flickr © camping gear is so much fun to look at!

source: flickr © camping gear is so much fun to look at!

This week I’m considering camping on the high street. No, I’m not talking about rocking up with a backpack and unfurling a sleeping bag in the middle of a busy shopping street. Nor am I talking about joining the poor unfortunates who call the city streets their home. No, I’m talking about the camping stores which act as beacons to all the outdoor enthusiasts who live in or visit the towns and cities.

Whenever I travel up to Bristol or London, I love to go to these outdoor shops and browse through all the latest camping gear. Tents, backpacks, sleeping bags… even though I already have several of these items I can’t wait to see the latest models on the market. I like to pick up and handle them, and assess the technical improvements on last season’s models. Sometimes I’m disappointed. But more often than not I’m excited about all the latest developments and inventions.

Some people may consider this nerdish behaviour. When you think about it, it’s a pretty odd pastime to rifle through backpacks and sleeping bags with no intention of actually buying any. But those with a passion for camping will understand the attraction of new camping gear.

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