Latest news with #camping
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi shoppers flocking to middle aisle for bargain camping and festival gear – & prices start at £4
ALDI customers are rushing to the middle aisle to snap up bargain camping and festival essentials – with prices starting from just £4. Shoppers across the UK have been praising the latest SpecialBuys range, which landed in stores this week and includes everything from children's camping chairs to electric coolboxes, sleeping bags and even hammocks with stands. 4 4 4 In one popular Facebook post, a thrilled shopper wrote: 'Kids camping chairs now at ALDI as part of this week's SpecialBuys in store, £7.99 each.' The new drop, part of Aldi's ADVENTURIDGE brand, has already created a buzz in stores. Big-ticket items include a Foldable Handcart for £39.99, a Hammock Chair at £44.99, and a Portable Hammock with Stand, also priced at £44.99 – ideal for lounging at campsites or music festivals. For those preparing for overnight stays, there's a Sleeping Bag at £16.99, a Self Inflating Mat for £14.99, and a 4-in-1 Airbed by BESTWAY for £24.99. Staying warm and dry is easy with a Camping Poncho Blanket costing £19.99, while the Electric Coolbox, priced at £34.99, keeps food and drinks fresh. There's also plenty for little adventurers, including a Children's Tent for £12.99, a Children's Sleeping Bag at £14.99 and a Kids Light Assortment priced at just £2.99. The popular Children's Camping Chair, highlighted on Facebook, is available for £7.99. Fans flocked to the comments. One user said: 'Will have to buy the kids some for the summer holidays.' Another added: 'Popping to the shops now.' Others tagged their friends to spread the word. Budget-conscious shoppers can still stock up on handy extras, such as Microwave Containers at £4.99, Tent Essentials for £4.99, and a range of Camping Accessories from £4.49. Other practical picks include Electric Camping Extensions at £19.99, an Insulated Bottle for £6.99, and a Multi Purpose Floor Mat at £12.99. With summer holidays and festival season in full swing, the range is flying off shelves – and as with all SpecialBuys, once they're gone, they're gone.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
All our favourite camping buys tried and tested for festivals and family holidays – starting from just 15p
Plus, one of the UK's best campsites has safari lodges, pet pigs and secret waterfalls CAMP OUT All our favourite camping buys tried and tested for festivals and family holidays – starting from just 15p FESTIVAL and camping season is here and with that, so is the frantic rush to find items that make it that little bit easier. Whether crawling around in a cramped festival tent or away with the family in a holiday park, as much as we may love camping there are some things about it that can be a nightmare. Advertisement 15 Camping and festival season have returned Credit: AP Here are The Sun's travel team's top recs for camping this summer. Collapsible items With a limited amount of storage space in caravans and tents, making sure your kitchen equipment is as space-saving as possible is an essential. Look for collapsible items to stack and save space. This Outwell kettle, £39.99, is also collapsible to just 4.5cm despite holding 1.5litres when expanded. Advertisement Ikea does a great collapsible washing up bowl for just £5. The Pepprig bowl collapses flat and features a hole to hang from pegs. And when it comes to cooking up a storm, a stacking nest of pans is essential. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement Camping pans The BeGrit Camping Pans is a four-piece stackable stainless steel set that includes a frying pan, two pots, plate and spoon in a storage bag. From £17.99 on Amazon or for a more sophisticated set that covers all bases for a family, Decathlon sell the Quechua Stainless Steel Non-Stick Camping Cookset for £49.99. UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard With a whopping 25 items suitable for a family of four you get a big pot and frying pan and within is stored a sieve drainer, plates, cups and cutlery. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15p Plates You don't want to waste weight - or risk breakages - by using standard crockery in a caravan. Invest in some melamine plates, cups and bowls but for me, I want to make things easy when it comes to washing up. A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and compostable plates costs around £7 for 50 from Amazon and are perfect for most meals and avoid the need to use lots of water or make several trips to the block to wash up. