Camping gears

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just go to REI and ask for help

Do this. If you get a set list here, you will end up going to rei where they will tell you why x, y, and z are better for your situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not go to REI. Everything there is super expensive & fancier than a casual camper needs. The Walmart brand, Ozark Trail, has decent tents, chairs, etc at a good price. Coleman is good too— search on amazon for a 6 person dome tent. It shouldn’t be more than $100-$150.

I recommend sleeping bags and some kind of camp pad or air mattress. Again, doesn’t need to be fancy or super lightweight if you aren’t backpacking. We use air mattresses & bought a battery powered pump, but a camp pad is fine, too.

Do not listen to this stupidity

Coleman REI is the answer
6 person tent
Sleeping bags ask REI ones that ho to 20 degrees like others suggested .
I’d do mats as well and extra blasts old ones from home are fine.

If rain is coming get a tarp for the ground as well

[Anonymous]

If you're just going to go camping once or twice go buy the disposable cheap stuff from Walmart honestly. REI stuff is higher quality but is usually more oriented to weight savings and hiking the stuff out. If you think you may go often, and just want to drive up camp, get a canvas tent. The material is breathable and won't leave you all feeling like you're sleeping in a cold sauna. Silnylon holds in everyone's moisture and gets gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can rent tents and other gear from REI and it's pretty cheap if you're a member. They also have a section of discounted gear that people have used and returned.

We rent from REI. Recommended approach.

[Anonymous]

OP here. How manageable if I take my 2 kids to go camping without my husband (he may not be able to come)? It is a group activities, and we are not alone. I know some families there, but I am never a handy person to do labor work or setup/planning. I am told that they will take care of all of food/drinks and activities. I just need to worry about how to setup tent/drive there (I can drive, but drive slowly) and take care of my 2 kids being outdoor as first timers.

[Anonymous]

This is the type of tent I would get if I knew I might have to do it on my own:
https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/core-equipment-6-person-instant-cabin-tent-22coru6pnstntcbntcat/22coru6pnstntcbntcat?sku=23558390&srsltid=AfmBOoqGl8kirYLiisTe-hqxuKtboscdimmDwWjnkGJUVYnyZVrGC4D-qIc

Definitely set it up with the rain fly. Spray the rain fly with waterproofing spray a few days before you go.

I think you can manage on your own with two middle school kids. They must know to never wander off on their own. If they have sleeping bags they should practice rolling them up and putting them back in their stuff sacks this week. They need to do that 100 percent independently. You should also do a dry run of setting up the tent.

Here's a few tips in no particular order:

First: No wearing shoes in the tent. Always zip the tent immediately when coming/going. No food in the tent. (Water bottles are okay.)

- take a tarp to put underneath the tent and fold it so part of it comes out in front of it. During the day kids can leave their shoes outside. At night before bringing them inside they can stand on the tarp and shake off any dirt before bringing them in. It can be helpful to have a hand broom/dustpan available.

- Have a water bottle with you and thoroughly hydrate. We have a big Coleman container for kids to fill their waters from.

- Take bug spray and sunscreen with you.

- Kids get hungrier while camping than any other times--I think it's from being outside so much. Take snacks if needed. Keep them in the car or wherever your group is securing their food.

- Have personal flashlights for the kids and a simple/small lantern to use as needed. (doesn't have to be giant camping style lantern)

- Layers really are key-- a base layer will help keep you warm. 32 degrees brand from Costco is very inexpensive.

- kids should take sneakers for sure and another pair to wear around the campsite, mine usually do Crocs for this.

- I do an air mattress for myself. My kids prefer the self-inflating sleeping pads--you can get them on Amazon.

- Take along toilet paper and hand soap in case the bathrooms are out. Take hand sanitizer. A small laundry basket/laundry bag will help organize dirty clothes. First aid kit with band aids, disinfecting wipes, ibuprofen.

- Mindset is really important. You will be dirty, some things will go wrong. The first time camping will likely be one of the hardest, but it will get better.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I just spend a few hundreds on tent, sleeping bags, air mattress, tarp, flashlight, and folding chairs etc. I feel like I need to camp more often to justify my expenses, lol. Is it okay if I don't open all delivered packages (especially the tent and chairs), and just assume every parts are inside? I may have trouble to put them all back once opened. Do I need to pre-wash sleeping bags? How to wash and dry? Anything that I can buy to get rid of mosquitoes inside tent while sleeping? Any battery run mosquito repellent machine? And anything I should buy as well for kids? I am a bit paranoid, sorry.

[Anonymous]

I just follow the instructions on the sleeping bag in terms of washing them. More expensive ones have specific requirements, where the cheap ones can definitely just go in the washer and dryer.

Make sure your air mattress doesn't need electricity to inflate (unless you have a power source at the camp site). I have the ones that you step on to deflate/inflate to about 6".

With the sleeping bags, keep the bags they come in. Do not roll the sleeping bags to get them back in the case--that will eventually create different places with stuffing and have hot and cold spots when you use it in a few years. Instead just stuff it into the bag and close the bag.

So long as you keep the tent fly closed, you will not have mosquitos in your tent. Tent camping is much less buggy if you follow the rules. Wear a hat/head scarf to keep ticks off.

I would assume all parts are there, but have a back up plan in case they aren't.

Make sure you all bring a second pair of closed toed shoes in case one gets wet. Change socks or take them off before bed.

If the kids have never slept outside before, sometimes glow sticks both in the tent and on their person at night help them acclimate to the darkness.

Don't lean anything or person on the side of the tent!!! Like stay 2" away from every side. Once a side is touched, the dew will seep in and will make anything in that area soaked.

Have fun! Relax...ask for help as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not go to REI. Everything there is super expensive & fancier than a casual camper needs. The Walmart brand, Ozark Trail, has decent tents, chairs, etc at a good price. Coleman is good too— search on amazon for a 6 person dome tent. It shouldn’t be more than $100-$150.

I recommend sleeping bags and some kind of camp pad or air mattress. Again, doesn’t need to be fancy or super lightweight if you aren’t backpacking. We use air mattresses & bought a battery powered pump, but a camp pad is fine, too.

Do not listen to this stupidity

Coleman REI is the answer
6 person tent
Sleeping bags ask REI ones that ho to 20 degrees like others suggested .
I’d do mats as well and extra blasts old ones from home are fine.

If rain is coming get a tarp for the ground as well

This. When you are at REI, ask them about rental options. Tell them your goals so they can help you keep spending low but also, get all the gear you need so you aren't uncomfortable or unprepared. If you buy, like PP said, get a 6 person tent so it can accommodate 4 people plus everyone's bags.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not go to REI. Everything there is super expensive & fancier than a casual camper needs. The Walmart brand, Ozark Trail, has decent tents, chairs, etc at a good price. Coleman is good too— search on amazon for a 6 person dome tent. It shouldn’t be more than $100-$150.

I recommend sleeping bags and some kind of camp pad or air mattress. Again, doesn’t need to be fancy or super lightweight if you aren’t backpacking. We use air mattresses & bought a battery powered pump, but a camp pad is fine, too.

I disagree, I would splurge on the tent. The cheap ones often leak. I am still using my 30 year old Eureka tent. I can't imagine a Colemen or Walmart tent holding up that long. Like others said, I would get at least a 6 person tent in order to sleep 4 comfortably. We have an 8 person tent for 5 people and a dog. Any dome style tent is easy to put up and take down.