How to camp?

Yes indeed.

Found some waterfalls on my last trip and in a pool, off to the side, was a nice yellow plastic child's bucket. Perfect for making sand castles.

That became the the trash receptacle for the adventure. Thankfully, it was the only thing we found.

 

No time for the girl to bathe , just keep her working

 

This is an important one. One to teach the youngsters. I like to start by showing them the ugliness littering produces. In the LA area, near Gladstone’s in Malibu there’s a water drain into the ocean. After a rain, the amount of garbage being dumped directly into the ocean is astonishing.

 

I’ve been an avid outdoorsman for over 60 years. An avid camper, backpacker, hiker, hunter, fisherman etc. etc. I know something about this subject. I could write books on the subject. For now I’m just going to provide a couple of generalities and maybe a couple specifics for those newer to camping.
First buy quality equipment. You don’t have to get the most expensive but don’t go cheap either. Outdoor equipment often gets rough treatment and gets exposed to extreme conditions. Cheap crap will fail and failure of equipment in the wilderness is simply not an option for me. Once when I was much younger on a backpacking/trout fishing trip in Montana’s Beartooth wilderness I brought along a cheap tent, sleeping bag and a crappy Zebco fishing reel. One night in heavy rains and high winds the tent rain fly ripped apart and the sleeping bag zipper failed (plus the bag was filled with cheap material that was lousy insulation. I got wet and froze that night. The crappy reel failed and I couldn’t fix it. Never again did I but cheap crap for outdoor use.

Every time you go camping (or backpacking) make a list of the things you are going to bring. Everything! If you forget something and you are 50 miles from a store you are screwed. I have been camping many hundreds of times and I still have my lists and I check everything off as I load it. Divide the list into rooms of your house and list items that coincide with the room. For example Kitchen and list things like pots, pans, food items, condiments, silverware, plates, ice chest, misc kitchen utensils, camp stove,etc etc etc. Then Bedroom and list things like tent, sleeping bag, pillows, cot, air mattress, clothing etc etc etc. Then Bathroom and things like toilet paper, portapoti, medications, shaving kit, soap, first aid kit and on and on. Living Room - camp chairs, table, lanterns. You can list other things of you want like Garage, Workshop. Sometimes I go boat camping so I have a Boat category, things related to the boat. Have a Miscellaneous for things like rope, tape, tools….and whatever else. If you don’t use a list you will forget things.

Just a couple other suggestions. Don’t forget insect repellent. I’ve been camping when mosquitoes were buzzing around by the millions. The trip would have been ruined without repellent.

Bring at least 2 flashlights and xtra batteries. I’m not keen of rechargeable flashlights for camping for my own reasons. I like battery operated and several spare batteries. Put some bright orange reflective tape on your flashlights. It will make it way easier to locate them when you need them. I like camo and camo is cool but I stay away from camo on smaller camp equipment so I can find them when I need them. I use orange reflective tape on a number of things to make it easier to spot around camp.

Lanterns, I personally like gas or propane lanterns as opposed to battery operated lanterns. Battery operated are very convenient but not nearly as bright as gas/propane and the 8 or 10 plus batteries they use will get expensive. You can run gas or propane for long periods pretty cheap. Be sure to pack extra mantles.

If you are in bear county pack some bear spray. Attacks by black bears in the lower 48 are pretty rare. I’ve had black bear come into camp a number of times. They generally are not a problem. Only time you need to be real cautious is if you are around a mama with Cubs. Grizzlies are a different matter. Grizzlies are unpredictable and can be quite aggressive. But there are only a couple of of states you need to worry about Grizzly. In addition if you run into some aggressive 2 legged creatures bear spray works great on them also. Practice spraying the spray before you may have to use it.

Guns is a separate discussion. I carry a 44 mag always when I’m in the wilderness. But if you are not a competent “expert” with a gun then leave it at home. Anyone who is not experienced and expert who thinks they can kill a charging bear with a handgun is delusional or an idiot. If a Bear charges you from close range you’ve got about 2 to 3 seconds max to aim and fire. Likely you won’t hit it and if you do it’s likely you’ll just wound it and make it more pissed off. And remember your adrenaline is pumping and you are shitting you pants, a well placed shot will be pure luck. In addition even a 44mag is considered marginal to take down a bear. If anyone wants to discuss further guns and camping I’d be happy to.

