Newbie in Need of Kit Advice

[eem]

Having only recently discovered camping I am keen to get out into the country/woodlands a lot more and experience what everyone is talking about. I am in Solihull / Birmingham.

This website is great and I have read fantstic advice.

The only issue is, I am unsure of the basic kit required to be comfotable and to be safe.

What do you need? Where can I go? Who can I go out with?

I am keen to spend one or two nights / days out and about and will be coming to Bushmoot to absorb the knowledge!!

I have some suitable clothing, a sleeping bag, a tent (will aim for a hammock eventually!), light single air bed, boots, Maglite 3D torch, simple karrimor rucksack to stick it all in.

any advice / donations gratefully received. i can swap for boxed, working (VGC) sony erikson K800i phone (vodafone) worth about £45 and/or pay for any posting and packaging.

thanks

Matt

 

[squantrill]

The only advice ill give is get rid of the air bed and buy a sleeping mat!!

If it goes flat boy the ground is cold!!

 

[fishy1]

Foam mats are also cheap and don't need blown up, a fiver would get you a decent one.

 

[bushwacker bob]

some cheapo army surplus mess tins and a knife would be useful additions

 

[Ogri the trog]

Mat,
best advice I can offer is "Don't go mad straight away!"
Save your pennies until you've been to the moot and had the chance to see and feel different types of kit. Then you can determine if it really is what you want or what you need.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[littlebiglane]

Mat,
best advice I can offer is "Don't go mad straight away!"
Save your pennies until you've been to the moot and had the chance to see and feel different types of kit. Then you can determine if it really is what you want or what you need.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

ATB

Ogri the trog

Matt - this is probably the soundest advice anyone will give you. I wish someone had said that to me when I 'started out'. It would have saved me a small fortune!

 

[lostplanet]

I agree, don't get sucked in by the marketing mens blurb, research and patience will serve you well.

Ask lots of questions, always listen to opinions, even if you don't act on them and take your time.

This forum is loaded with information and experience, use the search function, you'll be much happier in the long run.

Enjoy and Welcome to BCUK forums.

 

[Andy2112]

Hi Matt and welcome to the show.

The pound shop places are doing two ally rectangular mess tins for £1. OK, not as good as ex-mod but if youre on a budget like myself any thing is better than nothing.
I took a trip to the army surplus shop in Flyford Flavell (surplusandadventure.com (no connection with shop etc)) last week and was amazed at the amount of kit there, bought a hexi stove and the US version of the blocks and some para cord and it only cost just over a tenner.
Look around mate and you will find sone great bargains.

 

[eem]

thanks so far to everyone for the advice, offers of gear and places to get it from.

i am keen to get out there whilst the weather is good, thus i am thinking of investing in a decent 2/3 man tent. i currently have a LARGE family tent which i use with the girlfirend and the dog but i am looking for something more portable and discreet.

i have seen this

http://www.hi-peak.co.uk/~sa_webapp/run.asp?page=3065

any advice?

should i spend less? is this as good as it looks? is there a better alternative?

Matt

 

[a12jpm]

For portable and discreet you can't beat the bivvy/tarp idea. I'm a recent convert to the bivvy bag and haven't used my NTF tent in ages. Bags can be found on ebay for sub £30 and I use a poncho as a tarp (£5 approx). I got my bag from Strikeforce on ebay and even got a free upgrade because he was a bit late in posting.

No connection to vendor just happy/dry/warm customer watching the stars!