning being that we could get it erected quickly and the kids indoors if the weather wasn’t so great. So far, we’ve been pleased with our choice but we’re now looking for a bit of extra space, particularly for muddy gear and footballs. Currently, we have to get our boots off outside as there isn’t really a decent porch area - thought I’d mention it, as with little ones it’s worth considering. Ours like to be in and out all the time and we’re forever trying to keep the inside reasonably clean
In the end, we went for a Berghaus Air tent, the reasoning being that we could get it erected quickly and the kids indoors if the weather wasn’t so great. So far, we’ve been pleased with our choice but we’re now looking for a bit of extra space, particularly for muddy gear and footballs. Currently, we have to get our boots off outside as there isn’t really a decent porch area - thought I’d mention it, as with little ones it’s worth considering. Ours like to be in and out all the time and we’re forever trying to keep the inside reasonably clean
We have a '5' man tunnel for the 3 of us and it is perfect.
Took my 3 to (now 4) camping at the end of last year, we waited for shorter days to aid with sleeping. We started with a single night, close to home so we could abort if needed.
She loved it. Slept better than normal,ate everything we cooked as the camp stove wad much more exciting than at home.
We're camping at Lechlade festival in a couple of weeks,and will camp at Thistledown farm (near us) as the summer goes on.
Daughter still loves it, it is the OH that is reticent as she likes a nice loo and shower!
Took my 3 to (now 4) camping at the end of last year, we waited for shorter days to aid with sleeping. We started with a single night, close to home so we could abort if needed.
She loved it. Slept better than normal,ate everything we cooked as the camp stove wad much more exciting than at home.
We're camping at Lechlade festival in a couple of weeks,and will camp at Thistledown farm (near us) as the summer goes on.
Daughter still loves it, it is the OH that is reticent as she likes a nice loo and shower!
Think we have been since youngest was 2, it definitely gets easier once they're a bit older (past daytime naps, etc) but still doable before, just means extra stuff (like travel cots) and planning.
Mine are 7 and 5 now, actually just got a bell tent for the shorter weekend trips. Our holiday tent is a big airbeam tunnel tent and the space is great for a week or more but it's a big thing to pack and set up for a night or two, so wanted a simpler/smaller setup. We also don't use the bedroom dividers anyway, found it easier to just have one big bedroom.
Went for a 4m lite from canvastentshop (a little smaller than the Robens), enough space for us to sleep and have some stuff in there, very easy to put up and down single handed. We use a minivan/MPV for camping so some stuff can just stay in the car. I figure for weekends we'd not bother if it was too rainy (or we'd abandon) so inside relaxing/eating space isn't too critical. Could probably get away with it as a longer stay tent if you took an extra shelter too.
Mine are 7 and 5 now, actually just got a bell tent for the shorter weekend trips. Our holiday tent is a big airbeam tunnel tent and the space is great for a week or more but it's a big thing to pack and set up for a night or two, so wanted a simpler/smaller setup. We also don't use the bedroom dividers anyway, found it easier to just have one big bedroom.
Went for a 4m lite from canvastentshop (a little smaller than the Robens), enough space for us to sleep and have some stuff in there, very easy to put up and down single handed. We use a minivan/MPV for camping so some stuff can just stay in the car. I figure for weekends we'd not bother if it was too rainy (or we'd abandon) so inside relaxing/eating space isn't too critical. Could probably get away with it as a longer stay tent if you took an extra shelter too.
When our 2 were little, we got a second hand tent which could fit travel cots (greco cots) into - which meant we could be happy that they would stay put in the night, and we could also put them in the cots just to stop them crawling off whilst we put up tents etc. Similarly, we found windbreaks really useful to create an area around the tent where they could play, without wandering off all the time.
Basic kit for breakfast - eating little boxes of cornflakes out of the box! Less washing up! Packed lunch, and eat out in the evenings.
Basic kit for breakfast - eating little boxes of cornflakes out of the box! Less washing up! Packed lunch, and eat out in the evenings.
Edited by Mave on Thursday 12th May 17:40
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/4-person-blackout-ai...
The way forward. Easy to put up & down. Plenty of room without being too big
Our Berghaus 6 XL is now redundant & will be for sale soon
The way forward. Easy to put up & down. Plenty of room without being too big
Our Berghaus 6 XL is now redundant & will be for sale soon
Thanks all, some useful information here.
