Outdoor

Heading camping for the weekend, running a night trail, doing a touch of DIY in the attic or trekking outdoors at sunrise? You will want a head torch. A great hands-free accessory, a headlamp is an essential piece of kit that'll keep you safe wherever and whatever you may be doing. Not only do head torches help with your night vision by illuminating your path, but they also make you visible to other people, which is vital on unlit roads.However, with so many factors to consider, such as rechargeable LED lights, powerful yet subtle red lights and fully waterproof torches, we've written this buying guide to walk you through your options. We've also reviewed a list of the 10 best head torches in the UK, featuring popular brands such as Petzl, Energizer Vision and Black Diamond, which are all available online from Amazon, Decathlon and Argos.

The appeal of portable toilets dramatically increased during lockdown due to Covid rules closing campsite facilities and public toilets. Having a portable toilet for camping stops the dreaded midnight toilet run and (if compact enough) can be taken on day trips, so excursions don't need to be planned around the availability of public toilet facilities. They can also be invaluable to those with mobility issues.Our buying guide looks into everything you need to know, including the dimensions, max user weight, capacity, comfort, ease of emptying and any flush mechanism involved, so that you can find a portable loo to suit you. We've also included a list of the 10 best portable toilets available in the UK to buy from Amazon, including stand-alone facilities and loos with bags, along with their prices and which chemicals you'll need to operate them.

When the sun does finally shine in the UK, you'll need adequate shade to safely enjoy UV rays. In the past, this meant bulky, awkward sun parasols, that you were forever having to adjust. Nowadays, there are garden shade sails! These are large pieces of material that can be attached to nearby walls and poles to provide shelter from the sun.Made to fit any garden, in this article we'll show you how to find the perfect one. Sharing the 10 best garden shade sails in the UK on Amazon, read on for tips and advice on how to choose the right size, fabric and fixing for your garden, patio or deck.

You’ve got your tickets, so all you need now is a tent to ensure you have the best festival experience. Your tent will be your home for the weekend; whether it's a simple space for hardcore revellers to recover or a big, comfortable place to regroup, relax and socialise with friends and family, it's vital to choose one that suits your needs.With so many options from cheap 2-person pop-ups to teepees and 4-man domes, we have compiled a list of the 10 best-rated tents for music festivals to make sure you have a great time, regardless of the unpredictability of the British weather. Featuring brands such as Quecha, Regatta and Coleman, they're all easily ordered online from Amazon, Go Outdoors, Decathlon and Argos.

Peat has traditionally been used in compost because it contains nutrients and retains water brilliantly – unless specifically labelled peat-free, a bag of compost is likely to be made up of at least 70% of it. However, from 2024, peat will be banned from retail all-purpose compost and potting soil because its use is so detrimental to the environment. In the past, peat-free compost has been of questionable quality, but with the 2024 ban looming, mainstream compost manufacturers have been investing heavily in the development of viable peat-free alternatives. We look at the suggested use, composition, cost and bag sizes of the best peat-free composts to buy in the UK, all of which are available for delivery from Amazon, B&Q and others.

Are you a proud gardener in line for first prize at the neighbourhood flower show? Have you made it a goal to put homegrown veg on the dinner table? Either way, plant protection is a must here in the UK. One of the leading causes of plant degradation is insects sticking their noses where they aren't welcome, but with a good insecticide, it's easy to put a stop to this. Whether you're looking for the best insecticide for vegetable gardens, strawberries, roses or lawns, we've reviewed a range of options to wage war on every pesky pest from scale insects and spiders to aphids and mealybugs. Our list is stacked with top-shelf products from brands like Provanto, Nuedorff and Resolva, including both chemical bug sprays and natural, organic formulas that are guaranteed to be safe.

Tis the season for bats, pumpkins, witches and ghosts - that's right, Halloween is fast approaching! You've probably already considered decorating the inside of your house, but displaying outdoor Halloween decorations  will seriously up that wow factor.From outdoor lights to pumpkin inflatables, there are plenty to choose from. That's why we've put together this guide with helpful tips and spooky garden decor ideas to inspire you. So read on for our ranking of the top 10 best outdoor Halloween decorations in the UK, from Amazon and Argos.

If you're a nature lover, watching the day-to-day activity of the local birdlife is surely one of the best ways to spend your time, and it's always nice when we can lend a hand to help out our feathered friends. A bird box will allow you to do all that and more, providing robins, small birds and other passing residents with a place to nest and even rear their young.Bird boxes come in all shapes and sizes from those with cameras to fun, novelty designs, and it can be tricky to know which will actually attract birds to your garden. In this guide, we'll detail every key decision you need to make while browsing before counting down the ten best nesting boxes in the UK, all of which can be ordered from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis.

Outdoor hanging baskets are a brilliant way to add greenery to your garden, balcony or patio. They’re handy for maximising space, and will let you display trailing plants, flowers, fascinating foliage or even veggies!  Sure, all outdoor hanging pots will serve the same purpose, but how do you know which one to choose? Fear not, as we've put together this guide to wire, wicker, plastic and ceramic hanging baskets and railing planters, along with our ranking of the top 10 best in the UK on Amazon and eBay.

Bee hotels are rapidly gaining popularity in the UK as a garden must-have. Their contribution to the bee world is small but important, providing solitary species (such as mason and leafcutter bees) with a place to rest, recuperate and even nest their young. In turn, they'll also benefit you by encouraging bees to visit and pollinate your garden. Plus, they're a great educational tool for kids.As with real hotels, bee hotels come in many shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult to know which one to pick. Don't fret – we'll walk you through everything from height and location to which wood or materials encourage other insects to check-in. Then, we'll share our ten favourites to buy from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis, including bee and bug hotels, bee hotel kits and more.