I have enjoyed camping since my middle teen years. As I got older I could afford more, newer, and better equipment. However I am a sucker for a good-looking gadget!

In the Summer of 1974, I started buying real, "For a lifetime" camping equipment. The "Gold Circle" store was right behind where I worked. and they considered hunting and camping to be in the same summer season! From Memorial Day to Labor Day was camping season with weekly specials on the limited equipment they carried. The first thing I bought was a Coleman 2 mantel lantern, model 220, cost $18.88. Two weeks later I bought a Coleman 2 burner stove, model 425, cost $18.88. I bought a Nylon 2 person tent, and an air mattress. I didn't get a cooler until May of 1978 while on our honeymoon, it was a Coleman steel belted model. This is the foundation of my camping equipment. All these years later I still have and use the items when camping and also during power outages.

If I see a gadget, I usually buy one to try it out. But the greatest gadget I saw and didn't buy was in about 1975. It as a replacement "Hood" for gas and propane lanterns sized around a two mantel Coleman, but were supposed to fit other brands also. To use it, you replaced the top hood of the lantern and used the same wire handle and same nut. The new hood was chrome plated and had a flat surface that you used as a cook stove. It was $15.00 and I thought it was too expensive. I told one of the guys I worked with about it and he bought 3! For a fishing buddy, his brother and himself. A few weeks later he told me how great it works for having a lantern and brewing a pot of coffee while fishing all night. I went back to buy one and they were out, and I've never seen another!

About 10 years later, I made my own from 5" or 6" heating duct connecters and steel pop rivets, but the balance was off and was unstable.

That is about the only gadget that got away from me.

Please enlighten us to useful gadgets and handy techniques you have used camping.

Ivan

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

My family did a lot of camping growing up sometimes camping for up to two months with other families at Lake Ft. Gibson in the summer and my dad and the other husbands would commute to Tulsa every morning to go to work. Now my wife and I enjoy some car camping but mostly backpack camping in the mountains where weight and size of equipment is extremely important. My only recommendation right now is to ALWAYS carry an extra air mattress because mine got a leak last year in Colorado and the patch kit wouldn't fix it and those rocks seem to be a lot harder than they use to be.

You didn't mention the pee gravel rocks we have here. You know it when you see it. If you can urinate behind a rock so large that your neighbor can't see you, then you have pee gravel. And we have lots of them.

I slept in the back of a pick-up several times with a hunting partner and 2 dogs when it got below freezing. I've got tents that hold 2, 6, 8 and 12 persons. I've got air mattresses, sleeping bags, stoves, lanterns, camp tables and a bunch of other gear...

My BIL has spent over $50K on trailers, because his wife likes camping. Their average 5 day trips probably cost $3K.

The first year hunting in Wyoming, we camped. For the next 10 years, we took supplies and rented a trailer nearby. The most enjoyable and affordable years we ever had out there was when we stayed in a nice motel...



I took my wife camping once and she won't do it again. For her, roughing it is a 3 Star motel.

If you need more gear, PLEASE PM me!

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"I also cook."

I've done more than a few 3 day hikes!

Rocks by their very nature get harder with time! My sleeping pad for hiking was the Army closed cell pad. Not much on softness, great for stopping heat loss.

We Car camp now and use an inflatable Queen size mattress. Six summers ago, my wife over inflated it the first night of a three-day trip. It didn't "POP" but you were a lot closer to the ground in the morning.

Top: For large inflatable mattresses, they go soft overnight due to cooling off. We started taking an electric blanket and in hot weather placed it between the tent floor and the mattress. On somewhere low and medium it kept the mattress firm on chilly nights, on cold nights we put it between us and the mattress. That allows comfort adjustments using the top blankets and keeps the mattress firm.

Rusty; my smallest stove is an alcohol deal. About 1/2" thick and about 1 1/4" dia. Made of Titanium and has no moving parts. Use a Teaspoon of denatured alcohol poured in the top. Light and pay close attention, ALCOHOL FLAME ARE INVISABLE! It is great for making one cup of tea or Ramen noodles. One of my son's friends uses Bourbon so he has visible flames and gets a dual use from his flask.

Ivan

For my brother, Holiday Inn is roughing it. A well supplied emergency kit has both Master Card and American Express!

Ivan

I carry a pint of Clear Springs grain alcohol. 95% ethanol. Comes in a plastic bottle with a tight screw on cap. Good for stoves, disinfectant, solvent and even a mood lifter, if added to the coffee. Cheap and readily available.

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The best I can with what I got

"Daddy, how come we never go camping?" says me to my father when I was about 6.

"Well son, me and a few friends went on a long, long camping trip starting in 1942. I don't ever plan on sleeping on the ground again." he would reply.

He was a WWII Army Pacific War veteran. And he never went camping again.


,

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Death? Smile back...

My whole family loves to camp! Most (all) of our camping is on small northern Michigan lakes or trout streams in rustic sites. These days, my wife and I are in a 26’ travel trailer so best of both worlds.



My crazy son and his crazy buddies really enjoy winter camping. Key here is a wood burning stove and super warm sleeping gear.

