Camping gear

[GeorgeStorm]

Hi all,
Used to enjoy camping but haven't been camping in years, and want to try and rectify that, first with a day or two potentially wild camping up in Scotland next week (if I can get things sorted quickly enough), and then more generally with my wife and dog a mixture of wild camping and 'normal', so thought going for a half decent but on the budget end (£~150?) 3 person tent would let us try things out and see if it's something we will start doing more regularly again or will get used once and then not touched again, and can then always upgrade as and when needed.
Also will aim to pickup some other bits and bobs (since no idea where any of our stuff is/has probably been lost in house move(s)), decathlon a good budget without being cheap option for some of the other stuff? (mat of some kind, possibly a sleeping bag, hiking/backpacking type bag, potentially some new boots etc)

Seem to be far too many options so figured there may be some more knowledgeable people than me to give some suggestions/point me in the right direction

Cheers

 

[Begbie]

Hi all,
Used to enjoy camping but haven't been camping in years, and want to try and rectify that, first with a day or two potentially wild camping up in Scotland next week (if I can get things sorted quickly enough), and then more generally with my wife and dog a mixture of wild camping and 'normal', so thought going for a half decent but on the budget end (£~150?) 3 person tent would let us try things out and see if it's something we will start doing more regularly again or will get used once and then not touched again, and can then always upgrade as and when needed.
Also will aim to pickup some other bits and bobs (since no idea where any of our stuff is/has probably been lost in house move(s)), decathlon a good budget without being cheap option for some of the other stuff? (mat of some kind, possibly a sleeping bag, hiking/backpacking type bag, potentially some new boots etc)

Seem to be far too many options so figured there may be some more knowledgeable people than me to give some suggestions/point me in the right direction

Cheers

Are you planning to hike to camp? Or car camping? The former you need to consider how far and how much you can handle hiking with.

Also if hiking, consider its still very cold at night in scotland currently. So an overnight wild canping your going to want some decent kit. Even at a campsite your going to want an insulated mat and a decent quilt/sleeping bag.

 

[Rroff]

Don't cheap out on the mat!

I've found Milestone decent balance of price and performance for casual stuff (EDIT: Though check the reviews - some of the cheaper end stuff can be a bit meh - but the mid range priced stuff is usually good).

 

[Begbie]

Don't cheap out on the mat!

I've found Milestone decent balance of price and performance for casual stuff.

The oex mats are good vfm too, not that ive used one personally though but know some wirh. High r rating for the price

 

[GeorgeStorm]

Are you planning to hike to camp? Or car camping? The former you need to consider how far and how much you can handle hiking with.

Also if hiking, consider its still very cold at night in scotland currently. So an overnight wild canping your going to want some decent kit. Even at a campsite your going to want an insulated mat and a decent quilt/sleeping bag.

Haven't actually planned it all out yet all very last minute, trying to combine a couple of things this weekend and then fancied exploring a bit of the south west, visit Wigtown for some book browsing, take advantage of being able to work remotely.
Regardless I won't be doing any significant/multi day hiking this time around that's for certain. And yes hence why I'm considering both a mat/pad of some kind as well as maybe a sleeping bag as whilst I'm sure I have one somewhere I'd guess it may be rather lacking.

Don't cheap out on the mat!

I've found Milestone decent balance of price and performance for casual stuff (EDIT: Though check the reviews - some of the cheaper end stuff can be a bit meh - but the mid range priced stuff is usually good).

Ok cheers I'll have a look.

The oex mats are good vfm too, not that ive used one personally though but know some wirh. High r rating for the price

There's a go outdoors 20 minutes away I plan to visit this evening after work to have a look at some options, hopefully seeing some things in person will help narrow things down a bit.

I was leaning towards the Vango Scafell 300 as seemed to be a well thought of tent but not too pricey/big enough without being massive, however seems to either be pre order or overpriced at the moment so the jackal from oex looks similar and hopefully I'll be able to have a look at it in person.
I always struggle with the buy once cry once vs not wanting to waste a bunch of money on something that won't get used/no point having all the gear and no idea.

 

[iamgigglz]

I cheaped out (£25) on a mat and ended up buying a second one to stack on top. I challenge anyone to find a £50 mat that's warmer or more comfortable. If I'm taking the car or motorbike then it's my go-to.
If you can, get a double mat rather than two singles. Even if they zip/clip together, you always end up with an uncomfortable gully between the two mats.

