Summer Camping Trip

[jtauke]

Hey guys/gals, long time lurker here. Wondering if you could give me some advice.

This summer my family (me being a 20 yr old college student) is planning a camping trip to Redwood National park (from Iowa). I'm thinking about putting together an camping/hiking bag (couple of knives, first aid, etc) and I just wanted to get some advice from those who are more knowledgeable on the subject. Sort of an excuse to buy a new knife I guess

It doesn't need to be to very extensive, as we'll be camping in developed areas :jerkit:,to appease my Mom and sister.

Seeing as how I'm a college student paying my own way, I'm always on the look out for "high-value, low cost" items. My price range max is $200 for everything, but even that makes me cringe a bit (time to get reaquainted with ramen...:barf

Thanks for the help!

 

[brians]

JT,

Are you starting from scratch, or do you already have some kit - tent, pack, bag, pad? I'll presume you have those items, and concentrate on smaller kit:

Kitchen:

Open Country makes good inexpensive aluminum pots - 2 qts ~ $10 bucks - REI, campmor, etc.
http://www.opencountrycampware.com/...83/product_037536dfffab/session_26a9d9f87428/

Codger found a good non-stick solo fry pan by t-fal (one-egg wonder) for $7 bucks - Target:
http://www.target.com/s/183-0300019...=1038576&searchPage=1&searchRank=target104545

There's plenty of options for good, inexpensive spoons, sporks, spatulas, etc. I have a few sea-to-summit spoons that get the most use, but any titanium, alum, lexan or even plastic fast food items would work.
http://www.seatosummit.com/products/cat/12

Alcohol stove or canister stove - lots of good options out there for both. My canister is a MSR Pocket Rocket and my alky stove is a whiter box ($20). The alky stoves are cheaper and fuel is cheap as well (methyl hydrate at lowes - $2 for a qt). Canisters are simple and easy to operate, but can be more expensive.
http://www.whiteboxstoves.com/

So for around $40, you can get completely setup for multiple cooking options, from freezer bag/rehydration meals to open fire cooking.

As for knives, Mora makes many good inexpensive options. http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

For something a little more robust, but heavier, then the Becker line is very good bang for the buck. BK2 for midsize and the BK9 for a chopper: http://www.tomarskabars.com/Becker_Knives.html