Blighter's OcUK Guide to Camping Equipment

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:10

blighter said:
As above, the Tamar is the cheapest tent I would recommend. Millets do also have the Eurohike Kent on sale at the moment down to £34.99 (half price!) Details:

You do appear stuck on millets stuff don't ya

http://www.outdoors-online.co.uk/showproduct.asp?pid=300

£19.99 and guaranteed to keep your dry, don't be fooled by the price, it may be no force ten mountain tent but for camp sites it'll not blow away and it'll never leak.

I've been using one of these for 3 years, with some truly horrible weather (rained for 3 days and 3 nights in december) and not a drop came through.

ps. Don't recommend an airbed with a tent this small, the extra height means your forehead touches the fabric - doesn't make for a good sleep. Rollmats or self-inflating mats al lthe way.

blighter · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:20

Telescopi said:
You do appear stuck on millets stuff don't ya

http://www.outdoors-online.co.uk/showproduct.asp?pid=300

£19.99 and guaranteed to keep your dry, don't be fooled by the price, it may be no force ten mountain tent but for camp sites it'll not blow away and it'll never leak.

I've been using one of these for 3 years, with some truly horrible weather (rained for 3 days and 3 nights in december) and not a drop came through.

ps. Don't recommend an airbed with a tent this small, the extra height means your forehead touches the fabric - doesn't make for a good sleep. Rollmats or self-inflating mats al lthe way.

Sorry if I haven't said but I'm quoting stuff from Millets/Blacks a lot as thats what I have experience with. Theres no point in me saying "Oh this tent is great" and not ever seen it

The Tamar, Kent, along with a few others, I have real experience in so thats why I'm suggesting those

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:20

ps. Some expensive socks being recommended here - Tesco walking socks do the job very nicely - the grey ones with red markings. Much cheaper (the bridgedale ones will set you back £10 a pair, the Tesco ones are more like £5 for 2 pairs).

I normally just wear one pair these days too, no lining sock, my feet are fine after a day on the fells.

Your not wrong to look at more expensive socks for really nasty weather (winter) or more hardwearing (long distance walking) but for a first time walker in september it doesn't hurt to lower your expectations.

platypus · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:23

blighter said:
Not waterproof but Bridgedale Coolmax or Thermal layers are the way forward. IF you want a proper sock, then the Cotton or Wool Coolmax ones (also Bridgedale) = win.
I think this is something where 90%+ of people on here would agree.

I think I have some Coolmax aswell. Problem I find is that I just can't wear 2 pairs of socks - though I like wearing the liners and then wool socks over the top for comfort reasons (eg stability, no blistering), once my feet start to sweat..

@Telescopi I have most of my gear, I'm just after some liner recommendations, specifically waterproof ones that do the bear minimum in terms of keeping the foot warm, as I have my Wool socks for that. I have a pair of waterproof boots, but last time I was in the lake district it bucketed it down non-stop for a week, and after walking several routes that week, my boots were totally soaked through.

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:37

Um, there's no water proof lining sock - I think your confusing wicking with water proof.

The only waterproof 'sock' I've ever seen was a goretex one and I'm not sure I'd recommend wearing it inside a boot, not sure what it was intended for tbh as it was hard and uncomfortable.

Boots should never let in either, unless you mean the outer fabric was sodden and it made your feet cold? Water in the boot has never happened to me in a decent pair, if it has you should take them back, they've failed.

Glass · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:41

thanks to all for posting info above,

I'm after a tent & boots so this thread helps

blighter · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:47

Glass said:
thanks to all for posting info above,

I'm after a tent & boots so this thread helps

We can help with specifics if need be.

What will you be using the tent for?
How many people?
Do you have a budget?

What will you be using the boots for?
What do you want in them? (Breathable/Waterproof etc)

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:48

Glass said:
thanks to all for posting info above,

I'm after a tent & boots so this thread helps

My first camping trip was in that little gelert tent, with a couple of rollmats my brother lent me and a rolled up duvet - I was fine and that was in November.

Of course the 7 pints of snecklifter the night before may have contributed to me sound sleeping that night

So long as you can be dry and warm at night, at least warm in the day, and your boots don't leak I don't think there's much to worry about.

If you like it you'll spend more on kit over time but you don't need to spend it all at once.

platypus · 20 Aug 2007 at 15:57

Telescopi said:
Um, there's no water proof lining sock - I think your confusing wicking with water proof.

The only waterproof 'sock' I've ever seen was a goretex one and I'm not sure I'd recommend wearing it inside a boot, not sure what it was intended for tbh as it was hard and uncomfortable.

Boots should never let in either, unless you mean the outer fabric was sodden and it made your feet cold? Water in the boot has never happened to me in a decent pair, if it has you should take them back, they've failed.

