Primus Micron III: first impressions

My first experience with a camping stove was an old army surplus Trangia stove. It was battered and weighty and I can still remember my frustration as the phrase “a watched pot never boils” rattled around my head while the water for my coffee slowly transitioned from lukewarm to somewhere close to boiling without ever seeming capable for getting there.

Since then there have been incredible advancements to camping stove technology, whether you require something complex or simple. I tested the Primus Micron III over the summer, mainly using it for boiling water for dried hiking meals and much-needed morning coffee.

The Micron III has a simple design that directly screws on top of a standard threaded gas canister. The three pot supports fold diagonally to ensure an ergonomic profile, and all lock into place with a satisfying click.

This model has no built in ignition or regulator. However Primus does have a version with an external matchstick style igniter at the cost of a little extra weight.

There is no gas regulator on either model however, so anyone planning to use this in very cold conditions should take note that this could affect the performance.

Weight and packability

The most notable feature of this stove is undoubtedly its weight (or lack of it) - coming in at 2.11oz (60g) with the included nylon bag and 2.01oz (57g) without if you are seriously counting grams.

Primus has used aluminium throughout the construction to keep the weight down. The dimensions of the stove are tiny too. At 2.44 x 1.61in (62 x 41mm) it fits snuggly in the palm of your hand. I kept the stove within my pot and gas system, but can see how easy it would be to lose such a small part of your gear if not kept somewhere safe.

Folded out for use, the stove sits at 3.14in (80mm) high with a 3.74in (95mm) wide base for your pot. Given the quite minimal dimensions of the stove when in use, it is more suited for wild camping where boiling water for dehydrated meals is the top priority, than using with heavy pans.

Cooking speed and functionality

The stove works as most do. You thread it on to the canister, turn the pleasantly grippy and oversized valve handle and ignite the gas. It took quite a few turns to get the flame to full power but the flame is highly directional and puts out 2600w of power with the valve fully open.

The flame is designed to be wind resistant, but I found that, as the stove stands so tall off the canister, that it can be quite susceptible to wind if there are strong gusts blowing. The stove sits at 5.5in (140mm) tall when attached to a standard 3.5oz (100g) canister, and I found this affected its stability. The flip side to this height is increased functionality when using a pan if you want to heat food directly rather than just boil water.

Primus claims that the stove can boil 500ml of water in 2 mins 30 secs. In sheltered conditions I was able to get the water boiling in 2 mins 27 secs. When using it in the porch of my tent however, with a whipping wind coming under, this stretched to between 2 mins and 50 secs to 3 mins and 15 secs. By comparison, my Jetboil took 2 mins 38 secs in sheltered conditions and 3 mins 37 secs when it was windy.

Primus recommends that you use its Essential Trek pots with this stove, as they have a slimmer profile and therefore in theory will boil quicker. The pot I was using was slightly wider than an Essential Trek pot, so it’s good to know there’s potential for the process to be sped up further. Overall, I found the power of the stove to pack quite a punch, even with slightly increased boil times due to the wind.

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Trail, or Trail Outdoor Leisure, to give it its full, less-catchy title, is a relatively new entrant to the British camping scene, having been founded in 2017. Based on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Southwest England, it crafts the full gamut of camping gear, from tents through to camping kitchens, as well as inflatable SUPs.

The brand highlights quality, affordability and industry knowledge as its selling points. A look at its products reveals some great-value options, as well as mid-range gear. If you’re a Brit looking to purchase decent camping kit without massive price tags, this brand appears to be a good choice.

I was new to Trail when I set out to test several of its products, including its Falcon Padded Camping Chair, which comes as part of a two-piece set, ideal for camping couples or trips with mates. I loaded the car, invited another two generations of my family along and headed for North Wales’ Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park to test it out.

First impressions

When I liberated the Falcon from its carry bag and opened it up, the first thing that struck me was the high backrest. A veritable throne! With its wide arm rests and padded back support, it was immediately inviting. First sit revealed a very comfortable chair indeed.

The curved apex of the backrest is more for show than support however, as it sits above the steel frame and simply folds over if any weight is applied to it. So, it’s not a chair you can rest your head back into, unless you want neck ache. Nevertheless, the height of the frame means that the upper back is well supported, making it a comfortable place to sit and read, enjoy a brew or simply take in the views.

The chair isn't particularly spectacular to look at. It has a standard camping chair design and aesthetic, like the folding-frame options that fly off the supermarket shelves in the lead up to Glastonbury festival. However, comparing it to a bargain bucket chair is a little unfair, as it’s solid quality and a closer inspection reveals strong components.

Features

As with many such camping chairs, the Falcon comprises a padded fabric seat that arcs up into a backrest, with twin arm rests and a folding frame beneath. The right arm rest has a can-sized cup holder for beers or a flask, which will suit festival goers and family campers down to a T – or a tea, as it may be. The holder is lightly insulated and made from a black fabric, so provides a little extra insulation for both cold and warm drinks. Hanging down from the right side of the seat is a large compartment for storing a book or magazine. A nice touch.

The main fabric is a hardwearing 600-denier polyester that’s treated with a water-resistant PVC coating. It’s not exactly soft against the skin but then I wouldn’t describe it as rough either. The interior padding is held in rectangular baffles and is subtle but effective. It’s obviously not as plush as your armchair at home but it’s cozier than most lightweight camping chairs.

It folds down courtesy of its durable tubular steel frame, which is powder-coated to shield against wear and rust. It’s scissor-style legs fold inwards, creating a relatively compact unit when packed down.

In storage, it stretches to 38.5in (98cm), making it quite long, perhaps due to its high backrest. It’ll fit lengthways in a car’s trunk or along the footwell in the back, but it’s perhaps still a little longer than I’d have liked. The chairs come with their own carry bags that have a rudimentary carry strap and drawstring closure.

On the campsite

I’ve been testing the Falcon throughout the summer, on a beach break to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and a car camping trip to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

The headlines are that it’s a perfectly good, comfortable chair that’s about as fancy as you’d expect considering its price point. The original price of the Falcon 2-piece set was £99.99 but it’s currently available at £49.99 on Trail’s website. That’s just £25 per chair, making the set extremely good value. Sure, there are much lighter options on the market and there are also more luxurious options too, but these are markedly more expensive.

It's very easy to fold away when not in use and I was also able to adjust the height of the arm rests by sliding them up and down the side steel supports. The way the slider stays in place during use is a clever design touch, maintaining your desired height.

It took me a while to notice I had a handy side storage space for stashing items such as a magazine or book. As someone who likes to kick back and lose myself in a novel while on vacation, I found it a nice touch.

I can happily report that I made full use of the insulated cup holder too, while enjoying a craft beer or two with my father. This tended to be in the evening, when temps were beginning to drop, so I can’t totally put it down to the holder’s insulation that my brew remained relatively chilled as I set about draining cans sup by sup.

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Comparison table

Perfect for big day hikes and hut-to-hut treks in all seasons, while being big enough to take everything required for lightweight overnight camping adventures, this versatile gear-hauler is the best hiking pack I have used for many years. The exceptionally well-made Exion 55 is a real all-rounder, offering exactly the right amount of storage space for the vast majority of my outdoor escapades, paired with exceptional functionality, support and comfort.

First impressions

I have long been a big fan of premium British brand Rab, whose apparel offering and kit quality just keeps getting more comprehensive and better every year. I wear the Rab Capacitor Hoody so often people have started making comments and my wife has to convince me to put something different on at least every now and then. The sleeping bags are excellent too, but this is the first Rab backpack I have tried in the field – not least because it’s a new product category for the Derbyshire based brand, named after Scottish climber and alpinist Rab Carrington.

The Exion is available in several sizes, but I chose to trail-test the 55-liter version. When they feature compression straps (as the Exion does), I love the versatility offered by packs of this size, which are ideal for big one-day outings when you’re with the family – especially in spring and fall when waterproof jackets, rain pants, fleeces and puffers might be needed, but it’s too warm to wear them from the trailhead – and can also swallow everything required for a lightweight overnight or multiday adventure, including a sleeping bag, camping mat, backpacking tent and stove.

Suffice to say, I was looking forward to getting out in the wilds and testing the handsome-looking Exion 55, to see how it would perform compared to the most capacious daypacks and best hiking backpacks on the market. Spoiler: I wasn’t disappointed. But read on for details about what I did and didn’t love about this versatile pack.

Design and materials

The first thing to note is that the Rab Exion is available in several sizes and styles, including some specifically aimed at women, with an ND (narrow dimension) design tailored to fit more comfortably, and this includes a version of the 55L pack.

A central part of the design of all the Exion packs is Rab’s easily adjustable V-TRAX carry system. This is comprised of a supportive thermoformed harness mounted on a featherlight 6mm aluminium frame, and is made with dual densities of foam to spread the load, provide well-cushioned support where it’s required and minimize contact with your back, thus reducing rubbing and sweating.

The hipbelt, which has generous pockets, is tightened by pulling the straps forward, which is much easier and more effective than yanking belts to the side. There are huge mesh side pouches on this pack, perfect for carrying water bottles, but the Exion also has a dedicated compartment for hiking with a hydration bladder, complete with a hang loop and hose portals.

The versatility of the Exion pack is one of its greatest strengths, and the compression straps on the side mean you can increase and reduce the size and volume of this pack to suit the adventure you’re on, and according to the amount of gear you’re hauling. The extendable hood delivers an extra 5L of additional storage space if you need it, and boasts three pockets, one internal and two external, all of which zip shut. There are also hoops, loops and toggles on the exterior for carrying trekking poles and ice axes.

One of the best features on the Exion pack, though, is a large U-shaped front zip, which allows you to access the main compartment and find whatever it is you're looking for without emptying everything else out by the side of the trail. There is also a large mesh pouch on the front of the pack, where waterproofs can be stashed wet or dry. One thing to be conscious of, though, if you’re using this pack while travelling, is that it does make it quite easy for thieves and pickpockets to access it during bus and train rides.

On the trails

I have been using the Rab Exion 55 backpack during big day walks along the coast and cliffs close to where I live, on the South West Coast Path, and for multiday adventures whilst wild camping on Dartmoor, as I’ve been researching walking routes for a new book.

It has excelled in both capacities – as a large daypack and as a modest-sized overnight hiking pack that forces me to be frugal with what I take, thus enhancing the enjoyment of my outings. The carry capacity can be dialled up or down really easily, according to the kit required on any given mission, thanks to a clever combination of compression straps, mesh pouches on the front and sides, and the incredibly capacious hood.

Although the hood - which boasts two exterior zipped pockets plus an interior one - offers loads of storage space, it never bumped against the back of my head, even when I had it fully loaded (something that has happened, annoyingly, with other packs I have used over the years).

On day walks I can keep the Exion nice and tight to my body, but when I need it to load it up for a bigger escapade, it comfortably swallows my Jetboil stove, MSR Hubba Hubba tent, Therm-a-Rest camping mat, sleeping bag and enough food and supplies to keep me warm and fed for several days exploring hills, tors and moors.

In my experience, while the V-TRAX carry system allows your back to breathe beautifully, the full-contact wrap-around harness and hip wings provide excellent levels of support. It's extremely easy to pull the waist belt nice and tight, to lift the bulk and weight of the load into the most comfortable position for efficient hiking, and the fully adjustable sternum strap completes the set-up in seconds.

It's possible to reach water bottles stored in the angled side pockets without removing the pack, but I took full advantage of the hydration reservoir carry capacity, which means you can haul plenty of H2O in the most balanced way.

Little touches like the emergency whistle on the chest strap and the emergency instructions on the inside of the hood are great, although, to be picky, I would have like to see a Recco reflector included for the price of this pack. My only other complaint is that it's not made (so far as I can see) with any recycled material. All up, though, this is an excellent pack for all kinds of hiking adventures, and it has been robustly made, so I look forward to taking it on many more escapades.

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad: first impressions 

A while back, we asked Therm-a-Rest for its recommendations on the best pads for different types of camping, and when it came to one for car camping, they suggested we try out the new NeoLoft. We took them up on the offer and can't remember having a better night's sleep in the wild.

Pioneers of the closed-cell sleeping pad, Therm-a-Rest has always excelled at designing pads that deliver excellent weight-to-warmth ratio but not necessarily a whole lot of loft. Well, all that comes to an end with the NeoLoft, which has a giant 4.6in stack to keep you well off the ground.

Its rectangular shape means it’s a dream for side sleepers, and the vertical sidewalls increase the available real estate. The surface is made of a plush stretch knit fabric that’s far softer to the touch than most pads you’re probably used to. The underside is reinforced to protect it against rocks under your tent or any debris that might have found its way into your tent.

For all that, you’re probably assuming it’s huge and heavy, but amazingly, this cushy mattress is actually quite technical. For starters, with a 4.7 R-value, you could use this in three seasons and most conditions you're likely to want to camp with.

It's not ultralight, but at 2lb (910g), it’s not a whole lot heavier than the Therm-a-Rest Prolite Apex, and it packs down to a respectable 5.7 x 9.5 inches – so you could actually fit it in a backpack if you didn't mind a little extra weight. It’s got the TwinLock Valve system for inflation and deflation, which in layman's terms means you can blow it up without losing air between breaths (though it comes with an inflation sack, which does make life easier) and an Out valve for very fast deflation.

Of course, there is a catch, and that’s that it’s one of the brand’s pricier options, owing to its supreme comfort and versatility.

Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft sleeping pad: in the field 

I'm no stranger to uncomfortable, cold nights in the wild and have even spent a week in winter conditions in Yosemite Valley with only a foam pad between me and the ground without quitting. That said, I'm certainly not averse to comfort or a good night's sleep, and I'm a longtime fan of Therm-a-Rest, so I was excited to hear about its new, thick air mattress.

I've taken this car camping and on a one-night backpacking trip this summer to test out if it's as comfortable as they say.

Here’s how it performed:

Weight and packability

I own a couple of pretty light and very packable pads, and this one isn't exactly in the exact same ballpark, but it's definitely light and packable enough for backpackers on a short trip once it's inside its stuff sack.

At 2lb, it's about the same as chucking a couple of cans of soup in your backpack, which isn't nothing, but it's less than twice the weight of my lightest pad, and it packs down to a decent size that I can fit in my Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor pack along with my sleeping bag and tent without running out of room.

Size and comfort

Compared to my other pads, which are all mummy shape, this rectangular pad has acres of space for sprawling out. This, Therm-a-Rest explains, is all down to the vertical sidewalls, which it says eliminate the tapering edges of non-3D pads and increase the sleep surface by 20 percent. Whatever it is, I feel like I have tons of room on the regular-sized pad to sleep in any position, including starfish.

As for comfort, let me just say this is the comfiest pad I've ever slept on. I like it fully inflated for a nice, firm sleep surface, and it's super stable like that. It almost feels like a real mattress, and the fabric is really soft if my face ends up touching it.

Warmth and noisiness

I've been testing this pad in warmer (or at least mild-to-cool) conditions, and the fabric combined with the ridges allows for some air flow, which is welcome. That also means I haven't had the opportunity to put it through its paces once the temperatures drop, but I'm experienced enough with Therm-a-Rest pads to trust its R-value rating and will update this review if I'm wrong about that.

No one likes a crinkly mattress, not least your neighbor if you camp with a partner, but this one is about as quiet as a camping mat can be, totally devoid of squeaking, rustling or any other annoying noises in the night.

Ease of use and value

This pad has two valves: one marked In for inflation and another marked Out for deflation. I started out trying to inflate this one by mouth just to see how long it would take. With it being such a high volume pad, I expected it to take a bit longer than usual, and when I got to 50 breaths, I was feeling a bit lightheaded so I switched over to the inflation sack.

This is essentially just a nylon sack with a valve that inserts into the In valve, and an opening at the other end. You simply 'catch' air in it, then start rolling it up, and it squeezes the air into the sack. It's really easy and a great option for anyone with asthma.

Anyway, when this didn't work, I realized it was because the Out valve had somehow come open, so perhaps I could have done the whole thing by mouth, but once I realized how easy the inflation sack makes things, I've just stuck with that. Long story short, expect a couple of minutes to get this inflated. When it's time to pack up camp, you can just pull the Out valve and all the air comes out in a split second.

