We cycle-camp and backpack, and as these are both lightweight camping activities, we use the same tent and outdoor clothing for both.

Checklist

A checklist is extremely useful when planning and packing so that you don't leave any essentials at home - doesn't matter if you forget your toothpaste, but you're in trouble if you forget the tent pegs or other specialised items.

Start with something like one of

Simply Hike's camping checklists or Halfords camping checklist as a basis, then amend it to suit you and your destination. You can refine the list further from experience, preferably the minute you arrive home while it is all fresh in your mind. Then you won't weigh yourself down more than necessary next time.

We will post our own cycle-camping list here soonish.

Equipment guides

All good specialist retailers produce buyer's guides to explain their range of camping equipment.

For a start, try these:

Halfords brief overview of camping items.

Simply Hike's tent guide is a good introduction to which tent to buy.

Wiggle Online Cycle Shop has a range of lightweight camping items suitable for cyclists, such as hammocks/tents and microfibre towels.

Simply Hike's sleeping bag guide is another good introduction to ensure you are warm and cosy at night.

This page includes Halfords, Wiggle Online Cycle Shop, Simply Hike, guides to choosing and buying camping kit, tents, sleeping bags, hammocks, microfibre towels, for lightweight camping.