ESSENTIAL BACKPACKING GEAR

For the backpacking novice, it is vital that you get the right gear.

You might have a garage full of family camping equipment already, but remember you have to carry your kit around on your back all day so it has to be light and easy to pack away.

Here’s our guide to the essentials for a lightweight camping trip:



TENT
Your tent requirements will depend a lot on where you’ll be camping and the conditions but chances are if you’re new to lightweight camping you won’t be trying to pitch on a rock face at the top of Ben Nevis. Weighing-in at just 1.6kg (think one and a half bags of sugar), the MSR NOOK 2 (£320) is very easy to pitch and provides a lot more space than you might expect for such a light and compact pack. Designed for two but much more comfortable for a solo camper. The porch has plenty of room to store a couple of backpacks but if you’re camping alone you could easily have your pack in alongside you. Easy to pitch in a few minutes.



RUCKSACK
After the tent, this will probably be your next big buy. For a weekend’s camping, something around 40-60 litres capacity should be enough. At £139.99, the GREGORY Z55 is not cheap, but it is good quality and is the perfect size for a weekend lightweight camping. The straps are easily adjustable to give you maximum comfort and there are plenty of compartments for stowing things you need quick access to.





SLEEPING
































SLEEPING BAG
Personally I prefer rectangular shaped sleeping bags rather than ‘mummy’ bags but in the lightweight market they are difficult to come by. The KATHMANDU COMET is a mummy style, with a duck down fill that makes it warm but very light – just 680g for the large model (£109.99)





MATTRESS
Sleeping on the ground might be tempting to keep weight down, but a sleeping mat or air mattress is essential for a comfortable, warm night’s sleep. The THERM-A-REST NEOAIR XLITE (£150) is incredibly light and compact so is perfect for backpacking trip. Rolled up and packed away into its stuff sack it will take up hardly any space and weighs less than a can of Coke.




PILLOW
Having gone for the big ticket items above it’s time for a bit of economising. The WILKINSON’S CAMPING PILLOW cost £3.98 from the high street hardware store and is as good as any expensive equivalent. Alternatively you simply could shove some spare clothes into a stuff sack.





COOKING

STOVE
You might be tempted to visit a local pub for meals, but at the very least you’ll still want to boil water for a morning cuppa so a lightweight stove is a must. The COLEMAN F1 LITE is a tiny, but relatively powerful, stove costing £25, that screws onto a gas canister and folds away into its own little bag. Doesn’t have an ignition so don’t forget the matches



PANS
Lightweight and sturdy, the KATHMANDU POT SET fits together and the handle, cup and cloth sit inside. The whole thing is held together with a mesh bag £34.99






CUTLERY
The KATHMANDU CUTLERY SET is a marvellous little piece of kit comprising a knife, fork and spoon that fold away into their own pouch. They even have built-in bottle and can openers






CROCKERY
The lightweight KATHMANDU POLYCARBONATE DINNER SET includes a plate, bowl cup and cutlery but you could easily get away with just taking the bowl. A SEA TO SUMMIT X-MUG folds flat and is perfect for lightweight camping





READY MADE MEALS
These are easy to cook and can be surprisingly tasty. One of the most popular ranges of dry foods comes from MOUNTAIN HOUSE – just make sure you get the liquid quantity right or your breakfast scrambled egg will be a bit watery





ACCESSORIES

MULTI-TOOL
You should never really go any camping trip without a multi-tool or penknife of some kind, you will always need them for something. The classic VICTORINOX multi-tool is from the people behind the Swiss Army knife. Don’t leave home without one.





TOWEL
Taking a fluffy cotton towel on a lightweight camping trip is not really an option thanks to the weight and difficulty in getting it dry after use. So a microfibre towel like the PACKTOWL ULTRALITE XL is an essential. Just as absorbent as a real towel but dries instantly and is a fraction of the size and weight.

HEAD TORCH
Another camping essential, the head torch frees up your hands around the tent and the campsite after dark. The SILVA SIJU is as good an example as any.






FLASHLIGHT
A traditional hand-held torch is also useful. This Bear Grylls endorsed LED model from GERBER is encased in a water resistant rubber handle and boasts 36 hours of burn time There’s also a ‘secret’ storage capsule which comes with waterproof matches and tinder.

WATER CONTAINER
Fill up the SEA TO SUMMIT PACK TAP from a campsite tap or even a stream and hang from your tent or a nearby tree for instant running water






RADIO
I love listening to the radio at night in a tent and the TESCO AM/FM, at just £4.99, is perfect. Make sure you keep the volume low for the sake of fellow campers though

BOOK/NOTEBOOK
Take a book to while away the hours in the evening and a notebook to jot down your thoughts as you relax after a day of exertion






WALKING GEAR

FOOTWEAR
A good pair of walking boots or shoes will make any day on the trail so much easier. And for low-level hiking, which you go for is purely a matter of taste, some prefer the support boots give while others enjoy the lighter shoe. The days of having to break boots in before using them properly are gone – good boots these days should be comfortable straight out of the box, assuming you’ve got the size and fit right for your feet. BRASHER’S FELLMASTER GTX boots are lightweight but hardy and provide plenty of grip on rocky paths.


WALKING POLES
Some experts say you only need one stick, while others recommend two, but most agree that it’s an essential when you hit the trail. At just £6 each these were an absolute bargain at WILKINSON’S – and at this price you can happily go for the pair





WATERPROOF JACKET
The type of jacket you go for will depend on the time of year, but with the British weather chances are you will definitely want something waterproof. The KARRIMOR HELIUM has passed the UK summer rain test with flying colours while I am currently putting the CRAGHOPPERS KIWI GORE-TEX jacket, which has a removable fleece, through its paces.




WATERPROOF TROUSERS
Budget waterproofs, like the HI GEAR pair available from Go Outdoors, are usually enough to keep your normal trousers dry. They cost less than a tenner but you can spend upwards of £100 if your really want to splash out…

SOCKS
Walking socks can be expensive but if you’re at all serious about walking you should invest in a couple of pairs at least. They really do make walking more comfortable and help avoid dreaded blisters. BRASHER HILLMASTER socks cost £15 but are worth every penny.