Here is our guide to preparing your camping kit for the 2024 season, we hope you find this useful with its hints and tips. It is essential that you prepare appropriately for your planned trips, forgetting items or not taking care of your kit will result in disappointment guaranteed!
Anyway, here goes........
Drying out
It’s sound advice that at the end of the season you should pitch your tent for a full inspection and dry out, this will ensure that your tent is packed away totally dry and you have peace of mind that when you roll it out on the campsite next year it’s in pristine condition. Pitch your tent on a fine dry day and open all the doors and ventilation points. The breeze will do the rest. This way your tent gets to breath inside and out. And it’s always worthwhile to try and pitch your tent at the beginning of the season to check everything is perfect ready for your first pitch, a quick inspection doesn’t hurt.
Damage inspection and repair
While you have your tent pitched, this is the ideal opportunity for you to check for any damage. Be sure to check all zips, guy lines, pegging points, internal ground sheet and conduct a detailed walk around the outside of the tent checking the outer fly sheet. Should your tent be damaged in anyway repairs can be made by replacing cracked fibreglass poles, replacing ruptured airbeams, replacing guy lines etc. It’s better to do it now rather than at the start of the new camping season. Small holes and tears can easily be repaired by using TearAid.
Cleaning
Cleaning your kit including your tent is essential to maintaining the quality of your camping gear and prolonging the life of it. Use warm water with a light soap detergent (do not use this on tent material) this is for cleaning other equipment only such as cookers and furniture. Using soap products on tent flysheets will damage the material and remove waterproofing. You may use warm water to clean sewn in groundsheets but ensure this is totally dry before packing away. Give your tent a thorough sweep out, clean tent windows with a damp cloth using warm water only.
Proofing
Proofing your tent is an essential part protecting your tent against the elements ahead of next season.
Ensure your outer fly sheet is clean and free of any mud.
Close all doors.
Lay your tent flat on the ground.
Spray your tent roof using your chosen waterproofing agent. We use Fabsil.
Once the roof is full covered with a generous layer of waterproofing agent erect your tents so it’s fully pitched.
Then work from front to back and apply a generous layer to the front back and sides of your tent ensuring the coverage is even and brushed into any crevices or seams. Proofing can only be achieved if the weather is dry, no rain but with a light breeze for best results. Before packing your tent away ensure that the waterproofing agent has fully dried.
Storing
We would always recommend that your tent is stored in a dry place avoiding any condensation such as a leaking garage or garden shed. This can cause mould to form on the tent fabric spoiling your waterproofing efforts. We personally recommend keeping your tent inside your home but other items can be kept in your outer building providing this is dry.
Think about this seasons site bookings.
To avoid disappointment and missing out start browsing at some new campsites you may want to visit next season, most sites allow you to pay a deposit to secure your pitch to avoid you missing out. By booking in advance you are in control of what dates you go. Pitches often book up fast. You will find all you need on Pitchup.com.
Think about improving transportation on your trips.
As time goes on you will find that your camping kit will grow and the family saloon is no longer adequate to fit everything in. So think of alternatives such as a car roof bag, car roof box or a camping trailer. We have invested in a camping trailer for the 2021 season. This is one way of avoiding having to pack the car to bursting point. Think about the additional space you will create in your car especially if you have children or dogs.
Think about what part ofyour gear you need to improve or replace.
This season we focused on improving our seating and dining. For next season we are improving kitchen and cooking.
You may choose sleep or carpets or you may want that new range of must have lighting. Improving or upgrading your camping kit totally improves your camping experience and makes it more enjoyable.
What about improving the interior of your tent – what about adding a luxury feel?
Just by adding carpets, storage cupboards, ottomans and lamps, this will create a home from home feel.
Add cushions to your environment or string lights
Ways of condensing your kit.
We all like to make things as compact as possible for camping and travel. Why not use vacuum bags for quilts and clothes, this condenses the pack size to half. Use a holdall as a utility bag for lanterns, kitchen utensils, cups, plates, cushions, stoves etc. We use a holdall for all our smalls and this prevents separate packages and keeps everything in one place.
Food menu - What about trying something delicious and new?
For our updated camping recipe guide click below.
THE ULTIMATECAMPING CHECKLIST
The camping essentials checklist, click the link below for the ultimate camping checklist for preparing for this seasons camping:
Wanting an upgrade? New tent?
Or extend your livingspace?
If so what should I look for, what do I need to know? Just follow the link below....
New to camping?
Read our advice blog which can be found on our webpage.
Click the link below.
Fancy upgrading your tent or an item of camping gear? If so check out Vango's fantastic innovative new 2024 range of tents and camping equipment, click the link below:
We really hope you enjoyed this new for 2024 blog guide, thank you for reading.
Darren & Paula - Vango Ambassadors
Комментарии