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15 A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and compostable plates costs around £7 for 50 from Amazon Credit: Amazon ReadyBed For £27.50 from Argos, ReadyBed is an air mattress and sleeping bag rolled into one, which saves on space and weight when you're packing – pivotal when you've got kids or you're lugging heaps of gear across a festival site. What I personally love is that there's no risk of rolling off the airbed as you're fully zipped in. It's got a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 ReadyBed has a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine Credit: Argos Magic mirror This bit of kit is my most cherished camping item. It's a foldable mirror made up of four glass squares that unravel into a full-length travel mirror. Advertisement Costing £45, it comes with a tie at the top so that it can be looped around a tent pole. The best feature is how compact it is, folding into a flat square – just be wary as a lot of festivals don't allow glass. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 Magic Mirror is a foldable mirror made up of four glass squares Credit: Magic Mirror Advertisement Vango Micro Steel Chair You can probably find cheaper camping chairs out there, but this £24.99 chair is great for packing light (it weighs just 1.5kg) and if you're tight for space. Unlike some traditional camping chairs, you'll have to construct it, a bit like a tent, but that takes about 30 seconds. The steel frame of the chair relies on a tent-pole like structure which means it's easily collapsible and can be shoved in a teeny bag along with the canvas-material chair. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement 15 This camping chair takes less than a minute to construct Credit: Outdoor World Vango Square Water Carrier Water carriers are so cheap but so useful, especially at a festival where the toilet facilities may not be anything more than a hole in the ground. This one for £7.99, folds into practically nothing and comes with a nifty tap feature that will give you running water at the twist of a nozzle. Fill it up every day from the campsites water station and use it to wash your hands, brush your teeth, drink from etc. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 A water carrier is super useful for when the toilets and taps are far from your tent Credit: Outdoor World Loop earplugs As much as I enjoy a festival or two, I do need my beauty sleep otherwise I can be pretty unpleasant to be around. So when it comes to going to bed, I won't go without my Loop earplugs. Advertisement These handy little gadgets block out almost everything, muffling all background noise and thumping bass. They might be the most I've ever spent on earplugs, but they're well worth it. Loop earplugs cost from £19.95. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 These handy little gadgets block out almost everything Credit: Loop earplugs FreshWipes We all know that as the days go on at festivals, one thing that gets worse (aside from the hangover) is people's hygiene - and I don't like to be one of those people. So what I bring is FreshWipes, the OceanFresh scent does the trick and is biodegradable too. FreshWipes cost £5.99 per pack. Advertisement Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter 15 FreshWipes keep you fresh and are biodegradable too Credit: Fresh Wipes Face and body cooling spray With the hot and sticky weather we have been experiencing lately, being able to cool down is not the easiest unless you drench yourself in water. Whilst chugging water can help to keep you hydrated, sometime it just feels like your skin is about to burn off. Advertisement This is where a face and body cooling spray comes in. For years I have sworn by Superdrug's own brand 'Face & Body Cooling Spray 200ml' costing just £5. And this bottle will last you the whole summer. I use it over makeup on my face for a cooldown spritz and down my arms too - it really helps to take the edge off of the heat. Advertisement I also recently discovered their Vitamin E Mist, which comes in a small 50ml bottle for £2.50. If struggling on space, definitely grab one of these and it is even in Superdrug's '3 for 2' offer, so you can pick up some other travel minis too. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 One cooling spray bottle will last you the whole summer Credit: Superdrug Advertisement Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator Now this one may be weird to people - essentially a bottle for sun cream, despite sun cream already coming in a bottle. But if you are like me, the price of sun cream irks you each year the season gets warmer and sunnier. And if you are anything like me, the bog standard sunscreen is no good. With oily skin, a hate for tackiness and a dislike for the smell, I make sure the sunscreen I get suits me. Advertisement And to cut costs, I will often purchase the biggest bottle available. However, with this, it is hard to carry around the sun cream. This is where the Solar Buddies Applicator comes in. The small and compact applicator can be filled with any sunscreen of your choosing and costs just £6.38 from Boots. Advertisement Despite the product specifically being designed for use by children, it is suitable for anyone who wants to carry a smaller bottle of sunscreen around with them without the risk of the bottle lid pinging off in your bag. It is also 100ml so suitable for hand luggage! Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator is 100ml so suitable for hand luggage Credit: Boots Advertisement Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Fragrance Free 30ml Whilst this little product is rather steep in price for £8, I don't go away without it. As an 'everywhere spray', Luna Daily is perfect for festival camping when you feeling grabby after using a questionably-clean portaloo or after crawling around in and out of your tent. The spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' - helping you to feel a bit cleaner whilst in a not-so-clean environment. It is completely fragrance free and includes thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid and inulin and Vitamins C, E and F to protect your skin - essentially no nasties. Advertisement One bottle is the equivalent of 100 wipes and it can be kept in the fridge for added cooling effects. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 This spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' Credit: Boots SPF 30 Lip Balm on a carabineer As an avid hiker and camper during my teenage years, you would not find me without a lip balk attached to a belt loop on my hip. Advertisement Just a basic SPF 30 lip balm with moisturising coconut in helped against the harsh elements of sun and wind whilst adventuring. The carabineer attached just adds convenience as you can attach it yourself as I did, the zip or side of a bag or even keys or a water bottle. They can be picked up at most outdoors shops like Trespass or Go Outdoors for a couple of quid. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 The carabineer attached to this lip balm adds convenience Credit: Trespass Ikea lamp There are so many different camping lamps out there - from wind-up ones to battery operated. And they also can widely range in price. Ikea has just released a lamp which I cannot wait to get my hands on. Advertisement The small table lamp which is battery-operated and donut-shaped looks stylish whilst also being practical. It has a rope loop on it to hand in your tent, but also due to its flat bottom it can sit on a table easily - meaning you can move it between your campsite dinner setup to the roof of your tent, giving you light wherever you go. If wanting something smaller, the classic lightbulb shaped lamps on caribineers are also great and can be picked up for under a fiver. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 This small table lamp which is battery-operated and donut-shaped looks stylish whilst also being practical Credit: IKEA Soft running bottles Whilst not the cheapest at £9.99 each from Decathlon, soft running bottles are great space savers. They can be rolled up to the size of a fist and are easy to shove in the remaining room in a pack camping back. For festivals, they are even better - as often to get into the main arena, your water bottle needs to be empty - and these can just fit in your pocket to be filled once in the area. Advertisement Even when full, they can still slide into a pocket, which means you won't be carrying around a clunky bottle. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Soft bottles can be can be rolled up to the size of a fistCredit: Decathlon These are the UK's best campsites with flawless 10/10 reviews, honesty shops & even resident deer. Advertisement Plus, one of the UK's best campsites has safari lodges, pet pigs and secret waterfalls.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
This Wisconsin state park campground is rated one of Midwest's best
Copper Falls State Park is primarily known for its beautiful scenery: two 30-feet waterfalls, a 100-foot gorge and the remains of ancient lava flows attract hikers every year. But don't forget about its two campgrounds. They, too, have been getting their flowers. The Dyrt, a popular camping website and app, placed Copper Falls at No. 3 in the Midwest Region on its 2025 Best Places to Camp Awards. The rankings are based on user reviews and ratings. "Copper Falls State Park is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The hiking trails are well-maintained and offer beautiful scenic views, making for an enjoyable trek through nature," user Malte W. said in an online review in December. "The campsites are spacious and provide a good amount of privacy, allowing for a peaceful camping experience." Located in Mellen, the park features two campgrounds with 55 total campsites. The North Campground has 32 sites (28 with electric hookups), while the South Campground has 23 non-electric sites (including four walk-ins) and a four-person cabin with padded beds and nearby shower facilities. There's also a backpack campsite along the Bad River, which provides a quieter setting. Camping costs $20 to $30 per night depending on the site and whether it has electrical hookups. All sites come equipped with picnic tables, fire rings and tent pads, and pets are allowed at all campsites. Visitors can also enjoy many hiking trails, fishing in Loon Lake and nearby rivers and exploring other picturesque areas of the park. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's Copper Falls State Park among best Midwest campgrounds
