Where to start!

[zeBarOOn]

Hi all,

I'm a newbie to all of this but am determined to start going proper camping.

I just don't really know where to start, looking at the forums there are a lot of threads giving how to's and I've read the top tip thread (all 120 tips..)

My experience is limited to safe camping on a campsite and scouts (a few years ago now!) so I wondered what you veterans would give in the way of advice?

Would you suggest to go on an intro course? If so any in Hampshire?

I've read lots about the type of kit to bring but haven't bought anything at this stage.

Where to go?

Thanks for any help!

 

[John Fenna]

Find a local meet and go along - nothing better than learning from those who do it!

 

[Tengu]

Ignore all advice, including mine.

 

[william#]

move to canada
you should be able to properly do bushcraft there

 

[TomBartlett]

I'm hardly a veteran, but I'll say the obvious: just try and get out there and put into practice what you've learned here.

 

[calibanzwei]

Get out there and try what you have read about - no experience speaks louder than your own. Either alone in your back garden or with this bunch of reprobates (in the nicest possible sense ) at a Moot.

 

[Nonsuch]

If you fancy an intro course - look up Forest Knights - down your way in Arundel
Very nice approachable people
NS

 

[JohnC]

I'd suggest a meet as well, even if you go for the day, there will be people happy to demo their kit and set-up for camping.
If you've a back garden, setting up kit there for practice is useful. I've done that with tents, bivis and hammocks as well as cooking practice with new kit.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Ignore all advice, including mine.

Ok, but.. wait.. what?

 

[zeBarOOn]

If you fancy an intro course - look up Forest Knights - down your way in Arundel
Very nice approachable people
NS

Cheers for that, I'll have a look - especially being local!

 

[sandbag47]

Or you could go the bushmoot this summer..your learn as much or as little as you want there

 

[timboggle]

There is one piece of advice I would give you and that is to wear sunscreen !!

 

[Waldganger]

I'd recommend getting yourself a cheap Mora, people here seem to love them (I'll have to buy one day to see what its all about) and practice the basic cuts for making snares/pegs and other stuff.

Buy a length of paracord and practice the knots. Don't spend big $$ on packs/tents/sleeping gear until you've done the research.
I did buy hastily and it wasted $$ because after doing some research I found I could've bought something better, and only have one pack than two, or something I now need to hand down to the missus, and she won't use it for years yet.

read lots, ask questions, then form your own judgment. Its good to go and learn with people who are into it, as you're eagerness to learn will help them to teach.

 

[zeBarOOn]

There is one piece of advice I would give you and that is to wear sunscreen !!

Yep!

Was that a reference to Baz Luhrmann - Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)??

Good times.

 

[bushwacker bob]

If you fancy an intro course - look up Forest Knights - down your way in Arundel
Very nice approachable people
NS

Very good advice. Wayne is an excellent teacher and all round nice guy. He is also a member of this forum.

 

[bushcraftbob]

I'll second getting out in yer garden (if you have one). I practise most of my skills in my garden (firelighting, carving, cordage making etc). Its convenient as i have a full time job, and its nice just to get home, ditch the suit, then 30 seconds later i've got my mora in my hand!

 

[dasy2k1]

I can almost guarentee that the scouts in your local area are crying out for extra leaders... if you have a couple of hours a week to spare when you arent camping then you will have a great chance to pick up a load of skills! also when you watch the other leaders teach a scout how to light a fire you will pick up loads of things without even reliseing it

 

[IntrepidStu]

Just get out there with a tent and bag and some form of cooking gear. Just for one night. You will soon learn what you need and what you didnt use. Then go for two nights but not too far from home so if the ---- hits the fan you can always retreat.

 

[C_Claycomb]

The place to start is to decided what it is that you want to achieve. You say that you want to start "proper camping", but that is different from what is often described here as bushcraft.

Proper camping might be considered to be wild camping, say heading up to the Lake District, or Scotland and going on hikes which will see you camping out on the hill for a night or two. Camping here is a means to an ends, rather than an ends in itself.

Then there is what people do at meets, which is drive to a nice picturesque site with cars loaded with gear, set up a camp ranging from the spartan to the palatial, get a fire going and sit around chatting, drinking (tea ) and whittling sticks. There are variations on this, but often it is the wooded setting, fire, friends and chance to chat and play in the woods that are the ends in themselves.

And finally there is skills practice, which can be done completely independent of camping, even in the garden, on a walk in the park, or for some things, sat in your living room at home. This can cover plant identification, making cordage and knot work, knife skills and carving, fire lighting (best not in the living room) and tracking.

What is it that interests you? What is your aim, to learn crafts, to learn skills for use in really wild country, or to just feel like you are camping a little closer to nature?

 

[dasy2k1]

this is propper camping