I doubt you could do it from my local B&Q but you certainly could from my local Halfords. Even last weekend they still had loads of summer camping equipment on their shelves. I wonder how much of it they sell though because anyone who's going to buy their equipment isn't going to go winter (or even autumn) camping and anyone who is will probably have some idea of what equipment works. My rule of thumb with camping equipment is to remove two seasons worth of rating from the marketing info - so a three season rated sleeping bag for example is really only suitable for a few warm nights in summer. That means than none of the UK high street suppliers sell any camping equipment at all that I would use in this country between about mid September and the following Easter.

That's probably because I've got soft in my old age. What happened to the tanned and toned guy who would sleep in ditches in a snowstorm? (on the way to my first Elephant rally!). No, the reality is that I've found out the hard way that a lot of camping gear has a very narrow optimal use window. Just like using a festival equipment in January is one step on the way to frostbite, using mountaineering grade equipment in July will have you sweating to death. At least with that though you can open the door. I don't mind using a coke-can stove in the summer when I can go down the chippy if it doesn't work. When it's snowing outside and I really need a source of heat I want something a bit more reliable. For winter use these days I'd only use bubblewrap if it was military spec

Like you I've been digging through my collection of camping equipment recently in preparation for another Elephant trip next Jan/Feb. First question - which tent shall I take. Should it be the old faithful that I know works in the winter but with a three person capacity I'll probably struggle to warm it up inside on my own. Or should I risk an old school two person mountaineering tent complete with snow valances etc. It's designed for high winds and driving rain on UK mountains but I've never used it in extreme cold. Or what about a lightweight cheepy one man tent that I bought recently. It looks the part and it doesn't matter if it doesn't come back.

Next weekend (or maybe the weekend after) I'm thinking I should take all three of them to an open all year campsite (I have one in mind in Devon) put them all up, spend a night in each and decide. The open fire, pallets and witches brew cooking pot look great but I'd struggle to get them on my mid 70's 125cc Suzuki. Everything that's going to be piled onto that for the trip to Germany is going to have to work and work well below zero. No plastic sporks this time.

Thanks Guys,

The UK tends to be predictably wet. We never get the sort of Scandanavian temperatures that get all moisture out of the air. There is also our addiction to rules designed to save mythical creatures (Elven Safety mate, can't have a fire 'ere .)

I love open fire camping. With the exception of a few camp sites that have fire pits we have to get into Europe to enjoy this. Sleeping bag , cot, fire, maybe with a bivvy bag over the top, hot drinks, the odd drop of something stronger (not too much or you feel the cold) and talking **** until you pass out, fantastic!

The bubble wrap is interesting. We've started to get a type that won't pop. The cells when pressed, open into each other. I'd guess it adds a season to my thermarest and is lighter than the camp bed I'd use if staying out longer.

For the Elefant I'd pick gear after new year when the weather forecast is out. I've done them at minus fifteen overnight and sunny in the day where the tent was only to keep stuff out of sight. Other years it rains and your three man easy up type might stink a bit by the end but at least you have half a chance to dry stuff. Enjoy it.

Andy