One thing we’ve discovered here on the Filter is that our readers are an outdoorsy bunch. Few topics have driven as many enthusiastic write-ins as when we asked for your best camping tips.
From a strap that turns your mattress into a chair to a super-smart peg-free washing line, here are your top tips and tricks. (And no, none of you has any commercial links to these companies or products – we always check.)
Chris recommends a trusty tent that has withstood gales. “I have an Alpkit Soloist, which I use for solo bikepacking adventures,” he says. “When I was camping during a storm with heavy rain and gales all night, I emerged unscathed the next morning, only for a fellow camper who had been sleeping in her minivan to exclaim: “How the hell are you still dry?”
Mike Howells advises to think about how far you’ll need to carry your tent. “I’ve got a Naturehike Cloud-up 3, and it’s about two kilos, so light enough to carry by myself, but big enough for two,” he says. “It’s solid as a rock. Also, those blackout linings that Decathlon does in some of its tents are worth every penny.”
“The Paramo waterproof jacket, a cape and plenty of layers deal with camping in a field in a typical British summer,” say Celia and John. They also recommend taking an insulated flask (they have an Ocean Bottle). “It’s bigger than a pint, it keeps the beer or cider cold, doesn’t collect flies etc, it doesn’t matter if it falls over, and it’s recyclable.”
They also rate the Decathlon Quechua mattress – “pretty much as comfortable as at home” (and Decathlon’s cheaper Simond mattress was our top budget pick in our recently updated guide to the best camping mattresses).
“My camping trips improved massively by having some form of chair,” says Nick. He recommends this ingenious device that converts his Thermarest mattress into a seat. “It looks odd, but when you are stuck in a small tent for a day because of rain, being able to sit up and be supported makes a massive difference,” he says. For more outdoor seating options, check out our guide to the best camping chairs.
Stuart Hatcher recommends the very portable Flextail tiny pump. “Great for inflatable mattresses. Rather than faff around, this is amazing and gets envious looks at festivals or camps when you effortlessly get your bed ready for the tent!”
Gimme shelter
For me, as a seasoned festival-goer, the thing I’ve found makes the most difference is a camping shelter. It’s perfect for temperamental British weather, offering protection from both torrential rain and blazing sun. And you can’t go wrong with a flying disc. It’s cheap, doesn’t take up much space and will provide hours of entertainment.
And for a weekend’s camping, a basic washing line is so useful for drying towels, swimmers, anything: string it up between tents or around trees. This from Decathlon is ingenious because you don’t even need pegs.
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This week’s picks
‘Don’t be fooled by fancy packaging’: the best (and worst) supermarket shortbread, tasted and rated
Ditch fabric softener and give jumpers a good steam: how to make your clothes last longer
Wobble boards, Duplo and screen-free stories: the top toys and gifts for three-year-olds
The best umbrellas for staying dry in the wind and rain – tested on a 517m hilltop
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Editor’s pick
Summer is on the way – honestly – and for many of us, it’s a chance to have a bit more fun with how we dress. Indeed, the best looks, writes Jess Cartner-Morley in her summer wardrobe updates, “are the ones you reach for when you aren’t thinking about clothes, but about the sunny weather, the long evenings, the good times”.
Jess has the good times covered with everything from a 60s-style M&S co-ord and a sublime travel fragrance to a useful red parka and “the comfiest, cutest knickers out there”.
Hannah Booth
Editor, the Filter
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In case you missed it …
Hair dryers have come a long way in recent years, Sarah Matthews found when she tested them for us: lightweight, versatile, fast (gone are the days of it taking her 20 minutes to dry her hair). Sarah tested 20 to narrow down her pick of the best hair dryers, from the almost-perfect Hershesons Great to the brilliant budget Hydro-Fusion dryer from Babyliss.
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Get involved
Everyone loves a holiday, but sometimes they can be, well, kind of annoying. What have you discovered that has made your holidays better? Whether it’s the candle that keeps bugs at bay or the sandals that will see you from sweaty hike to fancy dinner, let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
