Camp Life | Outdoor Living & Adventure Blog

Whilst your kit list should not be ignored, it is important and there to make your experience as good as it can possibly be, it isn’t essential to buy all of the top-of-the-range expensive products. You can do just as well with items you’ve bought on a budget. Here is our guide to some top-quality products, without a top-quality price tag.

Vango Ember Single Sleeping Bag

This sleeping bag is low cost, square-shaped and is 2 seasons, so is great for spring and summer. It has an integrated head rest, a two-way zip, and is washable. The perfect sleeping bag on a budget!

Vango Trek 3 Compact Self Inflate Mat

This self-inflating mat is a perfect entry level self-inflating mat, offering you the luxury of a comfy bed whilst on your expedition! It is small and lightweight and perfect for carrying your bed on your back. It is DofE Award recommended, has an easy-to-use valve and includes a repair kit.

Multimat Camper 8

这multimat露营者8比self-infl便宜ating mat at just £8.95 but is still just as practical! It’s useful for DofE, and gets the job done, as well as still being small enough to either fit in your backpack or be tied to the top or bottom.

Wayfayrer Meals

你想要做的最后一件事,经过长时间的行动ing day of hiking is cook, and this is where outdoor camping meals come in handy! Whether it’s Wayfayrer, Firepot, or Adventure Food (we taste tested them all so you don’t have to – check out the link below!), these meals just need to be put in boiling water to be cooked. Easy and tasty!

Lifesystems Pocket First Aid Kit

This is the perfect basic first aid kit! Containing tweezers, scissors, safety pins, bandages, antiseptic cream, gauze, tape, dressings, wipes, and plasters – the ideal pocket first aid kit. We do recommend getting some extra blister plasters though!

EasyCamp Utility Cord

Utility cord is an absolute essential for any DofE, hiking, or camping expeditions. You never know when you’ll need it, and it always comes in handy!

The Duke of Edinburgh Award, whether it be Bronze, Silver, or Gold, is an impressive achievement. However, whilst it’s great fun, wonderful experience, and offers you many skills, it can also be expensive. But it doesn’t need to be!

Lay out the footprint on a clean and dry base and won’t damage the awning if you’re on a hard surface or gravel.
Get the awning out of the bag, spread it out, locate the tunnel section where the beading or the throw straps. Whether you have a fixing kit or a rail, or a gutter, or are merely throwing the straps over the van and pegging it on the other side of the van, the key thing is to bring the awning far enough forward that you can open the door without it catching.
Place the awning 10-20cm to the left of the sliding door. You can change this once you’ve done the back. Once you’ve placed the front check the positioning. Can you fully open the door within the tunnel section? Ideally you want the door fully opening in the tunnel for peace of mind and ease
Peg it down the bottom on the ground, seal the awning nice and tight to the van itself, when we peg backwards away from the van, naturally the material will shift backwards. 20cm underneath the vehicle is ideal, it’s better to give too much material than too little, it’s much easier to undo and pull it closer in, but if you don’t go far enough in you’ll struggle to get under the van and give more tension to it.
We always recommend having the pegging points on its furthest setting so you can tension it, if need be, ideally depending on the driveaway tunnel depends on whether you need to go straight down, or whether they splay out a little bit (this means not in a dead straight line, the bottom bit will be out a bit in relation).
Now, peg out the other end of the tunnel section. Depending on whether it comes out or goes along the van (which way its facing), now do the ones closest to the van, and then do the other side, created a rectangle which comes along the van, out and towards us. Gives you position away from the van, you may now need to move the footprint to make sure its covering, maybe lay it down initially and peg the footprint at this point. Now peg out the rest of the awning, if it faces directly out you’ve already done the main 4/6, if it runs alongside the van then do it like a tent – the back, then away from the van.
Now insert poles or inflate. Start with the one closest to the van if its going along the van, if its coming away from the van, start in the middle of the awning as it reduces the amount of weight and strain. If you start in the middle, you’ve got equal tension and you’re not forcing or damaging fabric, you’re in control. Once you’ve inserted or inflated every pole, start with the main storm straps. The ones that come out of the front or back, for enough tension
Now go around and look at pegging points, you’ll have done 6 or 10 at this point, see if anything needs adjustment or tweaking.
Make sure the doors are partially open so air can get inside or it’ll act like a vacuum and won’t go up properly. With a poled model, if possible, have someone go inside and push up to help with the weight and control.
Now, peg out the rest of the awning – base first then guy ropes, do one side at a time, doesn’t matter too much – MAKE SURE all doors are fully closed to make sure the tension is correct, and you won’t damage the doors trying to shut them if there is too much tension in the fabric and tightly pegged.

