Advice on camping equpment
 

Now that I'm a newly minted Teacher's Quorum advisor / varsity scout coach, I'll need to get some camping equipment for real camping. We've been doing the RV thing for so long most of what I had is long gone.

Advice on what to get on the cheap? Tent/sleeping bag/sleeping pad, etc.

I'm insulted you didn't come to me personally before asking the group.

I figured this was your own personal forum and I knew you'd respond here anyway.

Hope you're not mad that I got Varsity Scouts since you were rebuffed on that quest ... ;)

Go to Smith and Edwards. They'll have a lot of cheap camping stuff.

http://www.smithandedwards.com/

Are you planning on getting a huge tent to sleep the whole troop, or just a two-man for yourself?

Don't be fooled by the advertising sizes. "Four man" tents sleep three at best, and "six man" tents sleep four.

Cue comments about needing a huge tent to sleep just myself. ;)

I have a big family size dome tent ... but I want to get a small one for just myself for these campouts. I'm thinking a 2-man backpacking tent type of thing.

With backpacking you'll want to go lightweight, but be sure to get something with a shell (a rain guard). The cheaper (and lighter) ones don't include them, and you'll get soaked.

You'll also want an inflatable pad (like a Thermarest) that inflates to two inches deep. The ones that go only one inch or a half inch don't cut the mustard.

I second this. Smith and Edwards has some quality gear for a good price.

I'll go check it out next weekend. Ogden right?

I thought the Church did not allow adult leaders to sleep in the same tent with the boys, unless it was your own son? Is that an urban legend?