Wednesday 27 April 2016

Tent Deals, Pole Repairs and Tent Showroom at Penrose Outdoors

Summer is almost upon us! Over the past few weeks we have taken all of our ski and snowboard stuff off display (if you're after some deals, head over to our website!), and our summer stock has arrived! 


From lightweight jackets to kayaks and wakeboards, we have everything you need to get excited about the summer ahead, and perhaps most important for us here in store is the huge amount of tents, both inflatable and conventional, arriving on an almost daily basis! 

For those of you not familiar with Penrose Outdoors, we are a family run company based in the heart of Cornwall, and we pride ourselves in the amount of services we offer all year round. 





This year at Penrose Outdoors, we are launching our new Tent Package Deals. We are offering selected larger tents with their matching footprint and carpet for a special price that you will only be able to access through ringing our store on 01872 270213. These packages and the prices that come with them will be selling out super quickly, so make sure to give us a ring and have a chat as soon as possible! 


One of our main attractions during the summer is our large tent showroom, with a mixture of inflatable tents and awnings, standard family tents and smaller hiking ones, giving you a feel for the type of thing your money will be buying you before parting with it! 

We also offer all our customers the option to request a particular tent to be put up for you to see if you have an exact one in mind. Just give us a ring a few days in advance to when you're planning to call in, let us know which one you're thinking of and we'll have it up ready for you! We find that this is the perfect way to familiarise yourself with the tent and make sure that you're happy with all the features and that it is going to suit you and your family.

We also offer our increasingly popular pole repair service the year round, but this one is particularly popular with tourists in Cornwall. We know better than anyone how unpredictable the weather is down here, and the wind can whip itself into a frenzy in the blink of an eye! Although this is all part of Cornwall's charm, it is never particularly pleasant for anyone staying in a tent with standard fibreglass poles. With a whole family to try and keep comfortable, a snapped pole is the last thing you need, especially on the first night of your trip! At Penrose Outdoors we can reduce the stress of this nightmare rapidly! Just bring the whole pole section into us, where we charge £5.00 for every pole that needs to be replaced (plus the cost of elastic if that needs to be repaired as well), and during the times when we are busy, we do offer a same day express service for another £5.00 - all of which would be much cheaper than buying a new tent!



To have a chat regarding any of these services, please give us a ring on 01872 270213, or pop in store. You can find us on Town Quay in Truro, Cornwall (TR1 2HJ), just between the Tesco roundabout and the Halfords one!
To set yourself up for the perfect summer of camping, check out our website where we have everything you can possibly think of to meet your camping needs!


Best Walks in Cornwall - Brown Willy

3. Rough Tor Car Park to Brown Willy - 5.2 miles

Although the Cornish coast is what it's famed for, Cornwall does have some amazing moorland as well. Heading up through Bodmin and out, into what seems to be the middle of nowhere sits Rough Tor (pronounced row) and then Brown Willy - the highest point in Cornwall. From the car park, 5.2 miles seems a ridiculous length for this walk, but don't be fooled. So many people climb up to what they believe to be Rough Tor, the smaller stack on the horizon, and think that the larger one must therefore be Brown Willy.
 From this perspective, it seems a lovely picnic walk, however once you get up to the top, you will then see Brown Willy. Although it is only 20m higher than Rough Tor, it is worth the relatively steep climb (unless you are wobbly on your legs then you'll be fine) to the top, for fabulous views over the county, and even out to sea. Brown Willy stands at 420m above sea level, and gets its somewhat comical name from the Cornish for "hill of swallows" - Bronn Wennili. During this walk there are many cairns to take note of, 2 of which are man made, but the Brown Willy Summit cairn could date back as far as the early Bronze Age - around 1500 BC. This ancient history continues along your walk, with holy wells, stone circles and the ruins of old settlements all making an appearance on the way up to the summit. 
Once you reach the top, you will see the aforementioned summit cairn, which has never been excavated, although local folklore suggests that the body of an ancient Cornish king may be buried underneath it. All of this history is great for entertaining kids, and providing they have the right footwear (this walk gets surprisingly boggy even in the summer), it's a great walk for not only tiring them up but for getting them used to walking before you attempt some of the coastal paths. If they don't have the right boots, check out our kids footwear here.  
Dogs are allowed on this piece of moorland, however there are sheep and ponies grazing so if they do have a tendency to run off, keep them on a lead! This is really the only walk on this page that doesn't require directions - simply find the car park and walk from there - it is so wide open you aren't in danger of getting lost! 


