Free delivery on orders over £80What's New In Camping For 2021
Camping has moved on a lot from the days of heavy canvas tents, lumpy ex-army sleeping bags and smoky paraffin stoves. Modern high-tech materials, together with sophisticated design and precision engineering, have recently delivered amazing new camping equipment that sets new levels of comfort and performance. 2021 sees some game-changing technologies, a move into eco-conscious fabrics and some fun new designs and gadgets that make us smile.
Here’s a little snapshot of some of the new stuff that we think you’ll love.
SEA TO SUMMIT TENTS
Sea to Summit has always been synonymous with innovation, and its equipment and accessories ranges have long been amongst Ellis Brigham’s favourites. So, as the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are super excited to see Sea to Summit launch their brand new range of tents.
Focusing on lightweight and ultralight backpacking, Sea to Summit’s two new tent designs stand out, offering something new and fresh in a category dominated by a common design vernacular. Their re-imagining of tent design and architecture gives an exciting solution to the often less-than-comfortable experience of spending any significant time in a small tent. The Sea to Summit Tension Ridge System is the game-changer, angling tent poles upwards to create higher ceilings, wider doorways, and achieve superior climate control. Early feedback from our testers has been great, so be sure not to miss these if you are looking for a new tent this summer.
BIKEPACKING
We’re always up for new adventures and this is what attracted us to bikepacking, an exciting category that combines cycling with camping. Having been on our radar for a while now, we are pleased to be introducing a range of bikepacking tents for this season that caters for adventures on two wheels.
Leading the way is Big Agnes, whose bikepacking models take the DNA of their bestselling backpacking tents and add cycle-friendly features. We particularly like the nifty compression stuff sacks with daisy-chain webbing which make attaching the tent to your bike frame really easy!
Although not a requisite, bikepacking lets you cover far longer distances in a day than on foot... or it extends a dayout on your bike into a multi-day adventure.
So, if unlocking new adventures further afield is your thing, we highly recommend giving Bikepacking a go this summer.
HELINOX BLUE PAISLEY CHAIRS
Design aficionados, this one is for you. Helinox is upping the style stakes by introducing a bold new Blue Paisley print to their best-selling camping chairs. The iconic Paisley pattern has origins in Persia and India and its popularity soared when it reached our shores. Its modern name originates in Paisley, a Scottish town famous for its textiles, and where these designs were commonly produced. Bought bang up to date, Blue Paisley is Helinox’s tilt on a beautiful, timeless family of patterns that have transcended cultures; from clothing to artwork...and now chairs!
RUMPL
Rumpl’s mission is simple and compelling: to introduce the world to better blankets! Applying modern, technical materials to the humble blanket, they have turned the category on its head, producing something you will quickly wonder how you lived without. Rumpl blankets will keep you warm and cosy wherever you find yourself this summer, from your sofa to your garden and beyond.
ECO FABRICS
BIG AGNES SOLUTION-DYED FABRIC
We introduced Big Agnes to our brand roster last year and their innovative, lightweight tents, born from an endless stoke for life on the trail, quickly became bestsellers. Ever at the forefront of product development, 2021 is another exciting season for Big Agnes as they become the first brand to introduce solution-dyed fabrics to the camping equipment category.
In solution or dope-dyeing, colour pigment is added to colourless polyester or nylon in its molten state, and when the fibre is extruded, colour runs through to the core. When the fibres are spun into thread and fabric is woven, it already has the required colour and no traditional dying process is needed. Compared to traditional piece-dyeing, solution-dyeing reduces energy consumption by 80% and water use by 50%; a massive plus for the environment. Additionally, solution-dyed fabrics have increased UV resistance and better colour stability.
VANGO EARTH COLLECTION
Vango has a proud 50-year history of supporting the environment through their on-going upcycling and recycling of camping equipment. For 2021, Vango continue these environmental efforts with the launch of their new Earth collection, made using 100% recycled fabrics.
Featuring Vango’s new Sentinel Eco fabric made from recycled single-use plastics, the material retains all the technical performance we have come to expect from Vango. We really applaud this brilliant initiative, particularly as these tents are all about getting the next generation to enjoy the great outdoors.
