You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've bought myself a tent. Exciting times, never had one before. Im 37, its for use at the Tour depart.
Anyway, do I need a groundsheet? A stove, maybe a lantern,.......
Ground sheet is very useful. The tent will likely have a built in one but an extra is handy as grass gets wet and muddy
A simple stove is handy if you like a cup of tea. We rarely cook, either eat out or cold pies/pasties/etc. For longer trips cooking becomes more of an issue. Things you can cook in a single pan are best. These are fine [url= http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-portable-gas-camping-stove-p142491 ]link[/url]
No need for a lantern. A torch is fine although Maplin had some nice tent lights when I was in last week
most modern tents have ground sheet sewn in, but sleeping mat sleeping bag?
[i]do I need a groundsheet[/i]
depends - most modern tents have a built in groundsheet.
a 'footprint' ground sheet or a rectangular one folded/cut to fit can help keep the main groundsheet clean when camping on wet/muddy ground and is easier to clean off afterwards. Just make sure it doesn't stick out past the edge of the tent as it'll collect water between the two groundsheets when it rains.
I must admit I never saw the point of sleeping mats and sleeping bags for car camping. We either use a blow up bed or 4 inch foam mattress. We then make a proper bed with sheets and a duvet. It all still fits in the boot and is much more comfortable.
Got sleeping essentials, was concerned about getting my new tent dirty hence the groundsheet 😳
Stove for a cuppa sounds good and will add an air of authenticity to proceedings.
I'd not bother with an additional ground sheet.
We have one but our tent is nearing the end of it's life so the built in ground sheet was starting to fail (15 year old Terra Nova).
If it's for a week and in summer you will be fine.
We take a duvet, loads comfier than a sleeping bag. We kip on an air bed but ain't all that.
In a car so weight/ space not a big issue, then one of those dual burner gas jobbies from Halfords/Go outdoors would do nicely. Mines was about £12 and came in a crappy rucksack that keeps everything together. However, add a workmate and folding barbeque - you simply cannot camp without a barbie.
Inflatable mattress, inflated via lighter socket in car, and as pointed out duvets more comfy than sleeping bag.
Lanterns handy for reading but also a head torch is handy for midnight out for a pee sessions
I wouldn't bother with a groundsheet, the whole point of camping is to get out there with as few things as neccessary
things to consider
keep your feet dry (take lots of socks and walking boots)
treat the tent like a bedroom, so only go in there for clean clothes and sleeping
always have a waterproof and a little head torch (vital for getting out of the tent in the middle of the night for a wazz)
follow nickjb's advice about brews and food - consider a pub lunch for a hot meal if needed
I like a hipflask for evenings, makes everything easy
Amateur - pee bottle FTW ;).always have a waterproof and a little head torch (vital for getting out of the tent in the middle of the night for a wazz)
keep well away from pee bottle.I like a hipflask for evenings, makes everything easy
Take a decent pillow - the one that you usually use
have a Fenix torch that has an optional diffuser* that you can plug on the end, so that it can act like a lantern hung up in the top of the tent. much more practical than a normal torch that'll roll under airbed, sleeping bag, or whatever.
(* does make it look like a lady's self pleasuring toy though)
Theres a good instructional film about loosing your virginity whilst camping, quite old now but I'm sure its still relevant and you can probably find it on youtube or something. Forget the name of if. Had Billy Ridden in it, and a young Charlie Boorman. And Jens Voigt. No. Wait. That can't be right. I mean Jon Voight....and Burt Reynolds.