Camping
- Thread starter sazzaa
- Start date
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As with some many things, so with camping kit: "cheap, good, light" - pick any two. Good stuff is seriously pricey and if this is the first time either of you has been 'proper' camping you would IMO be foolish to buy it all. I would start by borrowing from friends, or at most buying second hand kit. There is also a learning curve in knowing what you need eg will it all be getting there in a car, will it be warm weather only, will you be cooking etc etc.
My list would be 4 season tent, hollofill sleeping bag, thin self-inflating mat, Trangia with gas converter, plus personal kit. That's a lot to spend if your're only going a few times.
New kit, places like Cotswold Outdoors, Alpkit or loads others. Secondhand - well you missed an excellent Vango tent for £40 on CC last week!
[Edit - just seen your second post.]
My list would be 4 season tent, hollofill sleeping bag, thin self-inflating mat, Trangia with gas converter, plus personal kit. That's a lot to spend if your're only going a few times.
New kit, places like Cotswold Outdoors, Alpkit or loads others. Secondhand - well you missed an excellent Vango tent for £40 on CC last week!
[Edit - just seen your second post.]
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Where do you want to go to?
I know loads of wild camping options up your way, but that may not be what you are after.
There are plenty of campsites as well - what sort of facilities are you looking for?
Do you want to stay in Scotland/UK or go abroad?
I know loads of wild camping options up your way, but that may not be what you are after.
There are plenty of campsites as well - what sort of facilities are you looking for?
Do you want to stay in Scotland/UK or go abroad?
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
Start with Blacks - www.blacks.co.uk
Look at Go Outdoors - www.gooutdoors.co.uk
Take in Decathlon - www.decathlon.co.uk
Then there's Alpkit www.alpkit.co.uk
You need to decide if some of the gear will ever be used for hiking or cycle camping as that will determine weather or not you will go for low prices and bulk or high prices, light weight and lack of bulk. This will impact on your sleeping bags, cookware and other sundries.
Stoves - chose between gas fuelled, liquid fuelled e.g. Camping Gaz e.g. Primus and Coleman, and meths fuelled e.g. Trangia. There's no right or wrong answer here and it's down to personal choice. Meths stoves are slower.
Sleeping bags - down are lighter, more compact and more expensive than synthetics filled ones. Alpkit down bags are highly rated though the last time I looked on the Alpkit site, there were supply problems. If never to be used cycle camping or hiking then synthetics are good value. Mummy fit are snugger and keep out drafts better than square cut bags.
Self inflating sleeping mats are compact and when inflated, very comfortable. The self inflating moniker is a tad misleading - they partially self inflate but need a lungful or two of air to complete the job. Thermarests have a good reputation though there are plenty of alternatives though some are a tad heavy.
try compiling a shortlist of gear with alternatives considered and posting it up for further advice on choice.
Look at Go Outdoors - www.gooutdoors.co.uk
Take in Decathlon - www.decathlon.co.uk
Then there's Alpkit www.alpkit.co.uk
You need to decide if some of the gear will ever be used for hiking or cycle camping as that will determine weather or not you will go for low prices and bulk or high prices, light weight and lack of bulk. This will impact on your sleeping bags, cookware and other sundries.
Stoves - chose between gas fuelled, liquid fuelled e.g. Camping Gaz e.g. Primus and Coleman, and meths fuelled e.g. Trangia. There's no right or wrong answer here and it's down to personal choice. Meths stoves are slower.
Sleeping bags - down are lighter, more compact and more expensive than synthetics filled ones. Alpkit down bags are highly rated though the last time I looked on the Alpkit site, there were supply problems. If never to be used cycle camping or hiking then synthetics are good value. Mummy fit are snugger and keep out drafts better than square cut bags.
Self inflating sleeping mats are compact and when inflated, very comfortable. The self inflating moniker is a tad misleading - they partially self inflate but need a lungful or two of air to complete the job. Thermarests have a good reputation though there are plenty of alternatives though some are a tad heavy.
try compiling a shortlist of gear with alternatives considered and posting it up for further advice on choice.
I think for now I'd be camping quite locally (think Nairn at closest, Ullapool or Skye at furthest), and probably not cycle camping. Possibly wild if there are no facilities where I want to visit. I'd quite like some good sleeping bags and some nice packable cooking equipment that won't fail on me. Really don't know what's necessary and what isn't (there are washing basins etc at Halfords - wtf?), as I'm used to buying a ton of alcohol ad a tent and having the rest done for me!
I'm ok with things not being cheap if they're going to last me a good while. And if I spend then it'll encourage me to go exploring more often!
I'm ok with things not being cheap if they're going to last me a good while. And if I spend then it'll encourage me to go exploring more often!