Android Authority
13 hours ago
- Android Authority
Hot deals: High-capacity power banks that are still portable
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority Technicalities Powkey Portable Power Station 200W Discounted with a $50 coupon The Powkey Portable Power Station 200W has long been a respected model in the world of battery packs. It came out at a time when this level of power was a bit unheard of in something so portable. Now it has some competitors, but it is still an excellent alternative for those who want a high-capacity battery pack that is actually portable. It measures 7.87 x 1.81 x 5.71 inches and weighs three pounds. While pretty small, it comes with a hefty 146Wh battery capacity, which is equivalent to about 42,000mAh. For perspective, keep in mind that an average smartphone has a battery of about 5,000mAh. You get plenty of options with this one, too. For starters, it has two AC outlets, which is already rare for something this small. There are also four USB-A outlets, a 12V port, and a 15V input. This means you can recharge it using solar panels! It has a 200W max output, but that can mainly be achieved using the AC outlets. Anker 548 Power Bank Discount only for Prime members If you need an upgrade and don't mind carrying something a bit bigger, the Anker 548 Power Bank is a really nice camping companion. It measures 4.59 x 4.59 x 8.17 inches and weighs in at 5.1 pounds. That said, it does feature a larger 60,000mAh battery capacity, and it has some extras many of you will love. For starters, it has a retractable light on top, which you can use to add ambient lighting to dark places. It only has two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. One of the USB-C ports can output 60W, while the other is limited to 27W. The USB-A connections can reach 18W. Additionally, it has a solar panel input. GRECELL T300 Portable Power Station GRECELL T300 Portable Power Station GRECELL T300 Portable Power Station See price at Amazon Save $44.00 Limited Time Deal! Automatic limited time deal Now, if you need some more power, this is my favorite power station that is still easy to carry around. It has a much larger 230.88Wh battery capacity, which is enough to fully charge an average smartphone about 25 times. It can do much more than juice your phone up, though. The GRECELL T300 has a 330W stable output, with support for 600W surges. This means it can also power things like laptops, tablets, or even smaller appliances. Despite having so much power, it is still pretty portable at 9.61 x 6.72 x 6.97 inches and 7.3 pounds. Port availability is pretty nice, too. It has an AC outlet, which is the one that can handle those higher wattages. Additionally, there are two USB-C outlets with a 60W output, and there are also a couple of 18W USB-A connections. Additionally, you can take advantage of a car socket output. This one also has a light, and I would argue it's a more helpful one, as it is more like an actual flashlight, as opposed to a lamp-style general light. And like the other options, it also supports solar panel input. Catch these deals while you can! While not the most exciting, these middle-ground batteries are the most helpful. I have plenty of batteries I test for content here at Android Authority, and the GRECELL T300 is the one I use the most.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Festival packing list 2025: What to bring to Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds and more
The festival season is officially upon us. Glastonbury kicks off at Worthy Farm at the end of the month, and Reading & Leeds, Latitude and Wireless are all still to come this summer. To ensure you pack everything important (at best, you forget dry shampoo, at worst, your ticket), a thorough checklist is a must. Whether you're pitching up for the weekend, heading to your favourite day festival in the city or flying abroad for a blowout on the beach, your packing list should span beauty, toiletries, camping gear, clothing and more. While most festival essentials are non-negotiable (think tents, toothbrushes, underwear, sunscreen and reliable shoes), others can make your experience much more pleasant (we're talking cordless hair