Many people love to camp, but some people prefer to take their camping to the next level by engaging in what is known as “wilder camping.” This type of camping involves spending extended periods of time in more remote, natural areas. If you’re planning on doing some wilder camping, you’ll need to make sure you have the right gear—including a backpack that can accommodate all of your supplies. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the perfect backpack for wilder camping.
Capacity and Compartments
When choosing a backpack for wilder camping, capacity is key. You’ll need a backpack that can hold all of your supplies, including food, water, clothing, shelter, and any other gear you might need. In addition, it’s important to choose a backpack with multiple compartments. This will help you keep your things organized and will make it easier to find what you need when you need it.
Weight and Comfort Another important consideration when choosing a backpack for wilder camping is weight. Obviously, the more stuff you pack, the heavier your backpack will be. However, even if you’re judicious about what you bring, your backpack is still going to be fairly heavy. That’s why it’s important to choose a backpack that is comfortable to wear, even when it’s fully loaded. Look for features like padded shoulder straps and a hip belt that will distribute the weight evenly and make it easier to carry your backpack over long distances.
Durability and Weather Resistance When you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll be exposed to all sorts of weather conditions—including sun, rain, snow, and everything in between. That’s why it’s important to choose a backpack that is durable and weather resistant. Look for a backpack made from high-quality materials that can stand up to anything Mother Nature throws at it.
Conclusion: Whether you’re an experienced camper or someone who is just getting started, wilder camping is a great way to get closer to nature. However, before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you have the right gear—including a durable, weather-resistant backpack with plenty of compartments to hold all of your supplies. With the right backpack by your side, you’ll be ready for anything!
1) Goto the website, click the icon at the bottom of the screen.
2) Scroll up the menu and click on ‘Add to Home Screen’.
3) Click on ‘Add’ in the top-right corner.
4) You now have a shortcut on your Home Screen!
The process is very similar for iPads, Android phones and tablets – you now have an icon similar to an App.
We have been asked a number of times about patches, so we finally decided to have some made. After some searching online we came across Patchion. What stood out to us was that their prices are very reasonable, they are made to order with different backings such as velcro, iron on and self-adhesive and after putting in a test order, they arrived in a timely manner and well packaged. The Nearly Wild Camping patches are now listed in the Patchion store where you can mix and match designs in your order and receive a 10% discount at Checkout with the code ‘wildUKall’
[ over the next few months we will be adding more features to this page… ]
Make some money and reduce waste.
We all know there is nothing better than sleeping under the stars, enjoying the benefits of being outside, experiencing time with our beautiful natural world. Nearly Wild Camping has created a directory of campsites that offer just this experience. Tentshare is offering a way to help the camping community share their tents and kit safely, earn money and reduce our carbon footprint.
Fondly referred to as Fresh-Airbnb, Tentshare is an online tent-matching service. The idea is simple: organized sharing. A tent owner can earn money sharing their kit with people in the local community who would like to camp but don’t own a tent. The tent-borrower can rent a tent at an affordable cost.
Let’s face it most of us campers have a couple (if not more) of tents stored and unused in our garage or loft. It’s estimated that 250,00 tents go to landfill each year in the UK. If we all shared, we wouldn’t need to keep buying cheap tents and them ending up in landfill.
Tentshare is committed to building a like-minded sharing community. We would love you to join us on our mission to share more and consume less. Tentshare provides a way earning and saving money for you, and in turn helping to protect our planet.
There are three ways we can help you and in turn, you can help protect our planet.
The STORM CARE range is designed to wash, proof, deodorise and repair your outdoor apparel, footwear and gear.All of their products are made in England, and they are proud to produce aftercare that is PFC, PFOA and PFOS FREE.
‘Don’t replace. Reproof and Reuse.Over time, dirt and oil mask the water repellency treatment on gear, meaning it starts losing performance and absorbing water; putting a dampener on your outdoor experience. Care really is key when it comes to getting the most out of your kit. So in 2003 we decided to create a range of products that do just that, to ensure you get maximum usage and performance, from your gear.’ – Matt Graves, Storm Care Solutions Ltd
There’s nothing worse than getting cold when camping. It’s much better to prevent the chills than get cold and have to find ways to get warm again. Below are some tried and tested ways to keep warm when camping:
Keep out of the wind – pitch your tent in a sheltered position, wind chill can make it feel much colder than the thermometer shows.
Wear a number of layers to ‘capture’ and keep the heat from your body. Make sure the outer layer is waterproof if rain is likely, wet clothes are the worst for making you cold.
Make sure you wear your clothing so each layer overlaps. Tuck your T-shirt into your trousers, pull your socks up, let the cuffs of your jacket fit over your gloves, you get the idea…
Cover your head and neck. So much heat is lost from these parts of the body that a woolly hat and a neck warmer are essential, also a high zip jacket with hood (or both).
Go for a ‘bimble’ – a walk to get the blood flowing and generate some body heat OR just do some light exercise outside your tent (but not too much so that you sweat). The same should be done before getting in your sleeping bag.
Sit near the campfire – but not too close!
