I will be gong to my first REI garage sale next weekend and trying to score some new stuff. I have read about them online but so much seems like a foreign language to me.
I have ALWAYS camped in central and south FL. It is a different kind of camping. Its hot. There are bugs. We stay in flip flops, bathing suits and always have a good rain fly. Air mattresses are normal to keep you cool and comfortable. But, that is about it. We now have entered a world where the temps drop below 70 and there are all these "common sense" rules to camping that this Fl girl is oblivious to. so, I am researching and reading and looking at STUFF!
So, here are the qualifications. We don't have deep pockets and we have 7 young children (15 yo to 3 mo). They will do and play with anything, (so no issues with entertainment). We have several 3 season tents, multiple sizes. regular 40* generic sleeping bags (that we usually use as padding more than get in). Clearly, we aren't talking about minimalistic camping. We have a 15 passenger van to haul stuff in.
AND NOW WE LIVE 45 min from the GSMNP and we want to enjoy every moment we can since we homeschool and have no friends here, so we can. We also think that 50* is arctic cold but we are trying to explore anyways and get used to it.
What are products that you seasoned campers would absolutely grab at an REI garage sale, if you were me? Brands to stay away from? I know they are a gamble for stuff but I don't even know what to be looking for that is appropriate for us and what would be a waste of $$.
I think my wish list includes:
hiking child carrier
sleeping pads
camp kitchen set up (we cook for 9)
compass
bunk cots
Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
I have ALWAYS camped in central and south FL. It is a different kind of camping. Its hot. There are bugs. We stay in flip flops, bathing suits and always have a good rain fly. Air mattresses are normal to keep you cool and comfortable. But, that is about it. We now have entered a world where the temps drop below 70 and there are all these "common sense" rules to camping that this Fl girl is oblivious to. so, I am researching and reading and looking at STUFF!
So, here are the qualifications. We don't have deep pockets and we have 7 young children (15 yo to 3 mo). They will do and play with anything, (so no issues with entertainment). We have several 3 season tents, multiple sizes. regular 40* generic sleeping bags (that we usually use as padding more than get in). Clearly, we aren't talking about minimalistic camping. We have a 15 passenger van to haul stuff in.
AND NOW WE LIVE 45 min from the GSMNP and we want to enjoy every moment we can since we homeschool and have no friends here, so we can. We also think that 50* is arctic cold but we are trying to explore anyways and get used to it.
What are products that you seasoned campers would absolutely grab at an REI garage sale, if you were me? Brands to stay away from? I know they are a gamble for stuff but I don't even know what to be looking for that is appropriate for us and what would be a waste of $$.
I think my wish list includes:
hiking child carrier
sleeping pads
camp kitchen set up (we cook for 9)
compass
bunk cots
Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
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