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Pass it on.
Mark

Itchy and I spent a lot of time in a tipi many moons ago.Best gadgets we had were flint and steel.

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Eccentric old coot

Those flat top hoods can still be had. A few months ago I was looking for something else on some website that had them for Coleman and the traditional kerosene lanterns.
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of the website.

My camping setup has for many years consisted of 26 pieces: a lawn chair, a campfire, and a case of beer.

Still use my father's 60's vintage 2 burner Coleman 413G.
Swapped out the generator few years back, nothing else.
I wouldn't dream of a refinish.

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I have an extensive collection of vintage Coleman stoves, lanterns, and just about anything else they’ve made.

Currently have a few items displayed on my barn bench …..



Had a lot of stuff in my office before I retired.

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Pass it on.
Mark

I've been watching YouTube videos of camping for a few weeks, as I'm getting impatient for summer to get here. Most of these videos are 20-to-40-minute commercials for some product provided at no cost by a sponsor. It is very obvious when someone has never set up an unfamiliar tent!

One of the things that gripes me is how many energy sources they use on a single campout! For example, lighting. There are LED string lights using a Solar Generator, Small USB battery lanterns, AA battery lanterns, Coleman fuel lanterns and a Candle Lantern all on at the same time. Then Cooking will sometimes use alcohol stove, a portable fire pit/grill, a Coleman stove and a butane stove or even two!

I own just about all those systems and have found each of them useful. However, I usually only take one fuel type on a trip (with the exception of a flashlight or two per person). My current favorite system for a multi-day car/truck trip is an old 1950's Coleman 413 D large two burner stove converted to propane and a Coleman NorthStar propane lantern Mounted on a "Lantern Tree" affixed to a 20-pound Propane tank. The stove uses a hose to the same tree. There is a third port on the tree for a third appliance. (I have a Supper Buddy and hose if I need a winter heat source.)

One fuel source, simple to take care of and keep track of!

I have Coleman Fuel lanterns, stoves (and used to have a heater). I have full size, small size, and backpacking size.
The list could go on, but you get the idea.

Ivan

ETA: One of my favorite single burner stoves is a State Machine Products stove made for our military. It runs on: Coleman fuel, Mo Gas, & regular, high test, or unleaded gasoline. It has tools and spares built in for field service. It is 2 1/2" shorter than the older Coleman Medic's stove and the current carry/cook kit wit fit either. Of the 15 t0 20 single burner stoves, this is my favorite!

I camp regularly, and managed to do almost all weekends last year between April and October. The big takeaways weren't gadgets but quality basics. Good stove, good cast iron (for stove or fire), good pad and tent, good headlamp, good chair, and spare batts/propane. Beyond that appropriate fishing gear, hot sauce, beef, and beer does the rest. Also that stuff you throw in the fire that makes it do cool colors.

That said, I got to play with some decent night vision and now that's on the camping gadget saving list.

One of the handiest items I've used is a 9x12 beige or sand colored tarp. One side brought low for a windbreak it acts as a reflector with a tin lantern burning citronella fuel for the skeeters. Between that and a Coleman lantern burning low hung on the other side of the site enough light is thrown to see guide lines and other toe trippers.

No more camping for this old bear. But loved it back when.

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No baby we aint

When I was a kid in the early '50s, we camped a fair amount all over California. One thing I remember was the clever nesting aluminum cookware set that contained plates, cups, a coffee pot, various pans with detachable handles, all of which fit into a cooking pot, the lid of which served as a large frying pan. It was a clever design, and there was still enough room left to toss in our silverware. I don't remember the brand, but looked like this vintage Mirro set:

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What, me worry?

In the late 80's Coleman's Backpacking line of gear was called Peak One. They had a copper bottom, stainless steel cook kits for 1, 2, or 4 people. It was a little heavy by today's standards, with Titanium being the gold standard of light weight and durability. I ended up buying a few singles and doubles and several larger cook pots/Frying Pans. They are great for space saving and still cooking meals for large families. I had built a camp kitchen that held all of it, but it was too cumbersome once the kids started moving out.

When camping on 3-or 4-day trips, we try to do the cooking at home and mostly reheat at camp. Maybe one day of a big breakfast; eggs, bacon/sausage, & pancakes. But usually fresh coffee and "College Coffee Cake" slathered with butter! Sandwiches and cheese & Crackers for lunch. Dinner almost always includes as much corn on the cob as the season will bare (boiled or campfire roasted)

Beverage and food refrigeration. I have gone to a different philosophy on coolers the last half dozen years. One large cooler (80 or 100 quart?) with big blocks of ice seems to hold all we need and last 5+ days. We don't have bears, so raccoons are the worst problem. We put the cooler on a picnic table at night and ratchet strap it in place.

I make my blocks of ice in the deep freezer at home using square Ice Cream buckets. 4 one-gallon blocks on each end does the trick. I also have some half-gallon milk jugs that I fill and freeze to fill in voids and finish with whatever cubes will fit. The cooler is empty, and the last thing packed at home, it's too heavy for us old folks to lift into the truck when filled.

When we camp the first thing set up is overhead cover! Then the stove so coffee is on call at all times. Then the tent and bedding.

