Blighter's OcUK Guide to Camping Equipment

[blighter]

I have created this guide for anyone out there who is thinking about camping for the first time and therefore doesn't want to splash out on expensive equipment. Enjoy! It's taken me long enough to make!

Walking Shoes/Boots/Trainers:

Gripfast Men's Prenton Hiker Mid ST - £24.99
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/082342.aspx
A sturdy suede upper and comfortable fabric inner make these workboots deceptively comfortable: they’ll stand up to plenty of punishment, though, with their tough rubber sole. Ideal for the workplace.

or

Hi Tec Men's Sierra V-Lite Trail Low - £39.99
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/082642.aspx
If only all outdoor shoes could be this light! Sierra V-Lite Trail Low is built with Hi-Tec's V-Lite system, incorporating a waterproof seam sealed upper, a SLEVA cushioned footbed, a Stabila Flex bi-fit foot board and a V-Lite rubber compound sole.

Comfortable Socks

Bridgedale Active Light Hiker Socks - £9.99
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/082763.aspx
These socks are ideal for day hiking and other outdoor activities ranging from work to sport, indoors or outside. Made with Coolmax®, combed cotton and nylon, with Lycra® grip zones, they are comfortable, hard wearing and wick moisture away from the foot. Special features include a low-tension rib knit cuff.

Clothes - Trousers/Shirts
Although any trousers and shirts will do, I would recommend looking at ones with breathable, water repellent, and maybe bug-repellent fabric if you're going somewhere buggy. I would post some but there is such a big range, you'll be better off choosing yourself.

Waterproofs
If it rains you'll be buggered if you don't have a waterproof top (bottoms too, but I never really bother with them). Millets do packaway Kags, Jackets, Macs, and Ponchos for £24.99 to £28.99. The reason for the giant price compared to other (normal) clothes shops is the fact that some of them are breathable, and also, they are made from fabric which is not likely to start letting water through after a few hours in the rain.

Daysacks
A daysack is an essential piece of kit for a days walking. You can use it for medical supplies, water, food, your pack-away waterproof jacket and much more....

Eurohike College Bag - £7.49 (was £14.99) - AMAZING VALUE
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/101957.aspx

Add the Waterproof rucksack liner to stop your bits getting wet when it rains!
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.st... and Bags;MIL AW06 Rucksack Liners and Covers

 

[blighter]

Tents

Eurohike Tamar - £29.99
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/095033.aspx
This two person, double skin dome tent, which is very easy to pitch, is great for all types of camping, from backpacking to festivals and weekends away. It has a fire retardant polyester flysheet with fully taped seams for absolute protection from the rain, a polyethylene groundsheet and a breathable polyester inner tent that incorporates no-see-um mesh to keep the smallest insects out. Other features include lightweight fibreglass poles, a D shaped door to avoid contact with the ground and a storage pocket in the inner tent. Pack size 20 x 60cm

Sleeping Bags

Vango Niteline Sleeping Bag - £19.99 (was £39.99) - AMAZING VALUE
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/094951.aspx
The Niteline sleeping bag provides a roomy, warm and seriously comfortable sleeping environment for the dedicated camper. With a comfort rating of +20°C to +4°C and an extreme temperature rating of -10°C this is a multi-purpose bag for all occassions. The siliconised Hollow Fibre reduces matting of filling, increasing durability and maximising lofting potential for extra warmth. The Polair® Ripstop shell is light, strong and highly breathable, while the Polair® lining provides comfort, warmth and easy cleaning. The 3-panel 3D hood, shoulder baffle, internal zip baffle and 2-way auto-lock zip act to seal in warmth or facilitate ventilation. The zip guard reduces the risk of zip jam and the internal pocket with velcro closure provides safe keeping. Comes complete with a 4-strap compression sac. Independently tested in accordance with EN 13537:2002.

Campbeds, Airbeds, and Rollmats
You have three choices here. The budget rollmat, which is a roll of foam designed to stop you feeling the stones your laying on etc.You have the Campbed, which is a piece of material with two parallel poles running down the side, connecting to 'stands' to hoist the material into the air. Or you have the airbed, which is, obviously, a mattress filled with air instead of springs and stuff.

