Europe & Beyond

Camping Equipment – Top Tips

Buying the basics: tents and beds

With the recession forcing many of us to consider cheaper holiday options, cost-conscious travellers are being lured away from hotels and rental properties to campsites at home and abroad.

From rustic farmers’ fields offering pretty basic facilities to amenity-packed glamping resorts with swimming pools, bars and restaurants – camping on all levels is making a serious comeback.

For first-timers, it’s vital to invest in the right camping equipment. Tents and beds top the list of essentials, and your choice will have a big part to play in the success (or otherwise) of your trip.

Choosing a tent

A tent is your most important piece of camping equipment, guaranteeing you shelter. Prices vary dramatically, as do shapes, sizes and designs. Your choice will depend on what type of camper you are: occasional, ‘fair weather’ campers may not worry quite so much about storm durability or warmth, and those planning to stuff their kit straight into their car boot rather than carry it in backpacks will be less preoccupied with how much it weighs. Every tent-buyer, however, needs to consider:

• the weather you’re likely to encounter: at least consider the worst case scenario for your destination at the time of year you’re travelling
• tent size: if you’re not carrying your tent, go for bigger, if possible (a two-person tent for one, a four-person tent for two, and so on), then you’ll have spare room for other belongings
• tent weight: especially if you’ll be carrying it
• tent features: such as strong zips, a roof vent for air circulation, or fly-screen meshing to keep bugs out

If you’re going to use the tent quite a lot, invest in a well-known brand. Research tents online to get an idea of what you want, but always try before you buy: there’s really no substitute for going into a camping shop to see tents set up. Take your backpack and travel companions with you to see whether you all fit comfortably inside.

Choosing a camp bed

A camping trip should no longer spell sleepless nights and sore backs, as there are some excellent camp beds and mattresses on the market.

Backpackers may have to settle for something lightweight and basic such as a rolled foam mat – cheap, easy to carry, and offering some warmth and a degree of comfort.

Next up the camp bed comfort scale are self-inflating camping ‘mattresses’ such as those from Thermalite, which are more expensive but are still lightweight, and create a layer of air between you and the ground – providing warmth and comfort.

Fully-inflatable ‘blow-up beds’ are even warmer and comfier, but are also bulky and heavy and only suitable for campers with cars. They usually come with a foot- or electric pump; opt for a foot pump if there’s a chance you’ll have no electricity supply. For those with smaller tents, blow-up camp beds may also prove too big to fit comfortably inside with all your other kit. They’re also prone to punctures, so take your puncture kit with you.

At the ‘luxury’ end of the spectrum are proper metal camp beds, raised off the ground with a solid mattress and perfect for those who like their home comforts. They’re expensive and take up a lot of space, however, even when they’re folded – so they are not always practical.

Whatever other elaborate camping equipment you go on to buy afterwards will be virtually immaterial if you don’t get these basics right – warm, dry campers are usually also amongst the happiest campers.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 26th, 2009 at 11:52 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.