Shop second hand! Vinted, Facebook etc is packed full of camping stuff that's been used once and sat in the garage for a year.

 

[Rroff]

Shop second hand! Vinted, Facebook etc is packed full of camping stuff that's been used once and sat in the garage for a year.

Or rather abandoned at a festival after barely being used :s (though a lot of that ends up in landfill rather than sold).

 

[GeorgeStorm]

I cheaped out (£25) on a mat and ended up buying a second one to stack on top. I challenge anyone to find a £50 mat that's warmer or more comfortable. If I'm taking the car or motorbike then it's my go-to.
If you can, get a double mat rather than two singles. Even if they zip/clip together, you always end up with an uncomfortable gully between the two mats.

Shop second hand! Vinted, Facebook etc is packed full of camping stuff that's been used once and sat in the garage for a year.

Yes I have seen people suggest that I guess the downside being the extra space, and yes I should have said I did have a bit of a look on fb/vinted/ebay for some options and will certainly have more of a look over the next couple of days, just slightly wary of getting something damaged/missing something that is then a bit of a faff to sort or simply the fact that most of the suggested models I've seen haven't been available whilst many others have (and in my head is there a reason I wasn't recommended any of those?)
But overall yeah I am happy to buy 2nd hand, just trying to narrow down options that are worth looking for! (also feels like half of the time they're full of basically resellers of cheap rubbish or branded items for basically the same price you can get new, not actually selling 2nd hand stuff!)

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

I've you've got a costco card (or know someone with one) They tend to get some decent tent offers, Bought my vango 1 mans and our 5man from there.
Also ordered me mate a massive one as well n just had it delivered to his lol

They tend to get random other bits n bobs of camping gear too

 

[dave28]

Vango Scafell 300 Plus, 3 man wild camping tent is £155 on sale with ligo, and they have a £5 off discount code.
I would go for that one myself.

 

[Uther]

Don't skimp on the mat and sleeping bag. I used cheap stuff for years and regretted it. A decent warm sleep is everything.

 

[GeorgeStorm]

I've you've got a costco card (or know someone with one) They tend to get some decent tent offers, Bought my vango 1 mans and our 5man from there.
Also ordered me mate a massive one as well n just had it delivered to his lol

They tend to get random other bits n bobs of camping gear too

I don't but I do know a couple of friends who do so may have a gander cheers.

Vango Scafell 300 Plus, 3 man wild camping tent is £155 on sale with ligo, and they have a £5 off discount code.
I would go for that one myself.

Yes I had seen the 300 plus but was worried it was just a bit *too* big, would make it harder to use for wild camping and feel a bit silly used just for me if I were to, and at least to start with wanted to avoid buying multiple tents for specific use cases

Don't skimp on the mat and sleeping bag. I used cheap stuff for years and regretted it. A decent warm sleep is everything.

Yeah whilst I don't want to spend a fortune I have memories of using just the simple rolled foam mats or generic airbeds, not great, although never had a problem with sleeping bags as I tend to sleep quite warm.

 

[Begbie]

I don't but I do know a couple of friends who do so may have a gander cheers.

Yes I had seen the 300 plus but was worried it was just a bit *too* big, would make it harder to use for wild camping and feel a bit silly used just for me if I were to, and at least to start with wanted to avoid buying multiple tents for specific use cases

Yeah whilst I don't want to spend a fortune I have memories of using just the simple rolled foam mats or generic airbeds, not great, although never had a problem with sleeping bags as I tend to sleep quite warm.

The problem with "wild camping" in it is it weighs 3.6kg which is fine, but it depends in your definition of wild camping. Thats a chunk of weight to haul for miles if your not fit. If your moving it from the car down to the loch a few minutes walk, yeah it'll ve fine.

Foam mats are fine, though scotland is still cold at night regardless how warm you sleep. A low r rated bag and sleeping bag is going to feel very cold during the night anywhere north of Central belt. Aviemore is close to 0 during the night still

If your car camping, I have the decathlon self inflating mattress for me abd the misses abd its brilliant. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/self-...-ultim-comfort-200-x-115-cm/350373/c2m8941364

 

[iamgigglz]

...if your not fit. If your moving it...

