ADVENTUROUS COUPLE

K-Way Nerolite Three-person Tent

The Nerolite is a strong, streamlined tent that will survive a windstorm on the West Coast and a downpour in the Drakensberg. It packs down small and weighs 3 kg. The name is misleading – it’s better suited to a couple. (The two-person version, which weighs a kilogram less, is a good solo tent.) The groundsheet and flysheet are made from hard-wearing ripstop nylon and there’s a decentsized vestibule in front for sweaty boots and backpacks. If it’s warm and dry, leave the flysheet off and sleep in a breathable mesh cocoon. Packed weight: 3 kg Dimensions: 210 cm (l) x 130 cm (w) x 100 cm (h), with a 100 cm vestibule R2 800 at capeunion mart.co.za

Klymit Inertia Xframe Inflatable Mat

This is one of the lightest camping mats around. It weighs as much as half a block of butter and rolls up the size of a Coke can. It takes a few breaths of air to inflate and the design offers good support for high-pressure areas like your head, shoulders and hips, with cutaways in other areas to save weight. These cutaways also allow your sleeping bag to loft beneath you, instead of being compressed, improving its thermal performance. It might look weird, but it’s actually pretty comfortable. No part of your body touches the ground despite the cutaways and it comes with a tiny hand pump if you want extra firmness. Packed weight: 260 g Dimensions: 198 cm (l) x 46 cm (w) R1 300 at capeunionmart.co.za These items are tiny and they weigh next to nothing. Just the ticket for lovebirds who enjoy hiking and camping in the mountains.

Coghlan’s Pack Pillow

Every inflatable pillow I’ve tried has been a nightmare for my neck. This is a good, inexpensive alternative. It’s basically just a pillow slip made from microfibre, which you can stuff with clothes. I tried it with a K-Way down jacket and it was as comfy as my pillow at home. (Space taken up in backpack: nearly zero.) Dimensions: 50 cm (l) x 33 cm (w) R155 at takealot.com

First irst Ascent Amplify 900 Sleeping eping Bag

This is First Ascent’s lightest and smallest sleeping bag, weighing in at just under a kilogram. It’s comfort rated to 7° C so it’s not something you’d take to Everest Base Camp, but it’s perfect for summer hiking missions. (If you want to use the bag in colder conditions, get a Thermolite heating liner for R750, also from First Ascent. The liner adds 15° C to the temperature rating of the bag, taking it well below zero.) The Amplify technology features elasticised stitching around the hip and leg area, which reduces air pockets and maximises insulation. Packed weight: 975 g R1 500 at firstascent.co.za