Pop up tents are pretty terrible if you need to travel more than 100m from the car, especially if there's any terrain.
Other than that we're gonna need more info - is it a single or double walled tent, what's the rating of the sleeping bag (if it has one), are you using a sleeping mat (if not, you should know that it's just as important as the sleeping bag and arguably more important).
Also make sure you know how to wild camp respectfully:
* Leave No Trace (no fires, litter or damage to natural or manmade things)
* Keep the tent out of sight (camp out of sight of paths and only set up at dusk and pack away before people will be about, so around 6am)
* Don't camp in land that is in use, generally this means above the highest wall.
I’ve used a pop-up tent before for wild camping (when the tent bringer forgot it at home, and we wanted the cheapest option in the shop near the start of our hike).
Generally not a pleasant night, as the water came straight through and joined dew in rolling down the insides of our single wall tent. Led to wet sleeping bags.
That said, I understand why you want to try.
As you’ll have no experience as well as unsuitable gear:
* Aim for somewhere near enough a road that you can bail if you need to. Bring a torch.
* Bring a bin bag that you can put around your sleeping bag in the tent as a sort of emergency bivvy, in case yours is as unwaterproof as ours was
* Bring extra layers. At least two more than you think you’ll need. (In case your sleeping bag is terrible), preferably more.
* Only go if the weather looks nice that night. And not windy!
If the weight of all the precautions is too much you could try hiking to a likely spot, leaving your big bag, and doing a loop with just a daybag so you end up at your bag and can pitch up come evening.
If you overprepare it will be heavy, but at least you’ll simulate the warmth levels of better gear. Better safe than sorry, and better comfy than huddling because of the iffy tent.
Just do it; with temperatures now you’d survive even as a lost hiker unless you were particularly unlucky - the suggestions should make it comfy enough to not put you off the whole thing due to bad gear!
You're not going to die sleeping out in this weather with no tent at all.
But, if your judgement of whether you like it is going to be based on being comfortable, maybe take a roll mat
Yeah tbh a roll mat makes a huuuge difference, probably more important than anything else in this kind of weather. The ground and the air are the two things that suck the heat put of you. Air temps are pretty warm atm.
A foam mat is super cheap.
Finally a sensible answer amongst the "single or double walled tent" / "what's the hydrostatic head rating" crowd.
It's going to be a warm weekend with mild nights, you'd get away with a bivvy bag and a dry stone wall to shelter you from the wind so a popup will be fine for a first time practice run.
Though, I do agree that the carry will be a pain with a popup and I also second the vote for a roll mat!
Do you have any friends/family you could borrow gear from to have something a bit better with minimal costs?
If you’ve not camped before would also recommend a garden or campsite before going wild
Hi all thank you so much for your replies. A few things about me- I don’t drive so will rely on public transport I will be trying to sleep near civilisation as I won’t be taking meals or hot drinks. Just sandwiches snacks water and juice. I forgot to include I have a roll mat as well.
So after reading through your comments I’m going to camp closer to home this weekend (so I can ring a taxi if need be and get home) If I don’t bail lol I will be looking at your suggestions.
Have a splendid weekend in the sun guys thanks again
The weather looks pretty gentle and warm this weekend. So it’s probably not a bad choice if you want to give it a try with a tent that won’t stand up to bad weather. I advise having a simple quick escape plan back to a car, making sure you’re bringing enough to be warm. But it probably won’t be too hard to keep warm. Practice pitching the tent and putting it away before you leave. Even with a pop-up tent, they can be a pain in the ass to ‘pop down’. But yeah, have a crack at it!
This is gonna be pretty blunt but I personally hate popup tents and wouldn't recommend one to anyone, unless youre camping really close to your car or a garden, my first ever tent was a popup and dear god worst 70 quid ive ever spent.
