Best bit of camping equipment for under £125?

[Sweep]

+1 for the Gellert malet. Agree totally - initially the light weight makes it seem a bit pretend/toyish, but it works fine. Why suffer?

[bikerwaser]

a leatherman wave multitool is something i don't leave home without. it's got a lifetime guarantee. it's virtually bombproof about £95.
also if you have steel pegs change them to alliminium. they cost a lot but so much lighter.
also when camping i have a good base layer.

[BeeKeeper]

...After that I'm going to Europe via Portsmouth/Le Havre with the vague objective of wintering in Spain.

If you are going away for some time a Kindle could help you keep sane in the winter evenings. I nearly took one on my last camping trip but didn't in the end because I hadn't worked out a fool-proof way of stowing it so it didn't get broken. The bar bag is probably the best place but I also need to look at the hard cases you can get for them to give it some protection, especially for the screen.

[Ronl]

Interesting thread ... There are so many useful gizmos these days and it depends what you have or desire ! On an earlier topic I have to agree Merino base layers are superb, don't whiff, keep you warm, can be worn day and night, can be doubled up if it gets cold, long or short sleeve. One of the best investments I have made in recent times.
But if it's a gift treat yourself to something you fancy ....... Perhaps rather than need !

A good book and malt always aid relaxation ... Doubt Cotswold will have the latter

[nmnm]

Kindle... way of stowing it so it didn't get broken

I use a bubble wrap envelope with a thick bit of cardboard on the screen side for stiffening and protection from jabbing. Very light. If it's rainy, one of those freezer bags with the slidey zip lock closure would be a good basis for a solution.

[jimlondon]

Kindle... way of stowing it so it didn't get broken

I use a bubble wrap envelope with a thick bit of cardboard on the screen side for stiffening and protection from jabbing. Very light. If it's rainy, one of those freezer bags with the slidey zip lock closure would be a good basis for a solution.

Freezer bag with zip lock is also excellent for reading the Kindle in the bath!

[gloomyandy]

I also use a home made bubble wrap sleeve for my Kindle. So far it has worked really well. You can see it here:

The Kindle is in the gaffer tape and bubble wrap sleeve mid way up and on the right hand side. You can also see that I'm a tidy camper!

I also find the Kindle touch great fro storing scans of guide books (which for some reason do not seem to be available for the Kindle), and for carrying "extra" maps. The pdf reader and the touch interface make using them much more practical than a standard Kindle...

Oh and the other thing I've found pretty good (and also in the above picture), is a short section of close cell mat. I use mine as a seat if I stop during the day, and a place to keep things on in the tent porch when camping..

Andy

[foxyrider]

Can you get lightweight Eeyore's?

[gloomyandy]

Can you get lightweight Eeyore's?

That's McEor (he comes from Ullapool) and is my trusty companion of many trips. He is certainly a bit of a lightweight when it comes to putting up the tent or doing the camp chores preferring to lurk in a pannier until all the jobs are done!

[andymiller]

Some of the best items I've bought under £125 and ones I wouldn't be without are, in no particular order;

1) Petzl Tikka XP headtorch

2) Silk Sleeping Bag Liner

3) Camcleat tent pegs

These would be on my list too.

I'd also add:

- plastic mallet;
- Icebreaker merino beanie (put it on and the world is suddenly a cosier place;
- Ground Effect merino clothes (especially their Daddy Long legs tights). These are way more hardwearing than any other merino clothes I've bought (eg Smartwool, Icebreaker and Howies);
- waterproof poncho;
- Aloksak plastic bags (although I have just discovered theat Muji do some pretty good alternatives);
- Alpkit mesh ditty bags (shame they don't go to less than 1 litre;
- Muji sewing kit;
- roll of 'spinnaker tape' (or McNett Tenacious Tape - although it's more expensive);
- small tube of SeamGrip glue;
- Muji plastic travel bottles;
- Muji 'tarpaulin' bags;
- Muji medium packing 'cube' - doubles as a pillow;
- Eagle creek packit system bags;
- short (2 metre) electrical hookup cable (I had this custom made for me by a guy on eBay);
- power pack for recharging stuff if I don't have access to a socket.

It's probably over the £125 mark, but I'd be lost without my PHD down jacket.