Camping Gear Buying Guide

When forming your camping checklist here is the necessary gear:

• Tent
• Sleeping bags
• Backpack
• Cooking equipment
• Camp gear (camping chair, cots, camping heater)
• Hiking gear
• Navigation devices

Tents

Don't waste your money buying just any cheap tents. If you select a tent that isn't suitable but was a good price, you'll end up regretting it and will probably spend more money to compensate than you would have buying the right tent the first time.

The type of tent you buy depends greatly on where and when you camp and the number of campers you'll have. Along with these, consider also:

• Weight and pack size: Car campers can feel confident purchasing any size or weight, including a large family-sized tent for 10-12 campers. If you are backpacking, the lighter the better. Most three-season tents range from four to nine pounds.
• Style: Tents all have three basic components: poles, canopy and rain fly. How they are arranged depends on the style. Styles include single- and double-walled tents, A-frames, dome tents, hoops and teepees.
• Season: Know when you plan to camp and consider the season. Convertible tents are for four-season use, summer tents aren't very versatile if the temperature drops, mountaineering tents are designed with the extreme in mind and three-season tents, the most common, are for summer, spring and fall.

For a more in-depth look at tents please read our Tents Buying Guide.

Sleeping Bags

Your sleeping bag is going to be a valuable piece of camping gear. There are different types of insulators in sleeping bags, as well as sleeping bag designs, which will keep you comfortable.

• Down: A down sleeping bag will be a little more expensive but will last two to three times longer than synthetic-filled sleeping bags. Down sleeping bags are very soft and have a great warmth-to-weight ratio. Avoid getting your sleeping bag wet; wet down offers no insulation when wet. Measured in fill power: the higher the fill power, the warmer the sleeping bag.
• Synthetic: Synthetic-filled sleeping bags are very convenient. Although synthetic insulations, such as Polarguard Delta, PrimaLoft PL2, and DuPont Thermolite, don't compress as well as down insulation, they are machine-washable and -dryable. For summer camping, these sleeping bags are great. If extra warmth is needed an extra blanket can be added.

Certain sleeping bag features will also add to the warmth and comfort of your camping experience.

• Hoods add tremendous warmth around your head.
• Draft collars prevent heat loss around the neck.
• Draft tubes behind the zipper will keep your zipper-side warm.
• Zippers that are full length will allow you ventilate your sleeping bag on warm nights.
• Shell fabrics are becoming increasingly high-tech. They can be ultra-light (weighing less than an ounce per square yard) and water repellent. Manufactures have started to weld baffles to the shell to eliminate stitching needle holes.
• Mummy-shaped sleeping bags are best for heat retention and weight. However, some tighter ones can seem claustrophobic.
• Semi-rectangular sleeping bags offer more room to move at night.
• Sleeping-pad loops will keep your sleeping bag on top of your sleeping-pad and off the floor.

For more information on how to buy sleeping bags and sleeping-pads, read our Sleeping Bag Buying Guide.

Backpacks

When selecting a backpack, decide which type you are in the market for. If you are searching for a book bag then you won't need to know how to buy a backpack for backpackers. If you are going for a hike and need to keep hydrated, you'll want to know how to buy a hydration pack. Here are a few tips for selecting backpacks for all of your needs.

• Backpackers should look for a large enough backpack to carry all of their gear. Remember that the more gear you can fit into your backpack, the heavier it will be.
• Frames should be comfortable around your hip bones. Many backpacks will have a frame-sheet across the back. A good backpack should remain flexible and transfer weight effectively.
• Hip belts should be stiff enough to support a load without sagging. A good hip belt will compress progressively. Look for one that cups over your hip bones. This will maximize the amount of weight-bearing surface area.
• Shoulder straps should be free of puckers over the foam. Avoid foam that is too soft or too stiff.

• Back panels can be the deciding factor between a sweaty back with discomfort or without. A good back panel will alleviate the discomfort associated with a sweaty back. Some panels have grooves for air flow, others reticulated foam. Some backpacks have no back padding at all.
• Hydration packs are a convenient way to stay hydrated while hiking, camping or backpacking. You can either find simple hydration packs with the water bladder or a hydration backpack with room for gear.

For more information on backpacks please review our Backpack Buying Guide.

Camp Cookware

As your camping checklist comes together it is time to move on to other camping equipment. Staying warm and dry is part of the camping experience, but what is camping without food by the fire?

There are several ways to cook while outdoors camping: with a camp stove, without a camp stove and cast-iron cooking.

Camp Stoves

Camp stoves have changed the way cooking is done in the great outdoors. Older camp stoves may have been prone to problems but the sleek modern camp cooking stoves are as simple as a back-yard cook-out.

The features you'll want to look for when purchasing a camp stove are entirely up to you, but here are a few to give you ideas:

• Push-button ignition
• Flame-control adjusters
• Self-cleaning fuel jets
• More advanced mixtures of fuel for ease of use in the backcountry

If you've ever been frustrated trying to keep your old camp stoves lit then you appreciate the advancements in fuel technology. Because of the fuel technology, camp stoves are divided into two categories: cartridge stoves and liquid gas.

