Camping Gear Recommendations for All Seasons

 

Emergency Preparedness: Camping Gear for All Seasons

Here are some recommendations about basic camping gear for all seasons of the year.  There is no bad season for camping; only poor equipment choices.  (caveat: a wild fire and a tornado are unequivocally bad camping weather; don't do that)

Basic Essentials: Stay Warm/ Stay Dry/ Clean Water/ Clean Food

Step 1:  Go camping and see what you like 

If you haven't been camping enough to know what style of camping/ cooking/ sleeping/ water treatment you like, do yourself a favor and go camping and find out what you like. If you don't have any gear, borrow some. If you go buy a bunch of gear based on some ill-informed recommendations (like this list) and no knowledge of your own preferences, you may likely regret it. Go now. Then, you can make more informed decisions.

Spring/Summer/Fall

In my opinion, the gear you need for Spring, Summer, or Fall camping is largely the same.  It just depends on how specialized you want your gear to be.  If you buy generally good gear that is useful over a wider variety of seasons, you can use most of it all the time.  We'll talk about winter separately below.

Sleeping Bag (stay warm)

Depends on your preferences and climate. Some people prefer to get a deep freeze back rated to 0F for use in winter, and a lighter bag in the summer. Some people will have 3 or more different bags for different situations. For Spring-Fall weather in NM, I find that if your sleeping bag is rated down to around 20-30F, you can probably use it all three seasons. Mountains near ABQ (Sandias, Jemez, etc) can and do get into the 30 deg F range in Spring and Fall.  I've had it snow on me in late May in the Jemez. I have a single bag: down mummy bag, rated to 15F, weighs around 2lb. I use it in all situations throughout the year (see discussion below about winter camping) If you want some lightweight options for different seasons, a bag rated to 40-50F is likely just fine for a summer camping trip (depending on where you are going).  I'd recommend getting one rated for at least 10F lower than the temperatures you expect to see.

Down vs Synthetic: Down is unmatched for warmth/weight ratio and compressibility. But, it doesn’t retain warmth well when wet. It’s also more expensive. So, if you feel like the user is less likely to maintain their gear and keep themselves dry, you may want to get them a synthetic bag. Synthetic bags can still be very warm and comfortable, but will likely be a bit bigger and heavier to get the same rating. They can be significantly less expensive, although not always.

Size/shape: A mummy bag (with a hood on top) fits the contours of your body more snugly and with reduced space in the bag makes it easier to retain warmth. But, some people don’t like the more constricted feel. A rectangular bag is classic, but is heavier (more material) and will take a bit more fill (weight) to stay warm with all other things being equal. Key: try it out. People fit differently and have different preferences. Don’t just buy a bag and assume it will be good for everyone. And, some bags come in different sizes for broader shoulders, taller, etc. While most bags are unisex, they will usually have different temperature ratings for men vs women. Although, there are some mummy bags that are specifically designed for women, which usually have different amounts of insulation in different areas, and have an overall different fit.

Tent/Shelter (stay dry)

You need to stay dry. Whether you just use a bivvy (really just an outer bag/sack to put your sleeping bag in) to a lightweight backpacking tent to a full 20-person family tent that takes 4 people 30 minutes to setup, you’ll want some type of shelter to keep you dry.  Or, both of my sons really like to use hammocks.  Note: no matter the tent, how ever many people it claims to be good for, usually subtract 1 for a decent fit. A typical 4-person tent will normally only fit 3, even without a lot of gear. A 4-person tent will be pretty roomy for 2 people with a bit of gear. If it says 3, it probably really means 2. (“n-1” for real tent comfort fit)

Most of the discussion below is about tents.  But, if you are looking to hammock, then get a tarp to go with you, and sufficient rope to set it up taut over the hammock and stake it down.  Read a discussion of hammock camping and decide for yourself.

