How to Camp

The wilderness beckons. Whether you’re drawn by the peace and solitude of nature or the prospect of a weekend partying in the woods with your friends isn’t important; you’re going camping. There are big barriers of entry both in terms of gear and practical know-how keeping many unnecessarily anxious about the experience, or from venturing into the great outdoors at all.

This is our comprehensive guide to sleeping outside- here to equip you with the tools to confidently and comfortably camp on your own terms.

I fell in love with camping late in life, and was incredibly fortunate to have a community that supported me as this curiosity grew into a passion; and later, a career. This guide is a way of paying homage to all the goodwill shown to me and making some of the hard-won bits of knowledge more central and accessible.

There’s a lot to cover so we’ve broken our guide into three sections.

First, we’ll talk about planning and preparing for your camping trip.

The second section deals with essential (and non-essential) camping supplies, making a checklist to all you really need to spend a night outside.

Finally, we’ll finish up with campsite etiquette and how to share our outdoor spaces in a way that gives you the experience you’re looking for while respecting the experience of your fellow recreators.

If you have any further questions or want to share your experiences- leave us a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

What do we mean by camping?

What do we mean when we talk about camping? We define it as the many ways that people choose to sleep outside. Thus “camping” includes anything from digging an emergency snow cave bivvy to pitching a tent in your backyard. This article focuses on the considerable middle ground between these two extremes.

When most people plan a camping trip they’re thinking either of car camping (sleeping around or inside of your vehicle) or some form of backcountry travel (e.g. backpacking). Our goal is to keep information as generalized as possible and dip occasionally into specifics as necessary.

Planning and Prep

Where to Camp

Is camping as simple as picking out a flat spot and throwing down a tent? Well, yes and no. It depends on where you’re camping and the experience you want. Would you rather camp in comparative luxury at a high profile destination; or plunge yourself into the wilderness, relying on your gear and knowledge?

To give more framework on the many different camping mindsets, we need to discuss the difference between dispersed camping and staying in a developed campground.

Developed Campgrounds vs. Dispersed Camping

Developed campgrounds have established facilities that see regular maintenance and are funded by user fees. They’re usually run by land management services like the National Parks Service, National Forest Service, or Various State Park services. The U.S. is lousy with them, chances are you have several within striking distance of your hometown.

There’s a wide spectrum of experiences between developed campgrounds ranging from spartan to plush. The essential point here is predictability. Campground details are readily available and you can expect a reasonable degree of maintenance, you might even reserve a campsite online. So while you always accept a bit of uncertainty when you go outside, at least there’s probably a fire pit and toilet waiting for you at the end of the road.

The Hart’s Pass Campground, for example, is situated in the North Cascades of Washington State. While it takes a solid car and a little patience to climb the appropriately named “Dead Horse Road”- the effort is well worth the views of alpine meadows and distant glaciated peaks extending north from Mount Baker into Canada. The campground has pit toilets and plenty of drive up sites, but no water. It’s a Forest Service campground, and use fees are 10 dollars a night per site. All of this information is available from the comfort of home.

Dispersed camping refers to anything that isn’t a developed site. You’re totally responsible for bringing everything you need, picking a responsible place to set up, and making sure you leave nothing behind. Even though you may still be on National Forest or BLM land, expect none of the amenities or certainties that come with an established campground.

Dispersed camping is closer to a true wilderness experience and offers increased freedom, isolation, and risk in equal parts. Where in developed campgrounds you pay for the experience through user fees, in dispersed camping you pay in effort (and sometimes also in fees).

Here’s an idea of the more involved decision making and logistical demands of dispersed camping: After making sure our National Forest Pass recreation pass was up to date, my hiking partner and I prepared to head out Friday for a weekend trip with the goal of summiting an easy peak on Saturday. We double checked that we had all the gear we needed for hiking and then checked the car for food to keep bears from getting too interested while we were gone.

Before we left we’d let some people know our itinerary for the trip because we thought it was unlikely we’d have service the whole time.

After hiking most of the day, we started keeping an eye out for likely campsites just before dusk. While closer to the water than ideal, we found a very established, obvious site with an impressive fire ring. With night approaching we had just enough time to set up camp and cook dinner before dark. Being in bear territory, we made sure to prepare, eat, and store our food away from our tents in bear-proof canisters.

The next day we broke down camp, stashed our tents and backpacks discreetly off trail, and went for the peak with our daypacks and snacks. After we got back to camp, we decided to continue back towards the car and find a spot a little closer to the trailhead for the night and finished our hike early the next afternoon.

As you can see- there’s a lot more planning, effort, and uncertainty involved than just driving up to a reserved campsite.

For those brand new to the idea of sleeping outdoors, I’d recommend you start with a state, federal, or locally run campground within a reasonable distance of your area. Immediate access to amenities like toilets and potable water, along with a good community of fellow campers can help circumvent the more abrasive realities of “roughing it”. Below we’ll break do

Developed Campgrounds

Public Paid Campgrounds

If you’re new to the outdoors, we highly encourage you to start your camping career at one of the excellent campgrounds run through one of our state or federal land management systems. They’re a great halfway point between pitching a tent in your backyard and Lewis & Clarking into the unknown frontier.

The convenience of finding, booking, and traveling to these campgrounds significantly reduces the burden of knowledge and experience it takes to get outside. Convenience aside, the best thing about big campgrounds run by the parks and forest service is your proximity to high-profile outdoor experiences. For example, camping at the White River campground in Mount Rainier National Park not only gives you incredible views of the mountain but puts you well within striking distance of some of the best hikes outside of the alpine in the park.

These campgrounds are typically a series of looped roads, dotted at regular intervals with your standard campsite setup: a table, firepit, and flat spot. Bathrooms, drinking water, and other major infrastructure are usually somewhere in the center of the loop; while fee and registration boards are by the entrance of the campground. It’s pretty common for these facilities to have a live-in camp host (also usually near the entrance of the campground) who can field questions and help you troubleshoot minor issues. They sometimes even sell amenities like firewood, ice, and snacks.

By that same token, one of the biggest downsides is their popularity. This translates to large crowds, noisy campgrounds, and sometimes even difficulty finding a spot. Some campgrounds require reservations months in advance and you should always expect to have to battle it out on busy holiday weekends during peak season. Don’t be dismayed if you don’t have the entire campground to yourself, I’ve made great friends through random camping connections. 

As a final note, be aware that there’s no standard quality of campsites, even between campgrounds run by the same land management services. There’s not a direct correlation between a site’s popularity and the available services and amenities- the NPS in particular offers a wide range of experiences for campers to choose from ranging from primitive sites with just pit toilets to large loops with RV hookups and camp stores.

Private Paid Campsites

Landowners will sometimes choose to host campers on their properties- this practice is becoming increasingly popular and accessible through services like Hipcamp and Glamping Hub. These services use a model similar to VRBOs, and your experience with them will vary accordingly. There’s usually a baseline expectation of quality for these services to be approved by their affiliated organizations- and it’s easy to do a little digging into a property you’re potentially interested in to learn all the details.