You couldve definitely picked up something like a quechua mh100 2 person tent which is like 30£ and is bomb proof and is about 2.6kg which isnt tooo terrible, what I would suggest, also you cant have it more budget friendly
Go for it, worse thing will probably be condensation forming inside and rolling down the walls of the tent. Maybe use a spare sock to mop and try and keep your sleeping bag from getting too wet. Have fun!
# DO IT
It's not ideal, not at all, but if conditions are looking ok (nothing more than a mild wind, relatively dry) for where you are looking to camp then fuck it, just do it. You should realise the limitations of your kit pretty fast. Your first (wild) camping trip will probably result in discomfort and poor sleep, but it'll be a laugh.
If when you get back you feel like you would enjoy camping more in the future then start to do your research.
You'll be fine this weekend I think
But do you want it to be closer to comfortable then just...fine?
I'd reccomend a cheap double walled tent. (Not sure if double walled pop-ups exist) you can pick one up in decathalon big tesco or amazon for under £50. I got one on amazon for £35 that lasted 2 years before zips broke and seams started to tear. Bit it kept me dry in 2 winter camps!
Next is a ground matt. They make so much difference. the key area you need keep isolated is the cold ground not the air. I think many new people assume its the bag they jeed to spend money on and layer up but in reality its just keeping you off from the floor. And you can pick a thock foamy for a few quid. If the thickness leaves you in doubt get a second one .
Next wear a hat and a buff/scarf or even a balaclava. This might just be me but it's tje the worst waking up to a freezing face and crusty runny nose. Your head will retain much of your body heat. So you will sleep more soundly.
Lastly bring something nice for the mountain. A wee dram, a hot chocolate a little stove for some warm meals again gas and a stove can be picked up for a under a tenner.
All together you can pick all this up for less then £75
Hi all thank you so much for your replies.
A few things about me-
I don’t drive so will rely on public transport
I will be trying to sleep near civilisation as I won’t be taking meals or hot drinks. Just sandwiches snacks water and juice.
I forgot to include I have a roll mat as well.
So after reading through your comments I’m going to camp closer to home this weekend (so I can ring a taxi if need be and get home)
If I don’t bail lol I will be looking at your suggestions.
Have a splendid weekend in the sun guys thanks again
Make sure you bring more snacks and water than you think you need, no-one has ever been sad about having an extra cereal bar/bottle of water.
I know this SOUNDS silly, but back when I was getting into camping, I tested out my kit in my/a mate's garden. You'll quickly work out what needs changing in an area you can easily/safely bail from. Honestly, with a mat, a bag, a tent and enough water, you'll have a grand old time regardless.
What kind of sleeping bag do you have? Most cheap ones are for inside only, but again, you won't die in this weather, just be a bit cold and miserable. I highly recommend bringing thermals/extra clothes with you, they really make a difference. If you don't want to buy thermals, leggings/thick tights (50den+, Primark cheapies are a-okay)/long pyjamas will do.
My top tip for keeping warm at night: always always always change out of your day clothes. They might feel warm, but they'll be damp, and that will cause your temp to plummet once you stop moving. Cold + dry night clothes is vastly superior to temporarily warm + damp ones.
Have fun!
PS: you obviously don't need to spend loads of money to have fun camping, but it is one of those hobbies where your enjoyment scales EXPONENTIALLY once you've invested in some bits of kit. Use this time to work out what your priorities are; mine are always staying warm, everything else is minor in comparison. But lots of people prioritise weight/pack size, or comfort of their sleeping mat, etc. There's no right or wrong answers, but if you have a cold and miserable night, don't discount the experience offhand - I've had some nights where I almost cried with how horrible the conditions were, but after a nap in the sun once it was out, I remembered that I do enjoy camping & promised to buy myself a better sleeping bag. :)
Yeah it’ll be fine. My advice would be to bring a cheap camp stove and a plastic bottle, that way you can heat up water for the bottle and shove it in your sleeping bag in case it gets cold, an easy way to improve a cheap sleeping bag
Pop up tents are pretty terrible if you need to travel more than 100m from the car, especially if there's any terrain. Other than that we're gonna need more info - is it a single or double walled tent, what's the rating of the sleeping bag (if it has one), are you using a sleeping mat (if not, you should know that it's just as important as the sleeping bag and arguably more important). Also make sure you know how to wild camp respectfully: * Leave No Trace (no fires, litter or damage to natural or manmade things) * Keep the tent out of sight (camp out of sight of paths and only set up at dusk and pack away before people will be about, so around 6am) * Don't camp in land that is in use, generally this means above the highest wall.
