| Is all your family camping gear ready? If not, read | | | | down bag sold at LL Bean. It will last you for the |
| on because I am putting together a short primer | | | | rest of your life and it's guaranteed to do just |
| to get you ready. Okay, you chose the civilized | | | | that! |
| route of car camping, not going on a jungle safari, | | | | Okay, we got the sleeping stuff all covered. What |
| so let's be smart with your family camping gear. | | | | about all the other family camping gear? Try to |
| The less stuff that you bring, the easier that your | | | | think in terms of comfort and ease of |
| trip will be. On the other hand, you do need the | | | | accessibility. We store most of our gear in see |
| basic creature comforts, so let's get going. | | | | through plastic storage boxes. All of dry food |
| I like to start with sleeping accommodations. Just | | | | goes in 1 box, utensils in another box. I keep |
| because you are not staying in a hotel does not | | | | flashlights, rope, pumps, hatchet, and other utility |
| mean that you have to give up comfort. In fact, I | | | | stuff in 1 box. The boxes can be pulled out almost |
| sleep better camping than I ever do in a hotel | | | | instantly when ever you need them and you don't |
| because of my comfortable equipment. It's true | | | | have be digging around to find your stuff! The |
| that we sleep better in our own beds than a hotel | | | | family camping gear that you will be bring will be |
| bed. | | | | unique to your family. Be basic! |
| I like to start with the family camping tent. A tent | | | | Your camping kitchen is an area that is as |
| in it's basic form must not be heavy. It needs to | | | | important as your sleeping equipment. We all love |
| be easy to put up with just 1 person, and it must | | | | to eat and will be spending hours making delicious |
| be water proof. This is not rocket science. I | | | | gourmet camping meals. I like pots and pans that |
| always prefer a 3 season tent because they | | | | can fit inside of each other. We bring a large |
| meet all the requirements that I just listed. Unless | | | | pressure cooker that doubles as our pots and |
| you plan on climbing Kilimanjaro, stay away from | | | | pans storage. It can cook almost as fast as |
| technical expedition equipment. For my family | | | | microwave too. If you like soups and cowboy chili, |
| camping gear, I prefer the basic dome style tents | | | | this is an item that is a must! Our wok is our |
| offered by Eureka, REI, and other high quality | | | | secret weapon for cooking gourmet meals. It |
| manufactures. They are large enough that you | | | | works as a frying pan, soup pot, and toaster. We |
| don't claustrophobic! | | | | cook all of our meals on a 2 burner Coleman |
| Since we are talking about sleeping, I always use | | | | stove and a 1 burner MSR Simmerlite. Both burn |
| either a self inflating type of sleeping pad such as | | | | white gas and unleaded fuel. Smart! |
| the Therm-A-Rest or an inflatable air mattress. | | | | When it comes to clothing, we travel light. We all |
| Both are super comfortable. Don't try to be a | | | | wear super light weight camping pants that can |
| John Wayne type and sleep on the ground | | | | be washed and worn immediately because they |
| because you will never be comfortable. I carry an | | | | air dry on your body in less than 10 minutes. We |
| electric air mattress pump that plugs into the | | | | only bring a few t-shirts, a couple pairs of socks, |
| cigarette lighter. It will pump up the mattress in a | | | | and a down jacket to stay warm in at night. |
| few minutes. The Therm-A-Rest's are self inflating | | | | Down again? Yep! It's light weight, warm, but |
| and require no pump. They are luxurious! | | | | never hot, and is so compact. Remember that |
| Choosing the right sleeping bag for you is really a | | | | you are camping and not in a style show. You can |
| matter of personal choice. I shy away from the | | | | wash clothes every day if you have to either by |
| heavy cotton/flannel bags of the 1960's. I like a | | | | hand or at a laundry mat. |
| nice light weight rectangular down bag for | | | | Thinks smart when choosing your camping gear. |
| comfort and compactness. In 40 years of | | | | Bring only what you will use. If you forgot |
| camping I have never slept in a wet bag, so don't | | | | something, you can always purchase it on the |
| get me started about synthetic bags being | | | | road. I could write a book about family camping |
| warmer when wet. Just don't sleep outside in the | | | | gear and will do so this winter. I have a lot |
| rain! Just remember that you will be spending | | | | resources that you can check out below. Many |
| 30% of your camping trip in your sleeping bag. | | | | are free. Feel to contact me with any questions |
| Get a good one. My all time favorite bag is the | | | | via the links below. |