I could keep writing on this topic for days but I’ll just leave it here. If any of you new and novice campers have questions I’ll be happy to try to answer. I know too there are a lot of other experienced outdoorsman on this site who can answer questions as well or better than I.

 

Make sure your first aid kit includes a healthy stock of moleskin and insect/itch relief.

 

Great thread, I just came back from a 10 day road trip that gave me 6 days in SW Colorado. I was between the Taco with a sleeping platform under the Leer cap, or my trusty old 3rd gen 4runner. I chose the 4runner and built a quick and dirty sleeping platform. I used a 2" 'egg crate' foam doubled over on itself and wrapped in some curtain fabric that my GF gave me to use. I had a cheap sleeping bag along with my old military poncho liner plus a wool cap for my head and some soccer pants to sleep in. A REI garage sale Coleman 2 burner stove and a 'Gorilla Step' collapsible painting platform served as a table and sturdy bench. I had the 'mess kit' in one tote so that everything kitchen/food related was in a single spot. I had a small cooler for a few perishables, KOA had 6# bags of ice for $2. I had a duffle bag with clean clothes and one for dirty clothes. A big pack of baby wipes made it easy to stay 'fresh' between showers.

I had another tote with extra coolant and engine oil plus a few basic items for trail repairs. ( luckily, I never needed to fix anything) I agree with the idea of making a list of everything that you think you will need. Gather everything and lay it out in the vehicle to visualize what you will actually NEED. My sleeping quarters was snug, but comfy. A few nights I woke up to a heavy rain and the outside tempt at 42°, I was happy that I was inside and dry. My trip was mostly for driving the Alpine Loop and some other trails, I will go back next year and do some dispersed camping and hiking so I'm sure that my setup will change a bit.

 

Looking for suggestions for a cooking platform. I have the skottle and not a huge fan of it. Possibly looking into a stove that comes with a stand, any suggestions?
Looking for a stove top where I can boil pots and use a griddle if I have to.

 

Real men like yeasty women, just like they like yeasty beer

 

Car camping? Its really difficult to find one better than the ol' fashioned coleman 2-burner.

 

My buddy and I just went to one of the most remote areas I have ever camped and it was littered with broken glass, shotgun shells, and toilet paper. Although many of the Shells were relics.

Depends on how any you are feeding. When I'm alone I bring my campchef stryker. I have the attachment to use a pan on it and it does everything I need solo. I've got a coleman 2 burner also that generally gets overlooked because I bring my discada and a single burner beast when I'm feeding more than myself

 

not like this!

 

There’s camping and then there’s living out of your truck until things improve. I’m of the latter right now while waiting for affordable housing to open up. I own a 2003 base cab with bench seat and uncovered truck bed. Not bragging, but I’ve gotten pretty good at it.

My setup: One deep plastic storage tub for clothes, dirty laundry in shopping bags. Two lower profile tubs. One for a lot of cooking stuff like aluminum foil, paper plates, empty ziplock bags, and various other “kitchen/cooking” stuff. The second lower profile storage tub hold 3 pairs of sneakers, various cleaning stuff and laundromat items, etc. One smaller container holds various foods like chips, knife, soup, avacado, tuna, condiments, etc. Next comes the major items. A Coleman collapseable camp oven for cooking chicken parts and Cornish hens and Lloyds BBQ ribs. A circular camp 7600 BTU propane burner. A Coleman ice chest I fill almost daily for all perishables. Everything from veggies to hot dogs to milk to soda to orange juice to chicken parts to yogurt to butter, etc. For breads like hot dog rolls etc. I store those behind my cabin seat so the sun doesn’t fry them (in small plastic containers also). On the passenger side floor are two plastic containers. One for office and misc. (batteries, fingernail clippers, toothbrush and paste in ziplock). The second container is my medicine cabinet. Med bottles, first aid, Pepto Bismal , etc. My glove compartment has easy to reach often used items like plastic forks, spoons, mini odor spray bottle. I have a travel urinal there on the passenger floor. Next to the passenger door is a travel pillow and Petco bought soft small pet blanket because the bench seat fabric is scratchy. For heating up meals inside the cab I use a “Hot Logic” 12V food warmer. It doesn’t get food boiling hot but neither does it kill my battery. I also have a

$92 NOCO GB40 : 1000A UltraSafe Jump Starter – 12V Lithium Battery Booster Pack, Portable Jump Box, Power Bank & Jumper Cables - for 6.0L Gas and 3.0L Diesel Engines

NOCO GB40 Lithium compact jump starter which has started my overused battery more than a couple of times. Finally, I have my iPhone and cig lighter charger adapter as well as a couple of streaming subscriptions. I have a folding windshield sunscreen for times I need it. I pay $39 a month for subscription to a local fitness gym to strengthen the muscles around my arthritic hip and all the showers I want.

