The Dangers of Bush (or wild or stealth) Camping

Helen Lloyd    Helen Lloyd     Camping, dangers, Helen's Take On, Nemo, risk, take on africa, tent

On my journey through Africa, I was often asked by friends and strangers back home whether it isn’t dangerous to just pitch your tent in the bush or by the roadside? And I was often told by locals that it really is dangerous to camp in the wild.

What about deadly snakes and poisonous spiders? What about lions and hippos?

What about being robbed or attacked.

The reality is, of course, bush camping can be dangerous. So can crossing the road. But in the same way that you always look left and right before stepping off the pavement, it’s only common sense to be selective with your camp spot.

Road to Booue, Gabon, Central Africa

I always look for a secluded spot where I shouldn’t be seen by people and certainly not from the road. If I know there are ‘dangerous’ animals around, then I either don’t camp in the bush or I do what I can to minimize the risks. For example, always zipping up the tent inner to keep out snakes, spiders, scorpions etc. If there could be lions, I make sure I’m inside my tent well before sunset and don’t get out again until the sun is high in the sky (no matter how desperate for the toilet!). If there could be hippos, then I don’t camp where they may choose a route down to the river…

The Niger River, Guinea, West Africa

Well that was all in Africa. Now I’m in Canada, but the same rules apply. Only now I have to be careful about bears, rather than lions. That means carrying bear repellent spray everywhere in case of a chance encounter and keeping the camp spot spotless from food. Bears love the smell of food. So that means cooking away from the tent and storing food at a distance too. That’s not good when I wake in the middle of the night with food cravings, but it’s small price to pay.

The Chicotin Plateau, BC, Canada

In, 20 months of bush camping between the UK and Cape Town and now a month under canvas in Canada, I had no serious encounters.

As chance would have it, my closest encounter came just a couple of days ago, ironically, when I was in town.

Walking to the shop, a sudden gust of wind sent unsecured items flying. I had to dodge a piece of flying sheet metal by jumping into the road before continuing down the pavement, when a tree fell down just a few feet from me. I emerged, slightly surprised, with nothing more than a lot of dirt and leaf debris in my right ear. The parked car wasn’t quite so lucky!

You see, there are risks in all walks of life. Of we were scared of every potential threat or danger, then we’d procrastinate in bed all day. But that’s no way to live. Better to get out there and take a chance. You never know when fate will deal the fatal blow, but it’ll probably be when you least expect it.

Free sleeping mat with your sleeping bag or tent!

Gareth    General Outdoor     Nemo, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, tent

We are big fans of Nemo, we love their approach to tent designs and fresh out of the box this morning, we have got a load of their new Astro sleeping mats. These are going to be a serious alternative to the Thermarest Neoair as the pack size is smaller although they weigh a touch more. The reason they weigh a bit more however is due to the whopping 2.5 inches of height they have and the fact they are a little more durable. Dare I say it they are also a little quieter as well when you toss and turn!

They cost £89.99 normally and you can find them on the Webtogs site here, BUT we also giving one away with every single Western Mountaineering sleeping bag and Nemo Tent that you buy for a limited time only.

So if you feel the need for a little more comfort in your tent life, or wanted any more reasons to invest in one of the best down sleeping bags or lightweight tents out there, head on over to Webtogs to check them out!

New videos from the Nemo range

Gareth    General Outdoor     Asahsi, Meta 2P, Nemo, tent

We posted a couple of sneak peaks of the Nemo tents last year and we are super shuffed to have the full range in now. We managed to get a couple of test samples up which we videod and you can view the results on You Tube below;

First we have the Meta 2P – a super lightweight trekking pole tent, probably the best designed we have seen in this category. Weighing just 1300 Grammes, I’m seriously looking forward to getting this out on the hill and reducing my pack weight even more.

We also managed to get the Asashi up and running along with it’s Garage The Asahi on it’s own has a vast amount of space but with the garage you had a virtual palace! What was great about having the garage is being able to stay inside with the door open and even if it was raining, the inner tent would remain dry.

Both tents impressed with their attention to detail and quality, keep your eyes peeled for more videos!

What should I look for when buying a tent?

Gareth    Planning     buying a tent, tent

If you’re on the mission to find the perfect tent and camping equipment, here are a few pointers to make sure you don’t end up with a dud:

• A good tent should protect you from wind, rain, snow, and the sun. If you can afford it, get an all-seasons tent – it’ll save you money in the long run as you won’t have to upgrade later.

• Unless you want to be harassed by bugs – make sure your tent has screens.

• Air vents will make your trip comfortable on hot, muggy nights.

• Dome tents are the sturdiest in windy conditions.

• Double wall tents have an inner breathable laminate, a waterproof outer shell, and less condensation.

• If you get a single wall tent, make sure the material is a breathable, waterproof laminate.

• Make sure the seams are double-stitched and not prone to leakage. If the seams are taped for extra protection and coated then this will add to the waterproof capabilities. If your tent is not taped or treated, you will need to do it yourself.

• Look for a tent made of ripstop nylon, which are much more durable and lighter than other materials such as canvas.

• Colour is a matter of personal choice but remember that brighter colours are more visible in snowy or misty conditions.

• Tent poles should be fibreglass or aluminium; fibreglass is lighter but aluminium is stronger. Poles moulded to the shape of the tent are usually stronger. Fibreglass poles pack better and take up less space.

• And finally, make sure it’s easy to set up. No one enjoys fumbling about in the dark at the end of a long day trek.

The perfect tent will have a lot to do with the conditions you’re camping in. Unfortunately, you probably can’t justify buying a new tent for every condition, but these tips should help you get a good all round tent that you’ll get lots of use out of for several years to come.