The roll mats range from £5.99 to £16.99 depending on thickness etc (not available online)
The camp bed is £9.99 (http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/099052.aspx)
The air beds are £9.99 for single, £14.99 for double, and £9.99 for the backpackers version of the single (packs down smaller but less comfy)

Single: http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/092785.aspx
Double: http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/092786.aspx
Backpacker: http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/099043.aspx

Self-inflating rollmats are also available (don't know how I forgot them as they are better then the foam ones!)

Eurohike Trek Self-Inflating Mat - Regular - £19.99
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/095195.aspx (Thanks for reminding about the link Azza!)
At 3.8cm thick, this mat provides cushioning and warmth for sleeping when you're on a trek or a campsite. The small valve permits you to add or release air very easily. It measures 183 x 51cm and packs tightly into the supplied stuff sack for easy carrying. Weight 1430g plus stuff sack 30g.

(Other sizes available!)
Hope this helps!

 

[blighter]

Tent, Sleeping Bag, and Rollmat Packages
PACKAGE 1
Eurohike Backpackers Kit - £59.99 - SUPER VALUE (WITH RUCKSACK!)
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/094492.aspx

Using a tunnel design for maximum spaciousness and continuous pole sleeves to make it easier to set up, this tent is full of thoughtful touches. Pre-attached guylines and colour coded poles make your life even easier, and it has a small porch area and stowaway pocket on the inner tent to keep it neat and tidy. It also includes a sleeping bag, self inflating mat and rucksack for carrying. Tent weight 2.4kg, total kit weight 6.5kg.


PACKAGE 2
Eurohike Starter Tent Pack - £44.99
Same as above but no rucksack and a different tent.
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/product/094425.aspx

Thanks to SiriusB and others that gave some advice with what to include.
I'll do add some posts later with Winter gear too.

If anybody on here wants a discussion about advice for camping, hiking, etc, feel free to add me on MSN: blighter [at] blighter . net

 

[quadboi]

Ace guide! - Might think about it

 

[p4radox]

Go to a Blacks high street store and hope for a closing down sale. Loads of branches have 50% off at the moment, and it's a much better store than Millets in my experience.

 

[GeForce]

Nicely done

I've done a couple of week long hikes across the Snowdonia National Park and the Cairngorms.

I've saved this for future reference - thanks!

 

[blighter]

Go to a Blacks high street store and hope for a closing down sale. Loads of branches have 50% off at the moment, and it's a much better store than Millets in my experience.

Millets also have an upto 50% sale (same as Blacks as are part of the same group - Blacks Leisure Group).
Blacks does sell 'better' equipment as they are designed for more professional hikers etc. I will be sourcing mainly from them if I ever do a thread like this for those sort of people.

 

[tom_e]

I find standard issue assault boots with a nice insole and a good pair of walking socks great for when your out on the mountains as well totally waterproof great support and great grip

 

[georges]

Been camping quite a bit with scouts/DofE, but used our troop's tents as we got a government grant.

My own tent is single skin (Outbound Torille 2) and pretty rubbish tbh, leaks and has no porch.

Going to try one of the other tents we have in the house for Reading fest, but that tamar tent you posted looks pretty good for the cash.

Is it a true 2-man, or is it better for just the one person with bags etc? Could you go to a festival with one and have two people reasonably comfortably in it?


edit:

Also, where's the place to enter discount codes on Millets' website, if you know? Got one off vouchercodes.com

 

[blighter]

Been camping quite a bit with scouts/DofE, but used our troop's tents as we got a government grant.

My own tent is single skin (Outbound Torille 2) and pretty rubbish tbh, leaks and has no porch.

Going to try one of the other tents we have in the house for Reading fest, but that tamar tent you posted looks pretty good for the cash.

Is it a true 2-man, or is it better for just the one person with bags etc? Could you go to a festival with one and have two people reasonably comfortably in it?

