What are the major accessories I will need for camping besides a tent and Air Mattress?

camping under table storage image

xylem

I am a first time camper, yea I know it is sad but I have just purchased my coleman tent and air mattress and I was just wondering what other esential camping accessories I will need? Also, any camping tips would be most helpful! Thanks

Answer
My hubby and I just started tent camping with friends two years ago, and it took us a while to figure out everything we needed (btw, good start getting an air mattress!). Oh, and don't forget to waterproof your tent BEFORE the trip with waterproofing spray sold at sporting goods stores!

Here's my abbreviated packing list. You have some items already (obviously), but I've highlighted items you might still need to purchase:

SHELTER:

-Tent
-Tarp to Go Under Tent (should be the same size as tent base, not much bigger or you'll have to fold it under. This keeps the tent bottom dry, and you don't want rain collecting on the tarp and rolling under!)
-Air mattress
-Air mattress pump
-Sleeping Bags / Pillows
-Extra Blankets (1 per person in case of chilly weather)
-Beach Towel (for when you track mud all over your tent)
-Lantern (battery-operated) to hang in tent
-Foldable Chairs / Lawn Chairs (to sit around fire)
-Rope or Line to hang items to dry on - like wet towels


FOOD:

-Hand Axe (to chop fire wood)
-Long-reach lighters
-Fire-starting kindling twigs (buy them from camping supply stores - they're wood chips soaked in some fire-starting chemical)
-Pie Irons (to cook food in over the fire - these are ESSENTIAL!)
-Campfire Fork (to roast weiners, marshmallows on)
-Food (should include basics like eggs, bread, peanut butter, deli meats, cheese, butter, hot dogs, s'mores makings, pop, juice, tea, coffee, ketchup, mustard, brownie mix, pizza sauce, pepperoni, potatoes, oatmeal, beef stew, trail snacks, chips, popcorn, etc.)
-Campfire Cooking Pot
-LARGE Cooler with ice
-Egg Holder Storage Case (designed for camping trips)
-Plastic Utensils, Cups, Paper Plates
-Garbage Bags
-Giant Ziploc Bags (to place singed pie irons in when packing to come home)
-Sharp Knife
-Rubbermaid Tote to wash dishes in
-Dish Soap
-5-6 Dish Towels
-Campfire Glove (heatproof gloves that allow you to pick up hot logs off the fire, or hot pans)
-Mugs (for coffee & tea)
-Kettle to boil water (should be campfire safe)
-Bottled water - large quantities
-Picnic Table Cloth (campsite picnic tables are dirrrrrty!)
-Can Opener
-Travel Cutting Board
-Aluminum Foil & Ziploc Bags
-Non-Stick Cooking Spray

CLOTHING / HYGIENE / SAFETY:

-Standard clothes
-Extra socks, 1 pair extra walking shoes
-Rain coat, poncho, or garbage bags
-Bug Spray
-Sunscreen
-Usual Hygiene Products (forget shampoo if it's a short trip - you're allowed to be dirty when tent camping!)
-First Aid items (bandaids, benadryl, calamine lotion, antiseptic cream, aspirin, immodium AD, etc.)
-Hand Soap
-Towels (in case you get soaked in rain)
-Hand Sanitizer

FUN / OTHER:

-Deck of Cards / Travel Boardgame
-Camera / Extra Batteries
-Flashlights / Extra Batteries
-Fishing Pole / Tackle Box
-Lots of Cash to buy firewood near campsite - it's expensive!
-Wallet, ID, Cell Phone

Phew! It seems like a lot, but skip here and there and you'll be wishing you had these items when you're at the campsite. It's worth filling up the car with Rubbermaid Bins filled with this stuff. Oh - don't forget Rubbermaid Bins to put all this stuff in! You'll need to keep your possession and food waterproof if it rains!

Have fun!

What is the deepest viewing personal telescope? Would it be the largest Dobsonian telescope I can afford?

I'll spend max $1000, but ideally 5 or 6 hundred.

Answer
If you want to get a feel for how much you can spend on an amateur telescope (non custom) -
http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/telescopes/25/index.php

For your price range, a $1,000 is a good starting place. For just the telescope -
For a decent push-to system -
http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/IntelliScope-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT12i-Computerized-IntelliScope-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/27/p/27189.uts

Or a fully computerized system -
http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/GoTo-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10g-Computerized-GoTo-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/30/p/8949.uts

For a fully manual scope -
http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-XT10-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-amp-Beginner-Barlow-Kit/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/27162.uts

However, For under $30, get this book first -
http://www.telescope.com/Accessories/Books/NightWatch-Astronomy-Book-4th-Edition/pc/-1/c/3/sc/42/p/51521.uts

Not only is it a good starter book, but also has a nice chapter on how to select the best telescope for your needs.

The other alternative, is to find an astronomy club near where you live and see when they have a public star party event. Then not only can you ask folks who use the equipment what works best, but also look through and maybe play with the scope.
http://www.go-astronomy.com/astro-club-search.htm

Bottom line, aperture (the diameter) rules all. The wider the scope, the more light it collects and the more you can see. Second is portability and third price. Portability is how and were are you going to be using the scope - in your back yard, transport it by car to a dark sky site or some combination. If you are going to haul it somewhere, will it fit in your car along with your camping equipment (if longer than a night), along with telescope equipment (eyepieces, charts, tables and so forth) The same for storage - where are you going to put the critter when your not using it?

Then price. The telescope is one thing, then you have accessories. Eyepieces, filters, charts, books, software, (and something to run software on), table, chair, warm clothes, red flashlights, batteries, water snacks and all that other stuff that makes up the infrastructure of the hobby. All of that does take money. Luckily, you don't need to get it all at one time, but its all needed stuff.

For me, it took about 3 - 5 years to pick up enough stuff to where I felt my kit was complete. I can go out to a regional week long star party for about a week and do just fine.

Your scope is an investment and chances are that whatever you get, you'll want to upgrade after a couple of years. You can keep the accessories and just change out the scope as needed.

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