Advice To A Rookie

[Louie Louie]

If there were 5 items you would tell a rookie camper to get (w/ some prior camping exp.), what would they be??

TIA

Louis

[Mellow]

That's tough...

Assuming they've already got a tent, sleeping bag and some type of air mattress/pad:

1 - Headlamp - LED and great if it has a RED LED for reading in tent
2 - Lighter/matches/etc - gotta start a campfire somehow
3 - Axe/Hammer - used for wood or for staking out tent
4 - Container for water
5 - protien or energy bars - sometimes you're too tired to get out and go to the store.

Assuming they don't:

1 - 2-man 3-season Tent w/footprint-tarp
2 - Sleeping bag (0 degrees will probably handle most situations)
3 - Air Mattress/pad
4 - Headlamp - LED and great if it has a RED LED for reading in tent
5 - Lighter/matches/etc - gotta start a campfire somehow

There are so many basics that it's hard to narrow it down to just 5 things but I think I could do with just the items I have in the first list and be fine.

[Trekker]

Good list Joe.
Louie, keep in mind it doesn't pay to scrimp on camping gear. That doesn't mean to pay top dollar, just get high quality for your money. If your looking for a tent, get a good brand with a full rain fly. If you ever plan to camp in cool/cold weather, stay away from air matresses, get a decent cot or sleeping pad. A flashlight is a must not only for reading at night, but also for those times you'll be setting up camp in the dark, or those midnight treks to the clubhouse to do your business.

And don't forget the bug spray!!

[Doobage]

Hmmm.

I'd say (aside from the tent, pad and sleeping bag....

1. Knife (3 to 6 inch blade)
2. water container
3. artificial light
4. Rope (one that you can afford to cut into smaller pieces if needed)
5. Something to make fire with

This assumes you have basic rain gear for riding.

I like having a knife with me because you can utilize sticks as stakes, or hot dog stick thingy, or cutting up food, (carefully used can be your only utensil), or cutting rope to help tie things down.

[Mark]

back packer camp stove and espresso maker
forehead mount LED flashlight
back packer 2 or 3 man 4 season tent
poly sleeping bag instead of down (down doesn't work when it is wet: polarguard D does. And you don't have anywhere to dry down out on a MC trip.
wine bottle opener


Yeah... I cheat on the 5 count... tough! :-)

Mark