My wife and I are planning on going camping this summer and just wanted advice on what to buy. We've both been camping a few times but always used friends and families stuff. We need advice on everything from tents and sleeping bags to miscellaneous cooking supplies....especially if you guys can point out little helpful products that make camping easier....solar powered things and such. Basically, I like camping but I don't like feeling dirty and eating shitty food so any products that will help with that would be good too. Here are some things I am looking at:

Tents: (In the order that I like them)


Columbia Bugaboo Dome 4-Pole Family 4-5 Person Dome Tent $139.99


Columbia Ice Crest 4-Pole Family 3-Person Dome Tent $99.99

Sleeping Bag:


Columbia Yorkstone Double Sleeping Bag $89.97

I was thinking we would need some travel pots and pans and maybe a portable grill or something...

 

old school lantern, not these new electric crap ones...some dual mantel lanterns. It will run forever on a fill up, and bright as hell. I also have a small gas stove with travel pots, a small first aid kit.

what kind of camping are you doing? I mean if you are camping at a state park or backpacking in and truly roughing it then there is way different shit you would need.

 

Okay are you really going camping or are you staying at a Jellystone? That sleeping bag sucks.

 

we are looking for something in between what you just said. We are hoping to find a place that is secluded and feels like it is in the middle of no where....but I doubt we will be more than 15-20 minutes from at least a small town.

 

We are going camping....we are going to find a nice spot in the woods somewhere...not sure where yet...

what is wrong with the sleeping bag and what would you suggest?

I like the idea of a two person sleeping bag because right now we always zip 2 one person bags together to make a 2 person bag.

 

I pitch my own tents. :shhh:

 

I'm really not a fan of double bags, and their temperature ratings confuse me. A 30 degree double bag is never as warm as a 30 degree single.

 

tent, sleeping bag, lighter, good cooler, small grill, lantern, small shovel, toilet paper, first aid kit, bug spray.

Also get a good sleeping pad. Nothing sucks worse than waking up from sleeping on bumpy ground. Also if it rains or if the ground is a bit damp and anything gets past your rain gaurd under your tent, at least the pad keeps off most of the moisture. I actually use a collapsable super cheap cot.

 

:werd: A good air mattress is a definite.

 

Cool, thanks I'll keep all that stuff in mind. Any particular brands that are better than others? Are there any brands I should stay away from?

We actually just got a nice air mattress for christmas...but I think my sister-in-law's kids poked a hole in it already...I'll have to get it looked at.