As for value, like a lot of really high-end outdoor gear, it all depends on, well, what you value. If you want a good night's sleep above all else, you're not going to find a better pad than this, and perhaps won't mind the high price. If you can compromise a bit on sleep, you'll find cheaper mats out there that aren't quite as thick but get the job done.

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Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

First impressions

The first thing you notice about the Skien Valley Cargo hiking pants from US brand Columbia is how light the long-legged pants feel, whether you’re picking them up or putting them on, which bodes well for a garment intended to be worn in warmer months.

Previously, when testing Columbia trekking pants such as the Silver Ridge convertible trousers, I noted how the leg length was short, even before you transformed them into hiking shorts. Columbia conceded this was true, and started advising buyers to order a size longer than they would normally.

So, when I first tried on the Skien Valley Cargo strides, I was surprised to find the same problem persisted. Not only is it disappointing to see that the brand hasn’t addressed the issue, it’s actually a more serious draw back with this model, because no matter how effective the Insect Shield treatment is, mosquitoes and midges are going to target ankles, especially if they’re temptingly exposed. While the pants feature a draw cord at the ankle hem, it’s of little use if there's still bare skin between the sock and trouser.

Of course, once you’re aware of this, you can factor it in and order a size with a longer inside leg (inseam) than you would normally wear. Although, that still leaves tall folk at a disadvantage. So, Columbia designers, if you’re listening, why not design an extended leg for future Insect Shield trousers in the same way some fleece tops and waterproof jackets have an extra-long back panel to stop them from riding up and exposing skin?

This aside, there seem to be plenty of good features on the Skien Valley pants, including several vents backed by mesh to stop bugs from getting in, the aforementioned draw cord on the bottom of the legs, and plenty of pockets on both the men’s and women’s versions. So, I was looking forward to trying them out.

Design and materials

Made from 100% recycled polyester (credit where credit’s due, Columbia), these pants are well designed for hiking in hot weather. They have mesh on the inside of the pockets and vents backed by mesh in various places, including around the knees, to prevent those pesky bugs getting in.

The Skien Valley cargo pants are part of Columbia’s new Insect Shield collection, which means the fabric has been impregnated with an insecticide called permethrin, a repellent that stuns – even kills – biting insects such as mosquitoes and midges, which can be dangerous as well as annoying. You can either combine such protection with the application of spray-on insect repellents, or if you don’t like dousing yourself in DEET and other chemical-based potions, wrap yourself head-to-toe in light clothing, using long socks and base layers to cover up completely.

Aside from waging chemical warfare on insects, Columbia’s product designers have put a lot of thought into how to make these pants as pest-proof as possible. The lighter colorway is less attractive to insects and the draw cords on the trouser cuffs mean you can pull the treated material in close to your ankles – that's if you have gone for a size with sufficiently long legs, but more of that below.

The Skien Valley trousers come with a belt – always a mixed blessing, since such inclusions are rarely great quality, and true to form, the belt here is very basic. It's also hard to undo, but it’s not integrated, so you can replace it with a better one.

A proper positive, however, is the number of pockets these pants have, even on the women’s version, which is a rarity. On the men’s pants, there are a pair of hand pockets, cargo pouches on each thigh – one with an additional zipped pocket above it – and two back pockets, again one with a zip for extra security.

Besides acting as a shield from biting insects, the material offers UPF 50 protection from the sun, and boasts Omni-Wick properties, so sweat travels outwards and evaporates.

On the trails

Hiking and camping in the late days of summer can be sensational, but on still evenings the experience is often ruined by the arrival of midges, mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Gear in Columbia’s Insect Shield collection, including these pants, promise to protect you from such annoyances. But beyond that, these lightweight trousers are also designed to be comfortable and functional for hiking escapades from late spring through to early autumn.

I have spent this long and unusually hot summer testing out the Skien Valley trousers while hiking on Dartmoor and in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, to see how they perform.

The pants are deliberately offered in pale colorways, which research shows makes them less attractive to insects. This might be true, but if I’m honest it makes them less attractive to me too, and I suspect I’m not alone in this. The pair I have been testing – supposedly ‘Dark Stone’, but more cream-colored to my eyes – looked grubby within an hour or so of being on the trails. Not the end of the world, but I prefer hiking pants that don’t need laundering after every single wear.

On a much more positive note, the lightweight fabric and multiple vents mean that the Skien Valley trousers feel nice and cool to wear, even when hiking during the multiple heatwaves that we perspired through this year.

I can’t actually recall ever wearing a lighter or more breezy pair of pants in my life, and that felt great when I was on exposed parts of moors and mountains in the full glare of the sun. On that note, the UPF 50 sun protection totally protects your legs from sunburn, and if you do manage to work up a sweat, the moisture effectively gets wicked away by the material, and quickly evaporates.

I also loved all the pockets. The hand pockets are a little shallow, so you need to be careful your phone or whatever you're carrying doesn’t fall out when sitting on boulders or moorland, but there are plenty of other pouches for putting important things in. Two have zips and the others have Velcro tabs.

In terms of the insect protection, I endured several evenings, especially in the Wicklow Mountains, when the midges (no-see-ums) were out in force. These pants, along with the Skien Valley shirt, hoody, light jacket and Booney hat, came to my rescue, making camping just about bearable, and enabling me to stay out long enough to cook dinner on my stove. However, as I have already moaned at length about, the trouser legs are simply not long enough. They leave my ankles exposed to the blood-thirsty beasts, and make me look like I raided Michael Jackson’s wardrobe.

Also consider

One of my favorite quotes from the seminal TV drama series The Wire was a line from Michaewl K. Williams’ Omar character: ‘You come at the king, you best not miss.’

You might ask: what does this have to do with camping coolers? Well, the world of camping coolers has a clear king at the moment. Yeti’s perennially popular premium coolers have made a once moderately unfashionable item cool. Not only this, the brand has raised the bar in terms of the quality customers should expect when investing in a cool box. So, if you bring a new cooler to the market, you’d better make sure it’s up to the task, otherwise you might get iced. Just ask Orca. You come at the king, you best not miss.

Now, Trail Outdoor Leisure’s price points aren’t as bloated as the numbers Yeti is able to command. This relatively new British camping gear brand sets its stall out with quality, industry knowledge and, crucially, affordability, as the supporting pillars. Affordable and Yeti aren’t two words that have ever occupied the same sentence, so I had to be mindful of this when testing Trail’s cool box offering.

Trail’s range comprises the mini 5L Cool Box, the 22L Camping Cool Box and the Large 45L Cool Box on Wheels. I was delighted to give the latter a go this summer, taking it along on my beach and camping vacations. It’s currently available for £89.99 on the brand’s website, apparently down from £199.99. This makes it a much cheaper option than the equivalent Yeti, the Tundra 45 Cool Box, which retails at £300 in the UK, and $325 in the States.

First impressions

To look at, Trail’s Cool Box sits somewhere between something you might pick up cheap in the supermarket and a top-notch cooler of the sort Yeti craft. This should come as no surprise considering its price. It feels more ‘plasticky’ than a premium box but classier than a budget one. Available in Charcoal (grey) or Navy Blue, it's fairly good looking and the chunky wheels, latches and handles radiate a sense of ruggedness.

At 12lbs 9oz (5.7kg), it's noticeably light, especially if you’re used to Yeti’s coolers, which weigh around twice as much. This makes it easier to carry around but does raise an eyebrow when it comes to longevity and performance. We’ll deal with the latter in a moment but for the former, only time will tell.

Features

The Cool Box uses a dense, closed-cell polyurethane (PU) foam at the centre of its three-layer design to retain its interior temperature. It’s this that retains ice and thus keeps everything nicely chilled inside. The exterior is a hardened polyethylene and polypropylene shell that’s highly resistant to impact and makes for a half-decent seat. It’s rigid to the touch and gives an impression of ruggedness. Meanwhile, the interior liner is in line with EU regulations when it comes to food safety and is easy to wipe clean too.

All the closed-cell PU in the world would be for naught unless the lid creates an airtight closure. Two chunky locking catches secure it in place while a rubbery rim bonds the lid to the body of the box. There are two circular slots on top of the lid for holding cups or cans, just like those you get on trains or planes. This is a handy feature for when you’re using the box as a makeshift table.

One of the standout features of the Cool Box on Wheels is exactly that: it’s got wheels. This is an especially useful feature when the box is full of ice, beverages and food, providing an easy option for getting from A to B. The opposite end of the cooler has a fold-away tow handle with a sticky grip for straightforward pulling. At the other end is a shorter fold-away handle too, for when a two-handed carry is the better course of action. This also provides the option of a two-person lift. In short, there are several ways to get this cooler into situ, empty or full.

When it comes to the end of the trip, there’s a plug that can be unscrewed towards the bottom of the box on the wheel end. This makes it easy to tip the meltwater out using the long tow handle.

In the field

I’ve been using the Cool Box throughout what was a gloriously sunny summer in the UK, taking it on beach breaks and a camping trip to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

So, how long did the Cool Box stay chilled for? What was its ice retention like? I took the scientific approach to the question on my camping break to Eryri. At the start of the trip, I added 22lb (10kg) of ice cubes, as well as several beers and the food I’d need to keep chilled for the duration of the long weekend. Trail states that the PU foam insulation should provide up to 72 hours cooling.

After 51 hours, some of the ice had melted, though much of it was still intact. The box was still keeping my drinks and closed food items nicely chilled, though it was difficult to store food that had been opened by this point, without it getting thoroughly wet. Some form of compatible basket would be nice for this sort of thing.

On the morning of our departure, 64 hours after I’d added the ice, some cubes remained, although there was a lot of water now. Crucially, the box was still chilled. So, for a long weekend, the Cool Box does provide a good option, though next time I’ll perhaps increase the amount of ice I add to begin with.

One thing’s for sure, I very much enjoyed my super-chilled craft beers on the second night of the trip, watching the sun sink between some of North Wales’ most iconic peaks. That moment was worth the price alone.

Capacity wise, you can fit quite a bit in here depending on how much ice you pile in initially. For my three-person, weekend camping trip it was a little bit overkill – I still had loads of space for more food, cans, bottles, whatever. So, it’s a decent option for a large group at basecamp or for a festival.

General usability is also good. As mentioned, it’s easy to pull along thanks to its wheels and tow handle, and I like how the handles have been made from a softer, grippier material. The locking catches on the lid are easy enough to open and close. There are no latch points or tie-down slots, as you get on some coolers, so it’s not the best option for loading onto a water-bound vessel.

So, on the whole, it’s a pretty decent cool box. It’s not as obviously high-performing or robust as a Yeti cooler, the king in the cooler market. But, it doesn’t miss the mark either. I’d say its target audience is somewhat different to Yeti's: it’s for those who want a good cool box for their outdoor adventures without splashing too much cash. For these thrifty folk, it’s a great option.

Also consider

Comparison table

Founded in 2017, Trail Outdoor Leisure (I’ll be referring to it as Trail henceforth) is a relative newcomer on the British camping gear scene. It’s a brand that creates quality yet affordable camping gear, from family tents and windbreaks, to campsite kitchens and coolers.

Folding camping and beach trolleys have been growing in popularity in recent years. Highly useful for park days, family vacations, festivals, beach and camping trips, they’re basically a great way to move large amounts of stuff over medium to long-distances, letting the wheels do the work on sometimes challenging terrain. That agonizing trudge from the car park to the tent at a festival just got a whole lot easier. The sweaty walk from the van to the sun loungers on the beach just became a breeze. Best of all, kids love being pulled along too.

First impressions

One of the key features of these kinds of trolleys are the way they fold down, making them easy to slot into the car for trips away. When compacted, the Camping Trolley measures just 30 x 12.5 x 8in (77 x 32 x 20cm) and is long and impressively thin. It looks neat and tidy when packed away in its carry case, its four wheels poking out below the unit. Draw a couple of eyes on it and it could almost pass for a Star Wars droid in this form.

Having peeled away the Velcro straps and liberated the unit, I was impressed at how quickly and easily the trolley unfolds and takes shape. It feels reassuringly sturdy and moves relatively smoothly too. I immediately like some of the subtler touches, such as the metal D-rings that can be deployed when securing bulkier items and the design of the D-shaped handle with its ergonomic grooves.

Features

The design of the Camping Trolley is nothing new. These kinds of carts are becoming a mainstay in the camping, festival and beach break worlds. Young parents are cottoning on to how useful they can be and every summer more and more are appearing. They all feature a clever folding frame that supports a rectangular fabric bucket when folded out.

This bucket is made from a highly durable 600-denier polyester that feels reassuringly rugged to the touch. It’s detachable and is affixed to the frame via four chunky screws, one in each corner, as well as by four Velcro sleeves. The frame is forged from steel that’s powder-coated to protect against rust and wear.

There’s a separate hard-backed, foldable base, which slots into the carry bag when not in use and forms the foundation of the bucket. When it was time to pack out, all I had to do was remove the base and pull the tab in the centre of the bucket. This pulls the whole thing upwards, folding the frame inwards like a concertina. Very clever.

At one end of the cart is an ergonomic, D-shaped handle on the end of a telescopic, 31in (79cm) pole. This is used to pull and steer the trolley when extended and the pole can be shortened to 20in (50cm) when it’s time to pack the unit away.

The trolley is front-wheel drive, meaning the two wheels by the handle are free to swivel, while the back wheels are fixed in place. The wheels themselves are made from polypropylene and are 1.5in (3.5cm) wide. A diamond-shaped tread pattern provides the grip. Both the front wheels can be locked via supermarket trolley style pedals – should you ever need to pause on a particularly steep incline.

A nice touch is the inclusion of four metal D-rings, two on either side of the bucket. This enables the user to strap bulkier cargo into place using cord when pulling over uneven terrain or for longer distances. They could also be used for attaching small items, though the rings aren’t the most rugged. Think large shoelace D-rings rather than carabiners.

It weighs a not inconsiderable 24lb 4oz (11kg), so it’s a heavy addition to your camping canon. However, when you consider the effort that having it along for the ride will save, it’s worth loading the extra weight into the car. When assembled, it can carry 176lb 6oz (80kg) of gear, which isn’t as much as some options on the market but it’ll do most jobs just fine. Just don’t have one too many beers and then decide to jump in with another friend for a midnight joyride around the campsite, as you’ll undoubtedly be over the limit. However, it’s always fun pulling the kids around and it’ll easily fit and cope with the weight of three pre-schoolers.

Last but not least, the water-resistant carry bag is nicely designed too. When the trolley is folded down, it would be quite challenging to fit the bag over the frame, as it's quite a snug fit. Fortunately, Trail has made this process easy by including a zipper down one end of the bag, which enabled me to open it up when sliding it onto the frame. All I had to do then was tighten it back up once everything was in place. The bag is then secured to the frame using two Velcro straps that slot through D-rings at the bottom of the frame. Finally, the foldable base slots into a dedicated pocket on the carry bag. The tension in the whole system means that everything is held together nice and tight. Carry handles on the top and side give the option of carrying the unit upright or horizontally.

On the beach and in camp

I’ve been testing the Camping Trolley during a beach break to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and a camping trip to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. It made life easier on many occasions and my 3-year-old daughter loved jumping in and getting wheeled around at any opportunity. It took up very little space in the car too.

The campsite was where it truly excelled, making the pitching process less effort and much quicker. Its bucket is big enough to take a packed down family tent and several other items at the same time. Even when fully loaded, it was easy to steer and pull across fairly rough terrain.

On the beach, the width and design of the Camping Trolley’s wheels let it down a little, making moving it across dry sand trickier than with some models. The wheels just aren’t wide enough, nor is the tread deep enough, to excel on this kind of terrain. If you’re looking for a beach trolley, you’re much better off going for the all-terrain wheels on Trail’s Folding Beach Trolley. Nevertheless, it was still a useful tool for getting all of the kit from the car park to the edge of the sand – this can often be quite a long walk, especially at more secluded beaches.

After a full summer of use, I’m pleased to say that I’ve had no issues with durability – everything still works as it should. I’ve been hauling some heavy loads, running around the campsite with my 3-year-old child in the back and pulling it across varied terrain. As mentioned, it was only on the beach that I found its design wanting.

So, if you’re after an affordable trolley for general use, or camping trips, this is a good option. For beach goers, invest in a dedicated beach trolley with specialized wheels instead.

