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i love my REI half dome 4 and loved the REI kingdom tents. however, i wouldn't recommend it for you.

this is based on a few points you mentioned.

• you are relatively new at this
  
  
• this is going to be for a long time (2 months)
  
  
• i doubt you're going minimalist camping but rather plan to be comfortable.
  
  so based on that, you'll need a relatively big tent. i would go for a 6 man tent minimum. usually, 3 man tent is good for 3 people on a 20inch sleeping pad and that's it. no space for gear or bags or anything. a 6-man tent will be good for 3 people and some gear. you'll have to go to an 8-man tent if you want space, but some of the bigger 6-man tents are just as big, depends on the model.
  
  now the downsides to a big tent. pretty much all sub-$100 tents are not meant for mountaineering, thus they do not protect as well from big storms or winds. however, they will suffice in pretty much any national park. you might get a little rain or water coming into the tent, but that's the sacrifice you pay to save money. you'll be dropping $500 to get a NICE tent you don't have to worry about.
  
  there's the coleman montana 8 that gets relatively good reviews.
  
  but if you can pick up an REI kingdom 6 for cheap at an REI garage sale, i'd go that direction. pick up the REI kingdom garage if your budget allows for it, and you'll be good to go anywhere. most importantly, you'll be extremely comfortable.
  
  the REI kingdom is much easier to put up than the coleman and will protect better from the elements. but again, nothing wrong with the coleman given the price.

Hello! Southern Ohio'an here.

I'm going to speak to car camping, and camping in campgrounds. I know a lot of folks on /r/camping are more into back packing, but I'm more of a roll into a campground, setup, and have a few beers sort of guy.

Car camping is a lot of fun. We have a pop up camper that we tow behind our van. But a tent is just as good.

Look into some local state parks that have camp grounds. You can find them here. http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/

You'll definitely want to go scope out a campsite first. Like its already been mentioned, Ohio doesn't have a lot of land like out west, where you can just hike out and go camping. And, since your a newbie, I'd definitely stick to a state park campground to begin with. Before we stay at a local campground, we'll drive through and write down site numbers that we like. Then, you can book them online. I tend to look for private heavily wooded sites, where I have complete privacy from my neighbors. But, everyone is different.

Ohio doesn't have any scary animals like drop bears or snipes, really your only worried about skunks and raccoon. Raccoon like to get into garbage and coolers after dark. Usually I set a propane tank on top of my coolers so they can't open them, and either take my garbage to the dumpster at the camp ground before bed, or double bag it and put it in the back of the van.

There are no animals that are going to try to actively come into your tent, while you are in there. There's just nothing that aggressive in ohio. I believe the saying is "They are more afraid of you than you are of them." Skunks are about the same as raccoons, but they are a bit ballsier. I've had them come right up into our campsite while we're still up, and even walk right under my chair while I was sitting in it! DO NOT FREAK OUT. If you freak out, they'll freak out, and they might spray. If you don't freak out, they're just like cats. Just be calm, and go on about your business. As long as you didn't leave food sitting out, its no big deal, they'll get bored and wander off.

If you are staying in a state park camp ground, they will have showers at the bath house. There will be bath houses with toilets, sinks and showers. Works pretty much like at a gym. Generally I only get a shower if I'm out for more than 2 nights. Less than that, and I just change my socks and underwears and wipe down with some baby wipes.

We're actually considering a trip to Geneva state park soon, which I think should be pretty close to you. http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/geneva#reserve

Here is a pretty typical campsite that we stay at, at a state park - http://imgur.com/2zib5Jw You can see there is a spot to park, and then a nice shaded wooded area for you to setup a tent, a fire ring, etc. A bathroom was about a 100 yard walk away. In case you are curious, the orange tape is a boundary line for my 3 year olds. They know they aren't allow to cross the orange tape, so we can trust them to run around the site without going too far.

So some basic things you are going to want to bring -
A tent. For sure.

Sleeping bags.

A tarp to go under the tent.

An air mattress, unless you like hobbling around like an old man after your camping trip because you slept on tree roots and rocks.

A cooking grate. The ones they have on the fire rings at a campground are laughable. A nice chrome one is like $20. I think I have this one. http://www.amazon.com/Romes-129-Pioneer-Chrome-Plated/dp/B001ASDHU6

Firewood. You are going to need more than you think you will. I pack one of those large rubbermaid storage containers that an average person could sit inside of, full of wood for each night we're camping. One of those little bundles they sell for $5 at a gas station would last maybe half an hour. This is a huge mistake I see a lot of first timers making, when I'm camping. You are not allowed to cut down wood in ohio state parks. If you are caught, you will get fined. Don't risk it. I get a cord of wood delivered to my house for $60 from a local farmer that sells it.

Something to START the fire wit. Especially if you end up with green wood. Bring some kiln dried wood, like some 2x4s, and something to get that going with - some newspaper helps. Get the 2x4s burning, then add your regular firewood. I'm sure there are some folks on here that can get a fire going with 2 sticks in the rain, but when you have a hungry family sitting around staring at you while you are trying to make green wood light, it sucks.

Personal stuff. Deodorant, tooth brush, soap for the showers, sandals for the showers so you don't get athletes foot, etc.