Seasonal Considerations: not much. You can buy a “4-season” tent, which usually means it’s a bit sturdier to not collapse under snow and high wind loads, but normally any regular 3-season tent will be fine throughout the year. (I’ve never owned a “4-season” tent, and I have done lots of winter camping)
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Features to watch for:

• Weather-proofing considerations - rain fly. A larger family tent usually doesn’t have a full rain fly (one that goes all the way to the ground, or covers the entrances). It’s just hard to find. But, the larger square footage in a large family tent usually means that if a bit of moisture gets in at the entrance, it’s not that big a deal. A 2-6 person tent for car camping or backpacking may have a full rain fly where the rain covering goes all the way to the ground and completely covers all entrances, with a separate zipper opening to get in. These are the most weather-resistant options.
• Vestibule: Tents with a full rainfly usually have some storage space in between the fly and the entrance. If the fly is staked out from the tent with several square feet of area in between the tent and the fly, that area is called a vestibule. It’s great for storing gear outside the tent (roomier in the tent, and cleaner), while still providing some protection from the elements.
• Weight: If you are driving to your campsite, weight doesn’t matter much. But, if you are backpacking 10 miles into the backcountry, you are going to want something lightweight. For reference: I don’t consider 5-6 pounds lightweight. If you split some of the load with someone sharing the tent with you, that’s not bad. If you are going any decent mileage on your own, I’d look to carry something between 2-3 pounds, 4 at the most.
• Ease of Setup: This factor can be important whether you are looking at a small 2-man or a large family tent. See how long it takes you to set it up, whether you will need others to help, or whether you will need extra tools to ease the setup. Another consideration is whether it is self-supporting or if it needs stakes in the ground to properly set it up. Stakes can be hard to secure in really deep sandy soil, or very hard ground. Other options: If wind isn’t too much of an issue, something as simple as staking down a tarp can be effective, and still provide some measure of protection from the rain. For a family gathering, using rope and poles to create a larger lean-to with a large tarp can be a nice respite from the sun.

Water Treatment (Clean Water)

If you are car camping for just a couple days, you can just haul in enough water.  If you are backpacking or otherwise trying to get a bit more remote, or don’t know how long you’ll be out, you need to plan on filtering water on your trip. I'm not going to go into an in-depth treatment of various options here, but here are a few possibilities. Get a system, test it; know how to use it.  

I used to have a pump, and I liked it (Katadyn Vario), and while it worked great for a few years, as it got older, the filters just seemed to get clogged faster, and I got tired of buying $40 filters for it.  I've now got a Sawyer Squeeze, and the similar Katadyn BeFree is also very popular.  Both are highly rated for 1-4 people, maybe 5.  If you have more people, you probably want a gravity-fed filter made for larger groups of people, like the Katadyn BeFree Gravity 6L (or 10L), or the Platypus GravityWorks 4L. Test them out before your trip. When I go backpacking, I always want a backup water filtration source.  Either someone else with a filter, or a little canister of chlorine dioxide tablets or something similar.  

Stove (Clean Food)

You can’t always build a fire in the backcountry, and you may not want to. A stove is a good idea to add flexibility to your cooking options. Here is where it is important to understand your preference for cooking style. Do you want pots and pans and the ability to cook with several ingredients to make a wonderful meal? Or, do you just want to boil water for heating up dehydrated food? Or, just a stove with enough of a burner to cook a hot dog or a piece of spam? They all require different stove types. Figure out what you want to do, and buy accordingly.

Fuel: Isobutane, propane, or white gas.  

• Isobutane/propane mix is my go-to fuel of choice if I have to carry all my gear myself.  It does better at higher altitudes than straight propane.  It is also stored at lower pressures than propane, so the canisters don't have to be as heavy.  
• For a classic family car camping trip, there's nothing wrong with a large (or medium-sized) two burner stove with a big 20lb propane tank.  The smaller 1lb propane tanks are a little heavy for backpacking, but more importantly, they are much more likely to freeze up in cold weather and not operate properly.
• I don't love the white gas stoves as the priming and carrying of liquid fuel doesn't excite me, but it does work better at higher altitudes than isobutane.  I won't be covering any gas fuel stoves.