If ancient history is your thing, check out our walk no. 1 here!

Thursday 21 April 2016

Pitching the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2

Pitching the MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2

Ever wondered what the the Hubba Hubba is like to pitch? Wonder no more, just watch and prepare yourself for some real tent envy!


You can check out all the tent features here :- MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2

Or read our full review here:- MSR Hubba Hubba NX & Elixir 2 Tents and Hiking Stove Review

Tuesday 19 April 2016

Rab Fuse Jacket SS16

Rab Fuse Jackets - Low Cost, High Spec













Rab are known for their high quality, well fitting technical clothing, favourites with climbers, hikers and dog walkers alike. You could say it's only downfall is that you get what you pay for - high quality = high price. 

However, this summer at Penrose Outdoors we are stocking the Rab Fuse jacket in both men's and women's. The Fuse is a super lightweight, breathable, and totally waterproof jacket, perfect for summer with just a t-shirt underneath, or winter with a few layers on! 

With waterproof pocket zips so your phone doesn't get wet, and a waterproof storm flap over the main zip to keep the wind and rain out, this jacket is perfect whatever the weather.

Pertex Shield Membrane
The Fuse uses a Pertex Shield+ fabric, making it not only resistant to whatever the weather can throw at it, but also making it so much more breathable than many other jackets in this price range. This breathability means that during humid and drizzly walks, you won't overheat, and the same in the winter when you're layered up, this jacket will help to regulate your body temperature. It also works in conjunction with your rate of activity, so the more work you do, the more breathable the jacket becomes, and when you aren't working it keeps all of the warm air inside so you don't get too cold.

The main feature of this jacket has to be the price - only £124.99. As already mentioned, it features most of the technical bits of Rab's more expensive clothing without some of the other more nifty things - such as folding away into its own pocket. The hood is still adjustable and rolls down, and has the standard wire peak. The jacket also includes elasticated draw strings around the bottom hem of the jacket and the cuffs are of course still Velcro, giving it all the basic necessities without it being overkill for those of you who want a stripped down waterproof jacket, or a high quality dog walking or every day outer shell.

For those on a slightly smaller budget, the Rab Fuse jacket is perfect. Boasting all the main features of the more expensive jackets, Rab have condensed them all down into one, very neat, very affordable package.

For the perfect wet weather walk, pair the Fuse jacket with the Fuse pants and the Nucleus Pull-On for that extra layer of warmth.


If you think you need something a little more robust and technical, have a look at the Berghaus Light Speed Hydroshell, both men's and women's currently in stock on our website!

Best Walks in Cornwall - Loe Pool

2. Circular walk around Loe Pool - 6.2 miles

Copyright: www.flickriver.com
Leading on from the Arthurian legend of Tintagel takes us to the Loe Pool and Bar just outside of Helston, a lake separated from the sea by a sand bar. This pool is said to be the lake in which Sir Belvedere threw King Arthur's sword Excalibur, with Lord Alfred Tennyson writing this in his work Idylls of The King. The bar that intercepts the sea and the lake is a huge sandy beach where dogs are allowed all year, however we wouldn't recommend swimming off it as there is limited lifeguard coverage and the rip currents are notoriously strong! This walk links up coastal with inland woodland, taking you through the picturesque gardens of Penrose House, a national trust property with a cafe and the old mansion dating as far back as 1281! 
Copyright: www.luphen.org.uk
This is an easy walk with wide paths mapped out for you - perfect for kids to run riot and you to soak up the beautiful scenery surrounding the lake - but if you do think that six miles is a bit much there are other choices that focus more on Penrose House and don't go out as far as the bar, with several car parks dotted around the whole route. However, if you want to circle to whole lake, take one of our baby carriers out with you and pop the little one in it once they've run their little legs off! 





