Swank Camping Advice

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Dude, just saw this on fingerhut:
http://www.fingerhut.com/ProductGrou...ategoryxid=297

*drool*

Oooh, me wants (queen size camp bed). The only sticking point for me is the "electric" pump when I want to use this in areas with no electricity.


Sure, you can charge it up aforehand ... but N.A.'s experience at Swank Camp (not to mention my own) made me very glad my air mattress had a batter-powered pump. I think it's absurd to have an electric pump on such an item.

[Morrigoon]

BTD: Ooh! I have that! Got it on sale at Big Lots for $25, regularly $30. Also Coleman.

[Morrigoon]

Well, if you already have a battery-powered pump, then it's all good

[innerSpaceman]

No, no. The battery-pump is PART OF the air mattress, not a separate thing. It was fantastic ... before the mattress sprung an infindable leak.

[Betty]

Bring 2 tubs for washing dishes and a few old dish towels for cleaning up. (one tub to wash and one to rinse)

We also really liked having a perc. coffee maker and a tea kettle for boiling water for hot choc, dishes whatever - it boils it really quickly.

Tarps and bungie cords - along with a few trees you can make yourself a little shelter so when it snows while you're camping (!) you can eat your toast without it getting soggy. yeah - it snowed on us quite a bit when we were there.

snake bite kit. ya know - just in case.

something to start your fire with - fake log chunks, fire starter sticks, newspaper - something...

We've also got a small portable generator that recharges when plugged in. It's got a cig. lighter hole, regular electric plug, air compressor, and even car jumper cables. It's about a foot square. Not needed for everyone - but came in handy for us.

camp toaster - cheap and really great. I was so glad we had this.

those extendable forks for toasting marshmellow - walmart had a 2 pack for $2.50 I think - they work SO much better then a bent hanger. My marshmellow didn't twirl around and around.

I miss camping.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

Kevy: you have a point there, although my drool factor was the frame having a headboard and footboard to it. I'll probably save the money and get the Ozark Trail full size from WalMart instead.

Even Ozark Trail is not that good. If you read reviews on line of some of their stuff, it can be problematic. When we were looking for the bigger tent, we could have purchased an Ozark Mountain one that was about the same size, but half the price. However, there were WAY too many reports of it leaking. Also, we have purchased a couple other OM items that just didn't cut the mustard.

[Morrigoon]

Fair enough, I've seen the reviews. But most of my camping stuff is Ozark Trail, and so far it's been "good enough" for me

[Stan4dSteph]

I shop LL Bean stuff a lot, and they have good guarantee on their products. If it breaks they will replace it.

All my camping gear is built for backpacking, so it's lightweight and portable. I don't have a tent though.

[Disneyphile]

Just to compare:

Originally Posted by Betty

Bring 2 tubs for washing dishes and a few old dish towels for cleaning up. (one tub to wash and one to rinse)

We usually just bring two spray bottles - one with soapy water and the other for just water. It's like a spray-on/wipe-off dish washer, and works great.

snake bite kit. ya know - just in case.

We bring a small self-packed first aid kit with bandaids, assorted meds, razor blades, lancets, and Neosporin. It gets used more often than any of our other camping supplies.

something to start your fire with - fake log chunks, fire starter sticks, newspaper - something...

Drier lint works really well, especially that from towels.

Also, wet wipes come in VERY handy, no pun intended.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Betty

Bring 2 tubs for washing dishes and a few old dish towels for cleaning up. (one tub to wash and one to rinse)

How about bringing the kitchen sink!

Originally Posted by Betty

We also really liked having a perc. coffee maker and a tea kettle for boiling water for hot choc, dishes whatever - it boils it really quickly.

Better yet: the Coleman Camping Coffee Maker. It fits right over a burner on your camp stove and makes 10 cups of drip coffee. Under $35.00. Worked great!

Originally Posted by Betty

We've also got a small portable generator that recharges when plugged in. It's got a cig. lighter hole, regular electric plug, air compressor, and even car jumper cables. It's about a foot square. Not needed for everyone - but came in handy for us.

As part of my Ryobi 18 volt tool kit, I have an air compressor. It works GREAT for air mattresses (and tires should the need arise). They also make a fan that runs off the same batteries, plus we have a car charger for the batteries (should the need arise). Plus, I happened to have my cordless reciprocating saw (like a Sawzall) and circular saw which came in handy for collecting firewood. Pumps that one needs to plug into the car to work are a PITA.