Of course, all awnings vary! This is not a specific one size fits all guide, but a general helpful guide. Every awning should come with its own set of instructions and guide on how to put it up!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us – come and see us in store, email us atcamping@attwoolls.co.ukor call us on 01452 742233

Whether its your first time using one, you’ve done it before but still struggle, or you’re thinking of buying one and want to know what you’re getting yourself into, it’s always handy to have a guide to make sure you’re definitely doing the right thing! So, here’s our guide (and some useful tips) on how to set up your drive-away awning.

Make sure all doors of the tent are zipped up about 1/3 so they’re open about 2/3 of the way to prevent the tent bunching up in a big ball when you fold, and you’re not trapping any air inside and ending up with a big air balloon. This allows air to escape easily!
Leave the same original 4-6 pegs in the ground that you put in first.
Unpeg all the guy ropes and if preferred tie them up so they’re neat and contained – this way they won’t get muddled with one another. Start with the opposite side to the wind to give you a bit more stability – this is worth it so that you stay in control! You don’t want an absolute spaghetti junction to unravel next time! This helps you take care of the tent, and makes next time smoother.
Deflate the beams or remove poles from the back of the tent in order, back directly towards the front so this naturally means the air is being pushed forward to the open door as the material falls to the ground. Pushing it forward means it goes towards the front and middle doors that you’ve left partially open to allow the air to escape, but also means the material isn’t bunched up in a big roll!
Then pack away the poles neatly, and we recommend at this point, if you have a front awning or anything where the groundsheet isn’t sewn in, flip this back over the main body of the tent, so its folded ground sheet to groundsheet.
Not everything can be bone dry when you pack it so if it’s a bit damp, we recommend getting it out to dry once you’re home to prevent damp and mould.
Once you’ve flipped, your left with the groundsheet area (living and sleeping)
如果你有一个空气帐篷,然后折叠的宽度the tent in about a pump size (use the bag as a guide) ideally you want it to be a bit less than the bag as it will bulge when folded
折叠在另一边,每折给你a big of a press (walk, push, roll) as you need the air to come out, ideally you fold one side onto where the valves are located to push it out, but there’s also a door on that side to help the internal air get out.
Can repeat this once or twice if you really want to – but there’s no one right way to do it. You want it to be as easy to get in the bag as possible!
Once you have the long sausage shape, roll from the bag to the front, easier to squeeze it out as when its folded you trap more air. Start with a really tight role, some people will even use a pole in it to get it super tight
Before you start rolling, if you have any cord or an additional tie that comes with it, place half underneath and half at the other end so it’s ready and you don’t have to tuck again.
You can repeat this twice if you want to get all that air out!
Same process for a pole tent, by doing this you’re constantly managing the air from one packed size to the other.
Top tip - use your poles to roll around the centre of the tent and the poles will always be with the canvas, and always in the bag!
Well done! You’re tent is packed away, pain free.

If you have any other questions or queries please don’t hesitate to come and visit us in store, or contact uscamping@attwoolls.co.ukor 01452 74223

Packing away is very similar to pitching, it’s essentially the same process in reverse, so here are some tips to help rather than hinder you!