To get even more of your fix for Arthurian history, have a look at our previous walk - a must do for anyone with an interest in history!

Tuesday 12 April 2016

Best Walks in Cornwall - Tintagel

1. Tintagel (via the Castle) - 2.4 miles

Tintagel is one of the most famous English Heritage sites in the country, due to its historic links to the legend of King Arthur. The ruins of the Castle paired with the dramatic coastline makes this and indeed any walk around Tintagel a breathtaking one. Starting from the visitor centre in the small village of Tintagel, this walk takes you past King Arthur's Great Halls, a sort of museum containing many pieces link to King Arthur and The Knights of The Round Table, with 72 glass windows illustrating Arthurian legends. The path will then take you on to the castle itself, with many options for diversions onto the beach where you can try and spot the newly carved face of Merlin the wizard in the cliffs, or just explore the castle. Although this walk is short and most of it is easy, if you do choose to explore the castle there are many steps on uneven terrain, and it is position on the cliffs, so you may want to think twice about taking your dogs on this one!
Up on the cliffs it can get fairly windy as well, so keep hold of little ones if the weather does look like its about to turn and invest in a windproof jacket - but this weather will only enhance the medieval Gothic atmosphere of the intriguing heritage site! This walk is perfect for families with little boys and girls who love learning about heroic knights and damsels in distress, and for parents who have an interest in history, incredible views or a good country walk!


If it's more medieval history you're after, but perhaps a bit further south, our walk no. 2 is for you!

Thursday 7 April 2016

MSR Hubba Hubba NX & Elixir 2 Tents and Hiking Stove Review

MSR: Newsletter to Brand Leader

Mountain Safety Research (MSR) was founded in Seattle by engineer, Larry Penberthy (must be a Cornish boy!) as a newsletter in 1969. As a lifelong mountaineer, his mission was to improve mountain safety by making better and more reliable mountaineering equipment that would in turn "unlock greater adventures". Safe to say that nearly 40 years on that goal has been realised. Trusted by top mountaineers and explorers such as Levison Wood (Walking the Himalayas) MSR's core range of dedicated backpacking tents, stoves, water treatment and snow tools are second to none.

MSR Elixir 2 Backpacking Tent

The Elixir 2 is a truly versatile, freestanding tent that can be pitched in a number of ways to suit the environment your in. From fully pitched (above left) to fast and light (above right) which solely utilises the flysheet and footprint that comes as standard. This tent also boasts great livability for a backpacking tent, with optimised headroom throughout the tent due to the symmetrical pole geometry. There's also enough room for two air mattresses side by side which is more generous than many other two man backpacking tents on the market.

Other features include two vestibules for storage, one on either side of the tent. Two large, "StayDry" doors that have drainage channels to direct rain water away and prevent being dripped on when entering or exiting the tent. Colour coded aluminium poles, aluminium stakes (pegs) and plenty of ventilation via mesh panels and kick stand vents integrated in to the flysheet.  If more storage space is needed an Elixir Gear Shed is available that increases the size of the vestibule area.

Colour coded aluminium poles, clips and webbing make pitching the Elixir 2 incredibly easy. The poles are connected by a hub to further aid the pitching process.


           

Fast & Light Minimum Weight w/ footprint: 1.61 kg
Minimum Weight: 2.1 kg 
Packed Weight: 2.64 kg


MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 Backpacking Tent


The Hubba Hubba NX 2 is one MSR's best selling tents and has received critical acclaim as well as an 'Outside Gear of the Year Award' in 2014. With similar features to that of the Elixir 2, such as dual vestibules for storage, ventilation and 'StayDry' doors the Hubba boasts a minimum weight of just 1.54 kg. This is achieved in part by the poles' unified hub system which replaces two main two poles seen in the Elixir, whilst retaining the strength that crossing poles provides.

