(Part 3) Best products from r/CampingGear

I'm going to cheat, but I think $150 is a reasonable starter budget for the following reason: skip the sleeping bag. You don't need a sleeping bag to go camping. I don't know anyone who chooses to sleep in a bag at home, so I can confidently say that everyone prefers to sleep with a blanket. Sleeping bags are for backpackers who need to maximize warmth for a given size and weight. Just bring a couple of blankets (one light, one warm) and you're good to go camping. Cost: free, comfort: high.

Tent: I own this coleman 3 person tent you can get for $63 on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000001978-Parent-Hooligan-Tent/dp/B001TSABLA?th=1

This is a great tent with a nice sized vestibule that is very useful in bad weather. Easy to pitch and surprisingly weatherproof (wind and hard rain). It's not the only option, but shows what you can get on the cheap. I think it's best to go somewhat cheap on the tent with a name brand like coleman because it will be relatively reliable and can be repurposed as a 'beater tent' in the future if your friend decides to upgrade. If you don't go with that option, consider the door and rain fly positioning. Many cheap tents don't provide any coverage of the door so entering when it's raining will cause everything inside to get soaked.

Pad: I'd spend the rest of the money on a decent pad. If this is for a single person, a self inflating sleeping pad will be the most comfortable and provide plenty of warmth from the cold ground. A good air mattress can also be had for cheap, but will be very cold without some sort of insulation underneath you (more blankets!). You could opt for used gear here, because really good sleeping pads cost a fair amount of money. Looking at amazon however, there seem to be plenty of self inflating pads for less than $100 that get great reviews like this one (go big and thick for comfort): https://www.amazon.com/Lightspeed-Outdoors-Warmth-Inflating-Sleep/dp/B01F7WEQYG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1492637247&sr=8-5&keywords=self%2Binflating%2Bpad&th=1&psc=1

I don't have this specific one (use an exped megamat), but I think self inflating is the way to go for car camping because of the tremendous amount of comfort it provides relative to purely inflatable options without the foam insert. I just bought an exped megamat double wide and am planning to put up my LXW megamat up for sale on geartrade. If your friend is interested in that, he could get a $250 mat for ~$100 which really is the ultimate in comfort. There may be other good options on geartrade already!

Good luck, always good to hear about people getting into camping

Stansport Scout, about as basic a tent as you can find. You can find others on Amazon, but they're all pretty much the same. I used one in the 70's as a Scout and I really wouldn't use one today for a lot of reasons... but the main one was that it was hard to get in and out as a teen without knocking the pole out of place and collapsing the tent (or have others steal your poles in the middle of the night). Can't see it being easy as an adult to get in and out without knocking over the poles.

Klymit Static V. Pretty good pad for the price. Of course you can find cheaper knock-offs, but this one is fairly well rated and comfortable enough and warm enough for three seasons. But if you want something for winter, you'll need something a lot more expensive like the Exped Downmat 9.

A sleeping bag down to -18C, think you need to go with a good bag like the Feathered Friends Widgeon. Not something I'd like to carry with me during the summer, you might want to pick up a nice 30F bag for the other three seasons.

Amazon Basics now carries a very popular cookset. The Etekcity Stove is a good stove for the price; the quality isn't as good as the MSR Pocket Rocket 2, but you get two for $20 which is a really good deal. While you can buy one for $15, might as well spend a few extra bucks and get a spare.

As for the FAK, I try to carry the smallest one possible, one that I've whipped together based on what I usually need. However, if you're looking for a bug-out bag, you may want a nice big kit like the Adventure Medical Sportsman Series which can deal with more serious wounds. Still, you can just look around, there plenty of lists for building your own kit.

The other thing you'll need is a water purifier. The ones backpackers use like the Sawyer Squeeze are considered "filters", they're designed to draw water from clean fresh sources and can fliter out things like Crypto and Giardia but not pollutants like heavy metals or pesticides; for a bug out bag you may want a more expensive purifier that can remove heavy metals and chemicals. Actually don't have a recommendation there... but you could just pick up a Sawyer and make sure you draw from clean sources.

