Camping...The Outdoor type...

[Rook]

I'll never hear the end of it if I get a French Press....{and yes, hy's aware of my coffee habits, hy Is my best friend after all}

I had a different one in mind...much like what my grandfather used...
{ http://elcolmadito.com/Arte/MasProdu...st1166cups.jpg }

but

This one is really tempting at the moment...

http://www.rei.com/product/765759

[Linus]

Originally Posted by Rook

I'll never hear the end of it if I get a French Press....{and yes, hy's aware of my coffee habits, hy Is my best friend after all}

I had a different one in mind...much like what my grandfather used...
{ http://elcolmadito.com/Arte/MasProdu...st1166cups.jpg }

but

This one is really tempting at the moment...

http://www.rei.com/product/765759

Eh. The french press gets you a better coffee experience (IMO). My uncle has used the one your grandfather has used in the past but found the french press better for camp fire camping.

[Rook]

mebbe I'll sneak a subtle one....
-chuckles-
I been peeking at that website, awesome stuff there...

[Gayla]

Just get the french press. It's much easier and the coffee will taste better.

I swear by the REI camp pads. We've got two of the self inflating kind that we use for under the sleeping bags in the back of the van. Something between your sleeping bag and the ground is good to have. As for tents, check out Walmart and Target. If this isn't something you're going to be doing every other weekend for the rest of the summer, go cheap. They have small, one and two person tents that will give you a dry and bug free place to sleep.

Trying to think of the important things you really don't want to forget -

Lighting is important - flashight, headlamp, lantern. extra batteries, just in case.

Something to light the fire - it's an easy thing to forget so don't!

Cup - having the coffee is good, having something to drink it out of is even better.

Cutlery - If nothing else, just a basic knife, fork, spoon. Not a butter knife, make sure it can actually cut stuff.

Something to cook in - depending on what kind of food you take this could be as simple as a pot to boil water or much more involved. A pot and a cast iron skillet are both good to have. A hot pad or two can be helpful, also.

Again, depending on type of food - a can opener.

Speaking of food - I'm a big fan of easy. My dad was a campfire chef but I'm lazy. I usually do sandwiches, hot dogs, canned things. That being said, there's about nothing better then eggs and bacon over a campfire. Smores, of course. Depending on where you're going to be, make sure your food can be secured and you have enough ice to keep it cold. Don't forget water.

And a camera. Because, when it's all said and done, we want pics!

[Corkey]

A weather radio, crank or battery, trust me you're gonna need it. Water proof matches are a must.

[sharkchomp]

There are tons of good tents that are cheap, but two tips. One, put the tent up in your house or backyard before you go camping and apply a good seam sealer. The stuff I used was a roll on type. I think I had to apply a few coats but it goes on fast and easy. Second, buy a rain tarp - or make sure the tent you're buying comes with one. This provides you with an extra barrier between your tent and the rain. You'll be happy you bought one if it does rain.

I would buy a good lantern and have extra batteries. It's been a long time since I last went camping but I used to go fairly often and I'm trying to remember things that were important to me.

If you're backpacking then it's different than car camping because everything you buy is about weight. For instance, if you're backpacking it, taking a cast iron skillet - unless a very small one - will get heavy. Food gets heavy. Water gets heavy. Are you going for one night, two or three? Is water accessible? Is it potable or is it stream water?

I'd find out exactly what you're doing, then plan from there.

~~~shark~~~~~~~

[Dylan]

Originally Posted by sharkchomp

There are tons of good tents that are cheap, but two tips. One, put the tent up in your house or backyard before you go camping and apply a good seam sealer. The stuff I used was a roll on type. I think I had to apply a few coats but it goes on fast and easy. Second, buy a rain tarp - or make sure the tent you're buying comes with one. This provides you with an extra barrier between your tent and the rain. You'll be happy you bought one if it does rain.

I would buy a good lantern and have extra batteries. It's been a long time since I last went camping but I used to go fairly often and I'm trying to remember things that were important to me.

If you're backpacking then it's different than car camping because everything you buy is about weight. For instance, if you're backpacking it, taking a cast iron skillet - unless a very small one - will get heavy. Food gets heavy. Water gets heavy. Are you going for one night, two or three? Is water accessible? Is it potable or is it stream water?

I'd find out exactly what you're doing, then plan from there.