A self-inflating mat is basically a layer of compressible (open cell) foam sandwiched inside an airtight envelope of fabric with a sealable valve. When you open the valve, the foam expands and sucks air into the mat. The foam works as a built-in pump and provides the insulation by trapping still air within the mat. Self-inflating mats fill the gap between thin foam roll mats, and bulky heavy air beds. All you need to do is roll the mat out on the floor, twist the nozzle to open it and let air in, and leave them to inflate by themselves. They offer a layer of air between you and the tent floor, and are much comfier than traditional roll mats!

We stock a wide range of self-inflating mats, from low-cost entry level mats to slightly more technical, smaller, lightweight mats that are more suitable for backpacking trips where every bit of rucksack space is important.

Below are 3 self-inflating mats (or SIMs) that we recommend.

Vango Trek Mat £31.95

The Trek mat from Vango is the perfect sleeping mat for when durability, strength and affordability are of great importance. The small pack size and lightweight make it suitable for all campers. The Trek Pro 3 Standard mat is ideal for those who care about the environment they are exploring as its made from recycled TrekEco® Fabric Recommended by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, these products are independently tested by members of the DofE organisation and feature on the DofE Recommended Kit List.

Vango Comfort Mat £59.95

The luxurious Vango Comfort 7.5cm single self-inflating sleeping mat offers unrivalled comfort and convenience with a durable non-slip base. With the Cyclone Flip Valve, inflation and deflation are very quick. Simply flip open the valve and watch the mat expand. Prefer a firmer mattress? Simply top it up with a few extra puffs of air. After a great night's sleep, the Cyclone valve's large opening means the air evacuates quickly, making packing away really easy.

Vango California Mattress £84.95

专门为郎普,新卡利fornia POP sleep mat offers ultimate comfort for campervanners. Created from 75 Denier, soft, brushed fabric with 3D construction to ensure the entire surface area can be used, you can enjoy a comfortable night's sleep wherever you go. It features a twist valve for easy inflation and fuss-free deflation.

Self-inflating mats, or SIMs, are extremely popular, but what actually are they?

足迹,防潮布和地面保护者- they’ve become massively popular over the last few years, and now nearly every new model of tent has them as an optional extra. But what actually is a tent footprint or groundsheet? And what is the difference between them?

In short, there is not much different between the three, they are simply terms that are interchangeable.

A tent 'footprint' is essentially a groundsheet protector. It is a separate flat groundsheet manufactured from waterproof tarpaulin, made slightly smaller than the footprint of your tent so that it can be placed underneath the main groundsheet. Whilst sewn in groundsheets are popular, tent footprints are used for protecting this main groundsheet, for when you’re camping on rough, wet, or stony ground.

Most family tents are now manufactured with a sewn in groundsheets. Although they are fantastic, when you are packing up your tent, if the groundsheet is dirty and/or wet, it will almost certainly get your tent dirty and/or wet when you’re packing up. A footprint groundsheet protector reduces the risk of this significantly, as well as reduces the chance of your sewn-in groundsheet being punctured by something sharp on the ground, so it’s a great stone protection sheet!

Having spent upwards of hundreds of pounds on your brand-new tent, you want it to last. So, a footprint groundsheet is a logical addition. It will help you keep your tent in the best possible condition, and hopefully prevent your tent groundsheet form being pierced or damaged.

All the brands of footprints that we stock are; Vango, Kampa Dometic, Outdoor Revolution, Zempire, Easy Camp, Outwell, Coleman, and Royal. Each tent and awning has a groundsheet either specific to them, or a generic brand one that fits multiple models. Alternatively, if your tent or awning is older we should be able to find you a footprint or tarpaulin that will get the job done!

If you have any questions, or need some advice, pop in and see us in store, or contact us on 01452 742233!

