Due to the unseasonably warm weather we've had recently the camping season has started early for many this year. This weekend we're finally getting started too as our lads and dads weekend is finally here (well it will be tomorrow). Part of the reason for the trip is to try out a few things we've been sent to review.

The tents we're using are from Vango, an Orchy 400 and a Calisto 400. I did a test pitch of the Calisto and it seems like a nice little tent. Both of the tents are a lot smaller than the tent we used to have (we've got a trailer tent now) and it will be interesting to see how we find having less space.

We've also got a new Self-Inflating mat to test from Alpkit, a Dozer. When we were tent campers we used Fat Airics from Alpkit and were very happy with them, in fact my teenage daughter still uses one in her cubby hole under the side of the trailer tent. Alpkit don't make Fat Airics any longer and the Dozer is the replacement. It will be good to see how it compares to its predecessor.

To keep us warm, and possibly boil the kettle, we're taking a Frontier Stove from Camping Solutions. We don't usually go in for campfires but this little wood burning stove looks really fun and should hopefully keep us dads warm in the evening while we have a beer/wine or two.

Finally, on the subject of wine, we'll also be taking the Wine Clamps we tried out at a BBQ earlier this month to see how they get on 'in the field'.