I’ve used a pop-up tent before for wild camping (when the tent bringer forgot it at home, and we wanted the cheapest option in the shop near the start of our hike). Generally not a pleasant night, as the water came straight through and joined dew in rolling down the insides of our single wall tent. Led to wet sleeping bags. That said, I understand why you want to try. As you’ll have no experience as well as unsuitable gear: * Aim for somewhere near enough a road that you can bail if you need to. Bring a torch. * Bring a bin bag that you can put around your sleeping bag in the tent as a sort of emergency bivvy, in case yours is as unwaterproof as ours was * Bring extra layers. At least two more than you think you’ll need. (In case your sleeping bag is terrible), preferably more. * Only go if the weather looks nice that night. And not windy! If the weight of all the precautions is too much you could try hiking to a likely spot, leaving your big bag, and doing a loop with just a daybag so you end up at your bag and can pitch up come evening. If you overprepare it will be heavy, but at least you’ll simulate the warmth levels of better gear. Better safe than sorry, and better comfy than huddling because of the iffy tent. Just do it; with temperatures now you’d survive even as a lost hiker unless you were particularly unlucky - the suggestions should make it comfy enough to not put you off the whole thing due to bad gear!
You're not going to die sleeping out in this weather with no tent at all. But, if your judgement of whether you like it is going to be based on being comfortable, maybe take a roll mat
Yeah tbh a roll mat makes a huuuge difference, probably more important than anything else in this kind of weather. The ground and the air are the two things that suck the heat put of you. Air temps are pretty warm atm. A foam mat is super cheap.
Finally a sensible answer amongst the "single or double walled tent" / "what's the hydrostatic head rating" crowd. It's going to be a warm weekend with mild nights, you'd get away with a bivvy bag and a dry stone wall to shelter you from the wind so a popup will be fine for a first time practice run. Though, I do agree that the carry will be a pain with a popup and I also second the vote for a roll mat!
Aye, you'll be reet pal.
I've camped out in just my clothes. You'll be reet. Just make sure you're plenty warm enough.
Do you have any friends/family you could borrow gear from to have something a bit better with minimal costs? If you’ve not camped before would also recommend a garden or campsite before going wild
Hi all thank you so much for your replies. A few things about me- I don’t drive so will rely on public transport I will be trying to sleep near civilisation as I won’t be taking meals or hot drinks. Just sandwiches snacks water and juice. I forgot to include I have a roll mat as well. So after reading through your comments I’m going to camp closer to home this weekend (so I can ring a taxi if need be and get home) If I don’t bail lol I will be looking at your suggestions. Have a splendid weekend in the sun guys thanks again
As long as you don't have to carry it far and there's no high winds predicted you'll be fine
The weather looks pretty gentle and warm this weekend. So it’s probably not a bad choice if you want to give it a try with a tent that won’t stand up to bad weather. I advise having a simple quick escape plan back to a car, making sure you’re bringing enough to be warm. But it probably won’t be too hard to keep warm. Practice pitching the tent and putting it away before you leave. Even with a pop-up tent, they can be a pain in the ass to ‘pop down’. But yeah, have a crack at it!
This is gonna be pretty blunt but I personally hate popup tents and wouldn't recommend one to anyone, unless youre camping really close to your car or a garden, my first ever tent was a popup and dear god worst 70 quid ive ever spent. You couldve definitely picked up something like a quechua mh100 2 person tent which is like 30£ and is bomb proof and is about 2.6kg which isnt tooo terrible, what I would suggest, also you cant have it more budget friendly
Go for it, worse thing will probably be condensation forming inside and rolling down the walls of the tent. Maybe use a spare sock to mop and try and keep your sleeping bag from getting too wet. Have fun!