Keen to get outdoors and enjoy a few cozy nights in the wilderness before the winter weather kicks in? You might need a new tent, and now is the perfect time to get one, as we've found a great deal on this model from Coleman.

Right now, you can get your hands on the trail-ready Coleman Peak1 2-person backpacking tent for just $191.99 at Backcountry, a whopping 40% off its list price.

With a packed weight of 6lb 1oz, this tent may not be the lighted - we'd recommend splitting it between two trekkers, but it's a great intro to wild camping and is designed to offer protection from strong winds and heavy rain, thanks to Coleman's Weathertec Plus system. It's kept up by 7000 series aluminium poles, capable of withstanding winds up to 45mph (72kmph), and features a 2,000mm hydrostatic head rainfly.

Once you've set up camp for the night, you can lie back and watch the stars, thanks to this tent's Star View window, which unzips from the inside.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Coleman tent deals where you are.

• The best camping tents: for superb backcountry adventures
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First impressions

Face coverings are nothing if not controversial at the moment, but thankfully we’re not discussing the antics of ICE agents here – rather the ongoing battle to make camping great again, by beating the bugs and keeping mosquitoes from getting right up in your grill and turning outdoor life miserable.

To be quite honest, things have to be pretty bad in order for most people to deploy a full face net, instead of relying on spray repellents, because – beekeepers and bank robbers aside, very few folk enjoy having a mesh over their visage, not least because it makes slurping campfire hot chocolate and scoffing ‘smores pretty damn awkward. But when the bugs are bad, you need to put sartorial and snacking concerns to one side, otherwise they will drive you to complete distraction, and you may as well pack up and go home.

In addition, while the face net might be the most eye-catching element on the Skien Valley Booney lid, which is part of Columbia’s new Insect Shield range of outdoor attire, the mesh is completely removeable and it’s far from the only feature on what I found to be a very functional camping and summer hiking hat.

Design & materials

The unisex Skien Valley Booney lid doesn’t just come with a removeable face net, the whole hat has also been impregnated with an insecticide called permethrin, which stuns annoying and potentially dangerous animals including mosquitoes, flies, ticks, ants, chiggers, and midges (no-see-ums) and – according to the CDC (the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) can even kill them. Together with the face net, which can be quickly and easily attached to the hat via a couple of snap connectors, this totally protects your head and neck from biting insects, while enabling you to retain full visibility of your surrounds.

But it’s not just an anti-insect hat. Made from entirely recycled polyester, the Skien Valley Booney hat has a broad brim that shades your neck, eyes and nose while you’re out hiking trails, providing effective protection from the sun. With a drawstring strap, it can be tightened under the chin and worn during windy walks, and the air vents and mesh lining combine to make the hat breathable and well vented.

On the trails and in camp

I have been sporting the Skien Valley Booney hat while hiking and camping on Dartmoor in the southwest of England, and in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. For the most part, I’ve been wearing it while walking on the often-exposed trails found in both of these places.

This summer the UK and Ireland have sweated through four heatwaves, and the risk of sunburn and sunstroke has been high, especially when you’re up in the hills and peaks, where tree cover is sporadic or non-existent. The broadbrim style of the hat makes it perfect for protecting my prominent probiscis and the back of my neck from the rays emanating from our nearest star, and I’ve been very glad of it.

There are a couple of small vents in the top of the hat, which – while they could be a bit bigger for greater effectiveness – do let in a little bit of air, and the mesh inner keeps things cool too. When it’s sunny and windy, which happens a lot in the Wicklow and Dublin mountains, and even more often atop the tors of Dartmoor, the adjustable chin strap keep the lid in place.

And back in camp, there have been times where I would have very possibly slapped myself to death without having recourse to the face net. As mentioned, things have to be pretty bad for me to hide behind a mesh net (I hate having to sip beer through those things), but during a couple of nights in the Wicklow Mountains especially, the midges were absolutely relentless, and I had no choice. Ther was nowhere to hide, and I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without it – other than to retreat to my tent as soon as dusk descended, which would have made for a very long night.

The net is reasonably easy to use, and despite looking a bit daft (I’m sure), I could see through the mesh well enough to cook dinner on my camping stove, and to see the envious looks people who didn’t have such protection were giving me.

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Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 0°: first impressions 

Sleeping bags can be warm and technical, and they can be roomy, but they're not often both at the same time, so imagine our surprise when this bag came along touting both characteristics.

The Torchlight EXP 0° from Colorado brand Big Agnes boasts a patented expandable side panel design. This basically means that, in addition to the regular zip along the side that opens your bag up, there's a second, parallel zip, which adds up to 10in (25cm) of space for sleeping on your side or on your back with knees bent.

What's more, this space can be opened up wherever you want it, around your shoulders, hips, knees, feet or along your whole body.

Fully insulated with 650 Fill Downtek PFC-Free water-repellent down, this bag holds up against frigid temperatures, and has a cozy hood to seal out drafts. The shell fabric is silky, soft, and not noisy.

If you're using it with a sleeping pad, the integrated PadLok Sleep System attaches to your pad so you don't roll off. The Pillow Barn allows for natural head movement while keeping your pillow securely in place, and the cozy hood is just like the one on your favorite down jacket.

Though it comes with a carry sack, you need to buy the stuff sack separately, and we recommend that you do, because it's a bit bulkier than your average sleeping bag and, while not the heaviest we've tested, it's definitely not ultralight. It's feasible that you'd take this on a short backpacking trip, but where we think it truly excels is for longer, cold expeditions where you're transporting your gear in a duffel.

Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 0° sleeping bag: in the field 

For the past couple of years, I've eschewed restrictive sleeping bags and favored my Sea to Summit camping quilt, but for the trek to Everest Base Camp, I knew I'd need something really warm. Though we'd be sleeping in teahouses, those teahouses aren't heated, and at elevations of 16,942ft (5,164m), I was warned it could get well below freezing at night.

I also knew my gear would be carried by porters, so while I had a strict weight limit of 15kg to fly to Lukla, I wasn't quite as conservative as I usually am.

I slept with this bag for 11 nights on my trek to and from Base Camp, and have taken it on one ensuing car camping trip in Scotland this summer.

Here’s how it performed:

Comfort and design

This sleeping bag is easily one of the softest and coziest I've ever enjoyed, at least on par with the zipless Sierra Designs Night Cap. The shell fabric is super soft, and the down filling feels quite sumptuous. Even though the beds I was sleeping on during my trek in Nepal came with bedding, including a comforter, the cleanliness wasn't always pristine, and I was quite happy to just throw this over the top and sleep inside it every night.

Of course, the main reason it's so comfortable comes down to its innovative design, which allows it to be expandable, and I used this feature every night. It gives so much extra space that I was able to sleep inside it on my back with my legs crossed in a basket, which I understand is unusual, but hey, it works for me.

I'm a bit of a sprawler, and without the usual restrictions, I got better sleep and never ended up with achey hips like I sometimes get from lying like I'm inside a coffin.

Warmth and breathability

On the trek to Base Camp, I tested these measurables out in some pretty cold conditions, even though I was indoors and not on the ground. With just thin wooden walls, by early evening my room would be too cold to relax in, so I'd usually get inside my bag to recover from my hike before dinner, then get right back in it for bedtime.

Exactly why Big Agnes have called this bag the EXP 0° is something of a mystery, since that number doesn't seem to relate directly to any of the product's temperature ratings, which range from ISO 18°F/-7.8°C for comfort, to 6°F/-14.4°C for limit. It's possible that the bag has an unpublished extreme rating of 0°F/-17.8°C, but we'd never advise using an extreme rating as a guide, since that is a temperature at which you might well survive in a bag, but could be risking hypothermia - you can learn more about sleeping bag temperature ratings here.

However, all that said, the Big Agnes Torchlight EXP 0° sleeping bag is incredibly warm. Even in the challenging conditions described above, I was often able to unzip it a bit, so I wasn't anywhere near the edge of the comfort limit, which I had been a little concerned about.

On the other end of the spectrum, it has proven a bit warm for summer camping here in Scotland, but it does come in 20° and 30° ratings if you want something for milder weather, but like the sound of the expandable design. I'd also add here that it's really quite breathable and I've never suffered a sweaty night in it.

Weight and packability

Though this isn't heavy, like an old flannel sleeping bag, it does have considerably more heft and girth than my camping quilt, and I personally wouldn't bring it on a backpacking trip, no matter how much I love it.

That said, it's not super heavy, and I think with a proper stuff sack, it's an excellent choice for serious alpine expeditions where you're transporting your gear to a base camp. Or car camping, of course.

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Comparison table

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First impressions

Cool to touch (and to look at, especially when compared to some of the items in the range), the Skien Valley Hoodie from Columbia is a lightweight, long-sleeved top that can be worn as a base layer beneath a fleece jacket or waterproof shells while hiking, or as a stand-alone top during dry and warm weather, especially when biting bugs are making a nuisance of themselves.

When I received several items from Columbia’s new Insect Shield collection to test, this was the first garment I reached for when hiking and camping on sweaty summer evenings, because it felt nice, looked decent and seemed like a good first line of defense against the blood-sucking beasts that make a habit of attacking me. Here’s how it performed.

Design and Materials

The Skien Valley hoodie is made with a material mixture of polyester and elastane. Oddly, Columbia don’t specify whether the polyester used in this top is recycled, whereas the same fabric used in other garments in the collection is recycled (in the absence of clear labelling, we’re going to assume that it isn’t recycled in this case). The elastane content in the top makes it nice and stretchy.

Available for both men and women (and also in a ‘Big’ version), this top has a relaxed, baggy look and feel. There are no pockets, but it has a hood, obviously (clue in the name) and substantial thumb hoops to keep the long sleeves in place when you add another layer over the top (and also to help protect wrists from biting bugs).

This top is part of Columbia’s new Insect Shield collection of outdoor apparel, all treated with a long-lasting chemical called permethrin, which is capable of deterring, stunning or even killing bugs that come into contact with it. Like the rest of the range, the hoodie is also light colored, because pests like mosquitoes are – apparently – less attracted to more neutral hues.

On the trails

I have been testing the Skien Valley hoodie over the scorching summer we have just enjoyed/endured (I liked it, but so did the bugs – so no better time to put this stuff to the test). This season I have mostly been hiking and camping on Dartmoor and in the Wicklow Mountains, both places I’m more accustomed to experiencing in the drizzle, but not in 2025.

We’ve had no less than four heatwaves over the last four months, and the midges (no-see-ums) have been out in force during still evenings on the trail, in camp and around crags. When this happens, you can either cover every inch of yourself in lightweight clothing, from base layers to long socks, or douse yourself in insect repellent – or take a belt and braces approach, and do a mixture of both.

Alternatively, you can clad yourself in clobber from Columbia’s Insect Shield-infused Skien Valley range, which is a bit like doing both. This is the approach I took in the Wicklow Mountains, where the midges were particularly horrendous. More so than the Skien Valley shirt (which I liked, but for other reasons) this hoodie proved to be particularly effective as armor against biting bugs, because it covered my whole top half, including my neck and – thanks to the thumb hoops – protected my wrists (always a target for midges and mosquitoes).

Also, even when paired with the similarly light-colored Skien Valley cargo pants, it looks decent, so when I was hanging out in communal campsites rather than wild camping on my own, I didn’t feel like a complete plum, as I did while wearing the Booney Hat, which is also part of the range.

Obviously it doesn’t protect your face from the irritating little monsters, so when they were at their worst I did often resort to wearing the wide brimmed hat with its full-face net, or when the temperatures cooled a little, pulling on the Skien Valley Hooded Light Jacket, which also features face netting.

During the day, I found the Skien Valley hoodie to be a very comfortable top to hike in, especially on hot days when I was exploring the exposed tor tops and mountain sides, where it provided excellent protection from the sun and the loose-fit style allowed lots of airflow. And, during climbing and scrambling adventures, the top boasts plenty of stretch, so you have a full range of movement and can reach for hand holds.

All-round, it’s a fine, functional piece of kit, and the item I’m likely to get the most use out of from the whole Skien Valley range.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Topo Luxe sleep mat: first impressions

I first had the chance to try out the Thermarest Neo-Air Topo Luxe on a chilly March night in the Brecon Beacons. My usual set up often finds me opting for a weighty self-inflating mat due to my fear of ending up on the ground with a dreaded puncture.

This has always fostered a slight paranoia of mats that are as big and inflatable as the Topo Luxe. However, the apparent robustness of the Topo Luxe has left me feeling it is possible to have bed-like comfort in an inflating mat without sacrificing lightness, packability and durability.

Upon inflation the Topo Luxe immediately looked like a comfortable mat. The horizontal baffles and rectangular shape give an immediate impression of something more akin to a standard air mattress than a conventional hiking mat, and if you're looking to shave grams, do bear in mind it does not have a mummy-shape option.

The mat has a smooth finish with a contour pattern that errs on the slippery side, so in a sleeping bag you may find yourself sliding off. When weight is less important (yes, I have used this mat at festivals) I have gotten around this by adding a cotton top sheet. But if you're thru hiking with this mat and don't want the extra load just be prepared for a bit of erm, mobility in the night, especially if you're sleeping on a slope.

There's no doubting the comfort though, thanks to the plush 3.9in (10cm) thickness and generous size. Just make sure you check the length works if you're planning on sleeping on it in a backpacking tent. The Large and XL versions are both 77in (196cm) long, which left it touching the top and bottom ends of my backpacking tent. The Regular and Regular Wide options are 72in (183cm) long, and we think this is a much more manageable length for one or 2-person tents.

The mat has a simple twin lock valve set up - one for inflation and one for deflation. The large deflation valve works excellently at expelling the full mat of air for pack down, and can allow for releasing small amounts if you need to tweak the firmness in the middle of the night. Similarly, the inflation valve is one way and easily placed by the head to allow for top ups if needed. I did find the twisting of the inflate valve a little tricky with thicker gloves on, but not to an unusual extent.

There is a pump sack included within the bag for the mat. However, it took me over seven minutes to inflate with the sack versus two minutes by mouth. Having recently watched someone else blow up a similar mat with a pump sack in seconds, it's clear there is a knack to it that I have yet to master, but overall I found the process fiddly compared to just blowing straight into the valve or using a mini-pump.

It is worth learning how to do it properly though, as using the pump sack is designed to prevent moisture going into the mat, and in the long term moisture can cause mould. So if you’re serious about the longevity of your purchase, then it’s worth taking the extra time to use it.

The completely open valve means it deflates for pack down in seconds.

Warmth

This mat boasts an R value of 3.7, which is impressive given its thickness and amount of air used to inflate it. The first time I used it I could have benefitted from a slightly higher R rating as it was the start of spring, and it was a cold night. However, despite being set up on an exposed ridge, the thickness of the mat combined with the relatively high R value kept me warm and somewhat protected from the gusts of wind that were ripping under my porch and into the inner tent.

The flip side of the mat being this thick was with my tent being rather low profile, I did spend a lot of the night with my head claustrophobically close to the top of the inner sheet, something to consider if you are working with a smaller set-up.

Returning to use this mat later in the season, I had no issues with the insulation at all and I really appreciated the home-like comfort. Using a bigger tent also meant the claustrophobia was no longer an issue - if you’re using a coffin style tent you may find it’s just too much of a tight fit due to its height and the length of the two larger sizes.

Weight and packability

The mat has a total pack weight of 2lb 1oz (947g), or 1lb 13oz (850g) if you are stowing it away without the pump sack, repair kit etc.

For a mat of this thermal rating, surface area and pack size it has no right weighing this little, especially given this was the Large size. I was able to pack and roll this down to roughly around the size of a litre water bottle and my only gripe is that the included carry sack is much larger than the size of the rolled mat and could benefit with some form of compression system to make for easier bag storage.

Size and comfort

The Topo Luxe is a rectangular mat, and I am more used to mummy shape mats. Thanks to its generous size, I found the size Large to be palatial in comparison to what I would usually use (I’m 6ft 2in / 186cm tall).

Given the generous size I was able to position myself comfortably throughout the night and this was a positive given that the top side is fairly slippery. My camp spot was not entirely on flat ground but I found that with the increased surface area there was much less chance of ending up with limbs sliding off.

