Older sleeping bags were little more than a cotton and wool blanket folded over and fitted with a zipper. Modern sleeping bags have benefited from a dozen advances in materials science and ergonomic design, not to mention thousands of (night) hours of field testing.

Almost all have a nylon shell, but that doesn’t mean they’re all the same, even in that respect. Nylon can be thick or thin, sturdy or fragile, heat conductive or not. It can also be truly waterproof or merely offer a momentary delay in getting soaked. Look for strong, tight seams and composites that truly do the job.

The interior of sleeping bags has changed over the years, with more and more offering superior insulating materials. Some weigh as little as an ounce per square yard. Primaloft, Dupont Thermolite and other synthetics has made it possible to produce a lightweight bag that really keeps the cold out, while still allowing the interior to breathe.

Clever design has been added to ingenious materials in many models. Those that offer layered synthetic insulation with natural (or even synthetic) down provide excellent temperature control and great comfort. Fill is measured by a number, with 750 now the bottom for a good bag, 900 is better. The number represents the volume occupied by a single cubic ounce of material. Use it to compare bags.

Materials aren’t the only thing that’s important. Geometry has really been improved in contemporary designs. A full length zipper is important on those nights when it’s warm and you want to let a little air in. But having a well shaped mummy hood and draft collar are big advantages on those nights when you don’t.

The mummy hood helps keep your arm warm if you’re the type to put it under or above your head. It’s also designed to allow you stuff clothes and towels beneath a liner to make a pillow. At the other end, space has been expanded in some models to allow those who sleep on their backs to keep their toes pointing up in a comfortable position.

A bag should keep the cold ground out of the bag while allowing you to move freely. Those characteristics are hard to obtain together, but modern designers have accomplished just that.

At the same time, you want that bottom layer to provide sufficient padding when you don’t have an air mattress or cot. Some models accomplish that with a slide-in rollable pad, others have the padding built in. Look for ones that provide adequate comfort without adding excessive weight and bulk.

Your sleeping bag is the most important piece of large equipment you’ll take on a camping trip, unless you sleep in an RV or motel. There are those that would argue that isn’t really camping. A tent is important, but there are trips where you don’t want or need one. Your bag is your last line of defense, and your first line of comfort, for a great night’s sleep in the outdoors.

Get a great night’s sleep and you’ll be well-refreshed to tackle that hike the next day.

The military has a term for moving personal equipment from place to place that backpackers have adopted – humping your gear. It’s apt. There’s something about the phrase that suggests effort, and that is certainly true. Hauling personal gear for camping and hiking can be one of the less thrilling parts of the experience.

In order to minimize the downside, give some thought to what you truly need for where you’re going. A little research into the specific campsites you pick for your trip will reveal a lot of back saving information.

You’ll find out whether the campsite has running water (some do, many do not), and whether there are showers (rare, but less so as time passes). Try to get a person, either via phone or email, and ask specifically about quality. Some water suitable for bathing or cleaning dishes isn’t something you’d want to drink.

Always bring a few gallons of drinking water, just in case. But keep in mind that a gallon of water (about 4 liters) weighs about 8 lbs (3.6 kg). You don’t want to have to haul much of that on your back.

Think about the climate. Sleeping bags have gotten much lighter in recent years, but they still weigh about 4 lbs (1.8 kg) at best. Also, though they roll up to a nice tight size these days, they are still one of the bulkier items you will carry. Don’t pack a winter sleeping bag if you’re going summer camping and vice-versa.

Tents today are much lighter than their heavy canvas grandfathers. Today’s tents are made from lightweight, tough nylon. Heavy steel poles are a thing of the past. With internal frames, using aluminum or fiberglass, it’s possible to get a strong tent in a low mass package. But here again they weigh at least nearly 4 lbs and the more pole support the heavier they are.

To lighten your load select a tent that is no larger than what you actually need. If the weather is expected to be fine, trade space for weight. Gear can be left outside and in some places you can dress outside and still have plenty of privacy.

