10 Wildcamping Essentials (+ VIDEO)
Spring has to be my favourite time of year to go wildcamping. When the air becomes warmer, you can sit outside your tent in the warm evening sun, and you are awoken to the sound of birdsong in the morning. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic all over the world, we’re not able to go wild camping in Spring. But, it doesn’t mean we can’t dream about it, and start prepping our gear so it’s ready and waiting for when all of this is just a distant memory. So I thought I’d tell you about my 10 wild camping essentials so you too can start planning your future camping trips.
Tent — MSR Hubba Hubba
The best place to start is probably with the tent! I have used a 2-man MSR Hubba Hubba HP for the last 5 years… I chose this tent before heading on a bike-touring trip for a few reasons:
It’s fairly lightweight, at 1.7kg.
It’s spacious for 2 people, and something I really like is that you can both sit up inside the tent and you each have your own porch which is handy for cooking in the winter or storing gear you don’t want inside.
It’s easy to pitch with just 1 pole, an inner and flysheet. I also bought a separate groundsheet.
And finally, it packs down fairly small, with the poles separate. I opted to purchase a Sea to Summit compressions sack separate to pack the tent down smaller than the original pack it came in.
This model of tent has actually been discontinued, but MSR also do the Hubba Hubba NX which is really similar, and I would definitely advise looking for all of these qualities in a tent for wildcamping.
The sleeping bad I use is the Neoair Xlite from Thermarest. It is so comfortable and makes such a difference to how well I sleep when camping. The Thermarest is also designed to trap heat so you stay nice and toasty in your tent, and it packs super small and usually sits right at the bottom of my pack with my tent. It’s quick to blow up and pack down as well.
The sleeping bag I use in spring and summer is the Phantasia 32 by Mountain Hardware. I got this sleeping bag from REI when travelling in America as I wanted something lightweight. At only 595g, it definitely ticks that box as well as having a comfort rating of 0 degrees celsius.
The Phantasia has a tapered mummy shape designed for women which I find comfortable and spacious. As this sleeping bag is around 5 years old now, it has actually been discontinued but I would advise looking for a spring/summer sleeping bag with a similar spec, such as the Rab Neutrino 200.
It’s important to have reliable light when wildcamping. I use the Petzl Actik head torch which only costs about £20 and is ideal for hiking, climbing, mountaineering and camping as it has a few different settings, such as the red light and flashing light. It’s also compatible with the Petzl rechargeable battery which is a more eco-friendly option to disposable batteries.
I also use a Black Diamond Moji light which is great for both the van and camping as you can hang it to the top of the tent and it gives off a really nice light.
I’m not going to talk in depth about clothing in this blogpost, but I think a warm, down jacket is an essential for wild camping all year round! I have the Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody which is an 800-fill ethically sourced down jacket with a recycled face fabric, so it is a great eco-friendly option that is super warm and packs down really small into it’s inside pocket. It also makes a great pillow at night!
I always carry thermals in my wild camping bag all year round, so I can change into them when I get to camp and for sleeping in. The Patagonia Capilene Air thermals are are made from 50% merino wool and 50% polyester, meaning they are both warm, light and they feel cosy against the skin for sleeping.
When you get to camp and pitch your tent, the first thing you’re going to want to do is brew up a nice cup of tea. The MSR Pocket Rocket is my go-to camping stove simply because of how small and light it is.
The Pocket Rocket can boil a litre of water in 3.5 minutes which is just about the time it takes to pitch your tent! So you can set your water up to boil, pitch your tent and voila - enjoy beautiful views with a brew.
Crockery — Sea to Summit Alpha Pot, Snow Peak Titanium Mug, Alpkit Spork & Opinel Knife
I recently upgraded my cooking pan to a Sea to Summit Alpha Pot. I’d advise opting for titanium with your cooking gear as it’s super light and durable. I also like the way the handle swivels round to lock the pan in place, and I can store things inside. I haven’t used it extensively yet, but I’ve found it gives an even heat and is relatively non-stick.
I also have this Snow Peak Titanium mug which is fairly pricey but I honestly think the quality of Snow Peak gear is amazing. Likewise, I have a titanium spork by Alpkit that also folds down, and Opinel knives are a great option for camping astray fold down and are really sharp.
Water System — Osprey 2.5L Hydraulics & Hydroflask Trail Series
How you’re going to get water is something you really have to consider when going wildcamping. You may be camping somewhere near a water source, in which case having a water filter or tablets is worthwhile. I usually carry in 2-3 litres of water with me for a wild camp using the Osprey 2.5L Hydraulics which I tuck into the front of my backpack. I’ve also recently started using the new Hydroflask Trail Series water bottles which are designed to be much more lightweight than the traditional Hydroflask and keep your water either piping hot or nice and chilled on long days out in the hills.
Backpack — Lowe Alpine Altus 40:45L pack
Finally, you’re going to need a backpack to put all that in! For an overnight wildcamp, I find a 40-45l pack an ideal size. I use the Altus pack from Lowe Alpine which I like as it has a really comfy back, designed for women, and lots of pockets so I can keep everything separate and organised. I usually keep my tent and sleeping bag in the bottom, and snacks I want easily accessible at the top. I also keep my water bladder on the outside as I don’t trust keeping it inside and my favourite snacks in these outside pockets. All in all, it’s a great pack and I also really like the colour.
Ok, those are my wild camping essentials! So of course that’s not everything I pack, there are always some added extras like food, first aid kit, spare clothes etc. but I hope this blogpost and video has given you some ideas of what you might need when planning a wild camp. Happy camping!
Athena x