A cooler. Gotta keep your food cold. And beer. Whats camping without beer?

Pots and pans, accordingly. Look at what food you are packing, and think about how you are going to cook it. An iron skillet might come in handy. Maybe a sauce pan. Don't overpack, here. Too many can be a pain.

When you are pack your food, Don't think just about main courses, but you'll want sides too. This is a mistake my wife always makes. We'll have chicken for dinner, but she never thinks to bring like...corn on the cob, or rice and beans, or SOMETHING besides the protein.

Water! Can't have too much water. Especially during the summer.

Can opener. My god, I've made that damn mistake too many times.

This isn't necessary, but fun - Pie Irons! http://www.amazon.com/Romes-1705-Square-Steel-Handles/dp/B000FNLXWG/ My wife will pre-cook sausage at home. Then for breakfast, I put an uncooked biscuit from a can of biscuits in each side of the iron, squish it out to cover the whole surface, then sausage, cheese and a raw egg. Put that over the fire, and 10 minutes later you have something that'll make a breakfast hot pocket go crying home to its mama. http://imgur.com/CgycHgI

Now, this is an investment, but a coleman camp stove is handy. That way you don't have to start a fire every time you want to boil some water or fry an egg. You can get one for $40 on sale at walmart, and they use little 1lb propane cylinders.

Chairs. Or something to sit on. We have a folding chair for each person.

Something to do. Snacks. Pack SMore stuff! Cards. Star gazing charts for after dark. Frisbees, foot balls, fishing equipment, whatever you want.

I love my Klymit. The thing folds up to the size of a Nalgene bottle and is way more comfortable than you'd expect. I'm 5'10, 190lbs and like to sleep on my side and sleep great on this.

Other alternative (which is decidedly NOT convenient and is bulky, but is insanely comfortable if you're going car camping or using it stationary in your apartment and don't need to lug it around) is getting a memory foam mattress like this. I pull this out when friends crash at my apartment and they have all raved about how comfy it is. It's also great for cold weather camping, since the foam is a great insulator. I had this one on a trip that got down to 37 overnight and it kept me super toasty.

Welcome to the Great Outdoors!

There's already lots of Great advice in this thread!

You could maybe borrow her parents gear again, go to a tent camping campground and talk to other tent campers about their gear. How they use it, how it performs, why they like it, why they don't like it. You'll get some cheap and easy hands on information. Most campers are rather friendly and willing to share knowledge & information. NEVER go into someone's campsite when they are not there!

Here's something more to consider. Camping with your girlfriend, you should not discount getting a 3 person tent for 2 people, the extra room can be really important/comfortable when/if you're stuck in the tent for a while, usually due to temporary bad weather. IE, Florida Thunderstorms. You/she will appreciate that there's "So much room for activities!"! I recently upgraded to a 3 person tent for my girlfriend & I and love it! When shopping for tents keep in mind that you're looking for a place to live.

One caveat on gear is "The more you know, the less you need", so develop some outdoor skills! Which knife is "best"? The sharp one!
Learn how to properly create and keep a sharp edge on which ever knife you prefer. Learn how not to die in a bad situation, which you WILL have sooner or later. Carry a small portable shelter when hiking, or any time you're away from your base shelter.

Learn how to have [clean water,]https://www.cdc.gov/family/camping) ( "Intestinal Distress" (Sitting on the toilet, hugging a bucket) isn't fun! Hygene outdoors is a bigger priority than many people only pay passing focus on, and a large part of that is how to shit in the woods.

Learn how to find your way without electronics, and get some knowledge of the plants & animals in your area, (The more you know...).

Keep in mind that there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors, all of them equally valid on their own terms.

Learning and enjoying outdoor skills never ends, It is truly a Pursuit of a Lifetime.

Have fun!

Last summer I drove around every state west of the plains. Camping spots are so easy to find that the only spots I had to pay for were at Mt Rainier and the Grand Canyon. Finding free camping is very easy, especially if you have the right map. What makes life easier is a good atlas. While an atlas may seem a bit much for some people, it shows every road/trail in all BLM and forest service land. it makes it very easy to find a spot.

I would use Freecampsites and campscout as good tools to find free or cheap spots. when I got to a small town I would go park in front of their library and use the wifi to go on these sites as well as check the weather.

Some of the best sites I have stayed at were free or around $5. The only time I would recommend reserving a spot is in National Parks or popular ones when it is the weekend.

Do not stay in RV parks. I cannot speak for the eastern half of the country, but in the west you can find a good spot without having to stay at a noisy RV park. RV parks will also charge you a premium even if you are not using power hookups.

Here are some of my favorite spots that I found that were not only free, but had no one around. they range from the back country of the grand canyon to an outdoor shooting range next to a cornfield in Iowa

Where are you camping/hiking? What region? City/State?

I'm trying to get a read on whether you'll need to prepare for deer tick issues - NY State is rife with them right now, and you do NOT want to get into a problem with a deer tick - trust me.

Where are you camping?

