Are you preparing to go on a camping vacation or even just a short camping trip? If you are, have you already stocked up on all your camping gear and supplies? If not, you may want to jump on that sooner rather than later.
If this is your first time trying to find and buy equipment and supplies, you may be unsure of where to go. Luckily, you have a number of different options. Both camping gear and camping supplies can be purchased from a number of different locations. Keep reading to learn where to start.
First, it’s important to know the difference between camping and hiking gear. Camping ‘gear’ is usually used to describe items specific to camping like tents, sleeping bags, hot plates, and so forth. On the other hand, ‘supplies’ usually includes items such as food and toiletries. In your search for camping supplies and camping equipment, it is important that you know there is a difference between the two.
Local
Sports stores are one of the best places to shop for gear because they often have a large variety of products to choose from. Many brick and mortar stores have an accompanying website or online store, while some sports stores exist exclusively on the internet.
Department stores are another option. A large number of department stores, especially those larger in size, regularly have camping tents, sleeping bags, and other gear available for sale. While the selection may not be as large as the selection found in many sports stores, you may find that the prices of camping gear sold in department stores are significantly lower. Department stores are often referred to as ‘one stop shopping centers’ as they often have a number of items for sale, which means you can probably also find most of your supplies in the same place.
After these two options, the rest of your supplies can probably be found in most any grocery store. These stores are perfect for supply shopping as they have a large selection of food and drinks, many of which are perfect for camping. In fact, in the summer months, you may even find local grocery stores that have camping snack displays set up. These displays make it easy for you to find easy to locate and purchase what you need for your trip.
Online
As previously stated, a large number of camping gear pieces can be purchased online. If you are looking for the best bargains or the largest selection of products, you may want to think about shopping for your gear (and maybe even some of your camping supplies) online. Even if online shopping isn’t your thing, you can still use the internet to read product reviews and do a little research what you should or shouldn’t bring with you.
As you can see, you have a number of different options when it comes to buying camping gear and camping supplies for your next trip. Before you start shopping online or head on down to one of your local retail stores, create a checklist for yourself! Keeping to a list will help to ensure that you and your friends and family are completely prepared for the perfect outing.