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Camping gear for first-timers — the realistic starter kit

· Survival & Outdoor

First-time campers either over-buy ($2,000 in gear they use once) or under-buy (then have a miserable trip). Here's the actually right amount of gear for your first 3-night car-camping trip.

I took 5 first-time campers on trips over 2 years. Here's the gear pattern that worked.

The big four: tent, bag, pad, cooler

1. Coleman Skydome 4-person tent — $130. Easier to set up than the cheaper ones. 4-person size for 2 people = comfortable. 4-person for 4 = cramped.

2. REI Co-op Trailbreak 30 sleeping bag or similar at $80-100. Synthetic, rated to 30°F (you can always unzip).

3. Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro pad — $90. The mattress matters more than the bag. Skip the air mattress (cold).

4. Yeti Roadie 24 — $250. Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it's worth it. The cheaper coolers don't keep ice 3 days.

Cooking

A Coleman 2-burner camp stove at $100 + propane canisters + a cast iron skillet handles 95% of camp cooking.

Light and bear-proofing

Two headlamps (one breaks). A bear-resistant food canister if camping in bear country.

Skip these on trip 1

$200 backpacking stoves, $400 tents, $80 "camping cookware sets," hammocks, anything called "survival."

Rent these

If you're not sure you'll camp again, rent the tent + pads + bag from REI for $50/night. Try before you commit.

Honest pick

Coleman tent ($130) + REI bag ($90) + Therm-a-Rest pad ($90) + Yeti Roadie cooler ($250) + Coleman stove ($100) = $660. Lasts 5+ years.

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