I need cheap camping equipment ideas?

I'm going on a cycling trip camping,fishing etc.I have about $50 to spend for camping equipment.I need a sleeping bag,pad,tent,food what else should I gather to add to my equipment?

Thank you.

Answer
Instead of spending the bulk of your money on a tent ($60+) and pad (at least $40 for a decent Therm-a-rest), you can pick up a parachute hammock on Amazon.com for $17. It comes complete with carry sack, hanging ropes and weighs in at less than a pound. Depending on the weather, you can supplement the hammock with just a regular tarp and some rope for an additional $10. I feel like your best bet would be to pick up a simple fleece liner bag ($10) and a wool blanket from home as sleeping bags can be quite pricey and cheap bags are more trouble than good. As for food, I tend to bring things that require little/no prep work and clean up. This includes cans ($4), hot dogs ($2), bread($1), potatoes/yams($1). Grand total is about $45 ($35 if you don't include tarp). That leaves you $5-15 for last minute items you might need (ex. flashlight, first aid kit, batteries, beer, etc)

Cheap camping equipment, where can I find some?

LC

I'd like to take my family of six camping this summer but we have no equipment whatsoever, does anyone know where I could find some reasonably priced, even used camping equipment online or in the detroit metro area?

Answer
I have to agree with all the "yard sale" suggestions, you can get some great buys at them.

If you do decide to purchase a used tent, insist that it be set up before paying for it! Be certain that all of the poles, stakes,and rain fly are there. Check it over very carefully for rips, tears and any defective zippers.

If you go with a new tent, please stay away from "store brands" it at all possible. Most are not bad for the occasional camper but, if you plan on camping quite often, buy a well know brand even if you have to buy a discontinued model. (Older models mean markdowns which mean bargin for the shopper!)

I would never consider buying a used sleeping bag! Store brand sleeping bags start around the $15 mark and are adequate for summer camping on a budget.

Used propane stoves can be found at yard sales, at times. Have the owner show you how it works and that it does indeed work properly. To save a few $$, you could consider cooking over a campfire or hot coals. It is a romantic and rustic notion but it is dirty, time consuming and frustrating at times. Better to stick with a stove for your first camping trip with the family so that all goes smoothly and they will want to do it again!

Coolers can also be located at yard sales, just check to be certain the drain plug is not missing or broken, along with handles and hinges.

Cookware can be simply your older pots and pans from how. Same goes with flashlights for night time trips to the bathhouse.

If you are not positive your family will enjoy camping, have you considered renting some of the gear instead of purchasing? There are two REI stores in the Detroit area that rent tents, stoves, sleeping bags and pads. No idea of the cost but may be something you would want to consider and check into.

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Camping equipment! Campsites HELP!?

Q. Me and my boyfriend have just bought some camping equipment and a tent.. It was the third we had bought due to the last 2 both being faulty.. I advise nobody to go with 'Hi-gear' tents they are poor quality!.. I am wondering is 'vango' tents any good? we have just bought one and fingers crossed this one is fine! where are good cheap places to camp in England? I.e - the lake district? North/South Wales.. Anywhere else?.. We have bought all the stuff we assume we need.. Any tips or things we may need that you don't usually think about? Any advice would be good.. Thank you :-)

Answer
Bum deal on getting a couple of defective tents! I know that can be frustrating. I've never owned Vango tent myself but they do have a more well established reputation. While it's important to shop around and get good prices on your gear, just remember that you usually get what you pay for.

I asked a couple of my friends in the UK where they go to find camping and caravan spots and one of the sites that's supposed to be good is:

http://camp-sites.wales.info/

Here's a great site to look for gear:

http://www.camping.co.uk/default.aspx

My most recent blog post actually deals with some of the "essential" items that you should be sure to take along when camping/backpacking. The provided PDFs aren't intended to be a "one-size-its-all" list of resources but they should give you some good ideas:

http://mytraverse.blogspot.com/2011/04/gear-for-backcountry.html

Happy Trails!

What should you bring in an SUV for some camping on cross country trip?

agreeableo

I want to know what to throw in the generous space in my Toyota Highlander for me to camp, as much as I can stand, in both commercial and public (government owned) campgrounds. Readers answered my question about commercial campgrounds allowing an SUV with a tent to rent a full-service hookup spot. The answer was that they likely would and that non-commercial spots would be good too. I am still wondering how to do this because I am horrible at simplifying anything. My direction is to complicate everything. Now I am thinking any savings at the pay campgrounds with a full hookup will be offset by the cost of new equipment I would have to buy and in time and comfort. Since I might end up only camping out for 1-2 days at a time to save money and maybe even enjoy the outdoors, I am thinking it might be better to just plan on staying at a regular campsite that allows me to pull in with the SUV, set up a little tent and do without electric/water hookups and such at a full service spot. However, I've not camped at all since the Army in 1953, so don't know what to bring. My only other camping experience was in my own camper/truck RV that wrecked and nearly killed me and later a regular full size rental RV that was much more pleasant. Unfortunately, I don't have money for an RV. So to still get outside a motel, I am thinking the solution is more simple camping. Heck, I might need to just sleep in the back of the SUV on a good mattress,at the rate I'm going. I will be purposely homeless and living on that old fixed income (like almost broke) in June. Moving to try and find less expensive digs in Las Vegas.