tools, pyjamas, camping stoves and eye masks). To prevent you from being the person in the group asking to borrow everything, the exhaustive list below includes everything you need for your next festival, whether it's an all-day rave or a four-day camping stint. Festival camping Festival toiletries and beauty Toothpaste Toothbrush Make-up wipes SPF for your face and body Aftersun Dry shampoo Deodorant Hand sanitiser Tampons, sanitary towels or period pants Insect repellent Painkillers Hayfever tablets Plasters Cordless hair tools Make-up Festival clothing Wellies (men's, women's) Cowboy boots Walking boots (men's, women's) Trainers (men's, women's) Summer dresses Waterproof raincoat (men's, women's) Jacket Summer hat Crossbody/bum bag Comfortable bra Sweatshirt Pyjamas Miscellaneous Festival ticket Compact mirror Cards and cash Breakfast bars Wine, spirits and cans Snacks Eye mask Ear plugs Phone charger Disposable camera Reusable water bottle Railcard Best festival essentials Best festival tent – Mountain Warehouse holiday six-person tent: £159.99, Securing a spot in our review of the best tents, our reviewer said that this is the best-value tent you can buy, and perfect for a festival. Tester Sian warns that it won't stand up to heavy rain, but her tests found that this tent has 'three separate bedrooms, each of which can fit a double air bed'. Its air vents and mesh door are great for keeping the tent cool in heatwaves, too. In the end, Sian describes it as 'ideal for a family of four sharing in the summer months, or for heading to a festival with friends.' Dubbed the best budget option in our review of camping mats, this Nhowin self-inflating camping mat is described as a bargain for £30. 'This comfortable mat is lightweight (900g) and compact when rolled up,' they said, adding that 'once inflated using the built-in foot pump, it provides an effective bed with a brilliant pillow included.' Plus, poppers enable you to attach another of these mats to one side, to create a double mattress. The best double option in our round-up of sleeping bags, Outwell's sleeping bag is a cosy cocoon for festival season. 'Two zips make it easy to share this roomy bag, which can also be opened up into a full-sized double duvet that's ideal for glamping or for popping in a campervan. Two built-in pillows are a nice place to rest your head,' our tester said. Generously sized and warm enough for use from spring through to autumn, this bag was loved by our reviewer for its price and comfort. When it comes to chairs, you don't need anything too fancy for festival season. This purse-friendly Pro Action model from Argos will easily do the job and is finished in a bold red hue that will help it stand out in the camping field. You want something light and easy to transport, with this offering folding away into a carry bag with a strap. Plus, it boasts a handy built-in drinks holder and was included in our round-up of the best camping chairs. Our favourite budget travel backpack, the Lifeventure waterproof packable bag is just what you need to haul your essentials to a camping festival. 'It's extremely light and squashes up into its very own pouch, but still felt fabulously comfortable, thanks largely to ergonomically contoured shoulder straps and a hip belt,' our tester said. With a durable, waterproof design and 22l capacity, it ticked all the boxes. If you want enough phone charge to find pals, take pictures and look up set times, a good power bank is a must-have, whether camping at the festival or just heading to one for the day. This nifty Belkin model will get you 78 extra hours of battery life with MagSafe-compatible Apple iPhones and Samsung phones. It ensured our phone was never out of battery during a four-day camping stint – plus, up to three devices can be charged at the same time, through two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Available in three sleek colours, Belkin's pack looks good, too. Considering you'll spend most of the festival outside in the sun, a good SPF is essential. One of our favourites hails from La Roche-Posay, with its anthelios oil sunscreen praised for ticking every box. Including UVA, UVB and long UVA protection, it's suitable for sensitive skin, and it has a non-greasy and lightweight formula. Our tester found that: 'Reducing shine, we found you'll still get a fresh-faced glow minus any sticky or oily sensation, and it keeps you safe from the sun,' our tester added. It's just as important to top up your body sunscreen – and this SPF 50 is our top pick this summer. 'Designed for 'intense conditions,' the white cream is lightweight and absorbs really quickly and beautifully into the skin, offering high, broad-spectrum protection,' our tester said. Used liberally throughout a 10-day holiday during testing, this bottle should contain more than enough to see you through a festival. If you burn, some aftersun will be a godsend mid-festival. Bioderma's formula came out on top in our round-up of the best aftersun, with our tester lauding the lightweight product for its immediate cooling effect. 