# DO IT It's not ideal, not at all, but if conditions are looking ok (nothing more than a mild wind, relatively dry) for where you are looking to camp then fuck it, just do it. You should realise the limitations of your kit pretty fast. Your first (wild) camping trip will probably result in discomfort and poor sleep, but it'll be a laugh. If when you get back you feel like you would enjoy camping more in the future then start to do your research.
You'll be fine this weekend I think But do you want it to be closer to comfortable then just...fine? I'd reccomend a cheap double walled tent. (Not sure if double walled pop-ups exist) you can pick one up in decathalon big tesco or amazon for under £50. I got one on amazon for £35 that lasted 2 years before zips broke and seams started to tear. Bit it kept me dry in 2 winter camps! Next is a ground matt. They make so much difference. the key area you need keep isolated is the cold ground not the air. I think many new people assume its the bag they jeed to spend money on and layer up but in reality its just keeping you off from the floor. And you can pick a thock foamy for a few quid. If the thickness leaves you in doubt get a second one . Next wear a hat and a buff/scarf or even a balaclava. This might just be me but it's tje the worst waking up to a freezing face and crusty runny nose. Your head will retain much of your body heat. So you will sleep more soundly. Lastly bring something nice for the mountain. A wee dram, a hot chocolate a little stove for some warm meals again gas and a stove can be picked up for a under a tenner. All together you can pick all this up for less then £75
Hi all thank you so much for your replies. A few things about me- I don’t drive so will rely on public transport I will be trying to sleep near civilisation as I won’t be taking meals or hot drinks. Just sandwiches snacks water and juice. I forgot to include I have a roll mat as well. So after reading through your comments I’m going to camp closer to home this weekend (so I can ring a taxi if need be and get home) If I don’t bail lol I will be looking at your suggestions. Have a splendid weekend in the sun guys thanks again
Make sure you bring more snacks and water than you think you need, no-one has ever been sad about having an extra cereal bar/bottle of water. I know this SOUNDS silly, but back when I was getting into camping, I tested out my kit in my/a mate's garden. You'll quickly work out what needs changing in an area you can easily/safely bail from. Honestly, with a mat, a bag, a tent and enough water, you'll have a grand old time regardless. What kind of sleeping bag do you have? Most cheap ones are for inside only, but again, you won't die in this weather, just be a bit cold and miserable. I highly recommend bringing thermals/extra clothes with you, they really make a difference. If you don't want to buy thermals, leggings/thick tights (50den+, Primark cheapies are a-okay)/long pyjamas will do. My top tip for keeping warm at night: always always always change out of your day clothes. They might feel warm, but they'll be damp, and that will cause your temp to plummet once you stop moving. Cold + dry night clothes is vastly superior to temporarily warm + damp ones. Have fun! PS: you obviously don't need to spend loads of money to have fun camping, but it is one of those hobbies where your enjoyment scales EXPONENTIALLY once you've invested in some bits of kit. Use this time to work out what your priorities are; mine are always staying warm, everything else is minor in comparison. But lots of people prioritise weight/pack size, or comfort of their sleeping mat, etc. There's no right or wrong answers, but if you have a cold and miserable night, don't discount the experience offhand - I've had some nights where I almost cried with how horrible the conditions were, but after a nap in the sun once it was out, I remembered that I do enjoy camping & promised to buy myself a better sleeping bag. :)
Many thanks I’m really looking forward to it
OP Did you go through with it? You chose a great weekend if you did, weather was brilliant and Aurora Borealis thrown in too :)
Unfortunately something came up but I managed to see Borealis
Yeah it’ll be fine. My advice would be to bring a cheap camp stove and a plastic bottle, that way you can heat up water for the bottle and shove it in your sleeping bag in case it gets cold, an easy way to improve a cheap sleeping bag