Are you looking for camping gear for your next trip, or are you like many people who "collect" camping gear for future trips?
There are many considerations when putting together your camping gear. Let's first start with your camping style. Do you like to go "car camping" where you drive up to a camp site, open the trunk of your car and unload your camping gear? Do you stay there, make a BBQ, and enjoy the campgrounds for the day? Or, do you take day hikes from that spot with a nice backpack picnic basket? Will you be going with family, or on a romantic trip?
Another option is backpacking. You would be carrying your tent and food with you as you hike. Backpacking can get you much closer to wilderness, where you don't hear cars and there are less people. If you expect to be in wet weather, or on the water, you will want to check out Otter Boxes to keep your electronics dry.
When you are car camping you can pack whatever you need into the car, not having to consider weight. Coolers with ice, beverages and food make camp dining easy. Camp stoves and BBQs are easy to transport and use. A good camp table and camping chairs would be recommended unless the camp site has these amenities. Be careful in bear country where you store your food! Check with the local park service to learn how to store food safely so you don't have bears as visitors. Bears have been known to break into cars as modern bears recognize coolers as a source of food!
When backpacking you will want to keep your pack as light as possible, while still including the essentials. This becomes a trial and error project over time. Every time you return from a backpacking trip, sort out the things you needed and the things you could have done without. This includes camping gear and food. Make a list! You'll be thankful for the list when you are planning your next trip, you're getting last things done at your work/job/business and you don't remember every detail of your last trip!
Pack things that have more than one use: A down jacket that can be used as a pillow, bandannas have many uses, a sock can be used as a stove mitt...etc.
Look into where you are going, what will the weather be like? Don't over-pack!
Remember the first aid kit, water purification tablets, a good handheld GPS AND a topo map. A first aid kit should contain some basic items like aspirin, Tylenol, Rolaids, bandaging and antiseptics, tweezers, etc. Moleskin is highly recommended. A product like New Skin or Nexcare Liquid Bandage Drops can also come in handy. Nexcare Liquid Bandage comes in a small very small .034 oz tube. These drops are intended to cover minor cuts and scrapes. When applied to the skin these drops form a water-resistant but breathable seal to keep cuts clean while they heal. There are approximately 60 clear drops in the container. They dry, sting free on the skin in about 30 seconds. Also in the box is a plastic container to hold the bottle while in use and 10 swabs. The seal will wear off naturally as the wound heals or it can be removed by applying baby or mineral oil and then washing it off.
A headband flashlight is a great addition to a backpacker's must-have kit. You may need to hike in the dark without carrying a cumbersome flashlight. They are also great in the middle of the night for late night kayaking, a tent light or "visiting mother nature."
A bug net to go over your head is something you will be thrilled you have, and wish you brought if you ever need one!
For beginners, it's always a good idea to start out car-camping, learn what YOUR essential camping gear is, keep note of them and then graduate to backpacking!
