Camp chairs and prism pants are camping must-haves

A camping aficionado has outlined the must-have items you'll want to pack before you pitch up - particularly during the colder months.

Paul Hart is a former Royal Navy lieutenant commander with more than 30 years of adventure experience. Writing for telegraph.co.uk, he explained how the equipment he chose for his list will appeal to both those looking for a stripped-down, lightweight experience in nature, as well as those who want to be as comfortable as possible when foraying into the wild.

The first item Hart lists is a camp chair. He remembered a recent camping trip where his fellow campers were sitting on the ground or perching on their rucksacks, while he was able to assemble his chair in seconds. Although a chair may seem like a self-explanatory necessity when it's cold and possibly wet outside, Hart reiterates their uses in other scenarios, such as being light enough for the kids to take down the beach in summer.

When it comes to clothing, Hart recommends a pair of prism pants. He notes that people often forget about how quickly their larger leg muscles will cool, which can lead to stiffness and leg pain. It's important, therefore, to take a pair of thermal trousers "that you can slip on just as you would a jacket".

Moving onto gadgets, Hart lists a beam torch (which doubles as a camp light/lantern) and portable power packs for charging laptops and smartphones as essential items.

While campers can survive without technology, food is a necessity. For this, Hart names the £100 Primus Eta Spider as the best outdoor cooker - calling it "simply superb" - while the Vango folding gas stove is a more cost-friendly option at £23.

The way that campers prepare their food may soon change with the recent announcement of the Electrolux Mobile Kitchen - a portable kitchen that's designed like and doubles-up as a touchscreen laptop. Although the outrageous product is still in the concept stage, "things are starting to cook", consumeraffairs.com reports.