Here are some essentials:

• Ditch the flashlight, consider instead a headlamp. Energizer x7 LED Headlights which you can pick up from ANY Home Depot right at the register - they're about $20 each. Trust me, if you need to take a leak in the dark, you'll need both hands free ;)
  
  
• Nalgene/water bottles - an empty Gatorade bottle also works. Don't bother carrying 2 gallons in with you, water weighs 1 pound for every liter - do the math - that shit's heavy. If you're camping by a river, consider using a filtration system instead and filter water as you need it. I use the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System and it works a treat.
  
  
• Leave your knives at home - they're heavy - you're going to have to carry that shit around. Instead, for what you'll actually need a knife for, try a Leatherman Multitool. This thing has scissors, blade, tweezers, file, and a flat head screwdriver (can also work a Phillips head screw). $20, 1.4oz.
  
  
• Bug repellent. If you're in an area susceptible to ticks, you may want to consider treating your gear (clothing mostly) with Permithrin. Ticks hate this shit - in fact it kills them. Get this. Follow the instructions to the letter.
  
  
• Leave the hatchet at home - again, total luxury item that you won't need. And it likely weighs a pound.
  
  
• Zippo? Fuck that - take a box of matches, keep those in a Ziploc bag. Want to know a free method of tinder for making your fires? Dryer lint. Take a Ziploc bag of that shit with you - lights like a dream. Also, fluid? What are you, lazy? There's no better feeling than making a fire all by yourself, and in this climate with particularly dry environments, you shouldn't have a problem with building a nice roaring fire without using lighter fuel.
  
  
• Make sure your tents are rated for at least 10'F LESS than the temperature it's forecast for the nights you'll be staying out. Nothing worse than shivering all night - no sleep means miserable trip.
  
  
• EAR PLUGS. Whether it's your snoring buddy, or random noises in the night (snapping twigs, etc), ear plugs will ensure you get a decent night of sleep.
  
  
• First aid kit - essential. Bandaids, Tylenol/Aleve, antiseptic.
  
  
• Check to see what your state's rules are on bear/food safety. You will either be required to use a Bear Cannister (Bear Vault is an awesome product or you'll have to "bear bag" your food - essentially bear bagging is a method of hanging your food in high branches of a tree out of the reach of bears - you have to know what you are doing. Great article on that here.
  
  
• Do NOT go to bed with anything food related (or anything with an odor, ideally), ever. Bears can smell food from literally miles away - you do NOT want one trying to get inside your tent to sniff out that Snickers wrapper you left in your pants pocket.
  
  
• Food - take whatever you want, that's the beauty of eating out at camp. Make sure to take plenty of fatty foods for your hikes (chocolate, peanuts, etc) so you get plenty of carbs in you. A warm meal before your hike in the morning will not only give you some well needed energy, but it will also serve as a great moral boost. Remember, you need to pack in what you pack out.
  
  
• Booze. Leave this at home. Remember, cans, bottle, everything you carry in you MUST carry out. If you must insist on taking alcohol, maybe fill a Soft Platypus with your favorite wine or vodka cocktail.
  
  
• TOILET PAPER. For obvious reasons. Never take a #1 or #2 too close to a water source. It's considered a big no no to wash in a water source. For washing yourselves, or dirty dishes, fill a pot (or Nalgene, etc) and take it back to around camp and do with it what you will there away from the water source. Soiled water is known as grey water - never dump this anywhere near a water source - at LEAST 200 feet away.
  
  
• Cell phone. Emergencies. Make sure you have them.
  
  
• Batteries - those headlamps take AAA size - take at least a dozen if all you lads are taking a headlamp each.
  
  
• Clothing. If you're hiking quite far (let's say over 3-5 hours), don't wear cotton clothing. It will chafe the crap out of your bollocks, and wet cotton can kill (in low temps, obviously). If you have synthetic clothing for the hike, wear it.
  
  
• Spare socks. It's just smart.
  
  
• Camp towel. This can be a bandana, or other small cloth - wipe down the inside of your tent, wash your face, clean the pots, etc.
  
  If I think of anything else I'll post edits (running out the door right now).
  
  The most important thing... have an awesome time.

I made the mistake of subscribing to monthly camping box. The previous month's box looked awesome and came with a camping pillow (something I needed) and a bunch of other stuff for $25 so I signed up with the intention of getting one and canceling. I ended up with three months of the box before I was able to get the cancel function on the site to work. The second box I got came with pocket bellows.

When everything is damp and we're car camping we often used a lid from a tote box or an empty cardboard box to fan the fire but now we have this little thing and it works amazingly. It gets a lot of condensation in it by the end of the night but it's fun to use if you get past the spit. It's great for backpacking too and it's got a nice little carrying case so you don't have to worry about it getting bent in your pack. It's simple, it works. I love this stupid little thing.

Keep it simple at first. Find an easy loop (less than 10 miles so you don’t have to plan for water) near you. Alltrails is a good app that will help you start doing that.

There’s no need to start with car camping unless you already have the gear for that. Part of the fun of backpacking is gradually figuring out what gear you do and don’t need, what to bring, and what to leave behind. So release yourself to that journey. There is a joy in the ignorance of starting a new hobby.

That being said, your “big four” items are going to be a sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, and cooking system. For a cooking system, I would say an MSR Pocket rocket is absolutely the best go-to. That, plus fuel, and a lighter will be enough for you to get dehydrated meals made. I like to bring a measuring cup if I’m using dehydrated meals. That little bit of precision is really worth it.

