Is there no end to the different types of gear and gizmos you can take camping nowadays? Just a quick search for tent equipment on Google returns a list of thousand of websites full of different items designed to make camping more comfortable and enjoyable.

There are the standard and essential: sleeping bags, camping stoves, roll mats, lanterns, torches etc. Then there are the unimportant but useful: camping toilets, folding chairs, camping tables, cool boxes etc. Then there are the exotic and downright weird: fold-up wardrobes, dried meals, hammocks, wind-up radios and tent wall art!

There’s one thing for sure – there’s no shortage of things for us campers to spend our hard earned money on. The manufacturers have made sure of this. Camping used to be about getting back to nature. It’s not any more. It’s become as commercialised as just about everything else in the modern world. It’s a shame but at least we’ll never run out of ideas for Christmas presents for our camping friends.

Mick Jagger crooned the following lyrics in the Rolling Stones song Gimme Shelter:
Oh, a storm is threatening
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, Im gonna fade away

The lyrics get even more foreboding in the subsequent verses, so I don’t think he was singing about camping. But if he’s serious about getting some shelter he could do worse than buying a canopy tent…
Still, the Rolling Stones would need a large tent to get all of them in it, plus their entourage of roadies and groupies. In fact, they would need the largest tent that they could find. I propose a yurt. You can find some enormous yurts now which you might even be able to have an intimate concert in. Or maybe a Tipi might be more appropriate. But if they didn’t want to go the whole hog with a Yurt or Tipi, there are some pretty large tents on the market. A family tent may not be suitable but a big expedition style tent might suit their wild, rolling ways.

In the camping world there are few brands as big and well-known as Coleman. Coleman has become a byword for camping reliability and affordability. The company’s quality and quantity of products is awesome, ranging from family camping tents with add on compartments, to lightweight hiking tents, backpacking tents and the versatile dome tent. Coleman tents have funky features like electrical access ports, adjustable ventilation and colour coded pole sleeves for easy set up. Each tent comes with its own Coleman Weathertec™ system which includes weather resistant fabric, protected and leak-proof seams, waterproof floors, zip protection and a wind-strong frame. Amazingly, they have a rain room and a wind tunnel in their factory which can simulate all kinds of weather conditions, like the extremes of a British Summer! Seriously, the tents have very rigorous testing before they are put out on the shelves. Their family camping tents are particularly popular, being spacious with a huge range of tents starting with a basic dome that can sleep five, all the way up to tent ‘cabins’ that have a cooking area, space to sit and read the paper and enough room to sleep six adults. At 100 years of age, this company is still going from strength to strength.

When I think of a camping light I imagine the gas powered lamp that I used to be terrified of lighting thanks to the loud whoomph when the gas caught the flame. It used to take a fair bit of grit not to drop the lantern at that point. Plus there was the fiddly mesh mantle that had a drawstring at the top and bottom which had to be carefully fitted around the burner. After a few burns, they used to crumble at the slightest touch and you’d be back at the beginning again trying to fit the damn mantle again.

The good news is there is now a vast range of camping lanterns to choose from. In these eco-conscious times you can even get wind up lanterns powered by dynamo or solar rechargeable lamps (obviously, you recharge in the day). There are LED camping lanterns, U-tube lanterns, spotlights, gas lanterns (of course), battery powered camping lanterns - the list goes on. So where do you start to look for the camping lantern that will suit you and your needs?

Let’s say, you were heading off on a long camping trip and needed to travel light. Something electric would be the best bet, with a rechargeable option like wind-up or solar powered.

How about heading off with the family? You can take something bigger, heavier and maybe multi-fuel. If you’re not as nervous as me about gas camping lanterns, they burn pretty well and very bright. An ‘area-lantern’ is a good option as it lights up larger spaces; ideal for family camping tents.

After a quick web search, I found out that gas and multi-fuel camping lanterns are still pretty popular, but the rechargeables are storming up from behind as you don’t need to worry about carrying extra batteries or power for them. The infiltration of power-saving light bulbs has also had its effect on the camping lantern market, with a range of products that are battery powered. With the energy saving bulb, the lantern can work for up to eight hours continuously. We really are spoilt for choice now. At the end of the day, it’ll be down to you as an individual to decide what your preference would be.

Camping brands come and go. Some have been with us for decades; others spring up season on season. But who’s who in the world of tents? Which are the most popular tent manufacturers? In the interests of camping knowledge, I take a look at some best known tent manufacturers.

Vango
Vango is 40 years old, although the company behind the brand has been associated with tent making for a century and a half. With the emphasis on comfort, safety and reliability, Vango designers create tents that are built to last. With a series of innovations under its belt, the company still produces quality tents for a variety of uses. Its Force Ten range is built for harsh conditions experienced by mountaineers and winter campers.

Terra Nova

Terra Nova is another great British tent manufacturer famed for tents ‘built for expedition and adventure’. The company aims to extend and improve its range, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in tent design and production. They once famously held the Guinness World Record for the world’s lightest tent – its Lazer Competition which weighed just 890g.

North Face
The North Face is an international brand with an impeccable reputation. As a tent manufacturer, it has produced tents for camping expeditions across the globe. Supported by many extreme athletes, The North Face emphasises quality products for harsh environments.

Coleman
Coleman is at the less technical end of the spectrum of tent manufacturers. Nonetheless it uses quality materials and trusted designs to create great tents for less extreme camping trips – those with family and friends on a campsite as opposed to the side of a mountain.

