The last few years have been busy ones for camping. With international travel restrictions putting overseas holidays out of reach, many of us began to look at holidaying closer to home and that inevitably lead to a huge rise in staycations and camping in 2020 and beyond.
If you’re one of those who entered the world of camping for the first time recently, then you may find that you’ve outgrown the equipment you originally chose. In this article we’re going to look at the ways you can upgrade your initial choices to help you get the most out of your 2022 camping adventures.
Standard tent > Inflatable tent
When you bought your first tent, the chances are that you probably chose either a standard poled design or a pop-up one. And it’s not hard to see why; these types of tents provide all the basics you need and are a great way of entering the world of camping without breaking the bank.
But a couple of years on and it might be time to consider an upgrade. That’s where inflatable tents come in.
The main benefit of inflatable tents (or ‘air tents’, as they’re also known) is that they’re really easy to pitch in comparison to their standard cousins. The poles are inflatable and integrated into the body of the tent itself, and it only takes a couple of minutes to pump up each one, which means less time spent pitching and more time spent doing the things you love.
For more info about inflatable tents, check out our recent blog on the topic.
2-Person Tent > 4-Person Tent
If you’re someone who loves to have plenty of inside space when you’re camping, then it could be worth upgrading to a bigger berth than you strictly need.
Tents that can accommodate a larger number of people will often come with separate living areas too, giving you even more useful space to enjoy. You can sometimes even configure that space to meet your specific requirements, dividing the rooms as you see fit.
Other tents include canopies, which mean you can make use of some outside space too – perfect in the typical British weather!
Coolbox > Compressor coolbox
If you’ve never heard of a compressor coolbox before then don’t worry – they’re pretty new to the market. But what they offer in terms of features and functionality means we’d definitely put them on our list of upgrades.
Compressor coolboxes can operate as either a fridge or a freezer (with some models offering two compartments so that you can use both at the same time), which means you can take frozen food and drink on your camping trips for the first time.
They allow you to set the temperature as required and actively cool down your food. They’re also much quieter to run than a standard electric coolbox and more economical, with the units automatically switching off when they’ve reached the desired temperature.
Roll mat > Self-inflating mattress
Camping roll mats or sleeping mats provide an adequate surface for you to sleep on while you’re camping, but even the best can only supply so much comfort. Why not treat yourself to a self-inflating mattress instead on your next camping trip?
Inflatable mattresses, or air beds, elevate you off the cold ground and provide a cushion of air for you to sleep on. They’re available in both single and double sizes, and you can team them with a sleeping bag or a sheet, pillow and duvet for extra comfort.
The self-inflating versions will even do the job of pumping up the mattress for you, which means all you need to worry about is relaxing and enjoying a great night’s sleep.
No table > Table
Eating on your laps is a natural part of camping and so you might have assumed that there was no need to pick up a camping table. But a camping table is more about giving you somewhere to rest all of your food, portable stove and cookware than it is about giving you somewhere to eat.
That’s why adding a table to your camping equipment is something we really recommend. You’ll be surprised how much it comes in handy and the foldable nature of most models means that they don’t take up much storage or transporting space. Tuck one into the corner of your boot and we’re sure you won’t regret it.
Basic camping chairs > Padded camping chairs
Continuing both our comfort and furniture themes brings us to camping chairs. Basic camping chairs are portable, relatively inexpensive and give you somewhere to sit that’s not on the cold (potentially wet) ground. However, they’ve got limited features and might not be the most comfortable of places to spend a long period of time.
A padded chair, on the other hand, provides added support and handy features like cup holders that give you somewhere to store items. So relax in style and comfort on your camping trips this year by swapping out some standard camping chairs for padded ones instead.
Umbrella > Gazebo
We all know what British weather is famous for, so odds are you’ll have umbrellas firmly on your list of items to bring on camping trips. But how about upgrading that and creating some more outdoor space for yourself at the same time?
A gazebo ticks the box in a lot of ways. They come in various shapes and sizes, with most offering significant protection from both sun and rain. Some include side panels for added convenience and include guy ropes and pegs to help with pitching.
Versatile and compact when they’re not in use, gazebos are a simple way to give yourself more space and stay dry in the worst (or brightest) weather.
There are lots of other ways that you can upgrade your camping supplies ready for this year’s camping season. Head on over to Halfords.com to browse our full camping range.
