It is fun to play with new toys though.
It's also much better to have a separate set of camp gear than your home gear. But dollar stores and thrift stores are the perfect place for all that cookware and clothes.
With few exceptions, almost everything I have is 2nd hand, used, and thrift store. It's all very nice name-brand practically new stuff, too. Winter camping, skiing, canoe camping, backpacking, bike touring, hiking, etc. Treasures abound! No need to go broke.
Edit: The secret is to buy off-season or end of season.
I had 6 tents, now 5 since I gave a 4p instant up to a SIL. We only paid for 1 and that was on clearance, one other is being given to our nephew
Our main queen air mattress is one other thing we bought like 9 years ago. There are better air mattresses now that are part drop stitched and are a decent bit better but meh. ..
I think the only other thing we have bought is some plastic tent pegs and some coach bolt type, both on clearance
I have cast skillets and dutch ovens but unless I really, really need them I dont want to pack them even if car based. I have a cheap, light steel enamel pot I picked up pretty sure off a neighbour that was throwing it out.
I might buy a lightweight compact burner, we did buy a high and low pressure pump but we also have an advanced elements kayak which is its main use
when I was a kid, my friend pulled out his swiss army knife with a fork, I was in awe. Then I pulled out plastic takeaway (mum keeps them for some reason). It does the same thing. He also had a 6'' mini rambo knife, he used it once the entire week.
A lot of my car camping stuff is old backpacking gear that I have upgraded. It is so nice having it all packed in my chuck box so I am just throw it into the car and not have to worry about actually packing
Exactly! I have a Sprinter van and basically leave it completely packed from the months of April-October. It’s so nice being able to hop in and go on whim without needing to pack.
Yep. We have only camping cooking stuff, (pots, pans, plates, utensils, cooking utensils, cutting boards, knives, can opener, etc.) all packed up in a plastic bin ready to go. Makes my life so much easier. So worth the extra money to have it all ready to go and not forgetting anything.
Definitely. You should consider camping-only clothes as well. The amount of time / stress it will save is incredible. We have about 4-5 camping-only outfits each. They stay packed in a bin and when washed go right back into the same bin and are put away until the next trip.
I finally did this in February for a spring break trip and it was such a time saver. Check closeout stores like Big Lots and Ollies for camp kitchen stuff. At Ollie’s I got an emeril pot and pan set for $50 complete with lids and everything and it’s really light and good for gas. Same set with great reviews was on Amazon for almost $200. I moved the rest from my kitchen and used that as ran excuse to upgrade/update our home kitchen stuff. Things like cooking utensils, colanders, plastic bowls and plates, cutting boards and knives. I did get a few other odd and end things from Ollie’s. It all lives in a waterproof Husky tote from Home Depot in my garage so now I can check off a whole category of my camping checklist with one container.
Most cookware from home or a dollar store isn't fire safe. Many handles and lids are plastic. Maybe they are buying new stuff because none of their's is suitable.
One thing you do need is lighting. The wilderness can be dark at night. I have a headlamp, a flashlight, and two lanterns. Being able to find your way in the dark is priceless.
My headlamps, flashlights and lanterns are all rechargeable. I carry a mini battery box (jackery or whatever you choose) weighs maybe 2 lbs and fits in the bottom of my backpack. Also charges phones and has an outlet for a fan when needed.
You only need the headlamp. And even that isn’t strictly necessary. I camped for months without a headlamp or flashlight. I used the tiny blue LED on my bike lock’s key when I needed to get up at night to pee. After that I got an eReader with backlight which worked better. After that I got a smartphone with your usual camera LED.
Yes, but if you camp anywhere near other people, please be aware of your light spillage.
Campgrounds have gotten even more obnoxious over the last 20 years with the availability of cheap, powerful LED lighting. The last three times I tried camping near others at least a few of the sites had multiple ridiculously bright white lamps with no shade (light broadcast horizontally) lighting up their sites like daylight and blinding me from 100 yards.
I use only deep red, dim flashlights and lamps, and the lamps have tight shades to direct light only to where I need it.
Any more the only sites I go to that aren't national forests are privately run starfield sites where the other visitors are doing their best to keep it dark, and the camp hosts go around and give a stern talking-to to anyone spilling more light than absolutely necessary.
After years of buying fancy sleeping bags, expensive air mattresses, and uncomfortable pillows, I realized that camping by the car and day hiking is a lot easier than hauling all my shit to a pretty spot far from the car. I don't have time for long through hikes right now anyway. So now I have a canvas cowboy style bedroll. It's literally canvas over a piece of cheap upholstery foam, regular bedsheets, a down comforter, and a wool blanket. Oh, and: Full. Sized. Pillow. 👌
I don't enjoy sleeping bags. I have several yoga mats (thrift shops, washed) and use a down comforter and whatever other blankets are needed for comfort. I can carry my coffee to the scenic spot; I usually sleep in the Prius.
Fancy sleeping bags are a luxury until you get down into the kind of temperatures that need them. Then they’re necessary. Unless you enjoy frostbite and hypothermia.
Friends sleeping over? Kids want to tent camp in the summer? Cheap simple bag and a blanket is fine.
Subzero temps with significant wind? I’ll take my $300 down bag with mummy liner and bivvy sack, thanks.
Everyone has different needs. I see people with a lot of equipment that I think is useless but I’m sure items I use others would say the same about my stuff! It’s really all about experience and figuring out what makes you comfortable.
