Camping in comfort - Editor's top picks
As most experienced campers know, camping does not have to mean a lack of our home comforts. You can still pack a favourite comfy chair, a family dining table, some romantic lighting and heating to take off the late night chill. Our Editor, Iain Duff, has some affordable top picks for you to really make your camping experiences that little bit more comfy.
Camping chairs that don't cost the earth
(Photo courtesy of Vango)
Vango Osiris chair
JUST ADDEDWe recommend because...
The Earth Collection of eco-friendly tents and camping equipment from Vango continues to impress me.
Part of the range is the Osiris chair, which features EcoStem fabric, made from 100% recycled single-use plastics. Even the carry bag is made from 100% recycled fabric.
One question I am always asked about recycled material is whether it’s as reliable and comfortable as ‘normal’ material. Clearly, if it wasn’t it would be difficult to persuade people to buy it, so I’m pleased to say there are no complaints with this at all.
The embossed fabric is soft to touch and feels just as strong as any other camping chair I’ve encountered. The seat and backrest are both padded for extra comfort and the steel frame is pretty sturdy – the chair has a load capacity of 120kg (18st 12lbs).
Expect to pay...
About £35
For lightweight camping adventures
(Photo courtesy of Helinox)
Helinox Chair One
JUST ADDEDWe recommend because...
When you’re backpacking, the number one priority is to keep the weight of your kit down as much as possible, without completely disregarding comfort and usefulness.
The Chair One from Helinox fits the bill perfectly. It’s a modern-day classic, packing away to fit snugly into your backpack, before springing up in seconds to provide a comfortable place to park yourself after a tiring day on the trail.
The maximum load is an impressive 145kg (23st), which is considerably more than some of the apparently sturdier chairs I’ve looked at over the years.
A good deal of the reason for that strength is the fact that the Chair One’s frame is made from ultra-lightweight DAC aluminium alloy poles. The material was developed for high-level adventure tents that need to survive in extreme conditions, and Helinox is the only furniture brand to use it.
The polyester fabric is strong but soft to the touch, and the back and side mesh panels improve breathability and reduce the overall weight.
The compact size means it’s perfect for anyone with limited boot space and I’d be happy to take it to festivals or days at the beach.
Expect to pay...
About £100
A shelter perfect for the beach
(Photo courtesy of Easy Camp)
Easy Camp Oceanic shelter
JUST ADDEDWe recommend because...
Are you beach ready? Sorry for the personal question, but if you’re not, you’ll need to get a move on.
Summer’s only a few weeks away (I believe it’s scheduled for 28 July this year) so there’s no time to lose. A little pop-up shelter like this is a beach essential – it provides you with a base where you can leave your trainers and picnic basket while you go for a dip in the sea.
The open-fronted design has an integral groundsheet and the polyester fabric gives you protection on three sides from sun, wind and even rain – perfect for the British summer.
Not only is the Oceanic ideal for use on the beach, it’s perfect as a sun shelter on the campsite, in the garden or at a festival.
Expect to pay...
About £47
Award-winning camping chair
Coleman Maximus camping chair
We recommend because...
Sturdy and packed with features, this is no ordinary camping chair. The steel frame and 1,200 denier polyester fabric make it ultra-strong, with a weight capacity of 135kg (21st). Features include a cup holder in one armrest and a large, zippered pocket in the other.
It also has a removable organiser with a handy mesh pocket, which clips to the armrest. The plastic feet prevent the chair from sinking into soft ground.
The Maximus folds flat and can be stored and transported in its own carry bag. A lot of chair for the money.
Expect to pay...
About £70
Highly-commended inflatable furniture
Outdoor Revolution Campese Thermo furniture
We recommend because...
Following on from the bestselling Campese inflatable camping furniture, the new super-soft Campese Thermo range includes an inflatable two-seat sofa, armchair and foot stool.
It features Thermofoam lined luxury fabric in blue/grey with side pockets and stylish stitched quilted panels on the seat, the arms and the chair backs.
