| Product | Your leaders' recommendation | Product | Your leaders' recommendation |
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Perfect for those B-events! Remarkably cheap, goes up in seconds. This tent isn't going to be your friend on a Duke of Edinburgh hike - it's only one layer, and won't exactly fit in a rucsac - but for a casual overnighter this gets our vote. |
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Now going up a level - a bigger tent, double-skin (inner tent and a flysheet) - and still seemingly easy to pitch, and still a bargain price! Get this if you want a bit more comfort and better waterproofing than the Gelert Quick Pitch 2 man tent, and are prepared to sacrifice a couple of minutes of pitching time. This is the minimum level you'll want for your D of E. |
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Now heading towards some really quite nice tentage... this should survive some pretty knarly conditions.
It's got a decent sized porch / "living area" too - so you'll be camping in some degree of luxiry with this one! And still less than £50 - bargain. |
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Feeling hardcore? Want to trim the weight that DofE backpack down to the last gram? This tent weighs only 980 grams - that's insanely light!
Don't expect any comfort of course - this isn't the most spacious of tents - and I'd rather not trust it in a monsoon on Everest 'cos it's only single-skin. But for the price, it's a really rather nifty bit of kit that'll make you stand out as a rather cool camper, whilst allowing you to complete your DofE hike in record time... |
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This table is even nicer than the one before, good price aswell. Folds down into a suitcase, perfect for looking posh on a campsite. |
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Perfect for DofE hikes or just for those of you who want a meal on a light hike. |
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This is a straightforward rectangular sleeping bag.
Normally we'd really heavily recommend going for a "mummy" style sleeping bag with a hood... which this is not.
HOWEVER - one technique for keeping really toasty in the middle of winter is to put your decent mummy bag INSIDE a straightforward rectangular bag like this one, giving you double the insulation. I guarantee you'll be warm then! |
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Can't really say fairer than this - a nice warm "mummy" sleeping bag with a hood for less than a tenner! Absolutely ideal for summer camps - not sure if I'd trust it to keep me warm in the depths of winter, however. But it's a tenner!! |
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This one will keep you a fair bit warmer - it's rated to prevent hypothermia down to -13 degrees centigrade. Note that "preventing hypothermia" is quite different from "keeping you really comfortably warm"... but at least you'll survive!
Best for spring and autumn use... so really quite ideal for D of E hikes. There's no need to go more expensive than this unless you're looking to camp in the snow... |
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Winter camper? You'll be after one of these. This design includes a neck baffle and cowl hood to keep you extra toasty when there's snow outside! |
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Probably one of the better keyring torches around - 8 bright LEDs for maximum shine, and eating normal AA batteries giving low running costs.
Pop it on your keyring or belt and never be stuck in the dark again! All for under a fiver. Bargain. |
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Moving up in size... a good all-round torch. Still uses LEDs for maximum battery life... |
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A cracking value head-torch - hands free illumination! LEDs for maximum battery life, and a sensible size of battery (AAA) to minimise running costs. A winner at less than a tenner! |
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Petzl are the best manufacturer of head-torches; this is pricey but you know you'll be getting the best around! |
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A remote control lantern - the ultimate in convenience; you won't even need to leave your sleeping bag to kill the light! Uses a fluoresent tube, so battery life will be good. |
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Never worry about batteries again - one minute of winding gives up to 20 minutes of light! |
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A reliable set of walkie talkies. Can be adapted for motorbikes (open and closed helmets) with accessories. Great range and long talk time. |
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This rucksac ticks all the right boxes - around 60 litres capacity, decent hip belt for comfort, a sternum strap to keep the shoulder straps from sliding off to the sides, adjustable back size to make sure it fits you perfectly.
Take all that and add a £35 price tag - perfect for camping and DofE hikes alike! |
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A slightly more up-market bag to give an alternative option... is it any better than the Lichfield? Hmmm... |
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If you've got the extra cash, this rucksac (from the well-known manufacturer Berghaus) is worth a punt. You'd expect a higher level of comfort from this; plus some nifty added features like a rain cover and capacity for a hydration pouch (Camelbak or similar). |
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We'd really recommend going into a hiking / camping shop and trying boots on for real, rather than buying online... but if you're really that lazy, this looks like a good punt.
Great price tag, decent manufacturer, good reviews, good returns policy... what's not to like? |
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... and the ladies' equivalent!
We'd really recommend going into a hiking / camping shop and trying boots on for real, rather than buying online... but if you're really that lazy, this looks like a good punt.
Great price tag, decent manufacturer, good reviews, good returns policy... what's not to like? |
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Often the most overlooked piece of kit, it's essential that you wear decent socks to prevent blisters! |
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... and the ladies' equivalent.
Often the most overlooked piece of kit, it's essential that you wear decent socks to prevent blisters! |
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Some people swear by walking poles, others think they're daft. All we know is they're useful for poking people... |
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No need to stop walking to take a swig... constant hydration from this 2 litre pouch! |
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Nothing worse than getting attacked on the way up a mountain - scare off all vicious wild animals (and pesky mosquitos!) with this mosquito repellent. |
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We like knifes, forks and spoons... they allow us to eat our food.
We also like carabiners, because they're cool and remind us of hanging upside down from cliff faces...
... and here's the chance to own both at once! |
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Double airbed... for when sheer luxury is called for (and you have your own tent!) |
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The way to camp in style... be the envy of everyone sleeping on the floor! |
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Can't be bothered with inflating an air bed when all you really want to do is crash out? Then you'll need a good ol' fashioned roll mat... and they don't come much better than this one. |
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A table to hold the cards and beer? |
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Not a morning person? Then you'll need to take a steaming hot mug of the finest coffee with you when you attack your first activity. And what better way to do that than with this outstanding value travel mug? 0.4l of coffee that's as hot as the moment it came out of the kettle... morning bliss! |
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This isn't going to cook a gourmet meal for 20, but that's not the point of it. If you want a quick brew for a small team, then this is a cheap, easy-to-use, convenient gas stove that will knock up a cuppa in minutes. Hurrah! |
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A 4-pint kettle to go with the gas-powered stove above... |
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The usual brilliance of Trangia cooking with the bonus of a kettle. |
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Chilly? Have power? You now have 1.2KW of heat from this nifty heater!
All the benefits of a patio heater without the need for gas bottles and the nagging doubt you're killing (as many) polar bears. |
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