Festival camping guide #ride5000miles

Camping at a bike festival is not about making it harder or a survival test. It’s about making the whole event easier and better. It’s about enjoying the full experience. Get some decent kit (see below), load up your bike and head to Peterborough for the Carole Nash MCN Festival, May 13-14.

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Invest in some bespoke camping equipment and use it over and over as you clock up your 5000 miles!

Shelter

MSR Hubba Hubba NX, £390

MSR’s Hubba Hubba 2-person tent is a multi-award winner, that has been to every corner of the globe including a faultless trip to the Dakar with MCN’s Jordan Gibbons. The Hubba Hubba is fully waterproof and free-standing with two built-in rain gutters, so it should keep you dry whatever the weather. There are doors and vestibules on either side, so there’s plenty of room for your gear and it’s compact when rolled up, with short tent poles, and weighs just 1.5kg.

Vango Tempest 200, £150

A cheaper alternative to the MSR, the Tempest is a similar size when set up but is larger when folded down and weighs nearly twice as much. It’s completely waterproof though and well vented.

Cooking

JetBoil Flash, £110

The JetBoil Flash will boil two cups of water in two minutes, plus it’s windproof. Jordan has had his JetBoil for nearly 10 years and it’s never let him down.

Alpkit Bruler, £22.50

A cheap and compact stove that runs on either alcohol or meths (so fuel is widely available). The only downsides are that you need a separate pot/cup and it struggles a little in bad weather.

Sleeping

Rab Ascent 300, £200

The Rab Ascent 300 is ideal for those buying their first down sleeping bag. Down sleeping bags are expensive but are incredibly warm and stay that way for years, so consider it an investment. Sleeping mats are essential not only  for comfort against grassy lumps but also to insulate you from the cold ground.

Thermarest ProLite Plus, £84.99

The Thermarest ProLite Plus is a great insulator plus it’s self-inflating and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

MCN Festival 2017

Camping is a great way to experience all that the Carole Nash MCN Festival of Motorcycling has to offer. Campers gain early access into the show, so can sign up for test rides and bag a bargain. Plus, campers get in to see the Saturday night speedway as part of their weekend pass. 

Looking for the perfect two-wheeled companion? Visit MCN Bikes For Sale website or use MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.