Deuter Hydro Lite 3 Backpack

Advantages: Very comfortable, Lightweight, Small size when rolled up
Disadvantages: Expensive

...As a keen walker/backpacker/camper I had, until a year ago, used the traditional foam rollmat to sleep on. This was very uncomfortable, but then whats the point of camping if your not going to rough it a bit? However, I went out and bought a Thermorest Ultra-Lite mat through a recommendation by my friend and couldnt believe what I had been missing out on? Sleeping on one of these is better than my shoddy matress at Uni. First, you unroll your mat from its pouch, undo the air valve and it self inflates. Inside the mat there are fibres which when the mat is filled with air, hold it to the correct thickness (about 3/4 of an inch). If you like sleeping on a firm surface, or if u are short of time, you can pump it up a bit more with your mouth but otherwise it can just be left with the valve open and will inflate within 10 minutes... Read review

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Advantages: Light and strong
Disadvantages: not cheap

...One part of either a backpacking or cycling camping trip is that at night it gets dark and if you’re away from city lights it can get incredibly dark. Some say it can be romantic, the dark night with stars shimmering away, the stars that you never really see in built up areas. But it also means you cannot see where you are going. Camp sites can be full of trip hazards (guy lines from tents for example) so a reliable torch is a must. So what torch do I use? My preferred torch for camping is one from the MagLite range of torches the model being the MagLite 2-C Cell Flashlight, I chose this because it is not too big and heavy (that is counter productive when space and weight are at a premium), also for me I want a torch that can give out a good light (this used to be very important when making my way back to the tent after a couple... Read review

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Advantages: convenient size, good brightness, extremely durable, water & shock resistant
Disadvantages: more expensive than comparable inferior models

...blister pack or in a very attractive presentation box with a black matt finish. MagLite is embossed in raised silver lettering on the front. Both choices contain the torch, a key ring lead and a battery (it takes 1 AAA). It is available in a choice of colours: black, dark silver, light silver, dark red and bright blue. The solitaire consists of 13 parts in all: 1) tail cap 2) lip seal for the tail cap 3) electrical contact 4) spare lamp 5) battery spring 6) the main barrel with on/off switch 7) O-ring-barrel 8) switch assembly 9) lamp 10) reflector 11) clear lens 12) O-ring head 13) head It is very compact being 81 mm in length with a barrel diameter of 12.7 mm and it weights 24.4g with the battery. Its average lumens are around 2.3 and its peak beam candlepower is up to 213. It has a battery life of approximately 3... Read review

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