Hmm, well it was after a week of being virtually underwater the entire time. Have always served me well otherwise.

SiriusB · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:03

Telescopi said:
Um, there's no water proof lining sock - I think your confusing wicking with water proof.

The only waterproof 'sock' I've ever seen was a goretex one and I'm not sure I'd recommend wearing it inside a boot, not sure what it was intended for tbh as it was hard and uncomfortable.

Boots should never let in either, unless you mean the outer fabric was sodden and it made your feet cold? Water in the boot has never happened to me in a decent pair, if it has you should take them back, they've failed.

SealSkinz socks are waterproof and breathable. I have a pair and they are great in really wet conditions. They're also a life saver if you boot gets sucked into a bog and you forgot to but your gaiters on - done that a few times

blighter · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:06

SiriusB said:
SealSkinz socks are waterproof and breathable. I have a pair and they are great in really wet conditions. They're also a life saver if you boot gets sucked into a bog and you forgot to but your gaiters on - done that a few times

I have SealSkinz gloves.... absolutely superb quality :cool:

platypus · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:08

Darn, no stockist in Cambridge has the sock liner.

SiriusB · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:10

blighter said:
I have SealSkinz gloves.... absolutely superb quality

I also have the gloves. Although in constant, driving rain your hands will get cold, and possibly damp. Not even Gore-tex can breath when it is being hammered with rain.

[TW]Fox · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:28

Fox's Alternative Guide to Exploring Our Countryside

So you've had a look at all the stuff blighter has posted and you've decided that yes, exploring our beautiful country is for you, but you don't want to dress up like a trainspotter in an anorak in order to do so.

Don't worry, help is at hand!

GETTING AROUND, THE ALTERNATIVE TO FUNNY SUCKS AND BOOTS AND STUFF

LANDROVER RANGE ROVER V8 VOUGE SUPERCHARGED £74,900

Range_Rover_overview_6CA213E6-1A09-4D5A-A04B-D37A38B95EFB_502x670.jpg

http://www.landrover.co.uk/gb/en/Vehicles/New_Range_Rover/Range_Rover_overview.htm

The most complete luxury 4x4 in the world - the flagship of the Land Rover range
Available with a new twin turbo V8 diesel engine or supercharged V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission with Command Shift as standard.
New supremely-refined interior with improved ergonomics, stowage and climate control, enhanced safety systems and availability of cooled front seats.
Introduction of Terrain Response™ to optimise settings for gearbox, throttle, Air suspension and Traction control to suit all driving terrains from tarmac, sand and snow to crawling over boulders.
Colour touch-screen control for satellite navigation, Personal Telephone Integration with Bluetooth™, rear DVD entertainment and 4x4 information system where fitted.

TENTS

http://www.lastminute.com

4 Star Country Hotels - from £140 a night

This one is located in the Lake District but there are many around the country which offer a luxurious alternative to camping in a tent thing like a hippy

CLOTHING

Don't forget suitable clothing, although becuase you are not wading around in grass you can wear what you like.

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:30

Forgot Sealskinz do socks as well, their gloves are indeed fantastic so I'm sure the socks will do the job.

The boots still shouldn't leak - I did the fairfield horseshoe, slowly, in pouring rain - best part of 9 hours and I was dry as a bone.

Dave M · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:32

[TW]Fox said:
sillyness

If a car can get there it's not wild, if it's not wild I'd rather be on a sunny beach.

Nice try though.

D.P. · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:41

DAVEM said:
If you hike proper then it wont be a one off, and even so a 5 KG is not a problem IMO when hiking. Treking or running then you have a point.

I try to keep my entire kit to under 10kg.

5kg for a tent is a huge extra burden if you do anything serious. Any real trekking or climbing and you we want to save every 30-50g.

blighter · 20 Aug 2007 at 16:52

lol @ Fox's Madness

You should see the route we're planning on the meet :eek:

Amp34 · 20 Aug 2007 at 17:26

blighter said:
I have SealSkinz gloves.... absolutely superb quality

I have to say I was not too pleased with the gloves, they are barely waterproof and they are not very flexable. The few times I wore them my hands were rather damp at the end (be that sweat or seepage) and the weather wasn't exactly bad. I find a good pair of windstopper gloves to be better and almost as waterproof, with the added benefit of being a lot more breathable.

blighter · 20 Aug 2007 at 17:28

Amp34 said:
I have to say I was not too pleased with the gloves, they are barely waterproof and they are not very flexable. The few times I wore them my hands were rather damp at the end (be that sweat or seepage) and the weather wasn't exactly bad. I find a good pair of windstopper gloves to be better and almost as waterproof, with the added benefit of being a lot more breathable.

Then you should take them back, they were probably faulty