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slee_fairy
Answer
Free. Your first time should always be free, especially for kids. In other words, you should go with an experienced camper(s) or a camping organization who will let you borrow their gear, since almost all campers have extra gear, the very thing you're trying to avoid by first borrowing.
After a couple of "free" camping trips under your belt you'll start to get an idea of what kind of gear you might want to purchase, and start to research materials, quality, prices, and reviews to determine the right choice for you, your camping style, level of comfort, camping plans, and budget. Reading books about camping and backpacking at your local library is a good start along with popular camping websites.
A mistake some people make is to try to buy the biggest and most expensive gear, which is usually overkill. Similarly, don't expect Wal-Mart gear to get you through more than a weekend or two. Somewhere in the middle is where I aim, in size, quality, weight and price.
Free. Your first time should always be free, especially for kids. In other words, you should go with an experienced camper(s) or a camping organization who will let you borrow their gear, since almost all campers have extra gear, the very thing you're trying to avoid by first borrowing.
After a couple of "free" camping trips under your belt you'll start to get an idea of what kind of gear you might want to purchase, and start to research materials, quality, prices, and reviews to determine the right choice for you, your camping style, level of comfort, camping plans, and budget. Reading books about camping and backpacking at your local library is a good start along with popular camping websites.
A mistake some people make is to try to buy the biggest and most expensive gear, which is usually overkill. Similarly, don't expect Wal-Mart gear to get you through more than a weekend or two. Somewhere in the middle is where I aim, in size, quality, weight and price.
What type of kayak to get?
Marie
Looking for a suggestion on what type of kayak to get my husband. He does not yet have any experience on a kayak but wants one to take out from the shore. We are at the beach many weekends in the warm season in New Jersey and he wants to take the kayak out just a bit off shore and back. We have little room to store the kayak. Can I get an inflatable or is this not a good choice for shore line kayaking?
Answer
Inflatables or folding boats (with a collapsible metal frame like tent poles and a fabric skin) are a great option if you have limited storage space such as an apartment. But there is a huge range of price involved and many different models. Cheaper inflatables (like Sevylor and Coleman under $300) tend to be floppy and hard to paddle. I would hesitate to recommend one for ocean use, even near shore, because they will tend to be battered around by waves, just like a rubber raft would be, and will be tiring to paddle, even dangerous if he were to get swept off shore. Also, cheaper boats tend to lack a spraydeck cover to keep water from filling the boat. There are some mid-range boats with stiffer bodies and spraydecks I've seen -- I have not yet used one but the Advanced Elements boats I've checked out in shops seem pretty well constructed and defiinitely compact. They also have a built-in skeg along the keel which really helps keep a boat tracking in wind and waves. I believe most models are under $500. Maybe someone on Yahoo Answers owns or has used one of these and can report on it. There are reviews of most models of kayaks by owners of them at http://www.paddling.net.
It's a good idea to visit one or more outfitters that specialize in kayaks -- their salespeople can help direct you to appropriate models. Be sure to invest in a good quality paddle at least 8' long, preferably fiberglass shaft (not metal). A heavy, stiff and too-short paddle makes the paddling experience very uncomfortable.
If you've got a bigger budget, check out the folding boats made by Folbot, Feathercraft and Nautiraid. These cost thousands of dollars (I have two Feathercrafts) but are high performing craft you can use anywhere in the sea. Good boats like this do have high re-sale value so if you can aford one but he later decides he isn't into it, they are easy to sell. I've taken my Feathercrafts out into Long Island Sound on numerous occasions and had no trouble with surf, wind or currents. The kayaks pack down into a 35# backpack you can throw in a trunk or closet and take on an airplane. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to set one up and 10 to take it apart.
Some people even build their own folding and inflatable boats. Even if you aren't into that, it is fun to see what people have done at this website: http://www.yostwerks.com
It has several free designs for home-made kayaks and photos from around the world of boats people have built.
Inflatables or folding boats (with a collapsible metal frame like tent poles and a fabric skin) are a great option if you have limited storage space such as an apartment. But there is a huge range of price involved and many different models. Cheaper inflatables (like Sevylor and Coleman under $300) tend to be floppy and hard to paddle. I would hesitate to recommend one for ocean use, even near shore, because they will tend to be battered around by waves, just like a rubber raft would be, and will be tiring to paddle, even dangerous if he were to get swept off shore. Also, cheaper boats tend to lack a spraydeck cover to keep water from filling the boat. There are some mid-range boats with stiffer bodies and spraydecks I've seen -- I have not yet used one but the Advanced Elements boats I've checked out in shops seem pretty well constructed and defiinitely compact. They also have a built-in skeg along the keel which really helps keep a boat tracking in wind and waves. I believe most models are under $500. Maybe someone on Yahoo Answers owns or has used one of these and can report on it. There are reviews of most models of kayaks by owners of them at http://www.paddling.net.
It's a good idea to visit one or more outfitters that specialize in kayaks -- their salespeople can help direct you to appropriate models. Be sure to invest in a good quality paddle at least 8' long, preferably fiberglass shaft (not metal). A heavy, stiff and too-short paddle makes the paddling experience very uncomfortable.
If you've got a bigger budget, check out the folding boats made by Folbot, Feathercraft and Nautiraid. These cost thousands of dollars (I have two Feathercrafts) but are high performing craft you can use anywhere in the sea. Good boats like this do have high re-sale value so if you can aford one but he later decides he isn't into it, they are easy to sell. I've taken my Feathercrafts out into Long Island Sound on numerous occasions and had no trouble with surf, wind or currents. The kayaks pack down into a 35# backpack you can throw in a trunk or closet and take on an airplane. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes to set one up and 10 to take it apart.
Some people even build their own folding and inflatable boats. Even if you aren't into that, it is fun to see what people have done at this website: http://www.yostwerks.com
It has several free designs for home-made kayaks and photos from around the world of boats people have built.
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Title Post: What is the average price of camping gear?
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Rating: 95% based on 981 ratings. 4,6 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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