The Hubba can also go 'fast and light' when the flysheet is pitched with an optional footprint, which unlike the Elixir, does not come included. There is also the option to add on a Hubba Gear Shed, which effectively doubles storage space if packing light isn't an option.





These backpacking tents are an amazing option for those who are after a low weight, high performance tent at a price which is far lower than many other specialist tent manufacturers.


Windboiler Personal Stove System


Featuring award-winning Reactor technology, the Windboiler stove is perfect for solo travellers, backpackers and wild campers. 
The enclosed design and Radiant burner allows this small stove to cook much quicker than conventional burners, making it popular for those who are going to be out in exposed conditions - especially strong winds. This enclosed design, paired with 100% primary air combustion and internal pressure regulator, makes the Windboiler virtually untouchable from the outside elements.

This design of the radiant burner and heat exchanger also makes it extremely efficient, meaning not only quicker boil times but greater fuel efficiency compared to convector stoves. This efficiency in design is furthered by MSR with the quick and easy self storage of the stove, which all packs into itself and features a handle on the outside, which can be used as a mug handle and makes it easy to carry. The PackTowl, canister stand, stove burner and the 110g fuel bottle (sold separately) all fit neatly and easily inside the 1L pot, which not only means that you get great space economy but also means that you're not as likely to lose bits due to them being stored separately.



















SHOP MSR Windboiler

A brilliant option for any outdoors enthusiast, the MSR Windboiler is a market leader and a product which cooks rapidly, efficiently whilst taking up minimal space in your pack. The price also means the brilliance of MSR is open to everyone - at just £110 this stove is a steal for what it is! 


MSR Windboiler Coffee Press Kit


For just £21.00, you can also turn your Windboiler into a proper cafetiere with the MSR Coffee Press Kit. With a durable stainless steel strainer dish and a flexible gasket, this add-on is sure to give you the freshest brew possible.

The whole set lies flat and will sit in neatly with  all the other components, meaning you don't have to be without your morning cuppa!

SHOP MSR Windboiler Coffee Press Kit



MSR PocketRocket Stove


The humble pocket rocket is the epitome of an all-rounder. With a tiny pack size, an incredibly efficient adjustable flame, the ability to boil 1L of water in 3.5 minutes, and all this with a tiny price tag of £29.99!
At just 85g, and standing at only 4 inches tall, the PocketRocket is super light and super compact, making it perfect for any traveller, whether you need to pack light or not.

Although the PocketRocket looks as though it would not fare well when exposed to the elements, it features a small yet practical Tri-Sectional WindClip wind shield, protecting the flame and allowing it to burn as hot as possible even when exposed to the elements. 

With a hard shell carry case and the low maintenance needed for this brilliant stove, the PocketRocket isn't going to need to be wrapped in bubble wrap when taken out - it is a robust and wear-and-tear-proof design that will withstand all the abuse the trail can throw at it!

SHOP MSR PocketRocket


MSR WhisperLite Universal Stove

Labelled by MSR as 'the ultimate, hybrid fuel backpacking stove', the WhisperLite stove can switch between gas and liquid fuels and offers great simmering capabilities. The stove also features the groundbreaking, patent-pending AirControl technology, maximising the fuel and air mixture with each fuel type, giving the WhisperLite not only brilliant performance but makes the most of your fuel too.

The upgraded chassis of the WhisperLite is extremely lightweight (326g when unpacked), yet surprisingly sturdy. With the stainless steel legs, giving the stove excellent stability and a refined design, the WhisperLite really is everything you could want in a backpacking stove.

Despite it's ability to utilise practically any fuel you can find, the WhisperLite is unbelievably easy to clean. The self-cleaning Shaker Jet technology and redesigned leg assembly allow rapid cleaning and even easier maintenance out and about! 