'Allantoin and ginkgo biloba gel soothe overheated skin, while patented cellular bioprotection technology works to protect your skin against cell damage from UV rays and other stressors,' they said. Keeping your hair fresh between showers at festivals (or if you're not planning to shower at all), dry shampoo is a must-have toiletry. Batiste's formulas are affordable favourites, and its green tea and chamomile bottle earned a spot in our round-up of the best dry shampoos. Our tester loved how affordable this shampoo is and how kind it was on sensitive scalps. Scandi brand Rains has a cult following for its minimalist yet practical rain-appropriate clothing. Its unisex storm breaker boasts a sporty look and extra wet-weather functionality. Complete with a hood and built-in cap, two-way zipper, doubled-welded pockets and elasticated cuffs, the jacket will ensure you're prepared for whatever the weather throws at you this festival season. One of our favourite pairs of wellington boots, these robust Barbour boots offered a 'flexible fit for movement', and the chunky soles provided good grip while walking. 'There's chic Barbour branding throughout, from the tartan pattern inside to the logo running up the back,' our tester said. A solid, stylish and reliable choice for festivals. Infused with vitamin C for a hydration boost, this Garnier mist works to brighten and protect skin from UV rays thanks to SPF 50 protection. It can be spritzed over make-up, leaving your face base undisturbed, making it a hero buy for festival season. Just reapply it every two hours throughout the day to prevent sunburn, which is no real hardship - the mist is refreshing and cools you down. Best festival bag – Uniqlo round mini shoulder bag: £14.90, The bag of the moment, Uniqlo's TikTok-viral crossbody bag is perfect for festival season. Roomy, adjustable, affordable and available in an array of fun colours to make a style statement, the styled-up bum bag is just what you need to carry your essentials around the field. Coming in minimalist black, beige and white finishes or playful yellow, red and green, there's a reason why Lyst named it the hottest product in the world. Waking up hungover in a tent is never fun, but a good sleep mask can make the experience a lot less painful. 'Made from polyester, Soap & Glory's mask has a silky feel that's lovely and smooth against the skin, while the extra-long shape wraps around the head and blocks out almost all of the light,' our tester said. Phone chains are an underrated hero of festival season. This bargain buy means your phone is always in grabbing distance to capture a moment, but also lets you be hands-free to enjoy the music. The discreet design clips features a tether tab that attaches to your phone case and a crossbody nylon cord. If you struggle to get any shut-eye at festivals, make sure to pack some ear plugs for sleeping. Proving you don't have to spend a fortune on good buds, these EarHub plugs impressed our tester. 'These putty-style, soft silicone earplugs are moulded into shape with your fingers and placed over your ear opening (not inserted into the ear canal), forming a sealed covering,' they said, adding that they blocked out sounds better than foam buds. This TikTok-viral cordless hot brush has finally made it to the UK, and it's perfect for festival season. Designed to be super lightweight for on-the-go use, a full charge takes around two hours for around 30 minutes of styling time. Adding volume, smoothing and taming unwashed hair in the camping field, the tool has three heat settings (200C, 180C and 160C). The brush design will work just as well to straighten as it does to add waves (simply twist instead of brushing it through). This top-rated reusable water bottle was praised for being everything you could want in a water bottle, without costing a fortune. It's available in four attractive shades of muted blue, pink, black and grey; it has a carry handle, and the double-walled vacuum construction will keep drinks hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours. 'We also love the fact it's not enormous, which makes for easier drinking, and it has a sleek, modern design that makes it look a lot more expensive than it is,' they said. Plus, 10 per cent of each sale goes towards the Life's a Beach charity, which works to eradicate single-use plastic from beaches and waterways. If you want to glam up your festival look, turn your attention to glitter – but make sure it's biodegradable, so it doesn't harm the environment. This Barry M offering is plastic-free and produced from a special film sustainably sourced from plant cellulose, which biodegrades in fresh water.