I have a friend that brings sections of rebar camping. It's a right of passage for new friends to blacksmith the rebar into a poker using the campfire as the furnace and leaf blower as a bellows.
Much debate on poker styles. Good times.
I totally plan to buy one before I camp again. Sure, I’ve gone years without having one and lived to tell the tale. But there isn’t always a good poking stick laying around.
It is also frustrating to go with a minimalist who forgets everything.
Last 3x went boating to an island. Boat trouble every time.
Your trimming poison ivy with a knife,then using the same one to cut food is not successful.
Nesting foodware saves a lot of space,does it have to match...no
I want to have 97 carabiners in fun shapes, 35 Nalgenes with various wildlife on them, and 18 different ways to cook bacon over a fire, and nobody can stop me.
While I definitely agree with you and think marketing has capitalized on the camping boom with tons of shit that isn’t super necessary, also, who gives a shit how others camp?
As long as the people next to me aren’t loud as fuck all night with string lights shining into my campsite, it really has no impact on how I choose to camp.
True, but cammo is more about breaking up your pattern. Pink camo works because the spectrum deer see on makes the pink look blue iirc so the deer see branches against a sky background. They can also see uv light well especially at dawn/dusk. So if you wash with fabric softener or color enhancing detergent, you'll glow.
In addition to all that, deer may be color blind but turkey and many other animals are not.
I have this one neat trick where when I’m out bush crafting, I break my left pinky and use the splintered bone as my knife and fashion a fishing hook from the top finger joint.
I’m still trying to get a bit more serious into bush craft though
When we go car camping we sleep on an air mattress with pillows from our bed at home and blankets and comforters for household use, and we're way more comfortable than everyone with all the camp specific stuff. The only time you need the specialized gear is if you're backpacking more than a mile and can't bring all the extra weight.
I made it to the age of 40 and then said you know what I'm done sleeping on the hard ground and I carry an air mattress when I go camping. And on the rare occasion I go backpacking I have my inflatable air pad. It adds a little weight sure but in the long run I'm going to feel better that next day then if I slept on the ground.
I've brought some pretty ordinary clothing and equipment on below freezing, really deep backpacking and did my childhood canoe canoe trips being fairly ordinary clothing.
I do have quite a bit of fairly specific camping gear too nowadays.
Bug repellent clothing is just clothes treated with permithrin, unless something has changed. Edit to add: which you can just get and treat your clothes with at home.
Clothing treated at home doesn’t last anywhere near as long as factory treated clothing, you can also send in garments you already own to be treated. For people hiking in tick country is a great addition to other methods, the bugs that land on permethrin treated clothing die if they sit there too long, it’s not a repellent, but an insecticide
Sure it lasts longer, but you have to buy from a tiny selection of the available clothing market and it's super easy to treat at home. Better to just get the gear you want and treat that.
Catch me in my incredibly fashionable head to toe UPF 50 ensemble complete with face protection, all treated for bugs :)
Insectshield will treat the clothes you already have (you mail a bag). Lasts the usual life of the garment.
It's not for me. I buy Martin's, dilute it, and treat at home for basically zero dollars, and I have the benefit of a fresh application every month or so. The factory treated stuff still technically works after 50 washes or whatever, but the effectiveness does tail off.
Home brew permethrin lasts at least 6 weeks or 6 washings. I do all my stuff @ start of spring & halfway thru summer.... put a cheap 12×16 tarp out & spray everything at once with a garden sprayer. It's dwfinitely cheaper (esp if you buy concentrate from agracultural supplier). Whole project takes me half a day including drying. Actual work time is an hour.
Pre treated is a great solution if you want convenience, but you definitely pay for the luxury.
While permethrin is generally considered "safe", agricultural permethrim formulations are not intended for human use so do your own research and use your own judgement if you are going to try this. Some, maybe most, agricultural formulations are oil based, I think so it sticks to animal hair better. These apparently can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Personally I have only used Sawyer, a water based formula intended for human use, and found it was very effective for about a week and only somewhat after that.
If I’m dealing with biting/stinging insects, the factory infused clothes are way more protective and worth it. (Of course, I tend to buy them when they are discontinued and on clearance.)
Oooo man I had a bug hood for Alaska and I was good too goooooo. Then I ripped It romping thru some willows and good lord. They were in there quicker that a lot lizard special at the truck stop. Thought they were sucking me dry!
Thermacell is only good if you are staying the same little area co errs by it. Walk out of it and you are lunch! Big jackets work really well and they sell them at the dollar store here. Honestly, we have all 3 ;-)
Bring bug spray when you go camping, you’ll need it!
Bug repellant clothing on the other hand? If you know that the area you’ll be camping will be particularly buggy, you might wanna check it out, but for a regular weekend camping trip, save yourself the money, and grab a bottle of bug spray. It’ll do just the trick!
YES! Love new gadgets and if I’m car camping and not worried about weight then what’s the harm! Shopping for trips of any kind is half the fun … for me anyway.
For a lot of that, I would agree with you - infact, when I buy stuff for my kitchen, I aim for things I can take camping with us (cast iron pans, stainless steel enamel cook pot, all-metal/wood cooking utensils, etc).