It’s essential that you pack a first aid kit, but the truly needed items can be carried in a small, lightweight package. Wrap around bandages, anti-bacterial cream (less bulk than spray), scissor/tweezer combos and a few other things can weigh under 2 lbs easily. Remember, every pound you carry in, you have to carry out. At least, in the case of first aid gear, you certainly hope so.

A backpack will add another 3 lbs (1.4 kg) and some of the gear like parachute cord (for tying up food bags and other uses), dental floss (useful for a dozen things besides dental hygiene), tooth paste, mirror (for emergency signaling) and a few other essentials will add a few more.

Twenty pounds is about the minimum, and it can reach 40 lbs before you know. It doesn’t sound like much, until you start lugging it over a trail to get to your campsite, then lugging it back to the car, moving to the next campsite. If you add a long hike, that weight becomes a significant percentage of your total body weight to haul around.

Take only the essentials and your trip will be that much more pleasant. Give careful thought to your list. You’ll be surprised how much you can do without away from home. Then when you get back, you may actually be motivated finally to clean out the garage.

One of the prime attractions of camping is the opportunity to enjoy peace and quiet. Living in the big city is exciting and there is a never ending parade of things to do and see. But sometimes, it’s great to get away from all the noise, the bustling and the crowds. At least, most people who go camping think so.

Unfortunately, there’s a small minority that want to bring the city with them into the wilderness. Motorcycles, loud radios and just general rowdiness can sometimes spoil a peaceful campsite. For those who might be willing to listen, it’s desirable to point out that the first rule of camping is: don’t disturb your neighbor.

The reason that’s the first rule is because of the basic purpose of camping listed above: to get away from the noise and enjoy the quiet. For those who disagree or (more often) don’t care, there are campsite officers. Anarchy has faded from campsites. If there are others who refuse to exhibit basic courtesy, you can call on a ranger (in a State or National Park) or a guard (in commercial campsites) to ask the spoilers to be quiet or leave.

But that needn’t be your first move. A polite request to respect the rights of other campers is the first step. And, it’s helpful to be willing to tolerate a certain amount of undesirable behavior for a short time. There’s no need to inflame an unpleasant situation by being intolerant of minor disturbances. Sometimes sound carries better in campsites than you might expect.

Motorcycles, ATVs (All-Terrain Vehicle) and other fun but noisemaking vehicles should be ridden only in designated areas. People who enjoy them can flock together. They expect noise. People who want to hear only the chirping birds are entitled to equal enjoyment.

But there’s no good reason to tolerate prolonged noise or threatening behavior. That’s what the officers are there for, among other things.

The second rule of etiquette in camping is to leave little trace. The next person to come along will appreciate you putting out your fire completely. You should dump all trash in a receptacle or bring along plastic bags to take it with you to dump in the nearest one along the road. Leave no bottles, cans, food wrappers or other trash.

Take a wider view of what is trash and what isn’t than you might in the city. Cigarette butts do not decay in the earth anywhere near as rapidly as you might think. Even small pieces of wood can take years to decay. If you have to eliminate in the woods, bury it under a pile of earth, especially if you’ve used toilet paper. That goes for any dog waste from pets you bring along, too.

Campsites are much more heavily populated today than they ever have been. If everyone pitches in and follows some simple, common sense rules of etiquette, they can be enjoyed by all for a long time to come.

Common sense is anyone’s best guide for the first step in how to dress for camping. But there are some specifics that will help inform you how to exercise that common sense.

First, consider the season and climate for your site. It’s obvious to say that if you want to camp in New Hampshire in the winter, you’ll choose one type of wardrobe. If your plans call for hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tennessee in the summer, that calls for a different sort.

But the basic principles remains the same in either case: you want good protection and proper thermal control.

