Sleeping bags and tents

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heath

Settler
Jan 20, 2006
637
0
46
Birmingham
Could do with a bit of advice please, I'm new to the scene and wonder if anyone could reccomend a decent sleeping bag and 2 man tent. Cheers
 
What are you going to use them for and when?

Will you be using this tent by yourself or with another person?
How much kit will you have with you when you camp?
Do you need the same set to do for spring/summer/autumn/winter?
Do you plan to do multiple camps of short or long duration, or just go to the fests/moots?
Will you be using the set in the UK, Europe, Asia, America?
Flatland, wetland, desert, mountain, woodland?

I think you're getting the gist of it - tell us a bit more about what you plan to do with your new sleeping bag and tent, then maybe we can give you some relevant advice.
 
ODG's got it right tell us some more but for now as Rod says vango do good kit my slepping bag's a vango. I've had a vaude tent for ages and its great some don't like them but mines bomb proof and has served me well.
 
Frequency of use also comes in to it.

If your only going to camp twice a year during the summer a Eurohike tent from Millets is just as good and a fraction of the price of many tents intended for rgular 4 season use.

Also check out Decathlon who have some nice cheap gear.

If you want good, longlasting kit that can be used regularly then Wild Country, Terra Nova and Vaude are great bits of kit.

Moduser
 
wow that was quick. I konow the question was pretty vague but really i'm looking for some general kit. hopefully it will be stuff i'll use regularly mostly in the uk but hopefully in europe too (if I can afford to go to abroad after buying all the kit). I'm not planning on sleeping out in the arctic but want to be prepared for things if they get a bit chilly. As far as the tents concerned i'm looking for something lightweight but big enough for me, my wife and our gear.
 
Well depending on how much you want to spend look for a 3 season tent with 3 season bags.

A nice bag is the Nanok -10 which for about £100 is superb.

If your budget can't go that high as your buyiung for two, then Vango do some good 3 season bags for around £50-60.

For the tent there are two many to choose from really and again it comes down to cost. But Eurohike and Vango do good inexpensive tents (and expensive ones).

I like Wild Country and Terra Nova (cost more but if you want a tent to last then you pays your money).

If you and your partner are new to camping, keep the costs low just in case you don't like it. You can always upgrade once you have tried it for a while, which will also allow you to make a more informed desision on what features are important to you.

Happy camping

Moduser
 
My system works like this: buy a good (not the best) tent, buy ok sleeping bags and blow the rest of the budget on Therm-a-rest Basecamp XL mats.

I have a Vaude Mark III tent that's lightning fast to pitch, seems strong enough for most things, has a good ammount of room and didn't break the bank.

I have a double sleeping bag that, with 2 people in, is warm enough for all year around in the UK... used in the snow in Jan with no problem.

Most importantly, I have 2 massive therm-a-rests.
 
I have a super bag (pipedream 600) which does for most of the year apart from serious winter conditions.This is from Alpkit they can be found at www.alpkit.com it's worth a look at their site.
I had a cheap two man tent from Millets 15 years ago and it travelled Oz & NZ by motorcycle and did a fine job. I finally ditched it this year as the fly had uv breakdown. My friend who still travels a fair bit suggests that a cotton roofed inner is important, this stops condensation problems as it allows good ventilation and consequently enables your kit to stay dry. He feels that this method of construction has been sacrificed now by the very cheap end of the market so perhaps this is a thing to watch out for.
It is worth looking and gathering lots of info especially on bags as even £100 spent on a bag is a fair sum and not spent lightly. A good £100 bag will last you a decade at least and if you have the right one you will always get a goooood nights sleep. Good luck! Swyn
PS as Squidders has suggested too, there is nothing like a good mattress! I can name three... Fat Airic, Artiach, Thermarest. Horses for courses. S
 

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