However, if you opt for a smaller size you may find this to be more of an issue.

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The cold nights and frosty mornings of autumn are almost upon us, and there's no better way to see in the new season than with a cozy camping trip.

If you're planning a night or two in the wilderness, you may need to invest in some new gear, including a warmer sleeping bag and better protection from the rain. A snug pair of camping slippers could also come in handy, keeping your feet warm when flip-flops are no longer enough.

The men's Nupse Mule Bootie slip-ons from The North Face are designed to stop your feet from freezing in the colder seasons and are now half price - available for just $39.50 at Backcountry.

Crafted with sustainability in mind, the Nupse Mule Bootie slip-ons feature uppers made from 100% recycled polyester and outsoles composed of 20% recycled rubber. Once inside, the lofty Goose Down insulation aims to keep your feet toasty, whether you're pitching a tent or relaxing by the fire.

This pair features an easy slip-on design and foldable heels, so you can put yours on in seconds.

If you're looking for something a little more subtle, the men's Nupse Mule Bootie slip-ons are also available with a corduroy design, and are reduced by 30% to $62.26 at Backcountry.

If you're not in the States, you can look below for today's best slippers deals from The North Face where you are.

• The best hiking sandals: breezy footwear for casual walks
• The best hiking boots and shoes for wide feet: stride out with confidence in well-fitting footwear

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Isobutane: first impressions 

Jetboil took its award-winning Genesis Basecamp System and made it compatible with standard isobutane fuel canisters. This ingenious double-burner stove combines lightweight portability with ferocious power to give you a complete kitchen when you're car camping.

The Basecamp System comes neatly packed inside a carrying bag with a handle, and the savvy stove folds in half and easily locks shut for stowing and transportation. When you're ready to cook, unfold it and screw on your fuel regulator – the gas canister can fuel both rings at once.

To ignite the rings, turn the knob and flick an ignition switch. The burners will roar to life and you can juggle a 5l FluxPot to cook pasta, rice, potatoes or soup as well as a ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan for eggs, veggies, burgers or whatever camping meal you fancy on the day.

Water will boil in under three minutes and your frying pan will heat up lightning quick, but you can turn the burners down and manage heat flow quite well. The included wind screen isn't the best we've tried, but you'd need to be cooking in a gale for wind to pose any real threat to the flame.

When you're finished cooking, the materials barely retain any heat so you can pack them up instantly and get on your way if you're in a rush.

Neat, efficient, light and easy to use, this camping stove is an absolute dream for any car camper and the only thing that will make you think twice is the high price.

JetBoil Genesis Basecamp System Isobutane: in the field 

I've been adventuring with my Jetboil Flash 1.0 for a while now, which is great for quickly making a backpacking meal or hot chocolate, but if I'm car camping with my partner and family, it's always been our trusty Trangia that feeds us.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Trangia for reasons I've written about here, but when I heard that Jetboil had updated its double-burner Basecamp System, I jumped at the chance to give it a shot.

I first tested this out in the backyard so I wouldn't find myself struggling with it in the wild with hungry children glaring at me, and the pictures I've shared here are from that experiment. However, we've since had it out on every car camping trip this summer.

Design and features

My only other experience with a double-burner stove is the Vango Combi IR Grill Compact, which folds up like a suitcase, but this one has quite a genius design.

The neat, circular stove folds in half to stack the two burners for transport and storage. There's a handle on both sides that clips away and means you can easily pull it out no matter which way it was facing when you packed it. Simply unclip the rubber leashes that secure it and unfold it, and you have two circular burners side by side.

The fuel connector screws into the stove and into any isobutane canister, and there's a knob on each burner to control the gas flow, with two ignition levers to light them.

The stove comes with a 5l FluxPot and 10in (25cm) ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan, both of which are lightweight and have handles that remain cool when you're cooking and fold away. The 5l pot has a lid to help boil water faster, and there's a windscreen included.

Weight and packability

The whole package is designed to easily pack inside the 5l pot, and it comes with a cylindrical carry bag with handles that makes it super-easy to carry from car to campsite. There's even a little extra room for other kitchen utensils (I keep a spatula, sporks, and chopping board in there now).

Compared to a lot of other portable double-burner stoves, it's really quite light and a lot more packable, easily stashing into the very small trunk of our tiny car or behind the front seats.

Ease of use and performance

In my initial field test, I wanted to see how far I could get without reading the instruction manual, and in fact, it's all pretty intuitive.

I unfolded the stove and connected the fuel. I only needed to check the manual to find the ignition, which is a small red lever that I had to flick once for fire. The burners roared to life ferociously, and I set about bringing one liter of water to a boil and frying an egg.

Because I was only boiling one liter of water, it was bubbling in about two minutes, while my egg started to bubble away before I realized I needed to turn the heat way down underneath it. Suffice to say, it all happens in a Jetboil flash.

Because I was just giving the stove a quick test, I packed it all up almost immediately and was pleased to find the equipment wasn't super hot and I didn't have to hang around waiting for it to cool.

Over time we've figured out how to cook food at a lower setting. Now, our eggs don't have bubbles in them and this summer we've successfully made pasta, sausages and mash, and several nice cooked breakfasts.

We've managed to nail the simmer function, but if you want to cook things on a really low heat, you might struggle, but that's not a priority for me at camp because the aim of the game is always food, fast. The only drawback, compared to my Vango stove, is that you can't make toast.

Unusually for Scotland, we've not had to contend with much wind recently, which is good because the Basecamp System's wind screen isn't the best. It's a plastic sheet that site near the stove, but it's a little flimsy and unwieldy. That said, I think it would take a serious wind to affect the burners, and in that instance, I'd think about setting up elsewhere. Since this stove is designed for car campers, you could obviously use your car as a wind screen.

Durability and value

This stove is built of tough stuff and doesn't creak unnervingly like my Vango, which makes it seem cheap in comparison. The pans are equally sturdy and well designed.

The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System Isobutane is a top-of-the-line double burner and in comparison to the competition, it truly excels in packability and weight, ease of use and quick boiling performance. You won't be surprised to hear that it's easily the priciest we've tested, but you certainly get what you pay for, and if you love car camping, there's no reason why this spend won't make you very happy.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

With the long, hot days of summer coming to an end, now is the time to look towards the future and invest in a snug and cozy jacket to keep you warm this winter.

If you're looking for a new jacket to wear while you shuffle around the campsite or take on winter walks, then check out this super-insulating model from Patagonia. The Cotton Down jacket is a solid option for autumn and winter outdoor activities, and is now available for just $219.73 at REI.

This snug down jacket features recycled 600-fill-power down, reclaimed from other down products. It also meets Bluesign criteria for sustainability, meaning it adheres to strict environmental and sustainability requirements, so you walk with a clear conscience without getting cold.

The jacket's outer fabric is 100% cotton, and its zip-through collar is designed to stop heat from escaping via your neck. If you're starting to overheat, you can unzip the full-length centre-front zipper to increase airflow.

The Cotton Down jacket is discounted in three colorways: Seabird Grey, Basin Green, and Pitch Blue, which features a retro Patagonia logo and unique zipper design.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Patagonia jackets where you are.

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Big Agnes Rapide SL Pillow: first impressions 

Inflatable camping pillows have a bit of a bad reputation for being, well, useless, but this game-changing cushion from Colorado's Big Agnes is here to help rewrite that unfortunate narrative.

It arrives packed away in a stuff sack and is so small you can easily pop it in a pocket or clip it to your backpack. Made using a soft, four-way stretch nylon (that's puncture and tear-resistant), this pillow inflates with just a couple of puffs to become a decent-seized support system that's not as big as your pillow at home, but still gives your head plenty of wiggle room. You can adjust it to make it softer or firmer depending on your needs.

It's designed with ergonomic thickness and shape for a comfortable sleep position, whether you're on your side or back, and it stays nice and stable while you sleep, thanks to what the brand calls a 'minimalist offset I-Beam construction'. Basically, it's quiet, soft and stable.

And if that's not all you need from a camping pillow, it has advanced heat reflective technology so it helps keep you warm and cozy after the temperatures drop, and an
antimicrobial treatment inside the pillow prevents micro-organism growth to keep your pillow fresh and stink-free.

When it's time to pack up and move on, this pillow easily deflates and rolls away. It's on the higher end of pricing for pillows we've tested, but easily worth every penny and turns a camping pillow from nice-to-have to must-have for backpackers who hate waking up with sore necks.

Big Agnes Rapide SL Pillow: in the field 

I've been using my old Klymit Cush pillow for camping for at least 15 years and I love it for its light weight packability, but I often have to fold it up to get the correct thickness, and it struggles to fully deflate these days, so when I heard that Big Agnes was breaking into the UK market, I was excited to try some of their ultralight gear on my adventures.

I actually got this pillow to use on my trek to Everest Base Camp, which turned out to be unnecessary as the pillows along the route were all sufficient, but I've spent the summer using it along with the Big Agnes Rapide SL Sleeping Pad on all my camping trips.

Here’s how it performed:

Weight and packability

When you can roll up a fleece jacket and stick it in the stuff sack of your sleeping bag to rest your head on, it's easy to rule out hauling the extra bulk and weight of a camping pillow, but this model eliminates any debate for me. I often like to give a comparison to help understand how much an item I'm reviewing weighs, but at just 50 grams with the stuff sack, it literally feels like nothing in my hand. Even if I were trying to fastpack my way along the Appalachian Trail, I wouldn't think twice about bringing it.

It packs down into a little stuff sack and fits in the palm of my hand, and it's squashable, so it's easy to fit inside any pocket or even my camping mug. If you really don't have room inside your pack, clip it to the outside via the loop on the stuff sack.

Size, comfort and noisiness

The problem, if there was one, with my old pillow is that it's designed to be versatile, so it's quite long and thin and can be used as a seat or doubled up for a pillow. It's a great design, but it made me think there was no way an inflatable pillow could feel like a regular one, and it turns out that's not true.

This inflates to about two-thirds the width of my pillow at home, which is a decent amount of real estate and means if I'm on my back and want to roll onto my side, I don't have to adjust my pillow.

I like it inflated all the way and find the thickness just right for my neck, even on my side, and it's soft against my skin and nice and stable and supportive.

The soft fabric means it's not crinkly or rustly which also helps me get a better night's sleep.

Ease of use and value

Some valves are really fiddly, but this is super easy to inflate and deflate. I'm not sure if this is what I'm supposed to be doing, but basically, I use one finger to press the middle of the valve then put my mouth over it to blow air in. It takes me precisely two big breaths to inflate it, and all the air doesn't come rushing back out when it's time to close the valve.

My old pillow has an annoying habit of holding onto a little air, and fortunately, this one doesn't share that trait. When I want to pack it away, I just press the center of the valve again while I squeeze the air out, and before I know it it's packed away and I'm back on the trail.

It's not the priciest pillow on the market, but at $50 I can see why lots of backpackers would want to give it a miss. I've always prided myself on a more minimalist approach, but now I know how comfortable this pillow is, I'd happily pay the price and won't go camping again without it.

Also consider

Comparison table

• How Advnture tests products

Want to get outdoors and enjoy the trail this autumn? You might need to invest in some new gear.

Along with a decent raincoat and a reliable pair of hiking pants, a good fleece layer is key for cold and breezy weather, providing some much-needed insulation when the temperature drops without the bulk of a down jacket. One of our favorite models does just that, and is now 30% in time for autumn!

The men's Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4 zip fleece is a trusty option for cold and windy days in the wilderness, and it's now available for just $96.93 at REI.

This cozy jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester, which wraps around your upper half to keep heat from escaping, while its elasticated cuffs and high neck stop the cold from coming in.

Expert tester Craig Taylor wore his Better Sweater for four years before writing his review for Advnture, and had very few complaints.

"As I look at it now, there’s barely a thread out of place, and despite living through dozens of rough adventures, it looks pretty much as it did on the day I bought it," says Craig.

"Thick and comfortable, one of the things I love most about the Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4-Zip Fleece is how comfortable it feels under a heavy pack.

"That’s thanks in a large part to the “bounce” in the material, as well as some clever design features Patagonia have implemented in production."

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Patagonia Better Sweater 1/4 zip fleece deals where you are.

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First impressions

Not only is the Skien Valley long-sleeved top a nice-looking hiking shirt (available for men and women), with some great vents and features, it’s also part of Columbia’s new Insect Shield Collection, which – so the US-based brand – can protect you from bity beasts while you’re trying to enjoy alfresco adventures.

Not all insects are annoying, most do a very valuable job, but I think we can all agree that some, like mosquitoes and midges, are the bastard spawn of the devil and, when they’re not actually killing people, they seem to exist only to drive hikers and campers mad and ruin the outdoor experience. There are myriad ways to try and keep them at bay, including using spray-on repellents and creams, from deet to more natural deterrents like citronella and eucalyptus – but this can prove costly, the bottles take up room in your backpack and some have a very strong smell and feel greasy on your skin.

Another option is to cover up as much of your body as possible, with standard base layers and long socks and so on, but that can get very hot and sweaty when you’re hiking and spending time in camp in the summer, which is exactly when such annoying insects come out.

Alternatively, you can try using treated clothing, like garments from Columbia’s new Insect Shield collection. The Skien Valley shirt is part of this range of gnat-smashing wearable gear, all of which are impregnated with an insecticide called permethrin, which the American brand say works against mosquitoes, ticks, ants, flies, chiggers, and no-see-ums. If this stuff works, I’m all over it.

Design and Materials

The pieces of clothing in the Insect Shield Collection, including the Skien Valley shirt, aren’t just treated with permethrin, they are also designed to deter biting insects from landing on you in the first place. This starts with the light colorways used (less attractive to the creatures, apparently) and extends to extra coverage (long sleeves, collar etc) and mesh-backed vents on the back and the elbows, which allow cool air in and hot air to escape, without opening a door of opportunity for the biting insects to get in and have a munch on you.

The nylon material is light, but not so thin that a mosquito can stab its proboscis through it, and the thickness also protects you from the sun (as does the collar). The material contains Omni-Wick technology, which shifts moisture (sweat) away from your body to the outside of the garment, where it quickly evaporates.

Aside from these features, both the men’s and the women’s version of this shirt boast two chest pockets. On the women’s shirt these are both secured with Velcro, but on the men’s shirt the one on the left has a vertical opening and a zip. All versions of the shirt have a secret interior pocket made from mesh, for stashing something like a credit card very discreetly if you’re traveling in places where security is an issue.

The snap closures on the cuff and front of the shirt make it very quick and easy to put on and take off, and to open up when you want extra air flow. The collar can be flipped up to supply extra protection for your neck from the sun.

It’s just a shame that no recycled fabric appears to have been used in the construction of the Skien Valley shirt, and that it doesn't contain any treatment to prevent the build up of bacteria and bad odors over time.

On the trails

I have been wearing the Skien Valley shirt and other elements of Columbia’s Insect Shield Collection during this long hot summer, while hiking and camping in England and Ireland. In one campsite in particular, in the Wicklow Mountains just outside Dublin, during a still day amid a stifling heatwave, the midges were at plague proportions, emerging in aggressive clouds as soon as the sun set, and I was able to give the gear a really good test.

In my experience, after I changed out of standard kit and into the Insect Shield clothing, there was a noticeable difference in the amount of attention I was getting from the biting insects, who presumably went and annoyed someone else (sorry, not sorry, camping comrades).

I can’t say I was completely shielded from bites by this shirt, because it doesn’t offer full coverage (unlike the Skien Valley Hooded Light Jacket, which has a face net and everything), and in the campsite I ended up donning an ensemble that comprised the Skien Valley Hoodie, Cargo Hiking trousers and Booney hat.

But where this shirt comes into its own is during hiking escapades and walking adventures. The vents on the elbows and shoulders are excellent, allowing delicious bursts of breeze to get through and cool your skin, while the mesh backing behind these flaps keeps insects out.

Obviously it’s best to wear the sleeves down when you’re in camp, to fend off squadrons of mosquitoes, but when you’re striding along the trail and breaking a sweat, it’s easy and pleasant to roll the cuffs up and use the snap closures to keep them in place. The same style closures on the front allow you to open the shirt up as much as you like, to let even more air in, while the material supplies excellent protection from the sun.