When I was a kid, Dad and I went to an estate sale for a "Great White Hunter". In the gear being sold were three 5-gallon coffee boilers, for water treatment and just plain hot water. I have looked all my adult life and have never seen another boiler that large. But we have two large boilers of about 2-gallons each. Those babies have heated thousands of gallons of drinking, cooking, dishwashing and bathing water over the years. Once a fire is built, there is always water heating on it! Dedicated water heating equipment is on my list of must have things when camping! (along with comfy camp chairs, a good book and a few decks of cards)

I have noticed that everyone likes some kind of music!! But seldom do I want to hear your radio or CD's, that is what low volume or headphones are for!!! Live music is a different story. Everyone likes to listen to or sing along with music around the fire, even stuff I'd never listen to at home. It's the living touch! Be sure to take you instruments along. I play a mean "Jew's Harp" myself.

Ivan

This public service announcement is for FARMER17 and all others that come to Colorado to vacation or camp. A new policy is in place that requires all visitor to take a rock home with them when they leave the state. I am fairly certain FARMER17 did not take his required rock last year. Interest compounds on all delinquent account. Best advice I can give is to retrieve your rock as soon as possible. I will leave my gate unlocked to aid all in their quest to live up to the new policy.

^^^Colorado is such a beautiful State, although I imagine winters aren't as enjoyable.

I give credit to anyone over 35 that still camps on the ground...

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Rather be outdoors

Did some camping when younger, now it's tuff enough to get out of a bed without hurting myself. The most useful gadget we had was river sand, with dirt as a substitute, for scouring out pans.

Can still remember river camping on the mighty Susquehanna, and sleeping on islands and shorelines out side of towns.

My wife and I bought a Coleman 3 burner stove and a lantern in 79. They are still useful today but she much prefers the led lantern and dutch ovens with charcoal. We bought a 10" oven about 80 and now use 4 12" and a 16" along with it. We probably have gone through 8 tents since our original Coleman 2 person. Her ideal size would be similar to what the Sheiks allowed their Arabian horses to shelter in during storms.
I have done more backpacking and moved from the air mattresses of the 70's through pads to combo inflatable pads back to air filled. My handiest gadgets are Luci, https://www.rei.com/product/147499/m...E&gclsrc=aw.ds, micro fiber towels and water purification straws and bottle fillers.

Sadly my wife's hips no longer let her sleep on the ground and we now trailer when we camp.

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Front sight and squeeze

I'm 65 and my wife is 62 camping on the ground at 10,000 feet in July is wonderful as long as you have decent air mattress. We have Klymit backpacking mattresses that are roughly the size of your fist and can be blown up with about 17 breaths and they can be very firm or softer depending on your preference. But like anything inflatable you need a backup but they only weigh a few ounces so that's no problem carrying a spare...unless you forget and get an unpatchable hole like I did.

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I still have two camp stoves and lanterns. One each with propane and the others with Coleman fluid (gas)
Use them during hurricanes. The pump up gas one we used to hang over the side of a boat or bridge to attract bait fish, shrimp. Take care of them last forever. My Dad had a steel side cooler. Several large boxes out in the garage with lots of camping "stuff" Even back from Boy Scout days

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Still Running Against the Wind

Best piece of gear we ever had was an old Sears cabin tent. It was canvas with a floor made out of some mystery material. We had it for 20+ years and then gave it to my cousin and her husband and they used it another 10. It never once leaked, either roof or floor and I vividly remember pulling the stakes and dragging it to a different campsite in the campground. Whatever that floor was made out of, they should use it in body armor. Not one hole in that floor, ever. Plenty of room for 5 people of various sizes, plus a dog.
Honorable mention to the Space blanket.

Worst piece of gear? Any air mattress made before Thermarest came out with theirs.

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The best I can with what I got

Gadgets for camping? Some of the best money I ever spent was on an 18V battery Ryobi inflator. It will air up a queen size bed in under a minute and all my tools are Ryobi so I have about 6 batteries and I can recharge them in my truck. When my church mens group goes on our annual fishing trip down the Illinois river near Tahlequah, OK for 3 days on fishing tubes we put our tents and gear in a Jon boat that floats between us. There are usually about 9 or 10 of us and I can air up everyone's air beds on two batteries for the whole trip and we camp at different spots as we float down the river. The guys are very thankful they don't have to use manual air pumps at the end of the day after 10-12 hours of fishing and fighting the current.

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I'll try to find a pic of this, but my neighbour up the street made up a post with an AC outlet and hose bib on it, neither of which was connected to anything. They just stuck it in the ground at a campground with a power cord and hose suitably connected and enjoyed the reaction of other campers

See glamping. ("...where stunning nature meets modern luxury. It’s a way to experience the untamed and completely unique parts of the world—without having to sacrifice creature comforts.")

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"I drank WHAT?" (Socrates)

I've found that proper bathroom facilities, both for bathing and waste disposal, go a long ways to people finding their camping experience exponentially better.
When she asks you where the bathroom is and you hand her a flashlight and a trowel while pointing to the bushes, you can see her die a little.

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The best I can with what I got