We had a look at tents yesterday, couldn't see a Robens Klondike, but saw the Robens Kiowa. As much as I like the style of them, I just think the practicality compromises of the size/shape are a deal breaker, so we are back looking at tunnel style air tents.
We had a look at tents yesterday, couldn't see a Robens Klondike, but saw the Robens Kiowa. As much as I like the style of them, I just think the practicality compromises of the size/shape are a deal breaker, so we are back looking at tunnel style air tents.
badgerade said:
Bell tents are great, can be up in less than 10 mins and ours has withstood some pretty crazy weather when other normal tents around us have not.
However... they aren't great if you want some separate space from the kids, they are big and heavy when packed down, and if you've had to put it away damp/wet they are a bit of a nightmare to dry out if you don't have the space to put it up at home. Unless you get a porch attachment, there's not a huge amount of covered outside space for when it rains.
Whatever you decide, it's great to get the kids involved in camping - in my experience they get loads out of it, especially if you can find a site that has a decent amount of non camping space for them to run around in and wear themselves out.
I agree with all of this.However... they aren't great if you want some separate space from the kids, they are big and heavy when packed down, and if you've had to put it away damp/wet they are a bit of a nightmare to dry out if you don't have the space to put it up at home. Unless you get a porch attachment, there's not a huge amount of covered outside space for when it rains.
Whatever you decide, it's great to get the kids involved in camping - in my experience they get loads out of it, especially if you can find a site that has a decent amount of non camping space for them to run around in and wear themselves out.
I'm 50 and have been tent and caravan camping all my life. We have a 7yo son and a small caravan now, we do loads of music festivals with it, and also a lot of tent camping. We are not far from you in Berkshire, so do a lot of weekends getaways to the South Coast/New Forest/Dorset.
In my view bell tents look great but aren't the most practical things to have for young kids, especially in inclement weather. If I were you I would be looking at something like the Berghaus Air 6 - really well made, loads of space, one person can peg out and pump up. I've seen these stand up to some incrediibly strong winds in October storms on the Devon coast, they are very impressive.
If you are not precious about having a brand new one there are always loads of lightly used ones being sold on eBay, by "tried camping and didn't like it" types, especially after the last couple of summers with enforced staycations. Loads of people will be offloading them to help fund their normally jolly to Spain!
My lad has been camping since he was a baby. He doesnt care if hes in the Yorkshire Dales or in Antigua, its a holiday. Kids love it.
Dont get a bell tent - they are not an efficient use of space. A proper tunnel tent is the way to go - lots of people like airbeam, I've seen plenty of punctured airbeams and never, ever snapped a pole in 35yrs of camping so we just go old school. A 6 man-ish sized tent is about right for a family of 3 or 4. If it chucks it down, you can sit round a table and play games, read etc. It doesnt take long to pitch and strike once you've practiced it. I had the whole lot up for a 1 nighter this weekend in 20 minutes.
Highly, highly reccomend you go for a blackout tent - this means you actually get to stay asleep past 5am in Summer. Made a big difference.
We've had a few tents, all sorts of designs and shapes/sizes, such as the decathlon linked above. Tunnel tents work the best, make the best of the space and give you the most headroom which is a big difference when the weather is poor.
A crucial design feature we find now is that the door is vertical, and behind the 'porch' bit.
On all these tents - the 'door' is sloping - when you go in and out, or have it open, you drag the weather in.
On tents with this design however - the door is protected. It can be chucking it down, and you can still have the door open. It makes a big difference.
The overhanging section makes all the difference!
Dont get a bell tent - they are not an efficient use of space. A proper tunnel tent is the way to go - lots of people like airbeam, I've seen plenty of punctured airbeams and never, ever snapped a pole in 35yrs of camping so we just go old school. A 6 man-ish sized tent is about right for a family of 3 or 4. If it chucks it down, you can sit round a table and play games, read etc. It doesnt take long to pitch and strike once you've practiced it. I had the whole lot up for a 1 nighter this weekend in 20 minutes.
Highly, highly reccomend you go for a blackout tent - this means you actually get to stay asleep past 5am in Summer. Made a big difference.
We've had a few tents, all sorts of designs and shapes/sizes, such as the decathlon linked above. Tunnel tents work the best, make the best of the space and give you the most headroom which is a big difference when the weather is poor.