Although I’m not in the habit of carrying too much in my shirts, the pockets on the Skien Valley top are impressive, especially the zippered on the left, where you can stash cash, cards and other things you really don’t want to lose. I wasn’t too worried about encountering bandits in the Wicklow Mountains, but the secret inner pocket is a nice touch for people traveling in places where pickpocketing might be more of a concern.

Overall, this is a very well-designed, highly functional, impressive featured hiking shirt, that looks decent with hiking pants or shorts when you’re on the trail, and works well with jeans in more social circumstances. It supplies more protection from aggressive and annoying flora and fauna than the vast majority of other tops on the market, and it’s available for a sensible price.

Also consider

The end of summer is sadly in our sights, but if you have no intention of letting the weather get in the way of your camping plans, you're going to need a warmer sleeping pad.

Right now, you can pick up the top-rated Nemo Tensor All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad for just $149.89 at REI. That's a rare savings of 25% off this sleeping pad, which REI customers give a perfect 5 stars.

This deal is part of REI's massive Labor Day sale going on through September 1 with up to 30% off some of the best hiking and camping equipment.

The Tensor All-Season Ultralight has an impressive R-value of 5.4 and features the brand's proprietary Spaceframe baffle design, which utilizes low-stretch fabric trusses to create stable support and offer just the right amount of give for a great night's sleep.

This deal apples to both the regular and regular mummy sizing, while you can also makes savings on the wide and long versions if you want a bit more real estate.

If you're not in the US, scroll to the bottom of this article for the best Nemo Tensor sleeping pad deals where you live.

The regular mummy sizing weighs just 14oz but inflates to give you 3.5in of loft and keep you well off rough ground. The included Vortex pump sack provides easy and fast inflation, saves your breath at elevation and minimizes moisture entering the pad.

If you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Nemo Tensor sleeping pad deals where you are.

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Are you on the hunt for a cozy new tent to take the family camping? Act fast, and you can save loads on this large, three-season model at Backcountry. The Marmot Halo tent boasts living space for up to four people, and is now available for $389.99.

It's made from a combination of 68-denier polyester ripstop and 40-denier polyester no-see-um mesh, designed to keep you cool and cozy in spring, summer, and fall. When the weather worsens, you're protected from the rain by a PU-coated 86-denier nylon rainfly and 70-denier nylon floor, which boasts a hydrostatic head rating of 3,000mm.

Hydrostatic head ratings indicate how waterproof your tent is, reflecting the amount of water, in millimeters, that the fabric can withstand before it leaks. Anything with a hydrostatic head rating over 1,000mm is considered waterproof, and a rating of 3,000mm is more than enough to withstand heavy rainfall.

Inside, there's 64sq ft (5.9m²) of floor space, and multiple storage compartments, so you can keep your belongings organized and maximize the available room.

This large Marmot tent is designed for heavy use with the family, or multiple friends. If you're looking for something a little smaller, you can check out our guides to the best one-person tents and two-person tents.

If you're not in the States, you can look below for today's best marmot tent deals where you are.

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As someone who attended every rally and protest about the recent attempt by a wealthy landlord to remove the right to legally wild camp on Dartmoor, and a regular wild camper myself, I dread waking up to news reports such as this one, claiming there has been a surge in fly camping since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the general public retaining the right to spend the night on the moor.

The first thing that raises my hackles (after the fact that some people will stoop to such conduct) is the instant and seemingly gleeful conflation of wild camping with nuisance camping and general bad behaviour in the outdoors. Although the article does admittedly make an attempt to explain the ethics of wild camping as opposed to fly camping, the dots are neatly set out for the casual reader to join the two activities, as if one is an inevitable consequence of the other.

In reality, the fly camping described in the BBC piece has absolutely nothing to do with wild camping, and there are already laws in place proscribing such destructive behaviour. Wild camping involves hiking or biking some distance into a remote place with things you can carry in a backpack (ie not a generator, large speakers and a coolbox full of beer), and then leaving the area at least as pristine as you found it (many wild campers will remove litter left by others).

Going wild

Had the recent court case gone the other way, this problematic activity would very likely still be happening (especially in a summer that has seen four freakish heatwaves so far), but all the responsible wild campers would have been criminalised or deterred from spending time on Dartmoor as well, leaving fewer people to help clear up the resulting mess and/or alert authorities to serious wrongdoing taking place in the National Park.

To draw an analogy: it’s currently perfectly acceptable all over Britain to enjoy a picnic in a park with friends, but that doesn’t make it OK to drive across the grass, chuck empty soda cans and McDonald’s wrappers all over the place, bust out a sound system, hold an impromptu rave and leave your old sofa and busted fridge in the hedge.

These two sets of behaviors are pretty clearly distinct from one another, right? Well, it’s the same with wild camping and fly camping. Except no one is suggesting that a countrywide ban on picnicking is a good idea, or that responsible sandwich munchers should all be criminalized.

Under Pressure

Did the court case and media coverage of it draw attention to the fact that Dartmoor is the only place in the whole of England and Wales that you can legally camp in a natural setting without paying for the privilege? Yes, of course it did. And that has inevitably increased the numbers of people visiting the moor to do just that, which only goes to highlight how ludicrous that situation is.

Some people literally drive down the country to Devon from the North and the Midlands, passing all kinds of wonderful wild places, just so they can enjoy a night under the stars on Dartmoor without the threat of getting moved on. And the vast majority of these people proceed to wild camp completely responsibly, but they should be free to do this in myriad remote spots around the country.

To draw another analogy – currently anyone and everyone is free to fish from any publicly accessible beach or headland in Britain, without a permit (and, sadly, some of the people who interpret that right in entirely the wrong way leave broken beer bottles and fishing line laced with hooks behind on the sand for kids and dogs to find with their feet the next day). Can you imagine if ‘wild fishing’ was legal in just a couple of coves in one county – picture the pressure that would put that small piece of coastline under.

Optics and evidence

Part of the problem with fly camping is that it only takes a few groups of people doing it to create a massive and very visible mess. An increase in real wild campers is much harder to monitor, because they leave no trace (and therefore cause no problems).

“We have seen lots more wild campers coming to spend time in popular areas such as Postbridge recently,” says Gillian Heally – who is a Dartmoor Guide, running walking excursions across the moor, and a co-ordinator for The Stars are for Everyone, a group that has been at the forefront of the fight for the continued right to wild camp on Dartmoor. “But the next day you wouldn’t know anyone had been there.”

Sadly, the same is not true when you get an increase in vehicle visitation, whether people stay overnight in vans or tents (and, once again for those at the back, camping by your car is not wild camping), or just come for the day.

“I’m on a forum for outdoor leaders, and there has been a lot of talk this summer about the rise in problem behaviour like littering in popular outdoor areas across the country,” Gillian tells me. “And just look at the state festival sites are left in. We live in a throw-away culture. I think the best solution is through education – not through putting up barriers stop people going outdoors.”

Access and education

And this is the crux of the problem. If you make it hard, or impossible, for groups and families to take children out and legally spend quality time in the wilderness, how can you expect the next generation to know how to behave in, or to properly value, green spaces? And corralling campers into paid-for sites (as good as many of them are) just teaches people there’s a litter bin on every corner, which isn’t the case in the wild, where you need to pack everything back out with you.

The fact there’s still only one tiny corner of one county in the whole of England and Wales where you are allowed to do something as simple as sleep outside is staggering. And the attention that has been brought to this ridiculous situation has obviously increased pressure on parts of Dartmoor – especially in a post-lockdown era of outdoor online influencers (many of whom, to be fair, do stress the importance of leave no trace ethics) with enormous followings.

And this is why organisations such as the BMC are pushing for an expansion of the right to wild camp across the country, in a campaign I passionately support. But wherever you stand on the issue, make sure you leave the spot at least as green, clean, pretty and pristine as it was when you found it in the first place.

It was a landmark ruling widely celebrated in the outdoors community - the right to wild camp on Dartmoor was enshrined in a court ruling in May.

But now reports have emerged of an increase in fly camping in the national park, with claims that some people are using the wilderness "like a festival site".

There have been reports of campers heading into the national park with large family tents and items like generators, mini fridges and boom boxes. Trash left behind, roadside camping and irresponsible fires have all been reported too. Sam Le Bailly, a national park ranger, said, "It's really crazy what you see. It still surprises me."

Richard Drysdale, director of conservation and communities at Dartmoor Naitonal Park said: "There has been a real rise in the number of people thinking that within this incredible area that they can treat it like a festival site".

This comes after the right to legally wild camp across parts of the national park was restored by the Supreme Court in May following a legal challenge against wild campers by a wealthy landowner.

Wild camping and fly camping

Deputy head ranger Ella Briens added, "We want to be really clear about what backpack or wild camping is and what's fly camping."

Wild camping is a form of camping that takes place away from designated camp sites. It typically takes place high up on open access land by individuals or small groups who follow the Leave no Trace principles by camping discretely and leaving the environment as they found it.

Fly camping does not adhere to the Leave no Trace principles and often involves indiscrete groups pitching tents near the roadside down in the valley. Discarded trash, tents and ruined sites, as well as anti-social behavior are commonplace, with fly campers often leaving scorched earth due to campfires.

Fly camping epidemic

This all comes a month after we reported on fly campers around Ullswater in the English Lake District. Local residents said that they were "frustrated" that more wasn't being done by the local council and national bodies like the National Trust to challenge fly camping.

In a separate incident last week, Keswick Mountain Rescue was called out by local police to carry out a welfare check on a tent pitched at an inaccessible location above the Lake District's Langsrath Valley. At the time, the region was in the grip of a named storm – Storm Floris – adding to both the urgency of the potential rescue and also the difficulties the rescuers could face.

As it turned out, the tent had been abandoned and contained the remains of food and a sopping wet sleeping bag. "Yet another case of fly campers" Keswick Mountain Rescue bemoaned on its official Instagram feed.

Dartmoor camping in the news again

Wild camping in Dartmoor National Park has been in the news a great deal over the last few years. It's the only place in England where it's currently legal to wild camp, though the practice is generally tolerated across the country if the Leave no Trace principles are adhered to. However, the right to wild camp on Dartmoor came under threat after a legal challenge by wealthy hedge fund manager Alexander Darwall and his wife Diana, who own the 4,000-acre Blachford Estate in the south of the national park.

After a nail-biting seven month wait for Right to Roam campaigners, the right to legally wild camp in large parts of Dartmoor was restored and the Darwalls' appeal was thrown out by the Supreme Court.

It's a result that has galvanized all who would love to see the right to legally wild camp extended across all of England and Wales, just as it is in neighboring Scotland. However, instances of fly camping continue to harm this cause, providing landowners with a legitimate argument against opening up the land to all.

We Wild Camp campaign

In June 2025 the British Mountaineering Council – the national representative body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers – launched its We Wild Camp campaign. The campaign is designed to improve education around responsible camping and deal with the rise of fly camping while raising wild camping's profile, leading to reform and sharing best practice.

One of the ways the BMC is combatting fly camping is via the Wild campers tackling fly camping Facebook group, a forum to "discuss how to leave the countryside better than we found it".

The campaign is also calling for six key changes to allow for reform. These include:

• National Park Authorities to be given the power to create wild camping zones to help manage responsible wild camping and tackle fly camping.
• Guidance on how to wild camp responsibly to be included within an updated version of the countryside code.
• Additional funding for National Parks, National Landscapes, and land managers to support responsible wild camping in the right place.
• A substantial new investment in young people's outdoor education to help improve understanding and skills needed to wild camp responsibly.

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Are your backcountry kitchen skills in high demand? You're going to need a proper knife for cheffing it up at camp, and we've found a deal just for you.

Right now, you can grab the highly rated GSI Outdoors Santoku Knife Set for only $9.57 at Steep and Cheap. That's a massive 40% off the regular asking price for this gourmet prep set that's perfect for camping and backpacking.

With an average rating of 4.7 stars, this knife set is praised for its sturdy construction and usefulness outdoors. The sharp, stainless steel blade is 8.25in in length, making it more useful than your pocket knife for slicing and dicing and comes with a protective sheath, rolling cutting board, and mesh bag to pack it all away so you can stash it in your backpack when you're on the go.

If you're not in the US, scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on camping knives where you are.

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The National Park Service is facing an all-out crisis after losing roughly 24% of its full-time staff to a series of brutal cuts and redundancies imposed by the Trump administration.

Visitors to the parks have been forced to contend with long lines, reduced opening hours, and other issues as parks across the country struggle to cope without sufficient staff. Conservation and scientific efforts have also been impacted as employees are forced to perform various visitor-facing roles and clean the bathrooms, due to a lack of maintenance staff.

To find out just how bad things have gotten, I caught up with John Garder, Senior Director of Budget and Appropriations at the National Parks Conservation Association.

The NPCA is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to protecting America's National Parks and their staff.

What happened?

The past few months have been extremely damaging for the NPS.

Days after taking office, President Trump announced a federal hiring freeze, which stopped America's 63 national parks from recruiting the thousands of temporary workers they rely on each year during the busy summer season, and asked full-time employees to take redundancy.

Weeks later, one thousand further staff were fired in a bulk email, popularly referred to as the 'Valentine's Day massacre'.

In total, internal NPS data reported by NPCA suggests that the parks have lost almost a quarter of their full-time staff, and have only hired around half of the usual number of temporary employees.

Visitor experience

Inadequate staff numbers have had a drastic impact on the visitor experience at America's 63 national parks.

"We are seeing late openings of campgrounds, long lines at the visitor centre, challenges keeping up with maintenance, reduced hours at parks, reduced hours at visitor centres, and other impacts," Garder explains.

Delays have been a common occurrence throughout the summer. Parks across the country are recording record visitor numbers, but without ample staff to man the facilities, some visitors have been forced to wait in lengthy lines before they can even get through the gate.

To make up for the missing maintenance workers, Garder claims that law enforcement officers, scientists, and other non-public-facing staff have been forced away from their usual work to help visitors.

"We're seeing a situation where there are professional staff who care for resources, who do scientific work, who perform law enforcement, and are needed for their normal duties, who are now maintaining bathrooms, and are doing some of the other work so that visitors don't see the impact that this is having," he tells me.

Internal NPS emails seen by SFGate appear to confirm Garder's claims, asking biologists, hydrologists, and archaeologists at Yosemite National Park to take on bathroom shifts due to insufficient staff numbers.

Garder continues: "The long-term threat, which is very alarming, is not necessarily visible to park visitors, but if this keeps up, this eventually is going to be the case as resources get degraded."

Conservation

With conservation staff forced elsewhere to deal with other, 'collateral duties', Garder fears that their vital work monitoring wildlife, addressing invasive species, and restoring habitats is in danger.

"All of those things are at risk as professionals are being lost, and those staff who remain are, in many cases, being sent to perform other duties, many of which are visitor-facing," he explains.

Multiple conservation employees have also lost work in Trump's mass firings, and many more have taken the administration's redundancy package.

Campsites

Campsites are one of the few areas where the parks are just about coping. Although multiple sites were unable to open on time earlier in the summer, the rehiring of some seasonal staff has lifted the burden.

"As they've been able to hire more seasonal staff, which is not at the level that the Interior Secretary promised, they have been able to do more things like open up campgrounds," says Garder.

What's next?

The future of America's national parks remains in the balance, but there's a possibility that things could get even worse before they get better.

In June, President Trump's Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposed a whopping $1.2 billion cut to the NPS in its 2026 budget proposal to Congress.

The announcement sent a shudder through the outdoor community. The NPS already has a monster deferred maintenance backlog of over $20 billion, and nature lovers feared that it wouldn't be able to cope with just two-thirds of its 2025 budget.

Congress, thankfully, listened to the budget's many critics, and a House appropriations subcommittee recently marked it up with a restored NPS budget of $3.1 billion, which would essentially keep funding the same as this year.

"We're relieved to see that Congress is declining some of the administration's worst proposals, at least so far," says Garder, who remains deeply concerned about the service's future under the Trump administration.

"The Interior Secretary has engaged in a steady, all-out assault on the National Park Service," he claims.

"This is historic in nature, and we're alarmed by it. It's important that Americans continue to demonstrate outrage, and the administration and Congress listen to them."

