Win a Ottowa 4 Tent worth £200

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Did you know, each year over 13 million people around the world go camping, or you could say about one third of the population in each country goes to camping.



We’ve pulled together some top advice and tips to help you plan the perfect camping trip.



1. Create a checklist

Always write out a checklist of all the items you will need to take and ‘tick’ them off as you pack each item. You can then tick everything off when you leave the campsite to make sure you don’t leave anything behind.



2. Have a trial run

It’s worth practicing to pitch your tent. You can do this in the garden or in a local park. It’s great practice for you to get to know how all the equipment works and to check that nothing is missing.

 

3. Clear the area

Before pitching your tent check that the ground is free of stones, sticks etc that could either damage your tent or cause discomfort whilst sleeping. It is always worth clearing the area around your tent  especially if you need to get to the loo during the night!



4. Spares, spares, spares!

Always take spare tent pegs as these are easily lost, bent or broken! A couple of spare guy lines in case of breakages, and some ‘duck-tape’ for quick repairs to your tent are all essential spares. You maybe lucky enough to find a local supplier in case of an emergency however it’s never worth the risk!



5. Don’t get wet

If you are planning on camping near a river, or on the beach, check you’re not going to be caught out by rising water levels and wake up either stranded or underwater! Flat, level ground will become waterlogged so choose to pitch somewhere with a gentle slope to help any rain drain quicker.



6. Protection from the wind

Pitch your tent so any prevailing wind can be deflected by the tents shape and design. If you have a tent with a single entrance then keep the entrance out of the wind to prevent a gust of wind lifting your tent or blowing rain inside.



7. Be tidy and organized

Its easy to become messy, but being tidy helps to avoid hazards and saves you hunting around for something, especially if it’s an emergency.  It’s simple, when you’ve used an item, such as the tin opener, stow it back in the same place.



8. Storing food

Always store food inside your inner tent, to avoid your food being eaten by uninvited guests. Hedgehogs and foxes know that campsites are a hot spot for food, don’t let them target your tent!



9. Keep it handy

Sleep with anything you might need in a hurry close to hand, for example; torch, loo roll or any extra clothing you might want to put on if you wake up feeling cold.



10. Boots off!

By removing boots or shoes when entering the tent prevents you from passing germs and bacteria into the tent. It also helps to avoid these germs coming into contact with your sleeping area.



Here is a list of handy items to take on your camping trip:



Sleeping

• Tent including pegs/stakes, guy ropes

• Groundsheet

• Flysheet

• Mallet

• Sleeping bags/blankets

• Air bed/lilo

• Roll mats/pads to lie on

• Pillows



Cooking Equipment

• Cooker, stove, barbecue kit

• Bottled gas or other form of fire igniting material – wood or charcoal, for example

• Matches/lighter

• Cooling box

• Pans, pots, plates, cutlery, cups, glasses

• Cooking utensils, e.g. large spoon, fork, ladle, tongs

• Tin opener, bottle opener, corkscrew

• Sharp knife for food preparation

• Thermos flask

• Carrier bags and bin bags (you can never have too many!)

• Kitchen foil, kitchen tissue, napkins

• Washing up bowl and liquid

• Dishcloths and tea towels

• Food and drink supplies

Personal Hygiene and first aid

• Soap and shampoo

• Toothbrush and toothpaste

• Deodorant

• Towels

• Toilet paper

• Wet wipes

• First aid kit

• Insect repellent

• Sun cream

• Antihistamines

• Antiseptic

• Plasters/bandages

• Paracetamol or some other kind of pain relief



Clothes

• Warm clothes

• Cool clothes

• Waterproofs

• Boots/walking shoes and any other appropriate footwear

• Beachwear

• Sun hat

• Woollen hat

• Gloves/mittens



Miscellaneous Items

• Torch

• Mobile phone

• Camera, binoculars

• Toys, books, games, cds/dvds and cd/dvd players, radio

• Spare batteries

• Backpack

• Outdoor ‘furniture’ e.g. foldaway chairs/tables

• Miscellaneous tools, e.g. screwdriver, scissors, tweezers

• Pen and paper

• Safety pins, sewing kit

• Duct tape

• Trowel

• Spare rope, spare tarp

• Map and compass

*Terms and conditions apply. This competition is open to all residents of the UK. This is a free prize draw, no purchase necessary. Deadline for entries, midnight Thursday 6th May 2010. One winner will be chosen and will win an Ottowa 4 tent 2010. This competition is not open to anyone associated with the Friday-Ad Group  

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