To satisfy the first principle, select sturdy clothing. It may look cool in a TV commercial to dress in an Hawaiian shirt and thin cotton shorts out in the woods. But that’s the quickest way to suffer scrapes and cuts, not to mention exposure to toxic plants. In that environment, those can quickly turn septic and campsites are often far away from professional medical facilities.

Pick a shirt that is comfortable, but made of durable material. Synthetic blends of cotton, wool and modern materials satisfy both criteria.

For colder climates, choose thicker clothing, but it should be wickable and breathable. ‘Wickable’ means that it transports sweat from your skin to the outer layer of the garment. Breathable is similar in that it moves air in and out. Good shirts will do that, while maintaining good insulation.

For truly cold weather camping you will want to underlay that with some thermal underwear. Today those are made from blends of polypropylene, Capilene, cotton and other materials.

Wool provides good insulation, but it is mildly uncomfortable directly against the skin and worse if it gets wet. It becomes heavy and stays wet for a long time. Pure cotton is very comfortable, but it provides only moderate insulation and doesn’t wick well. Go for modern blends.

For warmer climates, maintaining dry skin is still important. Dressing looser helps that, but you still need durable material to protect against tree branches, bushes and minor rock scrapes.

The same considerations apply to thermal underwear for the lower half of the body and to pants, during winter camping. Wickable, breathable, good insulation, sturdy and lightweight are important factors – and achievable in the same garment thanks to modern materials. Shorts, for warm climate camping, should only be worn in areas where you have lots of open space.

For outer layers in cold weather you want a jacket or coat that keeps off rain and snow and insulates well. But it should also be lightweight and not bulky. You need to be able to move freely. Fortunately, those can be had together thanks to advances in material in the last 20 years.

Synthetic down, Primaloft, Thinsulate and other materials – combined with more contemporary geometry used to arrange them – provide wicking, warmth and insulation in a comfortable, lightweight garment.

For warmer climates, but ones subject to rain, Gore-Tex is a great material – waterproof, but breathable. Garments made with it are sometimes more expensive, but well worth the extra cost. The best hiking boots, for example, all use Gore-Tex.

Remember, the common sense guidelines still apply. Dress in layers to allow you to adjust for the conditions, but keep it lightweight so you don’t have to carry around heavy items that make camping a burden. Protect yourself from the elements and you’ll enjoy your trip that much more.

Unlike previous generations, camping no longer always involves sleeping in a tent. RVs, commercial campgrounds and other options provide an alternative. But there’s still nothing to complete that camping experience like sleeping in a tent.

Here are a few tips for picking one that gives you all the modern advantages, without the traditional hassles.

The basic purposes of a tent are to provide privacy and protection from the elements – wind, rain and (to some degree) cold. Any sturdy tent will satisfy the first, but to keep weather out requires more.

Windy conditions, common in wilderness areas where most campsites are found, can put a tent to the test. But thanks to modern materials, nylon fabric tents supported by fiberglass or aluminum poles are up to the job.

There are two basic types, internal frame and external. The former are easier to put up, the latter are a little more sturdy and wind resistant.

In either case, it’s helpful if they’re in the right design, however. A zippable flap is a great benefit for keeping the wind out and there should be several places around the perimeter at the bottom to fasten the tent to the ground to minimize gaps.

Rain is one of the chief considerations. Being wet is not only not fun, it can be a serious health hazard if the temperature drops. Keeping dry is simple with a good tent, though. All are made these days with nylon, but not all nylon is the same quality. It should be thick and sturdy enough, and treated properly, to actually keep out a good rainstorm.

Campers should make liberal use of the can of sealant that is offered by many manufacturers. You set up the tent and then spray the seams to make them completely watertight. An air hole at the top of many models can help keep the interior from getting stuffy, but you’ll want to have one with a closeable flap (either zipper, Velcro or other).

The floor should be equally waterproof, even sturdier and preferably conduct minimal cold or heat.