If there is one thing you buy in-store, not online, for your Duke of Edinburgh expedition, it should be your rucksack. In order to find the most suitable rucksack for you, it is essential that you try it on, and get one that fits you. Most Duke of Edinburgh rucksacks have adjustable backs and straps. In order to ensure that you do not injure yourself, or spend your whole expedition uncomfortable carrying a bag that is too big for you, or ill-fitting, we highly recommend that you buy your rucksack in-person. This is why we do not sell them online!

Vango Contour 50-60S OR 60-70 Rucksack

凡高轮廓有两种尺寸,50 - 60 or the 60-70. The 50-60S offers a short back size (this is why trying them on is essential!). Both bags have a quick adjust back system to allow for lengthening or shortening, comfort, and durability. There is top lid access with both a gaiter and buckle closure which offers extra security and weather protection. They have side pockets, AirMesh rucksack straps that allow for air flow, a padded hip belt, multiple pockets for smaller items, a rain cover, and emergency whistle, reflective points and a handle between the shoulder straps. The perfect Duke of Edinburgh rucksack!

Highlander Rambler 66L Rucksack

The Highland Rambler 66L Rucksack is a slightly cheaper, but still fantastic, option. It has 66L of storage, side pockets, hidden lid pockets, and a bottom and front stretch pocket. With hard-wearing, water repellent fabric, a padded hip belt, shoulder straps and AirMesh back system this bag is brilliant. It even adapts to your height to ensure safe load bearing! This versatile bag gives you plenty of room for all your kit, a strong, reliable bag that will last you through all your expeditions, and easy access to your kit. It’s slightly cheaper, has a bottle pocket and accessory straps too!

Vango Cascade 55-65S OR 65-75 Rucksack

Like the Contour, the Cascade comes in two sizes, one for shorter people, and one for taller people. It has a ripstop fabric with AirMesh shoulder pads for ventilation, as well as an adjustable back ladder to allow for even weight distribution and adjustable sizing. It is Duke of Edinburgh and Scouts approved, has top lid access, side zip pockets and a padded hip belt. It will fit a hydration reservoir, has an emergency whistle and walking pole attachments as well as well as reflective points for visibility. An all-round great Duke of Edinburgh rucksack!

One of the most important parts of a successful expedition, is a good backpack. Find below our guide to the best Duke of Edinburgh rucksacks!

We stock a number of proofing options; Fenwix, Nikwax, Fabsil and Kampa. We recommend Fabsil, we love it here at Attwoolls and it gets the job done perfectly! It’s brilliant for all types of tents, does the job nicely and neatly, and you can use it for maintenance (think of it as adding sun cream to your tent to help it last a little bit longer), or to help with a leaking issue.

Firstly, make sure you have the tent erected, so that everything is in place and sitting where it will sit to allow the treatment process to dry in place.

There are 2 main methods; you can either paint it on with a brush, which is a more thorough but time-consuming method. You will need a tin, and a nice big brush to over the material, with a focus on the seam and/or the area of issue. Alternatively, you can decant it into a spray and spray then wipe all the surfaces. Aerosol versions are far easier to apply, especially if you have a small area. However, it is difficult to get consistency especially if its windy. But it does make your life easier!

If you can, we recommend doing the roof section before the tent is up. If you do the roof first when the tent is lying on the ground before you put it up it has longer to dry, and is easier for you to cover all areas. You will however need a dry day, and plenty of time for it to dry whilst it is still erected. This is easier with a polyester tent as it will sit directly on top of the fabric, with a canvas tent you will need longer and to potentially do it twice as it will sink into the fabric.

Depending on which brand you use, there will be recommendations as to how long it will last, and how much surface area per litre it will cover. Cotton fabrics do require more as they absorb more, so a thicker application with a brush would be best.

