HOW TO BAG A BARGAIN
Camping and outdoor gear can be expensive, but you don’t have to spend a fortune to land yourself some great new kit.
Follow our six tips and you can pick up a new tent, sleeping bag or a pair of hiking boots for a fraction of the usual cost.
1 BUY OUT OF SEASON
The golden rule for finding a real bargain is to go shopping when no one else is buying. Outdoor shops struggle to keep up with demand at the start of the season and during the peak holiday months, but when winter comes around they suddenly have to find ways to clear their shelves and make room for the new season’s gear. That’s when prices fall and you can pick up a great deal.
2 GET AN OLDER MODEL
Every year, tent manufacturers launch dozens of new models onto the market. Yes, they might come with a new design or some extra features but chances are they are not going to vary much from what was on sale last year. So instead of getting the latest and greatest, it’s worth considering picking up an older model at a knockdown price. Some shops will be happy to flog ex-display models, too, and these can be another source of deals. But beware – if the tents have been displayed outdoors for six months they may well have suffered UV damage and have been clambered over by eager shoppers, so check thoroughly before buying. A bargain’s only a bargain if the product does what it’s supposed to do.
3 SHOP ONLINE
Most outdoor retailers have their own websites and sometimes you can get special web-only deals. The downside of buying online is that you can’t see the product in person – and if it’s clothing or footwear you’re after, you can’t try them on before buying.
4 BUY SECOND-HAND
Buying second-hand camping kit is a great way to get a bargain but make sure you check the condition before you part with your cash. Charity shops and car boot sales are very hit or miss generally, but they can be good for pots, pans, cutlery and crockery and you can often find good-quality outdoor clothing at knockdown prices.
Supermarket community notice boards, postcards in newsagent windows and campsite notice boards often throw up secondhand camping bargains so it’s always worth giving them a glance when you’re passing.
5 HIT THE MIDDLE AISLES
Budget supermarkets, Lidl and Aldi, are a great source for picking up decent-quality camping kit at bargain-basement prices. Both introduce a range of outdoor gear to their famous middle aisles a couple of times a year and generally speaking it’s good stuff. We bought a set of heavy-duty tent pegs in Lidl for £6 five years ago and they’re still going strong. We’d maybe steer clear of supermarket tents and we’d recommend that you don’t buy a super-budget piece of gear anywhere unless you are 100% certain it’s of a good standard.