To start fires at your campsite, you can put cotton balls in a plastic bag and soak them in isopropyl alcohol. Lint from your dryer also helps to start campfires.

Not sure what your budget is on gearing up, but absolutely avoid Walmart/Coleman brand stuff. Speaking from experience on that point.

You can find affordable, entry level stuff on amazon. A good starter tent for one person is here:

ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1-Person Tent https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BMKD1DU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UG5QBb04ZP4E1

High quality sleeping bags that are warm and lightweight are going to be pricey, but you can find some inexpensive ones on amazon that will get the job done.

I really like the Big Agnes sleeping pad. Been using that for a while now. Also, Osprey backpacks are very much worth the price tag.

Not a meal, but the kids will love it if you get some cookie dough and a pie iron. There's almost no way to screw this up and it's fantastic. :) Makes good biscuits and stuff like that too.

I'm not from California, but here are a few things you should bring:

-Warm clothes, extra clothes and at least 3-4 pairs of thick boot socks that has a wool mixture.

-Good boots.

-Gloves

-Wool cap

-Sun cap

-sunglasses

-Cutting tool (depends a lot on the environment you're in, but for the Cali desert, I think a knife is enough. Here's a good, sharp, affordable and safe knife: http://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Craftline-Allround-Utility-3-8-Inch/dp/B004GAVOUU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1395556620&sr=8-8&keywords=morakniv)

-At least 3 different ways of making fire (storm proof matches, lighter, firesteel, magnifying lens, etc)

-Rope and cordage

-Water bottles and different ways to catch, store and purifying the water. Also, bring enough water if you're heading into a dry area.

-Shovel (very handy).

-Navigation: map & compass in ADDITION to any eventual digital navigation system.

-Cooking pot to kill germs in water, making tea, etc.

-Sleeping pad so you don't sleep on the bare ground because that will suck the heat out of you.

-Sleeping bag / thick wool blanket.

-Shelter.

-First aid kit with bandages and compresses.

-Enough food.

-Different tools to gather and catch food.

-Flares, signal mirror and other signal devices.

-Remember to have a good backpack that doesn't destroy your back.

-Cell phone and eventual solar cell charger.

And remember to tell friend or family exactly WHERE you're heading at and WHEN you are coming back. Try to give them updates on your position at least once or twice a day with your cell phone so Search and Rescue know roughly where you are.

You can also put a note about where you're going and when you're expecting to come back under your car's windshield wiper.

Edit: and before you go, try to learn to use your gear and try to gather basic survival knowledge.

Edit 2: Try to wear colors that stands out from the Cali desert so you are visible.

Edit 3: Always stay together as a group! Do NOT split up unless you absolutelly have to.

Edit 4: Mark where you're going so Search and Rescue can track you. You can lay rocks on the ground to form arrows to indicate the direction you're heading, tie pieces of fabric on branches, etc.

Woo! One of the best parts of camping: Eating :)

One of the easiest things to do is kinda like your apple idea; potatoes in the fire. Simply stab a raw potato a bunch with a fork / knife. Put it on a sheet of foil and drizzle some water over it, rub some butter on it, spice it if you're savvy and roll it in a few layers of foil. Toss it in the coals and rotate every now and then. It's ready when it's soft.

You can also do the same thing with a whole onion. Remove the woody core and replace it with a wad of butter (see a pattern? Heh..) and wipe whats on your hands around the rest. No need to poke or drizzle with water but you'll wanna add spices. Wrap this guy in a bunch of foil to prevent burns and toss next to your taters. Pull this out when it's squishy and enjoy.

Get one of these, we call 'em hobo makers.

Butter some bread on one side and set it off for later. Conscrapulate some fillings. Ham and cheese. Feta and spinach. Pepperoni, cheese and pizza sauce (Aka "The Classic"). Peanutbutter and jelly. Bacon and eggs. Pouch (tyson) chicken and franks hot sauce... Anything!

Set irons in coals, closed. Let em heat a bit. Remove; drizzle a bit of (hopefully bacon) grease on the inside and wipe with a paper towel.

Place your bread on the irons butter side down and quickly place the fillings on one side. Crimp closed and set back in the coals. Flip regularly and check. Thump the iron gently on a log to dislodge the hobo.

I've been using these things since before I can remember. They're a bit heavy but worth it. I'll drag my square one around and fry an egg in one side of it.

They even have waffle irons. Just drop some bisquick in there and you're off.

I myself have four. A square, a round, a belgan (square) waffle iron and a sausage iron (holds four sausages). Mine are all hand-me-downs that were made before I was born and have been in the family for ages except for the square one which I recently bought.

Only buy cast iron; don't get the aluminum ones with the non-stick coating. Do yer due diligence and season the iron ones. The aluminum ones will warp, the non-stick coating chips off, and they're made like crap.

Hope that helps :D

Five day hike? I think you'll want to find two bags; a lightweight one that you'll be happy with carrying; and a heavy comfy one (like the Field & Stream). Car camping is great! It's tons of fun and easy experience.