~~~shark~~~~~~~

Yeah, I have to agree with shark, Rook...find out exactly what's going on.

I mean, if you're just going for a few days, you can get away with a tarp and some clothesline. Why spend all that money on a good tent you're just going to use once.

Also, is this equipment you're going to be using more than once? I mean, are you just going camping this one time out of spite, or do you actually plan to go again sometime? Because there's just no sense in spending a lot of money on quality gear if you're not going to use it (or sell it to me for really cheap after you've used it once).

Another option for a tent/sleeping is a hammock...click here. It's your shelter and bed in one E-Z to carry and lightweight deal.

But again, why spend the money if you're just going this one time?

And like shark said, I'd also find out exactly what's going on, because lightweight stuff is going to cost you a fortune. And you really don't want to be stuck carrying a huge ass Coleman stove if you're going backpacking (where you'll want something like a Whisperlite). The price difference in just these two stoves is pretty big.


Dylan

[Linus]

Originally Posted by sharkchomp

There are tons of good tents that are cheap, but two tips. One, put the tent up in your house or backyard before you go camping and apply a good seam sealer. The stuff I used was a roll on type. I think I had to apply a few coats but it goes on fast and easy. Second, buy a rain tarp - or make sure the tent you're buying comes with one. This provides you with an extra barrier between your tent and the rain. You'll be happy you bought one if it does rain.

And to add to this, also consider a tarp for under the tent so water doesn't necessarily seep through the floor (although it will depend on which manufacturer you get). If you have to do a lot of stuff solo, you want to make sure you can handle putting the tent up by yourself.

[morningstar55]

a Lesbian couple i have known for years now in western NY......
runs a gay friendly camp ground......... sits on 100 acres...
maybe a great place to have a gathering.....

Arkwright Hills campground
ran by .... Dayna Schultz

2942 Route 83
Fredonia, New York 14063
716 679 7532
hpycampr@netsync.net

here's a link to a lil write up about them......
http://www.hikercentral.com/campgrounds/108067.html

[Passionaria]

Well I love the outdoors, but I don't believe in suffering for my love. So I camp in my van, with a blow up bed and down pillows, a down blanket, cooler, radio, heater. Yeah you get the picture..... and good food, no trail crap. I can see the little animals just fine, there's windows!

Pashi

[T D]

If nothing else take a fire extinquisher. I had to use one of mine last year to save the whole damn forest when at a camp site beside us the small propane tank on their BBQ went ballistic. There was no turning that thing off, flames were shootin everywhere!!

To make your life MUCH easier pre-prepare food. For instance, want to season your meat for the BBQ? Do all of that seasoning stuff and throw it into a zip lock. Same with veggies, salad makins, sandwich makins, and whatever else, everything you can. Gonna be there more than one night, take frozen meats. I always take a frozen steak (in a baggie, usually double baggy), just leave it in the cooler and it's ready to go the 2nd night. It will make youre life 100 times easier. Also using baggies makes it MUCH easier to get stuff into the cooler, ya can push it and shove it and squish it down into those hard to get to spots in the ice.

I use a regular ole Coleman tent, just make sure it's tall enough that you can stand up in it. It's hell having to do everything bent over in a tent. Coleman also makes a very slim camp stove, can't remember the name of it, but it works just fine and didn't break the bank at all. Take a couple of battery operated lanterns ($10 a pop) and extra batteries. At Lowes you can get a hat that has a 3 way light (one of which is a spotlight that shoots out in front of you) built right into it, this is a MUST for those late night potty outtings.

I'll tell ya right now that the cone with a filter is MUCH easier to make coffee in and so easy to clean up. I've come to prefer it over the french press when camping, but that's me. Just make it directly into a thermos.

Trust me, I know these things!! Been there so many times. LOL

But MOST of all... have FUN!!! That's what it's all about

[Gráinne]

Ah, just not a camper. Every rock finds my back, and every mosquito within 50 miles homes in on me. My idea of roughing it is a hotel without room service.