Cartridge Stoves: These camp stoves are lighter and, compared to liquid gas stoves, more maintenance free. They are sold as a burner that screws directly onto the canister or as a tube connected to the canister. Cartridge stoves are very dependable and easy to use, as well as being lightweight. They are clean burning as well as small; about the size of a grapefruit. The fuel cartridge can be detached and reattached (look for re-sealable cartridges) if not empty, which makes them easy to carry without worrying about leaks. To avoid flare-ups, do not shake the stove before lighting it; allow it to sit for a few minutes after use. If your cartridge doesn't reseal, it is a puncture cartridge and it will stay on the burner until empty. Only use a puncture cartridge if you plan to use an entire canister of fuel once it is set up. The types of fuel used in compressed gas canisters are:

• Blended fuel: a blend of propane and butane. Isobutane is sometimes added for efficiency of performance.
• Butane cartridges: straight butane. Don't burn as hot as other cartridge fuels. Not dependable below 40 degrees.
• Isobutane: burns consistently but not at temperatures below 40 degrees. Expect a slower boil time.

Liquid Gas: Liquid gas camp stoves are generally less expensive than cartridge stoves, more environmentally friendly and hotter burning in all types of weather. Unlike cartridge stoves, liquid gas stoves have refillable fuel tanks. They are a little more difficult to operate but work more efficiently in subzero temperatures. They will be heavier than compressed stoves, as well as bulkier and cost a bit more, but you can't really complain too much about a stove that has great heat output, flames that tolerate gusty winds and are great for all-season use.

Remember a few tips with your stove: refill your tank with fresh fuel before each trip, practice taking it apart and putting it back together, and practice regular maintenance. There are a variety of fuels that liquid gas stoves use:

• Alcohol: this fuel doesn't burn as efficiently or as hot, but it is a clean and non-volatile fuel.
• Automobile gas: if you can't find any other fuel while camping or backpacking in the Outback or other remote areas, this may be the only fuel you can find. Cook in well ventilated areas. This is really a last-resort fuel.
• Kerosene: this may be the best fuel for traveling internationally. It is generally available in most parts of the world but it can cause fumes, smoke and clogged fuel lines.
• White gas: this is the standard fuel you'll find throughout North America. Pure white gas burns hot and clean, and is the best choice of all fuel options.

Camping Stove Tips

Don't settle for any cheap camping cookware. Decide before you buy what you intend to cook on your new camp stove. If you are a car camper, go ahead and get the larger liquid gas stove. With a dual-burner you'll be able to make coffee and breakfast at the same time. You can also find camp stoves with wind screens; repair/cleaning kits and maybe a carrying case.

Camp Cooking without a Stove

Since camp stoves are relatively new on the scene of camping cookware, you've probably heard everyone brag about the amazing hot dogs and marshmallows they've cooked over the fire. You've also heard about the delicious cobblers and you've wondered just how they fit their kitchen in their campsite. Of course, if they were bringing their kitchen, why would they even bother with camping?

Camp cooking doesn't need to be done with a stove. Many bonfire lovers bring wire hangers to straighten out and use, but as a savvy camper, you know you can find a better way. To make those perfect dogs, cooked over dancing flames and sparkling embers, or award-winning cobblers, look for a few handy camping items:

• Camping forks: long-handled, made of stainless steel and sturdier than hangers.
• Dutch oven: cast-iron cookware, perfect for making cobblers and breakfast.
• Chimney-starter: these charcoal starters make preparing briquettes for your Dutch oven quick and easy.

• Camp grill: place over the burning embers of your camp fire and place pans, pots and Dutch ovens on it. With a camp grill you won't need to sift around in your fire for your tin-foil dinners before they burn.
• Camp/picnic set: perfect for meals outdoors, whether while camping or just on a picnic.
• Kettle: place your camp kettle on the camp grill for a morning cup of coffee or a late-night mug of hot cocoa.
• Small shovel: although this may not seem like camping cookware, it is. Dig your fire pit or put it out; either way you'll want a shovel.
• Flint and Steel: Flint and steel is good to have as a backup in case your matches get wet.

Cast-iron Cooking

Dutch ovens are the most popular choice for cast-iron camping cookware and consist of a large pot with a fitted lid. You don't need a camp stove when using a Dutch oven but you will need charcoal. When you place red briquettes on, beneath, and around your Dutch oven, the coals heat the cast-iron; this acts as an oven and cooks your food. By placing coals beneath the cast-iron oven, you can use it as a skillet pan. For the car camper or when weight isn't important, cast-iron makes great camping cookware.

If you are backpacking or on any camping trips where weight is a factor, cast-iron will be too heavy to pack along. A 14-inch cast-iron skillet can weigh about 10 pounds.