Expect to pay...
About £100 to £150
Highly-commended dog bed
Helinox Elevated Dog Cot
We recommend because...
If you’re a pet lover, one of the best things about camping is that doggo can come, too.
And this luxury camping bed, specifically designed for dogs, means your four-legged friend can enjoy the same levels of comfort as everyone else.
Expect to pay...
About £170
A comfortable chair
Outdoor Revolution Tub Chair
We recommend because...
Sit back and relax on the campsite in the Outdoor Revolution Tub Chair – a compact folding seat with comfortable padded surround sides and supportive backrest.
The padded fabric and sturdy steel frame provide exceptional comfort and support whilst the oversize wide base feet help to prevent the chair from sinking into soft ground and damaging groundsheets. Available for around £35, it comes in a choice of three stylish colour variations: grey, green and blue.
Expect to pay...
About £35
A practical table
Outwell Calgary L Table
We recommend because...
Dining is an essential part of family camping and a good-quality camping table – reasonably sized and the correct height – like this, makes the whole experience far more enjoyable.
The Calgary features an attractive bamboo tabletop with an aluminium frame. It is relatively lightweight and comes in a decent-sized pack size with practical handles for easy transportation.
Expect to pay...
About £120
A useful low table
Outwell Nain Low Table
We recommend because...
We love this little table because it is so practical and multipurpose. It can be used all around the tent in a variety of roles; as a bedside table in the bedroom, a side table in the lounge or for your cooker in the kitchen or outdoors. It’s such a useful piece of kit that it goes with us on almost every type of camping trip, from long family holidays to short weekends away.
Whatever you use it for, you’ll find it’s easy to carry and set up and put away – it folds open and closed in seconds, with no assembly needed.
Expect to pay...
About £22
A camping heater
Outdoor Revolution Portable Gas Camping Heater
We recommend because...
Not everyone is up for camping trips in the winter, but even in autumn and spring, a heater can make life under canvas far more comfortable. Outdoor Revolution’s Portable Gas Heater is compact, and easy to use, with an impressive 1,200W power output. If you’re concerned about using a gas heater in a tent, Outdoor Revolution has included several safety features to reassure you.
It includes a tilt switch that will automatically shut off the gas flow if the unit is accidentally knocked over and an Oxygen Depletion Sensor (ODS) that cleverly shuts down the heater if the oxygen level gets too low.
Expect to pay...
About £40
A useful lamp
Coleman Twist 300 Lantern
We recommend because...
There’s nothing more frustrating than flicking on your camping light and nothing happens. A flat battery can be a real letdown, which is why we think the Coleman Twist 300 is so good.
Not only is it a powerful lantern in its own right, but it features BatteryLock technology, which means the rechargeable batteries can be completely disconnected from the device, helping to reduce both residual battery loss and potential corrosion or damage to your appliance. It also has a rugged construction, including rubber reinforcements and a shatterproof lens that lets it cope with more extreme wear and tear.
Expect to pay...
About £35
A handy windbreak
Outdoor Revolution Pronto Compact 3 Section Windbreak
We recommend because...
As well as providing protection from the wind, a windbreak can also give you more privacy around your tent and help mark out your ‘territory’ on the campsite.
This is the compact version of Outdoor Revolution’s best-selling Pronto windbreak, and it simply pops up in a matter of seconds.
Expect to pay...
About £110
The camping shop
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If you do buy any of our recommended products, then we do get a small thank-you commission in return from Amazon as we are an Amazon Associate. We may also get a small commission from other retailers listed here. This does not affect your price at all but your support makes a big difference to us, so thank you for helping, because every little helps.
How we choose our recommendations
Nearly every product we recommend has been tried and tested, reviewed, handled and experienced by our very own Camping magazine Editor, Iain Duff. You can take our recommendations and be sure you are getting a quality piece of kit, that also represents superb value for money. We only recommend products we believe in, to help you choose the best value-for-money camping products that do their jobs really, really well.
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