Camping Equipment Advice

CheapTents.com specialises in selling top quality tents at discount prices. We have been discounting outdoor and camping equipment online since 2001, but have operated in the Outdoor Leisure Industry for almost 20 years. We are keen outdoor enthusiasts ourselves and our experience and enjoyment of outdoor and camping equipment is paramount in what we do. If you have any questions at all about camping or outdoor gear, please do not hesitate to call us on 01925 411 385, or drop us an email.

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Camping Advice

• Practice pitching your tent. Most tent manufacturers and retailers will recommend that you put your tent up when you get it home. This way, you'll be able to check three things. Firstly, that the tent has all of it's component parts, secondly, that your capabale of putting the tent up (practive makes perfect!), and thirdly, it provides you with an extra chance to make sure that you have chosen the right tent for the purpose.
• Write a checklist. It's easy to forget what items you thought were going to remember when it's 11am, you were meant to leave at 9:30am, the dogs barking, the kids are crying and your belly's rumbling. We've started a camping checklist below for you to take a look at, but you're likely to want to add to it.
• Take spares and repairs. Like the Scout motto suggests: be prepared! Camping equipment can break, and there's no point thinking 'if only I'd known that I should have brought a couple of spare tent pegs', as you're pulling tent back out of a tree for the third time. Pegs, guy lines, tent repair kits and duck tape.
• Carefully choose your camping spot. Consider rabbit and mole burrows (aka ankle breakers), trees, site facilities (be close, but not too close), noisey farm animals, railway lines and roads. Ask yourself whether something will either break your gear, yourselves, or wake you up in the morning? If you own a noisey dog, is there a spot away from other campers? Remember too, that the larger your group, the larger the impact on other - try to make minimal impact on your local environment. Simply be considerate and use your common sense when selecting a spot to pitch your tent.
• Guy lines. These are campers favourites for tripping over. Read your tent manual to make sure you know how to fit them, use flourescent guy lines if possible and make sure they are placed carefully away from places where people are likely to pass.
• Pitch your tent away from the prevailing wind. Use your tent as a wind breaker for the living space in front of your tent - i.e. if you are facing the entrance to your tent, the wind should be hitting you in the face. Are there natural spots of protection from the wind?
• When you get home. unpack your gear straight away - if you don't do it then, you'll never do it, and find a very moudly tent later in the year. Wash surplus mud off with warm water and a cloth, and consider buying a tent cleaner, to do a proper job - it's cheaper than buying a new tent every year! Give any other camping gear you took with you, a proper clean and you'll be all set for your next camping trip.

Tent Advice

• How many people does the tent need to sleep?
• How heavy is it? And does the weight matter? I.e. will you be driving to your camp spot or backpacking with it on your back?
• What kind of weather will the tent be exposed to?
• Does the tent need living space large enough for a table or a simple porch for a camping stove?
• Does the tent need to be head height or will a compact lightweight tent do?

Camping Equipment Checklist

• First aid kit - how comprehensive does it need to be - will you be away from shops for long periods of time or doing outdoor sports? Safety first, remember!
• Sun protection - hats, sunglasses and case, lotion, UV protective clothing.
• Outdoor clothing - take what's necessary for the weather conditions expected, and more to account for weather changes. Do you have warm clothing, a windproof jacket and waterproof clothing? Remember that baselayers are one of the most undersvalued items of outdoor clothing and really add to your warmth and comfort by removing moisture away from the skin and adding another layer, thus reducing wind chill. Wear a baselayer alone or as part of a layering system. Thick, warm walking socks and gloves are also a good idea. See outdoor clothing advice page for more help..
• Do you have the right footwear - walking boots, trail running trainers, wellington boots?
• Insect repellant - deet or natural?
• Mountain whistle - an emergency whistle can help raise an alarm very quickly and is an ultra-cheap safety device that no one should be without.
• Sleeping bag - what temperatures are you expecting? Do you need an ultralight down sleeping bag or regular synthetic sleeping bag?
• Roll mat or mattress - a good nights sleep is vital!
• Compact camping pillow.
• Tea towel, camping towel and toiletries
• Washing up liquid and cloth.
• Loo roll!
• Camping lights - torches, camp lights, head torches.
• Tent repair kit - spare material, sealant, guy lines and pegs
• Camping stove - lightweight, regular, fuel type?
• Cooking pans - lightweight or regular?
• Matches - or other means to start a fire.
• Plates and bowls.
• Food - camping ready meals, snack bars - don't go hungry, take more than you need.
• Cooking and serving utensils - large spoon or ladel, spatula, knife.
• Camping cutlery - knife, fork and spoon
• Water - water bottle, cannister or water bladder.
• Water neutralising tablets
• Plastic bags - you can never have enough (rubbish, wet footwear, food, laundry, baby's nappies, etc)
• Playing cards (when it rains you'll be grateful - learn a couple more games than just snap!)
• Daysack for day hikes or backpack for backpacking
• Compass and maps for walking, mountain biking or driving.

If your backpacking or will be doing a going walking whilst camping, consider whether you might also need:

• Walking Pole
• Axe or Crampons
• Water bladder or hydration pack
• Survival Bag and Whistle
• Folding knife
• Gaiters

And although you might only use some of this equipment occasionally when camping, it is vital you understand that you have it available for those 'just in case' occasions, just like the seatbelt in your car.

Emergency Procedures

Before you go camping be aware that just because you have a mobile phone you will be able to contact people in an emergency. A mobile phone may not have a signal in mountainous or remote areas, may break if it gets wet or is dropped and may lose its battery. A survival whistle is a great bit of kit for this reason.

Before you embark on any sort of remote camping trip, make sure that people know where you're going, how long you'll be gone and what you intend on doing when you get there. Also make sure that you update that person if your plans change.

Pride comes before a fall - be prepared to turn back if the weather conditions turn against you, do not persevere uneccessarily. Mountain Rescue recommend that you use 6 blasts on an emergency whistle or torch at minute intervals if in an emergency. Importantly, call 999 at the eariest convenience for any serious emergencies.

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