Another great place to use cast-iron cooking is in the backyard. When you barbeque with friends and family you can whip up a batch of Uncle Earl's famous beans in a Dutch oven. The beauty of cast-iron is its versatility. It is durable enough to withstand the outdoors and its even-heat conduction makes a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet a favorite in the kitchen.

Camping and Hiking Gear

Camping Supplies

Good quality camping gear will bring your camping trip comfort and fun. Whether you drive out to remote locations and create a camping site or camp in designated camping areas, finding a place to sit in the warm glow of the camp fire is an adventure in itself. You find a log, but are there ants or spiders on it? Is it lumpy and awkward? Can you barely perch your rear on it without crashing to the forest floor? Struggling to find enough seating for everyone is no easy task. There aren't always perfectly cut tree stumps or beautiful large rocks that have gone undiscovered by creepy crawlies. Here are a few camping supplies that you'll be glad to have:

• Camping chairs: Camping chairs often offer more than a place to sit. Many include drink holders and arm rests so that you will have convenience and comfort, even when you're "roughing it." Folding camp chairs are easy to store and pack in a car to bring along on your camping trips and outdoor activities. Camping chairs are also perfect for the beach!
• Camping heater: Beyond the convenience of camp chairs you can also bring along the warmth of a camping heater. Camping heaters are great to have as a back-up in case your fire won't light in the morning, or for sudden inclement weather.
• Camp cot: Camp cots are a little bulky for taking backpacking; however, they are great for car campers who do not want to sleep on the hard ground at night. It is true that cots are perfect for older campers, but campers of all ages can enjoy the use of a camp cot. Please remember that if you've decided to buy a camp cot instead of a sleeping bag pad or air pad, you'll need a larger tent. A small two-man tent will not accommodate two cots or even one camp cot comfortably.
• Tarps: Protect your tent from rain and sun by placing a tarp over or under your tent. By setting a tarp out before setting up your tent you will help keep moisture from seeping into the tent, as well as reducing mud and dirt from the bottom, which you'll be glad of when you repack your tent.
• Hatchet: Bring along a hatchet when you go camping if you will be gathering your own wood for the fire. If you plan to gather a lot of wood, bring an axe. For backpackers a hatchet is a better choice because of its light weight and smaller size. Review local rules regarding collecting your own firewood before heading out.
• Camping coolers: These can double as a chair if you run out of sitting room, but more importantly, you'll need something to store your food in. Make sure it seals tightly to keep curious critters away. Store your camping cooler in your car at night.
• Portable hammock: This is certainly a luxury camping item that is a lot of fun to have, making gazing at the stars at night a possibility. On warmer nights hammocks make camping and sleeping under the stars a delight.
• First-aid kits: When camping remember that accidents can happen. They may be something as small as a forgotten bottle of sunscreen, but with an emergency first-aid kit you will be prepared to deal with them.
• Small shovel: A shovel is useful for so many things: camp fires, holes in the ground. and holes for doing your business. Camping isn't always near a restroom.

Hiking Gear

Having the best camping supplies can be a main part of your adventure, but you may not always be camping. Hiking gear is also a sports investment that you can be glad you made. Walking and hiking trails is an enjoyable form of exercise. Adding a walking stick or hiking stick to your hiking gear can help you climb trails. Hiking sticks and walking sticks aren't just for older hikers; everyone can benefit from them. This hiking gear is something everyone can use. Not everyone begins hiking in the best physical condition or by picking the easiest trails. Even Sir Edmund Hillary used a hiking stick when he was the first man to climb Mt. Everest.

If the only hiking gear you're missing is shoes, you've found the right place. Overstock.com has a selection of men's hiking boots and women's hiking boots that will cushion your feet while you're hitting the trails. For more help on how to buy hiking gear, like hiking boots, read our Men's Shoes Buying Guide or Women's Shoes Buying Guide.

Navigation devices

The question of navigation systems comes up frequently when you're hiking and you suddenly think."Where am I?" You can fall back on your knowledge of celestial navigation and wait for nightfall to find your way back again, or you can look for a compass or GPS navigation system on Overstock.com.

Although celestial navigation still has its place, more of us would feel confident and a little less lost with the help of maps, compasses and GPS navigation. The use of GPS navigation systems and compasses in camping and outdoor sports has enabled campers and hikers to explore places they otherwise would have had no knowledge of. With a quality GPS system from Overstock.com, you can head into the wild and know that, even though you've trekked into the desert, you can find your way back out again, even if all of the Joshua trees and rocks look the same.

Navigation systems can do more than show you how to find the trail you lost. You can also use the GPS navigation in your car to find directions to your favorite aunt's house, or to map a trip you've decided to take. Many new adventures can be had with a GPS navigation system, and you don't need to spend a fortune to have them. Geocaching is the global GPS "treasure hunt" that has become a popular adventure game in recent years. With the aid of a GPS system, you can take up the hunt and search for caches around the world and locally. Obtaining the coordinates is the easy part; your GPS system will show you where the stash is hidden. The tricky adventure begins when you try to get there.

For more information on how to buy a GPS navigation system or compass, please read our Navigation Buying Guide.

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