A mum was asked if she would really go ‘camping’ if they ‘took the whole house’ – after showing off her £1,000 24ft long tent along with sofas and even bunk beds.
Chloe Runciman spent two weeks at the Vale of Pickering campsite in Scarborough last month with her husband, Gregor Runciman, 32, and their three children during their annual camping trip.
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Despite forking out just under £1,000 for an Outdoor Revolution Camp Star 700 aerial tent – which is a massive 360 square feet – and an extra £800 on other equipment, the 28-year-old says it still works out “cheaper than a hotel”.
The stay-at-home mom took to TikTok to share a clip of her family’s spacious and comfortable tent with the caption “tour of this year’s tent,” which has now gone viral with over 6.1 million views.
In the clip, Chloe shows off the impressive shelter, which includes an external roof, kitchen, living room equipped with inflatable sofas, minibar and emergency bathroom, as well as a bedroom decorated with bunk beds and double camping. bed.
The 24-foot-long “tunnel” tent is divided into three zones, including a community area, a seven-person bedroom and an enclosed front porch area.
However, social media users questioned whether the couple’s setup was “still considered camping” and were puzzled as to why they didn’t opt to “just buy a caravan” or even a hotel.
The mother-of-three, who lives in Peebles, Scotland, said: “We have everything we need in one tent. Even a toilet. Just for overnight emergencies. The little things make everything so much easier and keep everyone happy.
“That initial cost is high. The tent we have costs just under £1,000. The equipment and everything else we’ve put together over time and cost £800. It’s going to last a long time.
“It may cost a little to start, but once you get it, you only need to pay for one camp. Now that we have everything, it won’t cost us much every year.
“The camp this year cost us £400 for two weeks. That’s all you need to pay to stay somewhere. It’s a lot cheaper than a hotel.”
The couple have been taking Mason, two, Theo, four, and Oscar, six, camping for the past three years and Chloe revealed she bought them bunk beds to “save space” and allow them to stay close together.
Chloe said: “They have bunk beds like at home. The three boys like to be together. At home they share a room, they are very close.
“The idea of having them together also helps. It’s a comfort. Everything is an adventure. It gives more space in the tent and saves space.”
The 28-year-old admitted that she was never a fan of camping, but after her husband convinced her to try it, the two went on several trips and love the “freedom” it gives their family.
Chloe said: “I prefer this to a hotel. I’ve got three boys, it’s a lot of noise. When they’re out on the field they can just run around and have the freedom to do their own thing. It helps a lot.
“You can go anywhere you want. We try to find an area where there’s lots to do for the kids, lots of different places to visit, and it gives them a lot more freedom than just being stuck inside.”
Three Camping Tips From an Expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about making a camping trip go well.
When visiting any campsite this summer, it’s important to make sure you don’t make any simple mistakes that could ruin your vacation.
Check your tent
David recommends setting up your tent a few weeks before your trip to give yourself enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the waters
Choosing a good location to pitch your tent is difficult and there are many things to consider.
One of them should be the condition of the land where you are pitching your tent, according to David.
He said: “Once you find the perfect spot, test the ground with your stakes before committing to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t take a nap in your tent
It may seem like the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent can end badly if done at the wrong time of day.
David explained: “If the sun is shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends napped in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up in the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well-ventilated.
The avid camper admitted she was “shocked” by the criticism she received after posting the video and defended the couple’s decision to camp rather than stay in a caravan or hotel.
Chloe said: “I was quite shocked by the whole thing. How people can be so critical. I think it’s really funny because people just don’t understand if you’ve never done it.
“Camping is a holiday. Especially when you have kids, it’s a lot of fun for them, which makes everything a lot easier.
“You’re basically outdoors with just a little bit of stuff with all the things you have with you. You can do whatever you want.
“You can create your own vacation in a way. The choice is yours, what you bring and make it yours.
“A lot of comments are ‘why don’t you buy a caravan’. We did a motorhome this year for a week. But it’s not remotely the same thing. It’s a different holiday.”
Many users took to the comments to question the couple’s expensive camping gear.
One user said: “Just get a caravan at this point.”
Another user said: “Why would you want this instead of a house or a hotel?”
A third user said: “What’s the appeal? You are basically spending a huge amount of money to take your own house and put it outside.
A fourth user asked: “Is it still considered camping at this time?”
Another added: “I almost choked when I saw the price of the stall.”
However, other users defended the family configuration.
One user said: “Lovely setup, I don’t understand the negative comments.”
Another user said: “All these people who hate camping are so sad that they miss out on the fun.”
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
