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MY TOP TEN CAMPING GEAR LIST
There are ten things I recommend as must-haves for primitive campers, particularly women. People with small vehicles or more advanced hikers such as backpackers will want the lighter weight, less bulky gear. I personally go for comfort and sound sleep. For starters, I will give you the specs on my gear so you can compare apples to apples. Keep in mind, I am a female and creature comforts matter to me. I have to stand up to put my jeans on unlike a guy so I need height in a tent. Also, I have more "luggage," so I need a wider tent to keep it all inside. Women like to take showers daily and this requires clean clothes. I usually pack the important things guys "forget" to bring along. Thngs such as ice chests must go inside the tent to be safe from racoons so remember this when considering dimensions. When it comes to bulky gear, I have less muscle and fat to pad my bones so having a cushy sleeping pad and thick tarp is critical for a good night's sleep. Here are the specs for my equipment: Tent: 18 lbs, 76" tall, 6 people, 9.5'x9.5', has pockets to hold a wet swim suit, towel, etc. Sleeping Bag: 9 lbs, 20F, 81" x 39" (up to 6'4" tall) by Coleman Harbour Sleeping Pad: 1 lb., twin mattress size with 1.5" of self-inflating thickness Tarp: 1 Mil with silver side for winter, brown for summer.
"You get what you pay for" is as true a saying with camping gear as it is with anything else. In general, the more expensive the gear, the lighter, smaller and more durable it is. This is particularly true with tents and sleeping bags. You can find cheap gear at lesser stores, but without a trained eye, you will need to shop at better retailers or online to obtain lightweight products that are still comfortable. For this reason I prefer to shop at Altrec.com or at REI. Altrec offers FREE shipping and a 25% discount, plus you don't have to pay for gas or take time off from work to shop online, so I love shopping this way. For your convenience, everything I reference in this article will contain a link to the actual product online, if it is available, so you can price check.  To get your 25% off at Altrec, just click any link in this article, and look for the coupon is at the top of the page. Now, back to the camping gear. Here are my recommendations for some really cool stuff I have not been able to live without on a trip and have gotten my moneys' worth out of over the years. Let's start with the top ten list of Must-Haves:  Altrec North Face Dome Tent with window shades. - Tent
- Tarp
- Pad
- Sleeping Bag with bungee cords
- Pillow
- Sandals
- Lantern
- Folding Chair
- Water Straw
- Rain Gear
1. TENTS: I spent $150 on my tent (at a Fall sale at REI five years ago) and I can't imagine getting anything of less quality now. At today's prices, I would be wiling to pay about $300 or more. My tent has been the best investment I have ever made. It has more than made up the cost of lodging or tent rental and the seams are still waterproof and in excellent condition. The fabric weave is thick enough to stop wind from chilling me to the bone. I really like my tent!
 Green River tent with shades from Altrec.com  Rejuvenate your sleeping bag with a warm, fleeced liner from Altrec.com
If you decide on the more expensive tent but want to make your money back, you can "rent out" space in one's tent to others in our group who don't want to invest in a purchase or are too lazy to do set up. Such people would LOVE to pay you to errect and take down the tent in exchange for a small fee so they can work late and arrive after sundown at an event. With this arrangement you can have your tent paid off in no time. My dream tent on the left is from Altrec. It features roll down shades for when one need's extra privacy. Altrec has several other tents that will keep you dry and won't blow down if a storm rolls through camp unexpectedly. The last thing one wants is a tent that is so cheaply made (Chinese import) that the seams start to separate or the ceiling starts to leak after several uses. One thing I have had my eye on is a tent hammock, ($44 to $199.) The tent hammock is a zipped tent that hangs between two trees like a hammock. The tighter you stretch it, the firmer the "bed" is. It is extremely comfortable in comparison to sleeping on the ground or on a half-deflated air mattress. There are many rocky areas in Texas that make traditional tents out of the question even here in the metroplex. Plus, air mattresses are extremely cold. Air mattresses are good for summer but terrible for winter. They trap cold air. It is just like sleeping on a waterbed without a heater, but worse. Remember, when looking at the number of people a tent sleeps, they are referring to small children and dogs, not adults. My six person tent sleeps 2 comfortably!!! The major difference between a good tent and a bad one are the seams and the bottom. Let's face it, in Texas it can get really wet and damp, not to mention rainy.  Waterwear: Drytop from Altrec
2. TARPS: It is a rare thing to find a nice flat spot to pitch your tent where there are no rocks or twigs. A .9 or 1 mil tarp is a must have to protect the bottom of your tent from tearing and to keep the moisture out of your tent in the morning. A wet tent or sleeping bag will mildew and ruin. Mildew will destroy the waterproofing on your fabric. Make sure that your tarp is the heavy duty type with double sided colors. The brown goes up to absorb your body head during the winter, thus keeping you warmer. During the summer, the silver side goes up to deflect the heat of the sun. Tarps can also be used as shelters during spur of the moment rain storms, so it is always good to have an extra one on hand. These are really inexpensive ranging from $4 to $30 depending on size and thickness.
