If you’re at the start of your camping journey, you’ll no doubt have questions about the beginner wild camping equipment you need. Information out there is overwhelming and when you start researching the information yourself, it can feel daunting and expensive.  It’s a good idea to consider your own needs before diving headfirst into buying expensive camping equipment. As part of my Beginner’s Journey into Wild Camping series, I’ve broken down how to choose the most important beginner wild camping equipment. There’s also some links for the equipment that I’ve bought myself after doing A LOT of research. There’s even a wild camping equipment checklist for you to download at the end to help you when packing.

What equipment do I need to go wild camping?

• Tent
• Sleeping mat
• Sleeping bag
• Water (or a filtration system)
• A stove, food, cutlery 
• Headtorch
• First aid kit (because you just never know)
• Warm clothes (the temperature drops rapidly in the mountains at night)
• A way of burying or removing human waste
• Navigation techniques – map and compass, Ordnance Survey Map App or similar (Komoot, AllTrails)
• A rucksack large enough to carry it all

Non-essential items that you should definitely consider and which might make your wild camp that bit more enjoyable and comfortable;

• An inflatable pillow like this one from Amazon
• Slip-on camp shoes (Crocs seem to be all the rage again lately!)
• A lantern for your tent
• Evening entertainment especially if solo – my choice is a Kindle so I can read
• Ear plugs
• Sunscreen/insect repellent (depending on the time of year)
• Personal wash kit/toiletries

Ultimately, a good water tight tent, a warm sleeping bag, a comfortable sleeping mat, some food, water and a light are all you really need. However, taking additional items will probably make the experience more enjoyable overall. 

Beginner wild camping tents

What weight should my tent be for wild camping?

Ideally, you want to choose a lightweight tent that packs down quite small. This will leave you more space in your rucksack for everything else. It’s a good idea to find a tent that weighs no more than 2-2.5kg. 

What size tent do I need for wild camping?

Wild camping should be a low key affair so try to stick to a 2-man or smaller so that the tent is harder to spot. It is also a good idea to choose a colour of tent that fits in with the surroundings such as green or brown.

What style of tent do I need for wild camping?

The style of tent you want is up to you – there are different shapes and designs and it’s always worth going into a shop to talk to the experts. I like a 2 man tent so that I have more space and for mine, I put the outer shell up first so that if it’s raining I don’t have to worry about the inner section getting wet. 

Other aspects to look out for;

• Waterproofing – check the HH (hydrostatic head) rating. A tent of around 2000 HH is ideal for our weather in the UK. However, if you think you’re going to be out in bad weather then look for a rating of 3000 HH. 
• Season – if you’re going to be a fair weather camper then a season 1 or 2 tent is fine. A 3 season tent is perfect for the UK whereas 4 and 5 season tents are for more extreme conditions.

I have a Vango Nova 200 2-man tent. It’s about 7 or 8 years old now but still does the job. It gets great reviews and is within the recommended kit list for the Duke of Edinburgh award too so perfect for beginner wild camping. It’s nice and affordable so it’s perfect for beginners if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a tent. Check it out here;

Best sleeping bags for beginner wild camping

A warm, comfy sleeping bag when paired with a suitable sleeping mat is really important when chooseing beginner wild camping equipment. A decent set up can make or break how comfortably you sleep. Sleeping bags are rated by seasons and in the warmer summer months a 1-2 season sleeping bag will do the trick. In winter, a 3-4 season sleeping bag will keep you much warmer. 

How to choose a sleeping bag for wild camping

• Temperature ratings – a sleeping bag will have an upper and lower temperature limit clearly displayed. The upper limit is the maximum temperature where you’ll be comfortable. The comfort temp is the temperature where you’ll be comfortable sleeping in that temperature. The extreme temperatures are considered the lowest temperatures where you should use the sleeping bag but you’re unlikely to be comfortable or get much sleep
• Season ratings – just like the tents, sleeping bags are rated by seasons too. A 2 or 3 season sleeping bag should be a minimum for spring and summer camps.
• Sleeping bag filling – to keep it simple, you can choose either synthetic or down (feathers). Down filling is much warmer and they pack down much smaller but lose their capability when wet. Synthetic fill is cheaper but they don’t pack down as small. 
• Sleeping bag shape – there are so many different shapes out there. I like the snug mummy shaped sleeping bags but they can be restrictive if you move around a lot. This is all down to personal preference. 

I have a Vango Ultralite Pro 300; a 3-4 season, synthetic fill sleeping bag with a comfort rating of -1 celcius. It packs down relatively small and it’s lightweight at 1.4kg. Furthermore, it has an extra layer of insulation with an elasticated thread on the inner part to pull the bag in closer to you if it’s cold. This is perfect equipment for beginner wild camping as it will cover you for a range of weather conditions. Check it out here;

Best sleeping mats for beginner wild camping

Sleeping pads will provide extra cushioning and insulation and act as a protective layer between you and the cold ground. There’s plenty of choice out there so here’s some of the main factors to consider.

What are the differences between sleeping mats for wild camping?

• Air pads – these are inflatable and some have inflating bags attached to them so you don’t have to use your breath. You can also buy mini pumps like this one. There is a huge variety of air pads out there from ultra lightweight to extra-thick ones. They are compact and comfortable but are often a bit more expensive. 
• Self-inflating pads – these inflate by opening the valve so that air is brought into the pad automatically. They are comfortable and more durable than air pads however they aren’t quite as compact. 
• Closed cell foam camping mats. These are basic foam filled mats which fold up, are lightweight, inexpensive and offer great insulation. The main drawbacks to this style of pad is that they aren’t as comfortable and are quite bulky. 