I don't think you'd find a -5C sleeping bag that will pack small enough to backpack easily for $100CAD unless you find some very good sales. You'd need to choose a synthetic and it would likely be quite bulky and heavy, or it will be rated very liberally and wouldn't keep you as warm as it says.

Personally, I wouldn't cheap out on a sleeping bag anyways. Especially in cold weather, you want to be comfortable and warm away from civilization. You can check for deals on websites, I like TheLastHunt for past season gear but the good stuff gets snapped up very quickly and there are no returns unless the product comes damaged or different than what is ordered so you need to do your research in advance.

At full price, you'd probably need to spend another $50 minimum to find something rated to keep you warm at -5C. However, if you take care of a well made sleeping bag, it should last 10+ years with little loss of loft.

You may want to consider saving up a bit more and just purchasing a nice sleeping bag. You do have something like a Coleman or a Teton brand as an option, but it's going to be absolutely massive and the temp ratings are likely not very accurate.

Personally I chose a MEC brand (the Draco -9C) down sleeping bag. They are quite a bit past your price range (even the cheapest that fits your needs is about double your range.) I also have a 2C Chinook brand bag that I got for very cheap, but it's a summer bag.

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If you want my honest opinion, don't cheap out on a cold weather sleeping bag. Other pieces of gear failing might be fine, or if you are car camping you have a safety net, but if a sleeping system fails you when backpacking, you could possibly be in a lot of trouble. If you can, spend a bit more and get something you can trust and enjoy your time in. $200-300 for something that will last you years and years is worth it.

Otherwise, buy a cheap bag and bring a whole lot of layers to sleep in and prepared to sleep quite uncomfortably and take up 50%-75% of your backpacks capacity.

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Also make sure you use a sleeping pad, as it will add a lot of warmth to your sleep system. A friend likes this one that is fairly inexpensive and robust, with a good r-value for 3season use.

I can understand your desire for a cot set up. I can tolerate sleeping on air mattresses and sometimes on pads, but sleeping on the somewhat portable camping cot I purchased is amazing. I like mine so much that I would much prefer it over sleeping on some of the mattresses I've slept on when travelling. It is just about as comfortable as my mattress at home, and my mattress is the most comfortable thing I can sleep in. When it is too hot to sleep (I'm extremely warm blooded) I would say that the cot is better than my mattress.

That said, I don't think I've seen any two person camp cot (the one's that aren't folding mattresses) that would work well for a couple that likes to cuddle for sleep. My biggest problem is that I get hot and bothered way before my long-time gf does, and our sleeping tempuratures just don't match up. If you're in one of those cots then both of you are going to gravitate to one pit in the fabric, for me I need some air space after a few hours (or else I'll sweat and she'll be drenched). This might not be a problem for you.

Also I want you to make sure you know the two person tent-cot you link to does have the cross-bar down the middle.

How large are you and your wife? Watch out for cots that don't fit your height. I'm 6 feet tall and I barely fit into a largish cot with a pillow and when I don't want to rest my heels on a metal cross bar at the ends of my cot.

My recommendation, if you and your gf are small enough, find a really large cot that is meant for a single person. Mine is the smaller version (dimensions: 75 x 25 x 17-Inch) from the one I just linked to, and I enjoy it. If you go that route you will be sleeping closely even if you don't want to, but I think it could easily fit two people my size (190 lbs and 6 feet) and a small child. I tried it for a nap with my gf, and we both sort of just fell into the same spot that our body weight makes on the cot.

Another thing to try is a large hammock. Then you'll really be sleeping closely; unless you have some sort of "bridge hammock". Those seem to be flatter and similar in some ways to camping cots.