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• The best hiking boots and shoes for wide feet: stride out with confidence in well-fitting footwear

If you're new to camping, setting up your tent can be a bit of a mission. Detailed instructions, different connecting poles, and plenty of pegs can all seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you're only planning a short trip.

Beginner-friendly pop-up tents aim to eliminate the hassle by setting up in seconds, without the need for fiddling around. They're not as stable as dedicated camping and backpacking tents, but are well worth considering for rookies, and we've found one of our favorite models for a whopping 60% off!

The Regatta Malawi 2 tent is a compact and lightweight 2-person model that pops up instantly, and is now available for just $48 on the Regatta website. It's made from breathable 100% polyester fabric and comes with a 70-denier Hydrofort flysheet, which boasts an impressive 3,000mm hydrostatic head waterproof rating.

The Malawi 2 holds a place on our guide to the best pop-up tents as the best model for festival use, where we described it as an "archetypal tent" for festival goers and beginner campers.

"We found it to be a nice light weight, a compact and easy-to-store size and it pops up instantly and folds down quickly into a circular carry bag," continues our guide.

Not in the US? Look below to check out today's best Malawi 2 pop-up tent deals where you are.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best camping tents: for superb backcountry adventures

If you're spending time outdoors, you never know when you'll need to trim, pry, sharpen or whittle, and a good blade is key. Among the great pocket knife makers, Portland-based Gerber Gear is one of the heavyweights, known for its high-quality blades, and right now, you can grab the popular Gerber Gear Swagger Folding Pocket Knife for just $24.94 on Amazon.

That's a massive 41% off this highly-rated camping knife, which receives an average of 4.4 stars among customers and makes a great gift.

"This Gerber you can count on for years," writes one reviewer, who calls it the best knife they've ever purchased.

This pocket knife weighs 4.4oz and has a 3.25in stainless steel G10 blade built to stand the test of time for your outdoor adventures, and designed for Every Day Carry.

The Swagger uses an assisted opening that makes it safer to use, and while some reviewers note that it's a little stiff the first few tries, it soon loosens up and becomes pleasingly easy to open with just one hand.

If you're not in the US, scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on Gerber knives where you are.

This simple but essential camping knife comes with a lifetime warranty and is perfect for camping, hunting, bushcraft and just opening packages at home.

Not in the US? These are today's best deals on Gerber knives where you are:

• Best camping knives: folding knives for wild expeditions
• The best multitools: for camping, hiking and other outdoor adventures

A search and rescue team in British Columbia rushed to a woodland area after hikers reported hearing calls for help – only to discover a lone camper singing by the campfire.

Officials from Central Okanagan Search & Rescue say they received a call on the night of Thursday, July 31, reporting someone was yelling for help near the Boulderfields, a popular climbing spot near Kelowna.

Fortunately, Thursday is the rescue team's regular training night and it was able to swiftly respond with their entire crew, plus two RCMP officers, and a drone team.

"Early responders even heard faint yelling—but couldn’t make out what was being said. Was it “help”? Or worse, Nickelback?" writes the team in its report.

The large crew fanned out on foot to cover the woods and forest roads and quickly discovered their target: "A lone camper, singing his heart out to the trees."

The teams say the natural acoustics of the Boulderfields had unintentionally amplified the one-man concert, turning his solo a cappella performance into "an accidental distress signal."

“He wasn’t in trouble,” says COSAR Search Manager Duane Tresnich. “Unless you count his singing.”

COSAR took the time to thank the hikers for being cautious and reporting the incident, writing: "Our services are always free. And the money you save could be spent on singing lessons."

• The best camping tents: for superb backcountry adventures
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves

Keen to squeeze the last out of the summer with a few more camping adventures? Check out this insane deal on one of our favorite 4-person tents, which is now a whopping 63% off at Amazon.

The Sierra Designs Nomad 4 tent is a spacious and easy-to-use model with enough insulation for three-season use, and it's now available for just $159.95.

This well-rated freestanding tent is made from 15-denier no-see-um nylon material and uses a 68-denier polyester taffeta floor and flysheet to protect against rainfall in the wilderness. It's also very lightweight for a 4-person tent, weighing in at just 12lb 13oz (5.81kg). This is a little heavy for one person to lug around the wilderness, but it works well for four campers sharing the burden.

Along with its minimal weight and decent protection from the elements, the Nomad 4 stands out due to its super-quick and simple set-up. It takes only minutes to pitch after just "a glance at the instructions," according to camping expert Sian Lewis, who gave the tent a four-star rating in her review for Advnture.

"We were impressed with the bedroom size and dimensions when we tested out the Nomad on a multi-day camp on Dartmoor," she continued.

"It doesn’t quite offer room to stand but is still far roomier and taller than most lightweight four-person tents on the market."

Not in the US? Look below to check out today's best Sierra Designs Nomad 4 tent deals where you are.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best pop-up tents: backpacking and camping tents for speedy setup

Leatherman has launched a voluntary recall of two of its popular multi-tool models due to a design flaw that may pose a risk of injury to users.

According to an alert by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Portland-based multi-tool pioneer has issued a recall of the models after discovering the flaw, which Leatherman says only affects “a small portion of units.” According to the official recall, the tip of the knife blade in some units may not fold fully into the handle, which may result in a “laceration hazard.”

Approximately 17,000 of these products have been sold in the United States at REI, hardware, cutlery and other stores and online at Leatherman and Amazon between July 2024 and March 2025. There have been no reports of injuries from the flaw.

This recall involves the Leatherman Charge Plus and Charge Plus TTi multi-tools. The Charge Plus multi-tools come in both black and stainless steel colors with a black MOLLE or black nylon sheath. The Charge Plus TTi multi-tools are stainless steel and have a black nylon sheath. Both have the brand name “Leatherman” etched on them.

If you believe you own either of these products, you should immediately stop using it and visit Leatherman’s recall page to determine if your multi-tool requires recall. If your item is affected, you will not be required to show proof of purchase and will receive a pre-paid shipping label to return it to Leatherman to be repaired free of charge.

• The best multitools: for camping, hiking and other outdoor adventures
• Best camping knives: folding knives for wild expeditions

Heading outdoors with a map doesn’t just help to keep you safe – it can help you discover natural features you might otherwise have overlooked or choose the best route to a summit according to your ability level. These days, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to online maps, with navigation apps like AllTrails, OS Maps and Komoot leading the way, and now the US Geological Survey has got in on the action.

The USGS is a scientific agency that studies the landscape of the US, so they’ve been amassing data useful to hikers and backcountry explorers for nearly 150 years. With the launch of its new digital 25K Recreational Topos – so-called because they have a 1:25,000 scale – you can access highly detailed maps of any area in the US you want to explore with a user-friendly design that the agency says is built for recreational users.

“Whether you are a seasoned explorer or a casual hiker, the new USGS maps are a game-changer for recreational activities,” says Ariel Doumbouya, a USGS geographer and product lead.

The maps show subtle changes in terrain so you can plan routes that match your skill level, time constraints, and interests. Specialized symbols denote important recreational features you might be interested in, such as trailheads, campsites, and other amenities. Rivers, trails and forests are emphasized to help you focus on recreational opportunities, as are protected areas, such as National Parks, to encourage responsible exploration.

“They empower adventurers to explore the outdoors with greater confidence, insights, and awareness of their surroundings,” says Doumbouya.

A 1:25,000 scale means one inch on the map represents 25,000 inches on the ground, or roughly 1.4 miles, which is the common scale used in Alaska, Canada, and by the U.S. Military.

The new 25K Recreational Topo is available through the USGS topoBuilder app, where you can customize and download digital OnDemand Topo maps featuring the most up-to-date data from The National Map. The maps can be integrated with GPS devices such as your phone, GPS watch or other apps, so you can use them for navigation in the field, and perhaps most exciting of all, they’re all free for digital use.

Check out our article on how to read a map to get the most out of your experience, and if you’re relying on a digital device for navigation, always carry a portable charger and consider bringing a paper map and compass for backup.

• The best cheap GPS watches: log your adventures without depleting your savings

More people head outdoors in summer than any other season, but with the right gear you can hang out and roast marshmallows all year round. Right now, you can pick up the highly-rated Solo Stove Yukon Backyard Bundle 1.0 for just $599.99 at Steep and Cheap. Yep, we know, that sounds pricey, but it's a gigantic savings of 50% off the regular asking price for this smokeless fire pit, which Solo Stove customers give a 4.7-star rating.

"Absolutely the best," writes one Solo Stove customer, who say they use a combination of oak and ash when using it, and it goes completely smokeless after about 20 minutes.

Unlike some of its more portable models like the Solo Stove Lite, the Yukon is a burly affair that's built for backyard cookouts and long campsite gatherings where you don't want smoke flying around you.

This unique fire pit controls its wood-burning fire with 360° Signature Airflow Technology, which creates optimal airflow and a secondary burn to eliminate smoke before it gets in your hair and clothes.

If you're not in the US, scroll down to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on Solo Stove fire pits where you are.

The Yukon can be placed anywhere in your yard or campsite thanks to the included Yukon stand, while the Yukon shield and shelter protects you and your loved ones from loose ash, and your stove protected from the elements.

If you're not in the US, here are today's best offers on Solo Stove fire pits near you:

• The best wood-burning stoves: for cooking up campsite cuisine with natural fuel

Getting my hands on MSR's new Hubba Hubba LT tent several months before it’s officially released in Europe felt a bit like pushing to the front of a queue at a big gig or popular club… but I wasn’t going to let that stop me. And besides – you want to know what to expect when one of the world’s most iconic tents is re-launched, right?

If you’re not familiar with the Hubba Hubba – a tent so good they named it twice – you might be wondering what all the excitement is about. Isn’t this just another lightweight shelter? Well, no, not really – not if you’ve spent years wandering trails and hanging out in crags and campsites where the Hubba Hubba has been an ever-present feature for two decades, an immediate indicator that the people within it know what they’re doing in the outdoors and value quality kit.

Hubba Hubba History

Back in 2004, Mountain Safety Research (an American brand better known as MSR) launched the first Hubba Hubba tent, and promptly transformed overnight hiking experiences for a generation of multiday walkers, thru hikers and backpackers.

A freestanding hub-style shelter, with a semi-geodesic dome shape, the original Hubba Hubba was the first widely available 3-season packable tent to offer a large living space with decent headroom, plus two doors and spacious vestibules – all while being lightweight enough to take hiking and remaining easy and quick to pitch.

Besides the two-sided symmetrical hub, a major innovation was the ‘brow pole’, a short pole positioned perpendicularly to the main cross pole, which pushed the side of the structure out, vastly improving the useful space in both the inner tent and the vestibules. This, combined with the use of cutting-edge materials and some super smart design, resulted in a shelter that provided reliable 3-season protection from the elements, plus excellent comfort levels and enough covered outdoor space for hikers to store their walking boots and backpacks, and use a camping stove in rough weather. It was a game changer, and would go on to be one of the most popular backpacking tents of all time.

Hubba Bubbles

For the next 15 years, MSR incrementally evolved the design of the Hubba Hubba, adding little innovative elements such as internal drying/hanging lines, a loft and rain gutters on the fly, carefully refining what many regard to be the classic 2-person shelter to arrive at the MSR Hubba NX, which came out in 2019. The brand also adapted the Hubba design to produce a 1-person tent for solo campers , launched a 3-person Mutha Hubba, a 4-person Papa Hubba, and developed a 1-person and 2-person iteration of the tent specifically for bikepackers.

Earlier this year, however, came the exciting news that, after two decades, MSR had decided to substantially reconfigure the Hubba Hubba. The new design – the LT – would be on sale in January 2026 (in Europe, and a bit earlier in the United States), with 1-person, 2-person and 3-person versions available.

I was lucky enough to get a preview of the new designs at the Outdoor Trade Show in June, but having been teased with a tantalising glimpse, I couldn’t wait another six months to properly test this exciting new-generation tent out. So I travelled to Midleton in County Cork in the Republic of Ireland, where Cascade Designs (MSR’s parent company) have their European HQ, to get my hands on an early sample of the Hubba Hubba LT 2-Person Backpacking Tent, and then I took it out into the wilds in the Wicklow Mountains. Here is how I got on.

Ch ch ch changes

Before we get overexcited – please note that, at first glance, the Hubba Hubba LT doesn’t immediately look dramatically different to the NX – at least not on the outside.

It retains essentially the same shape and the flysheet’s neutral color scheme is a subtly different shade (the U.S. and European versions differ from one another in color slightly too). And to be fair, these elements didn't need to be tinkered with – the symmetrical shape works well for dealing with wind while offering good amounts of living space, and the natural color is ideal for discretion when you’re wild camping – so why change them?

There have been some changes to the design of the design of the DAC pole skeleton, however, with the four legs in the >–|–< shape being lengthened, and the brow pole being slightly extended, adaptations that have increased the internal living space and the usefulness of the vestibules. The corner hardware, where the ends of the poles slot into the feet at the four corners of the groundsheet, has also been upgraded, so the components are now all metal and highly durable. The new pegs are lightweight, but very sturdy, ‘mini groundhog’ stakes.

And although it looks similar, the materials used in the flysheet (and the floor and internal mesh walls) are now solution-dyed, a process that reduces carbon emissions by a minimum of 80% compared to the fabrics previously used by MSR (and other brands). The window vents have also been enhanced.

It's worth noting, however, that while the flysheet retain a hydrostatic head (HH) rating of 1,200mm (the same as the NX), the HH rating of the tent body (ground sheet) has dropped from 3000mm on the NX, to 1,800mm on the new LT. For a hardier (but heavier) tent, have a look at the Hubba Hubba HD, which includes a rainfly with a HH of 3,000 and groundsheet with a 6,000mm rating.

In numerical terms the increases might seem minor – with the new pole design you get 1in (2cm) extra head space, and the rectangular inner has 4in (11cm) additional length and 2in (5cm) extra width (to give you 32 sq ft of space total) but these changes make a tangible difference to the comfort levels.

As soon as I pitched the LT, rolled out my camping mat and sleeping bag, and stashed my stuff in the vestibule, the tent felt substantially larger than the NX. And as I got changed out of my hiking pants and crawled into bed that evening, I certainly appreciated the additional headroom.

I was testing the 2-person Hubba Hubba LT on my own this time, but you can very easily lay two large rectangular Thermarest Neoloft camping mats side by side in this tent (I’ve tried it), which is more than can be said for the vast majority of 2-person shelters. (As an aside, the new 3-person Hubba Hubba LT can comfortably work as a 4-person backpacking tent, if you use mummy shaped sleeping pads.)

The vestibules are also longer, and although they are slightly narrower, the useful amount of porch space has been increased, which comes in extremely handy when you are storing muddy hiking shoes and walking boots, or boiling some water for a brew.

Best of all, because of the change in fabric used for the inner, this size upgrade has been achieved for less of a weight penalty, with the LT weighing just 3lb 6oz (1.54kg), as compared to 3lb 13oz (1.72 kg) for the NX.

The main tent is now made mostly from solution-dyed micromesh, which is very lightweight but provides excellent breathability (vastly reducing condensation) and bug protection. You can pitch the tent and leave the flysheet off on cloud-free nights, to enjoy some stargazing before you drift into a slumber.

I was camping in the middle of a heatwave that was sizzling (even in Ireland), and I was very comfortable in a lightweight 2-season sleeping bag, but I can’t help thinking the use of this mesh will affect how warm the Hubba Hubba is during the colder months, lowering the internal temperature – this is something I’ll monitor as the seasons change.

Another alteration that becomes immediately obvious when you start looking more closely at the LT is to the internal doors. Instead of the old-style D-shape doors on the inner tent, there is a triangular shaped opening, with two separate zips meeting at the point of the right angle. The benefit of this is that the zips are more durable, easier to use with one hand, and the zipper always ends up in the same place, so you know exactly where to find it without scrambling around with a headlamp in the middle of the night.

One other change I noticed on the inside of the tent is the addition of cable ports in the wall pockets, so you can have things like mobile phones and smartwatches neatly plugged into powerpacks for recharging, without wires dangling all over the place.

I have many more adventures planned involving the new LT2, during which I will test the thermal properties of the redesigned inner tent (outside of a heatwave), and I will be uploading a full review here in due course.