Ultra-lightweight stove, but requires additional pot: There are lots of versions of this, but the MSR Pocket Rocket is a prime example.  Weighs next to nothing (the stove itself).  Attach it to a isobutane canister, put a pot or frying pan over it, and you are good to go.  These tend to be fairly versatile, as the burner is an open configuration allowing you to either use a frying pan or a pot and do what you want with it.  They are meant for cooking for 1-2 people at a time.

Also fairly compact and more all-in-one is are the hyper-efficient systems like Jet Boil.  (or various generic copykats that are usually still well rated and often sell for $50 or so).  They come with a pot and integrated burner assy, sized such that the fuel canister and everything fits inside.  Very nice package for backpacking.  In my experience, the burner/heat exchanger system is highly optimized for use with their pot and isn't as effective for something like roasting a hot dog over the open flame.  But, this style of stove is my go-to for backpacking.  I just boil water in it to rehydrate a mountain house meal or something similar.  No pot to clean.  The food residue stays in the zip-lock mountain house package, which is easy to pack out.  Oh, and it is very efficient on fuel, so I could do 4-5 days backpacking, cooking for 2 people, and still get by with a single 100g fuel canister. So, weight saving, too.

Car camping brings the capability of bringing something larger.  There are lots of options, and I will only showcase two popular versions.  The classic portable Coleman 2-burner stove, and the larger 2 burner camp kitchen variety (and 3-burner version here).  Bring a 1-lb or 20lb propane tank, and you have enough capacity to cook for much larger groups.

Food Style (Clean Food)

There are lots of different styles of food for camping.  I'll cover a few common varieties:

Full Camp Kitchen: Here's where you bring all the gear, multiple pots, raw ingredients, lots of prep work.  Some people really enjoy the cooking aspect in the outdoors.  The food can be amazing - it will be whatever you can come up with, usually just as good as cooked at home.  Weight, prep time, cooking time, cleanup - all are more involved than other options, but the food can be amazing.

Dehydrated Food: Whether you buy the packaged variety (like Mountain House), or prepare your own - these are very light weight, and the cooking requirements are minimal.  Usually you just boil water, mix and let it sit for a few minutes.  Eat it right out of the container.  Minimum weight, very little clean-up, prep can be almost non-existent (store-bought) to more involved (home-made), and it will never be as tasty as the more involved cooking.  But, the home-made stuff can still be pretty good.  I just buy the Mountain House meals for the ease and the clean-up.  I don't want to have to wash any dishes on a campout.  But, those store-bought dehydrated meals are expensive - more than $10 per meal.  I plan on posting here some recipes a friend of mine collected for home-made dehydrated/freeze-dried meals.  Hopefully soon.

Campfire: This is a lot of fun. Cooking real food over an open fire brings out wonderful flavors.  It depends on being somewhere that fires are allowed, having sufficient firewood, and things being dry enough to get it going (or having enough skill to do so regardless).  The flexibility on what you can do is pretty high, and the cost is definitely lower than store-bought dehydrated meals.  Usually heavier cooking equipment, and sometimes more cleanup.

Clothing (stay warm & dry)

I am not going to dive into a lot of clothing details, but let me focus on socks. Ever hear the phrase "Cotton Kills"? It's because when cotton gets wet, it looses all ability to retain warmth. So, if you are on a cold-weather campout wearing cotton, and you get wet, you will freeze! Even the small amount of moisture from natural perspiration can cause serious problems in cold weather. I wouldn't do any cold-weather camping/hiking with anything but wool socks. In fact, I'd recommend getting good wool socks for any serious backpacking trip. The wool will wick the moisture away from your feet, and will keep you much more dry and comfortable, and less likely to have problems with blisters. Plus, they will generally last longer than cotton. Wool alone won't solve blister problems if you have issues with your boots, etc, but they can help a lot. You can pay $20-$30 for a single pair of good thick wool socks at REI, or Costco often carries a 4-pack of medium-weight wool-blend socks for $15. The Costco socks aren't pure wool, but they work pretty well.  Have you ever tried alpaca wool socks?? They are heavenly!  (Note: there are popular moisture-wicking synthetics that share many properties with wool, but I still prefer wool)