These sites are a great way for people to enjoy camping but aren’t keen on roughing it to get outside. Landowners can be particularly lavish with the resources they have to offer their guests. If you like to RV in luxury or consider yourself a glamper, privately run campgrounds have the amenities (and more) of a major campground without the crowds.

Dispersed Camping

Drive-up Dispersed Camping

Places like State and National Forest Land, National Grasslands, Bureau of Land Management, and Wildlife Management Areas are rife with opportunities to escape crowds and conveniences alike. Dispersed camping in your car isn’t much more effort than the more remote local state park alternatives. However, it does take a little more preparation and know-how to choose a good spot and recreate responsibly.

There’s no definitive guide to where you can and cannot disperse camp- in every case you’ll need to check with the land managers for specific “what’s” and “where’s” regarding the area. Fortunately, you’ll likely be able to find this information online and have any particulars cleared up via email or phone call.

Drive-up dispersed campsites range dramatically in size and appearance; though practically speaking they’re usually some kind of unmarked turn off a service road. Some are large, sprawling areas with up to dozens of places for parties to post up, and others are little more than an approximately car-shaped flat spot off of the road.

All dispersed camping is on a first come first serve basis, so popular areas will fill up quickly on nice weekends. That just leaves you with the issue of getting there. While dispersed camping, you’ll likely be on land that sees much less maintenance than big name recreation destinations.

As such, you should check up on road conditions and assess your vehicle’s ability to make the trip before committing to a specific area. Don’t be like me, stuck in the very avoidable sand near Lake Meade, make an informed and conservative choice. Road conditions are often available on the land manager’s website, and you can always call the district’s ranger office or follow up with an online search about the area you want to visit.

When we talk about dispersed camping, it’s as important to think about where you shouldn’t camp as much as where you should. Part of the magic that keeps our public lands working is cooperation between managers and responsible recreational users. Consider where you park your car carefully and prioritize campsites that seem like they’re more established to limit your impact on the surrounding area. If you think you’re the first person to ever camp in a specific spot, give it a second thought.

As a final note, be aware that in the vast majority of cases overnight camping isn’t allowed at trailhead parking lots.

Backcountry Camping

Finding a campsite while backpacking or using other forms of backcountry travel follows many of the same principles discussed above. Note that while we’re still discussing dispersed camping on public land, it’s not uncommon to see reservable backcountry spots while hiking in National Parks or more popular, more strictly regulated recreation areas.

For the uninitiated, it’s fairly easy to figure out a good spot to camp while you’re walking through the woods. Key things to look for are level, bare patches of dirt or stone often with spur trails that lead to them and the occasional stone fire ring. The best clue is evidence of previous habitation– foot trails and minor infrastructure such as wind walls or benches are good indicators.

If you find yourself in a situation where it’s unclear if there is an established site nearby and you need some place to set up camp- try to minimize your impact as much as you can. Leave No Trace ethics dictate that you should only camp on durable surfaces- essentially this translates to unvegetated dirt and rock. It might seem like a great photo opportunity to set up camp in the middle of those meadows, but the impact of your photo shoot has years long implications.

Tools to Find Campsites

Fortunately, you don’t have to be much of a frontiersman nowadays to find a decent place to set up camp. There are many, many tools at your disposal ranging from social to near scientific to help you suss out a great place for the night.

Direct Booking with Land Managers

Outside of relying on your immediate community, the best way to find a site is to refer directly to the land managers. A quick visit to the local ranger station is a great way to get first-hand advice and field any immediate questions you may have.

Online booking is quickly becoming the predominant method used by recreators, and it also tends to be the cheapest option. That said, there’s a lot of value in showing up and chatting with the people who are running the show in your area. You’ll seldom find those more passionate and informed.

The Recreation.gov website is a great resource for finding (and booking) federally run recreational opportunities across the United States. The convenience of this tool is hard to overstate, not only can you search through swathes of campsites, guided tours, and special use permits, but you can do all the booking on the website. There’s also a search feature that allows you to seek out campsites filtered by location, the type of camping you want to do, and available dates. For some National Parks campgrounds, it may be necessary to book directly through the NPS website.

Many states have a similar website set up for their parks and recreation areas, though they tend to be a little harder to find and less user-friendly. Washington state’s campsite finder is a good example, with a little bit of necessary clicking around Washington State Park’s website before you find the link to their campsite finder. Other states that we’ve investigated like Florida, Maine, and North Dakota all have external links to online reservation portals, so there’s a good chance that your home (or destination) state does as well.

Third-Party Campsite Finders

Starting the search for a camp spot is intimidating, and there’s a steep learning curve to efficiently navigate government websites. As a result, apps and services have sprung up that try to help campers find a good site without the hassle.

These services are by no means the only or best way to find a campsite, but if they take some of the stress and guesswork out of it then they very well may be a good fit for you. Sites like campgroundviews.com try to take some of the guesswork out of finding a site, and are often geared towards the RV and “glamping” community. These websites all have their bottom line- convenience comes at a price, be it a membership subscription or additional fees associated with booking.

In the case of privately owned campgrounds, these third party apps are usually the only way to find and book a campsite. The risks that come along with camping on private property are the same as booking a VRBO.

Your Local Outdoor Community

In our experience, your first and most reliable resource is your local community of outdoorsy people.

The best spots are well-kept secrets, and ingratiating yourself with your local community of experts can lead to some spectacular opportunities. Asking a more seasoned friend to take you camping is a great way to get your feet on the ground and see some spectacular things that are not on the top travel lists.

Don’t worry if you don’t yet have a community to rely on. The only thing outdoorsy people like more than spending time outside is talking about it. Their lectures might come off as pedantic or self-aggrandizing (mine are no exception), but in my experience, you’ll usually walk away with worthwhile advice and some cool places to check out.

Exploration

With all the fancy new ways to find campsites, it almost feels like you need someone’s permission or a seal of approval before you pitch a tent. Nothing could be further from the truth- the spirit of adventure still runs unabated. With some scouting, luck, and the right gear you can stumble across some fantastic campsites.

While it’s fun to turn down your nearest forest service road and hope for the best, you take on an appreciable amount of risk. If you’re out driving around public land, pay attention to signs. Chances are you’ll stumble across one of the lesser-used Forest Service or BLM campgrounds. Some of these more remote established camps are unbelievably beautiful- and there’s a real thrill to the discovery.

But you’re not totally out in the dark when venturing into unexplored territory. Google maps, CalTopo or any other satellite imaging service are great ways to get eyes on potential campsites before committing to the trip. Be flexible and have a backup plan if things don’t look the way you expected when you get there.

