Buy Quality Camping Gear
In a world where advertising is everywhere and there are so many options on what brands to buy, this is frankly one of the most difficult things to do. One of the best recommendations I can give if buying things online is to check reviews. If there are a lot of reviews mentioning splitting seams or easy dents, the item you’re looking at probably isn’t high quality. That being said, the most expensive gear isn’t always the best– some of the smallest companies have the greatest gear at a fraction of the price for well-known brands.
SLEEPING BAG: The first thing you need to consider when buying a camping mattress pad or sleeping bag is its R-Value. The R-Value is the rating an item is given for warmth and ability to maintain heat. The R-Value rating is on a scale from 1-7 with “one” being the item is meant for warm weather use only whereas a “seven” rating is meant for extreme cold and frozen ground. Not all R-Values are expertly assigned though, and not every product on the market has an assigned R-Value. Furthermore, the R-value or marketed temperature rating is based on survival capability rather than comfort. From here, you’ll want to take any rating with a grain of salt. For me, as a petite woman who tends to sleep hot in the summer and cold in the winter, I like to have a sleeping pad and sleeping bag that have R-values or temperature ratings at least 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit below the minimum temperature I plan to use it—I find myself a little cold if I’m using a 30°F sleeping bag in 50°F weather. So, I’ll have a sleeping bag rated for 0°F even if the low temperature is only supposed to be 30°F. I find it easier to throw back my quilt/sleeping bag or take off clothing layers if I get too hot, and it’s much better than carrying an extra sleeping bag or lots of blankets around— and it’s certainly better than a sleepless night because you’re freezing.
The other thing you want to consider is the size and shape of your sleeping bag. Larger sleeping bags take longer to warm up at night and more body heat to keep them warm. If a bag is too big, you will likely spend the night cold no matter what the R-value rating or temperature rating is. For maximum heat retention, consider a mummy sleeping bag. For more space, a rectangular bag is your best bet. And if you find yourself cold at night, you can stuff your extra clothes in the empty spaces of your bag—it’s extra insulation that traps your body heat. Hot water bottles are also useful at keeping warm.
SLEEPING PAD: Like a sleeping bag, you’ll want to consider the R-rating or temperature rating on a sleeping pad. A sleeping pad not only provides a more comfortable bed, but a proper one also keeps you warm at night. If your inflatable pad gets a hole in it, you will likely wake up to find yourself cold and on the ground. There are multiple types of sleeping pads available on the market—foam, air inflatables, a combination of both. The thickness of the material and its casing will make a difference in the comfort and packing size & weight of your pad. If you are front country camping, you might find the additional weight and size of a memory foam pad to be well worth the investment. However, if you’re backcountry camping where carrying weight is everything, you are limited to inflatable air pads or ultra-thin Styrofoam pads. I personally use a sleeping pad made out of a combination of both air and memory foam whenever I go camping since I tend to stick to campgrounds; packed away, the pad is still 2.5ft long and a foot wide, weighs roughly 7lbs. However, I can adjust the firmness to my liking, and the memory foam stays warmer than a pad made only of air. Keep in mind, however, that memory foam will absorb water unless it is wrapped in a waterproof casing. If you purchase one, make sure it is at minimum water-resistant. If you purchase an inflatable air pad, make sure the outer casing is resistant to punctures and always have a patch repair kit ready on standby. And no matter what it’s made out of, make sure the pad is designed to handle your height & bodyweight.
TENT: When buying a tent, get one you can actually put up by yourself– a large tent can be too tall for one person to assemble by themselves. As for the tent itself, you will want to purchase one meant for the seasons you plan to use it in. A four-season tent can be used during the warmer months but is the only type of tent you can use in the winter and be comfortable—a three-season tent will not work for winter unless you are in a southern location with warmer temperature averages. Four-season tents are also designed for withstanding the weight of some snow. Unfortunately, four-season tents are often pricier than three-season tents. If you are someone who doesn’t plan to camp during the winter, or only do so in the Deep South, you won’t need to invest the extra money. However, the size of the tent actually matters when it’s cool outside. The larger a tent is, the more time and energy is needed to warm the tent interior. A person solo camping will want to be in a tent meant for one or two people if they’re camping during cooler months—their body heat will not warm up a large tent. Some tents also include a fitted rainfly and footprint. If they do, these are ideal; the footprint is meant to act like a floor tarp and keep water out of your tent. If the footprint is even a couple of inches larger than your tent, water can pool underneath your tent floor and soak your tent if there’s a hole in the floor. If the tent doesn’t come with a footprint, you will need to purchase a waterproof tarp to place under your tent to keep water from entering your tent. Also make sure that the seams of the tent are taped and sealed with professional outdoor-grade sealant. If they are not, water can still leak inside, and you will want to do it yourself before your camping trip.
RAINFLY/TARP: The rainfly also plays a large role in your tent. A rainfly, if designed well, is supposed to keep water from coming into your tent if it rains. If it fully covers your tent, it also helps trap heat inside the tent. Some tents advertise a rainfly that is more accurately a sunshade; if you see a tent for sale with a covering that really only covers the roof and top third of the tent, it’s a sunshade that provides a little water resistance and will need additional coverings to keep the inside protected from a storm. A good rainfly will cover the entirety of the tent and will be staked into the ground, like the tent itself—the fly will have a zippered entrance to pass through. If you camp in a location where it rains or storms often, you are best prepared with a rainfly and even an additional rain tarp with tarp poles.
WATERPROOF/WATER RESISTANT ITEMS: Lastly, for any product advertising “waterproof” or “water resistant”, look at the materials it’s made out of and the “PU_mm” thickness rating; “water resistant” is not the same as “waterproof” and a simple misunderstanding can lead to a bad camping experience if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Polyester and plastic products are more water resistant than items made out of cotton or wool. If a tarp or jacket has an PU_mm rating between PU1500mm and PU3000mm, it is considered “water resistant”—it helps greatly, but water can get through. Items advertised as “waterproof” should have a thickness rating of PU3000mm or higher—the higher the PU_mm rating, the more waterproof it will be. Keep in mind that if you expect moderate to heavy rain, a minimum value of PU5000mm will be necessary to keep everything dry.