My Camping Kit

Whenever I read peoples blogs and watch youtube, I’m always interested in seeing what camping kit other people are using as they embark on their adventures.

With that in mind, I thought I’d add a new page to my blog which details the kit that I currently use. So without further ado, let’s get into it:

Shelter:

Tent: MSR Elixir 2

Tarps: DD Tarp M (3.5x2.5m), DD Superlight 3mx3m, Terra Nova Adventure Tarp 1 (2.1mx1.5m)

Hammock: Woodsman Hammock by UKHammocks.co.uk

Bivvy Bag: British Army Issue Goretex Bivvy Bag and Miltec 3 layer bivvy bag

Cordage + pegs (when using the tarps).

It’s nice to have some shelter options, if I’m in the woods then I’ll generally take the tarp and either my bivvy bag or hammock. I prefer to use the tent when out in the open, especially if I know the weather is going to be a bit dodgy.

Sleeping Bag:

British Army Issue Arctic Sleeping Bag (Comfort rating: -20ishºC)

Alpkit Mountain Ghost 300 (Comfort rating: -5ºC)

Snugpak Travelpak 1 (Comfort rating: 10ºC)

Generally speaking I’ll use Alpkit bag throughout the Autumn/Winter. Being in the southeast of England means that I rarely experience temperatures lower than -5ºC. The Snugpak comes out to play late Spring through to early Autumn. I like using this sleeping bag because it packs down really small and saves a lot of space in my rucksack.

The Arctic bag doesn’t get used so often because it takes up most of my rucksack. That aside, it’s super warm and comfortable so I’ll generally use that if I know it’s going to be baltic and/or I’m camped close to my car.

Sometimes I’ll give these sleeping bags a bit of a boost by bringing along my cheap down jacket and British army issue softy trousers.

Sleeping Mat/Underblanket:

Exped Downmat Lite

Multimat Summit Expedition 38

Thermarest Ridgerest So-Lite

DD Underblanket

My wife bought me the Exped a couple of years ago and it’s been amazing. I used to hate sleeping on the ground, but this mat has changed my mind. I can sleep comfortably on my side without feeling the ground. It’s warm, well made, packs down really small and takes up very little space in my rucksack. What’s not to like about it! Sometimes I’ll bring the Thermarest foam mat if I want a bit more comfort or am worried about piecing the Exped.

The underblanket comes along when I’m hammocking and is much much better than using a mat inside the hammock as you always end up sliding off the mat.

Cook Kit - Stoves:

Trangia Mini Cookset

Trangia Triangle

Trangia Burner

Esbit pocket stove + homemade meths burner

Honey Stove (and Hive expansion kit)

Bushbox LF by Bushcraft Essentials

I prefer to use methylated spirit stoves because they are simple to operate, reliable and I really like the fact that they’re quiet when in use. The gas stoves, might be more efficient but I hate how they always sound like a rocket is blasting off and can spoil the ambience.

The honey stove and bushbox are great little wood burning stoves which also work well with the trangia burner. I particularly like using these if I’m out on my own and don’t want to have a big fire.

Cook Kit – Pots and Pans:

Pathfinder Cup/lid + hanger

1ltr Tatonka billy can

Stanley Frying Pan

Stanley Adventure Cookset

BCB Mk1 Crusader Cup 

Petromax FT1 Dutch oven

Small cast iron frying pan

I think I have an unhealthy obsession with camping cookware as I’m always acquiring pots, pans and stoves. There’s a lot of stainless steel cookware in that list and it’s generally because I do a lot of cooking over a fire. Stainless steel is robust enough to withstand the heat and always cleans up nicely.

My most frequently used item from that list is the pathfinder cup as it nests nicely with my Nalgene water bottle and cooks most things that I like to do when I’m on my own. If I want to cook something more elaborate then I’ll bring along the Tatonka billy can and/or one of my frying pans.

Cook Kit – Sundry items:

Kupilka Cup

Homemade spoon

Homemade spatula

Bandana

Swedish Army spirit bottle

The bandana is a really useful item to have around camp, I use it all the time when cleaning up pots or lifting hot pots and pans off the stove/fire.

Tools:

Victorinox Hiker Multitool

TBS Boar Pocket Knife

Casstrom Woodsman Knife

Mora 106 Carving knife

Casstrom Spoon knife

Wetterlings Outdoor Axe

Gransfors Bruks Small Hatchet

Bahco Laplander Saw

Wilkinson Sword Saw

The tools will always vary depending on what sort of camping trip I’m planning. If I’m in the woods and planning on having a fire then I’ll take the saw, axe and fixed blade knife so that I can prep the firewood. However, if I’m on a hiking trip then I’ll only take the victorinox or folding knife as I won’t generally have a fire.

Miscellaneous Items:

First Aid Kit

Hygiene Kit (Tissue paper, hand sanitiser)

Hazel Walking Stick, also used as a tarp pole and monopod

Petzl Tikkina Headtorch

LED Lenser Torch

UCO Candle Lantern

Multimat Sit Mat

Ground mat and pouches (made by David Friars - link to his etsy store here)

Hammock Chair by UKhammocks.co.uk

Spare batteries

Powerbank for phone/camera

Brew kit

Fire lighting kit

Spare cordage

Swedish army leather gloves

Stanley hip flask with a nice single malt whiskey!!

I’ll try and store most of these little bits and bobs in a pouch so that they don’t get lost in my pack. Obviously I won’t take all of these items on every trip. The hammock chair is only useful if I’m in the woods and the candle lantern is often a bit of a luxury item.

Rucksack:

Karrimor SF Sabre 45 + side pouches

David Friars Haversack

Berghaus Trailhead 65

British Army Northern Ireland Patrol Pack (38ltr)

The Berghaus pack see’s most use in the colder months when I need to take more gear. The NI Patrol pack will then come out to play in the warmer months and when I’m on day trips. There are certainly lots of better packs out there but I find these serve their purpose very well indeed and I love the way the pockets are laid out on the patrol pack. I’ve recently started to adorn my patrol pack with various patches that I’ve collected over the years, I think it gives it a personal touch.

Clothes:

Scarpa Terra GTX walking boots

Wool socks

Thin t-shirt base-layer

Long-sleeve shirt

Fjallraven Vidda Pro Trousers

Army Surplus polycotton smock

Snickers Wool jumper

Montane Extreme Smock

British Army Goretex Jacket

Wool hat

Aldi merino wool Long Johns

Fingerless gloves

Buff