So you've made the decision that you're going to give outdoor camping a try and you've never done it before.
Or maybe you haven't done it since you were a little kid when your parents took care of everything for you - (don't you wish you could go back to those days sometimes?) This article will give you a few things to think about in getting prepared for your first outdoor camping trip and what kind of basic gear you should have for it.
First of all, let's talk about shelter.
You're going to need a tent of some kind, a sleeping bag and probably a sleeping pad so you're not directly on the hard, lumpy ground.
And while you might like the idea of sleeping under the stars and therefore think a tent in unnecessary, I urge you to reconsider.
Not only can the weather change quickly and dramatically from what the "weekend forecast" tells you, but you may also want to use your tent to escape bugs, too much sun or wind, or even simply to store your gear in while you're out exploring your camp area.
As far as tents go, I would recommend getting a dome tent.
These kinds of tents come in all different sizes and configurations and have a huge range of price points.
If this is your first time camping, you probably should avoid spending too much money on your tent until you establish whether or not camping is really for you.
Nonetheless, a dome tent design is a great way to go, whatever your parameters end up being.
The reason I recommend a dome tent is that they are relatively easy to set up and usually don't need to be staked into the ground or otherwise secured.
The flexible tent poles will criss-cross each other in a semi-arced manner, creating a geometric shape upon which the tent material itself will be hung.
The great thing about this kind of design, in addition to what was already mentioned about it not needing to be staked into the ground (which can be a real pain, depending on the surface you're camping on), is that once the tent is set up, it can easily be repositioned or moved, totally intact.
An example of when this might be useful is if you set up your tent in the evening and realize in the morning that the sun is streaming directly into your tent, but if you were rotated slightly, or positioned behind a tree for example, you would be in a much better spot.
No problem.
Just remove any gear stowed inside your tent, and move or reposition as needed.
Also, these designs' geometric shapes with multiple angles and corners do an excellent job of withstanding wind.
The same can't be said for your otherwise standard flat-sided tent.
One more thing you should consider for your tent is a ground tarp.
You will lay the tarp on the ground and place your tent on top of the tarp.
Not only will this help protect you from moisture potentially seeping through the floor of the tent, but it will also prolong the life of your tent be protecting it from unnecessary wear and tear against rocks, dirt and other abrasive surfaces you may be camping on.
Sleeping bags.
Again, if you're just getting into camping, don't too nuts on the sleeping bag.
Most likely you'll be camping in reasonably good weather, so you don't need to buy a sub-zero bag.
This will only cost you more money that could otherwise be spent on other camping gear.
If it turns out you love this way of recreating and you decide to start doing some snow camping, you can always come back and get a warmer bag later; you'll still have this lighter weight bag for the warm months.
Finally, you really should get some kind of sleeping pad to sleep on.
Today there are inflatable beds that are every bit as big and comfortable as your bed at home.
If you happen to have purchased a monster tent and want to go that route, I guess that's fine.
However, more often than not we're talking about smaller tents where you'll need a camping pad rather than an inflatable bed.
Camping pads are simple, lightweight, thin pads that are simply intended to do 2 things; insulate you from the ground temperature (which can be cold), as well as insulate you from the bumps and lumps in the ground.
Things like small rocks, roots and other things that would otherwise make for an uncomfortable sleep.
Camping pads can be made from either a foam type material, or else they can be inflatable, and come in a variety or thicknesses from about ½ inch to an inch thick.