Through different jobs, I’ve been helping people get outdoors and go camping for over 10 years. I’ve started a series to pass the information I’ve learned by camping, and talking about camping, for a long time with you. You can read the first part of the series here – Car Camping With Your Dog 101 Pt.1 – Getting a Campsite. The next post in the series will be about what you need to bring with you.
Before I have the conversation about WHAT to bring, I want to be clear on one thing first. You don’t have to break the bank to have a sweet camping setup.
I always deter people from spending a ton of money on gear or equipment if they’re not sure they like camping. Renting gear is not an option in some places, and not everyone has friends with gear they can loan (or gear at all) so my best suggestion to those venturing out into the woods for the first time is to buy mid-quality stuff cheap.
You don’t want to head to Walmart and buy the cheapest thing you find. It’s important to have decent quality gear your first time out so you don’t end up miserable and swear off camping forever (oh, no. Don’t do that!). Also, why waste your money on something that won’t hold up long enough for you to sell it if you change your mind?
I suggest that would-be-campers buy their gear and equipment from a discount website. There are a lot of sites out there. Some only offer a minimal discount. Some offer discounts on products that didn’t sell well in stores – that no one wanted to buy because they kind of sucked and that you’re probably not interested in either. Some sell gear that is made in China or other Asian countries.
Now, the thing about stuff made in Asia is, whether you know it or not, a lot of “American” outdoor brands have their stuff made there because of the growing demand for their products coupled with time, staffing, space, and cost constraints. They also do it to remain competitive in their market. Some of my favorite brands, which I find to be VERY high quality, make all of part of their product line in Asia. Examples are:
- Osprey Packs, of which I own 5 of, are made in Vietnam (source)
- Snowpeak, the maker of my favorite camping stove, is proudly made in Japan (source)
- Black Diamond, the super awesome maker of headlamps, runs factories in China, in addition to their U.S. factories (source)
- Arcteryx, who makes the best rain jackets in the world and is one of THE top outdoor brands in my mind, outsources to factories in China (although most of their stuff is still made in Burnaby, BC.) (source)
(If you are interested, read this article about how manufacturing practices in China have improved over the years)
Now, I’m not saying that the products you find on a discount site with products from Aisia have products directly comparable to these high-end brands. These brands take great pride in their products, and have long-standing reputations to uphold, so they are usually very involved in the sourcing, manufacturing, and quality control process. However, the flip side of buying products from these big brands is that you are also paying extra for this process, the brand “name”, and the cost of marketing, free stuff they provide to outdoor athletes they sponsor, etc.
I recently discovered a new site to me – GearBest – when they contacted me and asked me to share their discount site with you (they are fairly compensating me for my time to do so but I don’t right about anything I won’t stand behind).
You can certainly find what, by my standards, is descent quality camping gear on discount sites that sell stuff made in Asia though. For example, GearBest, sells this anodised aluminum cookware set that looks almost identical to the “name brand” one I paid over $50 for. This inflatable, ligtweight sleeping pad looks very much like the one that set me back almost $150. This tent looks like the first love-of-my-life tent that I spent time in for well over 5 years but it’s about 1/5th of the cost I paid for mine.
GearBest even has me, a gear snob, rethinking where I buy (and how much I pay) for some of my hiking and camping equipment.
Do you need equipment to go camping for the first time? Are you a seasoned camper that needs a few updated things but don’t want to break the bank? GearBest might be a great resource for you.
Sheila Bergin Goss says
June 12, 2016 at 4:57 AMLove it, your articles are so informative….I would love to go canoe camping and paddling in western Canada, someplace with beautiful clear blue water!
Suzanne Plesh says
June 12, 2016 at 5:46 AMAlgonquin Park Canoe Lake. There is a burial marker of a famous Canadian Artist Tom Thomson – Group of Seven. He captured the ruggendness out the CDN in many his paintings – an constant inspiration to me.
Now I know the contest rules state US resident and I am Canadian but I have a US address for shipping. I live close to a border crossing. Either way check out Algonquin Park it is a jewel!
Jessica Rhae says
June 13, 2016 at 6:41 AMA US address will work 🙂 I’ve never heard of that artist but I looked him up. His style reminds me a little of Bev Doolittle.
Lori says
June 12, 2016 at 7:08 AMI want to camp in the Texas Hill Country once it cools off. I would also like to try camping in the Southwest. Hope I win!
