Camping this year has already garnered massive popularity as travel restrictions and quarantine rules remain in place across the globe. With camping, caravans and motorhomes providing Britons with the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and isolate away from other people, staycations are looking like they could be the holiday of choice. And now, UK outdoor store GO Outdoors has said that a sudden boom in camping could have more benefits than just leisure.
But for those looking to purchase some camping equipment ready for that summer staycation, Go Outdoors has revealed what some of their most-wanted equipment has been.
Buyer for The UK’s largest outdoors retailer, GO Outdoors, Dave Addy said that they have seen huge demand for outdoor equipment.
He said: “Throughout lockdown we have seen huge demand for anything that people can use in the garden, from coolers to gazebos and shelters, barbecues, hot-tubs, tables and chairs, as well as smaller tents.
“Demand from consumers spiked each time we promoted garden campouts in aid of NHS staff and appeared to surge the week that Prime Minister Boris Johnson eased lockdown restrictions in England.”
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Mr Addy said he hoped that the time people have spent camping in their gardens has encouraged people to try a “proper” camping staycation.
He added: “The time we’ve been spending outdoors has encouraged many new consumers to try camping at home, which we hope will have developed a passion amongst this audience who will go on to try a ‘proper’ camping staycation over the coming months, once campsites are permitted to open.
“Now that stores are reopening and the outlook around camping is becoming clearer by the week, we expect to see a further increase in demand for family camping items.
“Some of our best sellers will be air tents, air mats and beds, sleeping bags and of course cooking equipment.
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“Furthermore, there will be a new focus on camping toilets and showers for those seeking a self-contained camping setup.
“As a business we are confident that demand will surpass the same period last year, as our customers look to enjoy a traditional staycation this summer.”
Commenting on the industry trends, Lee Bagnall, CEO of GO Outdoors and Blacks Outdoors Retail Limited, said that seeing people become so interested in camping over such a short period of time has been “fascinating”.
He said: “Over recent weeks it’s been fascinating to see continued public interest in the camping sector as the outdoors remains a key part of our British leisure and recreational culture, albeit with restrictions in place.
“People have been taking advantage of the sunny weather of late, opting to camp out in their back gardens throughout lockdown.
“We’ve seen this elsewhere, with our customers choosing to spend their daily exercise walking and cycling – reflected in the sales of our walking gear and especially bikes.
“For many, camping will mean rediscovering the pleasures of childhood holidays this summer, and for some this will be their first experience of holidaying in the outdoors.”
Mr Bagnall also said that camping will not only allow people to enjoy the outdoors once again but also “boost” the British economy.
“We hope by experiencing the delights that camping in the UK has to offer, this will encourage more people in the future, post-Coronavirus, to embrace the British outdoors and to in turn boost the British economy,” he added.
Although most people will be aware of what the camping essentials are such as a tent, sleeping bags and a camping stove, others are not clued up on what other extras are out there.
GO Outdoors has put together a camping checklist here for anyone who is unsure of what they need.
Some extra items that aren’t necessarily essential include a camping table, a tent porch, a windbreak and a tent footprint.