A weekend camping kit for beginners: tent, light and binoculars
The Marova team
You do not need a garage of gear for a first weekend under canvas. Three items make the difference between a good night and a miserable one: a tent you can pitch in the dark, a torch that lasts, and something to look at once you are there. This guide is for people who camp two or three times a year and want kit that stores easily the rest of the time.
The tent
Pop-up tents pitch in under a minute and pack into a flat disc. They are ideal for campsites, festivals and fair-weather weekends. Their limits are wind (they have fewer guy points than a tunnel tent) and size — a “2-person” pop-up is comfortable for one adult and their bag. Check the waterproof rating (2000 mm or more for UK weather), whether the groundsheet is sewn in, and whether the fly sheet covers the whole tent or only the top. Always practise folding it back into its bag at home; the first attempt on a wet field is not the moment to learn.
The light
A rechargeable LED torch with a few hundred lumens is enough for a campsite. What matters more than brightness is run time on the low setting (aim for 10 hours or more), a lockout so it does not switch on in your bag, and a USB-C port so you charge it from the same cable as your phone. Head torches leave your hands free, but a small hand torch is easier to prop up in the tent.
The binoculars
Compact binoculars in the 8×21 to 10×25 range fit a jacket pocket and are the right tool for birds, boats and the far side of the valley. An 8× magnification is easier to hold steady than 10×; a larger objective (the second number) gives a brighter image at dusk. Look for a lens cap that stays attached and a neck strap you will actually use.
What else
A sleeping mat (the ground is cold in Britain even in August), a head-height lantern, and a bin bag for wet kit. Leave the campsite as you found it.
From our range
- Instant Outdoor Shelter and Camping Pop Up Tent
- LED Flashlight for Camping and Hiking
- Portable Binoculars, BAK4 FMC Optics
Free UK delivery, 6 to 12 business days, 30-day returns.