A crucial design feature we find now is that the door is vertical, and behind the 'porch' bit.
On all these tents - the 'door' is sloping - when you go in and out, or have it open, you drag the weather in.
On tents with this design however - the door is protected. It can be chucking it down, and you can still have the door open. It makes a big difference.
The overhanging section makes all the difference!
https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/kampa-studland-8-air-t...
We have this - well there are two a polyester which gets really hot in summer and much colder out of season so we have the fabric version which is a step on again £ wise.
Also have added a canopy on the front and a vestibule - it makes it huge some 12 meters long by 4.5 meters wide.
We are 5 3 kids - the inside space and LED lighting and carpet make I’d extremely good. If it rains and it has done a few times it’s so big it’s not an issue.
We’ve had winds for nearly a day and a half gusting to high 50mph and averaging mid 30mph. Yes a bit bouncy and with the lashing rain I popped out now and again to double check all the long pegs were sound/tap up any that had moved.
We have movie nights in the middle section too - large tablet comfy chairs kids love it.
Used ours over 15 full weeks in 4 years and even with hard treatment as you can imagine with kids and storm conditions a few times it’s still pretty much as good as new. Paid for itself many many times over.
Usually electric hook up weeks cost is just over £200 vs Airbnb £2k (?)+
Our tent only section is 65kg and it’s shape mean you need two people to crab walk it about. You certainly need to drop it beside the car and pitch up not “no cars in tent field”.
Guessing it’s 20 mins for the footprint and the tent pumped up. But then all the pegs carpet LED lights kitchen etc bedding it’s probably a good hour.
Putting away & drying it correctly to ensure it last as many more years as possible takes a long time. It’s so big in essence you have to put the tent into the car first but you have to clearly empty the tent first pack everything away before you then pack up the tent.
We don’t rush & always book an extra night as there is no way of being packed up by 10:30am more like early afternoon.
We have this - well there are two a polyester which gets really hot in summer and much colder out of season so we have the fabric version which is a step on again £ wise.
Also have added a canopy on the front and a vestibule - it makes it huge some 12 meters long by 4.5 meters wide.
We are 5 3 kids - the inside space and LED lighting and carpet make I’d extremely good. If it rains and it has done a few times it’s so big it’s not an issue.
We’ve had winds for nearly a day and a half gusting to high 50mph and averaging mid 30mph. Yes a bit bouncy and with the lashing rain I popped out now and again to double check all the long pegs were sound/tap up any that had moved.
We have movie nights in the middle section too - large tablet comfy chairs kids love it.
Used ours over 15 full weeks in 4 years and even with hard treatment as you can imagine with kids and storm conditions a few times it’s still pretty much as good as new. Paid for itself many many times over.
Usually electric hook up weeks cost is just over £200 vs Airbnb £2k (?)+
Our tent only section is 65kg and it’s shape mean you need two people to crab walk it about. You certainly need to drop it beside the car and pitch up not “no cars in tent field”.
Guessing it’s 20 mins for the footprint and the tent pumped up. But then all the pegs carpet LED lights kitchen etc bedding it’s probably a good hour.
Putting away & drying it correctly to ensure it last as many more years as possible takes a long time. It’s so big in essence you have to put the tent into the car first but you have to clearly empty the tent first pack everything away before you then pack up the tent.
We don’t rush & always book an extra night as there is no way of being packed up by 10:30am more like early afternoon.
We've got our first trip for this year booked for next weekend to Whitby - 5 & 2 year old.
We've been doing it since the oldest was 3.
6 man tent with black out bedrooms, separate lounge.
We only do short trips with the kids.... although I think that's more to do with this missus than them!
We also don't go if there's a chance of it being cold.
We don't go over board with kit - blow up mattress or sims for us all. We do have electric hook up normally and take a heater - more just to take the edge off when you wake up than anything else... or if it rains.
The kids just love being away and having a field to run around in.
It's not as bad as you imagine.
We've been doing it since the oldest was 3.
6 man tent with black out bedrooms, separate lounge.
We only do short trips with the kids.... although I think that's more to do with this missus than them!
We also don't go if there's a chance of it being cold.
We don't go over board with kit - blow up mattress or sims for us all. We do have electric hook up normally and take a heater - more just to take the edge off when you wake up than anything else... or if it rains.
The kids just love being away and having a field to run around in.
It's not as bad as you imagine.
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