After a quick Google, Trangia stuff looks like what I'd be after, is that a good quality brand?
Andy_R
Hard of hearing..I said Herd of Herring..oh FFS..
- Location
- County Durham
Trangia are the dogs danglies, as used by scout groups up and down the country. So simple to use, bomb proof, and if you've got enough meths and a lighter/matches they never fail to provide a hot meal.
Mark Grant
Acting Captain of The St Annes Jombulance.
- Location
- Hanworth, Middx.
A lot of people like their Trangias, me included.
I have a 27 for when I'm alone and a 25 when I'm not.
I use a gas burner with mine. Much easier and more controllable.
I have a 27 for when I'm alone and a 25 when I'm not.
I use a gas burner with mine. Much easier and more controllable.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
Trangia for me too. Although I like petrol stoves more, and let's be honest, they are more "manly", there's always something not working, whilst the trangia always works. I bet you could bash it out and get a trangia working after it being run over by a bus.
Couple of trangia hints - if car camping you can use proper saucepans / frypans on top of it, not just the built in stuff. I've even cooked roast beef on one in a Le Creuset iron pot - though it did use a lot of meths admittedly.
Other hint, is makes sure you've got more than one source of ignition - eg good lighter & matches. Cheap lighters can be marginal in wind.
Couple of trangia hints - if car camping you can use proper saucepans / frypans on top of it, not just the built in stuff. I've even cooked roast beef on one in a Le Creuset iron pot - though it did use a lot of meths admittedly.
Other hint, is makes sure you've got more than one source of ignition - eg good lighter & matches. Cheap lighters can be marginal in wind.
Yes, as others say - top quality. I've used mine - secondhand originally - for years and years, back packing, cycle camping and from the car. The meths burner is good in remoter areas, where you can always get raw alcohol, but when weight isn't a consideration I run it off a gas burner. Don't go for the solo one, the 2+ is not much heavier but a lot more versatile.
Personally I wouldn't bother with the frying facility. That really doesn't work except in the stillest conditions and the USP of the Trangia is the way that the pots sit inside the burner housing. Unless you are on a campsite, fried food is messy to cook and clean up and I never bother with it. [Nor at home, come to that.]
A well maintained Trangia is one of the rare bits of kit that are a pleasure to own and use.
Sara_H
Guru
Woohoo! Camping. We love camping.
My top tip is, keep it quite light and minimal even if you're going in a car. Packing and unpacking loads of unnecessary stuff just makes it a chore.
Good quality items I've got that have made a difference are my Alpkit downbag and my Thermarest prolite matress.
I always take a camping pillow and a pillow case, put clothes inside pillowcase and put little pillow inside on top of clothes - almost as good as a real pillow - can't sleep without it.
My top tip is, keep it quite light and minimal even if you're going in a car. Packing and unpacking loads of unnecessary stuff just makes it a chore.
Good quality items I've got that have made a difference are my Alpkit downbag and my Thermarest prolite matress.
I always take a camping pillow and a pillow case, put clothes inside pillowcase and put little pillow inside on top of clothes - almost as good as a real pillow - can't sleep without it.
ASC's top tip #187 - for real weight-weenie conditions, eg backpacking the GR20 out of season, I have made good use of winebox inners. 1. Drink wine at home. 2. Use semi-inflated as part of pillow. 3. Use as water container in the evening.
They are surprisingly tough and much easier than dodging to the stream and back with a bike bottle, or using a wobbly Trangia pan and tripping over a boulder when you are nearly back at your tent.
simon the viking
Guru
2 x cheap Camping stoves that take the 4 for £7.99 aerosol type
Then everything you normally eat......but in tins i.e
Steak = tinned steak pieces
Sausages = either hot dogs or sausages in beans
peas = mushy peas or marrowfat....
Etc....
dried pasta can be done easily.....
Take long life milk in case no fresh milk is available......
and then...........................
Leave all the above in the boot of the car and eat at the nearest pub.......
Then everything you normally eat......but in tins i.e
Steak = tinned steak pieces
Sausages = either hot dogs or sausages in beans
peas = mushy peas or marrowfat....
Etc....
dried pasta can be done easily.....
Take long life milk in case no fresh milk is available......
and then...........................
Leave all the above in the boot of the car and eat at the nearest pub.......
Last edited:
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
make sure you get a stove where the fuel and the burner are connected by a pipe with the regulator on top of the fuel tank, much more stable and easy to control without burning/scalding yourself. I use an Epigas Alpine (now obsolete) but Coleman do a very similar one where the burner is a little tripod on the ground I'm pretty sure you can get a liquid fuel tank with a pressure pump but the gas cylinders are widely available and are screw on type so can be disconnected for safety.