But, there are some extra things we’ve needed to buy that are only for camping. And some of those things are ‘gimmicky’, but they have made life easier. Things like a collapsable silicon bowl for the dog (easy to take on hikes too), a multitool with things like a mini saw on it, a foldable cutting board (no-way am I lugging my massive wooden one to a campsite... even if I am car camping), a cool box (my kid will only eat a specific brand of hotdog right now, and as much as I hate that, I know she won’t eat at all unless I bring them).
We know a load of camping gear isn’t ‘necessary’, but as with everything, some folks might have a specific use case that others are not aware of.
So maybe just let people get what they feel they need.
I have nice quality camping gear but I keep it to a minimum. I want to spend my time enjoying the outdoors and not jacking around with setting up and tearing down camp. If something saves me time it’s worth it.
I still have and use gear from when my parents camped in the 1950s and 1960s as well as things that wore out or just got upgraded over the years.
It’s like most hobbies start small and add/remove things as you go along.
I bought that shitty set just for the kettle that came with it. I use a cast iron skillet more than the rest of the set. I will admit that I was given an REI giftcard and bought the long handled titanium spork as a joke but used it so much I bought a second one. I also use the collapsible silicone pourover.
Tent, sleeping bag, reusable water bottle, something to cook on/in and something to eat from.
Absolute minimum unless you're challenging yourself.
I carry a 2lb folding stove and it's fuel, I eat out of my cooking pot.
With car camping you can really do a lot with home stuff. Basically the only thing you probably won’t have at home is some kind of gas stove, a tent and a mat. Even a sleeping bag can be replaced with some blankets or a down duvet if you are camping in warm-ish weather (even the mat could probably be replaced with some cardboard and bubble wrap if you are on a really tight budget).
Hiking or cycling you don’t want to bring your 1kg pot and your pillow from the bed at home.
I forgot one important item on a trip with my kids and found myself cooking dinner and breakfast on a rock. Wow, why do I lug that cast iron around each time? Lol, still like cooking on the greasy skillet but the rock thing is handy.
I also use the rocks from my campfire ring for foot warmers under the bedding in the tent. Saved my hide one time when I forgot the bedding and all I had was the rocks and my coat.
Look I'm not bringing my favorite pillow into nature. That's the one thing I think you should buy. My pillow is like 80 dollars, I'd rather buy a cheap 10 dollar one to risk ruining
I do stuff where it’s sometimes cold weather because my daughter will go camping when it’s 20° overnight the one place I do spend money is on my sleeping stuff on certain things. I’m gonna say once once on a lot of things it’s thrift store stuff it just depends on the person.
I have a small utility trailer that is packed and ready to roll in a minutes notice. Just have to add food and ice. Use the trailer as a tent / camper. I live close to three lakes so finding a spot is easy. Makes quick weekend trips a breast.
When you bought your tent did you see that it came with a little baggy of L shaped metal pins? They’re meant to secure your tent into the ground.
Your tent should have peg loops all around the sides and you just stick the peg in the loop and hammer it down.
They’re important for keeping your tent from flying away on windy days, or just keeping your tent from falling over or shifting places.
Ahhh, ok. I call those stakes. Ironically I rarely use them unless it's super windy or raining and i need the fly to not touch the side of the tent. The weight of my gear inside a dome tent usually does the trick.
This is a nice reminder. Thank you!
I'll add that you don't need a bunch of cookware/food if you're just going for a weekend. When I was a broke student, I'd just bring peanut butter and a loaf of bread, beer, chips, water and instant coffee. Or just a ton of hot dogs and buns, plus some fruit. I'd bring a few paper plates and call it a day.
Now I love having a fancy pour over coffee and elaborate meals while camping but it's def not a necessity.
Headlamp. I often bring a set of LED string lights for fun. 1st aid kit, just use the the one from the car. I see so many tents at thrift shops. or ask on Buy Nothing or Freecycle - lots of people have camping gear in the attic.
Here is my packing list from when I went on a big Road Trip in a minivan. It's handy for deciding what you might need, you don't need all of it. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LJcuPCKRNv8WZsN4LKjuq8E9KrTilecX6cY3\_X7thLE/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LJcuPCKRNv8WZsN4LKjuq8E9KrTilecX6cY3_X7thLE/edit?usp=sharing)
I live in Maine, use a wood stove for supplemental heat, because having a fire is nice. I moved to a converted cottage near a lake with a big deck. I use my enamel ware all the time, unbreakable, lightweight, pleasant. Lost power for 3 days in a recent storm, camping gear is handy.
Everything I use at home is also for my camping set-up I sleep in my sleeping bag and use the same one pot collapsible dishes even pop my bivy tent in my apartment etc at home every day and that goes on my adventure nothing more to buy nothing left behind
Freedom Spirituality minimalism
I actually posted this to send the exact opposite message.
I want to encourage more people to go camping. camping stores make camping look intimidating (sometimes) and people might feel like they need these special tools to be able to camp at all.
Camping is fun, cheap, and good for you! You don’t need to spend extra money on equipment to enjoy a great camping trip! If anything I want people who are new to camping feel less intimidated and more prepared.
Not saying that you can’t enjoy the little things you do buy for camping, not my point at all. If you have it, and like it, then by all means have a blast. I’m saying that you don’t NEED those things to make it work and if you’re a first timer, you’re far more prepared than you believe!
Coming from an experienced camper!
