Camping near Portland

Living in Portland, the Pacific Northwest offers some of the best camping experiences in the world.  Camping can be a wonderful experience for everyone.  If you're doing it for the first time, it can turn into a nightmare. It mainly depends on planning and the equipment you use.

If it is your first time camping, you may not want to purchase camping gear until you decide if you enjoy camping, it can also be expensive.  If you have friends or family that don't mind loaning out their gear, you might borrow from them first before you purchase camping equipment.  If you can't borrow any gear - then purchasing inexpensive camping gear to begin with may become the better option.

You can purchase inexpensive camping gear at the big discount department stores like K-Mart or Wal-Mart.  Where you can find all the basic camping equipment as well as stay within your budget.  Once you have experienced the outdoors and have decided that you enjoy camping, you can then start to invest in more expensive items that are more durable. You'll have a much more enjoyable time if you have the right equipment.  It will make a huge difference if you have a good tent, sleeping bags, stove and cookware. Below are some important considerations:

Tents:  Finding a good tent that is waterproof, lightweight and easy to assemble, is important.  No one wants to take all day to put up the tent.  You also want to make sure the tent is water proof and won't leak, especially if you're camping in the Northwest. 

Sleeping Bags:  You will want a sleeping bag that is both warm and comfortable and easy to pack. 

Stoves:  It's important to have a good stove, especially in campsites that don't allow open fires. Sometimes in late summer open fires are banned in camp sites.

Cookware:  Make sure the quality is good; you don't want to discover it melts or find flakes of metal in your food.