3. PADS: I use the roll-up mat type that self-inflates. I have never found anything more comfortable for the size than my self-inflating sleeping pad from Walmart. It is small, lightweight and is more comfortable than a blow-up mattress. Blow-up mattresses are terrible for the winter. If you have ever had a waterbed, you know that they can be ice cold and require a heating pad. The same goes for mattresses filled with air - they are bone chilling! A little bonus on my pad is the inflatable pillow attached to the pad. When you unscrew the cap, it lets air in and the fiber fill plumps up. This type is similar to a yoga mat. Some people actually use Yoga mats but those of course can not have excess air squeezed out of them to make them smaller.
4. SLEEPING BAGS: My thick & soft sleeping bag makes me feel like I am at the Hilton instead of on top of a dirt floor. It fits a tall person, which is the equivalent of my 5'2" frame plus a small Pug dog at the bottom of the bag keeping my feet warm and toasty. I love my bag because it is rated down to 20 degrees Farenheit. Men are hot natured in comparison to women, so what is comfortable to them makes me shiver in my sleep. A 20-degree bag bag keeps me warm at 32 degrees and above. Maybe it is the lower muscle to body weight ratio. For the same reason, I choose the self-inflating pad that is stuffed with fiber fill and gently adds just enough air when it is unrolled to act like a yoga mat. My stuff is heavy in comparison to some but after all, I'm not backpacking it, I'm sleeping on it. If you already own a bag and need to save money, the liner on the left can convert your existing summer bag into a warm winter bag. Down bags are not good for primitive campers because inevitably they will get wet & soggy, which can expose you to hypothermia but also, they are impossible to dry out quickly, are as heavy as all get out and they are expensive to clean after the fact. In our scorching Texas climate, down is simply not practical.
5. PILLOWS: I always bring a small pillow or an extra jacket to roll up under my neck.6. VELCRO WATERPROOF HIKING SANDALS: The velcro-type sandals are thefor hik all-in-one ing shoes except for freezing weather of course. They are wonderfully soft and can extend your ability to hike many miles without getting blisters or sore feet. They are very easy on joints. Everyone should have a pair of these stuffed in their backpack. During the winter, just add a dark pair of socks to match the shoes and you are ready for anything. Keen offers closed toes, while several brands such as Merrell, Columbia, Keen and Teva offer durability and deep treaded, non-slip soles. DO NOT buy your sandals at Walmart unless you want to break your neck or end up with blisters! These Chinese imports are meant for the concrete of a pool and can be absolutely dangerous on a boat deck or the slick rocks of a creek. Make sure your sandals have 1/4 inch or deeper tread similar to a hiking boot. 7. LANTERN: You will need this to put up your tent in the dark. It happens to all of us. It is also useful for walking to the Port a Potty also. My favorite is the Coleman Butane Lantern. For inside your tent, there is the wind-up flashlight available at Frys Electronics. They aren't as bright but they beat other light sources in an emergency and won't catch your tent on fire. :) 8. FOLDING CHAIR: You will need it for sitting around the campfire and particularly if it rains and you don't want to sit on the ground. The type with the mesh drink holder in the arm is handy.
9. PURIFIED WATER STRAWS: You truly need these during the summer or when hiking five miles or longer unless you want to lug in gallons of bottled water. My truck is always stuffed to the gills, so these straws can be a space-saving item. The worst thing that can happen is for you to run out of water during the heat of the summer, which can cause life-threatening dehydration in a matter of hours whenat a primitive site or when hiking the wilderness. Water is always at a premium in Texas.
10. RAIN PROTECTION: Let's face it, we live in Texas. Ponchos are cheap and can be easily found in the camping section of any discount retailer or sporting goods store. However, if you are serious about camping and hiking, you need something serious to protect you from the elements. Altrec offers tons of high tech options whether you are just a hiker, a kayaker or a boater. The image here is a jacket for kayakers however, it can provide warmth for hiking without the bulk of a coat to make your backpack uncomfortable and tight. Last update: 19-03-2008 03:30
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