Don't Get Caught Unprepared At Camp!
Every individual has a different preference when it comes to camping. Some prefer to rough it while others like luxury. Most of us fall somewhere in between. Generally, we just enjoy camping with our kids and want a moderate level of comfort. Many in Sunshine seem to get most their gear from Amazon with Costco and REI being other popular destinations. Based on observations from various campouts and recommendations from the old guys, we've created this list of items to consider along with a little commentary.
If you've never camped before, this is probably your first stop. Given we're doing a lot of car camping there is no need to suffer in a tent you keep in your back pack. Find something easy to set up with a comfortable amount of space. Having been through a few tents at this point, the main thing I'd be looking for is an "Instant" tent. Not pop-up, not quick, not easy. The key word is "Instant". The polls extend and lock into place as easy as opening an umbrella and can be set up by one person in under five minutes. It takes up a little more space in your garage but it's worth it. The other thing people look for when replacing their first tent, is the ability to move around or change in it. If you have two people and you're sleeping on the ground, you might be able to get away with a 4-person. However, a lot of people bring cots or an air mattress and store their food, coolers, duffle bags, etc. in the tent. At that point you need at least a 6-person. I've had the 4-person tent with two cots and ended up with no floor to stand on. I will also say the 9-person is larger than I need when it's just two of us, but great for a family of four. Keep in mind the stated "capacity" of a tent is basically the number of people you could fit on the floor if you line up like a pack of hot dogs.
We've only had one or two campouts in weather that required a cold weather bag. A lot of people have bags that are comfortable at overnight temperatures around 60 degrees. If it gets much colder than that people either bring a blanket or sleep in a hoodie. The drawback to a thicker bag is that it ends up being to hot to sleep in. There are some Coleman bags that fit the bill at a moderate price.
Sleeping on the ground is for suckers. The sand at the beach camps is not flat or forgiving and the ground at places like Calico or Joshua Tree can be rocky. There are basically a couple options to solve for this. Early on in my AG days, someone recommended I get cot and a sleeping pad (see below). I've found this to be comfortable enough. If you really want to splurge, you can look at getting a Disc-O-Bed bunk. These come in different sizes kids/adults and widths. The bunks only work in larger tents due to the height so check the measurements before buying.
The other alternative to sleeping on the ground is an air mattress. These work well also. They provide a little more thickness than a mat/pad so you can have them on the ground without a cot. When folded up they take up less space than the cot/pad combo. However, they have their own drawbacks. Your kid is probably going to want one also so you're either looking at two small ones or one larger one. If you're sharing a larger one, then when one person moves it bounces a bit which disturbs the other persons sleep. If you go this route, then a portable pump is a must. Coleman makes a battery operated one. Alternatively, you could go with a manual pump but those are bulkier and a lot slower.
These come in a lot of varieties. Some of the cheaper ones are only slightly better than nothing at all. Some of the mid range pads are more or less just smaller inflatable mattresses that pack away well. The nicer alternatives are a combination of memory foam and inflatable. Inflated, most are all typically 2'' to 4'' inches thick and provide a softer surface than a cot by itself and less plastic feel than an air mattress. I've seen some people use these on the ground, which is again better than nothing. It really just depends on your desired level of comfort.
You've probably already got one or two around the house. If not, you're going to need a chair for sitting around campfires and hanging out at the beach. A lot of people have captains or directors chairs. Some folks have the Tommy Bahama or other low to the ground beach chairs. I prefer a chairs that sits higher up so that I'm not looking up at the people sitting next to me.
Head Lamp Lanterns and Flash Lights
There are tons of options here. If you opt for a headlamp, one extra feature you should consider is a headlamp with a red light. This is helpful because it provides some light but doesn't blind someone if you're face to face having a conversation. REI has Black Diamond headlamps that are a bit more pricey but have all the features you could use. If you're also looking for flashlight or lantern, versatility is helpful. You will want something that can light up a tent without you holding it and also be used to find your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. Your kid should have something as well. Some camps have zero lighting.
Again this is an item you've probably already got at home. If you're looking to buy one specific for campouts, there are a lot of things to consider. A cooler with wheels is helpful if you're bringing a lot of food/drinks for yourself or if you are carrying food for an expedition meal. If you've got a light load, backpack coolers are nice because you can carry them around on hikes and to the beach. A few people have Yeti's which are more of a nice to have, but not totally necessary.
Water, Coffee and "Coffee"
It's pretty simple, unless you want to go through tons of plastic bottles and solo cups, you need to have a water bottle for your kid and a coffee or Yeti mug of some sort for your drinks.
Other Stuff
There are a lot of other things you can consider bringing.
For things you know YOU need, I'd make sure YOU bring it. This might include:
Weather appropriate clothing (swimsuits to hoodies)
Camp pillow (or a real one)
Old rug / fake grass for your tent (to get the sand off your feet)
Tent dust pan
First aid kits
Medications (Epi-Pen, Tylenol, etc.)
Bath & Beach Towels
Soap/Shampoo
Sun Block
Hand Sanitizer
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Ear plugs (lot's of snoring bears)
Melatonin (again, lot's of snoring bears)
Pocket knives
Your vest and circle swag!
If you want to contribute to the group effort, check with your circle or expedition to see if any of these or other items are needed:
Camp Stove
Folding table
EZ Ups
Coffee Supplies
Spatula, kives, cutting board
Food storage containers, bags and foil
Dish soap and scrubber
Plates and utensils
Trash bags
Click here for a helpful REI camping checklist for ideas. Don't freak out, you won't need all of it.