When proofing the seams of your tent, we do recommend you use seam sealer. You can do it internally and externally, but if you’re doing it internally then we do not recommend using a spray. The sealer is like a glue, make sure you don’t get it on your hands! You’ll need a nice layer over the top of the seam with a brush, and it gives a smooth, clear finish. You need to ensure good ventilation, that you’re wearing gloves, and taking breaks. You also need to do this when the tent is up so that it can set in the right place. It is not as necessary with a cotton tent, but a great thing to do for polyester tents!

However, if the tape sealing is coming off your tent and the fabric is starting to feel thin, it might be worth investing in a new tent!

For a more comprehensive guide, check out the video above!

Proofing a tent is a great thing to do to help extend the lifetime of your tent or fix some leaking problems! Here’s a quick guide on how to do it correctly.

IN STORE

The opening hours for our store are as follows;

23^rdDecember – 9am-5:30pm
24^thDecember –CLOSED
25^thDecember –CLOSED
26^thDecember –CLOSED
27^thDecember – 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday Hours)
28^thDecember – 9am-5:30pm (Normal hours)
29^thDecember – 9am-5:30pm (Normal hours)
30^thDecember – 9am-5:30pm (Normal hours)
31^stDecember – 9am-4pm
1^stJanuary –CLOSED
2^ndJanuary – 10am-5pm (Bank Holiday Hours)
3^rdJanuary - Return to normal hours

WEBSALES

The opening hours for our Websales department are as follows;

MONDAY 19TH DECEMBER
- THIS IS THE LAST DAY WE ARE DESPATCHING STANDARD DELIVERY ORDERS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
- *Please note that we are unable to guarantee delivery before Christmas due to unprecedented circumstances and increased demand on courier services.
- WEDNESDAY 21ST DECEMBER
  - THIS IS THE LAST DAY WE ARE DESPATCHING NEXT DAY DELIVERY ORDERS BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THE CUT OFF IS 12PM ON THE 21ST.
  - *Please note that we are unable to guarantee delivery before Christmas due to unprecedented circumstances and increased demand on courier services.
23^rdDecember – 9am-1pm
24^thDecember –CLOSED
25^thDecember –CLOSED
26^thDecember –CLOSED
27^thDecember –CLOSED
28^thDecember –CLOSED
29^thDecember –CLOSED
30^thDecember –CLOSED
31^stDecember –CLOSED
1^stJanuary –CLOSED
2^ndJanuary –CLOSED
3^rdJanuary - Return to normal hours

Whilst we will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period, you are still more than welcome to place orders during this time, however we will not start processing them until the 2^ndof January.

Thank you so much for all of your support throughout 2022 (and all the years before!) we are so grateful for our lovely customers, and are so excited to welcome you all back in 2023.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

From our family to yours, we hope you all stay safe and well, and have a wonderful time.

The Attwoolls Outdoors Family

Please see below for the specific opening and closing times for both the store and Websales department over the upcoming Christmas and New Year period!

Adventure Food Fungi Pasta – 4/5

Don’t let the name deter you! This is Pasta with Cheese and Mushroom, and was actually delicious. It’s a vegetarian pasta dish with mushroom, leek, bell pepper and onion in a creamy Emmental cheese sauce. Tasting almost as good as home cooked pasta, this is a perfect comfort meal for on the go. We rated it another 4/5!

Firepot Porcini Mushroom Risotto – 5/5

The creamy arborio rice, pan-fried porcini and chestnut mushrooms in this dish offer the perfect comfort meal for your trip. Suitable for coeliacs, lactose-free diets, and vegans, this risotto is a firm favourite. This meal will warm you from the inside out, and offer the perfect end to your day. We loved it! We rate it a 5/5.

Firepot Chilli Non-Carne and Rice – 5/5

This healthy soya, chillies, kidney beans and rice combination create a classic, hearty favourite. Suitable for coeliacs, lactose-free diets and vegans, the vegan Chilli Non-Carne and rice tastes just as good, if not better, than the real thing! The spice combined with the veggies offers you a healthy, warming end to your day. We are big fans! We gave it a 5/5.

