Camping Guide

Advice to make your camping experience enjoyable.

Have a read of our complete Camping Guide for help and advice on choosing the right tents, sleeping bags and sleep mats. With such a variety of products available for camping and festival camping, it can be very hard to pick which tent is the right one for you but with our guide you should be able to find all the information to help make your decision. We have also given you a few of our favourite tips from festival regulars to make your camping or festival experience all the more enjoyable.

Even if you have camping experience, choosing a festival tent can be a daunting task. It’s easy to be baffled by the variety of products on the market and the technical jargon. If you’re buying your first festival tent you’re probably completely confused and possibly concerned about wasting your money on a tent that may let you down or maybe overspending on something way beyond your needs. Answering these four basic questions will help you narrow your choice right down:

• How serious are you about camping? Are you buying the tent for a one-off festival trip, for multiple festival trips, or regular camping holidays? As long as the tent will stay upright and keep you dry, there’s little point in spending a lot on a tent that you’re going to use once at a festival. However, if you want the tent to last a few trips and more testing conditions then it’s worth spending a little more for a higher specification and greater practicality. Consider how easy it is to erect and pack away, how much time you’re likely to spend in the tent and that you have enough room to store your kit as well as sleep.
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• How many people will be sleeping in the tent and how much kit will you all have with you? Tents are labelled two man tents, three man tents, four man tents etc. This is the maximum number of people the tent can physically accommodate but does not allow for any festival kit. Some people choose a larger tent to provide some storage room. A tent with a separate flysheet and porch will allow a little external storage, especially useful for mud-soaked kit and festival wellies.
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• What kind of weather are you likely to experience? Tricky to predict the weather, however you won’t want to get wet so check for a good waterproof rating and taped seams. Condensation can sometimes be a problem in a single skin tent. Spending a few extra pounds on a tent with a double skin or flysheet will reduce the likelihood of this being a problem. Generally, the lower the tent sits to the ground the less vulnerable it is in windy conditions.
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• How are you going to carry the tent? Depending how far you have to carry the tent, some tents will be easier to transport than others. Quick Pitch tents fold into a flat disc and pack away in their own bag. This makes them simpler to carry short distances but not easy to fit into a rucksack or holdall. Other styles fold down into smaller bags and will fit into back packs and cargo bags. Also, keep an eye on the weight, especially if you intend to carry the tent some distance.

Each tent in the Active Camping range is shown with a specification panel that will help you make comparisons and choose the right model for your festival needs.

Top Tip: Once you’ve purchased, practise putting the tent up in the back garden before your trip: better to scratch a clear head at home than a beer-addled head in a festival field.

It’s important to be clear about what you really need from a sleeping bag and will depend on the festival or festivals you’re planning to attend. Of course you want to be comfy and warm, but there are other factors to consider.

• How serious are you about camping? As with your tent, it’s not worth spending a fortune on a sleeping bag if you’re only likely to use it once. It’s likely the most basic of sleeping bags will do the job for a one-off trip to a summer festival. If, however, you plan to attend several festivals or regular camping breaks, there are other considerations.
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• What’s the lowest temperature you’re likely to encounter? Sleeping bags quote temperature ratings based on a formal European rating scheme. Consider the festivals you’re likely to attend and select accordingly. Temperatures normally drop overnight and if you’ve had a particularly exhausting day you may feel the cold a little more. If you’re buying a bag for repeated use then it may be better to go for a sleeping bag capable of coping with a slightly lower temperature than you expect to experience – you can always sleep with the bag unzipped.
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• How are you likely to be carrying the sleeping bag and over what distance? Some sleeping bags pack down smaller and lighter than others. This is important if you need to carry it a long distance, and vital if you want to be able to squeeze the bag into an already stuffed rucksack. Before you buy, check the packed size and weight of the bag.
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• What shape of sleeping bag should you buy? A mummy shaped sleeping bag allows the least amount of air space around your body, therefore there's less air to heat up and consequently they tend to be the warmest sleeping bags. A rectangular bag allows much more freedom of movement and this can be more comfortable on a warm night. There is a new shaped sleeping bag available the ‘sleeping pod’ which combines elements of the two. Perhaps the only other consideration is that, should you wish to create a double sleeping bag by zipping two bags together, this is best done with two rectangular bags.
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Each sleeping bag in the Active Camping range is shown with a specification panel that will help you make comparisons and choose the right model for your festival needs.

Top Tip: A sleeping bag is less effective if you don’t have good insulation between the bag and the ground. Make sure you buy a suitable sleep mat for comfort and protection.

A sleep mat provides insulation between you and the ground and will stop the dampness getting into your sleeping bag. It should also stop sharp stones or lumps in the ground interrupting a good night’s sleep. It's understandable that you’ll want to be as comfy as possible and will choose the thickest, spongiest and biggest sleeping mat you can find. But, as with your tent and your sleeping bag, there are other factors to consider.

• How serious are you about camping? Like all your other equipment, if it's for a one-off festival trip then don't spend a fortune. A classic, basic sleep mat is ideal for a bit of support and won’t break the bank. If you plan to use the sleep mat frequently and are likely to be pitching your tent on rough or stony ground it'd be worth investing in a thicker or self-inflating mat for better protection and comfort.
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• How good is your back? Foam mats can be hard, self-inflating mats are softer and inflatable mattresses are softer still. If you suffer with a bad back or are prone to a stiff back after a night on a hard bed then it is advisable to think carefully and go for the thickest, most practical air-filled option for better support.
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• How are you likely to be carrying the sleep mat and over what distance? Foam mats roll up, are lightweight and can be strapped on to the outside of a rucksack. Self-inflating mattresses fold up into a stuff sac and will go in a rucksack or cargo bag. Inflatable mattresses are the heaviest and bulkiest option. Consider how, how far and who is going to carry all the kit.