When it comes to my opinion and knives; I say you don't need much for camping. I personally use a leatherman micra. I'd recommend something small; even a box cutter. Avoid cheap knock offs (like cheap leatherman look-a-likes, swiss army look-a-likes) because they are impossible to sharpen and dangerous (the folding blades will fold closed right on your hand). If you have no other knife and no particular knife-need, aside from a general camping/hiking knife, then consider this one... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GAVOUU/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1 .

Now if you needed a knife for batoning wood, carving spoons, gutting deer, or some other particular purpose - my recommendation would change.

Renting a pack? I highly recommend it. It'll give you a chance to see what you like and don't like before you make the big purchase. A $10 pack rental is well worth it, considering packs sell for $100-300+. Also, temporarily trade out packs with your buddy when possible, even if it's only for half of an hour.

Let's clarify the air mattress comment. If it's the kind you'll pump up in your spare room, basically an empty bladder full of nothing but air, it'll suck all of the heat out of your budy as you sleep. Your bodyweight crushes the sleeping bag insulation under your body while you sleep, and that is your primary avenue for heat to escape your body.

Now if we're talking self-inflating air mattresses (filled with foam, which does the inflating), or an air mattress with some kind of insulating value to it, they're fine. Better than fine, actually, they're comfortable and warm and good for cooler temperatures. But you want an air mattress that will insulate more than you want one that is cushy and comfortable.


tldr


get this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018APB3TI/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_MgMRCbXMM8ATD

not this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYXN2P2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_7fMRCb6M6NZC0

I have gear for backpacking. To wit, this includes the following:

sleeping bag

tent

hammock - the explorer deluxe asym zip model

Nova stove

Venom stove

Cheap Amazon stove

Coleman stove - for camping with the gf

Small, field serviceable water filter

Backup, Fire, Starters

An emergency blanket or two

An RD7 knife, which I can't link because I'm at work and it's filtered...
A folding pruning saw that you can buy at any hardware store, I think mine was $7
For a cook kit, I have nylon forks and spoons, a soup can to cook in(the venom stove fits inside it perfectly), if the gf is coming with I bring this cooking kit instead to go along with the big Coleman stove.

With my hammock, I bring what's called an underquilt. I can't link you to this because I made it myself, but it's two sheets of nylon material with mesh fabric sewn in between to make box tubes, then the box tubes are stuffed with goose down and the blanket is sewn shut. It's extremely light, fairly warm, and I tie it up to the bottom of my hammock to keep my backside warm in weather below 65F. In a pinch I can add one of my emergency blankets between the hammock and underquilt for extra warmth.

I also bring headlamps that have a red led and a white "high power" led. No flashlights or lanterns for me, they're too bright. I have a small, brightly colored dry bag that is full of first aid stuff and an assortment of odds & ends in my backpack's top pocket.

I also bring an old 35mm film canister with 6 dice inside and a tape-laminated copy of the rules for playing Farkle. With the 6 dice you could also play Yahtzee or several other dice games.

Where will you be camping? You may seriously need a bear bag if you're packing in a bunch of meat. How are you planning on running the rice cooker too?

As for the grill, I'm not sure if you want propane powered or passive so here's both. I've personally used both and they both work well.

Passive:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074N1W4G8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Powered:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KM5MDQH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The case the powered one comes with isn't great and by your text it sounds like you're leaning more towards relaxed camping (Which I would recommend for a first time.)

2nd Powered:
https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000020943NP-Classic-Propane-Stove/dp/B00005OU9D/ref=sr_1_4?crid=UAB015Q00MS8&keywords=coleman+camping+grill&qid=1556680435&s=gateway&sprefix=coleman+camping+g%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-4

Coleman usually makes pretty good stuff that'll last and this one has more burners.


I've never had a problem with packing meat in ice for camping. But I've never tried dry ice so I don't know the pros/cons but that might be overkill for a short trip. As long as your cooler is good and the weather isn't too hot where you're at it'll last multiple days.

Do you need any help with getting other camping supplies?

I am old and fat, I like a lot of squish, and most of the time we are camping in the desert.

We have the old version of the Neo Air. It is good for car camping and backpacking. Coupler kit

We also have an old Dreamtime for car camping that has served us well over the years. It has a built in coupler.

This year we upgraded to Exped MegaMat 10 LXW. It is well worth the money. We camp 2+ months out of the year. And this mat should last 7+ years. So for us it is a good investment.

The guys over in /r/CampingGear would get mad if I didn't mention the Klymit Static V. It is dirt cheep compared to everything I have recommended. And they make a Double V

The best thing you can do is go to a store and try them out.

One more thought, if you are car camping you don't need sleeping bags. A set of flannel sheets and a cheep comforter will keep you just as warm.

I'm a guy so my advice only goes so far. I'll point to other women however.https://hikinglady.com/hiking/how-ladies-go-to-the-bathroom-when-hiking/

https://thetrek.co/pee-rag/

Skurka brought in a couple ladies to give a very blunt discussion of female bathroom and hygine. Worth reading (anything Skurka posts is worth at least considering, he's a world class backpacker)https://andrewskurka.com/2013/female-hygiene-guide-tips/

​

This one is a little loosey goosey on the "leave no trace" aspects of hygeine but it has some good ideashttps://www.theadventurejunkies.com/female-hygiene-guide-for-hiking-and-camping/

​

I have this book "How to Shit in the Woods" and it's both funny and illuminating and has specifics for women.

https://www.amazon.com/How-Shit-Woods-3rd-Environmentally/dp/1580083633

​

I saw this book referenced several times so I'll list it here.