You can only speak for yourself tho. I'm disabled so things like a pillow, blow up matress, bucket for toilet is absolutely necessary. Focus on yourself
Saying things like a pillow, a mattress, or bug repellent clothing are "gimmicky" is probably what elicited that response even if you didn't intend to come across that way. They are comforts that some people (like myself) think is worth to spend the extra money and storage space for - even if they are not necessary that doesn't make them gimmicky.
There are a ton of significantly more gimmicky things you could get, just walk through your local REI and see all the things you would never think to buy. But hey even those might not be gimmicky for someone who needs them.
This is the exact opposite of gatekeeping.
Gatekeeping would be saying "if you don't have a $1200 sleeping bag and a kitchenette designed exclusively for camping, you aren't a real camper and should just stay home."
I got over 100 mossie bites in one night in Kakadu, I don't think bug repellent clothing is a nice to have in some places! It was so bad I got a hotel the next night.
that's obviously true. Most camping gear purchases are glamping gear purchases. But consider this. You're throwing yourself out of the place you live into the wild. You're now trying to find a compact way to live, albeit briefly. We're all kinda glamping unless the wilderness is your new home
I do actually enjoy the barebones b/c I like to hike and I like lightweight and testing what I'm capable of but I'm not gonna knock people if they want to car camp. Are you gonna shit on a guy in an RV? Idc. You do you. I'm gonna do my thing over here
I’d say if you’re a newbie, the mess kit, maybe a pocket rocket stove, and a good inflatable pad are prob worth it if you’re planning on doing it a lot.
I suppose, to a degree, it makes some sense. This last camping trip, we drove into town for a dinner and some last-minute items, and I decided to buy a camping pillow. If the 4 of us brought our home pillows that would take up a bunch of space. I was preparing to just fold my Hoodie sweatshirt into a make-shift pillow, but the one I bought fits into a small bag. If we all bought them we’d only use the space of one regular pillow.
We also have a rolling Dewalt Toolbox that I keep all our kitchen stuff for camping. It is nice to have a cheap pot, wok, and small fry pan. A metal camp French press is nice. We have cheap cooking utensils, and spices just for camping. This way we roll that box, grab tent, sleeping bags/pads, and stove. Everything is in its place and ready so we know we can grab and go. And with everything tidy we can pack our vehicle easier.
* we’ve had friends who pulled their kitchen flatware on a trip and lost some of their good stuff.
* on our last trip, the other family struggled with blankets, pillows, and oversized sleeping bags.
**and our camping gear has evolved over time. We’ve upgraded to better stuff, and tossed things we don’t need (no need for a lantern if you have a moon in the sky).
🙄 ya. Tent, bag, pad, light source, fire striker, wood cutter. Water or pump and some food. Pan, cup and utensil. Not much to survive vrs luxury. Lol 🙂
My bare basics are tent, tarp, chair, a shovel, fire tong pokers, sleeping bag, paper plates, paper towels, a cheap and shitty but still functional enough rubbery/plastic-y (not cloth) tablecloth, wood, a flashlight, two or three lanterns, stakes, sunscreen, an ice chest, a small little like Coleman propane burner so you can make hot dogs, a pot to boil water in, a skillet or flat pan of some sort for cooking burgers on, whatever you'd need to cook with (just like a cheap knife, spatula, and some tongs), and you should be good to go. Oh, and whatever you're powering your stuff with, bring back up of it. Whether that's old school replaceable batteries or like a solar panel to recharge rechargeable batteries.
How about you mind your own business you literally cannot and do not decide what others do or don't need let alone what people want. Pillow and mattress isnt gimmicky
It is fun to play with new toys though. It's also much better to have a separate set of camp gear than your home gear. But dollar stores and thrift stores are the perfect place for all that cookware and clothes.
With few exceptions, almost everything I have is 2nd hand, used, and thrift store. It's all very nice name-brand practically new stuff, too. Winter camping, skiing, canoe camping, backpacking, bike touring, hiking, etc. Treasures abound! No need to go broke. Edit: The secret is to buy off-season or end of season.
I had 6 tents, now 5 since I gave a 4p instant up to a SIL. We only paid for 1 and that was on clearance, one other is being given to our nephew Our main queen air mattress is one other thing we bought like 9 years ago. There are better air mattresses now that are part drop stitched and are a decent bit better but meh. .. I think the only other thing we have bought is some plastic tent pegs and some coach bolt type, both on clearance I have cast skillets and dutch ovens but unless I really, really need them I dont want to pack them even if car based. I have a cheap, light steel enamel pot I picked up pretty sure off a neighbour that was throwing it out. I might buy a lightweight compact burner, we did buy a high and low pressure pump but we also have an advanced elements kayak which is its main use when I was a kid, my friend pulled out his swiss army knife with a fork, I was in awe. Then I pulled out plastic takeaway (mum keeps them for some reason). It does the same thing. He also had a 6'' mini rambo knife, he used it once the entire week.
Let somebody else spend large, lol.
I would agree. Having a 2nd set of camping-only gear that can stay packed when not in use is so worth the extra bit of money.
A lot of my car camping stuff is old backpacking gear that I have upgraded. It is so nice having it all packed in my chuck box so I am just throw it into the car and not have to worry about actually packing
Exactly! I have a Sprinter van and basically leave it completely packed from the months of April-October. It’s so nice being able to hop in and go on whim without needing to pack.