Backpack

Maybe not an essential - but a decent backpack is often a good way to carry gear and keep it dry, even if you aren’t backpacking, per se.  I really enjoy my REI pack, as well as Gregory and Osprey gear.  But, they can be expensive.  Depending on your needs, the Teton Brand (sold at Sportsman’s Warehouse or even on Amazon) can be pretty affordable.  I’ve seen several youth use these for years, and one of my sons has borrowed one several times - they seem pretty decent and well-built.  They can also be a quick and easy way to stash a family’s worth of 72-hr kits for grab & go access.

If you are looking to get backpacks for kids for actual backpacking trips, I’d recommend not spending a lot of money on it unless they are old enough to not grow out of it in 1-2 years.

Features to look for: 

• I personally prefer hydration reservoirs over water bottles, so I look for a pack that has a built-in pouch for a reservoir and a good system to route the hose out to the shoulder straps for sipping while hiking.  Almost anything these days will have this, though.

• Lots of straps and pockets to attach/hold onto things.  I am a fan of more organization and not just throwing everything into one large cavernous spot.  But, everyone is different.

• I love it when they come with a place to stash a water-proof pack cover, but that’s just a convenience.  Most packs will be relatively water-resistant even without a pack cover in all but the most intense storms.

Winter Camping Gear

I love winter camping! Snow. Quiet beauty. More solitude. Snow. Then, there is always the fun of comparing stories: "Last year where we camped, it was 5 degrees below zero with 20mph winds!"

Partially because of the serenity of the wilderness in the winter, and because so few people go into the winter wilderness, I really love winter camping. I know, I know - you may ask if there is really any serenity when I bring the boy scouts along - but I enjoy it nonetheless. Many people cringe when you mention camping in the cold, but it can be a lot of fun. For those that bring the right gear and proper clothing layers, it will be a lot of fun. You do, however, have to have the right gear. It isn't necessarily expensive, but if you don't bring the right stuff (or enough of it) to keep you warm, you will have a miserable time.
I certainly recommend 2 or more sleeping bags, blankets, and some type of sleeping pad to help insulate you from the ground (but a conventional air mattress or cot is a VERY bad idea).  And remember, cotton kills.  If it gets wet (and it will), it loses all capacity for warmth.  Wool or synthetic fibers are best.  No cotton socks, at all.  Wool socks.  Multiple pairs; I’d recommend bringing enough for 2 new (dry) pairs each day.  Denim jeans are probably only acceptable if they have waterproof snow pants over them and the discipline to keep moisture away from the denim. But, if you take the snow pants off during the warmth of the early afternoon and then get the denim wet in the snow, you will have difficulty getting warm again.

This is what I typically take take on a winter campout:

• 2 pairs of gloves: 
• 1 pair non-snow gloves (easier to handle gear with, more dexterity); not for playing in the snow or getting wet; use for dry work or sitting around the fire, and for backup gloves
• 1 pair snow gloves (water resistant)
• thermal long johns (top and bottom; I *really* love my merino wool base layers from LL Bean)
• warm long-sleeve/long-leg pajamas (only put on at night, to sleep in fresh, dry clothes)
• insulated, waterproof snow boots
• multiple pairs of wool socks (I wear two pair wool socks at a time, plus some spares, and then additional pairs to put on fresh dry socks each day)
• balaclava (ski-mask looking thing)
• knit wool hat
• 2 long-sleeve shirts
• 1 insulated long-sleeve shirt
• 1 pair fleece-lined pants
• 1 pair waterproof snow pants
• water-resistant winter outer coat
• thick wool army blanket (from military surplus)
• 3" thick closed-cell foam sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest type, not an air mattress)
• 2 (or 3) sleeping bags:  
• The one you sleep directly in should be mummy-style and rated to a minimum of 15F or lower (for Northern New Mexico winters).  
• The other, that you either nest your first sleeping bag inside of, or that you lay on top of your sleeping bag, can be mummy or rectangular, and doesn't have to be as high quality.
• tent with rain fly (keeping off snow) - note that a standard 3-season tent seems to be fine in my part of the country; I've never needed the added structural integrity of a 4-season tent
• camp stool for dry place to sit

