Happy Birthday to Me!

A few months back, I discussed the possibility of buying myself a 60th birthday present with a budget of £1500. There were a few options available, and after some deliberation, I decided upon the magnificent beast of a tent shown above. It’s a one-man Hilleberg Soulo Red label tent - capable of withstanding pretty much anything the British weather can throw at you. There’s a black label version with thicker poles and slightly stronger fabric, which would have taken up my entire budget, but I’m not intending to camp on the top of Ben Nevis in three feet of snow and hurricane-force gales, so this fits the bill perfectly. I’ve been camping out in the wild for a while now, and I just love the solitude and peace that it brings. Having a smaller shelter that can cope with some of the more dodgy conditions in the UK just makes things easier. It’s built for a lifetime, so one of the kids will be able to inherit it, or I can sell it at some point as the resale value of these tents remains high. An all-round great investment.

To make up my entire budget, I also sourced a new sleep system - a Thermarest sleeping pad and a 4-season, down-filled Alpkit sleeping bag to keep the cold at bay. I’ve not tested anything out in the hills yet, but many weekend adventures await.

Life begins at 60!