Camping Gear

What's the first step to planning a great camping trip? Making a list of the gear and equipment you'll need to keep your campers happy. Altrec.com specializes in offering an extensive inventory of camping chairs, tents, lanterns, sleeping bags and sleeping pads for camping vacations in your favorite places.

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Gaiters

Lifejackets/ PFDs

Dry Box Cases

Neoprene Accessories

Headlamps & Lights

Boot & Fabric Care

Pet Gear

Knives & Tools

Bug Hats

Water Filters

Accessories

Men's Waders

Camping Food

Standard Dry Bags

Water Bottles & Bags

Compression Sacks

Gloves & Mittens

Travel Accessories

Compasses

Camp Cooking Gear

Electronics

Raft Accessories

Map Accessories

Camping Chairs

Strollers

Backpacks

First Aid Kits

Throw Bags

Women's Belts

Stoves

Camping Tents

Bags & Luggage

Sleeping Bags & Pads

Poles

Food and Supplies

Like any good trooper, a happy camper travels on their stomach. Keeping a surplus of cheap munchies available is always good, but there's nothing wrong with spicing up your camping cuisine with the Outdoor Research Backcountry Kitchen from MSR. It features utensils and other lightweight and durable cooking components that can potentially turn a bland meal into a treat. Multi-burner Coleman stoves and other liquid fuel stoves are excellent for feeding large families and groups at campgrounds. One of the clear advantages camping has over climbing and mountaineering is that your car or SUV carries most of the load for you, so it's easy to load up on gourmet components and large capacity serving dishes without worrying about a backpack. In addition to food, be sure to keep enough foil, sandwich wrap and other kitchen equipment for managing leftovers--and don't forget to clean it all up before you go to bed or you might wake to an unanticipated visit from nocturnal visitors of the furry kind.

Tents

Bigger is usually better when it comes to choosing camping tents. Unlike backpacking and mountaineering designs, weight and stuff sack dimensions are not an issue because your vehicle does most of the hauling. What you should consider is waterproof protection over canvas, especially if you're bound for damp places or prefer to camp outside of the peak summer season. Paha Que is one of the best camping tent designers for large families and offers sturdy designs with plenty of room for cots, foam sleeping pads and board games. If you have a large family with varied sleep habits and preferences, consider a large multi-room camping tent that separates the early risers from those who seek their beauty rest. Large multi-room tents used to be considered a luxury, but now companies such as Sierra Designs offer excellent six-person family tents at outstanding prices.

Lanterns

The only camping item forgotten more than a flashlight is a flashlight with fresh batteries. Longer summer daylight hours often relegate this illuminating essential several notches down on the packing list, but there's nothing more frustrating (or potentially dangerous) than digging around through unfamiliar gear and surroundings without an illumination source. A number of camping manufacturers produce a range of lanterns, although many contemporary campers prefer the low-maintenance convenience of battery-powered lanterns over flammable camp lanterns. The choice is yours, but don't forget to check the fuel quality or battery power before you pull out of your driveway. As a rule, younger campers in your family will often prefer brighter illumination in unfamiliar wilderness surroundings.

Sleeping Bags and Pads

Second only to food and possibly shelter, comfortable sleeping bags are essential for a memorable camping trip. Unlike cramped mummy bags and expensive lightweight mountaineering sleeping bags, camping sleeping bags can be big, roomy and rectangular like your bed at home. The North Face makes a popular camping-dedicated Allegheny Bx sleeping bag with all the room you need to roll around without the sensation of being a permanent resident in an Egyptian tomb. Like your camping tent and big cooking essentials, you don't need to worry about paying more for less weight because you're only carrying the bag between your vehicle and your camping site. Before bedding down, make sure that you find a large foam pad from Exped or Therm-A-Rest. If you're not a climber or backpacker, consider an inexpensive design that doesn't specialize in shaving ounces and packing down into compact spaces.

Camping Furniture and Other Camp Facilities

Camping furniture recently reemerged as a prized site essential as camping equipment manufacturers moved to using lightweight components that fold down into compact dimensions when not in use. NRS and Paha Que offer an impressive array of cots, chairs, tables and counters for group camping and guided adventures. Other companies like Phillips Products specializes in camp toilets and portable outhouse offerings. The exact components often depend on your needs, but it all starts by making a list of the camping gear you'll need for your family wilderness adventure.

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