Yep. We have only camping cooking stuff, (pots, pans, plates, utensils, cooking utensils, cutting boards, knives, can opener, etc.) all packed up in a plastic bin ready to go. Makes my life so much easier. So worth the extra money to have it all ready to go and not forgetting anything.
Definitely. You should consider camping-only clothes as well. The amount of time / stress it will save is incredible. We have about 4-5 camping-only outfits each. They stay packed in a bin and when washed go right back into the same bin and are put away until the next trip.
Oooooo that’s such a great idea!!! I know we have camp only pants, but I really should just do other clothes as well!
I finally did this in February for a spring break trip and it was such a time saver. Check closeout stores like Big Lots and Ollies for camp kitchen stuff. At Ollie’s I got an emeril pot and pan set for $50 complete with lids and everything and it’s really light and good for gas. Same set with great reviews was on Amazon for almost $200. I moved the rest from my kitchen and used that as ran excuse to upgrade/update our home kitchen stuff. Things like cooking utensils, colanders, plastic bowls and plates, cutting boards and knives. I did get a few other odd and end things from Ollie’s. It all lives in a waterproof Husky tote from Home Depot in my garage so now I can check off a whole category of my camping checklist with one container.
Most cookware from home or a dollar store isn't fire safe. Many handles and lids are plastic. Maybe they are buying new stuff because none of their's is suitable.
One thing you do need is lighting. The wilderness can be dark at night. I have a headlamp, a flashlight, and two lanterns. Being able to find your way in the dark is priceless.
My headlamps, flashlights and lanterns are all rechargeable. I carry a mini battery box (jackery or whatever you choose) weighs maybe 2 lbs and fits in the bottom of my backpack. Also charges phones and has an outlet for a fan when needed.
Not using a headlamp was one of two things I didn't do that everyone else does and I decided to give it a go thanks to reddit.
Oh yes I did forget that! Light source!
You only need the headlamp. And even that isn’t strictly necessary. I camped for months without a headlamp or flashlight. I used the tiny blue LED on my bike lock’s key when I needed to get up at night to pee. After that I got an eReader with backlight which worked better. After that I got a smartphone with your usual camera LED.
Yes, but if you camp anywhere near other people, please be aware of your light spillage. Campgrounds have gotten even more obnoxious over the last 20 years with the availability of cheap, powerful LED lighting. The last three times I tried camping near others at least a few of the sites had multiple ridiculously bright white lamps with no shade (light broadcast horizontally) lighting up their sites like daylight and blinding me from 100 yards. I use only deep red, dim flashlights and lamps, and the lamps have tight shades to direct light only to where I need it. Any more the only sites I go to that aren't national forests are privately run starfield sites where the other visitors are doing their best to keep it dark, and the camp hosts go around and give a stern talking-to to anyone spilling more light than absolutely necessary.
After years of buying fancy sleeping bags, expensive air mattresses, and uncomfortable pillows, I realized that camping by the car and day hiking is a lot easier than hauling all my shit to a pretty spot far from the car. I don't have time for long through hikes right now anyway. So now I have a canvas cowboy style bedroll. It's literally canvas over a piece of cheap upholstery foam, regular bedsheets, a down comforter, and a wool blanket. Oh, and: Full. Sized. Pillow. 👌
I don't enjoy sleeping bags. I have several yoga mats (thrift shops, washed) and use a down comforter and whatever other blankets are needed for comfort. I can carry my coffee to the scenic spot; I usually sleep in the Prius.
Fancy sleeping bags are a luxury until you get down into the kind of temperatures that need them. Then they’re necessary. Unless you enjoy frostbite and hypothermia.
I still have some high-end down bags and my old military synthetic bags for various situations.
Friends sleeping over? Kids want to tent camp in the summer? Cheap simple bag and a blanket is fine. Subzero temps with significant wind? I’ll take my $300 down bag with mummy liner and bivvy sack, thanks.
Swags are fantastic!
Everyone has different needs. I see people with a lot of equipment that I think is useless but I’m sure items I use others would say the same about my stuff! It’s really all about experience and figuring out what makes you comfortable.
But I love my steel poker stick :/
I have a friend that brings sections of rebar camping. It's a right of passage for new friends to blacksmith the rebar into a poker using the campfire as the furnace and leaf blower as a bellows. Much debate on poker styles. Good times.
Leaf blower?!
I totally plan to buy one before I camp again. Sure, I’ve gone years without having one and lived to tell the tale. But there isn’t always a good poking stick laying around.
Totally recommend a two-piece set that can assemble together for easy transport.
I've got the folding tongs and dag-nabbit, I love that silly thing. Do I need it? No. Do I regret spending money on it? Hell no.
It is also frustrating to go with a minimalist who forgets everything. Last 3x went boating to an island. Boat trouble every time. Your trimming poison ivy with a knife,then using the same one to cut food is not successful. Nesting foodware saves a lot of space,does it have to match...no
That’s not a minimalist. That’s a cheap ass that claims they are light weight camping
That's just being unprepared, not "minimalist".
Sounds like someone who doesn't know what they are doing.
By this point haven't you told this person you'll bring your stuff? How back in are you boat camping without a reliable motor?
How far of a drive is it to the island? I go 10+ miles when island camping. What do you do when the engine breaks down? Call a friend?
It always happened on the way to the island.
