The Basics: Equipment

If you've never been camping before it may seem daunting, but choosing what camping equipment is right for what you'll be doing is quite possibly the most important part of planning a camping trip, as without proper equipment you won't be able to fully enjoy yourself. For example, your sleeping bag needs to match the climate that you'll be in. Generally speaking, you will want a sleeping bag that's rated for 0-degree weather as, though it might get a bit toasty, you can use it year-round barring extreme weather. Personally, I would recommend using something like this Columbia sleeping bag as it is both rated for 10-degree weather and has a hood available for those extra cold nights. Along with a sleeping bag, you will also need some sort of shelter. The two main options for shelters that you will commonly see for camping are hammocks and tents. Hammocks are what I use, and though they tend to be easier to set up, they provide less protection from the elements, so for a beginner, I would recommend a simple 2 person tent with a rain fly. 

If you're unsure of a kind of tent to get, something like this Coleman tent as they make very high-quality products. You do need to be somewhat conscientious when planning what tents to bring as if your tent is too large for the planned campsite you may inconvenience your fellow campers, as most campgrounds are shared spaces.

While a sleeping bag and a tent are the 2 most important pieces of equipment to bring, you may also want to bring a lawn chair so you have somewhere to sit, as well as a camping stove and cooking supplies if you plan on camping for more than one day. A simple camp stove like this one by Coleman is really all you need in terms of heat for cooking, as it runs on propane so as long as you have enough propane, and some pots/pans and utensils you can cook just about anything.

That's about all for the basic equipment that you'll want to bring while camping, my next post will be about what to look for in a campsite when planning, until then, safe travels and happy trails.