Category Archives: Kit Advice

How to buy the right tent for you

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Tunnel, pop up, festival, family, lightweight, lighter weight, cabin, dome, bivi and two-man through to nine-man. The range of tents grows ever greater as each summer goes by. But rather like choosing a car, bike or new home, there is most likely a tent that will suit you perfectly.

A guide to matching campers with their tent

Weekend festival dudes: The last thing you want is tent hassle during a fun festival weekend. All festival goers require is a tent that’s easy to carry from public transport or the boot of the car, quick to put up, waterproof and mud-resistant. If it’s brightly patterned or coloured then all the better because re-finding your tent in a field of hundreds of other tents when you have had a couple of beers and your head is dizzy from all the dancing could be the difference between a night’s sleep and a night spent searching for your tent.

The perfect tent solution: Pop-up tents or festival tents.

Family, comfort and joy: This type of family likes to pack the car (or mini bus!) full to the brim. Add in two or three children, a dog, a parent or two and perhaps friends. At the campsite, luxury is important. Blow-up mattresses, cosy sleeping bags, pillows, a sink, a larder, solar powered showers, fridges, carpet. In other words, a camping holiday is a home-from-home affair.

The perfect tent solution: A family tent that sleeps up to nine people with a living space and separate bedrooms for parents, kids and hanger-ons. Tunnel family tents make a great choice.

Family + head room: If the worst thing for you about camping is not being able to stand up then you’ll want to choose your tent carefully. If your camping location is likely to be open to the wind and rain then you should also think about the structure of your tent. If you also need a living area and bedrooms…

The perfect tent solution: A dome tent construction offers great internal space and holds strong in wind and bad weather. Or choose the equally sturdy cabin-style tent.

Go wild: This is wild in the sense of the wilderness. Some people like to get away from it all and head off with only a backpack, a lightweight tent, a small stove and some dried camping food.

The perfect tent solution: A one or two-man lightweight tent that packs up small but still offers strength (in case of wind) and is highly waterproof (in case of rain).

Wild and very light: If you’re planning on a long, multi-day camping trip that includes many miles of walking carrying all your clothes, equipment and accommodation then….

The perfect tent solution: Choose a one-man bivi bags. These tents-come-shelters offer protection from the elements but also cut weight and volume to an absolute minimum.

Wild and high: Mountain goats require a lightweight tent that can also cope in extreme conditions.

The perfect tent solution: A mountain tent is a five-season expedition tent that is designed to offer safety and comfort. The geodesic tent design ensures strength and stability against the strongest winds.

Top tips for winter hill walking

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The photo with this blog post was taken late last month in the Lake District. In the valley, the weather felt quite mild; a few hundred feet higher, the wind and snow made for Arctic conditions despite the bright sky. Winter hill walking should really be seen as mountaineering with the added dimensions of shorter daylight hours plus snow, ice and severe weather.

Never take the weather for granted in the hills. By their very nature, mountain weather patterns can change quickly without warning and can pose serious problems if you’re unprepared. Always check the weather forecast and never just ‘hope for the best’. Check the Met Office weather forecasts – www.metoffice.gov.uk – as well as local advice.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Steep ground, snow and cold conditions will sap your strength and can turn what you thought would be a good day out into an epic. On your map, before leaving, check out and mark ‘escape routes’ off your planned walk in case the going gets too tough. Tell somebody where you’re going and let them know when you’re back. Walking alone high in the hills in winter is definitely not recommended!

Your rucksack will hold more than you’d expect to take on a summer stroll so it will weigh more so take that into account as well when planning your walk.

Warm, wind and waterproof clothing is obvious to wear and it pays to carry an extra layer of warmth for when you take a break to avoid cooling down too much. Overheating and sweating is not good for comfort and safety so ventilate your body heat and take off hat and gloves when you start warming up  (unless conditions are horrendous!). Time and again, people pile on the gear as they slog uphill from the car park and stop at the top, sweating as they pull the layers off to cool down. Let your body keep you warm when working hard and use your clothing to retain heat when you stop.

