Camping Gear: What to Buy Cheap and What You'll Regret Skimping On
Car camping doesn't need expensive gear. But a few items are worth real money, and cheap versions will ruin a trip. Here's the split after many cold nights.
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My first camping trip was all bargain gear. The tent leaked, the sleeping bag was rated for "summer" and I spent the night shivering in a hoodie. Since then I've learned exactly where the money goes.
Spend money here
**Sleeping pad.** This is the most important piece of gear you'll buy. The ground steals body heat all night. A cheap foam pad or a thin air mattress means cold and sore. Look for an insulated pad with an R-value of 3 or higher for spring and fall. Expect $60 to $120.
**Sleeping bag.** Temperature ratings are optimistic. A bag rated 30°F is comfortable around 40°F for most people. Buy one rated 10 degrees colder than you expect.
**Tent rain fly.** You want a full-coverage rain fly that reaches almost to the ground. Half flies look fine until it rains sideways.
Buy cheap here
**Camp chairs.** A $20 folding chair works. A $100 chair is nicer but you won't notice by the campfire.
**Cookware.** Bring old pans from your kitchen. Seriously.
**Lanterns.** A cheap LED lantern and a headlamp are all you need.
**Coolers.** For a weekend, a basic hard cooler with frozen water bottles works fine. Premium rotomolded coolers make sense for week-long trips or fishing, not two nights.
The tent question
For car camping, a mid-range dome tent around $100 to $200 is plenty. Get one rated for more people than you have. A "4-person" tent fits two adults and their gear comfortably. Four adults would be miserable.
Set it up in your backyard before the trip. Finding out a pole is missing at 9 p.m. in the dark is a classic.
Little things that make a big difference
- A real pillow from home
- Earplugs, because campgrounds are loud
- A tarp under the tent
- Extra stakes; the included ones are always flimsy
- Wool socks for sleeping
Where to buy
Walmart's camping section is genuinely good for basics like chairs, lanterns and coolers. Target has decent seasonal camping gear with clearance in late summer. Amazon carries the wide range of sleeping pads and bags with reviews from people who actually camp. Home Depot is great for tarps, rope and stakes, and often cheaper than outdoor stores for those.
Verdict
Put your money into sleep: pad and bag first. Everything else can be cheap or borrowed. A good night of sleep turns a camping trip from survival into fun.
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