About

Hi, I’m John, and welcome to my camping blog – tentexplorer.com 

I’ve been an avid fan of camping since I was little. When I was a kid, some nights  I would even take my mini one-man tent and camp out in the back garden rather than sleep in my own bed! That’s just how much I loved camping. 

As an adult I’ve continued my obsession and spend every spare minute I can doing something related to the outdoors. Whether that’s walking my dog, camping, hiking, exploring, or (on those rare evenings that I do have to stay indoors) writing about
camping. That leads us here, to my blog – Tent Explorer! 

For me, camping isn’t just a hobby it’s a necessity. I grew up in the countryside, and while my day job means that I have to live in a city, I find that my mental and physical health improves when I can get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and escape away to the wide open spaces of the countryside. Something about the sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors helps me reset, focus, and take time to appreciate life. 

So, before you dive into the dozens of blogs, reviews, and articles on this site – a little about me…

My Goal In Starting tentexplorer.com

My goal is to explore as many different locations and outdoor activities as I can. And while I’m at it, I want to share that journey with others who might be less experienced or less confident. Camping can be a daunting hobby to get into, but once you’ve mastered the basics, it can be a fun activity for the entire family – and in my experience, much cheaper and less stressful than organising a holiday abroad.

Likes 

When it comes to reviewing tents, there are a few absolute essentials for me. Durability, functionality, and affordability. I’m drawn to brands which hit all three of these. Most people getting into camping don’t have huge amounts of money to spare, so getting the most value from their tent is paramount. This is true for camping accessories as well. I’m a big fan of products with multiple uses or which can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

Dislikes 

The thing that causes me the most frustration in life is the limited amount of time I have available to spend camping. If it was up to me, I’d probably spend my whole life
living out in the woods – but I don’t think my wife would be very happy! But I make it work. A weekend getaway here, a day hike there – every little bit helps satisfy my craving for nature. In the meantime, I can spend my time researching, shopping, and passing my knowledge on to you! 

I’m also not a huge fan of “glamping”. For me, the point of camping isn’t to stay in a tent that’s almost like a modern living room in the middle of the woods, enjoying all the creature comforts of home. For me, camping is about getting AWAY from modernity and getting back to nature!

Technology 

You might think that being someone that likes the outdoors and nature, that I’d be a bit of a technophobe – but I’m actually quite the opposite. I love incorporating technology into my camping hobby. My smartphone, my tablet, and my GPS device are all essentials for every campaign trip as well as other camping gadgets like rechargeable lights and water filters.

My Camping Kit Essentials 

While every camping trip I go on is a little different, there are some essentials that I take with me on every excursion. 

Shelter 

Obviously the most essential piece of kit is my tent. Which tent I pack will depend on the weather forecast and the terrain I’m camping on. I always also pack a tarp to use as a tent footprint. This gives me an extra layer of protection and warmth.

Bedding 

My go-to bedding when I’m camping is a quality, warm sleeping bag, a pillow, and a yoga mat.

Clothing 

Layers, layers, layers! I always pack lots of warm clothing. In the UK, even very warm days can turn into extremely cold nights, so I always make sure I have enough clothes to be comfortable in both temperature extremes.

Food + Drink 

If I’m just camping for one night, I’ll just take a lunchbox with some sandwiches and crisps and a couple of bottles of water. If I’m camping for longer, I’ll bring a portable stove with me and do some outdoor cooking and a water filter to let me purify water from streams.

Lighting 

This might sound obvious, but the countryside gets VERY dark at night. I always pack a lantern (which can be  recharged with a hand crank), a small but powerful handheld torch, and a battery-powered headlamp.

Navigation 

I always pack my Garmin eTrex 10 Outdoor Handheld GPS Unit which is much more
reliable than my mobile in low signal areas. If I have one available, I also take a paper map of the area with me. Because although technology is useful, I like to keep my map-reading and orienteering skills in check.

Personal Items 

A roll of toilet paper, a first aid kit, and a Swiss Army Knife/multitool are all essential items. I also always keep two spare heavy plastic bags to store and double bag any waste I generate. Remember, when you’re camping “take only photographs, leave only footprints”!

As you can probably tell, camping is my number one passion! This is why I started Tent Explorer – to share my knowledge and passion for camping with other enthusiasts. I am to recommend the best camping gear for your budget and to give useful tips and tricks that I’ve learned in my years camping. With my help, you can make your next camping trip safer, more fun, and more affordable – whether you are camping for one night or one month!