Tents are sold according to shape and size. However, a four-man tent is really only suitable for two adults, unless you want to be really cramped. A sleeping bag is about 2.5ft by 7 feet. That’s 17.5 square feet. Double that to allow for stepping space and room for gear. Then double it again to accommodate another person. That’s 70 square feet or about 7 feet by 10 feet. That’s about the minimum.

Round tents, sometimes called ‘dome’ or ‘geodesics’ look cool and work well. They distribute stress over the surface very efficiently, making them strong, lightweight and easy to assemble and carry. But they are not quite as efficient when it comes to interior space. Sleeping bags are rectangular, as are people when they’re sleeping. Let personal taste be your guide.

Be prepared to spend a little more to get a quality tent. Tent technology has developed to such a high state, it’s preferable to spend a little more and get something that will endure.

Garmin is the market leader in Global Positioning System receivers, but they’re not the only manufacturer. Magellan, Lowrance and others make good units, too. With so many manufacturers and models to choose from what should you look for?

Naturally, the answer depends on what you intend to do with it.

The basic purpose of a GPS unit is to enable the user to locate his or her position at any time. That’s accomplished by reading the display on a hand-held device that receives the signal from a series of satellites in geo-synchronous orbit around the Earth. How it does that is ingenious, but a little technical so we’ll skip that for now.

But, there are actually several different types of GPS unit. One type is optimized for use at sea on a ship, others work better in cars, still others are oriented toward use for hiking. Some basics apply to every type, however.

The user should be able to interpret the display and operate the controls without a degree in electrical engineering. Some are little more than electronic maps, some of those are static (they have only pre-loaded maps), others can download new maps via wireless or through a PC/Internet connection. Some have cryptic latitude and longitude readings only, requiring you to translate your position by use of a map.

For a hiking GPS unit, long battery life is important. Navigating around wilderness areas is generally done in a fairly casual way, unless you get lost. When that happens you want the unit to stay active for a long time.

For similar reasons, a waterproof unit is a near must. Rapid, unexpected changes in the weather are common in camping areas. Rain can start and stop before you know it. You don’t want your unit to get damaged or stop functioning when you’re navigating your way back. Don’t forget to ask if the unit you’re considering is sturdy. It isn’t useful if it can’t stand up to the rigors of the trail.

The number of routes and maps, as well as the number of waypoints or coordinates, that a unit will hold varies with model. The more memory the unit has (just as with your computer), the more it can store.

Route capacity should be at least 20, but 50 or more is preferable. Waypoint capacity is a healthy 500 for most, but given that every location is a waypoint, that can add up quickly. Here again, more is better, but you pay for that.

The ability to adjust the map you see in any compass direction is very helpful. The bearing (direction) to your next waypoint is standard, but check to make sure. Knowing where you are at a given time is often almost useless. Your goal is to get from one point to the next, not simply to know which lat/long you occupy.

Ergonomic factors are somewhat important. The unit should fit comfortably in your hand and not be so heavy as to cause fatigue. It should be small enough to fit in your pocket, but light enough as to not be an annoyance while it’s there.

Be prepared to pay a little extra to get a good unit. It will last for years and they are already so feature packed that you won’t have to replace it in a year with the newest model.

There are hundreds of campsites around the U.S. and Canada, and around Europe, Australia and many other parts of the globe.

Whether you like desert areas, evergreen trees, lakes and mountains, or even swampland, there’s a campsite to match your taste. You can camp out in the hot sands of Arizona or Nevada. You can head for lush, green New Hampshire or Idaho and you can head south to the Ozarks.

If you’ve seen much of the U.S. and want to expand your horizons, there are just as many campsites in Canada. Though desert and swampland will be harder to find, there is just as much or more of mountains, lakes and forests.

The Rocky Mountain chain in British Columbia is even larger and more impressive than it is in Colorado. In the west there are dry areas, similar to Eastern Washington, that offer wineries for a nice break along your trip. Farther north there’s the frozen tundra similar to the type that gives much of Alaska its stark beauty. To the east there are the amazing lands of Ontario and Quebec, where the lakes and forests rival anything to be found in Vermont or Maine.