Checking Conditions and Regional Awareness

Checking the weather before you commit to a weekend long camping trip is a good idea. That’s not to say you should let a little rain keep you inside- but knowledge is your friend. The more prepared you are beforehand the more comfortable you’ll find your stay outdoors.

If you’re camping near home you can always check your local weather forecast. But, in the mountains, deserts, and other dramatic places people like to camp- weather plays by its own rules.

With this in mind, it might be worth your while to check out a weather forecasting app. There are plenty of worthwhile options ranging from entry-level to professional, whether it’s worth your money to invest in one of the more comprehensive subscription-based options hinges on what you’re doing and how long you plan on staying out. What I can tell you is I usually look at forecasts based on NOAA data.

The outdoors beckons us towards strange and beautiful places where the world and organisms behave in surprising ways. Knowing the specific hazards of an area before you’re subjected to them is important to your fun and safety. For example, everyone knows that it’s hot and dry in the desert, but maybe there are persistent winds that make setting up a tent difficult or cute rodents that will chew through your bags to get at your snacks.

Compiling an exhaustive list of all the region-specific factors would take up pages. A few big things to consider include smoke and air quality from wildfires, knowing what animals are common in the area and how to appropriately interact with them, and the prevalence of biting insects, stinging plants, and other organic hazards.

Fortunately, information isn’t hard to come by. A quick internet search will give you most of the information you need, and any major points will be reiterated by the numerous notice boards scattered through our public lands.

What to Bring

Regardless of where, when, or how you camp the basic gear you should bring is the same. That said, season, location and weather inform a lot of the specifics.

The Ten Essentials are a universally recognized baseline for the gear that you should carry with you into the backcountry. It’s a good place to start even if you’re camping in the most plush accommodations. We’ll avoid the specifics for now, and give you a shorthand version of the list that‘s more universally applicable.

The Ten Essentials include: navigation tools (map or GPS), a headlamp (or other light source), sun protection, first aid, a knife, fire, shelter, extra food, extra water, and extra clothing.

While many people flock to the outdoors decked out in shiny new gear, you probably already have most of what you need. Hopefully, there isn’t anything in that list that’s too surprising; and even though the Ten Essentials are intended more for backcountry travelers, they’re an excellent baseline to prepare for your first few camping trips.

In addition to the basics, I usually bring a daypack for hiking or keeping all my personal items together around camp.

As a final note, if you plan on shopping around for gear you should keep in mind that it’s much easier to use backcountry-oriented gear for car camping than vice versa. To put it bluntly, if you have any interest in backpacking at all you’re better off biting the bullet and getting gear that’s a little lighter and more packable.

Seasonal Use Guidelines for Outdoor Gear

One of the ways that outdoor gear is categorized (particularly tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads) is by season. The vast majority of people will be best served by a solid set of three season gear. Ideally, gear in this category will keep you warm and protected in spring and fall, without getting roasted alive in the summer.

If you’re in doubt due to your location or other personal factors like how warm you run- we’ll be providing temperature range breakdowns for the big ticket items in this list.

Shelter

Unchecked sun, wind, rain, cold, and bugs can make your outdoor excursion very uncomfortable if not outright dangerous. One of your biggest priorities is ensuring you have some kind of shelter.

Tents

The most obvious solution to this problem is a solid tent. If you don’t already have one of your own, there are many, many options appropriate for your purposes. The exact model and style aren’t important so long as it’s of decent quality and you’re able to set it up without too much trouble.

Be aware of the compromises each tent represents: lighter tents will be less robust and have less room inside, but are better for backpacking; and more durable tents will be a heavier burden to carry. Your tent may be a big and complicated multipart contraption used to house groups of up to ten, or as simple as a tarp, some stakes and a pole.

Whatever the case, you should look for a firm, flat, unvegetated area where you can drive stakes into the ground (if your tent requires them). We went over what a good tent site looks like above, but sometimes circumstances require a little bit of creativity if your space is limited or the ground is bad. In the case of drive-in campsites, you can expect plenty of space to set up camp.

The REI Half-Dome, a modern camping classic

There are a lot of other considerations when you pick out a tent site, many of these are preference based and can only be learned from experience but here are some big ones to keep in mind.

• Watch your proximity to fires so you don’t get any accidental holes from wayward coals

• Sharp branches and sticks can also punch a hole through a tent wall more easily than you’d think.

• Camping at the bottom of a slope has the potential to funnel water into your tent if it rains

• You won’t be able to get stakes in the ground in some circumstances, try trenching your stakes or using natural tie-downs such as rocks or logs if you’re having trouble

Car Camping

If you’re driving to your campsite, it makes sense to save yourself a step and sleep in your vehicle. There are some benefits that come along with this, and also some big drawbacks

The biggest downside of sleeping in your car is the extra degree of separation between you and the place you’re putting so much effort into enjoying. That said, the comfort and security of a solid car build-out is hard to beat.

With enough time and energy you can transform most mid-size vehicles into a mobile camp capable of housing you as far as it can drive. While it’s cool to have a big bad overlander, you don’t need to invest much to be fairly comfortable in your vehicle.You can squeak by with as little as a blanket, and a pillow or two and be in better shape than many people who sleep in a tent, provided your car is long enough for you to lie down.

Of course if the idea of sleeping in your car appeals to you but you’re unwilling, unable, or uninterested in roughing it or building a sleeper conversion- you could always look into roof top tents. This style of tent has been around for a while but they’ve recently become much more accessible and compatible with different kinds of vehicles.

Shelters, FS Cabins, and Fire Lookouts

Ambitious recreators can book a backcountry shelter for a night. Old chalets, ranger cabins and other facilities are maintained by different land management agencies, and are available on either a reservation or first come first serve basis. Basic walkup shelters aren’t uncommon either- the Appalachian Trail is famous for its hiker shelters.

As with finding a good tent site, recreation.gov is your friend. A simple search can reveal a plethora of options for you to choose from.

It’s probably not a good idea to break into a locked building, go crawling around dilapidated shacks or slide into an abandoned mine shaft for the night. If you happen across a shelter in the backcountry that you want to camp in, think a little bit before you make any major commitments.

Bivvy/Cowboy Camping

We’ve spent some time talking about the different kinds of shelters you can use, but if the weather’s nice, why not sleep out under the stars?

While many may feel reassured by sturdy wooden walls separating them from the unknown frontier, others find sleeping out in the open without the use of a tent or shelter to be the best way to enjoy the evening. On a personal note, I opt to cowboy camp at every opportunity and heartily encourage any backpacking buddies to do the same.

It goes without saying that sleeping out in the open like this is a very condition-dependent circumstance. Wind, rain, and bugs will severely diminish the quality of your experience and I’ve dejectedly set up my tent in the darkness several times.

One way to mitigate your exposure while preserving the integrity of the open air experience is by looking into bivvy bags. These lightweight, waterproof bags fit over a regular sleeping bag and give users an extra degree of protection from the elements. Some, like Outdoor Research’s Bivy, even have mesh bug nets over the face (an essential feature in my option).

