Beach camping for beginners: Gearing up.

July 3, 9:03 PMWorld Beach ExaminerBarbra Stuter

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"I'd like a table with a view of the water please."

Welcome!  If you have landed on this page, you've decided to try your hand at camping.  Before we start, let me assure you I am not a novice camper and you are in capable hands.  I have been backpacking and tent camping since I was old enough to walk, and my experience runs the gamut from backpacking in the Desolation Wilderness of the Sierras,  to tent camping with a three-week old baby (yes, mine) in the Yosemite Valley.  Never been camping?  Looking to start?  It’s easier than you think, I promise.  You may already have much of the gear you need, but this list covers most of the items you will need to procure if you haven’t been camping before.  You might want to consider borrowing some of the higher dollar items from friends or family who camp, until you decide if camping is for you. 

This list covers gear for the entire “continuum of camping”.  You will obviously have to pick and choose from the list based on what you already have, but also upon where on the scale of roughing it you are willing to land.  At one end of the spectrum is what some people call car camping, which is where those of you who thought camping was staying at a Motel Six should start.  All you need is a tent and bedding, as meals are taken in restaurants.  The simplest form of camping, this works when staying at a campground near a town that has restaurants and a grocery store or two.  For instance with this sort of camping, roughing it would be losing the coin flip and having to make the run to Starbucks in the morning.

At the other end of the camping continuum is primitive camping.  This would be like camping at the Dry Tortugas, where you and your gear are taken by ferry to the island, where the only nods to creature comforts that you didn’t bring with you are picnic tables and pit toilets.  No showers, no potable water (say it with me, it is “poh-tuh-buhl” not “pah-ta-buhl”) and the nearest Starbucks is 70 miles away on Duval Street.  My strong suggestion for you first time campers would be to start at the car camping end of the continuum.

Folding chairs for sitting fireside

All of the prices listed here are from the camping section at Walmart, which is a great place to shop for camping gear when starting out.  Of all the brands they carry, you can’t go wrong with Coleman, but Walmart also has an Ozark Trail store brand that is cheaper.  Reviews are mixed however, so buyer beware.  Personally I would stick with Coleman.  Target also has great products and their Greatlands brand camping equipment is decent, albeit a slightly higher price.  Once you are ready to do some serious camping, I’ll introduce you to REI, but for now the discount chains are your best bet. 

Room for your gear and bedding

Tent -  Get a tent that has enough room for your sleeping area and your gear.  I also like one with enough headroom to stand up in when I'm not backpacking and having to haul it from place to place.  Tents today are VERY easy to put up so don’t be intimidated by the prospect.  Here are a couple of great options:  Coleman 14’ X 9’, with 6’ of head room for $99 or the Ozark Trails verson which is 13’ X 10’ with 6’ head room for $48. 
Ice Chest -  Even if you are planning on car camping, an ice chest is great for drinks and snacks. A nice sized 70 quart cooler will run you about $40.

Disposable propane canisters

Sleeping bags - Sleeping bags are completely optional.  Especially when starting out you aren’t going to be in extreme weather conditions (well, you shouldn't), so you can really go low end on the temperature range, saving yourself some money.  Run of the mill sleeping bags will run you from $25-$40 each.  Of course, blankets and sheets from home may work just as well, depending on the weather conditions at your camping site.    

Lantern and Flashlights –  You will definitely need flashlights, and lanterns are nice for illuminating your camp area.  There is a great Coleman lantern for $26 that uses the same disposable propane tanks that your cook stove will use.  Canisters will run you about $3.  Flashlights range from $1 on up, plus the cost of batteries.     

My favorite 2-burner Coleman

Campstove -  I like the Coleman 2-burner camp stoves.  They range in price from $40 to $120, and are fueled by external propane tanks, either the 1qt. refillable size or external refillable tanks.  They are lightweight, fold up and work very well.  You can get the Ozark brand version at Walmart for $28, but I would recommend sticking with Coleman. 
Air Mattress -  Like sleeping bags, air mattresses are completely optional. You can also use blankets for padding, yoga pads, egg crate mattress covers – whatever provides the adequate padding.  Of course if you are camping right on the beach, you don’t really need anything.   However if you really want to sleep on a mattress, I found queen sized air mattresses that are quite reasonable at $23. 
Folding Chairs – You probably have these at home already, but if not you can pick up chairs for about $10 .

Now that you have your basic gear, it’s time to pick your destination andpack up.  Let’s go camping!