You can purchase the Hubba Hubba LT2 in the United States now, and it will be available in the UK and across Europe from 1 January 2026. In the meantime, look out for deals on all iterations of the Hubba Hubba NX, which remains a superb backpacking tent.

Three-season tents are ideal for campers who want to steer clear of the winter cold and make the most of pleasant conditions during the rest of the year. The best combine a lightweight and breathable exterior with enough protection and waterproofing for when things get a little less comfortable.

If you're in the market for a model to see you through the summer and into the colder nights of fall, then this Big Agnes tent could be the one for you. The Blacktail 4 is built for trying conditions in spring, summer, and fall, and is now available for just $243.73 at REI.

The Blacktail 4 is made from a durable combination of breathable polyester mesh and lightweight aluminium poles, and features several fly vents, designed to increase airflow on sticky summer days. Inside, the sixty square feet (5.5m²) of floor area is large enough to sleep four, while the symmetrical pole structure increases head space, so everyone can fit in comfortably.

Good weather is never guaranteed in the wilderness, and the Blacktail aims to protect you from the rain with a waterproof floor and rainfly. Both are made from polyester and feature a 1,500 mm waterproof polyurethane (PU) coating to shield against the elements.

The Blacktail 4 sleeps four campers. If you're looking for something smaller, the Blacktail 2 and Blacktail 3 tents are perfect for two and three-person adventures and available for their list prices on REI.

If you're not in the States, you can look below for today's best Big Agnes tent deals.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double burner stoves

Side sleeping is the most common sleeping position for adults. Research shows that around 54% of us roll onto our sides when we want to get some kip, whether that's in a comfy bed at home or inside a toasty sleeping bag in the wilderness.

With so many people sleeping on their sides, it's a surprise that there aren't more sleeping bags like this one. The Big Agnes Sidewinder Camp 35 features a cocoon-style fit that hugs the contours of your body when you roll onto your side, and it's now available for just $100.73 in men's sizes and $118.73 in women's sizes at REI.

The side-sleeping design aims to increase comfort and keep insulation close to your body to stop irritating air pockets. Everything down to the thermally efficient footbox mimics the shape you make lying on your side.

Along with its unique design, the Sidewinder Camp 35 was built to be a reliable and insulating model that can keep you warm in temperatures down to 35°F (-2°C). It's made from dependable ripstop nylon and features a PFC-free water repellent finish to protect against the elements. It's filled with toasty FireLine Eco 100% post-consumer recycled polyester and stops heat from escaping with a no-draft anti-snag locking zipper.

If you're after something a little warmer, the Sidewinder Camp 20 model is rated down to 20°F (-7°C), and is also available in men's and women's sizes at REI.

Don't worry if you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Big Agnes sleeping bag deals where you are.

• The best sleeping bags: camp in comfort
• The best camping pillows: tested for comfort in the backcountry

Visitors to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming have been urged to keep their wits about them after a slew of shoe heists in recent weeks.

National Park Service rangers say that at least 32 pairs have been stolen from campers in the area, and are pointing the blame at a furry bandit in 'Wanted' posters that have been hung around the park.

'Wanted for grand theft footwear,' reads one poster, which describes a shoe-stealing fox who goes by the aliases: 'Sneaker Snatcher', 'Midnight Mismatcher', and 'Swiper the Fox'.

The posters appeared three weeks ago after the fox stole 19 pairs of shoes in a matter of weeks. They were designed to stop visitors leaving their footwear outside, but don't seem to have done the trick, as a further 32 pairs have been stolen since.

It might sound like a joke, but officials insist that the warnings are genuine and that visitors' shoes are in real danger of ending up in a fox's den if they're not stored safely.

NPS spokesperson Emily Davis told Backpacker: “We were trying to educate our visitors in a fun way about this fox and not to habituate it."

Officials aren't sure why the fox, or possible group of foxes, has taken a liking to visitors' footwear. Some think it could be attracted to sweat left inside, while others say it could see shoes as something to play with.

"Maybe it’s a toy. Maybe it’s a nesting material collection. Maybe it’s fashion," posits an NPS Instagram post.

Advice for visitors

Park officials are keen to stress the problems with shoe-stealing foxes, who could be getting too comfortable around humans.

"It’s a problem for the fox to get acclimated to humans because it may need to be relocated or, in the worst-case scenario, euthanized," reads the same Instagram post.

The NPS has issued the following advice for campers staying in Grand Teton.

• Store your shoes and other scented items in a secure location like a bear box. Keep them inside your tent at the very least.
• Don't bait wildlife with your belongings.
• If a fox shows up at your camp, scare it away with lots of noise.

For more wildlife safety tips, check out our top tips for surprise animal encounters.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves

For nearly 20 years, Yeti has dominated the quality corner of the camping cooler market. But all that started to change this spring when Coleman, long known for its decidedly more budget-friendly gear, decided to take a leaf out of the Austin brand's book.

The result is the new Coleman Pro line of hard and soft-sided coolers, which will keep your food and drinks cold for days, not just hours. Constructed using the same rotomolding process that Yeti uses to make coolers like its perennially popular Tundra 45 Hard Cooler, the Coleman Pro Hard Coolers are a seamless coolbox built through the heating and rotating of a plastic resin.

They're not as pricey as Yetis, but owing to their quality construction, they're not exactly cheap either – until now. Right now, you can scoop up the Coleman Pro Heavy-Duty 17qt Ultra-Light Premium Hard Cooler Lunchbox for just $74.99 at Amazon.

That's a massive 44% off the regular price for this robust but compact cooler, and the cheapest it's ever been on Amazon.

Built for day trips and tailgating, this locking cooler holds 14 cans and 9lbs of ice and keeps them cold for days. It's a little neater than the Yeti Roadie 15, but similar in terms of capacity and, hopefully, performance.

This is a limited-time deal, so we suggest you act fast if you want to make great savings.

Not in the US? Scroll to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on Coleman Pro coolers near you.

If you're loading this cooler up in the back of the truck or bringing it on deck, rubberized boots to prevent it from sliding around. An interior antimicrobial treatment helps prevent odor, mildew, and mold and even though it's a neat size, it still doubles as a handy stool round the campfire.

If you're not in the US, here are today's best deals on Coleman Pro coolers where you are.

• The best camping coolers: keep food and drinks delightfully chilled

When the Nemo Stargaze camping chair first came out in 2018, it was more or less an overnight hit among campers who loved the first-ever swinging and reclining camping chair design. Who could blame them? We didn't think there was much to improve upon, but the New Hampshire brand has other ideas.

The Nemo Stargaze Evo X, available now, has taken the tried-and-tested approach to comfort at camp and made it even more convenient. Now constructed as a single, permanently connected structure, the brand says the new design can be set up – or as they say, "smoothly unfurled" – in just one step.

“Integrating the seat and frame into a single permanently connected structure was a key decision that makes instant setup feel natural and satisfying," says Nemo Senior Furniture Designer Rich Woessner.

Compared with the previous design, the steel frame of the Evo X has six points of contact (rather than four) and a "flared foot geometry," so it's also more stable when you've set it up on rocky ground or at the beach.

Once you've set it up, the brand says you can expect body-cradling comfort thanks to cushioning at pressure points, the padded headrest, and flexible back support. Of course, it's got the same relaxing swinging motion that made its predecessor so perennially popular, you can simply lean back to gaze at the stars and two integrated cup holders are available for your beverage of choice.

The Stargaze EVO-X has a 300lb (136kg) capacity and weighs 13lbs 12oz (6.2kg), so it's not as light as something like the Helinox Chair One, but it's also less minimalist.

It comes with a handy roll top carry case for portability and is available now in 5 colors from Nemo for $179.95 / £168.

• The best camping chairs: kick back in style on your vacations
• The best camping coolers: keep food and drinks delightfully chilled

When Leatherman launches a new product, most who love the wilder side of life tend to sit up and take notice. But we usually expect it to be a multi-tool. After all, the Portland-based brand is the pioneer of multi-use tools featuring blades, screwdrivers, corkscrews, and more that hikers and campers never leave home without. But while the new launch from Leatherman is still pocket-friendly and enormously practical, there's a sharp difference: they're all knives.

Leatherman's new knife range isn't a total departure for the brand – it's dabbled in limited-edition blades in the past. But now it looks like the brand, which launched the very first multitool over 40 years ago, is taking a confident step into the competitive world of premium folding knives.

Calling the range "a natural evolution" (and we'd have to agree on this point), Leatherman says the new line, which features five sleek-looking models, is "built for those who live with purpose."

At first glance, it's clear the new blades share plenty of DNA with their multi-use cousins, and by that we mean they're slim, designed for Everyday Carry, and expertly crafted in Portland using premium materials. They're also pricey.

Leatherman knives: the goods

All five models are built with MagnaCut steel, which was developed specifically for EDC blades and is known for its durability, corrosion-resistance and edge-retention. Machined G10 handles are made using fiberglass soaked in resin, which the brand says is both durable and provides better grip, while "jimping" – a process that cuts ridges – on the knifepoint spine also improves grip and handline control. Radius edges also help with a comfortable grip and give the knives an impressively clean look.

The lightest models in the range weigh less than four ounces (104g), or about the same as a deck of cards, and all models are fitted with a deep carry pocket clip that's adjustable for right or left-hand pockets.

If you like to move fast without being weighed down, the two lightest models are the Blazer, which is designed as a go-anywhere-do-anything versatile blade, and the minimalist-by-comparison Glider, which looks ideal for fastpacking. Both feature the patent-pending Compression Wedge Lock for safety and ease of use.

For a tougher design, the Pioneer is heavier-duty and weighs substantially more to perform against difficult tasks that will be loved by bushcraft experts, while the Trac looks to be an all-rounder that will work for every activity from hunting to foraging.

Finally, if you're just looking for something reliable for whipping up a great meal at camp, check out the Rustle, which at $279.99 is a little cheaper than everything else on the list, all priced at $299.99.

Leatherman's new range of knives is out now and you can browse the full range here. If you're searching for something with more versatility, take a look at our article on Leatherman multitools.

• Best camping knives: folding knives for wild expeditions
• The best multitools: for camping, hiking and other outdoor adventures

At Ullswater in the English Lake District, the sublimely beautiful lake where poet William Wordsworth once famously 'wandered lonely as a cloud', a terrible "epidemic" is occurring according to local people.

As reported in the Manchester Evening News, residents say they are "heartbroken" by the scale of the region's fly camping problem. They say that campers are leaving sites strewn with trash, leaving scorched earth from disposable barbecues, leaving tents behind and, in one shocking case, a resident even discovered a discarded 12in zombie knife.

Anti-social behavior has also been reported, such as campers playing loud music through portable speakers, chopping down trees for firewood and harming wildlife.

Locals say that it's often up to them to clean up the mess left behind. One resident, Clive Rowlandson, 54, said that residents were "frustrated" that authorities, such as the local council and National Trust, aren't challenging fly campers enough.

Wild camping and fly camping

Camping outside of designated campsites is technically illegal in the Lake District, as well as across most of England and Wales. However, wild camping is generally tolerated in national parks and other national landscapes if done respectfully. This includes pitching high, above the highest wall, and by adhering to Leave No Trace principles.

Wild campers are at pains to highlight the difference between this and fly camping, which doesn't adhere to the ethos of respectful wild camping. Fly camping typically involves larger groups pitching their tents in a valley, often near the roadside. Unfortunately, it seems some of these groups are either unaware of the leave no trace principles or are in defiance of them. Discarded trash, tents and ruined sites are commonplace.

A negative generational shift

Acclaimed local filmmaker Terry Abraham, who lives in the nearby Eden Valley, says the issue around fly camping in the Lake District is getting "out of hand" and that he's noticed "a negative generational shift in under 30s when it comes to respecting nature".

He added: "It has got to the point where I no longer want to go for a walk or cycle about Ullswater or the fells as it makes my blood boil and breaks my heart."

The issue underlines the challenge faced by those who'd want to see wild camping legalized across England and Wales. A victory was won in May 2025, when the right to wild camp in large parts of England's Dartmoor National Park was upheld after a legal challenge by Alexander Darwall, a wealthy landowner.

On the back of this, in June 2025 the British Mountaineering Council – the national representative body for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers – launched its We Wild Camp campaign. The campaign is designed to raise wild camping's profile, lead to reform and share best practice.

One of the key aims is to improve education around responsible camping and deal with the rise of fly camping.

Upon the launch of the campaign, Eben Muse, BMC policy and campaigns officer for Wales, said: "We acknowledge that fly camping, done by a minority, is having a negative impact on our landscapes, especially in hotspot areas.

"As a community we need to pull together to reduce that impact, both in terms of directly tackling litter and waste in the countryside and by helping to give everyone the tools and awareness to know what good practice looks like when wild camping."

One of the ways the BMC is combatting fly camping is via the Wild campers tackling fly camping Facebook group, a forum to "discuss how to leave the countryside better than we found it".

The campaign is also calling for six key changes to allow for reform. These include:

• National Park Authorities to be given the power to create wild camping zones to help manage responsible wild camping and tackle fly camping.
• Guidance on how to wild camp responsibly to be included within an updated version of the countryside code.
• Additional funding for National Parks, National Landscapes, and land managers to support responsible wild camping in the right place.
• A substantial new investment in young people's outdoor education to help improve understanding and skills needed to wild camp responsibly.

Leave No Trace

The Leave No Trace initiative lays down a set of principles to follow in order to protect the natural environment we all love to explore. Our definitive guide goes into more detail but the main principles are as follows:

• Leave what you find
• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable surface
• Dispose of waste properl
• Minimise campfire impact
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of other visitors

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double burner stoves

When I think of coolers, I think of Yeti. The popular US brand began life in 2006, when fishing brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders got sick of the same old coolers that wouldn't last after relentless use. The pair set up Yeti to create coolers durable enough to last the course, with effective cold insulation for all your food and drink.

These days, Yeti is one of the world's biggest cooler brands, known globally for its durable, high-quality designs. With this stellar reputation, Yeti coolers are usually expensive, and deals are rare, so we're over the moon to tell you about these epic Yeti bargains, available as retailers across the web slash their prices in an attempt to keep up with the Amazon Prime Day sales.

Right now, you can get your hands on the portable Yeti Hopper M15 cooler for just $240 at Yeti.

This dependable soft cooler is one of Yeti's most popular models, and can carry up to 32 cans at once, so you won't run out of drinks on your camping trip. Its extra-wide magshield access mouth makes use of magnets to become 'ultra leak-resistant' according to Yeti.

The Tundra 45 cooler can fit even more, and is now on offer for $259.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

This model is a hard cooler, made from tough rotomolded polyethylene, so it's even more durable than its soft counterpart. Inside, there's space for up to 37lb (16.8kg) of ice or 52 cans, which are kept cool by Yeti's own PermaFrost insulation technology.

Don't worry if you're not in the US, you can look below for today's best Yeti deals where you are.

• The best camping coolers: keep food and drinks delightfully chilled
• The best lightweight camping gear: tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and more

In stark contrast to the "Putting Americans First" approach announced by the Trump administration last week, the Canadian federal government has opened its premier nationals parks to all – including visitors from abroad.

And now Alberta's four famous national parks – Banff, Elk Island, Jasper and Waterton Lakes – have joined the scheme. This means hikers will be able to visit iconic places like Moraine Lake, Maligne Canyon and the Columbia Icefield without having to pay entrance fees.

The Canada Strong Pass that allows free entry to all was first announced in June as "an invitation to experience Canada's cultural and natural richness," according to the news release from the Canadian government. But Alberta's national parks only joined the initiative at the weekend.

Until September 2, all national parks managed by Parks Canada, including all four of Alberta's usually fee-charging parks, will be free to enter thanks to the Pass. As well as this, children and young people will get either free or discounted entry to the nation's historic sites and provincial museums.

This comes at a time when the US government is taking the opposite approach, instructing its major national parks to charge foreign visitors more and prioritize Americans when it comes to permits, reservation systems and access lotteries.

The Canada Strong Pass will undoubtedly tempt many Canadians to spend their money on home soil. According to a report in the Vancouver Sun, many are already reluctant to travel to the US "in light of President Donald Trump’s policies and continuing tariff and border concerns".

Celebrating a strong, united Canada

The news release outlined the details of the Canada Strong Pass and provided its rationale, saying it would help Canadians "enjoy the places and experiences that bring us together and make Canada strong".