The term bivvy stems from the bivouac, the practice of spending the night in a temporary, improvised shelter. While modern bivvy bags take out some of the improvisational aspects, they are still the best option for people who want to pack as little as possible with a little bit of protection.

I almost always use a tent (or other walled sleeping structure) while in developed campgrounds- even if the weather is exceptionally nice. The reality is that these campgrounds are usually quite crowded and a bit of privacy is really nice.

Sleep System

Hand-in-hand with your shelter needs, a sleeping pad and sleeping bag are key components of comfortable nights outside. The technology that goes into both of these has developed considerably- but you don’t need to go out and buy an expensive new bag and pad to have a good time. In mild weather, old affordable bags or a blanket nest is enough to do the job.

Sleeping Bags

Perhaps the most high profile piece of camping equipment, a dependable and versatile sleeping bag can see you through most overnight outdoor adventures. A sleeping bag is more than just something to keep you warm through the night, it’s a sanctum- and at some points, the inside of my sleeping bag has been my favorite place in the world.

Down vs Synthetic Bags

When we’re talking about modern sleeping bags, the biggest distinction is between down and synthetic fills. We could fill tomes discussing the situational advantages of different fill materials and counts (and we do in our sleeping bag article), but for now all you need to know are the basics.

Down bags like the Sea to Summit Ascent  tend to be lighter, warmer (per fill), and more expensive. The one caveat is they lose their insulative properties when they’re wet. Synthetic bags are bulkier and less packable and they also tend to weigh a bit more. The upsides of synthetic bags are they stay warm when wet and tend to be less expensive.

Style and Shape

The shape of your bag is just as important as the fill and the temperature rating. Sleeping bags as classically presented in popular culture have a rectangular shape and are rolled for storage and carrying. Nowadays rectangular sleeping bags are typically used for car camping trips or activities where weight and packed size aren’t important. These bags emphasize comfort and allow campers a little extra wiggle room at night, and usually have synthetic fill.

The Sea to Summit Ascent series are semi-rectangular bags that unzip into quilts for more versatility and comfort

You should consider a rectangular sleeping bag if you don’t plan on taking your outdoor adventures very far down the trail with you. These bags aren’t ideal for backpacking. They’re great entry-level bags for those just dipping their toes into the camping world and are much more affordable than most mummy bags.

Mummy and Semi-Rectangular Bags

Mummy style bags have a more form fitting shape, and can be either down or synthetic. They’re much more efficient than rectangular bags because their tapered shape traps in heat and lets you warm up quickly.  Shaped sleeping bags-be the semi-rectangular or true mummy bags have become the standard for backcountry travel.

Sizing is a bit more of a consideration- most of the tapering is around your legs, so an aggressively cut mummy bag might feel more restrictive and claustrophobic than a relaxed fit rectangular bag. This feeling is exacerbated by a too-small bag. What’s more- an improperly sized mummy bag won’t feel as warm- if it’s too tight you compress the fill around your extremities leading to cold feet; and if it’s too loose you won’t be able to trap heat as efficiently.

Some models seek a compromise between the warmth and packability of a tapered bag and the more relaxed feel of a traditional rectangular model. These “semi-rectangular” bags are great for backpackers who want a little extra comfort but aren’t concerned about big temperature swings or camping in cold weather.

treDown Quilts

In their ever-continuing quest to shave off ounces, some people forego the zipper and opt for a down quilt as a sleeping bag alternative. These quilts, like the Ember II from Sea to Summit fit your sleeping pad and your body–complete with clothing sometimes–for crashing and keeping warm.

While less efficient than a form-fitting mummy bag- their low weight and versatility are to be admired. That said, unless you have a specific reason to opt for a quilt over a regular sleeping bag I’d err on the side of tradition.

Suggested Seasonal Temperature Ranges

Comfort Rating and Lower Limit Rating

Choosing a sleeping bag is heavily contingent upon where you’re camping, how often you go camping and your tolerance for discomfort. I’m not saying you should be uncomfortable, but as an example, you can squeeze a little shoulder season use out of a lightweight bag if you’re okay sleeping a little cold.

On that note, sleeping bags are graded by temperature ranges. The modern standard for how “warm” a sleeping bag is governed by an organization known as the ISO, which recently replaced the EN (European Norm) using a very similar method of assessment. Though these temperature ratings are used by many major manufacturers, not all sleeping bags will have them listed- or otherwise- have devised their own means of testing.

The comfort limit and lower rating aren’t hardline grades that ensure your survival through the night, they’re much more subjective and comfort based. Comfort Rating refers to the lowest temperature that most women or cold sleepers would be reasonably warm through the night. The lower limit refers to the same thing for most men or people who sleep warm.

For example, I am a human furnace and more often than not end up with my sleeping bag unzipped and draped over myself like a quilt. One of my hiking partners, on the other hand, needs to wear light, down layers and a beanie to sleep comfortably in the same bag.

At the end of the day you’ll want to give yourself plenty of wiggle room in case of unexpected drops in temperature or any number of other unforeseen circumstances. Those in the market for a new sleeping bag should look for something with a lower limit about ten degrees cooler than the coldest weather you plan on sleeping in. You can always unzip the bag to cool down in the night- but trying to stretch a bag that isn’t warm enough is a little trickier.

Sleeping Bag Liners

Liners are a great way to protect your sleeping bag from the dirt and oils you carry with you after a day of cavorting around outside- trust us when we say that it’s much easier to wash a lightweight liner than go through the hassle of trying to clean your sleeping bag.

Sleeping bag liners are also a great way to squeeze a little more warmth out of your old bag, or give yourself more cold weather insurance. In the height of summer, I sometimes forgo a proper sleeping bag and just use a breathable liner. By no means are they a necessity- but for many a decent sleeping bag liner is an investment worth serious consideration.

It’s also possible to use a smaller duvet cover as a liner, in a pinch.

Sleeping Pads

Sleeping bags are much more effective when used in tandem with a good sleeping pad. Sleeping pads provide buffer space between your body and the ground. Dirt, rock, and snow will quickly leech hard-won warmth from your body- even through a sleeping bag.

Most people freeze in colder weather because their sleeping pad has insufficient insulation to go with an otherwise impressive sleeping bag.

Put frankly- they’re the second essential component of your sleep system. That’s not to say that everyone needs the fanciest, most plush pad in existence- just that most people in most circumstances will be more comfortable with something squishy between their back and the ground.

R-Values

Before we get into the specifics of the different kinds of pads and which one is the best choice for you- we need to talk about R-values. The R-value is a measure of how effectively your pad will resist heat transfer, or in other words, how well your sleeping pad will prevent your heat from leaching into the ground.

R-values are ranked on a numerical scale, with lower numbered pads being less effective (and likely lighter and more packable) while pads on the upper end of the scale are warmer and probably bulkier. Similar to sleeping bags, sleeping pads have a range of conditions where they’re appropriate, but it’s a little easier to get true four season use from a pad than a bag.