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Doctors-Complete-Vulvovaginal-Health/dp/0553381148/

​

Good luck and have fun. Yosemite is *gorgeous* and the late thaw this year means water and green later into the summer than normal.

I recently purchased this tent and really enjoy it. I'll link to the 6 person tent that is 150ish however I got the 8 person and really enjoy the extra space. All the windows zip far down for lots of ventilation. However I got the 8 person which can be a little more expensive but really worth the extra space. When we were attacked by the rush of mosquitoes in the evening we had plenty of room to keep our bedding as is and still move our camp chairs and coolers inside the tent comfortably and hung out for an hour or two until it got dark and they backed off. Also setup and take down is super easy and fast. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004E4ERHA/ref=gno_cart_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

As others have mentioned, it will depend on what kind of camping he likes to do and what he already owns, but here are some of my favorite pieces of gear I've picked up over the years:
This little guy is a pretty good rechargeable lantern/flashlight with magnets so you can stick it to stuff and a usb output so you can charge other things with it.

I've had one of these for YEARS and I just lost it the other day. There was $200 worth of gear in the pannier that fell off my bike and I'm more pissed about that cup than the rest of the gear combined. It looks like they made it a little taller, which I do not like, but he may. There are several other brands that make something similar in both steel or titanium. It's not just a cup though...it will slip perfectly over the bottom of a nalgene, you can cook directly on a stove or fire with it, and you can pair it with the smaller jetboil coffee press or the guts of a standard bodum press and turn it into a french press. It's the exact same diameter.
A Sawyer can be an AMAZING if you're going to be anywhere long enough to pack water in. The squeeze bag it comes with sucks, but it has standard bottle threads, so you can screw it into a 2-liter bottle with the bottom cut off and it turns it into a gravity filter. Just pour more river/lake water into the 2 liter every minute or so and it will keep pouring clean water into your bottles. Also, you notice the weird skinny part in the middle? It's exactly the width of duct tape. You can wrap several yards of it around there.
EDIT: forgot some words

The Klymit Static one has been great for me, I've had it for a few years, and its fantastic. Doesn't matter if I'm on my side, back, or stomach. Hope this helps, and happy camping!

https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Static-Inflatable-Sleeping-x2-5/dp/B00LGAQ7NW/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1487012743&sr=8-12&keywords=ground+pad+for+camping

I generally think Coleman are a bunch of assholes, but I have this one which I've been happy with. The folding sides are kinda flimsy, but it's also pretty light. The 20,000 BTU burners are nice for cooking as well. The knobs are a bit touchy, but it's do-able.

It's probably not as nice as you're looking for, but for $40 bucks you can't really go wrong.

This one has treated me extremely well, being that I'm an ultra light fan, that it's comfortable enough, pretty sturdy, packs tiny, and the price is great: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RFG0NM/ref=abs_brd_tag_dp?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Water purity concerns are for bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and chemicals/contaminants. In the past, I've used a Steripen with good results. It protects against the first three dangers. I recently bought one of these but haven't tried it yet:

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FA2RLX2/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It only protects against bacteria and protozoa. If you're going to the Boundary Waters, I think that would be your primary concern. When I did my portaging trip there, we drank untreated water from the middle of lakes. Probably a baaad idea, but my point is that the water quality is generally pretty good there.

I have the Klymit Static V2 and for $40 when I picked it up it was a huge upgrade from just sleeping on the ground but sometimes I find myself rolling off the sides. With that said if your looking for comfort they sell a Lux version of this that is larger and thicker and is pretty well reviewed.

They look exactly like this product on amazon (which you get 3 different sizes included):

http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-3-Pack-Ultimate-Sack/dp/B001AZNATC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342450734&sr=8-1&keywords=dry+bag

I actually own this set myself, they work great! :)

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: TOAKS Titanium Folding Sporks


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|UK|www.amazon.co.uk|Macmillan|
|China|www.amazon.cn||




To help add charity links, please have a look at this thread.

This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

I've seen a lot of comments on fuel choices and stacking, and that's all very important. But don't forget oxygen!

Blowing on a fire can take an ember into big flames very quickly. I recently bought a bellows on amazon, it looks a lot like a collapsible antenna but is about twice as fat. It did a great job of 1) keeping my face away from the flames and 2) focusing my breath into a really strong column of air. It's going on my short list of must haves for every camping trip.

Edit: I used a Pocket Bellows: Epiphany Outdoor Gear Pocket... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDSW5BA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share This was also easy to get the fire re-lit the next morning. It looked dead, but a few puffs from the bellows and a flame popped right back up in the coals. We put new logs on top and cooked some eggs!

I had a similar issue with the spoons, so I bought these TOAKS Titanium Folding Sporks which work pretty well and fold up to fit nicely in the kit.

