Cowboys and indians, scouts and girl guides: what do they have in common apart from being arch enemies devoted to hassling the other? They all spent many a nervous night under canvas as they prepared for ambush.

Camping embodies the spirit of independence and freedom we often search for on the road but, while cowboys and indians fought to become legends on the silver screen, scouts and guides realised there were better things to do in tents, married and became youth hostel wardens.

You see, life under the stars doesn’t come with any guarantees of success, especially with Sod's Law ready to kick in at any time: Sod’s Law says that the picturesque field in which you pitched the tent near the river mouth is actually a tidal flat; Sod’s Law says that you forgot to remind Bob he was bringing the tent fly and fuel for the cooker; Sod’s Law says that you believed the guide book when it said the camp site had full amenities and was open all year. To keep things cool in the camp it pays to think ahead.

What to take: Whether you choose a tunnel or dome-design tent is purely a matter of personal preference. The dimensions of dome tents tend to be taller and wider to provide more space and comfort — handy for sitting out wet days or for partying. What you also gain though is weight which is something to consider.

Familiarity with the pitching system lets you get inside before the rain falls and organised before the pub closes. After too much Guinness in Ireland, the task of pitching an unfamiliar tent was too much. Casting poles aside we decided to sleep sandwich style and enjoy the stars. However, waking up with more than an Irish mist falling and floating sleeping mats quickly prompted an addition to the Camper’s Code.

A good sleeping bag and mat provide comfort. Sleep sheets are easier to keep clean than a sleeping bag, but needn’t be silk; a cotton sheet doubled and sewn is great for £5. You should also carry a first-aid kit and insect repellants.

Time to eat: There is a huge range of stoves — differentiated only by fuel systems. Those using pressurised gas canisters are clean and efficient, but you must check the availability of canister supply in the countries you're heading. Remember that spares cannot be carried on airliners.

For sheer flexibility a multi-fuel burner such as the MSR stove can boil a cuppa wherever you are. With a choice of petrol, white spirit and kerosene for fuel, you'll be able to sniff out a refill even if you can't ask for it in Arabic, .

The art of cooking camp food is worthy of praise. Explore the markets for fresh produce, talk to the locals about their dishes, and always carry a box of stock cubes. A 5kg yam strapped to a bike in Burkina Faso fed us for longer than planned, but cost only 50p. Here or there: Choose the right campsite and you can expect a restful night’s sleep. There are two main options: free camps or organised camp sites. You should head for the open spaces if the call of the wild is ringing in your ears.

Successful freecamping depends on your approach and where you are. The honest Antipodean twang opens more doors than most so try to find the landowners and ask their permission to freecamp. It is worth asking so you can sit peacefully in a wooded pocket near a stream or on a headland overlooking a bay accompanied by a bottle of cheap port and a sunset. Check with local tourist boards about camping in national parks.

Look for a site with a water supply, even ground and shelter (but don't pitch under a tree). Remember that lighting fires is a bad idea in the wild and you should pack all your rubbish; the theory stands that no one should be able to tell you were there.

Respect “No Camping” signs as there may be a valid reason. Your chosen site could be a cultural or historic site, or it could be home to endangered flora or fauna.

It's worth remembering that you will sharing your paradise with others. Anything from ants to wombats may be attracted by you and your food. While the quiet snuffling of hedgehogs is fine, consider this: apparently you need to hide all food in a tree at least half a mile from your tent if you are camping in bear country and want to have food for breakfast the next day.

There is a lot going for organised camp ground and caravan parks. Depending on the range of amenities, you can have hot showers, wash clothes and eat ice cream from the snack bar. There can be a great atmosphere in a campsite full of like-minded people: take a trip to Munich in September and you'll get the idea.

Security should be taken seriously, no matter where you camp. To a thief, a campsite is like a 24-hour supermarket to a food junkie.

You can't rely on the site’s "security patrol" to be effective, let alone exist. Never leave your tent open, even if you’re just visiting a neighbour, and keep valuables with you (stash them with you in the sleeping bag at night). If there is an on-site safe box, use it.

Finally, you must have travel insurance for when Sod's Law strikes.

Keeping it cheap: Camping should be cheap. Personal ads for second-hand equipment in Loot or at the back of magazines such as The Great Outdoors, High Climber, Camping, etc. offer good deals.

Furthermore, if you don’t mind the colour green, army surplus stores have a range of stock at half the price of big brand stores.

YHA cards allow their bearers to camp and access the facilities at nominated hostel grounds for half price. The alternative VIP Backpacker discount card costs £15 and saves money on accommodation, activities and excursions in 22 different countries.