Camping season is upon us, but before you get excited and fall for every gimmicky camping item in the store (we’re talking about you, fancy water bottles), we talked to camping experts about what you really need to stay dry and warm without spending a fortune.
“I’m not a big gear fan,” said Bob Holtzman, author of “The Camping Bible” and “Wilderness Survival Skills.” “People have been having a great time camping forever without the latest outdoor toy.”
Holtzman’s favorites: A down sleeping bag, a nylon dome tent, a Swiss Army knife and waterproof hiking boots.
While those are the very basic necessities, other experts expanded on which gear can make — or break — a camping trip.
Skip the extra-warm sleeping bag Most people camp in the middle of July, and it probably won’t be below 50 degrees, said Cliff Jacobson, outdoor writer and author of “Camping’s Top Secrets.”
Bring a cigarette lighter Fire can be a lifesaver in so many ways, Holtzman said. “To stay warm, to purify water and as a signal if you’re lost. A disposable lighter is light, small, cheap and reliable, and it’s a lot easier to use than those special survival tools that just make sparks.”
You’ll need a pocketknife “Please, no big macho fixed-blade hunting knives,” Holtzman said. “You can do an enormous amount of work with a folding knife with a 2 or 3-inch blade: Create tinder for lighting a fire, cut cord and brush for building an emergency shelter, cut fabric to make a sling or a bandage and prepare and eat just about any kind of food.”
Borrow, borrow, borrow Many camping stores will let you borrow everything from tents to sleeping bags, so before you buy, ask if you can rent the gear first — especially if it’s your first camping trip or if you want to see if you’ll like the item before you splurge on a big purchase, said Michael Hodgson, author of “Camping for Dummies” and co-owner of Hitraveltales.com
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an adventurous travel Web site which offers travel advice.Bring a compass and learn how to use it ahead of time “A lot of people are buying GPS today, and they don’t know how to use them,” Jacobson said. “If you don’t have basic navigation skills, you’re going to get into a lot of trouble.” He said to learn how to be comfortable in the outdoors before you take the plunge to actually go camping.
Look around your house You may already own some items. Instead of buying a new camping water bottle, grab the water bottle you already own, Hodgson said. Instead of getting new pots and pans, take the ones you have. “Remember the words, “‘Keep it simple,'” Hodgson said.
Don’t wear cotton Unless you’re camping in July in an area where you know it’ll be hot, don’t wear any cotton at all, Jacobson said. “Cotton kills,” he said, explaining that since cotton does not wick moisture, it leads to hypothermia even in areas where it’s not very cool. Instead, stick with wool, acrylic, nylon and polyester fabrics.
BYO light You’ll need to see where you’re going, whether you’re caught out late on the trail or just finding your way to the privy at night, Holtzman said. “A button-battery headlamp takes up almost no space and weighs an ounce or two,” he said.
Grab a few novelties, if you have room. Camping is all about having fun — so make sure you bring things that help you have fun. “We love our camp hammock,” said Helen Olsson, author of “The Down & Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids.” “It’s not an essential, but the kids love swinging in it, and so do the adults. It’s a novelty for us that comes out every camping trip.”