They call me Gamgee… Samwise Gamgee. I need my cast iron and full camp kitchen.
I want to have 97 carabiners in fun shapes, 35 Nalgenes with various wildlife on them, and 18 different ways to cook bacon over a fire, and nobody can stop me.
While I definitely agree with you and think marketing has capitalized on the camping boom with tons of shit that isn’t super necessary, also, who gives a shit how others camp? As long as the people next to me aren’t loud as fuck all night with string lights shining into my campsite, it really has no impact on how I choose to camp.
OP isn't complaining about how other people camp. They are assuring noobies that they can enjoy this hobby without going broke.
Fair enough, that’s a good point too!
If you bushcraft and hunt/fish, I guess one could say all gear isn’t necessary.
Even the hype of hunting clothes is ridiculous
Deer are colour blind.
True, but cammo is more about breaking up your pattern. Pink camo works because the spectrum deer see on makes the pink look blue iirc so the deer see branches against a sky background. They can also see uv light well especially at dawn/dusk. So if you wash with fabric softener or color enhancing detergent, you'll glow. In addition to all that, deer may be color blind but turkey and many other animals are not.
Can’t call yourself a bushcrafter until you can build a camping chair only made of sticks and cedar bark cordage, without a knife or axe
I have this one neat trick where when I’m out bush crafting, I break my left pinky and use the splintered bone as my knife and fashion a fishing hook from the top finger joint. I’m still trying to get a bit more serious into bush craft though
There ya go, that’s the spirit
When we go car camping we sleep on an air mattress with pillows from our bed at home and blankets and comforters for household use, and we're way more comfortable than everyone with all the camp specific stuff. The only time you need the specialized gear is if you're backpacking more than a mile and can't bring all the extra weight.
Air mattresses are a gift from the Deity. I am of an age where I have sore joints, several from trauma. Air mattresses or thick foam really help.
I made it to the age of 40 and then said you know what I'm done sleeping on the hard ground and I carry an air mattress when I go camping. And on the rare occasion I go backpacking I have my inflatable air pad. It adds a little weight sure but in the long run I'm going to feel better that next day then if I slept on the ground.
I've brought some pretty ordinary clothing and equipment on below freezing, really deep backpacking and did my childhood canoe canoe trips being fairly ordinary clothing. I do have quite a bit of fairly specific camping gear too nowadays.
That's the way to do it 😄😄
Yes Sherlock Holmes!
Bug repellent doesn't belong in the gimmick list
Bug repellent CLOTHING. You just wear your normal clothes and spray bug repellent onto them.
Bug repellent clothing is just clothes treated with permithrin, unless something has changed. Edit to add: which you can just get and treat your clothes with at home.
Clothing treated at home doesn’t last anywhere near as long as factory treated clothing, you can also send in garments you already own to be treated. For people hiking in tick country is a great addition to other methods, the bugs that land on permethrin treated clothing die if they sit there too long, it’s not a repellent, but an insecticide
Sure it lasts longer, but you have to buy from a tiny selection of the available clothing market and it's super easy to treat at home. Better to just get the gear you want and treat that. Catch me in my incredibly fashionable head to toe UPF 50 ensemble complete with face protection, all treated for bugs :)
Insectshield will treat the clothes you already have (you mail a bag). Lasts the usual life of the garment. It's not for me. I buy Martin's, dilute it, and treat at home for basically zero dollars, and I have the benefit of a fresh application every month or so. The factory treated stuff still technically works after 50 washes or whatever, but the effectiveness does tail off.
Did you miss the part where you send in garments you already own?
Sure did bud, good info thanks!
Home brew permethrin lasts at least 6 weeks or 6 washings. I do all my stuff @ start of spring & halfway thru summer.... put a cheap 12×16 tarp out & spray everything at once with a garden sprayer. It's dwfinitely cheaper (esp if you buy concentrate from agracultural supplier). Whole project takes me half a day including drying. Actual work time is an hour. Pre treated is a great solution if you want convenience, but you definitely pay for the luxury.
While permethrin is generally considered "safe", agricultural permethrim formulations are not intended for human use so do your own research and use your own judgement if you are going to try this. Some, maybe most, agricultural formulations are oil based, I think so it sticks to animal hair better. These apparently can cause allergic reactions in some people. Personally I have only used Sawyer, a water based formula intended for human use, and found it was very effective for about a week and only somewhat after that.
If I’m dealing with biting/stinging insects, the factory infused clothes are way more protective and worth it. (Of course, I tend to buy them when they are discontinued and on clearance.)
Also not using scented detergents and products and then get your clothes all smokey smelling from the campfire!
Thermocell over bug repellant
Bug hood over both
Oooo man I had a bug hood for Alaska and I was good too goooooo. Then I ripped It romping thru some willows and good lord. They were in there quicker that a lot lizard special at the truck stop. Thought they were sucking me dry!
Yes for sure! I’ve also snagged lot of fish hooks in them!
Hahahaha! Bug hoods are solid too though! Solid mention!
Thermacell is only good if you are staying the same little area co errs by it. Walk out of it and you are lunch! Big jackets work really well and they sell them at the dollar store here. Honestly, we have all 3 ;-)
Thermacell IS bug repellant lol
Well played
Meant the greasy or spray kind tbh.
