| Beginners Guide to Camping
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| | going to a music festival. You can even
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| I always get asked, "I want to go
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| | get some tents with separate rooms.
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| camping, how much will it cost and what
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| | Weather - this is very important, if you
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| will I need?"
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| | buy a tent for summer use only and take
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| I usually reply with a "guide to bed and
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| | it out in autumn, you could be asking for
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| breakfasts in the area you want to go,
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| | a lot of trouble. Think about when you
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| and a credit card" No, only joking!
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| | will go camping. If it's only the summer,
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| Camping in one of those great back to
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| | cheaper summer tents are should be fine.
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| nature things, whether you are doing a
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| | Though be aware that of you are using
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| wild camp in the Lake District or you are
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| | them in windy places they still may not
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| on a commercial campsite in the South of
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| | hold up to British Summer weather
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| France. There is nothing more enjoyable
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| | conditions.
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| and peaceful than sitting in your tent at
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| | Tents are mainly rated 2,3,4,5 seasons. 5
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| night listening to the rain on the fabric
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| | Season I hear you say? We don't have 5
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| or waking up to the dawn chorus and
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| | Seasons. Well try taking it up a
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| seeing the mist across the field and the
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| | mountain, 5 season tents tend to be
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| dew on the grass.
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| | classed as mountain tents.
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| So what do you need to start camping?
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| | For the average person or family that is
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| A lot depends on what you are going to do
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| | starting off camping at low levels in a
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| and where you are going to do it. Camping
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| | European summer a 2 season tent would be
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| is great for family holidays; the kids
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| | the ideal choice.
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| love it (so I'm told). Once you have
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| | What type of sleeping bag do I need?
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| bought the kit, you've got for a long
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| | You need a sleeping bag that will keep
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| time, as long as you look after it.
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| | you warm, but not too hot. Though on most
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| Kitting up for family camping need not be
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| | sleeping bags, you will be able to open
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| expensive. The main things you will need
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| | them out along the zip to allow air to
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| are tent, sleeping bags and sleeping
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| | circulate and keep you cooler. Most
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| mats.
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| | sleeping bags are Mummy shaped i.e. the
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| What type of tent do I need?
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| | sleeping bag narrows towards the foot for
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| Tents come in all sorts of shapes sizes
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| | extra warmth and less bulk. However, you
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| and styles. You may have heard of ridge
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| | can also get square foot one where
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| tents, dome tents, pop up tents, patrol
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| | perhaps warmth isn't a big issue, these
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| tents, geodesic tents, and bivi tents...
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| | tend to be used for car camping (out of
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| to be quite honest there are dozens of
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| | the car) caravans, rounds houses and
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| them. Most tents nowadays are semi
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| | travelling. The other great thing about
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| geodesics. That means that they have
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| | square foot sleeping bags is that they
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| flexible poles and are based around a
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| | can usually be opened up as a duvet and
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| dome type shape. Most will have a sewn in
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| | easily be joined together for warm cosy
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| groundsheet in a bathtub style, i.e. the
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| | couply nights in the tent.
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| ground sheet goes part way up the inside
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| | Sleeping bags, like tents are generally
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| walls in case you pitch it in a deep
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| | rated by the season.
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| puddle. Try not to, even if the idea of a
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| | Sleeping mats, what are these?
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| waterbed may seem appealing!
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| | Sleeping mats are important to insulate
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| The three main things to think about when
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| | you from the ground, not just for
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| choosing a tent are; space, what weather
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| | comfort. The ground will suck more heat
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| conditions will it be used in and how
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| | out of you than the air, so is very
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| much it will be used.
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| | important. Sleeping mats are sometimes
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| Space - most tents are quoted as to how
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| | known as Thermarests, Karrimats, Roll
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| many people they hold and can range from
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| | Mats and Ground Mats.
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| 1 to, well, dozens! Even with some half
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| | The rest depends on what you want to do.
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| sizes thrown in for good measure. They
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| | You may want to cook, so think about what
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| can also come with various different
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| | type of stove you will need, if you are
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| porches, front and back. This is very
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| | family camping, pots and pans etc can
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| useful for storing outdoor gear, mountain
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| | come from the kitchen at home. But don't
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| bikes, dogs and wet outdoor clothing.
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| | forget the washing up stuff!
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| This is especially important if you are
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