Equipment Outfitters

Accessories — or ‘extras’, ‘options’, ‘non-essentials’ or pure luxuries — improve either the enjoyment or the efficiency of a particular activity or item. The range and variety is astonishing — as are some of the prices. And what is a luxury will; of course, depend to a large extent on what you are used to. Genuine down sleeping bags, for example, may be considered luxuries only under certain conditions.

Price is often the deciding factor when it comes to accessories — and what you are prepared to pay has _\a great influence on the price!

So take your time, consider each item and don’t buy anything that does not have some real use — that way you’ll amass a collection of useful equipment that will continue to give you pleasure long after you’ve finished paying for it.

Caravanning and Camping Protection form the Elements

Sun umbrellas come in more sizes and fabric varieties than ever before — with dark wood and cream- coloured canvas guaranteeing a ’safari’ look. Along with quality and price comes longevity, and how important this is depends on how often you are going to use it.

The smallest ones are easy to carry, but you’re not able to angle the head on all models. If they’re made from light-gauge metal they may suffer damage when being hammered or forced into a standing position in the sand. Another accessory will solve this problem: a sturdy metal umbrella stand that is hammered into the ground instead.

The biggest umbrellas are difficult to carry and need their own stands.

If you are short handed or catering for a particularly large group, consider buying a lightweight gazebo of the pavement-stall style. They require a lot more putting up than do umbrellas, but are less likely to blow away in the wind because of their large, rigid frames. The largest ones have sides that do a wonderful job of protecting occupants from the slanting rays of the afternoon sun. Once up, it is a simple job to move them around or turn them to a more convenient angle.

As long as you never feel the need to stand up and stretch, a cup-shaped wind shelter is an excellent accessory. They are very light and look almost like small dome tents with one side missing; they even work as an outdoor sleeping shelter. They collapse into an easy-to-carry pack that is smaller than a folded beach umbrella, and a few light pegs keep them from blowing away. Many have sewn-in ground sheets.

Windbreaks may sound a bit extravagant and somewhat unnecessary, but are nevertheless popular among campers who spend a few weeks at a time in one place. The largest consist of a loose-weave fabric stretched between a series of poles that remains upright with guy ropes and pegs. They provide privacy and superior shelter from wind.

Caravanning and Camping Tables and Chairs

Fold-up tables may seem like a luxury at first, especially if you own a large, well-equipped caravan with an inside dining area. But if a lot of cooking is going to be done outdoors, or if the temperature is simply going to make eating indoors unpleasant, a good fold-up table will make a tangible difference to the day-to-day pleasures of living and eating outdoors.

A fold-up table and chair unit with four bench seats and place for an umbrella is a great thing to have, especially if you’re camping in a tent with small children. The chairs cannot fall over, be rocked on or moved at all, which keeps the smaller family members feeling secure and gives the parents that little extra peace of mind. They can be folded up quickly and easily, and their handles enable them to be carried like a suitcase (great to take with on picnics and day trips).

The range of fold-up chairs is vast. Metal frames with canvas are heavier but stronger than plastic or wood, and are well suited to real bush or wilderness use. Wooden ones are heavier, and when folded up are not as compact, but if you feel it’s important to create the right atmosphere, the warm grain and satin finish of hand-oiled wood is hard to beat.

Clean white plastic tubing with synthetic coverings is very practical and continues to be one of the most popular options. Wooden deck chairs are among the most comfortable for reclining, but are impossible for positioning at a table (and are very difficult to eat in!). On the beach, however, they are in a class of their own.

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