lilpeaches
Summer is coming and I like to plan ahead.
I am planning on going camping and haven't ever really done so to be honest.
What do you think the essential camping gear you need? Other than a tent? (Any suggestions on that would be great too.)
Remember that I am on a limited budget.
Thanks!
ok let me say from the last answer that this is just a camping trip. i'm not a survivalist and were just going to have a good time.
some people take this stuff way to seriously. oy.
but for the rest, your answers are awesome!
Answer
I am assuming that you will be car camping and not backpacking. That said my information will be for car camping, though you should go backpacking at some point because it is really fun...if you like to be in nature. Depending on where you are going these things might need to be changed.
THE LIST:
1. A Cooler w/ ice
2. Some type of food (i.e. sandwich meat, bread, water, condements, hotdogs, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate(you gotta make smores when camping) etc.
3. Water, or a water purification system
4. antibacterial wipes
5. Tent
6. sleeping bag, or a old blanket from your house
7. Some type of sleeping mat...i perfer a self inflating mat. I use a thermarest
8. changes of socks! then undies and other clothes
9. I lighter/lighter fluid
10. Knife
11. Flashlight and lantern...lantern is not required but a good flashlight is.
12. pillow
13. Folding Chair
14. Simple first aid, w/ bandaids, peroxide, common sense stuff ya know
15. It is always nice to have a camera
Honestly this list could go on and on and on. These are basics. You won't really know what you'll need until you have actually camped.
12.
I am assuming that you will be car camping and not backpacking. That said my information will be for car camping, though you should go backpacking at some point because it is really fun...if you like to be in nature. Depending on where you are going these things might need to be changed.
THE LIST:
1. A Cooler w/ ice
2. Some type of food (i.e. sandwich meat, bread, water, condements, hotdogs, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate(you gotta make smores when camping) etc.
3. Water, or a water purification system
4. antibacterial wipes
5. Tent
6. sleeping bag, or a old blanket from your house
7. Some type of sleeping mat...i perfer a self inflating mat. I use a thermarest
8. changes of socks! then undies and other clothes
9. I lighter/lighter fluid
10. Knife
11. Flashlight and lantern...lantern is not required but a good flashlight is.
12. pillow
13. Folding Chair
14. Simple first aid, w/ bandaids, peroxide, common sense stuff ya know
15. It is always nice to have a camera
Honestly this list could go on and on and on. These are basics. You won't really know what you'll need until you have actually camped.
12.
Camping Christmas List?
Q. I'm asking for my own camping gear this year for Christmas (I usually borrow my parents) I have used their beige Coleman air mattress and it's a piece of crap (have to reinflate it every night...) I'm looking for a new air mattress as well as a good sleeping bag. Any suggestions? Or any products/companies I should stay away from?
Answer
If you want a big fattie mattress, I think one is probably just as good as another. If you want a backpacking one, get a ThermaRest, no contest. They have a lot of different ones, I think including for just women but also different sizes and a backpacking friendly one. You can get a self-inflating one, or a closed cell foam one (Compact ridge rest, Z rest? something like that it looks like yoga mat, and it has traction and accordian folds instead of rolling.)
Sleeping bag info:
I have a Sierra Designs bag from the Flex series and I love it! They are quilted with slightly elastic thread around the circumference of the bag, so they are stretchy...like stretch jeans. They kind of hug you but they are still plenty roomy. So nice for side sleeping!
Synthetic fill is always my recommendation because down is so touchy. It will have a lot of different trade names but it is all polyester. Basically it is various kinds of quilt batting. Down is more expensive than comparable synthetics, they require dry cleaning, and if you get it wet out in the field, you won't necessarily ruin it, but it is worthless until you dry it out which means you could be dangerously cold. Nonetheless, down fill is lighter weight and compressible.
I wouldn't worry so much about weight or fill if you are car camping. Just get the warmest one that you need for your budget. As far as brands, I'm sure a Coleman or whatever is fine. My SD bag is from my backpacking days and is still very serviceable. If you are getting a true backpacking bag...you get what you pay for but there are some good bargains out there. Try the High Peak Line of gear. They make EXCELLENT bags, and they are little known but still reasonable. I have also had two different packs from this brand and one was in amazing shape even after I backed over it with the car. hahah!
http://www.highpeakusa.org/
I can tell you that Slumberjack makes relatively low end bags for the money and in my experience their zippers don't work very well. But they are cheap, offer lots of temps and styles, and they seem to run warm if you can keep them zipped.
