It may be difficult for dyed in the bone enthusiasts to accept but camping isn't for everyone and it's impossible to know whether you will find outdoor heaven or unacceptable hell until you have tried it. For many people this is the stumbling block.

Camping needs equipment and forking out a lot of hard earned money for items without knowing whether or not they will be used a second time can put people off. Luckily there is a great try-before-you-buy option for would be campers – the choice of hiring the equipment.

Companies offering this service used to be a little thin on the ground but people are now more than ever attempting to find ways to enjoy holidays on a budget. This means more demand, more companies to choose from and consequently more competitive prices. The options available to hire camping equipment still make it a budget conscious choice for those with little disposable income to spend on their holidays.

Many of the companies providing camp equipment hire offer either packages that include all your camping needs or the option to hire individual items.

The following list of places to hire camping equipment is far from exhaustive and new companies, offering highly competitive rates to tempt customers their way, are springing up all the time.

Outdoor Hire

This company has many things going for it, one of which is that if they don't stock something you require they will get it for you. Equipment can be hired as a package or individually and everything is delivered to your doorstep. Some companies will make a hefty delivery charge and include transit days in the hire charge but neither is the case with this company who will deliver at cost to anywhere in mainland UK.

All of the equipment for hire is branded, high quality kit including tents, sleeping bags, sleep pads and mattresses, cooking stoves, cooking sets, lanterns and head torches. Additionally, this company offer hire options on kayaks, climbing apparel, GPS devices and fishing kits.

Guide price - £100 for 2 week hire of family package which included Vango 4 man tent, 4 sleeping bags, 4 mattresses, camp stove, cook set and lantern.

www.outdoorhire.co.uk

Camping Equipment Hire

If the idea of pitching and dismantling the tent puts you off at the outset then this could be the perfect hire company. All of their tents for hire are of the pop-up variety and if their videos are to be believed can be ready within seconds after arriving at your destination.

Sleeping mattresses and sleeping pads are also available and can be delivered anywhere in the UK for a charge. Transit days are also charged for.

Guide price - £58+£15 delivery for 4 man tent for 6 to 10 days, £6 for self-inflating mattress for 6 to 10 days, £6 for sleeping bag for 6 to 10 days. Hire packages can be arranged by contacting the company.

www.campingequipmenthire.co.uk

Tent 2 Hire

This company offer items for hire including tents, sleeping mattresses, sleeping bags, chairs and lanterns. Equipment is sent to the customer 2 days before the hiring dates commence and the transit days are charged for. Delivery charges are extra. Alternatively customers may collect the equipment themselves from the company's Sussex base.

If you should find you have been bitten by the camping bug at the end of your trip you can opt to buy your tent and have your hire charges refunded.

Guide price – 2/3 person tent £30 for 6 to 12 days hire (delivery extra), self-inflating sleep mattress £8 for 6 to 12 days hire.

www.tent2hire.co.uk

Contented Camping

This company only hire large 6 man or 7/8 man tents but also offer a large range of used camping equipment for sale.

Equipment delivery and collection services are arranged and charged at a pre-set rate and hire charges don't include transit days.

Guide price - £69 for Vango 6 man tent for 12 to 20 nights. Delivery and collection from £9.95 each way.

www.contentedcamping.co.uk

Are there any other hire companies?

It is normal practice with all the hire companies to ask for a refundable damage deposit but otherwise choice and equipment quality will vary greatly.

In addition to the larger established companies who offer equipment hire there are often many small regional companies providing the same service. Area such as the Peak District or Dartmoor abound in outdoor shops some of which have camping and sporting equipment for hire.

Even some experienced campers choose to hire rather than buy and may do so in order to avoid equipment storage or to keep up with the latest camping trends as hire stock is often replaced each season.

Whether you are a novice camper in need of the whole kit and caboodle or just looking to hire an extra camp chair there are a choice of companies offering just that and many are specifically geared to help and advise those new to the world of camping. Try it – you might just get hooked.