SHOP MSR WhisperLite Universal


Here at Penrose Outdoors we also stock other MSR accessories, such as the fuel bottles and canisters, pole repair splints and maintenance kits. The reasonable prices for excellent products makes MSR a great choice for anyone who is serious about their kit's performance, and wanting to know that when they go out, they can rely on their products!

Check out all our MSR stock on our website, or contact us with any questions or queries! 

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Tent Pitching Tips! Get The Most From Your Camping Trip

HOW TO PITCH AIRBEAMS, STEEL AND FIBREGLASS POLE TENTS


Here at Penrose Outdoors, we believe that camping is a fantastic way to spend quality time with loved ones and experience new places for relatively little cost. It allows the freedom of the great outdoors, with some home comforts that you would sacrifice if you were truly roughing it. With the cost of going abroad constantly getting more expensive (not to mention the hassle of trying to keep tabs on several children while going through the airport!), and more and more massive companies investing time and money into researching what will be the best, most luxurious way to enjoy a back to basics holiday, the market for great tents is, understandably, getting bigger and bigger each year. Vango, Coleman, Outwell and Kampa are the main brands we stock, and this year they are all bringing out bigger and better tents than ever before.

So, there is no denying that modern tents are brilliant - but many people are totally put off by all the little strings hanging off it, the pegs that seem to mysteriously disappear, the total inability to get them back into their bag, and, of course, the whole process of putting them up. Here at Penrose Outdoors, during the spring/summer months, we have a large tent show room, with the tents that are up rotating every week or so. This means we are experts in putting them up and down in minimum time, and are here to share our secrets (plus a few extras on where to pitch) with the slightly less experienced, not-so confident campers!

STEP NUMBER 1: Pitch before you leave!

If you have never seen your tent up, let alone seen it be put up, then you are, to some extent, risking a stressful start to your camping trip. The best way to ensure a smooth start to your holiday is knowing exactly how to pitch your tent.
The best way to learn is to watch - as aforementioned we have a tent show room in store and have the space, experience and willing to show you how to put any of our tents up. The smallest little trick can make your holiday run that much smoother.


Pitching instructions for your tent are there for a reason - no one expects you to instinctively know how to put up every tent in the world.


STEP NUMBER 2: Choose the right place to pitch!

Choosing a bad place to pitch your tent can result in a nightmare coming to life - especially if you have kids. Whether there's a constant drip that is driving you mad, not being able to hear yourself think because of hideous winds or even a branch falling on you while you're sleeping, finding the right place is crucial to your holiday. Here are some pointers:

- Wherever you choose to pitch your tent, make sure you sweep the ground for other peoples' left over tent pegs. Not only can they puncture your groundsheet, but standing on a hidden tent peg is almost as bad as standing on a plug - I speak from experience.

- Although it may sound like a nice idea, pitching yours and your mates tents around a campfire is not a great plan. Most modern tents are made of polyester, so even if they're not in super close proximity to a fire (or even a barbecue), they can and will melt, and in the worst cases catch fire. Canvas tents are equally at risk and even though all modern tents are rated fire retardant this isn't a guarantee they won't catch fire if left next to a naked flame.

All in all - don't pitch your tent next to a direct source of heat or naked flame - ever. 

- Make sure your pitch is as flat as possible and not at the bottom of a hill. Even if it's just a slight slope, if you sleep the wrong way round you will wake up with a headache. If you're at the bottom of a hill, again, even if it's only a gentle slope, at the slightest sign of rain you can guarantee you will be surrounded by a puddle by the time you wake up! (Headache + Soaked gear = Angry Camper)

- If you choose to pitch at the top of a hill, please remember that this is likely to be the most exposed spot, ensuring a buffeting by the wind at some point. However, it is easy to find shelter in hedges, walls and buildings (providing someone hasn't beaten you to it). Make sure to check the forecast before you leave so you vaguely know what to expect, and if there are high winds forecast, it will be tempting to find shelter anywhere, but try and stay away from trees.

