We take a look at a range of affordable camping gear options that won’t empty your wallet.
Looking to hit the refresh button by camping in nature, but not wanting to refresh your bank balance? Understandable. It can be hard to find gear that makes the trip comfortable and enjoyable, that’s also within budget.
When you combine a camping fridge, a generator, tents, swags and cookware, the numbers can begin to add up quickly. Fortunately, plenty of affordable options exist to allow everyone to hit the road. Don’t worry about scouring the internet, we’ve done the work for you! Check out our guide to affordable camping gear that won’t break the bank.
Swags
Kings Kwiky Single Swag
Are you a solo traveller? Perhaps you just prefer to sleep on your lonesome? The Kings Kwiky Single Swag is a compact and lightweight option that may suit your next adventure. Priced at $129 (plus $15 P&H), this single swag is affordable, while providing bang for your buck. It’s constructed from a waterproof 260GSM ripstop canvas, allowing you to stay warm and dry even in the wettest of weather. Your back will also thank you for the 50mm thick high density foam mattress that allows you to have a comfy night’s rest before a big day of adventuring.
Adventure Kings say their camping gear remains affordable due to the fact that they have reduced their supply chain and removed the middle man. If anything goes wrong, rest assured, as your swag has a one-year warranty.
Dune 4WD Barwon Double Swag
Heading off on a trip with your significant other? It often does get chilly at night, so having a second body in the swag with you is always going to be an advantage. However, swags can typically be compact, making things tight, squishy and uncomfortable. What says “good morning” like an elbow to the eye, right?
Thankfully, the Dune 4WD Barwon Double Swag has enough room for you and your travel partner to sleep soundly and comfortably together. Made from 390gsm ripstop poly cotton canvas and a heavy duty 100D PVC flooring, you can be sure this swag is durable enough to see many adventures still to come. The 50mm high-density foam mattress encourages a deep sleep and rejuvenating night’s rest, while the superfine insect mesh keeps the pesky flies and mosquitoes out.
Not to mention, the Dune 4WD Barwon Double Swag is priced at $150. Now, that’s why I call affordable camping gear.
Coleman Instant Up 1P Swagger Tent
Love the headroom that comes with a tent but also appreciate the compact advantages of a swag? You may want to check out the Coleman Instant Up 1P Swagger Tent. Combining the perks of a swag with those of a tent, you even have the ability to convert the door to an awning with the included poles. Ease of access is guaranteed with the D shaped door and things won’t get too stuffy on the inside thanks to the windows on each end. This camping gear is tough enough to withstand most Aussie conditions while being affordable at $199.
Cooking gear
Weber® Baby Q
Is there anything better than the smell of a few snags sizzling away at a campsite? Sure cooking over the open flame of a campfire is fun, but it is also high maintenance requiring you to either keep your fire going all day long, or lighting a new one every time it’s meal time. Having a portable BBQ along for the ride is one way to bring a little home comfort with you.
But as we know, BBQ’s can be pricey, particularly Webers, which is why we’ve opted for the Weber® Baby Q. As you could guess by its name, the Baby Q is the baby of the BBQ family. Weber calls the Baby Q the “ideal travelling and camping barbecue” due to its smaller size. It measures 36.9cm (H) x 68.6cm (W) x 42cm (D) and only weighs around 11 kg.
Priced at $399 with three colour options (titanium, black and red), you can roast a chicken dinner, sizzle some steaks or chuck on some snags for a fraction of the price.
Gasmate Odyssey 1 Burner BBQ
Eating the same thing each night is practical, but it’s not exciting. If you want the freedom to fry, roast or grill, you need to bring along the right equipment. Keeping in mind that we’re also watching the wallet right now, we reckon the Gasmate Odyssey 1 Burner BBQ coming in at $199 is an excellent option. Featuring a large grill and hotplate cooking space and a tall dome hood, the Gasmate Odyssey 1 Burner BBQ is easily transportable making it ideal for travellers.
Spinifex 10 Piece Cast Iron Set
I personally love waking up to the sound of bacon and eggs sizzling away, and to do so you need some reliable and durable cooking equipment. The Spinifex 10 Piece Cast Iron Set is $99 (Anaconda Club price – which is free to sign up to) and comes with a 9-quart Dutch oven with legs, lip lid and carry bag, 20″ reversible griddle and carry bag, 6″ frypan, 8″ frypan, 10″ frypan, frypan carry bag, lid lifter, trivet and a mitten.
Arguably one of the best things about cast iron is how easy it is to clean, as the last thing I want to be doing when I’m away on a trip is spending time scrubbing my cooking equipment. Naturally off-road gear can take a bit of a hit, so it’s a major perk that the Spinifex 10 Piece Cast Iron Set is chip resistant. It also can be used on gas stoves or directly in the fire, so you’ve got the freedom to choose how you’d like to cook.
As far as affordable camping gear goes, cast iron is a top choice as if maintained correctly, it will last a lifetime.
Tents
Spinifex Eclipse 2-Person Pop-Up Tent Blue & Grey
Are you more of a tent person than a swag sleeper but still don’t want to fork out more of your hard-earned dollars than you have to? The Spinifex Eclipse 2-Person Pop-Up Tent is ideal for a travelling couple or a couple of friends off on an adventure, seeking affordable camping gear. Not only is this tent compact and easily packed away in a vehicle, but it’s lightweight and extremely easy to set up. Saving you a heck of a lot of arguments and battles with tent poles.
You won’t need to worry about copping an early wake up call from the sun, as the double layered zipped front is ideal for light blocking. Not to mention, it’s $99 (Anaconda Club price – which is free to sign up to) so it’s well within budget.
Coleman Instant Up 8-Person Darkroom Tent
If you’re looking for value for money, you may want to consider the Coleman Instant Up 8-Person Darkroom Tent. Great for families or a group of mates on an adventure, this tent can comfortably house up to eight people. Sounds like it’ll get a little hot and stuffy during the warm season, right? Thankfully darkroom technology works to reduce heat by up to five degrees, allowing for a comfortable night’s rest even with multiple bodies in one place. Not to mention circle ventilation that keeps the tent cool.
The spacious interior features a removable room divider, allowing you to secure some internal privacy, and there are two entry points allowing for easier access. For $399, you could spend your next adventure in the Coleman Instant Up 8 Person Darkroom Tent.
For your furry friends
Woof Den Dog Swag
Let’s be real. Leaving the fur-child at home is not an option when it comes to a family getaway. Once you’ve checked that dogs are allowed at your campground, you’ll want to look into a sleep solution so that your dog isn’t ruff-ing it. This is where the 23ZERO Woof-Den Dog Swag comes in!
Priced at a very affordable $150, this swag will keep your doggo dry, even when the weather is putting on a rainy show. As we know, dogs typically aren’t the most gentle creatures when it comes to their gear (it’s always a bad time to be a chew toy), which is why it’s made of 320gsm proofed plain weave poly-cotton canvas for durability. There’s also ample ventilation thanks to PVC-coated poly super-fine zippered insect mesh.
It’s easily set-up and packed down with 19-millimetre coated segment poles and an easy-to-use aluminium adjustable ridge rod. We could give you all the paw-fect puns for this one, but the overarching message here is we know your dog will love it.
Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie, having the right gear is essential. But you don’t need to break the bank to achieve that. We hope we’ve demonstrated that in this yarn. Got any other bargains you want to share with the community?