Map, compass and GPS are not accessories, they’re essentials. As is keeping them to hand and knowing how to use them competently. Emergency equipment should include a torch, whistle (emergency signals are six blasts on a whistle or six flashes with a torch), first aid kit and a bivi bag or emergency shelter.

Your footwear needs to offer good support and reliable traction so boots are usually preferred to low shoes. Ice axe and crampons should be considered if conditions warrant. Carrying them, though, is not much good if you don’t know how to use them. Gaiters are a really practical item to wear in snow; put them on before you head off up the trail.

Take enough food to see you and your party through the day with something to spare – you’ll burn calories faster in winter. As well as hot drinks, take plenty of water and drink regularly.

Winter camping is on trend

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It might have been wet, sometimes windy and occasionally snowy but this festive season has seen a rise in the numbers of campers in the UK. Leading campsite providers, The Camping and Caravanning Club, has seen a 51% rise in bookings over the yuletide period. In addition the club has opened a record 24 sites over Christmas and New Year due to increased demand from holidaymakers.

Club sites director Bob Hill said: “The rise in overall booking figures compared to last year shows just how popular camping as an all-year round activity is proving to be.

“Camping in winter offers a truly magical experience for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. The rise in bookings is clearly proof that the winter nights need not spell an end to those memorable camping adventures.”

Rise in sales of camping products

Meanwhile, many on-line camping retailers have witnessed bigger sales of camping products and accessories this Christmas. It would appear that we have been adding a host of camping goods to our Christmas gift wishlists – and many retailers are predicting that there will be an early start for more fairweather campers this year.

These days, thanks to a host of modern camping products, such as cosy sleeping bags, cold-ground-buffeting airbeds, and even ovens and heaters, campers do not have to worry so much about the cold outside their tent.

If you’re thinking about a holiday under canvas this season, and especially if you are trying to save money, we have a range of tips to keep you warm.

Top tips for winter camping

Bag a good bag: The general rule is that the more you pay for a sleeping bag the better quality it will be. Look for warm down and three/four season ratings.

Double up: A double sleeping bag allows you to cuddle up next to your favourite person – and stay warmer. The body heat of two people together is a blessing on a cold night.

Luxury liner: Add a silk sleeping bag liner for a warm inner layer in your sleeping bag.

Layer up: Go to bed wearing several thin layers of outdoor clothing. Thin layers trap body heat and keep you warmer than one thicker layer. Add a fleece or down outer jacket for extra warmth and don’t forget leggings and socks.

Don’t forget your hot water bottle: When you’re boiling up water for your hot chocolate night cap, also fill up your hot water bottle.

Go for a pee: According to scientists if you’re holding on to your pee during the night you will be using up unnecessary body energy, which can lead to reduced body temperature. So make sure have a pee before bedtime.

Go for a Go Bag: Peeing outside in the middle of the night is unpleasant at any time of the year but especially in winter and early spring. Instead, buy a Go Bag that allows you to pee inside your tent and then get rid of the bag the next day. An alternative is a Pee Wee Urine Bag. Guys, you can simply pee in an old water bottle so long as you remember to screw the lid back o

Note of caution: Do remember that camping in winter will be very cold. If you’re in any doubt about your health, simply wait a few months and enjoy camping in warmer seasons.

Safety Tips While Camping

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One of your primary concerns when camping in any location is that of safety. When accompanied by small children or friends and family you need to ensure you take precautions to ensure your holiday or trip isn’t wrecked by problems which you could have avoided.

There are several elements of health and safety that need to be considered when camping for the first time, although even experienced campers will need to know some of this information for future reference.

Firstly, medical treatments and first aid items need to be taken to cater for those nasty bumps and scrapes which can sometimes occur, in particular plasters, burn heals, antiseptic wipes and bandages.