- Pitching under a tree will make rain sound a hundred times louder, they possibly could break or blow over in extreme winds and are excellent lightning conductors, i.e. a recipe for disaster! 

Check out our YouTube channel for some reviews on brilliant, easy pitch campsites in Cornwall.

STEP NUMBER 3: How to deal with your poles!

Fibreglass

Fibreglass poles are notoriously unpredictable. Some will last for years with no problems whatsoever, and others it seems will snap on first touch. The key thing to remember when going away with a tent with fibreglass poles is that they are so unpredictable, as soon as you leave the shop they aren't covered by any sort of warranty at all - even if the tent itself has one. This is not our own personal policy, but every tent manufacturer has the same rule. 

Because of this, we would always suggest buying one of our pole repair kits with your tent, and keeping it with it. If you're camping right out in the countryside, the last thing you want to do on a beautiful sunny day is bundle everyone in a hot stuffy car and drive however many miles to the nearest camp shop. We stock most generic pole repair kits, but we will need to know the pole measurements before we can help you (so if one has already broken either measure it or bring it with you). If this does happen and you are not prepared, being in Truro we are fairly central to all campsites in the county and offer a pole repair service, which you can find out more about by giving us a ring (01872 20213).


Aluminium 

Aluminium poles are more sturdy than fibreglass poles. However, don't try and force them through the fabric sleeve on your tent - if it doesn't bend the poles then it will put a hole through your tent. Threading poles is most definitely a two person job, please don't think otherwise! It will end in tears, we promise. Again, these poles are not covered by any sort of warranty so we would still recommend getting a repair kit/spare set just in case.

Although aluminium poles do provide a very sturdy structure, we have to remember that the tent itself (no matter what it is) is only meant to be a temporary shelter - they aren't bombproof. 

Inflatable Beams

Believe it or not, these are arguably the most reliable of all the tent structures. With no poles snapping from either threading or the sheer forces of nature, the only potential issue with them is a puncture or leak, which is hugely unlikely. This innovative new style of tent have large, robust plastic tubes or beams, encased in a super heavy duty canvas fabric, and then sewn or zipped into the actual frame of the tent. To pump them up, simply make sure the valve is in the right position, and using either a hand. foot or even electric pump, fill them with air until they reach the recommended pressure. Although it is important not to go overboard with the pumping, the likelihood that they will over-inflate and burst is very slim as many pumps supplied come with pressure release valves as a precaution.

These inflatable beams mean that the tent can easily be put up with one person, and taking it down is made even easier by undoing the valve, letting the majority of the air flow out and then pumping the rest out with the return nozzle on the (often included) pump. 

However these beams can, understandably make people wary. Often it is because people don't think they are strong enough to withhold strong winds, but, while they won't withstand a hurricane, as long as you have some strong tie down storm straps, they are just as strong as any other tent, and, what's more, the beams can't snap. 


STEP NUMBER 4: Prepare for the worst case scenario!

For most people, the idea of a tent leaking while you're asleep or out and having everything drenched is enough to put you off camping for life. This doesn't need to be the case - it is unlikely that your tent will leak (remembering you get what you pay for - please don't expect a £50 tent to withstand consistent, torrential rain). Make sure to take care of it over the years, using one of our products to reapply the waterproofing, not putting it away wet or muddy etc. and it should last you years. The following scenarios are exactly as the heading suggests - worst case ones. It's always better to be over prepared than under. 

Tents very rarely leak consistently and everywhere on their first several outings - and a few teething problems does not mean you have a faulty tent.

Admittedly, canvas and nylon tent seams can leak on their first few encounters with wet weather, due to the fibres of the material loosening. When these fibres swell, they increase in size and cause the weave of the fabric to become tighter and more water repellent - so give it time settle in. Every tent also features taped seams (extremely effective at keeping water out), which when stretched for the first time (whether with poles or inflatable beams), can let a small amount of water through. 