Those are decent gifts, some other ideas: a beanie (tuque), a buff, small day pack (REI flash 18 is amazing), water filter (the sawyer squeeze is a great one that is very light), some nalgene water bottles, wool socks (Darn Tough all day every day), base layers, bandannas, a good first aid kit, a good flashlight or headlamp (thrunite, fenix, petzel, black diamond... lots of good brands), down booties... There is a huge list of gear I could recommend, but without knowing what they have it may be duplicates of stuff they currently own.

If they backpack and camp there is an even bigger list of cool gear you could get them. One of my new favorite pieces of kit is the Human Gear spoon/fork set, been using Titanium for years but I enjoy these so much more. - https://www.amazon.com/humangear-HG0410-Humangear-GoBites-Gray/dp/B00GTXC1S6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1481299007&sr=8-7

There is a good thread about the best gifts around $20 and $40, might be some good ideas on there for you too - https://www.reddit.com/r/CampingGear/comments/5h124z/whats_the_most_useful_piece_of_gear_for_under_40/

I registered for a bunch of gear when I got married, and it was a fantastic decision.

Where are you planning to register?

There are lots of decent items on Amazon, but there's a whole lotta crap on there, too. I got this little coffee filter from someone off our registry and it's probably in the top 5 pieces of gear I most value.

You may want to try to pick stuff that can double up, like a backpacking chair like this if you're not real concerned about weight. I got one similar, and while I haven't actually taken it backpacking, it stays in my truck and has come quite in handy.

Second for a good knife. I'm a big fan of any Columbia River Knife and Tool blades. My EDC is this guy but there are a lot of CRKT options on there.

Also, a small folding saw like this one is worth a little extra weight in my opinion. I have this same one and use it both when working on my property or out on the trail. I even carry it with me when I'm canoeing because it's just so dang handy.

Stuff like Permethrin spray, or seam sealer is also a good idea. It's cheap, which means folks will buy it for ya, and it's usable no matter what other gear you end up with.

A little more on the spendy side, but I highly recommend Big Agnes tents. Their gear is WAY light so packing in/out to wherever you are going is a dream.

I have their Fly Creek UL2 but I would recommend their new Tiger Wall UL3 for a couple as you are describing...its kinda the best of man worlds.

Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3

Also, if its going to be sunny, as others have suggested get a NICE eye mask:

Sea to Summit Eye Mask

And, if its going to be hot you might consider one of these portable fans! They hang from the peak of the tent and will run for like two days on a single set of batteries:

Battery Powered Fan/Light for Camping!

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Maybe not life changing in the strictest sense but the CNOC vecto was a pretty low-commitment, low-cost convenience upgrade that made water collection and treatment easier for me.

I had been using basically a "storage bag" and so the Vecto having that wide, ziploc mouth makes collection easier in more varied conditions, and the threaded cap on the other end fits a variety of filters and - filter depending - can be used to rig up a gravity filter so long as you make sure to differentiate your dirtywater bladder from your clean bladder, which is easy since CNOC makes 2 colors.

Collect water faster (great in cold conditions) and with more precision (great in tepid ponds, don't have to dunk the whole bladder in), and can use chemical treatment in conjunction with common filters. for $15 on amazon, why the hell not?

So yeah, not "life changing" but definitely a product that is a really great value, IMO.

Not that it matters but I'm in Tampa too. First piece of advice: unless you are headed somewhere else, don't camp until November or so.

I bought this: https://www.amazon.com/CORE-Person-Instant-Cabin-Tent/dp/B00VFH1RQS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496967275&sr=8-3&keywords=Core+tent

It has been great. Withstood storms and big wind. It is amazingly easy to set up and the price is right. This is for car camping only, BTW. It will fit 2 Queen air mattresses so it holds our family of 4 very comfortably. They have a size up too, if you want it. I have recommended to 2 others who have bought them and are happy.

hey man welcome to bushcrafting so far you have a pretty decent list but i'd like to give you suggestions from what I learned throughout the years.