If you’re out and about during the day, dwelling in activities which can result in injuries then you will certainly need to think about which First Aid items to have with you.

First AidThey all serve a useful purpose and even if you don’t have to use them they’re certainly handy if someone requires urgent attention. You can find all of these items, as well as several others, within our First Aid Range.

Other things you can do to ensure any unwelcome health problems are dealt with quickly and affectively is to find out the information of the nearest doctor, and be aware of other emergency contact details which any campsite will have to hand.

However, one of the most dangerous elements to camping is cooking, and many people make the mistake of preparing food inside their tent which has the capability to start a fire.

The majority of modern tents are manufactured and designed using flame-resistant fabric, but this does not mean your product is fireproof. When pitching your tent, place them six metres (the equivalent of 20 feet) apart and clear any debris from the tent perimeter as sparks will then be unable to light anything.

There are a couple of immediate dangers to cooking inside your tent: the first, and most obvious, is the fire hazard, while the second, and certainly the more subtle, is the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fires can start when you least expect them, and as tents have separate compartments which people might be zipped into, they will need a clear sign that a fire is in progress so they have a chance to get out.

Therefore a portable smoke alarm is another essential piece of equipment to protect you against potential flames, and this can be placed within your tent, caravan or motor home.

Working like a traditional smoke alarm which you fit inside your home, it detects smoke from a fire and then emits a loud 85 decibel energetic alarm which then gives you ample opportunity to ensure the smoke does not turn into something more violent and serious.

To let you know that it’s still functioning, a small red light flashes once every forty seconds just so that you know the smoke alarm is in full working order.

Furthermore a stove can also automatically start a fire, and your tent will be destroyed in less than one minute if a fire does get out of hand!

Bearing this in mind one of your must have items before you set off should be a portable fire extinguisher as you never know when it might be needed. Infact if you’re travelling abroad, it is illegal in many countries not to carry one in your vehicle!

Eating in your tent should also be avoided. Spilled food or crumbs are will attract a number of lingering insects. Once in your tent they’re bound to ensure that you have a very uncomfortable night’s sleep, meaning your holiday is likely to be affected by tiredness.

In addition to all of the above its also very easy to break into a tent so you need to be certain never to leave anything valuable inside. It’s always wise to keep personal valuables in a rucksack or small bag when you vacate your tent just incase the worst should happen.

Returning to the issue of fires, there are plenty of ways to prevent one occuring, and below we’ve outlined a few key points to bear in mind when preparing to cook:

  • Keep gas cylinders outside your caravan at all times.
  • Before going to bed or leaving your caravan/motorhome, be sure to turn off all appliances.
  • Never use a cooker or a heater whilst a camper or caravan is moving.
  • Change gas bottles only when completely empty.
  • Ensure you prepare and cook all food well away from your tent.

Although this may sound quite daunting and a lot of responsibility to bare in mind, a lot of it is just common sense and such precautions will ensure you and your group have taken the right steps to remain safe, and ultimately this will give you peace of mind and chance to enjoy your trip even more.

Top tips for walking boot care

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At the end of a good walk, it’s all too easy to kick off your walking boots and leave them in a dark corner until the next time you need them. If the boots are wet, stuff them with crumpled up newspaper to absorb the damp – check and replace it as needed – and leave them to dry naturally. Resting them on radiators or by fires means the leather stiffens and cracks whilst the adhesives that hold modern boots together will suffer and eventually fail. To maintain the best performance and comfort as well as extend their useful life, a little care goes a long way with leather boots. Every now and then, they will benefit from a good clean and proofing that will also keep them supple.

  • Scuffs and scrapes allow water to penetrate boot leather, breaking down the fibres and structure. When they dry out, cracks appear that accelerate deterioration
  • Prepare the boots for cleaning by taking the trouble to clean off mud, removing the laces and taking out the insoles.
  • Clean the boots thoroughly in cold water; there’s no need to use soap or detergents but there are many proprietary boot cleaners that are useful.
  • An old rag and your favourite boot care treatment are all that’s needed plus, of course, the will to tackle the chore and about 30 minutes of your time.
  • Whatever you choose to use – Nikwax is a sound choice –  it’s best rubbed into nooks and crannies with a finger; really work the cream into the leather and seams.
  • Wipe off any excess – doing two pairs at the same time means little is wasted – and buff the leather with a clean cloth to seal it against the wet.