What are your favorite winter camping equipment choices?  Comment below.

Gear recommendations

Outfitting yourself with all the latest camping gear can get really expensive.  However, usually it won't be necessary to buy it all at once.  Although it will vary based on what type of camping a young man will do and the available budget, it is often helpful to look at what equipment each age-group of boys will need.

11 years old

For a young man just turning 11, looking forward to joining a First Year Scout Patrol and beginning camping with his Boy Scout troop, there are a few key items he will need.  Many First Year Scout patrols don't go backpacking, and many times they concentrate on patrol cooking, so it reduces the gear they need immediately.

• Sleeping Bag:  For summer camping, a lightweight cheap little sleeping bag can be had at Walmart or somewhere similar for $20.  It may only weigh 3-4 lb, but will probably only be warm down to 40+°F.  This will be plenty sufficient for summer camping, usually.  For winter camping, you will want a bag rated to 15-20 °F.  A mummy bag is usually best for winter.  A relatively cheap mummy bag good to 20-30 °F can be bought for around $30, but will likely weigh 5-6 lb.  Such a bag is fine for the first few years, and may still be light enough to use it exclusively all year.  But, if you do a lot of backpacking in the summer, you may want a lighter summer version.
• Kitchen Gear (eating utensils, a cup, and a bowl and/or plate)
• Water bottles:  at least one 32-oz reusable water bottle.  I really like the nalgene wide-mouth water bottles, but anything durable will do.  The little disposable water bottles from grocery stores are usually only around 16-oz, and one or two of those won't be sufficient.
• Compass

12-13 years old

At 12 or 13, many scouts will start to embark on more more advanced camping trips, involving backpacking and other adventures, so this is a good age to get a little more gear.

• Backpack.  If you are going backpacking, you need something to haul all your gear in.  The hard part about a backpack is you often don't want to spend a lot of money when a backpack is somewhat sized to the person, and to his/her carrying capacity, acknowledging that they may well grow out of the first backpack they use within 2-3 years.  Hand-me-down backpacks are great for the first few years.  If that's not an option, Sportsman's Warehouse has several backpacks that really seem to be built fairly well, and are surprisingly inexpensive, at least compared to alternatives at REI.  Several boys in my troop have had various models from that store, mostly from the Teton Sports line.  I've been impressed.  They aren't perfect, but for the $50-$70 price, they really are pretty good.  I think some of them even have lifetime warranties against manufacturing defects.
• Internal/External Frame:  You probably can't even find many external frame packs for sale these days.  They are just fine, but are typically a little heavier and less flexible.  They will often also not have as much space inside the bag, as they are designed to strap more gear on the outside.  The internal packs are usually designed to have most of it contained within the pack, with very little strapped on externally.  But, an external frame pack will work just fine.

• Water bottles:  for any backpacking trip, you need to have the capacity to carry at least 2 quarts of water.  If you only have one water bottle now, get two.  Many young men at this age might like a hydration backpack, like a Camelbak.  If you get one, I'd recommend getting at least a 2-liter capacity (~70 oz.), and one that has a bit of extra storage capacity, so you can use it for a day pack, and have places to stash trail snacks and stuff. (Google Search Results for Hydration Backpack) 
• Aside:  I have a Camelbak 100-oz model, which is roughly 3 liters, and I love it.  Costco sells a pretty decent 2-liter model with a moderate amount of extra storage space, for something like $20.  It's not bad, and is probably a good choice for a scout.  Be forewarned, though - you can't get replacement parts for it.  So, when the bite valve on my son's Costco pack went bad after a year or two, and I discovered the tubing was a different size than the Camelbak replacement valves, I bought a 2-liter Camelbak pouch on clearance at REI to fit in the perfectly good backpack, and so now he has an excellent water system.