I have the OEX Flux 5.0 sleeping mat which inflates using a bag to trap air and then force it into the mat. It gets great reviews for beginner wild camping equipment because it only takes a couple of minutes to inflate and has been designed to provide warmth in lower temperatures. As well as being lightweight, weighing only 500g, it packs down into a small case. It has an R-rating (find out more on the R-rating below) of 3 meaning it can be used most of the year. Check it out here;

What is an R-Rating on sleeping pads? 

An R-rating shows you how well a sleeping pad resists the cold. Depending on the thickness and insulation of the pad, it will differ between sleeping pads. In simple terms;

• The higher an R-rating, the greater it will protect you from the cold ground
• R-rating for sleeping pads vary between 1-7 for backpackers and wild camping
• For summer wild camping look for an R-rating of 1-3
• For most of the year, a 3-5 R-rating will see you through
• For winter, an R-rating of 5+ is ideal

Best stoves for beginner wild camping

A small stove that packs away is quick and convenient to boil water and cook food. As a minimum, you’ll need a gas burner stove, a gas canister, a pot, mug and obviously some food. Dehydrated meals are often the easiest but if you want to go full chef mode on the mountain then go for it. You’ll probably just need to adjust the cooking equipment you buy to suit your needs. 

What are the different types of wild camping stoves?

There are a whole world of options out there for a cooking system. You might buy a separate stove, gas burner and cooking pots or one that packs away into itself with a pot that just attaches to the stove and gas. Some are ultralight, some have lightning fast boiling speeds. What you buy will ultimately depend on your needs and budget. 

When I reached out for some advice, people told me to buy one of two stoves; the Jetboil Flash 2.0 with its fast boiling speed and packable capabilities (the gas even fits inside the cooking pot) and the lightweight MSR Pocket Rocket 2. This one can simmer your boiling water and has a pressure regulator which means it can maintain a steady flame. 

In the end, I went to GoOutdoors to ask someone for advice. After deciding I didn’t really need anything too fancy, I went with the OEX Herio stove set. It’s perfect for one person with its 600ml pot as well as having an insulator sleeve so you don’t burn yourself holding the pot, it’s lightweight at only 370g, has a boil time of 2 mins and all packs down into the pot, including with the gas canister. In the end I decided it was very similar to the Jetboil Flash but much much cheaper. Check it out here;

Best water filtration system for beginner wild camping

You’re going to need water when you’re wild camping; be it for cooking, boiling or drinking. If you’re just wild camping for one night then you’ll most likely be able to carry what you need but water can get heavy to carry so if you’re doing long distance treks with wild camping, you’re more than likely going to need some kind of water filtration system to clean and purify the wild water you come across. 

Why do I need a water filter for wild camping?

Drinking water directly from the source can cause some issues (bugs, parasites etc) and water filters work by effectively pushing dirty water through a filter which cleans, sterilises it and gets rid of most of the bad stuff that might be lingering. 

Which water filters are the best for wild camping?

Water filters can be expensive and there’s lots of great technology on the market. Some of them even pack down small enough to fit into your jacket pocket much like the Katadyn BeFree and the filters are often at the top of the bottle so it filters as you drink it. Other options such as the Sawyer Mini and the Lifestraw Peak get excellent reviews and make it really easy to access clean water. 

After extensive research, I finally decided on the Katadyn BeFree and so far I love it. It squashes down to a really small size when not full and you can either drink straight through the mouthpiece or squeeze it out into another bottle. It’s simple to clean the filter by swishing it in clean water and can be used 1000 times before it needs replacing. 

Check it out here;

Best backpacks for wild camping

You’re probably going to have a lot of stuff so you’ll need to make sure your rucksack is large enough to fit it all in. The size you’ll need will depend on the equipment you have and how much space it will take up as well as any extras you want to carry. I’ve seen some people say they multi-day wild camp successfully with a 40 litre rucksack or less, and other people saying they take a 70 litre one. 

The Osprey Renn 65l for women

I decided to buy an Osprey Renn 65 litre rucksack in the end simply because I know I’m someone who will definitely be taking more than I need on a wild camp and because I couldn’t afford to buy all the ultralight equipment that packs down tiny tiny. There’s a lot of space in it when everything is packed away and with my long term goals being to do some multi day, long distance treks, I decided that a larger one was right for me. 

Check out the backpack here;

Osprey backpacks have ALWAYS been my favourite along with Mammut. They can be expensive but they have designs specifically for women that sit higher on the hips, have adjustable fits for different torso sizes and are so much more comfortable. This one also had multiple compartments, an emergency whistle built in and an easy to access waist pocket too. 

My best advice is to buy the rucksack after you’ve got the equipment you want. You’ll then have a better idea of the size you need and you could even take your equipment into a shop to check it all fits and try it on when it’s fully packed. I did that exact thing in GoOutdoors and it really helped me make a decision on which rucksack to buy in the end. 

Choosing beginner wild camping equipment

I really hope this was helpful and gives you a better idea of the type of equipment you will need for wild camping. Next, I’ll be sharing how to prepare and plan your first wild camp by choosing a location and the run-down on how my first wild camp in almost 8 years went! 

For a handy, and more in-depth, wild camping equipment checklist, click on the link below to download it for free!

Did you know that wild camping is actually illegal in many parts of the UK? If you need more information on that and how to wild camp without facing problems, check out my blog post here.

Happy camping and don’t forget to leave a comment below; I’d love to hear from you.