Make the most of hiking with walking poles

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Walking (also known as trekking) poles are far more useful than the obvious use of easing the strain on knees, joints and muscles. Those pluses are appreciated by hillwalkers and backpackers of any age up and down steep footpaths but often overlooked are the benefits to balance and conserving leg power. On top of those pluses is the feeling of enjoying more of a ‘workout’ – using your upper body and your legs to swing your way through the hills. As well as dealing with problems, there’s also the angle of not letting them develop in the first place. Walkers of all ages can benefit from reducing the load and stress on their legs by swinging along with a pair of poles. Plus, for instance, when crossing streams and soggy terrain they help avoid potential catastrophes. The extra stability poles offer can also ease back problems by helping to avoid sudden lurches, trips and wobbles as your arms and shoulders take some of the strain. In the situations where you need to use your hands – scrambling, for example – then poles aren’t much use anyway so won’t be a hinderance.

Rather than carrying them strapped to your rucksack until you feel tired and sore, use them from the start of your walk and head off problems before they spoil your day. Or even a holiday! You may feel that you’re pretty fit when you set out on day walks each weekend but a holiday on which you’re walking or trekking day after day will soon winkle out weaknesses and can spoil the best-laid plans.

To make the best use of poles, how you hold and use them is important. Happily, the techniques are simple. Place your hand up through the strap and onto the grip, sandwiching the strap between your palm and the pole handle. Adjusting the strap is easy and allows you to hold the grip loosely, placing the downward force on the strap and not losing the pole if you let go of it. Adjusting the pole length is equally important rather than just setting them up around waist height for level ground and then ‘making do’. As a rough guide, you should be shortening the poles walking uphill and extending them on downhill tracks. That’s a rough guide, of course, and you don’t need to constantly tweaking your poles all day. The key is to feel comfortable and you’ll soon find out how to adapt the advice to suit yourself and where you are.

When walking, swing your arms from the shoulder as you would normally, placing pole tips lightly on the ground before leaning onto them and getting into an easy rhythm that you can maintain without thought or effort. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you managed without them. Plus, of course they can double up as tent poles in many recent designs and help to cut the weight in your rucksack.

Carry on camping in cold weather!

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With shorter daylight hours come longer and colder nights. Colder days too, of course, but living with them is easier than coping when camping. During the day we’re active and can easily add or remove layers of clothing to keep us comfortable. Through evenings and nights, it’s not so easy but far from truly difficult. Most of us tend to trim back camping plans through the winter but it’s a shame to lose a whole season. Insulation is the key to comfort through the night – from both the surrounding air and the ground. Happily, that’s fairly easy to achieve with a combination of warmer sleeping bag, baselayer nightwear and a good sleep mat.

Sitting around in a tent for several hours can be boring, even claustrophobic, so the trick is to reduce that time as far as is sensibly possible. First, start early, stop as late as is feasible and safe. Second, turn cooking your evening meal into a positive activity rather than a chore. A little imagination and extra time can turn a solo or twin meal into a feast that will help keep you warm through the night and set you up for the next day. Lighting is a key factor during winter nights with a versatile head torch as a key winter camping essential; it’s the safest way to illuminate cooking and tent life.

