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We're off on a family camping weekend soon and we've never all been before. Any hints and tips? We're staying in a pod and it does have some cooking facilities but I need to get the rest of the stuff, sleeping bags and wotnot and most importantly for the kids to enjoy it. They are 1,2,and 5.
As it's your first time I'd take duvets from home so you're not wasting money on stuff before you even know if you'll enjoy it.
If you can't borrow any mats/airbeds etc off anyone, i'd look at Decathlon. They do some good stuff including junior sleeping bags.
We started with airbeds but quickly moved onto self inflating mats (5cm+ thickness).
Go Outdoors is good for getting family kit, get some cheap stuff initially until you (if you) get into it. If you are in a pod you could get away with using your home duvets etc. DONT go mad spending on stuff until you decide you actually all enjoy it!!.
Hot water bottles, marshmallows and water pistols.
Cheers, will have a look round decathlon too. The Pod has some mats so we are all right on that front. The girls have been promised sleeping bags though and it seems its the part they are looking forward too the most.
In that case, it won't hurt to get them for them as they're always handy for sleepovers and "indoor camping adventures" at home.
Look at 3 season ones that are EN13537 rated. It's a loose rating and sleeping warmth is subjective but at least you know you won't get a 1 season bag rated as 3 season.
Our one adventure in a pod was a bit of a nightmare as the weather wasn't conducive to sitting outside enjoying a glass of wine and chat. This ended with us sitting inside in silence for a long time until our daughter got to sleep.
Proper camping - under canvas - is fine with separate "bedrooms" so there are never any problems.
Have a good time though.
Let your kids run themselves around as long as they want, and let them stay up late. That way, they'll go down easily 🙂
Assume the weather is going to be rubbish and plan accordingly. Then any sunshine is a massive bonus. Perhaps let the kids practice getting off to sleep with the tent set up in the garden so it's not a massive pain during the trip?
I totally get the "kids excited about sleeping bags" thing, but I'd take a duvet for you and Mrs YoKaiser just on the basis that they're a shedload more comfy. 🙂 Just be prepared for it to be cold, as that's always Mrs Pondo's biggest bugbear no matter where and when we go. 🙂
I was thinking of getting one of the Czech Army sleeping rolls, a guy from work has one and thinks its great, plenty warm too allegedly and cheap. In saying that I'm kinda needing a new lightweight bag, I've an old Ajungilak and a NF bags but both are getting on for 20yrs old.
If you have old sleeping bags you can foreshorten them by using a belt and this stops the smaller ones vanishing to the bottom and panicking.