Upgrade Your Camping Kit
It’s that time of year again when the camping kit comes out for inspection before being put to use for a relaxing holiday. This is a great time to replace and upgrade your gear ahead of your next trip and turn a normal camping holiday into a glamping holiday.
If you’ve been using standard roll mats to sleep on why not upgrade to an air mattress or self-inflating mat? Self-inflating mats don’t take up much more space than a standard one but will provide a comfier night’s sleep, while an air mattress goes one step further to create a supportive, comfortable sleeping environment that won’t see you waking up with a bad back. If you already have air mattresses for camping, why not upgrade your foot pump to a battery operated one, or a model that plugs into the auxiliary power outlet in your car? This will save you time and energy, and it makes that inevitable re-inflation task a lot less onerous.
Upgrading your sleeping bags is also a nice way to enhance your camping experience. Most sleeping bags have a manmade fabric cover and while these do dry quickly and pack lightly they can be a little sweaty, especially in the height of summer. Cotton sleeping bags are available and depending on your budget you could quite a luxurious one with a stylish print. There is also the option of a cotton or silk sleeping bag liner which you can use with your existing bags to add a touch of luxury and comfort.
Perhaps it’s time to upgrade your tent for more space? Families often have to invest in bigger tents as the kids grow up both for space and privacy reasons. If you’re avid campers why not invest in a bell tent? Bell tents give a lot of headroom and floor space and some even have the option of adding a wood burning stove for those chilly nights. Autumn and winter camping can be a great experience if you have the facilities to keep warm and toasty, so you’ll find your horizons broaden when you can stow a home-from-home in your car and set off for a quiet corner of the world.
When it comes to camp cooking it’s useful to have options. You can’t beat cooking on an open fire, but the weather doesn’t always play along, and not all sites allow open fires. A single gas burner is a good start, but a double burner expands your mealtime possibilities and makes a proper fry up a doddle. If you cook a lot, or you’re feeding a whole family having three burners is a good idea. There are so many options on the market that you can start with a single rocket stove type burner and upgrade all the way to a folding camp kitchen that gives you the space and facilities to cook a meal you would be able to make at home.
By slowly upgrading your camping kit and looking out for sale offers over the winter you can add little touches of luxury to your camping set up without breaking the bank, and before long you won’t be able to say you’re camping anymore, you’ll be glamping.