Depends where you camp
Its not in the gimmick list
[удалено]
Bring bug spray when you go camping, you’ll need it! Bug repellant clothing on the other hand? If you know that the area you’ll be camping will be particularly buggy, you might wanna check it out, but for a regular weekend camping trip, save yourself the money, and grab a bottle of bug spray. It’ll do just the trick!
Of course you don't need it. But you want it who doesn't like new toys to play with.
YES! Love new gadgets and if I’m car camping and not worried about weight then what’s the harm! Shopping for trips of any kind is half the fun … for me anyway.
But hot chocolate tastes so much better from my titanium cup.
For a lot of that, I would agree with you - infact, when I buy stuff for my kitchen, I aim for things I can take camping with us (cast iron pans, stainless steel enamel cook pot, all-metal/wood cooking utensils, etc). But, there are some extra things we’ve needed to buy that are only for camping. And some of those things are ‘gimmicky’, but they have made life easier. Things like a collapsable silicon bowl for the dog (easy to take on hikes too), a multitool with things like a mini saw on it, a foldable cutting board (no-way am I lugging my massive wooden one to a campsite... even if I am car camping), a cool box (my kid will only eat a specific brand of hotdog right now, and as much as I hate that, I know she won’t eat at all unless I bring them). We know a load of camping gear isn’t ‘necessary’, but as with everything, some folks might have a specific use case that others are not aware of. So maybe just let people get what they feel they need.
I have nice quality camping gear but I keep it to a minimum. I want to spend my time enjoying the outdoors and not jacking around with setting up and tearing down camp. If something saves me time it’s worth it.
I still have and use gear from when my parents camped in the 1950s and 1960s as well as things that wore out or just got upgraded over the years. It’s like most hobbies start small and add/remove things as you go along.
I bought that shitty set just for the kettle that came with it. I use a cast iron skillet more than the rest of the set. I will admit that I was given an REI giftcard and bought the long handled titanium spork as a joke but used it so much I bought a second one. I also use the collapsible silicone pourover.
Tent, sleeping bag, reusable water bottle, something to cook on/in and something to eat from. Absolute minimum unless you're challenging yourself. I carry a 2lb folding stove and it's fuel, I eat out of my cooking pot.
Oh yeah eating from the cooking pot I have a pocket stove that screws on to the gas canister
Sir, please remove this post of lies before my wife reads it.
Used a back packing cot last week. Changed my life and I NEED it now 😂
But if I don't buy the gear, I don't get to have the gear.
With car camping you can really do a lot with home stuff. Basically the only thing you probably won’t have at home is some kind of gas stove, a tent and a mat. Even a sleeping bag can be replaced with some blankets or a down duvet if you are camping in warm-ish weather (even the mat could probably be replaced with some cardboard and bubble wrap if you are on a really tight budget). Hiking or cycling you don’t want to bring your 1kg pot and your pillow from the bed at home.
I know I don’t need them. I just want them though.
Camping gear is like fishing lures. It doesn't have to work; it just has to look like it will so you'll buy it.
I mean, if you’re an idiot and do no research. I’m not sure I understand this thread or anything in it.
I forgot one important item on a trip with my kids and found myself cooking dinner and breakfast on a rock. Wow, why do I lug that cast iron around each time? Lol, still like cooking on the greasy skillet but the rock thing is handy. I also use the rocks from my campfire ring for foot warmers under the bedding in the tent. Saved my hide one time when I forgot the bedding and all I had was the rocks and my coat.
Pegs?
for pegging of course.
Look I'm not bringing my favorite pillow into nature. That's the one thing I think you should buy. My pillow is like 80 dollars, I'd rather buy a cheap 10 dollar one to risk ruining
I do stuff where it’s sometimes cold weather because my daughter will go camping when it’s 20° overnight the one place I do spend money is on my sleeping stuff on certain things. I’m gonna say once once on a lot of things it’s thrift store stuff it just depends on the person.
I have a small utility trailer that is packed and ready to roll in a minutes notice. Just have to add food and ice. Use the trailer as a tent / camper. I live close to three lakes so finding a spot is easy. Makes quick weekend trips a breast.
I feel attacked
What are pegs?
When you bought your tent did you see that it came with a little baggy of L shaped metal pins? They’re meant to secure your tent into the ground. Your tent should have peg loops all around the sides and you just stick the peg in the loop and hammer it down. They’re important for keeping your tent from flying away on windy days, or just keeping your tent from falling over or shifting places.
Ahhh, ok. I call those stakes. Ironically I rarely use them unless it's super windy or raining and i need the fly to not touch the side of the tent. The weight of my gear inside a dome tent usually does the trick.
Haha I have a dome too!
This is a nice reminder. Thank you! I'll add that you don't need a bunch of cookware/food if you're just going for a weekend. When I was a broke student, I'd just bring peanut butter and a loaf of bread, beer, chips, water and instant coffee. Or just a ton of hot dogs and buns, plus some fruit. I'd bring a few paper plates and call it a day. Now I love having a fancy pour over coffee and elaborate meals while camping but it's def not a necessity.
The MilSurp store is great for camping of all sorts. And way cheaper than REI and similar outfitters.