Sleeping pads with R-Values between 1-3 are best used as a warm summer option, between 3-6 is a good place to look for three season use, and anything with a higher rating than that is great for real winter camping on snow and in very low temperatures.

Foam vs Inflatable

In the world of sleeping pads you have two paths: foam pads or inflatables. It’s worth knowing that inflatable pads are generally more comfortable and warmer than foam, though considerably more expensive. Below we’ll break down the pros and cons of each so you can weigh your decision carefully.

Foam Pads

The iconic foam sleeping pad is a simple, streamlined way to add a little warmth and comfort to your overnight setup. These pads are easily recognizable by their foldout accordion build and egg carton-esque dimples. Plenty of companies make pads in this style but the biggest name in the game is Therm-a-Rest.

Foam pads have many advantages- the most notable being that they can’t pop. They’re also lightweight, require no setup time, and you can trim them down to a super packable size.

The drawback is they’re nowhere near as warm or comfortable as an inflatable pad. Sleeping on a foam pad is little different from sleeping directly on the ground. Some of the sharp edges are smoothed out and maybe you’ll be able to avoid some of the dirt- but ultimately foam pads provide little aside from warmth.

Inflatable Pads

Inflatable pads come in a much wider array of shapes and styles than their foam counterparts- with some optimized for comfort and others for lightweight backcountry travel.

High quality inflatable sleeping pads can be considerably expensive. Generally speaking, there’s an inverse correlation between weight and price. Super light pads with a high R-value can cost you some serious cash- that said, there are plenty of affordable options out there that are less light and packable. These considerations are far more important for backcountry travel than car camping.

Showcasing the ever-dependable Nemo Astro Ultralight sleeping pad

The biggest drawback of inflatable pads will be, in rare occasions, that they can puncture. A hole isn’t a death sentence- they’re very patchable and while it’s inconvenient and annoying easily fixable. Slow leaks are, equally not so bad either. You can always roll over and blow it back up every couple of hours if you’re unable to fix it in the field.

Hammock Camping

For a hammock setup to have the same versatility as a simple tent, you need quite a bit of gear and technical know-how. An underquilt, sleeping pad, tarp and extra line and bug net in addition to a sleeping bag are just a few of the options.

You also need a solid handle on basic knots (hammock straps are great but won’t do you much good in certain contexts). Most importantly you need a willingness to compromise and a setup that’s flexible enough for you to sleep comfortably through a night when there simply aren’t any good places to string up your hammock.

Building Your Sleep System

We’ve spent quite a bit of time talking about the different takes on sleeping outside and the requisite gear. Even though we covered a lot of content, this is still just a cursory look- we could fill tomes (and we do) with information about sleeping bags, sleeping pads or anything else.

Ultimately you don’t need much or any of this gear to spend a night outside at your local campground.

When it comes to new campers our number one priority is making sure that you’re safe, and comfortable, and that you have fun. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars to have a good time and be comfortable while doing so. An air mattress and old comforter can take you far with some shelter overhead.

There’s no right or wrong way to go about camping so long as you’re abiding by LNT principles and not impacting the experience of your fellow recreators. We encourage you to be brazenly over-prepared your first few times out. Experiment, figure out what works for you, learn from your mistakes and the advice you receive along the way.

Camp Kitchen

You need fuel to power your open air revelry, and just because you lack paltry conveniences like a sink or an oven doesn’t mean you should compromise on quality. We won’t be covering our favorite recipes in any detail, but by the end of this section, you should have the tools you need to meal plan.

Camp Stoves and More

There are lots of ways to have a hot meal outside and one of the most common is a camping stove. Specifics on the types of gas and other fuels that you can use are a little outside the scope of this article, but you can read about backpacking stoves here. For car camping or even backyard cooking check out bigger units of camping stoves here.

We’ll do our best to otherwise give you a solid baseline of knowledge with reference to the different types of outdoor stoves.

Single Burner Gas Stoves

Single burner stoves are a compact way to whip up some hot slop on the go. These packable models are most recognizably represented by models such as MSR’s Pocket Rocket or the Jetboil Flash. Though this style of stove is probably more in the purview of backpackers and other hungry recreators on the go, they’re great to have around camp if you need a quick cup of coffee or hot water fast.

Multi Burner Gas Stoves

Larger gas stoves are by and large the best option for making more involved meals at your campsite. Chances are you’ve seen the timeless Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove.

The perks of opting for a larger stove are self-evident. You can cook more volume and varied things with multiple burners, great for those who aren’t into the solo camping thing. Ramen and instant mashed potatoes can take you far, but not my first choice for days on end. Another less obvious benefit is accurate temperature control- I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been scalded trying to adjust the temperature on my Jetboil as it bubbles over.

You can go as big as you’d like with this style of stove. I’ve seen families pack out huge, flat top griddles and serve a seemingly endless stream of aunts, uncles, and cousins hot food all day long.

Cooking with Fire

Of course you could always forgo a fancy stove in favor of the original outdoor kitchen appliance- the campfire. We’ll go over the specifics of how to navigate questions of fire safety in the camp etiquette section below; but for now let it be known that some of the best meals I’ve ever had outdoors were cooked over an open flame.

Established fire rings in State- or Federally-run campgrounds sometimes have flip-down grates attached to the outside of the ring that makes for a convenient grilling setup. It’s also fairly common to have access to charcoal barbecues in developed campgrounds.

The only thing to keep in mind about cooking over an open flame is you’re subject to both local fire restrictions and the whims of the weather- both of which can limit your ability to do this kind of cooking.

Cookware, Plates and Utensils

While it’s quick and convenient to eat straight from your Jetboil, it’s not always feasible for the food and number of people you need to feed.

Cookware that you use outside is much the same as what you’d use at home. In my car camping kitchen, I have the kind of cheap kitchen essentials you’d be able to find at any department store. This equates to a pot, a pan, a spatula, and a couple of plates and sets of utensils.

If you’re after something a little more compact and packable, there are a plethora of camping cookware sets available.

These sets, like the GSI Haululite, are more often than not stackable and compact, resting one in the other like Russian nesting dolls.

These are great for backpacking or other lightweight backcountry travel- but probably beyond the needs of the vast majority of campers.

As a final note, disposable utensils are convenient, but we encourage you to bring some more durable plastic options to cut down on waste that animals could potentially eat.

Freeze-dried Meals

You may have heard of prepackaged hiker and camper meals from brands like Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry. Because of their low weight and easy preparation (just add water) freeze dried meals are a popular choice with overnighters who don’t want to spend time cooking anything complicated.

There’s a ton of variety in the meals and serving size, but the quality is variable and very subject to individual preferences. You can’t beat the convenience of these meals for backcountry travel , but they’re significantly more expensive than just bringing and preparing your own food. If you’re curious about trying some out for a more casual outing go for it, but you may not want to rely on them for every meal.