Most advisors state categorically that you should never, ever use a stove inside your tent but, very often, it’s the only practical way to cook on camping trips. Rain, wind, snow and the cold itself mean that most winter camping meals will be prepared, cooked and eaten inside a tent with legs and torso tucked into a cosy sleeping bag. The key to avoiding a tent fire is to be super careful and cook by an open doorway. If conditions are so bad that it’s not possible to do that then resist the temptation to batten down the hatches with all tent zips closed. Condensation will soak you and your gear with the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning raised dramatically – camping in winter is not worth dying for, after all. Good ventilation is the answer and most tents offer a variety of options that maintain protection from the elements whilst allowing moisture vapour and noxious fumes to escape. Consider it a priority, along with space, weight and packed size.

Top Tip

Don’t bury your head in your sleeping bag as the moisture vapour in your breath will condense in the fill, gradually wetting it and reducing its warmth.

The Danger Of Gas Appliances In Your Tent

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Recently there have been many stories in the media regarding the use of gas stoves, heaters and lanterns inside a tent which have resulted in tragedy. Despite the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, using a stove inside an enclosed vestibule or tent is actually common practice amongst mountaineers especially if it’s blowing a blizzard outside. So for those campers who still wish to risk exposure to the deadly gas we’ve put together some common sense tips.

JetboilCarbon monoxide or CO is a deadly gas that is formed when a fuel burns in an enclosed space where little oxygen is available, for example inside a tent. The gas is colourless and odourless and can produce minor symptoms of headaches, sickness and fatigue whilst long term exposure can lead to death or brain damage.

A little bit of science

Usually we breathe in oxygen which temporarily binds to our red blood cells and this is then carried all around our body and eventually expelled again out of our lungs. If carbon monoxide is introduced it permanently attaches itself to the red blood cell, meaning that the oxygen is unable to catch a ride. This results in a lack of oxygen delivered to the whole body and can result in damage to brain tissues. This toxic gas takes up to 5 hours of normal breathing to eliminate just 50% of the carbon monoxide taken in. At higher altitudes it would take a lot longer to remove the build up of the toxin.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

Watch out for any of these short term symptoms. If any of these are present it’s best to immediately turn off any appliances and move to a well ventilated area. Seek medical attention as soon as possible

  • Headaches
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Dizziness
  • A cherry red appearance to lips and skin
  • Confusion and visual disturbance
  • Loss of dexterity
  • Rapid heartbeat

Longer term symptoms include the following

  • Incontinence
  • Collapse
  • Seizures
  • Coma
  • Death

So how can you reduce your risk of carbon monoxide exposure?

  • Increase ventilation to remove CO build up and allow oxygen to enter
  • Choose a removable groundsheet tent where these is increase ventilation
  • Prevent snow or ice from covering the fly sheet and regularly clean tent fabrics to ensure they remain porous
  • Get up and take a walk in fresh air which might reveal any symptoms.
  • A yellow sooty flame suggests CO is being formed due to a lack of oxygen so keep and eye on your appliance. It might need a clean, fuel replaced or setting at a higher output level. You want a blue, clean flame!
  • Low outputs and flames for simmering will produce more CO.
  • Some fuels are ‘dirty’ and will produce more of the toxin. Kerosene is dirty whereas gases such as propane and butane and methylated spirits are ‘clean’.
  • Don’t agitate your flame! Placing a pot over the flame will increase CO production so consider a pot support or using a very small pot

At note about use at high altitude

The risk of CO poisoning at high altitudes is amplified in various ways.

Ice and snow on tents can trap the gas inside further and because the environment is cold you’re more likely to fire that stove up to keep warm.

At high altitude there is a decreased oxygen pressure meaning blood will already be holding little oxygen resulting in a faster breathing rate and increased fatigue from normal activities. Breathing faster would mean you would inhale more CO from that burning stove.

Being at high altitudes for longer periods causes the body to create more red blood cells just to cope with the lack of oxygen. This means there are more cells for the toxin to attach to. When you then move down to sea level your body would be bursting with the toxin and causes it to linger longer than usual.