knife- good choice for chopping and batoning but too much blade to use whittling and making small cuts. generally you want to use either large blade/small blade or axe/ small blade combos.

backpack- 65L is very overkill unless your doing 5 day+ with clothing for every day. I would suggest something in the range of 45L max.

compass- do you know the area your going to or do you really know how to use it? I know every person says to just have one just in case but if they already know their terrain or dont even know how to use the dang thing its just wasting space.

ferro rod- generally stay away from things like multi use gear. also just from my experience you want a long rod (5"+) for more surface area to generate more sparks for an easier chance to catch fire.


pillow- I would not use hammock pillows for on ground sleeping. they're extremely small and have almost no support on the count of your body is in a curling position in a hammock. I would suggest something like an inflatable pillow for you to adjust for your support and then covering it with something like a shemagh or t-shirt.


first aid- your going to get more cuts, scrapes and burns so I would buy extra of that stuff, but I would also add some quick clot just for the off chance of having a serious injury out in the field. and also some moleskin for your feet and pain relievers. and dont forget sunscreen.


now for some additions for your gear loadout.

saw and stay away from those stupid hand chainsaws


cooking vessal


cowhide gloves


Again; welcome and I hope you enjoy yourself and grow with your errors out in the field.

You and a hand warmer in a reflective bivvy bag, in a synthetic sleeping bag, under a cheap down quilt. You can probably put it together for near or under $100 (these links total $114.66), and you have options to adjust how warm you need it to be, so it works winter and summer.

I used this setup (with a different synthetic bag that was on sale at the time) for some very cold nights. The heat reflective bivvy is a little uncomfortable sometimes, but it makes things so much warmer (and it’s much more comfortable than a Mylar space blanket). I now have better down quilts and no sleeping bag at all. Synthetic bags often provide better insulation, but are also bulkier and heavier than down. I needed smaller, lighter insulation. I also now use a USB hand warmer instead. Never tried hot water in a Nalgene bottle. 🤷🏼‍♂️

This setup’s warm enough that I didn’t need to wear a lot of layers, just my base layer, wools socks, and a down jacket.

For water filtering, check out sawyer squeeze. They also have a mini version, but I'd say the squeeze is worth the extra money & weight for increased flow rate and less clogging.

The klymit static v sleeping pad is on massdrop right now.

The brs 3000t stove is often recommended a super light canister stove.

Or if your just boiling water and not actually cooking meals on your stove then a lot of redditors love their jet boils.

Sounds like you took one step forward, two steps back.

I'd suggest car camping get your family into the outdoors.

Getting an 8 person pop up tent and an queen sized air mattress goes a long way toward comfort. Bring regular blankets and pillows and its basically a portable bedroom.

With a comfortable base camp, you can take day hikes and come back to comfort.

Eventually, build up to backpacking again. The difference between a car campground and a backcountry camp is night and day. If they appreciate the outdoors, they will appreciate the difference.

Just make sure you pick easy backpack routes to start out.

I want to recommend cots too, but they want to decrease load times, and it sounds like they want to reduce how much space it takes in their vehicles. Being able to store gear under the cot reduces the necessary campsite footprint, so that alone may make it worth it. The pad I use is extra large too. Iirc, it's 30 inches wide and 78 inches long, which fits a cot very well. The thickness suits a cot well too.

I may be trying out this Emarth sleeping bag soon. The ratings are all over the place, but I believe the down fill is correct, which should make this a comfortable 10°F bag, maybe even 0°F. I'd rather go with this style instead of a backpacking mummy bag for car camping. Since it's filled with down, it's lighter and smaller than equivalent "-20F" bags. It should last a lot longer with proper care too.

I'm relatively new to camping myself, but I picked up the 20 degree version of that bag (I got it while it was on sale for around $70 I think) and I can say I am very happy with it. Pretty light and compact given the price. I'm very comfortable in it, and I slept in it while it was 20 degrees outside and I wasn't cold at all (although I am a cold sleeper.)