For more habitual camping–and prepping for that matter–you can opt to freeze dry or dehydrate at home. There are some DIY methods that don’t require rocket science and result in some good-ol-fashioned self-reliance.

Cleanup Supplies

Keeping a clean camp is important for obvious health and safety reasons, both for you and resident campground creatures. A little bit goes a long way in this regard- some soap and a scrub pad should be enough to handle most messes you manage to generate at your campsite. The larger issue is keeping up with trash and food waste.

You don’t need anything special- just your average kitchen bag should do the trick. Staying on top of snack wrappers and packaging for new outdoor gear is a struggle for many new campers because things have a nasty habit of blowing away when unsecured outside.

Water

Drinkable water is chief among our biological needs. Fortunately, most campsites come with a potable water source for you to enjoy. More often than not these wells and pumps are centrally located at the campground and will be clearly labeled as fit for human consumption. If you have concerns, water availability is one of the things that you can check online.

Bringing water with you is also an option, I have a few jerry cans that I use to carry clean water in my car. Sometimes it’s overkill, but it’s never a bad idea to have extra water for yourself and anyone in a pinch. You could bring a pallet of single use bottles, though we’d encourage you to carry water en masse then use your own water bottles.

Finally you could gather your own water on site. This supposes you have a reliable source to collect from, as well as the means to treat it. Camping can take you to beautiful places filled with cool rivers and lakes- but that doesn’t mean any of the water is drinkable.

Water Filters and Treatment

I’ve drank a lot of unfiltered water in my day, and  I wholehearly disavow anyone from following my example. No matter how good the water in the glacial lake looks, or how appealing the spring-fed creek trickling down a clean rock face looks, you just never know who or what has been there. You might save a little bit of time but stand almost nothing to gain other than giardia.

I use the Sawyer Squeeze for my on-the-go filtration needs

When it comes to treating water there are many routes you can take. Chemical treatments, pump or squeeze filters and even UV irradiation are viable means of turning questionable streams into refreshing sources of hydration.

The many styles and philosophies of proper water treatment are a little beyond the scope of this article, but all you need to know is unless you’re gathering water from a spigot that is labeled “potable water” you’ll probably want to send it through some kind of treatment or filter.

Lifestraw offers some products that kill enough of the impurities to make most outdoor water sources safe and clean by killing micro-organisms. As the prepping industry grows, more and more products are becoming available, but purification tablets have been used for generations now and will do the trick too.

Clothing and Layering

For the purposes of staying warm and comfortable, what you wear while camping is just as important as your tent and sleeping bag. Being outside- you’ve fully subjected yourself to the unpredictable extremes of weather.

Because there’s so much variability in temperature and conditions, you want to be prepared for any unexpected weather events. While you could bring your entire wardrobe, it’s much easier to pack selectively for the trip.

Figuring out what to wear is easy if you follow the basic principles of outdoor layering.  Generally speaking you’ll want comfortable, semi-active clothes to wear around camp and while recreating, warm layers and long pants to wear during the evening, and probably some extra changes of socks and underwear- I always bring a pair of dedicated camp socks for my sleeping bag. Waterproof jackets are almost always a good idea- so unless you’re headed to Death Valley it’s probably worth throwing one in the car.

Finally, anytime I venture in the woods, I make sure my footwear is good to go. A tried and true pair of hiking boots will keep you the most protected, but sneakers or a solid pair of sandals are fine depending on the season and location.

Lightsources

The night sky is dark; really dark. In my experience, wandering around an unlit campsite at night is a great way to trip over a branch, get clotheslined by a hammock, or kick a scorpion. Fortunately portable lights have come a long way since the days of burning whale blubber- we’ll cover the basics below.

Flashlights

Flashlights are a good thing to have lying around in any home, and even better in the trunk of your car on a camping trip. From classic Maglights to compact, high-lumen beams models, flashlights come in all shapes and sizes. There are plenty of great options out there, but there’s a clear best option for almost every circumstance in the outdoors: a headlamp.

Headlamps

Headlamps are as versatile and practical as gear gets, and they’re one of the first things I’d recommend budding camping enthusiasts buy for themselves. They’re essentially compact flashlights that you can wear comfortably around your forehead- with different features and brightnesses depending on your budget.

Their biggest benefit over flashlights is hands-free illumination: chop a pepper, fix a tent stake, vigorously clap to scare away a bear. I also tend to lose things the second that I set them down- so it’s good to have my light source strapped to my head.

Basic headlamps are affordable by the standards of outdoor gear, but higher end models ten to be much brighter. Features like redlight modes, rechargeable batteries, and emergency strobes are nice to have but will end up costing you more. I use the Petzl Tikkina, which I find to be a nice balance between price and light.

Lanterns and Popup Lanterns

While not strictly essential, lanterns are a great convenience to have around camp. They not only help prevent blinding each other with your headlamps, but to some extent provide a rallying point around camp in lieu of a fire. Popup lanterns are small, inflatable versions of their larger electrical counterparts. They’re small, packable, and sometimes solar powered.

We’ll get more in-depth about how to be a courteous camper below, but keep in mind that your neighbors won’t appreciate giant flood lights blaring through the night.

Comfort Items

Now that we’ve covered most of the essentials we can get into the fun stuff- everything that you don’t need. This section pertains mostly to the car camping crowd, but even backpackers have their small comforts that they can’t go without.

Camp Chairs

Camp chairs are an essential. Sitting in the dirt is fun, but not that much fun; and chances are you probably have a camp or beach chair somewhere around your house. You don’t want to be the person who spends all night squatting next to the fire. Camp chairs come in all shapes and sizes, and while just about anything can get the job done- I’ve reviewed many models and have clear personal favorites.

The Cliq Chair, one of my favorite models

If you like to walk and don’t mind a little extra weight, backpacking chairs are a great way to make your stay in the backcountry a little more comfortable. These loweight models range in style from a trimmed down Thermarest (see sleeping pads above) to packable models from Helinox and REI. Our camp chair guide has a breakdown of our favorite models of every style.

Entertainment

I can spend hours walking to places just to take in the view, my favorite way to spice up a trip is to go on a few day hikes– but at some point we all yearn for a little more enrichment. While you could whittle your night away stoically drinking whiskey around the fire, I’ve found it helps to bring cards, yard games, or another focus to keep things interesting.

There’s a big party culture associated with camping, and I trust I can leave most people to their own devices to figure that one out. The one piece of advice I’ll leave you with is to make sure you’re first and foremost being conscientious of your fellow campers.

Toiletries and Health Measures

While some campgrounds have showers where weary travelers might refresh themselves, the vast majority offer little more than potable water intended for cooking and drinking.

There are some very simple and useful portable showers that can really add a degree of luxury to your roughing-it trip, though some may not want to bother.

