Camping and trekking gear: how to buy a tent, sleeping bag, rucksack
What trip you are buying gear for
A tent for the mountains and a tent for car camping are different products. In the mountains every kilogram counts: light two- or three-person tents, compact mats and sleeping bags with a good weight-to-warmth ratio. By car you can take a roomier and heavier option.
Season is also key. A summer tent is well ventilated but does not stand up to strong wind and cold. A three-season tent suits spring, summer and autumn, while a winter one costs more and is heavier.
What to put in your request
- what exactly — tent, sleeping bag, rucksack, mat, stove, trekking poles, cookware;
- specifications — capacity in people or litres, comfort temperature, weight;
- season — summer, three seasons, winter;
- purpose — mountain trek, car camping, festival, fishing;
- model, for example Naturehike Cloud Up 3, if you have decided;
- condition — new or used, acceptable defects;
- quantity of items;
- budget and delivery city.
Example: “I need a new three-person, three-season tent weighing up to 3 kg for treks in the mountains, double-layer, waterproof rating from 3000 mm. Hamilton, courier delivery, budget up to $210.”
What to look at in the specifications
On a tent check the waterproof rating of the fly and the floor, the pole material and the number of vestibules. On a sleeping bag look at the three temperature figures: comfort, limit and extreme. Go by the comfort figure. Down is lighter and warmer than synthetic, but copes worse with damp, while synthetic is cheaper and less sensitive to it.
For a rucksack the main things are volume (for weekend trips usually 40–60 L), the harness system and weight. A mat can be foam or self-inflating: the second is warmer but heavier and more expensive.
Don't forget small things: a gas stove works only with a certain type of cartridge (screw-thread or pierce-type), and trekking poles can be telescopic or folding. It is easier to get them in a set than to buy them later.
How to compare offers
Compare not only the price but the weight, the temperature rating and the package: are pegs, a stuff sack and a repair kit included? For used gear, ask whether it has ever leaked, how the zips work and whether the seam tape is peeling. A brand without a model guarantees nothing, so name the exact model if you have found one.
How BlaBlaPrice works
You write one request and sellers of camping gear reply in the chat with prices, photos and delivery terms. The system shows first the offer that is best value in substance, with reviews about the seller, and sellers can see where they stand and improve their terms. Your phone number stays hidden. It is all explained here.
For fishing and hunting, look at the separate category, and for winter trips, skis and snowboards. You can create a request right away.
