Camping. 1st time in a Long Time. Essentials??

[Super Spy]

Other than what you mentioned I think the air mattress is the best suggestion, some kind of inflator is really nice or you'll be huffing and puffing for days to fill the thing up. Do not let any jump on it no matter how fun it seems, not unless the show is worth a lousy nights sleep.

Toilet Paper....if your going where there is no bathroom, a shovel.

Food....critters love everything you bring to eat, and raccoons and squirrels are everywhere and will find ways to get into all sorts of things. If you put your ice chest under the bench of a picnic table that seems to work well. If your in Bear Country you want to bring a rope and a sturdy bag, tie a rock to the end of the rope and throw it over a high sturdy branch and haul your food up there. Higher is better....

Skewers and S'mores always set the mood too.

[XDseb]

i always tend to forget hand soap, dish soap, dish sponge, hand sanitizer. i never forget, headlamp, gun, flashlight, pocket knife, lighter, whiskey, instant coffee, TP, sleeping bag, jacket, extra socks, hat, sunglasses, toothbrush, deodorent, camera, music (ipod and small speakers), dog, lots of munchies, lots of water, chapstick, folding chair, etc

[vietcious]

Dont forget sunscreen... you can easily forget how long you're exposed to UV rays out there.

[dieselpower]

you do know you need to attend a 10 hour class before you get a hunting license? Cost $10 for the class, then you can buy the $50 license.

[ar15robert]

I have 2 extreme cold weather sleeping bags. I do not go camping without them. Extremely soft and very comfortable to sleep in.

100x better than any store bought system. You can usually get them pretty cheap too.

In fact, my close friend when he returned from Iraq still uses his to sleep in.

I own one too havent used it in a while but i use it in while but definitely a keeper.Works good in the summer too since its thick and makes a great pad to sleep on with the bag open.

[hefedehefe]

got my pole today

[gmcal]

Handsoap, hand sanitizer, hat, sunblock.

I just take the soap dispenser from our downstairs bathroom. Take a small tube of sanitizer and keep it with you if you leave camp. I took my kids fishing today and the mens room at the marina didn't have soap. The womens room didn't have paper towels. Fortunately we had our own.

[KimoBBZ]

baby wipes

We always keep a pack of baby wipes handy.

• Keep those hands clean after eating/cooking
• after going to the bathroom (doubles as TP as well and is "refreshing")
• wipe down in "strategic places" before getting in your sleeping bag
• wipe the sleep off your face in the AM
• Keep the used ones and dry them out to use as fire starter as well (not the really nasty ones of course).

[hefedehefe]

Ok so I am thinking of maybe going somewhere local. The places around are called caspers, san onofre, crystal cove. Which one is good. Any to avoid?