I've tried a few and the self inflating ones don't cut it for me, I seem to always feel what's underneath. In my mind it's no better than a thin yoga mat. This is my current fav, a few breathes to inflate and don't really feel anything. Ymmv.

You can get it for under $40 during pretty regular Amazon sales https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LGAQ7NW/

A Pocket Bellows. Always good for a laugh. Works better than you might think.

Perhaps more of a personal choice, but a nice Tilley Airflo. They have a load of other styles. Quality hats.

I would recommend spraying your clothing that you are going to wear beforehand with Sawyer Premium and then using Repel on your skin during the trip. Those are both effective. Don't use OFF! as it is only like 25% DEET. Repel is 98%.

I have and use the ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1p, and it works great. It seems to fit your price range and requirements, as well.

Blue closed foam pads are classic. They are cheap and indestructible. They insulate a little and provide a tiny amount of comfort.
I recommend trying one to see if it works for you. Even just sleeping on your floor at home 1 night with it.

• https://www.mec.ca/en/product/4003-969/Blue-Foam-Regular-Sleeping-Pad
  
  ----
  Personally I prefer inflatable sleeping pads. They are more expensive and less durable, but they are more comfortable (and many insulate better).
  
  This Klymit option is relatively cheap for an inflatable. Check it out:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.ca/Klymit-06SVGR01C-Camping-Mattress-Green-Grey/dp/B007RFG0NM
  
  or the insulated version if you plan to sleep below 40F/5C.
  

We got new beds for ours to live in the RV. We let them “camp” in the driveway a few times, with those beds. Now they are a safe spot. Also, this folding bed has been awesome outside the RV.


Carlson Pet Products Extra Large Elevated Folding Pet Bed 47 Inches Long, Includes Travel Case, Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU8SYA6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_2dAIDbN5FSZXX

Here's a few things I've bought off Amazon that I've been really happy with:

Minus33 Merino Wool Day Hiker Sock

Magnesium Fire Starter

Bahco 396-LAP Laplander Folding Saw

Sawyer Products Mini Water Filtration System

Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Carbon Steel Blade

Nalgene Translucent Wide Mouth Bottle With Blue Lid

Outdoor Products 3-Pack Ultimate Dry Sack

Rayovac Sportsman 22 Lumen 1AAA Headlight

Adventure Medical Kits Adventure First Aid 2.0

Suunto M-3 D/L Compass

I've got this one for food prep. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004GAVOUU

It came shaving sharp and has stayed that way. This plus a dollar store frisbee, chopsticks, a spoon, a silicone baking dish and a cheap tea kettle are pretty much my field mess kit. I like the full size kettle because it is just fun to tie to the outside of my pack.

Get a waterproof stuff sack. A 3 pack like this 3 pack on amazon and use the smaller two for clothes. I loved them for my kayak trip several years ago (and I paid about $40 for a 3 pack in 2009)

how do you define pure water?

don't water bottles become reusable bottles after yo drink them down?

why cant my tap water be filtered?

question 8, what type of water filter? the ones from question 7 where i had to decide which of two styles i like?

i use one of these. make something better and cheaper and i'll use that. http://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=sr_1_2?s=outdoor-recreation&ie=UTF8&qid=1412024242&sr=1-2&keywords=water+filter

This looks sweet for the price https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TFY8Z54/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1492142643&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tent&dpPl=1&dpID=41836oQ955L&ref=plSrch


Edit. This one looks a lil smaller but an easier set up
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004E4ERHA/ref=mp_s_a_1_23?ie=UTF8&qid=1492142815&sr=8-23&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tent#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1492142923645


Edit 2. Maybe this one is what I'm looking for
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001TS6WWC/ref=mp_s_a_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1492142968&sr=8-38&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=tent

I bought my brother two of these solar powered collapsible lanterns and he says he absolutely loves them! Doesn't take up much room in his pack and nice and bright light with no batteries to worry about. https://www.amazon.com/MPOWERD-1023-002-001-002-Luci-Outdoor-2-0/dp/B074NQLRTF/ref=dp_ob_title_sports

I have the Coleman Evanston 6 which is pretty spacious and has a screened "porch" area that I like. It is square, so I don't know if it would be big enough for your group.

I see the Coleman Montana everywhere, Costco sometimes has a version, videos of it make it look very spacious.

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000001594-Montana-8-Tent/dp/B001TSCF96/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1407784102&sr=1-1&keywords=coleman+montana

I bought a Morakniv Companion Fixed Blade Outdoor Knife with Carbon Steel Blade, Military Green, 4.1-Inch a few years ago. I use it for meal prep because it's fixed blade and about the size of a kitchen prep knife. The Amazon site shows its use for camping tasks, too.

EDIT - just saw this has been recommended a few times already. Must be good!

Assuming you are car camping, I'd suggest you get a camp stove similar to this one. That opens up so many more possibilities. Breakfast gets really easy (eggs, bacon, pancakes, french toast, etc.). Plus reheating pre-made things like chili, stews, etc.