I'm not a fan of Coleman, but I spent a month in Africa with this Coleman North Rim 0 Degree Mummy (not a referral link), with night temps down near freezing, and it worked out great. $64 + 15% Off = $54 and free shipping. Allegedly only 3.5lbs, too. I liked this bag for sleeping on a stretcher as it was nice and wide and long enough to fit tall people, but I was able to use some of that extra space to roll up the top into a pillow. The construction also kept the wind off me.

Some of the reviews mention quality control problems with the zipper getting stuck, but I didn't have that issue, so perhaps they've since resolved it or it's isolated to production at a specific factory.

The tent and ground tarp are way too heavy, over 11lbs combined for just those two. If it is just going to be you then a one or two man tent would be a lot better.

The first aid kit is way too much as well. There are much smaller hiker kits out there.

You don't need three kinds of lights, most people get by with just a headlamp, maybe one other small lightweight light if you want a second light.

A lot of the stuff in the cookware kit is unnecessary but could just be left.

Do you already have a stove or how are you planning on cooking?

The water purifier looks like a chinese knockoff of the Sawyer mini, which is about the same price.

The sleeping pad might not be enough, I think you want one that is a minimum 3.5 r value if you are expecting snow.

You mentioned having a 3 season bag, if it isnt at at least 15-20 degrees below than your expected temps then you will probably be very cold.

Edit: these cascade mountain poles are generally better reviewed and are about the same price, they are also sold in stores at Sam's Club or Costco (cant remember which).

Edit 2: Fixed the first link, it didnt work. These poles are the ones I actually have and they have held up well.

Wow that side sleeper bag sounds incredible! I’ll have to check it out

Edit: Any thoughts on this pillow? Sort of hesitant because it doesn’t have any reviews but it sounds perfect. Just don’t know how much I trust random Amazon pages with no reviews lol


https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Travel-Bolster-Scientifically-Sleepers/dp/B07J3QL2DW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539097981&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=the+bae+travel+body+pillow+inflatable&dpPl=1&dpID=31f7ofMwPUL&ref=plSrch

Even really cheap tents hold up ok IME. I mostly backpack but I go car camping several times per year. I have the 8 person version of this and it's been fine during some really bad storms
(sheltered by trees). I like the flatter front and spacious entry because that keeps things cleaner. I also have taken this on two trips down the east coast. The porch gets wet but it was fantastic for keeping bugs out of the bedroom when we camped the Everglades. For reference I have a 50 lb mutt and the main issue I have is that he's figured out the doors so must be on leash.

I don't really like the "instant" tents though. Almost always harder to set up and the poles seem fragile. Much harder to clean too. The only one I've had that I liked was the Coleman popup. Can't beat the 3 second setup.

I'd love to take these things when go camping:

1. sleeping bag
   
   
2. waterproof bag
   
   
3. waterproof headlamp
   
   
4. portable powerbank
   
   All of these could be easily bought from amazon with reasonable prices. The customer reviews are not bad. As a first time camper, you don't need to buy too much expensive gears, just buy something affordable and see if you enjoy camping. When you decide to have more camping, you could search some advanced equipments.

Looks like a good set up!

If it's going to be cold, you could probably leave the sandals at home. Also, I can personally recommend replacing those Sawyer bags with the CNOC Vecto bag: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075NQT5KP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VAwSBb6S4KBWK

Practice with it at home, it can be finicky.

Have fun! Be sure to post pictures when you get back!

When deciding how to choose a sleeping bag for backpacking, you should consider some features.

Temperature rating: Choose a sleeping bag rated for the typical temperature range you plan to backpack in. Like the enkeeo sleeping bag, coming with a Polyester cover that is 100% water-resistant and a polyester lining with cotton filling that is soft and comfortable, is great to use in spring, summer and early autumn, you are able to stay relatively warm between 41-60 degrees Fahrenheit on account of its soft and warm lining that made of 400g/m2 cotton.


