Field notes
Longer reads for the curious beginner
The why behind the checklists. Each note takes one part of a first camping trip and walks through it slowly, with tables, steps and the mistakes most people make.
Rent or Buy? Deciding on Each Piece of First-Time Camping Gear
Tents, bags and stoves are big purchases. Here is a practical way to decide which pieces to rent or borrow for your first trips and which to own from day one.
Read the note
How to Choose Your First Campground (and Book the Right Site)
The right first campground is close to home, has restrooms and water, and lets you park next to your tent. Here is how to find one and pick a good site on the map.
Read the note
Pitching a Tent for the First Time: A Calm, Step-by-Step Walkthrough
From choosing flat ground to tensioning the guylines, a steady walkthrough of pitching a typical dome tent, with the mistakes most beginners make.
Read the note
Campfire Basics: Building, Tending and Fully Putting Out a Fire
Check the restrictions, buy wood locally, keep it small, and drown it until it is cold. The complete beginner routine for a safe campfire.
Read the note
Why First-Timers Sleep Cold (and the Fixes That Work)
The ground, not the air, is usually what makes you cold. Here is why new campers shiver through their first night and the fixes that actually help.
Read the note
Quiet Hours, Site Boundaries and Other Unwritten Campground Rules
Most campground friction comes from small things new campers simply do not know. A friendly guide to the rules nobody writes on the sign.
Read the note