Re temp rating, if you camp year round, you will really benefit from having at least two bags. One just cannot be the end all-be all for every climate. Get a summer one, even if it is just a hostel bag or a silk or fleece bag liner, and then a 0 deg, 20 deg or 30 deg. Use them both independently in their season, and both together in the winter. If you do this, you need to make sure that they are the same shape (rectangular vs mummy) and make sure the zippers are on the same side. Late night pee trips will be a lot easier this way. In addition, I have a 10 dollar cheapo down throw blanket that I have used a million ways with my other gear. You can throw it in the mix to help you stay warm. It make a great shoulder, butt, or foot specific helper and also a pillow. It is also snuggly around the campsite, and I have even paired it up with my rain jacket to work just like a down parka! I didn't mind having this down piece because I was not totally relying on this to keep me safe, just comfortable. And it was cheap, only weighed a few ounces, and it fit in a gallon ziplock bag. So...easy to stuff in a pack.
They also make bivy sacks that are excellent for adding even more warmth to a sleeping bag, and they can protect your bag from getting wet. This is great if you go shelterless on a clear night, so your bag isn't covered in dew by morning.
Have a great time making your list!
If you want a big fattie mattress, I think one is probably just as good as another. If you want a backpacking one, get a ThermaRest, no contest. They have a lot of different ones, I think including for just women but also different sizes and a backpacking friendly one. You can get a self-inflating one, or a closed cell foam one (Compact ridge rest, Z rest? something like that it looks like yoga mat, and it has traction and accordian folds instead of rolling.)
Sleeping bag info:
I have a Sierra Designs bag from the Flex series and I love it! They are quilted with slightly elastic thread around the circumference of the bag, so they are stretchy...like stretch jeans. They kind of hug you but they are still plenty roomy. So nice for side sleeping!
Synthetic fill is always my recommendation because down is so touchy. It will have a lot of different trade names but it is all polyester. Basically it is various kinds of quilt batting. Down is more expensive than comparable synthetics, they require dry cleaning, and if you get it wet out in the field, you won't necessarily ruin it, but it is worthless until you dry it out which means you could be dangerously cold. Nonetheless, down fill is lighter weight and compressible.
I wouldn't worry so much about weight or fill if you are car camping. Just get the warmest one that you need for your budget. As far as brands, I'm sure a Coleman or whatever is fine. My SD bag is from my backpacking days and is still very serviceable. If you are getting a true backpacking bag...you get what you pay for but there are some good bargains out there. Try the High Peak Line of gear. They make EXCELLENT bags, and they are little known but still reasonable. I have also had two different packs from this brand and one was in amazing shape even after I backed over it with the car. hahah!
http://www.highpeakusa.org/
I can tell you that Slumberjack makes relatively low end bags for the money and in my experience their zippers don't work very well. But they are cheap, offer lots of temps and styles, and they seem to run warm if you can keep them zipped.
Re temp rating, if you camp year round, you will really benefit from having at least two bags. One just cannot be the end all-be all for every climate. Get a summer one, even if it is just a hostel bag or a silk or fleece bag liner, and then a 0 deg, 20 deg or 30 deg. Use them both independently in their season, and both together in the winter. If you do this, you need to make sure that they are the same shape (rectangular vs mummy) and make sure the zippers are on the same side. Late night pee trips will be a lot easier this way. In addition, I have a 10 dollar cheapo down throw blanket that I have used a million ways with my other gear. You can throw it in the mix to help you stay warm. It make a great shoulder, butt, or foot specific helper and also a pillow. It is also snuggly around the campsite, and I have even paired it up with my rain jacket to work just like a down parka! I didn't mind having this down piece because I was not totally relying on this to keep me safe, just comfortable. And it was cheap, only weighed a few ounces, and it fit in a gallon ziplock bag. So...easy to stuff in a pack.
They also make bivy sacks that are excellent for adding even more warmth to a sleeping bag, and they can protect your bag from getting wet. This is great if you go shelterless on a clear night, so your bag isn't covered in dew by morning.
Have a great time making your list!
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Title Post: Essential 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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