Make sure you eat and drink enough. The body uses food to generate heat and being hydrated will aid good circulation. This can be a tricky one to get right as you don’t want to have to keep getting up in the night to go the toilet. Generally camping tends to use up lots of energy so forget that strict diet for a couple of nights, burn off some calories by collecting water from the tap and keeping your camp tidy!
When going to bed don’t expect to wear some thin pyjamas like you do at home. It’s probably going to be too cold to strip off anyway. Just take off your outer layers and maybe put on an extra pair of socks. Change your underwear etc. later the next day when it’s warmer.
When you wake up the next morning the sooner you put your coat and boots on and start moving about the sooner you warm up – don’t forget a nice cup of tea and some porridge!
Its summer and with the many lockdown restrictions still in place for going abroad a lot of people have decided to holiday at home in the UK, so why not try wild camping?
With this comes the problem of deciding what you actually want to do, and the many different options available to suit many budgets, where to start. But this can easily begin at under £200
For many people the thought of wild camping is off putting because inevitably where do you start? What kit is good? What kit is the best? What kit isn’t going to leave you cold and wet and let you have a really good time!
The reality is with all kit you have to start somewhere. If you haven’t ever wild camped before then preparing for it can become a little daunting. Here at Bean Camping we are on a mission to include all aspects of the outdoors – we absolutely love it – that’s why we want to share with you a basic kit guide to get you in the outdoors! Be aware that the most expensive items don’t always guarantee a dry, warm & comfortable night.
Tent
OEX Phoxx 1v2 – There are a myriad of different types and set ups, but for an absolute beginner, I would recommend the OEX phoxx 1v2. Its light weighing in at just 1.6kg– and pitched in the right place will hold out against many a bad storm. For around £55 you can’t get much better for the price point – it’ll go up against many an expensive tent as do itself proud against the top guns.
Rucksack
Eurohike nepal 65 – for £30 this rucksack will pack all you need for a few days away. Its 1.4kg weight doesn’t make it too heavy for the overall pack weight, and has a few configurations and that all important waist support. It’ll go with you anywhere and everywhere!
Sleeping Bag
Vango Latitude Pro 300 – At £50 this is probably the cheapest I would spend on a bag to get started. It says 3-4 season however I would be tempted to use this only during 3, and that would also be with extra layers. Bags are the bane of many a wild camper and finding the right one for you will be a challenge – I must have gone through 5 bags before settling on a Alpkit pipe dream – however that isn’t to say I haven’t enjoyed every piece of kit Ive used up to now. Always check what the comfort rating is and add +5 – thats probably about as low as you would comfortably get a good nights sleep. Through the camping world, its pretty much agreed that the more you can spend on a bag, the better so our advice is take you budget – and double it! Don’t forget to test the bag if you can, they come in all shapes and sizes and consider if you are a side sleeper or lay flat for example. This all add to the dimensions and the really do make a difference out in the field.
Sleeping mat
Forclaz Trek 100 – For £15 this mat will do you just fine. Its light and folds down, doesn’t matter if it gets wet and you can use as a seat when you stop for a rest. I’m a relative newcomer to mats, mostly because I was happy to sleep on the floor however the thermal loss was getting too much as Ive got older so I too have a sleeping mat and recommend you take one too. If you really wanted the make the difference, the Thermarest NeoAir comes as a top end but highly recommended alternative. This is another area where you should spend as much as you can afford if you can, like the bag, waking up aching isn’t fun and other than being cold & wet (both can be avoided), it’s the number two reason why folks don’t return to the wild.
Cooking
MSR pocket rocket 2 – for £26 you cant get much better than this. It’s small, light and packs down to nothing. This gas burner will boil your brew water in just a few minutes. It takes screw in gas cartridges (while not refillable they are recyclable) and cost about £5. I don’t recommend the use of an open fire unless you have permission from the land owner or campsite! Alongside rubbish & litter, fire scar is right up there in the top reason why land owners object to wild camping – and you can understand why.
Utensils
TBS billycan cup for £17.95 – a knife, fork and spoon from home and a frying pan too. The billy can boil your water and sits perfectly on the MSR pocket rocket. The gas canister will fit inside it to help keep your pack organised!
Now, if you’ve got this far, this kit list will be approximately £200 pounds get will get you on a regular campsite or out into the wild. If you want a real adventure then join the Nearly Wild Camping Club and experience wild camping with the security of the land owners’ permission and the odd luxury along the way, such as fresh clean water (in most instances!). Remember, you’re kit is never definitive and will always change to suit places, environment and budgets along the journey..
For honourable mentions and additions to kit, you might consider some thermal leggings for those cooler nights and a first aid kit. Also worth noting is a map! If you do plan to set up base somewhere or walk and hike, its best to have a paper map, research and plot your route out before hand! Don’t forget to notify others of your plans, just in case.
So there we are, a basic kit and budget to get you into the outdoors whether thats for just one night or for several. This kit will see you through until such time you upgrade and re-invest in various items. Above all, just get outside and have fun. All the best – Ben.
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[ Nearly Wild Camping members check out the discount code on the club website for 10% off ]
If you would like the freedom to explore in a Land Rover Defender with an iKamper roof tent then visit their website for more information: https://www.campersforexplorers.co.uk