If you’re concerned about staying clean I have good news and bad news for you. The bad news is that the outdoors is an uncontrollable environment where you’re not just living next to the dirt- you’re living in it. The control you can exercise over your space simply cannot be done while camping so you may as well accept that mud and bugs and dust are somewhat inevitable.

The good news is you can still do everything you need to cover basic self care like you would at home. There’s a wide spectrum regarding the acceptable amount of grime- and your expectations might change based on the kind of camping you’re doing. The biggest thing that’s helped me, particularly on extended trips, is to swim as much as possible. While there are biodegradable soaps to help scrub, I’ve found a little bit of dirt to be of secondary importance compared to keeping yourself protected from environmental hazards.

Managing Sun Exposure

In most cases, the biggest and most immediate hazard to your health outside is sun exposure. The majority of people camp during the warmer months between spring and fall, so figuring out a system to protect you from UV rays and overheating is crucial. This said, some of my worst sunburns are from snowfields, so winter isn’t a free pass by any means.

Sunscreen is the most obvious line of defense. But camping isn’t spending a day at the beach, it’s tricky keeping up with reapplication during long summer days. You might want to supplement your sunscreen with a UPF layer- a quick dry shirt that can protect you from UVs while keeping you cool and dry. I bring a lightweight long sleeved shirt on almost every camping or hiking excursion.

I also always bring a hat and a pair of sunglasses. Even when the weather is overcast you never know when the sun might break through and bear down upon you in all of its radiant glory. I’d recommend you protect your eyes and face by doing the same.

Bugs and Bug Spray

More than rain, cold, hunger, thirst or physical exhaustion- nothing ruins a good time like bugs. My bad experiences range from waking up in the middle of the night absolutely covered in ants, running uphill from swarms of mosquitoes, and squeamishly extracting ticks from my armpits.

Situations like these are unavoidable. But you don’t have to be like me. You can be smarter, more careful, and probably have more fun. You just need a little bit of knowledge.

Protecting Yourself from Bugs

The best form of protection from insects is a physical barrier. This can take the form of a full-blown mesh shelter, thick clothing, or an over the head bug net. Fortunately the average tent’s mesh should offer more than enough protection from late night raids- and things like a bug net are only really necessary in extreme circumstances or if you really can’t tolerate a few bites.

Bug spray is also effective- but I’ve yet to find any that has kept the bravest bugs at bay. I’ve also had little luck with anything that doesn’t contain deet or other nasty chemicals. You should know deet is linked to health concerns that might make some wary. I can’t tell you whether you should or shouldn’t be using chemicals like deet, but if you have concerns you should do some research and reach your own conclusions.

Basic Bug Behavior

I’m no entomologist, but I’ve spent enough time being eaten, stung, and otherwise crawled upon by all manner of bugs to impart a little practical wisdom. We don’t have the space here to go too in-depth but there are a few useful tidbits of knowledge I wish I had known.

• Mosquitoes are usually most active at dusk and dawn between extremes in temperature.

• Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water and can be found there in abundance

• Ticks like a little bit of moisture and thick brush, they can hang on to you for a quite a while before picking a spot to settle in.

• Ticks usually head for warm places with high blood flow like the armpits and groin.

• It’s a good idea to do a full-body check after traveling through tick territory. If you camp and hike on the East side of the continental divide you may want to get checked for Lyme disease if you find a bite.

• As a rule, don’t stick your hands or feet into holes or brush unless you’re prepared to face the wrath of its inhabitants.

• Be familiar with venomous arthropods in your area, a bite or sting is rarely serious enough to merit canceling a trip but you never know.

When Nature Calls

At some point, you’re going to need to use the bathroom outside- try as you might, you can’t outhike biology. Fortunately, most trailheads and developed campgrounds will have at least a pit toilet available for you to use- and if you have the option you should prioritize using these facilities. This is less a matter of your own comfort and more one of protecting high-use areas. If everyone pees on the bush behind the campsite, the bush isn’t going to be doing well after a few seasons.

With this in mind,be aware that soap, hand sanitizer, and running water aren’t guaranteed. Depending on the frequency of maintenance neither is toilet paper. I bring hand soap, wet wipes, and some kind of hand sanitizer along for every trip, I’ve been burned too many times to take the risk.

These facilities aren’t fun to maintain. The cleanliness and overall condition of any pit toilet facility can be improved by following a few simple rules.

• Don’t throw trash into pit toilets. This includes snack bar wrappers, menstrual products, and anything that isn’t human waste or toilet paper. If I use wet wipes I pack them out.

• Close the lid of the toilet on your way out. This helps mitigate the smell and keeps flies from getting out of hand.

• Use pit toilets over the woods. As mentioned above, prioritizing facility use helps protect high use areas.

• Remember that someone has to clean these facilities. Treat restrooms like you’re the person who’ll be cleaning them.

If you’re out hiking and need to stop for a quick bathroom break on trail, try to get a little ways from the trail and avoid peeing on any soil or vegetation- rocks are the best. Animals love the salt in your urine and will happily chew brush or dirt for a taste.

How to Poop in the Woods

Part of being a responsible recreator is dealing with your waste- it’s important from the perspective of protecting the outdoors as well as the experience of other hikers.

When you inevitably need to poop in the woods, you’ll want to be prepared with the tools and knowledge it takes to do the job right. My backcountry bathroom kit has a trowel, hand sanitizer, a pack of wet wipes, and a sealable bag to pack out my used TP.

Look for a spot that’s off trail, with ground soft enough to dig, affords you some degree of privacy, and is a considerable distance from the nearest water source. Having a nice view is optional but really adds to the experience.

Picking the right place is important, but you also need to put the effort into digging a good hole at least six inches deep to bury your waste. Don’t just flip over a rock and call it good, putting the time into digging a hole greatly aids with the breakdown process and ensures no one will stumble on your cathole. Surface pooping is a cardinal sin in outdoor recreation.

I’d encourage you to pack out your TP as well- it doesn’t break down as quickly as waste and is the only kind of trash that won’t be picked up by conservation-minded hikers.

Basic First Aid

It’s amazing how many people (myself included) only start bringing first aid kits after learning the hard way why they’re considered an essential. A mental bandaid goes a long way towards improving someone’s attitude, and a little acetaminophen has saved my friends many hours of listening to me complain.

A basic first aid kit for camping is less about dealing with serious trauma and more about making your stay more comfortable. Chances are you don’t have the skill set to reduce a compound fracture or suture up a serious laceration. But no one wants to cancel a trip for a bee sting or a smashed toe nail.

With that said, you can stretch a simple kit pretty far. I had a friend catastrophically dislocate a shoulder while skiing in the Sun Valley backcountry a couple of years ago, and a simple sling and over the counter painkillers did much to make our return trip less of a hassle.

The bottom line is you want to bring first aid supplies even if all it amounts to is a bottle of Advil and some bandages. If you want something a little more comprehensive you can take a look at our guide for kits we’ve vetted. I’d also recommend anyone who gets out regularly to look at a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder Class.