Answer
Car camp "bumming" is not a big deal -- I have done it many times in my life. Even just crashing in your car it's nice to spend a few bucks for the campsites with an electric hookup. Buy the newest Rand McNally campground guide to the USA and pick small "mom and pop" campgrounds rather than the KOA and other commercial operations. Most of the family run campgrounds, especially out west, are quite nice. I've been at some where they had really nice private shower houses and bring you fresh coffee cake in the morning. Most such places will have a picnic table at each site as well as the electric connection. Get a cheap electric tea kettle or small Mr Coffee to heat water and an electric frying pan to cook in. I've even traveled with a tiny "half-pint" microwave oven. Anything you need to cook can be handled with those, Keep them stashed in a plastic dishpan that you can then use to clean up with (most campgrounds have bathrooms and shower houses for hot water.) Bring a couple of plastic tablecloths to cover the picnic table (you can get clips that will keep the corners from blowing up in the garden departments of places like K-Mart and Target.) Bring one of those $10 folding chairs. A couple of large cheap beach towels are handy for showering -- get skimpy thin ones and they will dry faster, draped over the car hood in the morning. Bring a small cooler, preferably the "soft" collapsible ones. A set of plastic dishes, bowls, cups and silverware and a plastic spatula and serving spoon -- all of them cheap at the K-mart or even large drug store picnic goods displays. A small bottle of Dr, Bronners liquid soap (I like the almond type) that they sell at health food stores is great for washing yourself and the dishes as well as rinsing out socks and underwear. Keep a couple of hanks of parachute nylon cord for rigging clothelines or tying up the tent. A swiss army knife or multitool that includes scissors and a small saw is handy. Also matches, since some campsites will have small barbecue grills you can cook on. Bring a couple of plastic gallon jugs (or just buy bottled water gallons and save them) to fill at the campground sinks for water for drinking and cleaning.

Sleeping in a spacious tent is more comfortable than the back of the car. Check Craigslist for a used one (I got a terrific 8' x 8' x 6' tall tent for $100 on CL last summer) or check out Campmor.com for a nice full sized 3 or 4 person one around that price. It makes a big difference being able to stand up and move around. You can get an inflatable mattress for under $20 -- very comfortable to sleep on either in the back of the car or in the tent. Pick one with the electric inflater included or buy a decent hand pump. Inflating one by blowing into it will make your head spin. Buy an LED headlamp or two for lighting around camp and in the tent. Places like Harbor Freight Tools and Autozone have nice cheap ones. I also like having a hand crank radio -- LL Bean sells them. You just crank them to charge the batteries and its nice to have something to listen to in the tent or at the picnic table. Also a small cheap plastic table fan (again, something to find at discount stores or drug stores) and an extension cord to run into the tent on hot nights.

Keep all your stuff in large tote bags or plastic milkcrates so it is easy to locate and to load and unload out of the car. use an old pillowcase to collect dirty laundry -- some campsites will have coin op washers and dryers.

Personally, I love the "gypsy" life of driving to a new campground every night on wandering cross country trips. Some of my favorite memories are of the times I did this throughout the Western States. There is a great sense of freedom in having everything you need stashed in a car and being able to set up your "homesite" each day in half an hour or so. Anyway, I hope you find some of my tips useful --have fun and good luck in Vegas!

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Which company provides the best camping equipment?

cheap tents camping equipment image

Jordan

Mostly I want to look at sleeping bags, tents, pads, all that stuff. I'm not really looking to the cheaper stuff, but if need be the more expensive stuff because I know it will be goo quality. So far I have looked at North Face, L.L.Bean, and Eureka.

Answer
In general camping supplies the manufacturing company with the strongest reputation world wide is Coleman. You don't have to spend big dollars to get great equipment and Coleman gear is often the most copied. Most everything is made in China these days though be it Coleman, North face, or Eureka. Also often the same gear is made in the same factory with different names glued on it. What tells you if a product is any good or not are the reviews you get from the people that have used it. Have you ever heard a complaint about a Coleman lantern for example? I have not, so why even buy a knock off century brand or primos. Now of course I can't say that for every Coleman product some of their gear is just plain to heavy for backpacking and that's not even their primary market. Now as for suppliers like L.L. Bean, who by the way do what I said before they stick their lable on other manufactures goods, when they offer name brand goods like Coleman or MSR or others and the price is right go ahead and buy it you know you won't be disappointed. I like to buy from places that I can try it before I buy it and REI is a supplier that has that feature. They also show the reviews of all the products they sell and if it sucks they dump it. So check them out and compare.

Where can I find the best camping equipment?

Shamroozi

I need extra large cot, and Instant tent (you know the one that assembles in seconds)

Answer
cabela's, they have EVERYTHING, but it most likely wil not be cheap, also try looking around online, ebay maybe?

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