New to Camping? Start Here — Your Friendly Guide to Getting Outside

It’s the traditional choice — but it has pros and cons.

Pros:

• Cheap and easy to buy gear
• Works well at campgrounds
• Ideal for group or large family setups

Cons:

• Takes time to pitch/take down
• Gets cold, noisy, and wet
• Not great in strong winds or early morning rain
• Needs to be dried every morning to prevent mould.
  

It looks cool and saves ground space, but…

Pros:

• Off the ground (feels safer)
• Combines with any car

Cons:

• Expensive
• Increases fuel use and is bulky on off-road
• Climbing after a nice, relaxing evening with friends can be unsafe.
• Can’t drive anywhere once you’ve set it up
• Not ideal for windy conditions
• Needs to be dried every morning to prevent mould.

Buy or rent a van already set up for travel.

Pros:

• All-in-one living space
• Certified “self-contained” for legal camping in many regions
• Ideal for long trips or working holiday visas

Cons:

• Expensive ($60K–100K+ to buy, $150–300/day to rent)
• Higher running costs (fuel, rego, maintenance)
• Can’t really use it as your daily car
• Feels like a commitment

This is where the world is heading. With products like the Teraglide PRO, you sleep flat in your own car, store gear under the bed, and set up in under a minute.

Pros:

• Lockable = safety
• Weatherproof
• Sleep like on a bed, not across uneven seats
• Travel with kids, a dog, or solo
• Use the car as usual during the day — the platform folds into the trunk

Cons:

• You’ll want curtains or window shades
• You need to find legal overnight spots (see below)