Camping newbie...

[complain jane]

I'm going camping in the spring for the first time since I was a high school kid.

That was 20 years ago and now I need to remember what the heck I need. I'll be in a campsite with a car, not really roughing it (at least not yet), but there won't be running water or electricity, it will be in a forest and it will be me and 3 other people who have never camped. I'm hoping to persuade them to do this for 2 nights instead of 1.

I know I need the basics... tent, sleeping bag, air mattress thing (bad back), firewood, kindling, cooking grate, coffee maker, cooler and all that stuff, flashlight, candles, lantern, first aid kit, something to hold water, hiking gear.

Outside of that does anyone have any suggestions that I might not think of? Like I said it's been a million years since I've been camping.

I just know that I can't wait!

[Redneck Socialist]

1. Sounds like you have the basics covered

Since you're car camping you can bring pretty much anything you like.

I'd toss in a couple of folding chairs and I'd go with a coleman stove. It'll be much easier to cook over than the fire.

[ManiacJoe]

2. Depending on how much detail you are looking for...

pots and pans for cooking
plates and cups, silverware
raincoat
matches
toilet paper !!!!!!!!!

Snag a copy of the Boy Scout Handbook, it covers everything you need.

Be careful with the candles. Open flames are a big no-no in tents, especially if you have down sleeping bags. With the lantern and flashlight, they are really not needed.

Check your local rules/regs/laws to make sure open fires are allowed where you are going, else you may need a stove and fuel.

[plantwomyn]

3. My only additions would be

Tarp and hammock. Wait and marshmallows!

[krispos42]

4. Bring a couple of largish plastic bins to hold washwater

for doing pots and stuff. And big pot to boil water.

They sell 5-gallon collapsable water jugs for a few dollars. When I went camping I would drive the car over to the nearest water spigot and fill it up, then just leave it on the picnic table in the sun to get nice and warm.

Bring waterproof sandals, like flip-flops, for the shower. A travel vanity kit that hangs up on a hook would be a good investment.

A few cheap glowsticks would do a good job of providing night-time tent illumination. They cost less than a buck at most stores and come in a variety of colors. You can also get a very useful compact lantern that moves from "flood" to "spot" beam, comes with an carrying handle that splits into a support to position it on the ground, and runs off of 4 D batteries, all for like 8 bucks. Very useful to have.

Bug repellent. A couple of those OFF moquito-repelling coils, too. Those seem to work fairly well.

Don't drain out the melted cooler water. Just keep adding ice. Put all the meats and such in quality zip-lock bags or big Tupperware-style bins. Tortillas are more portable than rolls, so prepping stuff for fajitas or burritos or quesadillas isn't a bad idea.

If you can, line your cooking pots and pans with Reynold's Release aluminum foil. Nothing sticks to it, and you can just ball it up and recycle it when you're done. In fact, for the Mexican food you can probably just make a packet out of Release and put it over the fire, letting it cook and steam itself.

Garbage bags.

[SteveM]

5. If it's cold, take a "space blanket." The item I needed more than once...

before I learned to include it. In cold weather, even an air mattress will eventually transmit the chill from below. I also use a foam rubber strip. Which ever, put the piece under you and atop the bed you make.

I frequently camp out in the back of a mini-van when on deer hunting trips. The extra room enables me to use a good sleeping bag as an unzipped blanket so I am not so constricted.

Also, I obtained for free an old plastic commercial pickle container from a restaurant. It holds 5 gallons, has a stout handle and snugs away like a gerry can. You'll have all the water you need.

Happy camping!

[XemaSab]

6. Indispensable items:

A head lamp, a tarp, at least four layers of clothing (rain jacket, liner, long-sleeve shirt, tee shirt or lightweight long underwear shirt), and a good knife.

[conscious evolution]

7. My tips

For starting a fire bring some matchlight charcoal briquettes.
Buy LED flashlights instead of regular flashlights.(The batteries will last a whole lot longer than a standard flashlight.
Buy some tarps to hang over tents and cooking areas.The tarps over the tents will help keep your tent dry in case of rain and will keep tent shaded and cool in case of sun.
Bring musical instruments.
Instead of TP bring baby diaper wipes thingies.You can get more uses than from tp alone.
Bring several extra lighters.Nothing worse than being stuck out in middle of nowhere with no way to make a fire.
Be sure to run around in the woods naked.It is strangely liberating.And fun.Especially if a SO is along.
If you have small children DO NOT dress them in camoflage.Dress them in bright unnatural colors.At night have them wear those chem light wrist bands.
If you leave your campsite at night leave a light on so you can find it again.(you would be surprised at how many people I have seen stumble around in the dark trying to find their camp.)
Have fun.