Type of insulation: Choose from down, synthetic or a combination of the two. Each type of insulation has its pros and cons, explained below.

If you're willing to downsize to a 6 person (which, with only 2 people, really shouldn't be an issue), then I would check out the Eureka! Copper Canyon 6. I just picked it up on the suggestions of The Wire Cutter who rated it as the best tent for family and car camping.

It won't actually be utilized until next week, but I'm excited to try it out. Also got a couple of these cots to go in it, which are huge and will make it seem like walking into a hotel room with 2 twin beds.

Of course. So in general, if you anticipate that it will get down to 13 degrees at night, I would recommend a bag rated to at least 0 degrees. Temperature ratings are really survival ratings (in my experience). I have never been warm in a bag rated to the temperature it actually was outside.

Something like this is a good, affordable option.
https://www.amazon.com/Sports-TrailHead-Ultralight-Sleeping-Orange/dp/B007JTLKCC/ref=sr_1_28?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1424727665&sr=1-28

Some great American brands

• Mountain Hardwear ($$$)
  
  
• Marmot ($$$)
  
  
• REI ($$
  
  
• Sierra Designs ($)
  
  
• Teton Sports ($)
  
  
  Some European brands that I know are good
  
  
• Quechua
  
  
• Mammut
  
  
• Montaine

That is a giant heavy tent. And the frame required to set it up is sold separately.

You say you want to car camp, how many people will be sleeping in the tent? For weekend or month's at a time?

I bought this tent for car camping and it's been great. Room for an air mattress, plus the porch is a great way to keep bugs out of the main compartment.

I used to have this tent. It is great for backpacking. It weighs 3.5 lbs complete with fiberglass polls and steel tent pegs. I like its water proof feature mostly, its thicker bottom is made to keep dry. The bag (which holds everything you need) is very lightweight and compact, and fit just fine in my pack.

My partner and I have a 0F double wide Teton sleeping bag for our car camping trips and we love it. It's really warm and comfortable. We use it camping out in CA and haven't hit super low temps in it (lowest was probably high 30s or low 50s), but neither of us wear clothes when sleeping and I usually have to keep my side unzipped so I can vent and/or stick a leg out because it's so toasty.

This is the bag we use: TETON Sports Mammoth 0F Double-Wide Sleeping Bag; Double Sleeping Bag Perfect for Base Camp while Cold Weather Camping, Backpacking, and Hiking; Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F38YHI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_uI1cBbH1S9A2Q

https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Filter-PRO-Emergency-Cleanable/dp/B00QFXGSIY/ref=zg_bs_3402141_14?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=WVJ8Y364J60S8H9T12PD I use this one in the desert. the push is great for wet sand, and sometimes in the desert thats all you get. Its bigger and heavy. But this thing is not going to let me down..

i also use towel, t shirt or sock as pre filter. sock filled with wet sand works well enough.. . You can find wet sand under many many desert cactus and other plants.. I have used this method and got usable amounts of water. You fill a sock with wit sand and then you wring it down and drip it into the filter.. It takes about 20 loads of sand in the sock but, you can get a gallon in about hour or so..

I highly recommend running the water through a t shirt or sock at all times. desert Dust is hard and fine. It tends to do a number on seals.

We got a Teton double and will use it for the first time tomorrow. What I like about this double is it has side zippers, so if we need to pee it's easier to get out without disturbing the other. We'll see how much we like it over the weekend

For about the same weight, I highly recommend the Bacho laplander folding saw.

It has worked much better than any hatchet I have used and is much easier to carry.

TETON Sports TrailHead 20F Ultralight Sleeping Bag Perfect for Backpacking, Hiking, and Camping, Orange/Grey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JTLKCC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4BdZxb6K66X1V

I love this sleeping bag. If I didn't get a good deal on a kelty cosmic 20, I would still be using it.

I am looking at some budget pads like the Trail Scout or the Klymit V Lightweight. Sounds like the consensus so far is manual. Might wait until I can afford a better manual one.

