Dreaming of an epic overnighter in the hills?
The best way to experience nature is through camping. While there are various ways to camp, nothing compares to the freedom and immersion of wild camping!
Here are our top quick picks for wild camping gear for those campers desiring a comfortable (and light) off-grid camp!
TENT FOR WILD CAMPING: MSR ELIXIR 1
For exposed wild camping, a stable tent is crucial. MSR's Elixir 1 tent combines a fast and easy setup with generous accommodation. The versatile tent features a large vestibule for storing gear and one easy-entry door. The tent body balances breathable mesh with solid canopy fabric to deliver ventilation, warmth and privacy. Inside, a built-in gear loft keeps smaller items organised and within reach, while the glow-in-the-dark zipper pull is easy to find at night. Whether you’re wild camping or enjoying a weekend solo camp, the Elixir 1 tent was built for liveability at the highest level.
TENT FOR WILD CAMPING: MSR HUBBA NX 1
For a lighter tent, the MSR Hubba NX 1 Person Solo is a hugely popular freestanding tent designed for 3-season camping. Ideal for solo wild campers, it's compact and won't slow you down on any trail. The tent's symmetrical geometry and non-tapered floor maximise space, while features like the StayDry™ door and cross-ventilating rainfly enhance comfort. It offers head and elbow room throughout, a large vestibule for gear storage, and easy setup with a unified hub-and-pole system. The tent's minimum weight is 1.12 kg, with an ultralight option at 730g.
STOVE FOR WILD CAMPING: OPTIMUS CRUX
A hot meal after a long day on the trail is always welcome, and it can also help you sleep warmer. This 83g backpacking stove by Optimus is tiny and folded up, it fits neatly inside the cavity at the bottom of a gas canister. It's powerful and precise, offering excellent simmer control so your dinner won’t end up as a charred mess.
FILTER FOR WILD CAMPING: KATADYN BEFREE 1L
Getting sick can quickly ruin a wild camping trip, and contaminated water is often the culprit. This compact, lightweight, and easy-to-use filter bottle by Katadyn is our top pick for on-the-go water purification. It efficiently removes bacteria, cysts, and other contaminants from tarns, rivers, and streams, filtering up to 2 litres per minute.
HEADTORCH FOR WILD CAMPING: NEBO MYCRO 500+ RECHARGEABLE LAMP
If you're hiking and camping, you'll want a durable and hands-free lighting solution. NEBO's MYCRO provides 500 lumens of brightness. With the ability to switch between spot light and flood light modes, as well as an integrated tilt feature, you can easily adjust the beam to meet your specific needs.
BACKPACK FOR WILD CAMPING: EXPED THUNDER 50 BACKPACK
Most wild campers will need a pack of around 50 litres to carry all their kit for a night in the hills. The durable, full-featured, multi-day Thunder 50 from Exped offers convenient dual access set on an ultralight suspension system. It combines top-loading simplicity with the organisational ease of a panel loader. And while Thunder's low total weight makes it an ultralight, it's load-bearing capacity remains high.
SLEEPING BAG FOR WILD CAMPING: EXPED COMFORT 0 DOWN SLEEPING BAG
SLEEPING MAT FOR WILD CAMPING: THERM-A-REST Z LITE MAT
A backpacking icon, the original Z Lite closed-cell foam sleeping pad is ultralight, virtually indestructible, and highly compact. Moulded into a system of heat-trapping dimples, the proprietary foams are softer on top of the pad for extra comfort and denser on the bottom for boosted durability. The accordion-style design allows for the Z Lite to be unfurled into a sleeping pad, folded into a convenient seat, or even used a mosquito swatter. Add 1.7 R-value and protection from punctures when you layer the Z Lite under another sleeping pad. To discover other uses for your folding sleeping mat, check out camping gear hacks.
BIG AGNES RAPIDE SL INSULATED SLEEPING MAT
Enjoy ultralight comfort and three-season reliability with the Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Mat. Built with offset I-Beam construction, this proprietary design reduces weight while providing multi-directional support for consistent stability and comfort. Lightweight, durable, and highly packable, the best-selling Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Mat sets a new standard in performance.The Big Agnes Rapide SL carries a 4.8 R-Value for year-round warmth, and is available in Petite, Regular, Long, Regular Wide, Wide Long or Double Wide. Available from our friends at Valley and Peak.
WHERE CAN I WILD CAMP?
Wild camping is allowed throughout Scotland as long as you adhere to the Outdoor Access Code. It is also permitted in Dartmoor. In other areas, you need the landowner's permission, although there is a strong tradition of wild camping in upland regions like the fells of the Lake District and the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia). Always follow the 'leave no trace' principles!
If you’re searching for your next bucketlist trip in Europe, look no further. These trails are sure to change the way you think about travel.
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