Well, i've worked 3 days this week and sold 4 of them to people going to Reading and V. They are a true two man with a little bit of room by your feet and a little bit in the porch (the porch area will get damp so be careful what you leave in it)

When buying a tent, never go for single skinned as it doesn't prevent the 'dampness' when you wake up.

 

[blighter]

edit:

Also, where's the place to enter discount codes on Millets' website, if you know? Got one off vouchercodes.com

never even knew you could use vouchers on the website.
The only discounts I'm aware of are:

• Ramblers Association
• DofE
• Students
• Scout and Guide Leaders
• YHA
• The Force/Army etc
• There was another which I've forgotten......

 

[georges]

Ah, fair enough

Optimistic, but can I combine students, dofe and scouting?

 

[blighter]

Ah, fair enough

Optimistic, but can I combine students, dofe and scouting?

Afraid not, but it is 10% off of non-sale items if you show any proof you belong to one of the above.
The scouts discount is just for group leaders too.

 

[georges]

Ah, ok.

Thanks a lot

 

[Rebelius]

• There was another which I've forgotten......

Staff?

My mate's a supervisor in Blacks... will he get discount in Millets too? That tent/sleepingbag/rucksack combo looks tasty.

 

[DAVEM]

Davem's guide to good stuff,

If you're not skint buy these

Boots:

EDIT: In my experiance good boots are more important than any other bit of kit you can buy. A good pair will set you back £90 but will last you AGGGGEEESSS. If you're walking around the lakes seriously you want good footwear. I own a variant of the these myself, and they are EXCELLENT.

and this

Again I own it and it's great

Buy a resonable small tent:

E.g

http://www.blacks.co.uk/blacks.stor...Gear/BLK-SS06-1-to-2-Person-Tents/094484.aspx

EDIT: There's not much in tent choice to be fair. Blacks own brand range are fine or the occasional trip to the lakes. If you're off to somewhere with higher wind speeds you need to look for something more expensive. But if your not off to the Alps then a cheapo Blacks tent is fine.

From here just get a decent sleeping bag (look at the temp ratings)

Edit: Like the OP all you need to consider is the temp range if your going on a one off trip, weight is not an issue if you're out for a day or two. Dont spend over £40 here.

And MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WATERPROOFS!

EDIT: This is the single most important point. If you're off to the lakes you NEED waterproofs otherwise you'll be very wet! Don't skimp here. Buy a decent jacket and decent trousers. DONT GO IN JEANS. If you get wet and then experiance high winds you'll be freezing. Clothing is the most overlooked of all essentials.

If you have any left over money, bring more beer

You can go camping on the cheap, so dont consider any of this kit as essential. But a lot of it is stuff you will use all the time. A decent pair of boots are useful all the time in winter (I wear mine to work in November - January), and sleeping bags speak for themselves (how many times have we had a few too many and slept at a friends in a sleeping bag (hands up!)?

WD B on the exellent OP

 

[.walls]

DONT GO IN JEANS.

Can't stress this enough - in general, don't wear any cotton clothes - IT WILL NOT KEEP YOU WARM!!! Wear layers - starting with a good wicking layer (e.g. polypropylene - you can pick up a good base layer for a few quid), then some insulating layers - you want any sweat to be drawn away from your skin as quickly as possible.

If you have any left over money, bring more beer

If you're going up a real hill, don't take any beer at all... although, I can highly recommend a small hip flask with whisky - Scotch, of course

 

[Dave M]

If you're going up a real hill, don't take any beer at all... although, I can highly recommend a small hip flask with whisky - Scotch, of course

They're young - there's nothing in the lakes they can't get up after a heavy night on the ale

 

[DAVEM]

They're young - there's nothing in the lakes they can't get up after a heavy night on the ale

Pfft, carrying beer is half the fun! Last time I went I woke up with a empty can of FAX stuck to me

I've found the Terra 60 very adaptive for strapping beer on to it!

 

[platypus]

I'm after a decent large 1man/small 2man tent, I'm a bit crap at putting them up so it has to be idiot friendly. The rest of my gear I have and am happy with. Any ideas?

Good guide.