I'm also a side sleeper. This last Xmas trip I used this three-layer combo: air pad (Klymit Static V) on top of a thick closed-cell foam pad (something better than the thin blue pads) on top of a doubled-up sheet of Reflectix.

I slept like a (big, hairy, snoring) baby. The cost was less than $80.

I actually went back to a plastic(I believe it's nylon actually) set because I couldn't get over the weird feeling of a titanium spoon, plus the set I got breaks down to two pieces and can click together to be long for the deep dehydrated food - and it packs much easier.

This is what I've been using for about a year now, love these things - https://www.amazon.com/humangear-HG0410-Humangear-GoBites-Gray/dp/B00GTXC1S6/

Were you sleeping on a pad? That makes a world of difference between staying warm or freezing at night. Most inflatable air mattresses suck heat away from you, so a closed cell foam mat would help. Also, what you wear in the bag helps. I usually sleep in long sleeve merino base layers, wool socks and even a hat.

I have this big, heavy Coleman North Rim bag for cold weather car camping duty. Pretty cheap too.

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-North-Adult-Mummy-Sleeping/dp/B0009PUSO4

Being 6'8", this is the best sleeping bag I have ever owned.

http://www.tetonsports.com/Sleeping-Bags/Sleeping-bag-main.htm
I purchased the two person bag off amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F38YHI

They make a single person one also.

Edit: 94 inches long

For car camping, we've used the Coleman Hooligan for about three years now.


It's technically a 3 person tent, but with a medium sized dog it will probably be perfect. It doesn't have a giant vestibule, but it's large enough to get in and out of and store wet gear.


Sub $100. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TSABLA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I personally have a Life Saver water bottle that I have used countless times in really gross conditions, like mosquito larvae in the water stagnate and didn't get sick. I also recently purchased a Survivor Filter PRO off Amazon. It is much much more portable HOWEVER I have not had a chance to try it in the same conditions as my Life Saver though it does state that it can also filter out a lot of heavy metals so I would imagine that would be desirable in a filter you want to use in a different country. https://www.amazon.com/Survivor-Filter-PRO-Cleanable-Attachable/dp/B00QFXGSIY/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1525118583&sr=1-7&keywords=water+filter

Hello, I'm not too familiar with that specific filter. Can you typically screw it right on to a smart water bottle or pepsi bottle? If so, you could buy this bladder and screw the filter right on to the end of it and either hang from a tree or squeeze filter it into your clean water bottle.

I got this cot for Christmas, and it is WAY more beefy than I had anticipated. I guess I should've paid closer attention to the pic of the 7 guys standing on it, 'cause it is a beast. There's room for me (6'1 220lbs) and my dog (90lbs), and I imagine it'd work for 2 people cuddling up, but definitely not 2 people side-by-side.

Sawyer Squeeze + Evernew Bladder

1. Relatively light, not the lightest option on the market
   
2. Very durable and reliable. Backflush in the field for renewed life.
   
3. 1 or 2 hikers only, not groups
   
4. Relatively fast, not instant
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP129-Filtration-Squeezable/dp/B00B1OSU4W
   
   https://www.amazon.com/EVERNEW-Water-Carry-System-2000ml/dp/B000AQYY5Q
   
   ​
   
   As you see - there are always trade-offs for every gear choice. It all depends on your needs. The big categories tend to be chemicals (like AquaMira), filters (like Sawyer Squeeze/Mini or Katadyn BeFree), and UV (like SteriPen). Group requirements end up being a separate category - which gravity setups are peopular for (like Platypus GravityWorks).
   
