An equipment guide for all camping styles, even the beginners…

Backpacking A backpacker is considered to be a person who travels while carrying all necessary items with them. This includes food, water, shelter, sleeping essentials, clothes and a method of cooking. They unpack their gear every night and repack in the morning and move to a new area. When selecting appropriate backpacking gear, consider the following: Limited backpack space The weight of gear, unless you like a sore back Duration of your trip

Backpacking Tents Backpacking tents should be durable, easy to set up and take down and light. Aluminum poles are preferred over fiberglass due to lighter construction. A vestibule is another preferred feature to store gear out of the rain. REI’s Half Dome 2 tent is a freestanding tent weighing just 5 lbs 1 oz. It is popular for its price and durability. Cost: $219

Backpacking Sleep Pads Since the majority of a backpacker’s day is spent hiking tough terrain, a good night’s sleep is a must. Sleep pads should accommodate side, back or stomach sleepers, store and unroll or inflate easily. The NeoAir XLite sleep pad is 2.5 in. thick, weighs 12 oz. and packs to about the size of a Nalgene water bottle. Cost: $159.95

Backpacking Sleeping Bag Down bags are preferred over synthetic fill as it can be compressed tighter and is lighter and warmer. However, down sleeping bags cost significantly more than synthetic. Properly cared for they will last many years. The Zpack 20 degree sleeping back is a 900 Fill Power Goose down bag weighing around 16.7 oz. Cost: $375

Backpacking Backpack Make sure your chosen pack can accommodate gear, food and water for the given time period. It should also properly fit the torso and hips. Consider features such as water bladder storage, space for sleeping bag and hip belt storage. The Gossamer Gear Gorilla is a no-frills 40 liter backpack. It is extremely lightweight at just 29.4 oz. Cost: $245

Winter Camping Winter backpacking, like all other seasons, involves hiking to a new location every day, moving your gear with you. However, due to cold temperatures and possible high winds and heavy snow, winter camping usually requires temperature specific gear to ensure safety for participants. When selecting gear, consider the following: Appropriate temperature ratings for gear Space to warmth ratio Weather conditions (snow, rain, freezing temps and high winds)

Winter Tents Winter tents are made to withstand wind and weight of snow accumulation not found in other seasons. They come with an extra rigid exoskeleton and have more steeply angled sides compared to 3 season or summer tents. Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 has a large vestibule to transition from harsh weather and weighs only 8 lbs 14 oz. Cost: $650

Winter Sleeping Pads Sleeping pads for winter use need to have a higher R value, or insulation value, to help protect campers from the cold transferred to them from the ground. Like pads for other seasons, lightweight and highly compact is best. Therm-a-rest NeoAir xTherm is 2.5 in. thick, 1.6 lbs. and when packed is about the size of a 1 liter bottle. Cost: $199

Winter Sleeping Bag Down is the preferred fill for sleeping bags in summer, fall, and spring, but is mandatory for winter due to its ability to compress and unparalleled warmth. The higher the fill (700, 800, 900, etc), the warmer the bag will be. Goose down is warmer and more desirable than duck down. Western Mountaineering Antelope MF is rated to 5 degrees and weighs just 2 lbs 7 oz. Cost: $595

Winter Backpack Backpacks for winter camping need to be larger to accommodate larger and heavier gear but also layers of clothes necessary, such as base, mid and outer layers. Be aware of the sleeping bag compartment to ensure your particular sleeping bag will fit. Osprey Xenith 75 is a 75 liter back with dual ice axe loops on the exterior, space for hydration and a large sleeping bag compartment. Cost: $329

Car / Family Car camping means you transport all of your gear in your vehicle to your camp site and unload directly onto your camp pad. There is no hiking or backpacking involved in reaching your camp and therefore, luxuries can easily be accommodated like coolers, bulky air mattresses or even your favorite espresso machine. When selecting appropriate car gear, consider the following: How “rustic” do you want to camp How many people will be in the camp How much stuff can you fit in your vehicle

Car / Family Tents Car campers usually seek out large, comfortable tents. Fiberglass poles are heavier but often found with the cheaper family tents. Dome tents are popular however, side wall tents are often favored due to the extra head room which allows most to stand upright. The Coleman Instant Tent 6 has room for two queen air mattresses and is tall enough for most adults to stand it at 6 ft 2 in. Cost: $175

Car / Family Sleep Pads Since weight and size are not concerns for this type of camping, car campers can opt for larger, heavier and more comfortable air mattresses. Ultralight gear is not necessary making luxe air mattresses easy to obtain. Lightspeed Outdoors 2 person air bed is about the size of a queen mattress. It is made of durable materials designed around rougher outdoor terrain. Cost: $80

Car / Family Sleeping Bag Due to its lower cost, many car campers choose synthetic sleeping bags. They take up more room and are considerably heavier however, their price tag is easily half as much as a decent goose down fill bag. The Kelty Callisto 20 is a versatile though heavy bag. It is 6 ft 6 in long and weights 4 lbs 13 inches. It unzips to be used as a blanket in warmer weather. Cost: $75

Car / Family Backpack For car and family camping, a backpack isn’t necessary. Many campers retrofit plastic tubs, totes or other readily available storage systems into camp storage. Kitchen boxes are also often used to organize gear. The storage on the left is a plastic tote with plastic storage drawers. Both items are at any major retailer. Cost: $25 – 150+ This camp kitchen is a ready to assemble product available at most outdoor stores but is considerably more expensive than DIY options.