Nostalgia chic -- not to mention bank balances -- have prompted a demand for old-school camping gear. Unlike their 1970s forbears, however, today's campers refuse to compromise on comfort. From silk sleeping bags to no-leak wellies and state-of-the-art stoves, today's essential kit makes 21st century camping almost a luxurious experience - almost.

Eurohike silk sleep liner, £39.99, www.blacks.co.uk - for a bit of added luxury and warmth (let's face it, you'll need it), take a silk sleeping-bag liner. The material won't make you sweat and it is much easier to wash than your sleeping bag.

Camping Starter Pack £59, www.cotswold outdoor.com -camping can seem like the cheap option, but the kit can end up costing you a fair bit. This starter pack includes a two-person tent, two sleeping bags, and two camper mats, at a bargain price. Ideal for festivalgoers or first-time campers.

Primus Eta PackLite cooker, £75, www.cotswold outdoor.com - this mini-stove is light, easy to use, and looks pretty swanky. Includes a large pan, and is fuel efficient too.

Related Internet Links

• Our dedicated section on camping and caravanning

Tents, caravans and motorhomes

The popularity of all three is rising sharply in Britain, and appeal is broadly spread - include a travelling aristocrat

Britain's perfect pitches

Adventure, romance, showers, zero guilt; a night under canvas has it all, says the editor of the Cool Camping guides

• All your tent gear

• How much for a motorhome?

• Britain's best family campsites

BACKGROUND

• All your tent gear

• Girls go mad on a motorhome in Yorkshire

• A novice and his caravan in Dorset

• Why not buy a static caravan or holiday lodge?

Related Links

• Family camping in France in the 1970s - aaahhh

Hunter wellington boots, £55, www.hunterboots.com - don't think for a second that your flowery pink wellies are acceptable in the countryside. The only things that should be adorning your feet are dark green Hunter boots.

Coolbag, £30, www.cathkidston.com - keep your bangers, burgers and beer cool in a funky bag.

Chair, £19, www.joulesclothing.com - if you can carry it, a fold-up chair is a great investment that will improve your camping experience tenfold. Just think of all those nights around the campfire, relaxing in your comfy chair, laughing at everyone else sitting on the floor in the mud.

Many tents come with awnings, living areas and integral groundsheets. They are lightweight, easy to erect and fun. The Eurohike Flash Mach I (£59.99 from Millets, 0800 389 5861, www.millets.co.uk) comes flat-packed: throw it in the air and it pops up into a ready-made tent, perfect for first-timers.

For a lightweight high-performance tent, look at the domed Lupus Constellation II from Blacks (£94.99 from Blacks, 0800 665 410, www.blacks.co.uk). It has a front canopy, an integrated LED lighting system (powered by batteries) and two porch windows. The One Earth Tee Pee Tent (£179.99, Millets) is made from renewable pesticide-free organic cotton.

You can sleep on foam mats but a self-inflating air bed is comfier. John Lewis has a double AeroBed from £140 (08456 049 049, www.johnlewis.com). For a more natural vibe, try a cotton-filled double mattress, £99 plus £10 shipping, from Bell Tent UK (07830 355 993, www.belltent.co.uk). The One Earth sleeping bag (£49.99, Millets) uses 50% sustainable fibre made from plastic bottles.

The Campingaz Camping Chef (£49.99, Millets) has twin burners and folding legs. The Coghlans Camp Toaster holds up to four slices of bread over a single burner (£4.99 from Field & Trek, 0870 777 1071, www.fieldandtrek.com). Would-be gourmet campers use the Cobb Premier BBQ/Oven, £80 from www.cobb-bbq.co.uk.

The real fun of camping is coping with the unexpected. As well as wellies, washing line and a water container, you could think about taking the One Earth emergency wind-up light (£29.99), the One Earth wind-up mobile phone charger (£14.99) and a Eurohike LED head torch (£14.99), all from Millets.

When it’s time to pack up and go home, you’ll be pleased you took the Eurohike tent peg extractor (£1.99, Millets).

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