   

• https://www.amazon.com/Aquamira-Chlorine-Dioxide-Treatment-Bottles/dp/B000OR111G
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Katadyn-Membrane-Endurance-Camping-Backpacking/dp/B075X5R67T
  
• https://www.amazon.com/SteriPen-Adventurer-Backpacking-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B00M3SOJIG
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Platypus-GravityWorks-High-Capacity-Emergency-Preparedness/dp/B00G4V4IVQ
  
  ​
  
  Is there a reason you are filtering on car camping trips? Is bringing in your water in jugs not an option? Is there no potable water source at your site? I have 2, collapsible and rigid, water containers that I use for car camping that I recommend. Might save the life of your filters.
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Products-Jumbo-Tainer-Gallon-Container/dp/B000GKDFH4
  
• https://www.amazon.com/WaterStorageCube-Collapsible-Container-Hurricane-Emergency/dp/B07FVJLYZ4

Sawyer Squeeze Water filter. You will be tempted to get the Sawyer mini instead, and save a few dollars and a miniscule amount of weight. Don't. Get the Squeeze instead.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B1OSU4W/ref=twister_B01MY8CBXB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have had great results with Cascade Mountain Tech and they are relatively cheap compared to the more expensive name brands. They collapse and when extended have never had an issue with any parts slipping.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Cascade-Mountain-Tech-Collapsible-Trekking/dp/B00EJP43FA/ref=sr_1_10?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1549362983&sr=1-10&keywords=trekking%2Bpoles&th=1

Just thought I’d chime in here and say if you are looking at getting the klymit static v Amazon has it on sale today for 41 bucks and some change

Klymit Static V Lightweight Sleeping Pad, Green/Char Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RFG0NM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_4wRTzb65DNP21

You're kind of where I was a couple years ago. After my research I decided to go cheap and get these poles, realizing that I would probably want a much nicer set later on, and if I bought ~$75 poles I would just regret it more. They're a great value at the price and I have no serious complaints given that. But I do now want something lighter with a better adjustment and collapsing system, so a good set of lighter z-fold poles is on my list. I plan to keep these around and use them as loaners for the poor saps I drag along with me.

Is this better?

https://smile.amazon.com/Klymit-Static-Lightweight-Sleeping-Green/dp/B007RFG0NM

deals end in 4 hours

https://www.amazon.com/CORE-Person-Instant-Cabin-Tent/dp/B00VFH1RQS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=core+tent&qid=1570075290&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Sawyer Squeeze is only 20.69 right now.

Get the ones with flip lock and cork grip.

Klymit Static V Lightweight Sleeping Pad, Green/Char Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RFG0NM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2elDCbPHNFCCB

I'd recommend a folding saw first. Weighs less and requires less energy (IMO) to take limbs/small trees down. I've been using the folding saw in the link below for a few years now, about two dozen trips overall where I've used it and it's made quick work of everything I've attempted with it. The biggest being a dead tree about 9" in diameter. Still cuts through stuff like the day I got it!

folding saw

Only gets as low as low-sixties in the summer here and I'm going in a few weeks. Not too sure if I'll camp much in the winter (or at all, really). I want to get back into it, but unsure of how much time I can invest into camping again. Not sure if I should get this, or just go cheap and get a cheap synthetic Coleman. Generic question, but thoughts?


Realistically, I would probably only need something that will be fine in warm-weather camping. In the spring, it can get as low as 40 in the mornings, and in the summers, it's around 60.

I like down because of how lightweight and long-lasting it is, but it does get humid in the summers here. And I probably would only take the bag out 1-2 times per year.

I know Coleman isn't the sharpest tool in the shed when compared to some high tech hiking/camping gear companies but here's my .2 cents. I started hiking this year. I bought this bag https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HTYU2Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1, it's a 40 degree, $50(at the time) bag that weights about 3lb. I wrap it in a tarp which also serves as my tent pad and strap it under my 33L osprey. I have gotten used to it and see no issues with the setup. now moving into the winter I'm getting the winter version of this bag https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009PUSO4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I'll have it this week so if ur still in the market i can give u the rundown of what I see.
I guess the take away here is that some gear is meant to last for a LONG time. I prefer to know what I want before I make a bigger investment so when I start having problems, I'll upgrade.