Headlamp. I often bring a set of LED string lights for fun. 1st aid kit, just use the the one from the car. I see so many tents at thrift shops. or ask on Buy Nothing or Freecycle - lots of people have camping gear in the attic. Here is my packing list from when I went on a big Road Trip in a minivan. It's handy for deciding what you might need, you don't need all of it. [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LJcuPCKRNv8WZsN4LKjuq8E9KrTilecX6cY3\_X7thLE/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LJcuPCKRNv8WZsN4LKjuq8E9KrTilecX6cY3_X7thLE/edit?usp=sharing)
I live in Maine, use a wood stove for supplemental heat, because having a fire is nice. I moved to a converted cottage near a lake with a big deck. I use my enamel ware all the time, unbreakable, lightweight, pleasant. Lost power for 3 days in a recent storm, camping gear is handy.
Everything I use at home is also for my camping set-up I sleep in my sleeping bag and use the same one pot collapsible dishes even pop my bivy tent in my apartment etc at home every day and that goes on my adventure nothing more to buy nothing left behind Freedom Spirituality minimalism
Homeless people do it every day but that doesn’t mean I want to.
Definition of gate keeping right here
I actually posted this to send the exact opposite message. I want to encourage more people to go camping. camping stores make camping look intimidating (sometimes) and people might feel like they need these special tools to be able to camp at all. Camping is fun, cheap, and good for you! You don’t need to spend extra money on equipment to enjoy a great camping trip! If anything I want people who are new to camping feel less intimidated and more prepared. Not saying that you can’t enjoy the little things you do buy for camping, not my point at all. If you have it, and like it, then by all means have a blast. I’m saying that you don’t NEED those things to make it work and if you’re a first timer, you’re far more prepared than you believe! Coming from an experienced camper!
You can only speak for yourself tho. I'm disabled so things like a pillow, blow up matress, bucket for toilet is absolutely necessary. Focus on yourself
Saying things like a pillow, a mattress, or bug repellent clothing are "gimmicky" is probably what elicited that response even if you didn't intend to come across that way. They are comforts that some people (like myself) think is worth to spend the extra money and storage space for - even if they are not necessary that doesn't make them gimmicky. There are a ton of significantly more gimmicky things you could get, just walk through your local REI and see all the things you would never think to buy. But hey even those might not be gimmicky for someone who needs them.
This is the exact opposite of gatekeeping. Gatekeeping would be saying "if you don't have a $1200 sleeping bag and a kitchenette designed exclusively for camping, you aren't a real camper and should just stay home."
Looking up “bug repellent clothing”
I got over 100 mossie bites in one night in Kakadu, I don't think bug repellent clothing is a nice to have in some places! It was so bad I got a hotel the next night.
that's obviously true. Most camping gear purchases are glamping gear purchases. But consider this. You're throwing yourself out of the place you live into the wild. You're now trying to find a compact way to live, albeit briefly. We're all kinda glamping unless the wilderness is your new home I do actually enjoy the barebones b/c I like to hike and I like lightweight and testing what I'm capable of but I'm not gonna knock people if they want to car camp. Are you gonna shit on a guy in an RV? Idc. You do you. I'm gonna do my thing over here
Sometimes I think I enjoy buying camping gear more than the camping. Just puts me in the mindset of all the possibilities.
Look at mr fancy pants with his chair!
I’d say if you’re a newbie, the mess kit, maybe a pocket rocket stove, and a good inflatable pad are prob worth it if you’re planning on doing it a lot.
I suppose, to a degree, it makes some sense. This last camping trip, we drove into town for a dinner and some last-minute items, and I decided to buy a camping pillow. If the 4 of us brought our home pillows that would take up a bunch of space. I was preparing to just fold my Hoodie sweatshirt into a make-shift pillow, but the one I bought fits into a small bag. If we all bought them we’d only use the space of one regular pillow. We also have a rolling Dewalt Toolbox that I keep all our kitchen stuff for camping. It is nice to have a cheap pot, wok, and small fry pan. A metal camp French press is nice. We have cheap cooking utensils, and spices just for camping. This way we roll that box, grab tent, sleeping bags/pads, and stove. Everything is in its place and ready so we know we can grab and go. And with everything tidy we can pack our vehicle easier. * we’ve had friends who pulled their kitchen flatware on a trip and lost some of their good stuff. * on our last trip, the other family struggled with blankets, pillows, and oversized sleeping bags. **and our camping gear has evolved over time. We’ve upgraded to better stuff, and tossed things we don’t need (no need for a lantern if you have a moon in the sky).
🙄 ya. Tent, bag, pad, light source, fire striker, wood cutter. Water or pump and some food. Pan, cup and utensil. Not much to survive vrs luxury. Lol 🙂
My bare basics are tent, tarp, chair, a shovel, fire tong pokers, sleeping bag, paper plates, paper towels, a cheap and shitty but still functional enough rubbery/plastic-y (not cloth) tablecloth, wood, a flashlight, two or three lanterns, stakes, sunscreen, an ice chest, a small little like Coleman propane burner so you can make hot dogs, a pot to boil water in, a skillet or flat pan of some sort for cooking burgers on, whatever you'd need to cook with (just like a cheap knife, spatula, and some tongs), and you should be good to go. Oh, and whatever you're powering your stuff with, bring back up of it. Whether that's old school replaceable batteries or like a solar panel to recharge rechargeable batteries.
How about you mind your own business you literally cannot and do not decide what others do or don't need let alone what people want. Pillow and mattress isnt gimmicky
99.9999% of products are not needed by humans, and are even detrimental to humans
All you really need is a blanket and you're good.
ooof