 

[GeorgeStorm]

The problem with "wild camping" in it is it weighs 3.6kg which is fine, but it depends in your definition of wild camping. Thats a chunk of weight to haul for miles if your not fit. If your moving it from the car down to the loch a few minutes walk, yeah it'll ve fine.

Foam mats are fine, though scotland is still cold at night regardless how warm you sleep. A low r rated bag and sleeping bag is going to feel very cold during the night anywhere north of Central belt. Aviemore is close to 0 during the night still

If your car camping, I have the decathlon self inflating mattress for me abd the misses abd its brilliant. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/self-...-ultim-comfort-200-x-115-cm/350373/c2m8941364

Yeah not only the size but the extra weight was another negative against it (even though you get more tent for your money so from a value perspective it seems great)
Cheers I'll have a look, I saw a video with this which is what started me down a bit of a rabbit hole into all the different bits of a 'sleep system' https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/light...ize-l-mt500-l-180-x-52-cm/311475/c242m8853280

Also considering picking up some kind of 'power station' from ecoflow or anker or whatnot to give some more flexibility when it comes to trips, guessing not much use wild camping but for longer trips/car camping wondered if they'd actually be useful compared to a standard powerbank?

 

[Uther]

This is my mat, used in conjunction with a Raab down sleeping bag, and it's fantastic.

Rapide SL Insulated Regular Air Chamber Sleeping Mat

The Rapide SL superlight air chamber pad sleeps warmer using two layers of heat reflective film, and is third party rated with an R-Value of 4.8 for use through three seasons. The best-selling Rapide SL Insulated is now even better! Featuring improved insulation that boosts pad warmth and lowers...

www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk

 

[iamgigglz]

This is my mat, used in conjunction with a Raab down sleeping bag, and it's fantastic.

Rapide SL Insulated Regular Air Chamber Sleeping Mat

The Rapide SL superlight air chamber pad sleeps warmer using two layers of heat reflective film, and is third party rated with an R-Value of 4.8 for use through three seasons. The best-selling Rapide SL Insulated is now even better! Featuring improved insulation that boosts pad warmth and lowers...

www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk

I've been casually researching for a backpacking-friendly mat and this just seems to be the 5800X3D of sleeping mats.

 

[Begbie]

This is my mat, used in conjunction with a Raab down sleeping bag, and it's fantastic.

Rapide SL Insulated Regular Air Chamber Sleeping Mat

The Rapide SL superlight air chamber pad sleeps warmer using two layers of heat reflective film, and is third party rated with an R-Value of 4.8 for use through three seasons. The best-selling Rapide SL Insulated is now even better! Featuring improved insulation that boosts pad warmth and lowers...

www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk

This is what I wanted to get, got the exped ultra 5LW as they were out of stock everywhere. Not disappointed, slept like a baby on it many a time now.

 

[GeorgeStorm]

Well as always with these things ended up adding more things to the basket than originally planned (trousers, shorts, shoes...) so have put in an order with decathlon for a bunch of things as it seemed to be a good balance of value vs quality, tried to get some stuff locally 2nd hand but missed and obviously have very little time, but I am still potentially going to get a tent. There are a couple of basically new/unused banshee 300s for £80-90 which seem like they might be worth a punt along with a phoxx 3 for £60 that I may try to get.

 

[Disco_P]

Well as always with these things ended up adding more things to the basket than originally planned (trousers, shorts, shoes...) so have put in an order with decathlon for a bunch of things as it seemed to be a good balance of value vs quality, tried to get some stuff locally 2nd hand but missed and obviously have very little time, but I am still potentially going to get a tent. There are a couple of basically new/unused banshee 300s for £80-90 which seem like they might be worth a punt along with a phoxx 3 for £60 that I may try to get.

My recommendation is pretty much always decathlon to start with and slowly upgrade things that you need to afterwards. For example I had a decathlon £40 sleeping mat which did me for a couple years...

This is my mat, used in conjunction with a Raab down sleeping bag, and it's fantastic.

Rapide SL Insulated Regular Air Chamber Sleeping Mat

The Rapide SL superlight air chamber pad sleeps warmer using two layers of heat reflective film, and is third party rated with an R-Value of 4.8 for use through three seasons. The best-selling Rapide SL Insulated is now even better! Featuring improved insulation that boosts pad warmth and lowers...

www.elitemountainsupplies.co.uk

Then I bought Big Agnes and it's as comfy as a real bed. But I was never gonna drop £120 on a sleeping mat for my first camping trip