I’m strive to maintain an adequate civilized mode of existence, for the time being.

 

…get/make a cab roof net. great for soft stuff like socks, towels, puffy coat, etc.

there’s also some usable space in the engine compartment, and lots of places underneath where you can, securely, attach containers for tools, etc…. I stuff things in an old motorcycle innertube with the ends knotted and zip tie it on top of the spare for some boonie trips.

 

I utilize behind the bench seat space. I could do better there rather than just piling things back there like a blanket, small tool box, my bread containers, laundry tablets, my jump starter, windshield screen. It works out OK as it is. I stuff things under the bench seat too. While an extended cab would store more, I’m fine with my base cab although I’m close to maxing it out.

 

One of those over the door, fabric, shoe holder things… cut it in half and attach to the back of the seat for some organized pockets

 

Might buy one of those. A net containing grab to stuff. Save back muscles reaching over all the way down.

 

Nothing beats a coleman (or similar) 2 burner stove.

It's the gold standard for a reason. Skottles are cool (and, more importantly, trendy), but they're just a big ole piece of iron that takes up a lot of space.

Hell, my trusty old whisperlite still works like a charm. Not really for more than 1-2 people tho...

 

A group I belong to provided this checklist - I have found it a great start for inexperienced and experienced alike

 

What's the best sleeping bag?

I heard it's a 0 degree one.
So far the best one I'm seeing is this from REI for $74

https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/168380/alps-mountaineering-blaze-0-sleeping-bag

-affordable
-0 degree
-regular size

But, I don't know if it has a zipper on the side that can open all the way.
It says for use in 3 seasons, so I assume the last season it excludes is summer due to heat.
Never slept in a 0 degree bag, only cheaper regular ones. So IDK how hot they really are.
Reason I ask about the zipper is; if it has one, what if can just be zipped down so it's opened up and not in mummy form, for also using in summer?



thinking of getting one to sleep in the bed camping on top of a thermarest z lite pad



edit: found a new contender on Amazon for only $45, also 0 degree
with almost a full zipper to open up

Wenzel Windy Pass



material polyester
other materials might be more comfortable but most sleeping bags probably only come in polyester

I'm guessing some people might also pick the XL/Big Tall versions (rectangle) for more room to spread out inside depending on how you sleep

 

First it depends on what you plan to use the bag for and the seasons and temperatures you plan to use it. The bag’s pictured are mummy style bags and are best suited for back packing. They are light, compact and warm which is what you need for backpacking. But they are confining and therefore not all that comfortable. I assume you want it for truck camping and will be sleeping in a tent or the back of your truck. For that purpose get a rectangular bag. Much more comfortable and you can get them as warm as you want them to be. The mummy bags look “cool” but just aren’t that comfortable. Get regular size or large/extra large. You’ll be happier and more comfortable.
The bags pictured are rated 0 degrees. Unless you are winter or snow camping you don’t need or want a zero degree rated bag. If you camp mostly in the spring, summer and early fall get a 3 season bag rated between 15 to 30 degrees. 3 season bags exclude winter not summer. You won’t be too warm in the summer nor cold when it’s cooler out. If you occasionally camp in cold temperatures get a bag liner to put in your bag. That will help keep you nice and toasty warm. Just remove the liner when the temps are warmer.
For insulation get a synthetic. Now a days they are all pretty good. Down is the best insulation in the world but is very expensive and you don’t need it unless you are going on winter expeditions to the Himalayans or some other inhospitable place.
As far as sleeping mats get the thickest most comfortable you can find. Thermarest makes quality pads but they are too thin for me, I don’t think they are that comfortable. I sometimes use two thermarest pads , one on top of the other which is a little more comfortable. I like my comfort and like thick foam pads. They are comfortable and insulate well. Attached is a pic of one similar to what I use. If you have more questions just ask. I’ve been camping, backpacking, hunting and fishing in the wildernesses for 50+ years, I have a lot of knowledge and experience on these subjects.