Prepare
for an (affordable) adventure!
Yay,
Aldi Specialbuy range time again! It might not sound like much to
you, but enter 'Aldi' into that search bar above and you'll see that
the supermarket regularly churn out some incredible bargains for a
smorgasbord of activities and lifestyles – and we love it. As the
weather beckons you outside more and more, so Aldi have matched those
feelings with two camping gear Specialbuy ranges, available both in
stores and now online as well. Let's delve in.
Aldi
have two new camping ranges out this summer; the first is aimed at
backpackers and hikers (but, you know, anyone really...), falling
under the moniker Adventure Camping (released 26th May),
while the other is targeted squarely at family campers (released 23rd
June). As we said, these ranges are also now available from the Aldi
website, so even if there isn't an Aldi store near you, you can still
snag a few bargains.
The
Adventure Camping range consists of... a four-person dome tent
(£29.99), a sleeping bag (£14.99), a folding camp table (17.99), a
folding barbecue (£14.99), a folding camp bed (£19.99), a cooking
set (£14.99), a self-inflating sleeping mat (£14.99), a
'mummy'-style sleeping bag (£14.99), a portable gas cooker (£7.99 –
seriously?), a folding trolley (£9.99), a four-pack of gas bottles
(£4.99), and a very handy LED trekking torch (£6.99).
Meanwhile,
the Family Camping range includes a Pop-Up Tent (£19.99), a large
five-man tent
(£79.99), a Heavy
Duty Folding Trolley (£49.99), an all purpose rucksack (£8.99), a
Trekking Backpack (£19.99), a Dual
Burner with Grill (£24.99), a Camping
Kitchen Cupboard (£39.99), an Electric Cool Box (£39.99),
and a Hammock
with Stand (£39.99), as well as a few other smaller bits and bobs
that you might need.
We
were sent a selection of items from both ranges to test out. Here are
our thoughts...
Four-person
Dome Tent
Packing
up surprisingly small and light, this four-person shelter is roomy
and quite light on the inside (we were sent the green version, which
seems lighter than the blue). It features an inner suspended net
layer, over which the outer waterproof layer is fastened. This means
condensation on the inside walls won't bother you, and there is a
nice bit of room in the porch area for your muddy boots. We found
that it does indeed accommodate four campers, but if you're packing a
load of kit, this is probably better served for two or three.
Envelope-style
Sleeping Bag
This
sleeping bag is another bargainous surprise, being far better quality
than we were expecting for less than 15 quid. The comfort range of
the rectangle-shaped bag (as opposed to the tapered shape of the
'mummy' style) is between 1.4 and -4 degrees Celsius, making it
absolutely spot-on for a bit of British and European summer camping.
It features a built-in hood with draw-string enclosure, and can also
be completely un-zipped and joined to a another similar sleeping bag,
for double the fun. You know what we mean...
Folding
Camp Bed
If
mats and air bed aren't your thing, and you want something a bit more
civilised to sleep on while out in the wilderness, this compact,
fold-out, and relatively light-weight camp bed is great. Big enough
to sleep a fully-gown man (grrr!), and strong enough to support
weights of up to 120kg, this uses an aluminium frame and canvas sheet
to create a very comfortable night's sleep indeed. And yep; carry bag
included. Boom!
Cooking
Set
This
set might sound completely dull, but it is probably the most handy
thing you can have when out camping. The set comprises (all metal) a
kettle pot, a frying pan, and a decently sized cooking pot. All three
have fold-away insulated handles, and each part packs up into one
another, then slips into the included mesh carry sack. If you've only
ever been camping with chunky kitchen pots, this will revolutionise
your outdoors living experience.
Electric
Cool Box
Like
a mobile fridge, this portable plastic cool box looks (and weighs)
just like any other. However, plug it into your car's 12V power
supply and the 30 litre cool box will get chilly in just a few
minutes. There's a dial on top to set the chilliness (next to the
removable lid – handy that), and you can also power it from a
standard mains socket, should you be 'chilling' out at home, or if
you're at one of those campsites that has electricity and showers and
toilets and WiFi. Which is basically cheating.
Hammock
with stand
And
here is the cream of the crop. This foldable hammock is the mutt's
nuts, being exceptionally comfortable while also portable. If we're
being honest, you wouldn't want to carry this thing around all that
much, and it is definitely designed for 'drive-there-in-the-car'
campers, but once erected it it awesome. Anyone who follows us on
Instagram would've seen what we did as soon as it arrived:
It
features an adjustable pillow, a cup holder, a book slit on one side
(which is actually perfect for your phone) and a mesh net on the
underside for other bits and bobs. And it is soooo comfortable, and
also extremely sturdy. Seriously, you have to get one of these damn
things. Sure, you won't get anything achieved this summer as you'll
be lounging inside it until September, but who really does any work
in the summer months anyway?
So
a great couple of camping ranges which are sure to be popular. Get
yours quick, either in Aldi stores, or at https://www.aldi.co.uk