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- Planning your first camping trip isn’t all about floating down the river or cooking s’mores over a campfire.
- It’s easy to forget essentials like sleeping pads, pots, and fire-starting supplies when you’re focused on all the fun you’re about to have.
- From sleeping bags and mats to portable cookware and cleaning products, these 27 pieces of gear are essential for your first camping trip.
Sitting around the campfire and roasting s’mores under a moonlit sky or spending the day floating down the river is what camping dreams are made of.
That’s exactly what I pictured on my first camping trip when I was 18. Little did I know that I needed something soft to pad my sleeping bag, coal to cook food, and soap to clean the one pan I managed to pack — for about 10 people might I add. Yeah, I forgot to pack pretty much everything.
In the years since, I’ve learned a lot about what basic supplies and gear I need to be comfortable from my many camping trips along the Delaware River all the way to Death Valley. I’ve camped in sunny weather that never dropped below the 70s and in the freezing rain alike.
Save yourself the embarrassment (and sore back) of making the same mistakes with this list camping gear and supplies — all affordable and under $100 too. Trust us now and thank us later.
Here are 27 pieces of camping gear you’ll need to have a fun and comfortable camping trip:
A tent that fits two people
REI
REI Co-op Camp Dome 2-person Tent, available at REI for $99.95
This two-person tent is great for camping or bunking with another buddy. It’s made from polyester fabric resistant to UV degradation and comes with a rainfly to keep you dry. The mesh pockets inside can store things like your cell phone and keys, and there are two large mesh windows that can be unzipped for ventilation and visibility. This tent comes with all the poles, stakes, and necessary parts for easy assembly.
A sleeping bag for just above-freezing weather
REI
REI Co-op Trail Pod 30 Sleeping Bag (three lengths), available at REI for $79.95 to $99.95
This sleeping bag can help keep you warm even if temperatures hover right at 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Made with water-resistant synthetic filling and lining, you’ll not only stay warm throughout the night, but you’ll stay dry too. For maximum heat retention, there’s a side zipper and face muffler with draw cords to keep cold air from entering your bag.
A sleeping bag for below-freezing weather
Backcountry
Kelty Tuck 20 Sleeping Bag (two lengths), available at Backcountry for $99.95
If you find yourself camping in really cold weather, this sleeping bag is made with durable polyester and insulated with ThermaPro foam to help keep you warm even if temps go as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, the sleeping bag is designed with a draft tube and draw cords to keep cold air out of your bag.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – frea@businessinsider.com (Francesca Rea)