when did you decide 'no more camping'.

[campanula]

55 for me. Aging knees meant scrabbling into a sleeping bag was just not fun anymore. I still (sort of) camp - but in a luxurious horsebox with a proper armchair and a cooker I can stand up to use (no more cooking on my knees over fires! - unless it is a barbecue). I do have stalwart mates who not only camp, but cycle to the camping spot (shudder)...but once the camping equipment could not longer fit in my panniers, then I pushed the boat out and started on the blow-up airbeds and folding chairs.
I have to say, if I never have to wriggle into a tent again, I will not be terribly sad.

 

[Pickman's model]

I have to say, if I never have to wriggle into a tent again, I will not be terribly sad.

you just need a bigger tent

 

[campanula]

Yep, Pickman's, I certainly went down the huge tent road...but hefting yards and yards of heavy canvas turned out to be less fun...and the camping became insanely elaborate (carpets, tables, cushions, a sofa ffs). I have resisted a caravan, though.

 

[Pickman's model]

Yep, Pickman's, I certainly went down the huge tent road...but hefting yards and yards of heavy canvas turned out to be less fun...and the camping became insanely elaborate (carpets, tables, cushions, a sofa ffs). I have resisted a caravan, though.

then you need an entourage

 

[campanula]

Well I bloody well had that too (kids, dogs, hangers-on).

 

[Pickman's model]

Well I bloody well had that too (kids, dogs, hangers-on).

a proper entourage of people who are there to help, not hinder, you.

 

[Orang Utan]

19

 

[Pickman's model]

19

 

[pogofish]

For me it was when the osteoarthritis hit and it could be absolute flaming agony just dealing with a proper bed. The thought of having to do the same from a tent was just too much. That would be what, 48/49?

Things have improved post-surgery but I'll still need to see a bit more improvement in my shoulders before I'll risk a tent again - So in the meantime, I'm saving for a small camper.

 

[moose]

When I met a man with a lovely camper van in 1994. Only spent 3 nights in a tent in the intervening time.
Our concession to our 50s was to install a heater last year.

 

[mr steev]

When I got my first van about 8 years ago.

The bed is main luxury (and not having to pitch your tent in the dark or take it down in the rain) I still like being outside/under canvas but my mate has a marquee which we take with us which is perfect

I grew up with camping and when my parents moved on to a caravan I stayed in my tent. When my parents were pushing 70 they bought a tent so they could go to some festival which didn't allow vans for some reason

I do have stalwart mates who not only camp, but cycle to the camping spot

Same here, and most of them are in their 60's!

 

[Supine]

Never!

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Around 35.
I'd had my fill of waking up in boiling hot tents, hungover to shit at fesitvals.
And the lack of space and nowhere to sit properly just drove me mad.

 

[weltweit]

I never decided "no more camping" but I did throw out my two moth eaten tents aged 45, perhaps that is a sign.

 

[dessiato]

I like camping, but don't do it very often. I'd lie to take my tent and do a small amount of wild camping, overnight or for a weekend. It would be enough. I wouldn't want to do longer camping anywhere, it's too much like hard work to be worthwhile.

 

[Bakunin]

Only camp once a year, but Le Mans is too special to me to give it up until I physically have to.

I have started paring down the amount of kit I take with me, though.

 

[marty21]

last camped at the Reading Festival, about 18 years ago, I was about 30, haven't got around to doing it since then

 

[Looby]

I love camping, I don't plan to give it up for a while. If I could afford a van I'd probably get one but I'm not fussed. It's the lugging stuff around that gets me not the tent sleeping.

Last time I camped was with both my dogs too, it was great. [emoji41]

 

[monsterbunny]

I'm 60 and I do a lot of night fishing so I have a comfy-ish bed which is more 'car-camping'. But for wild camping, it's just a bivvy bag, or a hammock in woodland. Anything over four days and I build a temporary shelter out of branches and leaf litter rather than lugging a tent. If I'm at altitude for any length of time I'll still use a tent, but my fitness levels have deteriorated so I avoid steep climbs up mountains over extended periods.

Dogs are great when you're camping aren't they sparklefish? The dog enjoys the experience more than me. He loves fires and shares the sleeping bag. And he catches rabbits for our dinner. We both smell of woodsmoke for about a week afterwards.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

I'm 60 and I do a lot of night fishing so I have a comfy-ish bed which is more 'car-camping'. But for wild camping, it's just a bivvy bag, or a hammock in woodland. Anything over four days and I build a temporary shelter out of branches and leaf litter rather than lugging a tent. If I'm at altitude for any length of time I'll still use a tent, but my fitness levels have deteriorated so I avoid steep climbs up mountains over extended periods.

Dogs are great when you're camping aren't they sparklefish? The dog enjoys the experience more than me. He loves fires and shares the sleeping bag. And he catches rabbits for our dinner. We both smell of woodsmoke for about a week afterwards.

That sounds absolutely glorious!
Are you Ray Mears?

 

[lizzieloo]

I still love camping (42), we take EVERYTHING, sprung mattress, the works, if it will fit in the car it comes.

 

[19sixtysix]

I like camping but after an extra muddy sunrise festival 3 or 4 years ago I bought my camper. It's small but there is nothing like lying in a comfy double bed. I'm not sure my tent will get much more use.

 

[badseed]

Still loving it....

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

Yep. Still loving it.

 

[Orang Utan]

Why are there tents when there are buildings? With beds, showers and toilets in them?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

About 16/17 I think - went to a Greenpeace conference thing and have never camped since. Awful and uncomfortable, and hotels were invented for a damn good reason.

 

[BoatieBird]

After a particularly soggy holiday spent in the Gower about 5 years ago.
It was our main summer holiday that year and we ended up going home early because none of us had any dry clothes left

We got a caravan about 4 years ago and we love it

 

[Idaho]

I haven't done any wild camping for ages. I love that best. Wake up in the middle of nowhere.

Do a fair bit of family camping. But between tents at the moment. Tend to bring duvets, pillows, chairs etc and have tents you can stand up in.

 

[starfish2000]

Me & Mrs Starfish went to that Love Supreme festival, Some bright spark had cut the grass a few days earlier. So my hayfever, which is usually very mild, went into fucking overdrive. I took everything I had & nothing worked. By the time It was early evening & Chic were on the mainstage, my missus was dancing away and all my hayfever drugs kicked in. I couldn't feel one side of my face. I was standing there like Robert De Niro in Awakenings, fucking awful.

 

[rioted]

I'm 64. Still camping in a tent that I carry on my back or the bike. Its all about getting away from it all, not taking it all with you.