Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

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rightisright
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Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by rightisright »

Title says it. I did a lot of camping when younger. From the time I was about 5, my family did the tent thing, mostly in campgrounds and state parks. We graduated to a pop-up then to a large travel trailer. After I moved out, I did some tent camping on my own. But, alas, it's been years since I have done anything outside of an overnight or two with friends (using their stuff).

So I'm looking for a comprehensive list of what I need to get started again. I plan on starting out at campgrounds then moving on to more "wild" areas. I have a female companion who wants to join me, so I'll need a decent sized tent (she's fairly petite. I'm, erm, more robust).

There are a lot of sites I found using google, but I trust you guys more than some tool with a keyboard. At least I kinda know you tools :D
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Rod
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by Rod »

Ummmm, been a while for me but:

Very expensive backpack: joking in a way but don't skimp on price on any of this gear.
Two person tent, lot of decent size, lightweight ones with many features.
Cookstove, lot of nice compact ones that use compressed gas or fuel in small tanks
Sleeping bags, get better rated ones so you don't freeze to death.
Dehydrator (doesn't go with you): can dehydrate a lot of food without going broke.
Cooking gear/eating utensils
Build it yourself first aid kit
Camelbacks, water filters, water tabs
Maps, USGS preferably, no larger than 1:50,000 (had a 1/200,000 in a National forest, long story, big mistake)


Just off the top of my head. I'm sure that others will shoot my list down or provide more details.
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clyde621
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by clyde621 »

What is your inital plans. Do you want to "rough" it, the wild and wolly or are you planning to do the lake, fishing, lounging routine. That makes a big difference in your setup trust me. ;)
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randy
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by randy »

Get a Boy Scout Handbook or Fieldbook, the older the better. Both should have comprehensive lists for various level of camping.
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Rumpshot
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by Rumpshot »

randy wrote:Get a Boy Scout Handbook or Fieldbook, the older the better. Both should have comprehensive lists for various level of camping.
What Randy said!

You can spend as much or as little as you want. The old handbooks will help you be comfortable either way.
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blackeagle603
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by blackeagle603 »

What sort of vehicle you driving? That always what determined my scale from our days car camping, on to tent camping, then to camping out of an open 5'x8'utility trailer under a pop-awning with side curtains installed, and then later pulling a full size trailer.

Honestly the utility trailer under a 10'x10' popup shade was my favorite setup. Might have thought differently if we'd been in heavy bug/mosquito country.
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by sam »

Air mattress, unless you like sleeping on hard ground. Get a heavy duty one for car camping and lightweight "disposable" types for backpacking.

Don't forget a patch kit!
rightisright
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by rightisright »

Thanks for the replies.

I just bought a 1972 copy of the Boy Scout Handbook. I never would have thought of that, but it makes perfect sense.

BE, I can use one of my work trucks if I need to go off-roading a bit.

To begin with, I'll probably just do some campground camping a few times to get back into the groove. That way if I forget anything "vital", it will most likely be nearby.

When I told my female friend this last night, she replied, "I don't want to camp in a campground. That's for wimps!" :)
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Rumpshot
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by Rumpshot »

rightisright wrote:"I don't want to camp in a campground. That's for wimps!" :)

She's right! :lol:
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blackeagle603
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Re: Getting Back into Camping. List of Necessary Items?

Post by blackeagle603 »

If you're rolling with a full size pickup then a foam mattress in the back with a 10'x10' popup and sidewalls over the bed makes a sweet setup.

I say foam because we've done both air and prefer the foam. I went to an upholstery shop and bought a firm 4" foam cut to size then sewed a cover for it from vinyl coated fabric. It rolls up into less than an 18" round and I hold it in the roll with a couple sleeping bag tie straps.

Add a cooler for food, a water cooler, a cook box for stove and kitchen stuff, a folding table and a couple chairs, a lantern, some coils of rope for clothes line etc and you're ready to roll.
"The Guncounter: More fun than a barrel of tattooed knife-fighting chain-smoking monkey butlers with drinking problems and excessive gambling debts!"

"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic;" Justice Story
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