The latest and greatest camping gadgets

By CATHRIN SCHAER


When it comes to the outdoors life, just as there are different species of our feathered and furry friends, so there are different species of camper.

For instance, there is the lone predator. He or she walks solo - or possibly with one other - and hunts for the authentic, at-times-frightening, always-exhilarating bush- survival experience.

This creature is tan, lean and weathered, surviving on a diet of dried fruit, nuts and herbal tea. They can be recognised by their well-worn thermal leggings under utilitarian shorts and the headlamp permanently attached to the forehead.

At the opposite end of the camping spectrum we find the friendly tribal or family camper. This species travels in large packs, usually with noisy relatives, a caravan, paddling pool, television, three gas stoves, two bikes, a boat and an outdoor pagoda in tow.

This genus is also known as the "car camper" because they travel to their destination by automobile.

Somewhere in the middle comes the young adult version. This species can be heard before they are seen. Also travelling in packs, their arrival is heralded by loud car stereos and the clinking of beer bottles. Often their outrageous mating displays are only seen during the hours of darkness; in daylight they take refuge in their tents, sleeping off the effects of last night's raucousness.

Yet there are several things that all species of New Zealand camper have in common - and these are known as your basic pieces of camping equipment.

All the species, as much as they are sometimes in conflict, can actually take tips from the others when it comes to choosing the basics to take away.

A tent

Weight and size are the main considerations. What kind of tent you get depends on which of the species you belong to, where you're going and how you're going to get there.

Canvas tents are preferred by the family or car camper. They're bigger, heavier and usually come with several rooms.

Tents made of canvas last longer under New Zealand conditions because in this country, where UV light causes most of the ongoing damage to tents, canvas is not as affected as tents made of nylon or polyester.

Those hiking three days into the bush to reach their campsite are obviously going to prefer a lighter tent. It also depends how often you're going camping. Tents will be referred to as two-season (spring and summer) or three- to four-season (they'll also do the job in winter).

Waterproofing is also important, and you need to ask whether your tent has been seam-sealed. That means the seams have been sealed so rain can't get in. Stability is also important, and varies greatly from the inexpensive dome tents to expedition models designed to withstand gale-force winds on a mountainside.

If you're going camping for only a few days, you may just want a bargain-price tent from somewhere like The Warehouse. Just keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays fine. Before you leave, always set up your tent at least once in the backyard. It's possible you have lost tent pegs or gained a hole, and losing pegs is so tedious

A bed

Not too many people can cope with a day of activities - whether that be swimming at the beach or hiking for six hours - if they haven't slept well.

Sleeping bags are traditional camping equipment and these days the range is vast.

If you're really going bush you'll want a down-filled bag because they're lighter to carry and warmer.

If you're going yachting you may prefer a synthetic-filled bag or possibly one made with water-resistant fabric, because these will dry out quicker if wet accidentally.

Summer campers may prefer to kip in only a cotton or silk sleeping bag inner because it's cooler.

Then there's the joy of sleeping with a bit of tussock digging into your neck. It's not nice. Which is why serious outdoor enthusiasts seem particularly keen on self-inflating sleeping mats. These are light and pack up relatively small and, happily, they start to inflate automatically as soon as they are unpacked.

The old faithfuls, the Thermarest mats, are also comfortable and light enough to carry if backpacking.

Those travelling by car, feel free to think only of comfort - your basics can include everything from pillows to foam mattresses to an air mattress that self-inflates using a plug that fits into your car's cigarette lighter.

A camp kitchen

This is the area where the difference between camping species becomes most noticeable. Hikers and mountaineers will be carrying the bare minimum. Some like to use small stoves running on gas canisters. Others prefer stoves that employ liquid fuel because in some locations, gas canisters will be hard to acquire or a hassle to carry. In these cases the pots and pans used are lightweight and usually aluminium.

At the other end of the scale, it is now possible for the car-camper to buy all manner of fancy cooking equipment to cater for that two-week Christmas holiday. Most commonly, there are two or more ring gas stoves powered by large gas cylinders as well as the Sun Co Solar Oven solar stove. This is left out in the daylight to soak up power and used by green-minded campers to cook dinner.

If you're seeking something more than the humble Esky to keep your beer cold, there are also 50-litre fridge and freezer units, powered by everything from the car's cigarette lighter, the electricity at your camping site or yet another gas cylinder.

Yes, luxury campers can now bring along everything but the kitchen sink. Actually, should you fervently desire to bring the kitchen sink, then grab a collapsible water carrier and add it to the portable kitchen unit, which includes two table-tops and a space for your gas stove.

Some luggage

Experienced outdoors enthusiasts say that a lot of people choose a bigger backpack because they think this means they will be able to carry more. But it is far better to use a backpack that "fits" your body shape. It's more comfortable and you'll be able to carry more for longer.

Buying the perfect pack can be a highly technical undertaking. To buy one that's best for you, you'll need to get expert advice at a specialist retailer about which size and shape harness is going to fit you best, as well as which size and shape backpack.

Other things to look for:

The team at Macpac reports that ventilation between your back and the straps has become more important for comfort.

Another trend in backpacks is the inclusion of a hydration system. A bag for carrying drinking water is built into the pack. It takes more liquid, is easier to reach and simpler to carry than the traditional flask.

Lighting

Right, so wearing a headlamp is going to make you look a bit silly - but this form of hands-free lighting is so useful that everyone should just deal with the embarrassment.

Wear it on your forehead with pride and you'll never have to worry about losing your torch down the longdrop again. Camp cooks can use it while making dinner and it's also going to come in handy if the car breaks down on the side of a dark country road.

Meanwhile, serious adventurers almost never take their headlamps off, whether they're mountain biking, caving or climbing.

Other forms of camp lighting abound. Gas-powered lights tend to be brighter than battery-powered ones. Though if you have children around your campsite, battery power will be safer.

When buying battery-powered lights it may be worth investigating whether the batteries are rechargeable.

And car-campers take note: probably the fanciest lights to turn up in tents recently are those that can be hung in the tent and then switched off with a remote control.