You may want to search even farther out by heading off to Europe.

Areas of Siberia are much like Alaska, only larger than even that huge state. The Black Forest extends larger than some states and the variety of trees and wildlife is second to none anywhere. The Altay mountains offer kayaking, horseback riding, climbing and a dozen other activities. The similarities to the U.S. allow you to apply your U.S. camping knowledge, while the differences will excite all your senses with the thrill of the new.

The Black Forest of Germany in Baden-Württemberg is one of the world’s most renown camping areas on the planet and for good reason. With one of the world’s largest lakes you won’t lack for entertainment near the water. Brush up on a few words of German, though. Most of the tourism is from Germany and Switzerland and you may find communication a challenge.

You could head south to Greece where you’ll find sunny beaches and glorious stark, rocky hills overlooking stunning blue water. Or you can head inland 20 km and explore some of the area away from the coast. Greece is especially popular with younger campers, so you’re sure to strike up a friendship.

Portugal has its own share of sunny beach campgrounds, too. Or you can take off for the mountains where the locals have been accommodating campers for generations. You can find everything from little more than bare ground to fully equipped campsites with showers, restaurants and sports activities.

The UK has a hundred options in a half-dozen countries. Swansea in Wales is near the sea, while Gwynedd in the far north has spectacular blue-green mountains. Scotland has two dozen major areas, around the coast with views of wild seas of Orkney or high in the Highland mountains.

Anywhere you want to go and any type of atmosphere you want to enjoy is available. Let the world be your oyster. Pick a pearl.

Camping can be one of the best adventures you’ll find. Fresh air, stunning mountains, spectacular trees and more are all around most campsites. But humans aren’t the only species to be found among them. And not all the other ones are friendly.

Bears may look very cuddly on TV, but there are species that are dangerous and most people can not tell the difference between one and the next. Grizzlies, for example, are generally regarded as potentially life-threatening. An adult grizzly will eat a human. Telling the difference between them and Black Bears can be difficult.

As the name suggests, Black Bears tend to be dark. But a grizzly can vary from blond to black. Size is a possible clue, but it’s tough to tell the difference sometimes between a full grown Black Bear (around 300-400 lbs and 5ft tall when standing) and a teen grizzly.

Full grown grizzlies are larger, around 500 lbs and 6ft tall when standing. Needless to say, when a bear is standing in front of you, you have other things to think about than identification.

There is one unmistakable sign – grizzlies have a hump on the back of the neck that Black Bears lack. But making it out especially when they are in motion toward you, can be hard. Black Bears have smaller, more triangular heads that can help identification.

Grizzlies have a more flattened face, with a depression between the eyes and their ears are rounded. Black Bears, by contrast have a snout and more pointed ears. If you’re close enough to make out these details without binoculars, however, you are too close.

Wild cats often inhabit wilderness and camping areas, and they too can be dangerous, even lethal. Most will avoid contact with humans, but if hungry or pressed they can attack. A hungry cougar or puma will carry off a child if it hasn’t had any other food source for a while.

Bobcats, though small, are surprisingly strong for their size and no one should test their skill against those razor sharp teeth and claws. Lynx are a similar species, having telltale hair tufts on their ears and blunt tails. Also small and shy (about the size of a large house cat and weighing 30 lbs), they can be fierce if they’re protecting young.

Mountain lions still roam parts of the southwest in the US and don’t always limit their hunting to sheep. If you bring the family dog along on a camping trip be especially cautious about letting it roam where it might encounter a wild cat. Many dogs won’t back down and run away and they will always lose a fight with one.

Investigate which species are known to be in the area you intend to visit and take proper precautions when you’re there. Keep food stored in odor tight containers before and after meals and keep trash stowed well away from the campsite.