Steven Guilbeault, Minister for Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages was quoted as saying: “We’ve seen an incredible show of unity from Canadians since the beginning of the year. Our Canada Strong Pass aims to make it even easier for families to choose Canada—to discover the beauty of our country, connect with nature, and enjoy our culture all summer long.

"Whether it’s visiting a national park they always wanted to see, exploring a museum, or booking a camping trip, families can create lasting memories together. Canadians are proud of what defines us, and this Pass is about celebrating a strong, united Canada.”

The move is likely to draw more visitors to Canada's iconic regions of natural beauty, providing a boost to local economies. Parks Canada manages 48 national parks and welcomes around 24 million visitors annually, spending the equivalent of more than $11 million every day in communities the length and breadth of the nation.

What is the Canada Strong Pass?

Rather than a physical pass or even a virtual one that you might have stored on your smartphone, the Canada Strong Pass is held by anyone who visits a participating Parks Canada site. There's no need to sign up, purchase or collect. In effect, you've already got it.

It's available whether you're Canadian or coming from abroad and there's no limit to how many times you can use it during the summer. It's worth bearing in mind that certain parks and attractions may still require a reservation.

The benefits of the Pass include:

• Free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas administered by Parks Canada and a 25% discount on camping fees.
• Free admission for children aged 17 and under, as well as 50% discounts for young adults aged between 18 and 24.
• Free VIA Rail travel for children aged 17 and under when accompanied by an adult, and a 25% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.
• Free admission to participating provincial and territorial museums and galleries for children aged 17 and under, as well as a 50% discount for young adults aged 18 to 24.

• The best hiking boots: protect your feet on any trail
• The best waterproof jackets: brave the elements

After months of anticipation, Amazon Prime Day is here and in full swing, offering great deals on all sorts of outdoor gear on Amazon. There are plenty of bargains to choose from, including big reductions on well-rated Garmin sports watches, trail running shoes, and more, but funnily enough, many of the best camping deals aren't on Amazon at all.

Several big-name outdoor retailers have also cut their prices in a bid to keep up with Amazon's Prime Day madness. As a result, there are loads of great outdoor deals to choose from at other retailers like REI, Backcountry and Dick's Sporting Goods.

To save you time and money, we've scrolled through all the major sales to find the top five camping deals currently available.

Among our picks, you'll find insulating sleeping bags like the Kelty Cosmic 20 and Patagonia Fitz Roy Down, which are both over $100 off. There are also great backpacking tent deals to take advantage of, including the waterproof Tadpole SL tent from The North Face, which can be stuffed into a small portable bag and is now available for just $300 at Dick's Sporting Goods.

Read on for our full list and a roundup of today's best tent, sleeping bag, and camping stove deals from across the web.

Our favorite camping deals

More epic deals

Stick with Advnture for handpicked deals from the Amazon Prime Day sale, which runs until July 11.

• The best camping tents: for superb backcountry adventures
• The best sleeping bags: for comfort in camp

For anyone who spends time in the backcountry, a satellite communicator is a must. One turned ankle or a sudden change in the weather when you don't have cell service can spell disaster, but not if you're always able to signal for help.

Right now, you can pick up the Spot X with Bluetooth 2-Way Satellite Messenger for just $199.95 at Amazon. That's a healthy 20% off the regular asking price for this satellite communicator that could save your life.

Like a Garmin InReach, this device can connect to your phone for two-way messaging, or it can be used on its own to stay in touch or call for help in a pinch. What sets it apart from many satellite communicators is that it has a full keyboard, so if you're not too techy or have physical limitations, it's super easy to type out a message on.

To use your Spot X, you'll need to sign up for a subscription plan. These start at $11.95 per month and include a one-time activation fee of $29.95. You can learn more at findmespot.com

If you're not in the US, you'll find the best deals on the Spot X near you at the bottom of this article.

This small, handheld device weighs less than 7oz (198g) with batteries and uses GPS to track your location and send precise coordinates to mountain rescue if needed. It has a built-in compass for navigation and allows you to track your adventures with waymarkers and cloud-based mapping.

Not in the US? Here are today's best deals on the Spot X near you.

• The best GPS watches: feature-packed timepieces
• The best emergency blankets, bags and shelters

A good backpack can be the difference between an enjoyable day out on the trails and a turgid trek you can't wait to complete. The best backpacks and daypacks combine enough space for all your belongings with ample support for your back and shoulders, so you can hike in comfort.

If your old pack is looking a little tired, it may be time to invest in a new one, and now is the perfect opportunity, with loads of great models on offer in the REI Independence Day sale. This mega sale lasts until July 7 and features loads of epic bargains on all sorts of outdoor equipment.

If it's a backpack you've got in mind, then you're in luck, as we've handpicked our favorite deals from Osprey, Deuter, and Gregory so you don't have to spend hours scrolling.

Among the bargains, you can find heavy-duty packs like the Deuter Aircontact Core 65 + 10, which is now $65 off, and smaller daypacks like Osprey's Sirrus 24, available for just $134.99.

If none of these deals take your fancy, you can check out the full sale for yourself.

Osprey deals

Deuter deals

Gregory deals

Can't find the model you're looking for? Look below for more of today's best deals on loads of awesome backpacks from Osprey, Gregory, and Deuter.

Stick with Advnture for more handpicked deals during the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, which runs from July 8 to July 11.

• The best hiking backpacks: from the lightest daypacks to sturdy alpine haulers
• The best daypacks: for shorter hikes and casual walks

REI's massive July 4 sale is in full swing, and while there are great savings to be made on big-ticket items from brands like Therm-a-Rest, there are plenty of discounts to be found on small-but-essential gear for camping that will help you budget this summer.

We've found some super savings on cooking gear for camping as well as safe hydration from top brands MSR and Lifestraw.

This sale runs through July 7, and among the thousands of items that are discounted by as much as 50%, you can make savings on top-quality camping gear like camping stoves and coffee presses from MSR, as well as water filters from Lifestraw.

Seattle-based MSR is owned by the same parent company as Therm-a-Rest and is well-known for its reliable camping and mountaineering gear, and we've found 25% off its MSR Switch Stove System if you need a lightweight and simple solution to cooking on the trail.

LifeStraw's Swiss-made water filters were originally developed to help people living in developing nations, but have taken over the backpacking and camping world to help people find safe water in the wild without having to spend ages filtering water. Right now, you can grab the highly rated LifeStraw Peak Squeeze Water Filter System for 30% off at REI.

We've outlined our favorite deals from MSR and LifeStraw below, and you can shop the entire sale here. Remember, the sale ends on July 7, so don't hit snooze if you see something you like.

If you're not in the US, scroll to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on MSR and LifeStraw camping gear.

MSR deals

LifeStraw deals

Not in the US?

Still hunting for great deals? Look below for more of today's best deals on MSR stoves and LifeStraw water filters.

• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves
• The best water purifiers and filters: clever devices for supplying safe drinking water on the trail and in camp

Let's be honest, camping isn't always about getting off-grid and unplugging. If you're a tech junkie, you'll love innovative camping gadgets and one of the most interesting ones we've seen in recents years is currently up for grabs at a big discount.

Right now, you can pick up the highly-rated BioLite CampStove 2+ for just $149.94 at Amazon. That's a hefty 25% off the regular asking price for this wood-burning camping stove that does more than just cook your dinner.

This nifty gadget is fueled by sticks, wood scraps, or pellets to cook your meals and boil water – it also converts heat into electricity, so you can charge your phone, headlamp, camping lantern, or other battery-powered tech whilst you cook dinner.

This deal applies to the stove only, but you can also save 25% off the complete kit, which includes a portable grill, KettlePot, coffee press, FlexLight, 2x stuff sacks, and micro USB cable.

If you're not in the US, you'll find the best deals on the BioLite Campstove 2 near you at the bottom of this article.

Devices can be charged via the integrated USB port. The thermoelectric generator generates 3 watts of power for real-time charging, and stores power in the 3,200 mAh battery for use even when fire isn’t burning. This clever camping stove even has a dashboard to show you battery status.

Given all the functions it performs, it won't surprise you to hear that it’s a hefty size (5in x 7.9in) and weight (2lbs), so best used for camping holidays rather than backpacking trips.

Not in the US? Here are today's best deals on the BioLite Campstove 2 near you.

• The best camping stoves: backpacking and double-burner stoves
• The best wood-burning stoves: for cooking up campsite cuisine with natural fuel

Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today? Amazon Prime Day kicks off on July 8, but REI has decided to get on the action early with a massive July 4 sale and we've found super savings on camping sleep gear from top brands Therm-a-Rest and Kelty.

This sale runs through July 7, and among the thousands of items that the outdoor retailer has slashed prices on, you can save big bucks on top-quality camping gear like sleeping pads and bags from Therm-a-Rest and Kelty.

Therm-a-Rest is best known for being the innovator of the inflatable, open-cell foam mats that have revolutionized backpacking and camping, and we've found 40% off its classic Trail Pro Sleeping Pad as well as deals on cozy sleeping bags.

Colorado-based Kelty started out life as the pioneer of the external frame backpack and has been making trustworthy camping gear for over a century. Right now, you can grab the award-winning Kelty Cosmic 20 sleeping bag for up to 29% off.

We've outlined our favorite deals from Therm-a-Rest and Kelty below, and you can shop the entire sale here. Remember, the sale ends on July 7, so don't delay.

If you're not in the US, scroll to the bottom of this article for today's best deals on Therm-a-Rest and Kelty sleeping gear.

Therm-a-Rest deals

Kelty deals

Not in the US?

Still hunting for great deals? Look below for more of today's best deals on Therm-a-Rest and Kelty sleeping gear.

• The best sleeping bags: for comfort in camp
• The best sleeping pads: comfy mats for all camping trips

Smoke warnings have been issued and roads remain closed as three separate wildfires raged for days in the Scottish Highlands and Moray, with gamekeepers blaming government restrictions on controlled burns, calling the situation "off the scale."

After weeks of high temperatures and mostly dry conditions, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) received a call on Saturday morning for a wildfire near Carrbridge in the Highlands. On Monday evening, officials said they were battling blazes from Carrbridge to Dallas, a small village near Forres, however, a Tuesday morning update from Nairn Community Fire Station says the tides are turning thanks to a "much needed downpour" overnight and the hard work of fire crews.

Fire officials warned residents in the Grantown-on-Spey, Carrbridge, Aviemore, and Cairngorms areas to close all windows and doors to protect themselves from wildfire smoke, worsened by strong winds on Monday.

"A significant number of resources and special resources have been mobilised throughout the area," said officials in a statement on social media, urging the public to avoid the area, including footpaths.

The same day, officials also announced the following ongoing road closures:

• The B9007 is closed from the junction at Duthil to Ferness.
• The A939 is closed from Grantown-on-Spey to Ferness and the A940 is closed at Dava.
• The B9102 is closed from Grantown-on-Spey to Upper Knockando and Dallas.
• The snowgates at Carrbridge are closed.

Gamekeepers blame incoming legislation

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has issued an official statement pleading with the Scottish Government's nature advisors at NatureScot to attend the fire site to see the scale of operations required to fight major blazes.

"Scotland’s nature body is soon to finalise new Scottish Parliament legislation which will make it much harder for gamekeepers, farmers and crofters to carry out controlled muirburn, which is proven to prevent the build-up of combustible fuel across the landscape."

“There must be lessons learned before it is too late. We are about to introduce new legislation in Scotland which will severely restrict controlled muirburning while we are letting huge fuel loads build up across the country in planting schemes and rewilding areas. We have warned about this constantly and, exactly what we said would happen, is happening," says an unidentified Spokesman for the SGA.

The statement says that the only reason two of the fires didn't join over the weekend is down to "round the clock" efforts from gamekeepers, land managers and fire crews.

“It’s simple: if you control the fuel, it allows those fighting the fires to get a chance to catch it. This is becoming a danger to human life because firefighters are becoming so stretched dealing with wildfires that they don’t have the resources to attend other fires.

Three hours after the SGA shared its claims, First Minister John Swinney took to X with the following statement: "The wildfires that are taking place are extremely serious. Please follow all of the advice available. Grateful to ⁦@fire_scot and local people for their efforts to get the fires under control."

Unattended campfires

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that a witness says the wildfire appears to have started at "a ring of stones where a camp fire had been lit and camping chairs had been abandoned" south-east of Loch Allan near Grantown-on-Spey.

The SFRS says current conditions mean Scotland’s landscapes are "highly vulnerable" to wildfires, urging everyone planning to recreate outdoors to exercise the following precautions:

• Do not light fires, camping stoves or BBQs – take a picnic instead
• Never drop cigarettes or litter
• Respect fire warnings and local restrictions to help protect Scotland’s wild places

In April, we reported that much of Ireland's Claggan Coastal trail was destroyed in a fire, which authorities suspect was started by reckless hikers.

You can learn more in our article on observing fire bans and campfire safety when bans are lifted. With increasingly hot and dry weather, all hikers should keep themselves up to date on wildfire safety. If you live in the area, read our advice on hiking in wildfire smoke before you head outdoors.

• The best water shoes: fast-draining, quick-drying and ready to take you from the shore to the sea
• The best hydration packs: on-the-go refuelling for your runs

On the lookout for a new tent to shelter you from the elements? Then look no further, as there are loads of the best tent deals to check out in the huge REI Independence Day sale.

This giant sale runs until July 7, and has slashed hundreds of dollars from all sorts of outdoor equipment. Among the deals, you can save plenty of money on well-rated tents from outdoor experts like Coleman and Kelty.

Both brands are heavily featured in the sale and have excellent reputations for crafting reliable, sturdy tents for use on the campsite or in the wilderness.

If you're after something to pack up and take wild camping, then check out the compact Coleman PEAK1 backpacking tent, which offers room for two and is now over $80 off at REI.

Want a tent for the family? The Kelty Discovery Basecamp tent boasts enough space for six campers and is now available for just $169.95.

To save spending hours browsing, we've handpicked our favorite Coleman and Kelty tent deals from the Independence Day sale. Alternatively, you can have a snoop at the full sale for yourself.

Coleman deals

Kelty tents

After more epic offers? Look below for more of today's best deals on loads of great tents from Coleman and Kelty.

• The best 2-person tents: for backpacking and car camping
• The best four-season tents: backpacking shelters to protect you all year

A mountain rescue team in England's Lake District National Park has urged hikers and campers to prepare properly after a non-stop weekend of call-outs.

Rescuers from the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team (LAMRT) were called to multiple incidents from Friday, June 27, to Sunday, June 29, including three involving student groups.

Youngsters completing their Duke of Edinburgh award expeditions got into trouble in unforgiving, unclear weather conditions.

The first two student groups became disorientated near the 2,960ft (902m) summit of Bowfell at around 1pm on Friday, and the third reported that they were "lost, cold and wet" some five hours later. Volunteer rescue teams were quickly dispatched and soon located the groups, whom they guided to safety.

"Team members helped the groups pack their tents and walked them down to the valley floor, where they were met by the minibus to take them to Patterdale," explained team on the LAMRT Facebook page.

The rescue volunteers' busy weekend of rescues continued in the early hours of Saturday morning, when they received a call from nine young men in the Cochdale Tarn area, who had "succumbed to the weather in the middle of the night, with tents flattened around them", according to an incident report.

Six volunteers, three of whom had been out on the previous rescue, scrambled to the scene, where they helped pack away the collapsed tents and escorted the group back to their vehicles.

Rescuers, said they were forced to "dig deep", after being called to a further three incidents over the next two days, prompting LAMRT to issue an advisory statement via Facebook.

"Planning and preparation is absolutely key when heading out into the mountains," it reads.

"As we often say, we will always come out to help those in need and we know that accidents happen; all we ask is that you do everything in your power to create a safe and successful day."

Safety advice

The team urges visitors to ask themselves three questions before heading out for an ambitious hiking or camping trip. They are as follows:

• Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills required?
• Do I know what the weather will be like?
• Do I have the right gear?

For more expert advice, check out our guide to summer hiking safety, and see our top tips for what to wear while hiking.

• The best hiking shoes: capable summit-baggers and fast-paced walkers
• The best navigation apps: find your way in the great outdoors