The best option for this is to purchase some seam sealer when you buy your tent, and if you find this happening, just line the seams. This will not void any kind of warranty at all.

In all inflatable tents, small puddles can form at the base of the beams after periods of humid/damp weather. This is caused by warm air hitting the cold air inside the beams, with the resulting condensation forming on the beams and dripping down - and can occasionally be a relatively large amount. All of the manufacturers of the inflatable beam tents feature lots of ventilation points throughout their tents to provide a circulation of air which helps prevent this condensation forming.

In the hugely unlikely event that one of the beams in the inflatable tents does get a puncture, make sure you buy one of our replacement ones to keep in the car or tucked away somewhere safe. If you are abroad or just out in the middle of nowhere, it is unlikely a camping shop will be there exactly when you need it - and it's better to be safe than sorry. At between £30 to £40, they aren't cheap, but if one does pop (again, I can't stress enough how unlikely this is) due to a manufacturing fault or anything within the first several trips, you can, quibble free, bring it back to where you bought it and we will send it on to the company who will look it over and send you a new one if something has gone wrong.

I have already mentioned bringing spare poles or at least a pole repair kit with you - again, it might never happen and your poles might last a lifetime, but if you are prepared then it will minimise stress factors if it does happen.

Another suggestion is to always keep some spare pegs in your car - the amount of people come in saying they forgot their pegs and had to weigh their tent down for the night with rocks is unbelievable. Tent pegs are cheap as chips and you can guarantee that you will lose at least one per trip anyway, so it doesn't hurt to have a few spare. 


STEP NUMBER 5: Pay attention to the things you don't think matter!

If you weren't a Scout and haven't had much camping experience, this is the stuff you won't know unless told.

Pegs can be a nightmare. The key is to not forget to buy a mallet, else it can make your life very difficult. Most campsites should have relatively soft ground, but on the occasion that the ground is stony, be careful to just tap the pegs in gently - if it isn't moving, take it out and try a different place. Continuing to hammer it down will only buckle the peg and most likely render it useless.
For maximum stability, pegs need to be driven in at a 45 degree angle. If they are just upright, it makes it easier for the wind to just whip them out. 

Although they just seem like something you constantly trip over, guy lines are crucial to keeping your tent anchored to the ground. The length they should be is specific to the tent - they need to be long enough to keep the tent stable, but short enough that they aren't going to slacken off quickly. Keep an eye on them throughout the duration of the trip, and make sure they aren't getting loose or too tight - you don't want a hole in your tent. 

The best way to keep guy lines as taut as possible is to peg them down so that they line up with the seams on the tent - this also makes them much stronger.


Hopefully this will make your camping life much easier, and paired with our huge range of tents, furniture and accessories both in store and online, the idea of staying in a tent and getting in touch with nature no longer chills you to the bone! 

If you have any questions about anything on this post, please don't hesitate to contact us (we understand that it is a lot of information to take in), and we will talk you through it as best we can! 

Best Walks in Cornwall!

Copyright: www.cornwalls.co.uk
As everyone knows, Cornwall is one of the UK's favourite same country holiday destinations. Famed for it's dramatic coastline, huge beaches and rolling fields, there really is no where else like it in the country. 
Whether you're here to relax, sightsee or spend your holiday taking surfing lessons, you can guarantee a walk of some description will be on the cards - even if it's just to the next village over for a pint!
At Penrose Outdoors (based in Truro, Cornwall's only city) we pride ourselves on the local knowledge we can offer to tourists, and can let you in on some of the best kept secrets in the county - the amazing walks that Cornwall has to offer.

Although we can't deny that spending every day on the beach is wonderful, these walks will take you away from the crowds and give you a view of Cornwall that usually only the locals get. We will posting new routes up all the time, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled and check back! The first few will be iconic, dramatic walks that capture the surface of Cornwall, before we take you into the country lanes and farmers fields that make us proud to call Cornwall home! 


Check out 1 and 2 now, and get ready for a summer full of incredible Cornish walks!

Copyright: www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk