Camping and Hiking

As the weather gets warmer, and the kids slowly get out of school, people begin to pack their backpacks  and lace up their hiking boots . It's time to go camping! Lock up the house and put that "Gone Fishing" sign on the door.

Where to Go

The first thing you'll need is to know is where you are going, unless wandering aimlessly in the woods is your thing (which should only be done by experienced campers with proper equipment and food supplies). Here are some ideas for where to go camping or hiking.

• Your own backyard: If you live in a suburban or rural environment, often times the backyard is a great place to camp out or go hiking (if you have an especially large and wooded backyard). Kids who may be too young to handle camping without a nearby bathroom or their trusty nightlight  would be better off camping out in their backyard. Try building a small campfire and roasting marshmallows with your children, or tell scary (but not too scary!) ghost stories.
• A local or state park: Often times local parks allow camping. There are usually signs posted at the parks that specify if camping is allowed. Usually, during the summer months, the parks that allow camping are easy to spot: they're the parks with hundreds of tents  pitched already!
• National parks, hiking trails, or mountains: Feeling adventurous? Try taking a trip to popular national hiking and camping spots, such as Palmetto Trail in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Global backpacking: If you have the means, try trekking the globe! Backpack across Europe, see the Great Wall, and go to the outdoor markets in India. Just be sure to bring some comfortable lounge pants  and shirts  for extra comfort in a faraway land.

What You'll Need

At Camp Make sure you are prepared all night long! With your tent, some chairs and eating utensils nearby you should be good to go. Food Dehydrators Portable Chairs  Kitchenware Sleeping Bags Camping Stoves Tents	Keep On Moving For hiking, the right gear is essential. Find a comfortable pair of hiking shoes and walkie talkies to stay in contact with your group. Hiking Boots Trail Running Shoes Snowshoes Walkie Talkies Climbing	Find Your Way Dozens of hikers get lost in the woods every year. Don't let it happen to you by picking up these devices. Binoculars  Compasses  GPS Devices Headlamps  Travel Map  and Atlas	Bring It With You Don't tire yourself out trying to juggle all your camping supplies one at a time. Pack them all up into a convenient pack and hit the trails! Hydration Systems Camping Backpacks Duffel Bags	Survival Being in nature has the potential for injury or sickness. Be prepared with these emergency items. Emergency Equipment First Aid Kits Flashlights Knives  Lanterns

On or Off the Trail

Check out this gear that's great on or off the trail.

Mountain Hardwear Mesa Convertible Pant  From pants to shorts without changing. Lightweight and fast-drying.	Merrell Women's Jungle Moc Shoe  Kick back with comfort. For men .	Women's Benton Springs Sweater  Great for: Movies at home. Time around the campfire.	Merrell Men's Chameleon Wrap Traveler  Durable, rugged footwear. GORE-TEX.	The North Face Women's Khumbu Fleece  Activewear for an active lifestyle. Fleece for men .

The North Face Men's Aurora Sweatshirt  Warm thermal fleece. Ultravoilet protection and quick drying.	Marmot Women's Oracle Jacket  Waterproof with a hood that rolls into the collar. A chin guard protect you from the cold.	Montrail Men's Feather Peak GTX Boot  Crafted for tough terrain. Comfort, support, and stability.	Arcteryx Women's Rampart Pant  Lightweight yet durable. Plenty of pocket room.	Patagonia Men's Fitz Roy Down Vest  Windproof and lightweight. Goose down to keep you extra warm.

Outdoor GPS Devices

A little 21st century technology can make your hiking/camping experience safer and much more enjoyable.  Today's handheld devices offer a myriad of awesome features you wouldn't even think of.  Save the locations of cool spots and take pictures to document your travels with multi-functional GPS units.  All of the units below are waterproof and proven durable.

Garmin Oregon 400i  Features a rugged touch screen along with U.S. Inland Lakes, a high-sensitivity receiver, barometric altimeter, electronic compass, microSD card slot, picture viewer and more.	Garmin Dakota 20  This palm-sized GPS boasts touchscreen navigation, high-sensitivity GPS with HotFix satellite prediction, and a worldwide base map.	DeLorme Earthmate PN-40  A handheld GPS that offers an unrivaled selection of display options including DeLorme Topo USA topographic maps, color aerial imagery, USGS 7.5-min. topographic quad maps, and NOAA nautical charts.	Magellan Triton 2000  This device is jam packed with features, a touch-screen interface, fully integrated microphone and speaker, MP3 player, LED flashlight, digital camera, barometer and 3-axis compass.

Floor Mats

When venturing the great outdoors, you are bound to get pretty dirty--but this doesn't mean your SUV or Jeep has to be!  With these heavy-duty floor mats, you can get as sloppy as you wish, without ruining your car upholstery.

Husky Liners  These Husky floor liners are made to fit the contours of your specific Jeep for maximum protection.	WeatherTech W20 Floor Mat  This floor mat fits most vehicles and has anti-skid ridges.	Mopar Slush Mats for Jeep Grand Cherokee  Mopar slush mats feature deep ridges to trap slush and water.	Mopar Jeep Front/Rear Slush Mats  This set of heavy duty floor mats is a must during inclimate weather.

Related Guides

• Fishing: Fishing is an excellent wilderness activity. Read up on the types of fish and supplies you'll need.
• Hunting: Great for any outdoor excursion, this guide will give you the ins and outs of buying hunting gear. Make sure to read up on hunting regulations in your area before packing a rifle.
• Camping Backpacks: Great suggestions for backpacking gear and travel packs!
• Hiking Boots: The quickest spoiler for a great hike is sore feet. Buy a pair of hiking boots that is perfect for your needs.
• Travel Essentials: If you're considering global backpacking, read this guide for the essentials.
• Tents: Unless you prefer sleeping directly under the stars, this is the place to start your search for the perfect tent.
• Sleeping Bags: Stay warm all night long with these sleeping bag suggestions.

Camping and Hiking

International Resources

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