Camping Responsibly

Being a Good Neighbor

Campgrounds get crowded, particularly during peak season or holiday weekends. People choose to recreate in a lot of different ways that might not be compatible with your idea of how things should go outdoors. You can’t control other people’s behavior but you can control how you react and how you treat other people outside. Below we’ll cover some of the more frequent issues that crop up in crowded campgrounds- and the ways you can avoid chafing your fellow recreators if you’re unaware of general decorum.

Noise

The most frequent issue people run into when using crowded group sites is monitoring their sound levels. Similar to hiking- people don’t want to hear your favorite songs blaring from a bluetooth speaker.

To help with differing expectations, most developed campgrounds have posted quiet hours. Don’t take that as permission to be as loud as you like outside of those constraints. That’s not to say you can’t play music- just be mindful of the volume and the time that you’re listening. The same goes for regular conversation- there’s nothing wrong with going out in the woods to have some fun with your friends, but it becomes an issue when revelry gets in the way of other people sleeping.

In the backcountry, you want to take care to preserve the wilderness experience of others. This means acting in a way that won’t unduly impact the experience of your fellow recreators; so primal screams echoing from the woods probably won’t go over well.

Fire Safety

Learning to start and manage a fire is a useful tool in the kit of anyone who spends time outdoors. Given the annual catastrophic smoke season that sweeps the American West every summer, we’re going to emphasize “managing” your fires rather than giving advice on how to start them.

The first step to success in having a fire is making sure there aren’t any fire restrictions or burn bans in your area. It doesn’t matter what your background is or how well-prepared you are with water, if a ranger catches you having a fire during a burn ban you’re likely to be facing (at least) a hefty fine.

As in the case of choosing a campsite, we want our fires to have minimal impact on both the land we’re using and the experience of campers to follow. As such, we encourage you to light fires only where there are established fire rings- be this a metal pit or a well-worn stone circle. Use common sense to clear the surrounding area of dry, flammable materials and keep an eye out for rogue embers during the entire duration of your fire.

When it comes to deterring and preventing nighttime raids on your campsite, you’ll want to keep things clean. As mentioned in our “What to Bring” section above, sturdy trash bags are a great way to conveniently collect any refuse left around your campsite. The only issue with trash bags is they’re not smell-proof and are easily chewed through. Overnight storage is best handled by keeping your food and trash in a sealable container or inside your car. Bear areas are a notable exception- don’t keep your food in your car.

One thing to keep in mind is most animals have a more developed smell than people and some things may smell appetizing to them that would surprise us. Toothpaste, soaps, and other scented products are classic examples.

Part of animal awareness is being aware of any you may have brought with you. Don’t let your dog roam free through campgrounds. This is equally important for their safety, for the safety of local animals, and for the comfort of your neighbors.

Bear Country

If you’re camping anywhere bears are known to roam, you may need to take extra precautions to ensure your safety and the safety of your ursine neighbors. Developed campgrounds will have bear lockers, big metal boxes where you can secure food and trash. In some cases you may need to prepare a bear hang or bring a bear can to store your smelly, food related articles in.

Walking a hundred yards from your campsite and stringing up a pack from a tree so it’s suspended more than 10 feet from the ground and roughly 5 feet from the tree trunk will work in a pinch. Put your food and garbage in the pack before going to bed. It’s a good idea to get the rope up and over the branch before nightfall, as it’s more difficult to do in the dark.

The specific protocols and best-practices regarding bear safety are subject to change depending on your location and current land-management decisions, so make sure you check up on requirements before you head out.

Leave No Trace Ethics

We’ve talked about keeping your campsite clean and making sure that you’re courteous of other campers, in reality these are just two aspects that feed into LNT ethics. Leave No Trace Ethics are a widely accepted set of principles that guide recreationists in conserving the land they use. The seven principles are as follows:

• Plan ahead and prepare

• Travel and camp on durable surfaces

• Dispose of waste properly

• Leave what you find

• Minimize campfire impacts

• Respect wildlife

• Be considerate of other visitors

We’ve only scratched the surface of these principles, and many would argue (myself included) that responsible recreation demands more than just “doing no harm.”

Common Questions and Issues

I’m too cold when I’m camping

If you’re constantly cold while camping, there could be a number of things at play- but most likely you have an insulation problem. While sitting close to a fire and piling on blankets is one way to keep warm, you should take a look at your outdoor layering system and sleeping bag. Good layers work together and should be enough to keep you warm in most situations barring winter camping. A season appropriate and well-fitting sleeping bag is the best way to stay comfortable through the night.

If you’re still having issues- here are some tips and tricks to help you fall asleep

• You may be tempted to wear all of your clothes to sleep, but warm layers like down jackets are great for stuffing into your bag to fill up some of the dead air space and retain more warmth.

• Filling a bottle with hot or boiling water and throwing it into your sleeping bag helps you warm up quickly on a cold night.

• The warmest thing in your tent is probably the person you’re sharing it with. Sleeping close to other people is a great way to stay comfortable through the night.

• Some vigorous activities like pushups or jumping jacks help get your core body temperature up, giving your layers and sleeping bags more warmth to retain.

How to camp in the rain?

There’s no reason to let a little precipitation keep you inside- so long as you’re equipped to keep yourself warm and dry. A solid, three season tent with a rainfly makes a good home base. Some of my favorite trips have been little more than reading in my sleeping bag all day while listening to the rain.

But so long as conditions look safe (no lightning or flood warnings) you can do anything in the rain that you’d be doing otherwise. Rain can’t stop you from hiking, fishing, enjoying the solitude of nature or the company of friends. Camping in the rain is a great excuse to test the limits of your waterproof jacket or other gear in a low-stakes environment.

How to camp in your car?

All you need to successfully camp in your car is enough room to lay down. Anything beyond that is based on how much effort you want to put into preparation or build outs. With a mattress pad, sleeping bag, and other camping essentials, sleeping in your car is just as comfortable as any tent on the market- and likely warmer.

If you’re interested in building out your car, you can get creative with raised platforms and sliding drawers for storage- or keep it simple with cubbies or nesting in a pile of your clothes. Otherwise, you could always check out a rooftop tent for a more elevated experience.

What about camping in the winter?

Camping in the winter is a bit heavier on logistics than other times of the year- you want to make sure you’re ready for rain, snow, and cold temperatures. While hypothermia is a threat year-round, your risk is greatly increased if you’re sleeping outside in the winter. Real four-season gear becomes more a necessity, and you’ll either need to invest in a warmer sleep system or be willing to get creative.

Camping on snow is a big subject that presents exciting opportunities like digging snow caves or sleeping in an igloo- though these subjects are a little outside the scope of camping basics. If you’re interested in winter camping start slow, give yourself plenty of opportunity to change your mind if you feel underprepared.