The best budget buys
Camping kit that won’t break the bank.
Camping gear that won’t break the bank
VANGO COMPACT GAS STOVE
£17, www.vango.co.uk Small is beautiful when you’re travelling light, and Vango’s compact stove is both small in price and dimensions. Stowing away neatly when its pot support arms are folded away, it’s also simple to operate, fitting standard screw-in gas canisters. It also features baffles around the burner to reduce the effect of wind on the flame.
GOSYSTEM DYNASTY COMPACT STOVE
£20, www.go-system.co.uk You can leave the kitchen sink at home, but how about taking a ring from the gas hob with you? That’s effectively what the Dynasty Compact Stove is. Using widely available butane gas canisters, it features a piezo auto-start ignition and non-slip serrated pan supports for stability.
EASY CAMP COSMOS
£25, www.easycamp.com Available in several colourful designs, the Cosmos is perfect for festival-goers and casual campers who aren’t likely to be heading for a frozen wilderness anytime soon. Simple yet snuggly, it sports a soft lining. Two Cosmos sleeping bags can be zipped together into a double.
VANGO SOUL 200
£60, www.vango.co.uk Ideal for anyone who’s new to camping, shopping on a budget and wants a more stable tent than the ‘pop up’ festival variety, the Soul 200 is a nifty (albeit also very cosy) two-man model. A simple tunnel design, with a ventilated inner and high-vis guy lines, it’s also a tent that’s recommended for the Scouts.
OUTWELL EARTH 4
£150, www.outwell.com You don’t need to splash out on a canvas palace for your first family camping getaway. For two kids and two grown-ups, the Outwell Earth 4 is plenty big enough and covers all the essential needs of a family tent. A doubledoor tunnel tent, it is practically laid out with a spacious porch and sleeping area.
VANGO STRATOS 250
£40, www.vango.co.uk Recommended for Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants, the Stratos 250 boasts a double layer of synthetic insulation that can keep you comfortably warm in temperatures down to -3°C. This three-season bag may not be the lightest model relative to its warmth, but it’s durable enough to survive the knocks and scrapes of intensive use.