| Camping is a fun and flexible way to enjoy a | | | | powered chainsaw, which despite being light and |
| holiday, and it's often much cheaper than staying | | | | compact and operated purely by hand, can cut |
| in a hotel. ShinyShack's Anna Clare looks at some | | | | through a three-inch diameter tree limb in 20 |
| essential camping gear that will help you travel | | | | seconds. |
| light this summer. | | | | Heat and light |
| There's something quite magical about sleeping | | | | Even during the summer, evenings can be cold |
| under canvas. Closeness to nature, seeing the | | | | and dark, so make sure you take reliable sources |
| moon shining through the tent, hearing owls | | | | of heat and light on your camping trip. |
| hooting in the trees and breathing nature's earthy | | | | The Cyba-lite LED Lantern is perfect for camping |
| scent
these small things which we take for | | | | trips. Battery powered, the lantern weighs just |
| granted in our everyday lives are somehow more | | | | 158g and is only 13cm high — yet with its |
| appreciated on a camping holiday. | | | | convex lens and 0.5w bright white LED, the |
| But there are also practical reasons for choosing a | | | | Cyba-lite LED lantern will provide ample light, either |
| camping holiday. The cost, for one; despite an | | | | standing in its base or with the base inverted to |
| initial outlay for a tent, sleeping bags and other | | | | create a hanging torch. |
| gear, equipment will usually last for many years | | | | Lighting a fire to keep warm at camp is not |
| without needing replacement, so camping holidays | | | | always easy, especially if you can't find any |
| will typically be reasonably priced. A night at a | | | | decent kindling. So why not take your own kindling |
| campsite can cost as little as £5, while a room in | | | | with you? Maya Fire Lighting Dust is made from |
| even a modest hotel can cost ten times as much. | | | | shavings of a fatwood pine which has an 80% |
| Then there's the flexibility and freedom of packing | | | | resin content — just strike sparks into the |
| up and moving to another location, and deciding | | | | dust to get flame. Maya Fire Lighting Dust is |
| whether it's a survival-style trip with only the bare | | | | neatly contained in 7cm diameter waterproof |
| minimum of equipment, or an altogether more | | | | packaging, produces an extremely hot flame, and |
| luxurious holiday with a huge tent, inflatable beds | | | | is completely natural. |
| and anything else that can be squeezed into the | | | | Cooking and eating |
| boot of the car. Who can deny that there's | | | | Even if you're staying at a campsite with lots of |
| something extremely appealing about following | | | | amenities, you probably won't want to eat at |
| your own schedule and experiencing more of the | | | | restaurants every day — it can be very |
| great outdoors? You can start your holiday in | | | | expensive, for a start. But if you're trying to |
| Snowdonia, finish it at Loch Ness, stop at the | | | | travel light, cooking and eating utensils — |
| Lake District and the Pennines along the way | | | | and food — can very quickly weigh you |
| — all the while, never having to sleep in | | | | down. |
| someone else's sheets
| | | | Thankfully, there are some excellent lightweight |
| Whatever form your camping trip is likely to take | | | | cooking and eating utensils and specialist foods |
| — hiking with everything squeezed into one | | | | which are ideal for travelling light, and which use |
| rucksack, cycling with your gear squished into | | | | very little space in your rucksack. |
| panniers, or driving with a packed trailer attached | | | | The Camping Meal Kit is a set of polycarbonate |
| to the car — there are certain bits of kit | | | | and polypropylene utensils, which all pack away |
| that will make your camping holiday that bit | | | | neatly into the largest dish which measures just |
| easier. Here's a selection of our favourites. | | | | 19cm x 19cm x 5.5cm. Included in the kit is a |
| Survival tools | | | | spill-free cup with lid, two plates, a combined |
| One of the most useful things you can take with | | | | colander and cutting board, a small waterproof |
| you on a camping trip is a multi-tool, which | | | | box, and a spork (a spoon-knife-fork combined |
| combines a variety of tools in one small package | | | | into one handy tool). |
| — much like a Swiss army knife. | | | | If you're likely to find yourself miles from |
| The True DogTag Tool TU30 comes with a neck | | | | civilisation, stock up on lightweight food before |
| chain and a key chain to make sure it doesn't get | | | | you set off, which will provide the nutrition and |
| lost. Measuring just 5cm, the True DogTag Tool | | | | energy you need for your trip without weighing a |
| TU30 includes useful tools including tweezers, a | | | | ton in your backpack. Backpacker's Pantry has |
| bottle opener, a knife, a screwdriver and a bright | | | | created an excellent range of freeze-dried meals |
| white LED light — so finding your way back | | | | in lightweight packets, which contain enough food |
| to your tent at night won't be a problem. | | | | for two people. Simply add boiling water and then |
| If you're planning a full-on survival experience then | | | | enjoy a meal of spaghetti in sauce, Pad Thai, |
| a useful tool to take on your trip is the hand | | | | spicy chilli or a variety of other delicious recipes. |