Lisa F. says
June 12, 2016 at 7:39 AMI used to love to go camping when I was a little girl in Girl Scouts. Then when I was in my mid-20s, a friend and me went camping with our dogs. It was so nice with the dogs. I would love to go again. As with most things, everything’s better with dogs! 🙂
LACI PORTER says
June 12, 2016 at 8:18 AMNext to a mountain lake with no one else within eyesight of course with my sidekick.
Laura in Little Rock says
June 12, 2016 at 8:22 AMI love my home state, Arkansas is beautiful. My realistic choice, would be a hike-in site at Mount Nebo State Park, because I’m pretty sure I could pack gear in with a bike trailer. (There’s an old road, so it’s level & broad.).
Erin says
June 12, 2016 at 9:42 AMHiking and camping with the pup in the Smoky Mountains outside of Asheville, NC is the dream!
erich cox says
June 12, 2016 at 11:32 AMi am planning a kayaking trip to the everglades. there are some beautiful, isolated keys off the coast of the park that i would love to spend a few days exploring with my dachshund buddy dennis.
Erin Altman says
June 12, 2016 at 2:56 PMMy dream camping spot would be somewhere deeply green with moderate temperatures and humidity… unlike anyplace close to home which is hot and humid from April through September and quickly becomes unpleasantly chill in the other months.
Jessica Rhae says
June 13, 2016 at 6:35 AMSounds like you should come to Western Washington to camp 🙂
Viktoria Havasi says
June 12, 2016 at 3:16 PMI have been living in Alabama for 10 years, and I have done a lot of day-hikes but (and I am a bit ashamed to admit), I have never been to the highest point of the state, Cheaha State Park. Besides a lot of other places in this beautiful state, this is probably the number 1 on my list for a while.
Alicia says
June 12, 2016 at 4:37 PMMy dream campsite would be in Iceland next to a waterfall with my dog and boyfriend! -Alicia @ http://www.girlonahike.com
Jason Zastrow says
June 12, 2016 at 5:27 PMLocation doesn’t really matter to me. I enjoy camping in the middle of absolutely nowhere, miles from any human or man-made structure. Being one with nature is key.
Heather says
June 12, 2016 at 6:21 PMThanks for the chance to win! I’d love to explore the UP of Michigan. Tons of wilderness without a lot of people.
Diego says
June 12, 2016 at 8:45 PMPor la carretera autral, el sur de Chile. Tierra del Fuego. Sudamerica.
Tenacious Little Terrier says
June 12, 2016 at 9:36 PMWe’re hoping to go to Crater Lake this summer!
Stephanie T says
June 13, 2016 at 12:23 AMI’ve done a lot of desert camping but would love to change it up and camp somewhere like the Great Smokey Mountains.
Mikhail says
June 13, 2016 at 7:54 AMHope someday I can reach Mount Everest… This my biggest dream.
Lea Anna says
June 13, 2016 at 8:04 AMOne year I want to camp out on a remote spot on Kauai for the meteor shower that happens every August.
Beth says
June 13, 2016 at 11:47 AMMy favorite place so far is Acadia, Maine, but I really want to go to Banff , Canada!
Abby says
June 13, 2016 at 12:10 PMI love to go camping in the Adirondacks!
CAROLE HAGEN says
June 13, 2016 at 2:23 PMMY DREAM VACATION WOULD BE AT SEASIDE OREGON STAYING IN A MOTEL AND WALKING ON THE BEACH WITH MY PAIR OF LABS!
Ohhh Snap says
June 13, 2016 at 3:01 PMMy dream camping spot is probably Acadia National Park in Maine but absolutely positively never ever again on Labor Day lol.
Heather says
June 13, 2016 at 4:47 PMWe haven’t been camping since my daughter was born but she’s getting old enough that we have already planned to go when it cools down a bit. My dream place would be somewhere beautiful and safe for the kids.
Holly Edstrom says
June 13, 2016 at 8:07 PMMolas pass in Ouray. So beautiful!
manda says
June 13, 2016 at 8:13 PMLove to camp in Colorado
Vitaly N says
June 14, 2016 at 3:07 AMI hear Turkey have some very good routes and now I dreaming about it. I see pictures and it’s beautiful.
Olivia says
June 14, 2016 at 6:06 AM3 bum swings! 3 more! Wooftastic Giveaway!
I would love to go camping but living with epilepsy makes it somewhat dangerous for me to do so. So, instead my huMom sets up her tent in the backyard (we live rural) & we camp out there for fun.
Good luck everyone!
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia
Diane says
June 14, 2016 at 6:41 AMWe love camping in the 1000 islands region of NY. We have only camped on Wellsely Island, but I hope to try out some other spots as well!
