With the first peek of Spring (okay, not that much, and certainly nothing compared to last year) it’s easy to start fantasising about a warm weather holiday getaway. Why not begin with an easy hiking weekend? Embracing the outdoor is a great way to get your fill of fresh air, relaxation and time with friends and family. Even if you haven’t camped before, there are a number of great gadgets and products that can make you feel as comfortable as home (well, almost).
First, let’s get started with the essentials. A durable, comfortable backpack is the first must-have on your list. Vaude has a number of great backpacks for hiking, biking or city slicking. The Cross Ultralight Comfort 35 Lightweight Backpack is a good choice, it’s lightweight with all the important features: outer mesh pockets, places to attach tools, sternum strap, hip belt, etc. The SoMo Triset 25+4 is also a solid choice (at a great price, around £40) and it comes with a rain hood (which unless you are hiking in the desert is still a likelihood at this time of year).
Then it’s of course a priority to get a tent. Tents have become even more lightweight, portable and reasonable in price. Vocation makes a four person, two room tent with a ‘lounge’ (if you expect this to include piano playing and cocktails – camping might not be for you). It also comes with four EVA mats and sleeping bags – everything you need for a party of four on a weekend escape. If you are a party of one or two the Gelert 2 Person Single Skin Quick Pitch Tent is a good choice as it’s super easy to put up after an exhausting day of hiking, swimming and fun.
Once you have the important stuff, it’s then down to the accessories. You can put as many or as few on your list, but at the minimum you should try to have a knife (Swiss Army is a reliable standby), a towel, a first aid kit and a few games to have fun. Be sure to pack light, you want to ensure you don’t come back with more aches and pains then when you left.
And don’t forget the objective is time away and a bit of peace and quiet, you don’t have to be an overly experienced outdoorsman or woman, to enjoy a little sunshine and fresh air.
