Going camping is a really popular pastime and whether you want to rent a cottage and hike all day or relax and camp in a tent under the stars youll have options. You have to come prepared though or it can be exceedingly difficult to camp and really enjoy yourself.

The first thing you need to pay attention to is your tent. If you arent sure which one to get go to a camping store do some online research and/or consult with people who camp regularly to get some advice on a tent that will meet your needs. How many people youre taking with you on the trip and how many of them will be sharing a tent are important things to know at that point. Dont let someone talk you into the most expensive tent thats out there though because you probably dont need that. There are less expensive offerings that will work just as well – but dont buy the cheapest thing either. You want your tent to keep you safe and dry. While youre getting a tent youll probably want to get a sleeping bag. Make sure its comfortable big enough and warm enough especially if youll be doing any camping when the weather is cool.

Some people also buy a small grill or cookstove so they can cook their food without needing to build a big fire and guess when the food might be cooked. You dont want to accidentally poison yourself during your camping weekend. After youve dealt with these particular issues its vital that you spend some time selecting the right clothing for the trip. You should have boots that are weather resistant and that repel water so your feet wont get soaked. You also want clothing thats lightweight but warm and youll want to have some extra socks and other clothing in whatever backpack you buy so that youll always be able to change your clothing if it gets wet. A sudden rainstorm can leave you wet and cold and miserable even on an otherwise warm day and it takes a while to dry out. Get a backpack thats lightweight but big so you can carry everything that you need. Food and water (as well as a filter or water purifying tablets) are essential and you might also want a deck of cards a good book or something similar for those times when it might be rainy and youre stuck in your tent.

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Going camping is a really popular pastime and whether you want to rent a cottage and hike all day or relax and camp in a tent under the stars youll have options

This article was written on behalf of the National Camping and Caravanning Week 09 where we celebrate all things camping with a special camping weekend and camping activities .