Gelert
Tent manufacturer Gelert is a relative newcomer on the camping scene. They have emerged with a series of lightweight, simple and easy to pitch tents for the masses. They are aimed at first time campers who want the ease of a pop-up tent, with product lines geared for small families and festival goers.

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.

I love camping shops or outdoor stores. They are ‘Aladdin’s Caves’ of treasures, packed full of everything you could possibly need for a camping adventure. Just walking into a camping shop evokes a sense of wonder and inspires the desire to take a camping trip. The sights, smells, sounds and textures make it a truly sensory experience; a shopping excursion to be relished and enjoyed. Of course, this might just be my own special fetish. But who could fail to be excited by all the goodies on display?

When you come through the door, you are usually greeted by a sales desk beyond which there is a row of waterproof jackets and trousers on one wall. In the centre there will be display stands of fleeces, thermal liners and travel clothing. On the other wall will be rows of neatly stacked waterproof hiking boots. These will include leather and man-made waterproof hiking boots, and styles for men, women and children.

Then you go through to the next section, which has all the camping hardware such as items for the camping kitchen. There’ll be a whole wall of stoves and fuels, pots and pans, cutlery and kit to equip a camping kitchen. In the same area you’ll find rudimentary camping food, like dried meals, energy bars and other packets of easy cook camping food.

One of my favourite areas of the camping shop is the section for sleeping bags. They look so soft, warm and comfortable hung up in a display that it’s a pleasure just to linger among the sleeping bags, reminiscing about camping trips of years gone by.

Then right at the back of the shop, most probably on a raised platform, will be the ‘Holy of Holies’ - a display of small and large tents. It’s always fun to peek inside at the latest designs; crawl into a bivvy bag or one man tent or walk into a large tent or family camping tent.

In the middle of winter, when we don’t get outdoors as often as we’d like to, a visit to the camping shop can temporarily relieve some of the withdrawal symptoms of months away from the real thing. I’d thoroughly recommend it.

I’ve seen some fantastic sights and enjoyed some of the best views on the planet. I’ve been to the foot of Ben Nevis and Snowdon mountains, perched above impressive sea cliffs at Tintagel and Rhossili, and sat amongst the trees in the New Forest and Forest of Dean. I’ve even taken an unplanned dip in the river Thames; but that’s another story.

As a camping chair I’ve given hard earned rest to my owners… I’ve been sat on by dogs, cats, babies and even a clown. I’ve had all kinds of things spilled on me – beer, milk, orange juice, Champagne… petrol! You name it; I’ve been covered in it.

I’ve been all this and at the end of the day, when the sun has set over another camping adventure I’m folded up and put in the back of the car, happy in the knowledge that I’ve been a comfort and uncomplaining companion on the campsite.

The internet has revolutionised shopping. This is certainly true of shopping for camping supplies. Shopping for outdoor gear used to be a bit of a chore, as challenging as some of the outdoor activities themselves. Good camping stores were a bit of a rarity and tended to only exist in popular outdoors areas such as the Lake District and Peak District, or in big towns and cities. Once you’d located a good shop, you then had to refine your search to find your large tent, camping kitchen or whatever outdoor gear you wanted. If they didn’t have what you were looking for, you had to start the search all over again. It was harder than pro level orienteering!

Nowadays it’s easy to search, locate and buy outdoor equipment online. What’s more there are millions of camping enthusiasts out there who can offer reviews and advice on all the latest gear. It’s easier to find the best product for you and to find the best price. It seems ironic that outdoor enthusiasts would spend their time indoors on a computer looking for camping gear to help their enjoyment of the countryside or wilderness. But we couldn’t give it up now. The internet has enhanced the whole process of shopping for camping gear.

Technology is so good these days that you can take your own portable DVD player with you when you go camping. It is indispensable if it’s been raining solidly, or you have small kids who’ve gone to bed early. You can relax on your camping chair or huddle around the camping lantern and enjoy. However, I have come up with a small selection of films you shouldn’t watch when you go camping – especially if you are into wilderness camping!

First up is the cult classic Deliverance with Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds. It’ll give you the horrors for hours if you haven’t already seen it before. It is basically a thriller with a nasty dose of sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat type of suspense. The plot revolves around four friends who go off on a camping and canoeing trip in the middle of nowhere. They encounter some very unfriendly locals and the film descends into murder, gore and moments of sheer dread. It’s guaranteed to leave you traumatised.

The next film really needs no introduction as I think most people would automatically think of The Blair Witch Project. Thankfully, I saw this after a three month camping trip in the wilds of Canada, otherwise I would never have gone. The film is a mockumentary, focussed around three young filmmakers who go into the woods in the Black Hills, Maryland to try and track down the local legend of the Blair Witch. Without ruining the plot, the story revolves around the students’ ‘footage’ discovered in the woods a year later. This film is truly terrifying and will leave your heart thumping even if you hear a twig snap outside your tent.

And finally, no list of films not to watch while camping would be complete without the classic slasher movie, Friday the 13th. Nasty old Jason, (who apparently died at the lake featured in the movie) comes back to haunt campers in a particularly vicious and bloodthirsty way. He was obviously unhinged before he died and comes back on a regular basis to wreak havoc on anyone who has the misfortune to come near his lake. It is gory and nasty, but is a little far-fetched so it should only take a few days to recover after watching it.