The best camping gear essentials: Action Packed Verdict (out of 5) Robustness 5 Weight 4 Comfort 5 Ease to put together 5 Overall 4 A top buy. I've invested in several of these for the family, as they allow us to sit around in our dome tent in the evenings, but they are portable enough for children to carry them to the beach. Montane Prism pants Price: £100 Details: montane.co.uk Most people who go camping carry a warm jacket for when the sun sets or for when their body temperature starts to drop after completing hard physical activity. However, few people think about their legs and how quickly their larger leg muscles will cool. This can often lead to the onset of muscular stiffness and leg pain. I commonly see people trying to warm their legs by folding them up into their jackets, while simultaneously wrapping their arms around them. This "stress position" is uncomfortable and puts strain on the back. To avoid this, I'd recommend having a pair of thermal pants that you can slip on just as you would a jacket. Montane's Prism pants pack down to a tiny size and weigh less than 300g. They have a ripstop, a windproof Pertex outer and a 40g Primaloft inner construction, meaning they are effective even when damp. Robustness 4 Weight 5 Warmth 4 Pack size 5 Overall 5 A worthwhile investment if you get involved in any hard physical activity. I've used them after mountain biking, running and trekking. For sitting around the campfire, they make absolute sense. Blue Mountain 1W focus beam torch and lantern Price: £10 Details: cotswoldoutdoor.com Not everything that is good has to be expensive. This is a fantastic camp light, perfect inside the tent as a hanging candle, or for use as a spotlight when in torch mode. Robustness 5 Weight 4 Functionality 4 Size 5 Overall 4 A worthy investment for any camping activity. I also use mine as my emergency vehicle light. Brunton Heavy Metal 5500 power pack Price: £65 Detail: cotswoldoutdoor.com; brunton.com This power pack charges direct from the mains, and although (at 246g) it is slightly heavy for its size, it packs a powerful punch. It will recharge an iPad, GPS, mobile phone or PDA multiple times. The pack is robust and will fit snugly into a pocket or sit at the bottom of a rucksack. If you need a lot of power and don't want to carry a large solar panel, this is a good option. Robustness 5 Weight 3 Functionality 4 Size 5 Overall 4 Not equipped with a solar panel, but it can be charged by one. It provides greater charging power than the PowerMonkey below. PowerMonkey Explorer and Solar Slave Price: £65 Details: powertraveller.com This is what I used in Antarctica to recharge my iPhone, as outlined in my introduction. It's a great piece of kit that is robust and effective. The device comes with a range of mains charging plugs, so you can use it around the world, and it has the advantage of a solar panel that works even in cloudy conditions. It has different attachments so will fit most mobile phones and PDAs. Its output limits it to these types of devices, but if you need long-term power without mains supply, this will work. Robustness 4 Weight 5 Functionality 4 Size 5 Overall 5 Worked in Antarctica so is a fully tried-and-tested answer to mobile phone charging. Comes with its own solar panel. Primus Eta Spider Price: £100 Details: cotswoldoutdoor.com; primus.eu Choosing the best cooker is difficult because each has different functions. I've chosen the Spider because it has accurate flame control, which allows you not only to boil water, but also to warm or simmer food. It has a stable base and an effective, integral wind shield. The one-litre Cook Pot has a heat exchange, which means it uses a third less fuel, and there is even a plastic bowl and carry case in the package. It you are going to live on dehydrated rations, the MSR Reactor is probably a better buy as it boils a litre of water is seconds. However, if you want to prepare your own meals, the Spider is simply superb; it can even be converted to multi-fuel use. Robustness 5 Weight and size 5 Functionality 5 Cooking efficiency 5 Overall 5 A brilliant cooker for one or two people and suitable for most conditions. Vango folding gas stove Price: £23 Details: vango.co.uk At the other end of the cost spectrum is the Vango. This no-frills, no-nonsense cooker is brilliant for the price. The legs unfold into a wide base plate for stability and the top folds out similarly to give a wide platform for a pan. It can be controlled to boil, simmer or warm food. The stove lacks a wind shield but that can be easily rectified by separate purchase. It comes in its own little box, which would fit into a pocket. It's not as light and compact as some cookers, but is recommended for stability and safety. Robustness 5 Weight and size 5 Functionality 4 Cooking efficiency 4 Overall 4 Endorsed by the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, this is a great cooker for first-time campers or experienced adventurers. About Paul Hart Few travellers put more demands on their kit than Paul Hart, a former Royal Navy lieutenant commander. Having served with the Royal Marines and the Paratroopers and led expeditions in the world's toughest environments, he has joined Telegraph Travel to bring more than 30 years of adventure experience to bear on everything from boots and backpacks to tents and technology. For more of Paul's gear and kit reviews, see telegraph.co.uk/action-packed.