You guys new to camping would be good to pick up on Backpacker magazine...they have an online site with reviews of equipment. Reviewers camp and hike in really bad weather to test the stuff they recommend.
Cheap stuff is bulky, heavy and uncomfortable, either doesn't vent or zippers break or doesn't provide adequate warmth. Good stuff is light and works great...and doesn't have to be expensive.
If you look for the stuff (online) at backpacker.com, you can see reviews by both editors and users; I look for stuff that's two years (or more) old and try to buy on clearance (normally not hard to find 50% off).
Absolute minimum:
- Tent (I like good solo try to keep below 3 lbs);
Sleeping pad
Sleeping bag (I how two; a down and a man-made down, one rated at 20 degrees and one at 40...(if gets colder than that, I'm staying in a motel)....I take whichever one fits weather forecast, and both stay warm when wet
Stove (lots of opinions posted on this forum, but I like small, easy to light ones)
Cup and spork
For pillow, I stuff my clothes into a small, soft sack
Altogether, I can fit the entire kit above into a small backpack I strap on the pillion seat. one half of my pannier is stove, extra fuel and dehydrated food/coffee)
I will also pack a small camping chair, that is really just poles my pad fits into...but, I'm a very minimalist kind of guy.