Mariya says
June 14, 2016 at 2:39 PMI would dream to get back to the lake when I was 8 years and we come to this lake with parents…
Amy says
June 14, 2016 at 2:54 PMI have yet to go camping here in Cali. I hear Big Bear is a great place, so I think Steve and I will try that this summer. My dream spot is somewhere in the middle of the woods where the boys can bark their heads off and run around leash-free!
Alita Alexander says
June 14, 2016 at 4:31 PMI’d love to go to Deception Pass to spend the day hiking and camp out! Haven’t been there yet; but heard wonderful things about it!
Jennai says
June 14, 2016 at 6:29 PMMy dream spot is somewhere very close to a lake. Doesn’t matter where, just as long as there is a lake nearby.
Karrie says
June 14, 2016 at 7:00 PMI love to Camp on Ft. Myers beach..its A Wonderful spot and i can do a weekend giveaway and not drive too far
Stephanie Harper says
June 14, 2016 at 10:01 PMYosemite! Would love to experience it as a getaway from home but too far away. *Swoon.
lynn says
June 15, 2016 at 5:10 AMMy all time favorite camping spot is at Rickett’s Glen in Pennsylvania. The camping is rustic like I prefer and just last weekend we took our kids to hike the Falls Trail where in a rugged 3-mile hike we enjoyed 18 waterfalls! (New camping gear would be wonderful! Some of ours dates to the early 90s)
Pamela Curry says
June 16, 2016 at 8:02 AMRent a cabin in the woods, with no bears or snakes for me & my 6 cats. Northeast …I love PA but ok this is a dream…but we are near homeless and I need a place to write where the temps are not over 100 degrees every day and there are no addicts. The price of Bear Pepper Spray and a Bear Food container required by law breaks my bank!
Thanks 4 chance SOLAR LANTERNS are very cool and my big solar light just broke
Heather says
June 16, 2016 at 8:47 AMI’m really hoping to take my dog camping in Medicine Bow National Forest this summer!
Crystal Beck says
June 16, 2016 at 10:56 AMMy current dream is to camp at Crater Lake and do some hiking there. They now have some dog friendly trails, so I’d love to take the dogs and do some of those trails, and have a plan in place for dog care so I could do some of the trails where dogs aren’t welcome.
Laurel says
June 16, 2016 at 11:14 AMWe want to go camping in the Beartooth Mountains of WY/MT. Have driven the highway but want to spend more time up there.
Katie says
June 16, 2016 at 12:26 PMI love camping around rimrock in Washington. It’s natl forrest service land so lots of hikes and animals roaming free.
Pam Hoerauf says
June 16, 2016 at 1:09 PMOur favorite spot was backpack camping for a few days on Little Manitou Island in Lake Michigan. It was a perfect getaway. No phones, TV, electricity, just us and really awesome other people.
Aaron says
June 16, 2016 at 1:15 PMI’d love to backpack Pikes Peak again. Did it 16 years ago, and have been wanting to do it again the last couple of years, and I know my doxies would have a blast!
Sarah says
June 16, 2016 at 1:29 PMWe love anywhere in the Sierra Nevada
Trisha Pelletier says
June 16, 2016 at 3:28 PMWe live in central NY, very close to the Catskills and the Adirondacks, but my dream camping trip would be going to Pacific North West and seeing the redwoods.
Deborah Mays says
June 17, 2016 at 8:20 AMMy favorite camping spot would be on a beach somewhere beautiful. A place to where my three furbabies could run in the sand & get in the water to play together. Not only would that make me happy, I think it would also make them very happy, 🙂
Gail Baskett says
June 17, 2016 at 8:21 AMI want to hit the road in an RV and camp with my 4 furbabies in Oregon along the coast!
Pamela Curry says
August 16, 2016 at 9:00 AMI would love to move to Oregon on the coast! or anywhere west. Thank you for this giveaway I won this summer. Unfortunately, right as I was getting my stuff I got rear
ended.
Ending my cross country trip as I had put $3,000 borrowed money into a 1999 Nissan
to move from here. The rear is totalled. I might just go that way anyways, I want out
of here with my cats.
The Solar lamp was great for a blackout one night. I am brushing up on Bear laws
for forests where you cannot take food and getting some leash training time in with my cats. Other than this win, this ranks as the worse summer of my life, so very grateful. I will need the blow up mat for my back.
Cute website
Jessica Rhae says
August 17, 2016 at 9:18 AMUgh! It sucks when life gets in the way of grand plans. I’ve been derailed too many times to count myself. I feel like you have a positive attitude about it though and I hope things start looking up soon.