• Hiking boots.  Let's be honest -- until you start going backpacking, wearing tennis shoes or whatever on a car-camping trip is just fine, usually.  But, when a 12-yr old boy is carrying 20+ pounds on his back going 5-7 miles uphill in the Pecos, he better have something better than Converse.  Sure, I've seen people go on 10-20 mile hikes with footwear less substantial than my bedroom slippers, but I wouldn't recommend it.  Additionally, a winter campout with snow requires something more than tennis shoes.  You may not need hiking boots; maybe you buy a pair of $20 snow boots - but good mid-top to high-top hiking boots that are decently insulated and waterproofed (and big enough to allow him to wear 2 pairs of wool socks) will usually do fine.  Get a $20-$30 pair of mid- to high-top hiking boots from Walmart or wherever.  A 12-year old boy will likely grow out of whatever too quickly to make it worth buying decent boots, in my opinion.  And, whether or not they say they are waterproof, buy the $5 can of waterproofing silicone spray, and thoroughly coat the boots a few days before the first hike.  It's worthwhile if you are going anywhere with water.  Finally: whatever you do, make sure the boots fit right, though.  Nothing will cause blisters faster than a pair of boots that don't fit right - whether too big or too small.  Great way to ruin a perfect hiking trip - stupid blisters!

• Socks!  Let's talk about socks.  Ever hear the phrase "Cotton Kills"?  It's because when cotton gets wet, it looses all ability to retain warmth.  So, if you are on a cold-weather campout wearing cotton, and you get wet, you will freeze!  Even the small amount of moisture from natural perspiration can cause serious problems in cold weather.  I wouldn't do any cold-weather camping/hiking with anything but wool socks.  In fact, I'd recommend getting good wool socks for any serious backpacking trip.  The wool will wick the moisture away from your feet, and will keep you much more dry and comfortable, and less likely to have problems with blisters.  Plus, they will generally last longer than cotton.  Wool alone won't solve blister problems if you have issues with your boots, etc, but they can help a lot.  You can pay $10-$20 for a single pair of good thick wool socks at REI, or Costco often carries a 4-pack of medium-weight wool-blend socks for $10.  The Costco socks aren't pure wool, but they work pretty well.  I think they would work well for a boy.

14+ years old

Once a young man reaches 14 years or older, he might start going on High Adventure activities, and he might want more advanced gear.  He should have enough experience now and be strong enough to carry gear to share with others.

• Tent (optional):  By this age, some young men will be interested in getting their own backpacking tent.  I'd recommend something that weighs less than 5 lb, including the fly and tarp (if it comes with a footprint) and tent stakes.  It's going to cost some money, so it's a purchase that should often be held off until a young man is old enough to take good care of his gear.  And, it's helpful that by then he should be strong enough to take a few extra pounds in his pack.
• Backpacking stove:  Similarly, the older young men are often interested in being more self-sufficient.  It is usually adequate for a younger boy to use a troop stove, or share with someone else that has one.  Often, however, an older scout will want to have his own stove.  I have a JetBoil Sol, and really like it.  But, it is more expensive than several other options, and a little more bulky.  I have a personal preference for canisters stoves, so I think the Snow Peak GigaPower or the MSR Pocket Rocket are good choices, but there are lots of options.  
• Backpack (upgrade):  If your boy started out with a loaner or hand-me-down backpack, or has grown out of the one he started with, it might be a good time to get him a decent one. 

For additional guidance, see this gear guide put out by Mark Bastian, a friend of mine and former Scoutmaster in our Troop.  The gear guide is the last half of the document; he recommends several backpacking locations in the first part of the document.