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'A night on cold rocks with no roof?' These 5 cool camping essentials will change your mind!

WhistlersFather22

Updated: Nov 18, 2024

Camping is a great way to disconnect from the daily hustle and enjoy the great outdoors, but newcomers often wonder if they'll struggle once away from the home comforts they're used to.


The fact is: you might! Luckily, there are plenty of gadgets available that can make the experience more fun and a dash more comfortable. From cooking to lighting and entertainment, these five gadgets should help make your next camping trip feel a bit less make-shift.


1. Portable camping stove: A portable camping stove is a must-have for any camping trip. It allows you to cook your own meals and avoid the hassle of having to rely on campfire cooking – campfires aren't always legal and they can be a devil to light. Many portable camping stoves run on propane, making them easy to use and transport. Some newer models even come with built-in windscreens for better heat retention and to reduce the risk of fire.

2. Solar-powered portable shower: A solar-powered portable shower is a great way to keep clean on a camping trip. These showers use the sun's energy to heat the water, making them eco-friendly and easy to use. They're perfect for washing off after a day of hiking or swimming and can be hung from a tree or placed on the ground. It's the Ritz, but it's better than a cold bucket.

3. Headlamp: A headlamp is a versatile and hands-free lighting solution for camping and once used, it tends to be a friend for life. It frees up your hands to set up your tent or cook dinner, and it’s also great for late-night bathroom trips. Many headlamps come with different brightness settings, so you can adjust the light to suit your needs.

4. Portable power bank: A portable power bank is a great way to keep your devices charged while camping. Many of these devices come with multiple USB ports, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once. This can be especially useful if you're planning on using your phone as a GPS or camera while camping – or if the kids want to monkey around on a laptop.

5. Hammock: A portable hammock is a comfortable and relaxing way to enjoy the great outdoors. Well, it can be – it can also be a nightmare to put up and hard to get into, but it's often worth the effort. Many of hammocks are very lightweight and compact, making them easy to pack and transport. They can usually be hung between two trees or with a set of portable hammock stands.


Other examples of great gear to take (which we'll explore in other blogs) include portable chairs, portable fridges, waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and more. Watch this space?


Enjoy this post? Please tick 'like' (that's the little heart, below), check out our other blogs and come back soon for more :)









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DISCLAIMER

The authors of Best Tent Blog assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. Every camping decision you make is your own and we accept no liability whatsoever.

Best Tent Blog was created over a beer one night when three friends were talking about what, exactly, they so loved about the great outdoors.

 

Mitch, our founder, put down his drink to explain that his own particular fascination with camping tents stemmed from a trip he'd had when he was just 10 years old on a rough strip of grass not far from his best friend's house. In the middle of town.

 

It was the least glamorous introduction to camping that anyone could imagine – five pre-pubescent guys wedged into a three-person tent with just enough floor space to accommodate them and their (limited) camping gear.

Camping tents were fairly unwieldy back then, and Mitch remembers the hellish struggle of trying to haul the fart-infested sack of canvas back to his friend's house.

Other tents of the lightweight variety were for more serious campers, he quickly realised, upon buying a camping magazine from the local news guy a few days later.

"That magazine introduced me to a world of backpacking tents, car camping tents, tent poles, four season tents and a whole lot more," Mitch says. "The ads at the back were full of exciting-looking products that made me want them for no other reason than they looked cool. I was hooked."


 

Fast forward a few years, and Mitch was camping on a small island with his girlfriend when he noticed that she'd inadvertently hitched a pair of boxer shorts out of his backpack and was swinging them around the tent on a pole like an all-conquering flag-waver.

Then there was the time at a sold-out summer rock festival where he attempted to leap over a friend's two person camping tent and fell face-first over a guy rope, hurtling headlong into the tent body.

 

The fact is, we all have stories like this (OK, not exactly like this). Whether you're a serious backpacker who has hiked the Appalachian trail or an occasional weekend camper – tents will have somehow wormed their way into your affection. And your drinking stories.

 

You'll maybe have discussed the intricacies of interior space with a guy in a camping store; exchanged your views on fair weather camping and multi-room family camping tents; you'll have wondered if you could convert the family Nissan for a weekend of car camping.

 

This is the tent-lover's life. And once you're in – you're in.

 

 

As well as wanting to give people an idea about the best tents for their needs – based on reviews from experts and the most-respected websites, such as outsideonline – we wanted to encapsulate that love of camping that affects so many of us.

 

In our blogs, you'll find information about the:

  • Best camping tents

  • Best backpacking tents

  • Budget camping tents

  • Gear storage

  • Waterproof tents

  • Camping trip ideas

  • Tent material

  • Sleeping pads

  • Outdoor gear

 

And more. Whether you're looking for the best tent blog, the best camping blog, the best outdoors blog or – more likely – a two minute distraction from your day job, we've hopefully got you covered.

We have information about what is the best camping tent in different scenarios, the best budget tent, the best overall camping tent and you'll find blogs about fishing, hiking trails, weather resistance and sleeping bags too.

Whether you have one tent and are looking to acquire more, or you already have a six person tent, a backpacking tent and a brace of dome tents for visitors, we hope you'll find something here that keeps you entertained, informed – and fuels your love of the great outdoors.

Here's to you, here's to us – here's to another night under the stars.

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