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As part of his 18th birthday gift, my wife and I decided to invest in an experience for our eldest son that would mark this milestone birthday, create special memories for him and I, and invite some friends along for the journey...
I had already experienced the XCC first-hand so I rallied some of his friends turning 18 this year (or more accurately, I rallied their dads) and convinced them to join me for the March 2024 XCC taking place in Northumberland.
As Day 1 approaches, I realise I have very strong opinions on what we need and don't need so here's hoping my research can be helpful for anyone planning their first UK multi-day hiking trip, an XCC / Arise or similar adventure. Whether you're drawn to the rolling hills of the Lake District, the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, or the stunning coastlines of Wales, a successful camping trip begins with the right gear.
I recently lost all my gear in a massive fire that burned down our garage, so I've had the joy of replacing all my hiking gear over the past few weeks and these are the 4 key essentials you might be keen to find out more about.
As a beginner camper, it's essential to prioritize lightweight and waterproof items: having soggy, blistering feet with miles still to walk or being wet to the bone can make the experience so unpleasant you may never repeat it...and that would be a shame!
There are 4 major items that contribute the most to your pack weight - tent, backpack, sleeping bag, and sleeping mat. If you make good decisions on these 4, you'll have a strong and lightweight base. Here are some of my recommendations and reviews for these 4 must-haves for your first UK camping trip:
Waterproof Tent: We needed the lightest option possible, mindful we will carry the tent the entire hike and will sleep each night in a new location. It is likely (almost a given) that it will rain on one or more of these evenings and Ethan and I will share the space so we needed a waterproof two-man option. The other key factors I wan looking for was that it needed to be very quick and easy to set up, and that it needs to be able to be set up fly first (so that we could set it up even in the rain, keeping the inner dry). I eventually settled on the Durston X-Mid 2 solid - weighing in at 1,1kg I am hopeful the minimal weight will pay back dividends over the 3 days ;) You use your walking poles to secure the tent so it does mean walking poles are a compulsory extra (or borrow from a hiking friend). The tent I had before the Durston was the Naturehike Cloud Up 3. This is a solid tent, and definitely the one I would choose again if you are on a tighter budget. It's lightweight, spacious, easy to setup, and very well priced for what you get.
2. Sleeping Bag: After a long day's hike, your body is exhausted - you want to be dry, warm and comfortable enough to get a good night's sleep. Sleeping bags vary massively in quality and price. For this upcoming trip, I've chosen the OEX Fathom 400. At the price point it's exceptional value for money. You can get smaller and lighter, but you'll be paying at least £100 more to save 100-200g and a small amount of volume.
3. A sleeping mat (extra length cos I'm a tall guy!) is an absolute must. I previously used the Therm-a-rest Pro-Lite Apex which I liked, but after losing it in the fire, I decided to replace it with the Big Agnes 2024 Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Mat. The Big Agnes has an R-Value of 4,8, compared to 3.8 for the Thermarest. It's also a bit thicker, and bulges up on the sides meaning it should hold you in the centre a little better. I often found myself sliding off the Thermarest during the night. They're a similar price and weight, so I went with the Big Agnes.
4. Backpack: This is the item that will transport all the other necessities on your back for the duration of the hike or camping adventure so it is essential that it sits well across your shoulders and the weight can be carried across your hips. Choose a lightweight and waterproof backpack with padded shoulder straps and a supportive frame for optimal comfort and weight distribution. Look for a backpack with multiple compartments and pockets to organize your camping essentials, including water bottles, snacks, a map, and a first-aid kit. I had the Lowe Alpine Mansulu before, and boy was this thing comfortable. I have used a Berghaus on a previous XCC, and it was hard work. My cousin tried the Eurohike and he struggled to get it to sit comfortably. The Lowe Alpine is pure luxury. It's not the lightest at 2.5kg, but it is wonderful. I picked up another one on FB marketplace for £75 which was a steal. This is the one my son will be using. As for me, I've decided to go with the Durston Kakwa 55 as my primary pack. This is a work of genius, and I'm super excited to try it out. At only 900 grams, this is feather weight stuff. There are loads of great reviews on Youtube - I'll review it myself in a few weeks' time.
These 4 key essentials lay a strong foundation for your trip. Together, the 4 I chose weigh only 3.8kg collectively, or 5.3kg for my son with Lowe Alpine ;-)
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