Start planning your summer festivals or gap year travel now!
The nights are long, and you are juggling a job, a relentless social calendar, an essay crisis and goodness knows what else.
One of the best ways of warding off winter gloom is to look forward to the freedom of the summer months, and the chance they bring to travel, go to music festivals and generally kick back and enjoy life!
Especially if you’ve got big plans, perhaps for some lengthy travelling after graduating, it’s not too early to start thinking about the kit you will be taking with you.
Buying several months in advance means you get the crop of the best bargains, and a much better chance of the gear you want being in stock. There’s also time to put stuff on your Christmas or birthday wish lists.
Working out what to take, especially for far-flung travels, can seem a challenging task. But with a little careful planning and prioritising, it doesn’t have to be impossible.
Obviously, a lot depends on where you are headed, how long for, and what you’re going to be up to once you are there. Make a list with different categories (medical, clothing, travel documents, wash kit etc.) and do a trial pack before you go.
Of course, you’ll need a decent piece of luggage, either a traditional top-loading backpack or one with a zip running around the edge that’s easy to pack. Some incorporate a detachable day pack, but if not you will need to buy a separate daysack for when you’re sightseeing and exploring.
Try out the fully packed rucksack well before you go. And, if you’ve bought a new one, wear it in by using it when you can ahead of your trip.
Even if you’re planning on using hostels for part of your trip, tents are invariably a good idea, so you always have a home from home with you!
There’s a lot to think about when choosing a tent, even if you’re only going to be using it for a few nights at a festival, so, again, good planning is vital.
Think about what you will using your tent for (just sleeping, or do you need some living space as well?) and try and get one you can stand up in.
While pop-up tents are erected in no time, pitched ones are more common for larger designs. You may need to put it up in a hurry in the rain, so practice beforehand.
You can also buy single-skinned, festival or weekend tents, giving you shelter for a couple of nights which are ideal for single use. They’re also light to carry. Also think about how you are going to identify it when you are returning to the campsite late at night.
Weight, size, brand, budget, weather resilience, ease of pitching, cooking space, and the number of skins a tent has are important factors when making your choice. Look online and read some tents reviews before you commit.
When it comes to clothing, obviously climate is a major factor. For hotter places, cotton absorbs sweat and will help keep you cool, while synthetics dry easily and don’t crease, however they may be less comfortable.
Trousers which can convert into shorts are super-useful, and remember to take some long sleeved tops with you to keep the sun and insects at bay. You’ll also need a hat which protects the back of your neck.
For colder climates, layer clothes with thermal underwear such as a base-layer t-shirt, topped with fleece jackets, which are lighter and less bulky than a jumper.
You’ll also need to think about footwear. Normal shoes or trainers may not stay the course, so take a proper pair of boots. Waterproof sandals are also really versatile.
Finally, whether you’re hitting Glastonbury or are off round the world, men's waterproof jackets are an essential piece of kit. There are also a variety of women’s jackets available so opt for the most lightweight, comfortable and breathable version you can afford: it’s an investment that will pay off. For extreme cold, a Gore-Tex mountain jacket could be what you need.
Another useful piece of kit is a waterproof poncho, which can keep the rain off you and your pack, and even double up as a groundsheet if required.
Whatever you’re up to this summer, think now about getting your mitts on some proper kit, and you will be in pole position for numerous adventures.