Wayfayrer Sticky Toffee Pudding – 5/5

The sticky toffee sponge pudding in a rich toffee sauce was our favourite! Tasting like its just come out of the kitchen, not a plastic pouch in a Trangia, this sticky toffee pudding gets 5 stars from us. The perfect indulgent desert to reward your hard days work! We rated it 5/5.

Whatever you try, we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Hopefully you get to try at least one on your outdoor adventures.

After carrying out a taste test on Adventure Food, Firepot and Wayfayrer outdoor camping meals, we had to let you know our absolute favourites! We were impressed by all the meals we tasted, we didn’t have the highest expectations of these pre-cooked packaged meals, but all of them tasted pretty good! Some were understandably better than others, everyone’s taste is different. But we didn’t find one that we thought was bad! So, here’s our verdict…

So, to avoid any of you making that mistake, we asked our staff what their backpacking and hiking essentials are! Some are more useful than others, but all of these items are guaranteed to make sure you’re well prepared for your next adventure.

A water bottle (and water!)

Now, this might seem like a silly reminder, but if there’s one thing you should definitely be taking with you on any backpacking or hiking trip, it’s a water bottle and a sufficient amount of water.

Snacks!

Obviously, snacks make every trip better, whether it’s energy bars, a packed lunch, or copious amounts of sweets and chocolate! Snacks will help you keep your energy up, make your trip more enjoyable, and if there’s an unexpected extension to your trip, you’ll be grateful they’re in your bag.

A backpack

No matter how straight forward your hike seems, how many times you’ve done it before, or how experienced you are, it’s better to be overprepared rather than underprepared. Taking a backpack lined with the essentials is a sensible choice, and you need somewhere to store those snacks!

Loose change

Taking loose change on one of your hikes or backpacking expeditions is handy as some campsites have shower facilities available for £1, and you never know what the farms and village shops you’ll pass will be selling. Treat yourself to some local jams or yummy treats!

Jetboil

For those longer walks or trips, a Jetboil is an absolute must for hot-drink lovers! A piping hot cup of tea in less than a minute is a win in our books, especially when you’re far from home. Compact and lightweight, the Jetboil allows you to make both food and drink easily and quickly!

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is always handy to have when hiking or backpacking, especially if the trails you’re following are remote. However, if you don’t want to take a full first aid kit, we definitely recommend at least taking blister plasters, ibuprofen and paracetamol, and a tick remover!

Midge Net

If you’re lucky enough to be exploring in Scotland, or somewhere prone to midges, then a midge net is a must have. You’ll be grateful for the head and neck protection when the pesky insects are around!

Hydration Tablets

Hydration tablets or sachets are extremely useful when on long hikes, or backpacking trips. It’s very easy to get dehydrated when you’re outside walking all day, especially in hot weather, rehydration tablets will help to make sure that you stay healthy whilst enjoying your adventures!

Spare clothing

Packing a spare fleece and pair of socks is always a good idea! When hiking somewhere where you’re vulnerable to the elements, an extra layer to put on underneath your coat is sensible. You never know when you’ll get soggy feet or a blister! A pair of dry, clean socks can help to prevent a miserable mood dampening your trip.

Paracord

Paracord has so many different uses! You could use it to fasten a belt, as a clothes line, as rope, or to make a tourniquet. With so many different uses, there’s so many ways it could come in handy! It’s always useful to have some with you when out adventuring as you never know when you’ll need it.

So, there you have it, 10 essentials, some obvious, and some obscure, that our staff recommend you should take with you when you’re out adventuring and exploring! We hope these tips come in useful, and also that you come and visit us in store to make sure you’re kitted out for your next adventure.

Backpacking and hiking offer adventure, excitement, enjoyment, and great new experiences, but no matter how experienced (or inexperienced) you are, there’s always the risk of forgetting something essential, and there’s nothing worse than getting halfway and realising you’ve forgotten something essential at home!