Top tips for camping holidays with kids

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  • Choose campsites that offer fun and facilities on site and in the area that are appropriate your children’s ages. A safe environment allows young children to explore, make new friends, find new challenges and just enjoy themselves without adults watching them. There’s no doubt that the weather can make or break a camping trip so bear in mind patterns and forecasts – some areas are notoriously wet!
  • Camping itself is a big adventure so try not to over-plan the holiday; allow plenty of time to pitch camp when you arrive and try to make it fun rather than a tense time for all. Tempting though it is to put your tent near to the shower block, bear in mind how noisy it may be through the night and early in the morning. Tents look very different through young eyes lacking a height advantage so try to make your pitch stand out from the crowd to avoid lost children and tears.
  • Tough, durable and warm are the obvious words that spring to mind for packing clothing but flexibility is the keyword. Waterproofs, a fleece jacket and wellies are obvious but shorts, sandals and t-shirts are just as important. Easy care, quick-drying clothes avoid the need to pack mountains of spare clothes.
  • A small rucksack for each child means they have somewhere to store favourites things – toy, game, book – as well as their own torch and toothbrush.
  • A decent sleeping bag and sleep mat/airbed should guarantee a comfortable night but keep a fleece blanket handy to throw over the youngsters if they complain of being cold. Bear in mind, of course, that they might just be a little scared by odd noises through the night!
  • If  you try too hard to maintain order in the tent, it’s almost inevitable that frustration will build and tempers fray. Tent life is a learning curve for everybody so relax the home rules and focus on enjoying each other’s company. The same goes for washing; get a morning and evening routine going but try not to obsess about cleanliness.
  • Simple, quick to make meals are best to satisfy activity-honed appetites. Keep plenty of snacks handy and make sure there are always plenty of drinks for children – as well as the adults!

Top tips for camping multi-fuel stove care

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Pressurised gas has long been a popular for camp cooking being convenient and safe. Backpackers and other lightweight campers, however, have long appreciated the versatility and performance of liquid fuel stoves. These days, ‘liquid fuels’ usually means non-pressurised meths or pressurised multi-fuel. The fuel tank may be integral to the stove or attached via a fuel line with the fuel bottle being pressurised by a pump. The pressure applied is why manufacturers stress not using any old water bottle as an alternative to the stronger fuel bottles.

Paraffin-only stoves, once the backbone of camp cooking, are now collectable as the new breed of camping stoves can burn unleaded petrol, paraffin, proprietary fuels, diesel and, even, aviation fuel. Such multi-fuel stoves offer a great heat/weight ratio, are not affected by cold, easily available and cheap to run. You do need to pay more attention to the instructions and learn how to maintain and make the most of your stove but that is part of the fun of mastering a range of outdoor skills. By contrast, the meths stoves popularised by the Swedish company Trangia need little care and are so safe that they became the stove of choice for youth groups and schools years ago.

Pressurised petrol and multi-fuel stoves need regular attention paid to their components to ensure safety and best performance:

  • Your stove’s instructions and maintenance kit will give you a clear indication of what to clean and what might be a problem.
  • On a regular (but not obsessive) basis, clean all parts carefully to maintain efficiency, flame control and to avoid corrosion. Pay particular attention to the pump washers that ensure pressure can be maintained safely
  • For cleaning, stoves can just be wiped down with warm water and washing up liquid but take some time to clean the burners and dry thoroughly before storing.
  • Whether the fuel tank is integral or separate, drain it completely. Petrol left standing can deteriorate affecting fuel lines and potentially causing a build up reducing fuel flow. If you have nothing in which to store the fuel, burn it off as pouring it away is hardly a considerate way to dispose of toxic waste. Keep fuel as clean as possible by pouring it through a filter funnel.
  • If appropriate, oil the pump cup on the stove’s plunger with a light oil to help seal the pump against the inside of the compression tube so that it can be pressurised to deliver fuel to the burner. Replace dodgy-looking rubber seals and hose connections.
  • Fuel lines, jets and needle valves collect deposits that, sooner or later, will clog your stove. Take care to clean them carefully. A pipe cleaner is a useful accessory to clean and dry awkward places.