Yes precisely to keep the tent and hopefully occupants dry


Just looked and realized we have the six person:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004E4ERHA/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485375534&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=coleman+6+person+instant+tent&dpPl=1&dpID=41nrOjJEC6L&ref=plSrch

Check out the Kelty Salida 2

http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-Salida-Backpacking-Person-Tent/dp/B004HRP1CY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370455422&sr=8-1&keywords=kelty+salida+2

It is mostly a neutral color and holds me (6' 3")
and my gear. Good balance of size, weight and price. I think it was a backpacker editor's choice a few years ago. I like mine.

You can buy a Sawyer Mini SP128 for not much more and get .1 micron filtration. Clean sip doesn't even list its filter specs on its website, most likely because it doesn't compare to more reputable manufacturers. Just because it's "the world's smallest", doesn't necessarily make it a smart purchase.

I assume your car camping, so weight dosent matter that much.

An advertised 2 person tent is gonna be 2 people "sleeping mat to sleeping mat" and no room for gear.

So I would recommend the coleman 6 person tent. Might be a little big for 2, but your gonna need the space if you want cots or an air mattress or something like that.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004E4ERHA

I have this coleman which is much cheaper than the one you list and works great.

When is your trip? These tents go on sale occasionally. I got this six person Coleman cabin for $100, but right now it's selling for $130. If you can wait, I suggest keeping an eye on Slickdeal. Also set up a camelcamelcamel alert on Amazon.

Some people are very particular about their knives and what they use them for but I think that everyone should own a Mora. It is a very sharp knife that can be used for food prep all the way to just carving or whittling. The plus side is that they are light weight and they are cheap! Do yourself a favor and pick one up (it doesn't necessarily have to be the one that I linked).

Here’s the one I bought and I love it. It’s a little on the pricy side of them but it comes with a little repair kit and I’ve used it as low as 15-20F comfortably

I have this and like it, especially for the price:

https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU

The vestibule is a pretty roomy space for a pack.

I have a Gerber and a Mora that I like, though I would not baton(?) wood with either if that is a requirement.

Hobo Pie Maker....Bread, butter, and filling into fire...then goodness in yer mouth.

http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Industries-1705-Sandwich-Cooker/dp/B000FNLXWG

•Ferro Rod
• stuff sacks https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-Ultimate-Sack-Three-Pack/dp/B001AZNATC
•head lamp
• silverware https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-X-Large/dp/B00B2HZQN6
•paracord
• first aid kit

It depends on what he already has. I could keep naming things. These are all gifts I would appreciate

Uhh.. Since nobody else is helping, I will give it my best shot. On a normal day, the average reccomended amount of water per person will be 64 oz., or .5 gallons. This is a rough estimate for an average person. If you are larger, pack more. If you are smaller, pack less. Depending on the heat, you may end up sweating alot of the water out.

I would reccomend no less than .75 Gallons per person per day.

As far as containers go, something like this would probably be best. I think that stores like walmart have a similar option....

To purify lake water you have several options. There are a multitude of water filters that backpackers use to make drinking water safe. /r/ backpacking raves about this one in particular for its low price, easy use, and low weight. It should filter out bacteria and other nasty things in water.

Alternatively, water purification tablets can be bought to do the same thing. These will not filter out sediment though. They only kill bacteria.

Since this is car camping and the weight/size of gear is not as big of a concern, simply overpacking on water will do no harm. Just keep track of how much you drink as a gauge for next time!

I have this one. Really can't get any easier to set up and break down. Highly recommend.

The Montana is 96 bucks if you have Amazon Prime (the link is different now)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TSCF96

Iodine is blegh. Takes a while to purify the water and leaves a taste.

instead get a
sawyer mini from amazon for 20 bucks.

Removes 99.99999% of all bacteria, up to 100,000 gallons.

http://www.amazon.com/Rome-Industries-1705-Sandwich-Cooker/dp/B000FNLXWG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457730321&sr=8-1&keywords=camping+pie+iron

ALPS mountaineering lynx 1 person - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BMKD1DU?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd

There's a cheaper model that works just as well, but doesn't have a screw adapter on both ends so the clean water you just gotta kinda point and shoot when filling bottles.

https://www.amazon.com/Sawyer-Products-SP128-Filtration-System/dp/B00FA2RLX2/ref=br_lf_m_j5pekp3jae389p3_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&th=1&psc=1

Something like this could work https://www.amazon.com/ALPS-Mountaineering-Lynx-1-Person-Tent/dp/B00BMKD1DU/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1523911276&sr=8-5&keywords=alps+mountaineering+tent

As for the water, you should be drinking a lot per day, so you need to have a water source. Be it that stream, or something else. A stream is more likely to have issues with water. So make sure to boil or purify.

The issue isn't really weight, but space. Even freeze dried stuff (which requires even more water) takes up a god amount of space.

As someone said above, maybe shoot for a rustic site, that has a short walk to get there. Then you will have closer access to your car in case of emergency.

Do you want to cook with filtered water? If so, these systems are not great. I really like this Sawyer filter, it's very versatile.

Have a look at this. It's basically a collapsible lung operated version of the same thing that is inexpensive and invaluable. I first saw it on the Outdoor Gear Review on Youtube. It kicks ass.

Epiphany Pocket Bellows:
https://www.amazon.com/Epiphany-Outdoor-Gear-Pocket-Collapsible/dp/B00LDSW5BA