Stables89 wrote: What are they essentials that I should pack? obiously don't want to over do it and have too much stuff to carry.
been looking and one of the vango tents for a while. are there any cheaper alternatives that are still good quality?
also any sleeping bag recommendations would be great.
Thanks
There is a great temptation to carry far too much kit, too much food, etc. I have little changes which make a difference; don't take an enormous bulky toilet roll, this is too bulky, embarrassing and if/when it gets wet it is useless. It is also not much use for anything but your butt. packets of paper hankies come individually wrapped and so retain a certain waterproofness. They can be used for various things and do not take up much room. A small pocket radio helps cheer you up in the evenings and is very light to carry. A lantern type light as well as the headtorch cheers up your tent. Oxo cubes and hot chocolate sachets make nice hot drinks but do not have the diuretic effects of tea or coffee. A flask which you can fill with hot water before you go to sleep so you don't have to light up the stove in the middle of the night for a hot drink. Little snacks which you might not eat at home but out in your tent or on the hills seem a delight - cheese and crackers, maybe some salami. That reminds me - some indigestion tablets as this condition can really spoil your day/night. Spare thick woolly socks make all the difference. Big knee-length ones with padded soles, heels and toes, available from huntin',shootin', fishin' tackle shops. Sunglasses, lip-balm, a hat with a skip to keep the sun/sleet out of your eyes, gloves even in summer, etc.
As for sleeping bags, there is an everlasting debate on the merits/demerits of synthetic fibre versus natural down. I live in Scotland so I'll be going with synthetic fibre every time. It is slightly less light but keeps you warm even when damp, down is great until it gets damps, then it all clumps together and you have no warmth at all. A three-season bag is fine unless you plan to camp out in sub-zero temperatures. Tents have their limitations, no matter how well made. I had a Vango 2000 which was nice but it died in a storm at Sligachan. So did every other tent on the site. Ensure the mesh it "midgie mesh", not just mosquito mesh or the midgies will sail through without touching the sides. Good luck and enjoy!
![Glen Etive#4#r.jpg]()
- Glen Etive Antler
