What do we need for a camping trip?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These lists are so bourgeois and environmentally unfriendly that it made me shake my head and sigh.

Feel free to chime in with your own suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These lists are so bourgeois and environmentally unfriendly that it made me shake my head and sigh.

Your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or whatever you used to type your response isn't great for the environment either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read PP's responses, I'm sure they are right on.

I'll come in with something learned from a wilderness survival class. When out in nature, be prepared for the unexpected, whether an allergic reaction to a or an unexpected storm. There are seven essentials that they need to have covered.

1. Positive mental attitude - #1 must-have in an emergency.
2. Health - first aid kit. Have something to treat wounds, diarrhea, twisted ankle, accidental cut or burn, allergies, etc.
3. Fire - flint and steel will light a fire no matter what, even if wet. Someone should have a weather-proof fire source.
4. Shelter - honestly, any basic tent will do. One difference between cheap and better tents is that the better ones are much lighter and easier to assemble. But you can rent this from REI and return after use, so no need to overspend.
5. Signaling - if there is an emergency, they need to be able to call for help. Lets pretend that cell phone reception isn't guaranteed. (I lost service in Rock Creek Park two weeks ago). In this case, smoke signals, a whistle, and a little mirror for alerting airplanes should be on hand just in case.
6. Water - 1 gallon per person per day is the recommended minimum.
7. Food


Other stuff that comes to mind:
-Have a rain coat and hat from son and cold, just in case.

Good thing you were so well-prepared for your outing to rock creek park.

Totally insane. No way this person has actually been camping.

[Anonymous]

The thing I hate about camping is that people spend tons of $$ on gear to make themselves comfortable. Why not just stay some place comfortable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copious amounts of weed and alcohol. If you're really feeling adventurous, shrooms. Have fun!

You must be on all three now because of how stupid your answer is.

No, I just know camping while enhanced is a much more enjoyable experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH is taking DS on a father/son camping trip with some other dads and sons. First time for DH and DS. What kind of gear do we need to get? Tent, air mattress, sleeping bags? We have nothing. Can you please recommend some specific items we should look into? We don't want to buy top of the line stuff in case this is the first and last time they go, but they do want to be relatively comfortable.

Suggestions?

To answer your questions. People tend to buy camping equipment and keep it for years so its hard to give specific recommendations when companies turn their models over multiple times a year. I would search amazon to get recommendations for sleeping bags and tents. For this time of year and assuming you are going car camping in our very well populated mid-atlantic area:

Tent
Sleeping Bag and pillow
Changes of appropriate clothes and footwear plus bathing suits, hoodies if it will be cold at night etc
Food and water
Smores stuff
Cooler with ice
Propane stove and fuel
Plates, utensils, servingware, a pots for cooking
Camp soap to clean the pots
Bandaids and neosporin
Camp chairs
Matches
Flashlights and/or with extra batteries

[Anonymous]

Bug spray for ticks and mosquitos. Spray shoes and hats with permethrin. Send some kind of Deet spray.

Sunscreen

Deck of cards, frisbee or ball to kick/throw around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't read PP's responses, I'm sure they are right on.

I'll come in with something learned from a wilderness survival class. When out in nature, be prepared for the unexpected, whether an allergic reaction to a or an unexpected storm. There are seven essentials that they need to have covered.

1. Positive mental attitude - #1 must-have in an emergency.
2. Health - first aid kit. Have something to treat wounds, diarrhea, twisted ankle, accidental cut or burn, allergies, etc.
3. Fire - flint and steel will light a fire no matter what, even if wet. Someone should have a weather-proof fire source.
4. Shelter - honestly, any basic tent will do. One difference between cheap and better tents is that the better ones are much lighter and easier to assemble. But you can rent this from REI and return after use, so no need to overspend.
5. Signaling - if there is an emergency, they need to be able to call for help. Lets pretend that cell phone reception isn't guaranteed. (I lost service in Rock Creek Park two weeks ago). In this case, smoke signals, a whistle, and a little mirror for alerting airplanes should be on hand just in case.
6. Water - 1 gallon per person per day is the recommended minimum.
7. Food


Other stuff that comes to mind:
-Have a rain coat and hat from son and cold, just in case.

Good thing you were so well-prepared for your outing to rock creek park.

Totally insane. No way this person has actually been camping.

+2 I thought maybe it was posted as a joke.
- Who needs smoke signals or a mirror for alerting planes? Follow the scout rule of staying on the trails.
- You don't need any flint or steel. I do, however, bring some fire starters in case there's no kindling at the camp site. But as others have said sometimes you can buy dry firewood at the parks.
- Unless it's primitive camping (which the OP said it's not) there will be potable water. Do not load your car with 5 gallons of water.

[Anonymous]

We camp about two weekends a month and have an insane amount of gear. However, when we were first starting out we used a simple dome tent. We have this one, and it's been great: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D9EQ804/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687582&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00V85DVBQ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=TAA16JT5DXQ9FVFX9NA2

This was our first camping stove, it was was perfect for boiling water for coffee and heating up a skillet: http://www.etekcity.com/product/100065.html

Other than those items, the must-have items we bring are:

coolers
camp chairs
air mattresses
sleeping bags
pillows
flashlights
lantern
first aid kid
bug spray
sunscreen
flip flops (for nighttime bathroom outings!)
plates, cups, utensils
a bottle or two of wine

Have fun! Camping is seriously the best thing that ever happened to our family. We're obsessed now and we've made some wonderful memories around various campfires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing I hate about camping is that people spend tons of $$ on gear to make themselves comfortable. Why not just stay some place comfortable!

Amen!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pillows + extra blankets if nights will be chilly.
A lantern and a few flashlights. A camping stove, cooler and plastic dishes and cutlery. Dish soap. Lots of bottled water. Toilet paper. Sundries, most especially sunscreen!
Extra batteries and plenty of matches. Long underwear if nights expected to be cold. Good pair of walking shoes. A heavy jacket. Board games, volleyball net. Rolls of quarters if paid showers on-site. Clothesline/clothes pins. Plastic containers for dishwashing. Chapstick. Firewood. Charcoal. Plenty of napkins & wet wipes. Large plastic kitchen trash bags. Towels. Bug repellent. Tablecloth. Folding plastic lawn chairs. A sense of adventure!

Aside from the bugs, wild animals and serial killers this is why I don't camp. Sounds like a PITA! ?

Don't forget marshmallows!

[Anonymous]

Sure, it's dirty and you use a ton of crap. But camping is so fun! The camp fire, being woken up by woodpeckers, birds, kids playing with bugs, kids learning how to build a fire, smores, playing flashlight tag, hiking, being resourceful, putting down your phones and laptops and having to use a map!

It's all wonderful.

[Anonymous]

PRO TIP:

Subtract at least 1-2 humans from what they recommend for each tent. A 4 person tent is really better for 2 adults. A 5 person tent for 3.

If there's 4 of you, get a 6-person tent so there's room for a bag of clothes. Trust me, you'll be happy you did.

[Anonymous]

If it's Jellystone, the only emergency supplies they might need are earplugs. Check online to see what amenities that particular Jellystone has, like a swimming pool or a fishing pond where they might want to bring things for. You probably can buy firewood there, and the campfire rings probably have grills. They just need to get a tent and air mattresses and maybe sleeping bags as special equipment.