Camping Made Easy

What a delightful book, multiple photos and illustrations, personal stories, and a wealth of experience! Book covers how to start out and some examples of layering good for Alaska and desert camping. Tents, tarps, sleeping bags (now I know waht the benefits of a mummy bag are but also why I've always hated them!) How to keep your gear stored to be able to be ready in a flash. Packing lists, campsite information, good food, simple food, water purifiers, you name it. Sections on fishing and canoeing I skimmed over, but the emphasis on family fun and making things simple, rather than an endurance contest, makes this book a informative, easily readible resource. I'm on my third time through, still picking up items I missed the first time - or that I wasn't experienced enough to need yet. If you're planning on camping with the family, or just looknig to make a solo trip more enjoyable, pick it up. It's like having a great friend to give you patient advice on making some good choices in camping.

I have read this book 15-20 times now and have continously enjoyed it each time. I would say the only misgiving I have is that some of the equipment the Mike recommends is no longer available. This is a very broad book -- covering a number of topics from car camping to canoe camping. Since we have children, we appreciate the fact that the book is a family camping book!Pick it up if you want good book to get you into camping.

Camping Made Easy is an excellent manual for all of those who are interested in camping, but don't know how to get started. The author outlines practically every aspect of camping that you can think of, including: equipment (with great buying tips), types of camping spaces, cooking and food in various situations, backpacking, hiking, biking, canoeing, wildlife watching, and fishing. There is also lots of really great information about camping (and related activities) with your kids, something that I think most readers will appreciate. I can't think of any questions that you will have that will go unanswered with this book.The author discusses the basic how-to's of each activity, gives great suggestions for figuring out what kind of equipment you do (and don't) need, offers some suggestions on howt to aquire equipment on a budget, and how to squeeze the most fun out of your trip. He even helps with organizational ideas for storing and caring for your equipment, including his own packing lists.Experienced campers will find lots of neat tips for making camping life a little easier. For example; if you have ever struggled with a slippery sleeping pad under your bag, try applying some glue or tent sealant to the pad. After it dries, you will have instant traction!I highly recommend Camping Made Easy. The book is highly useful, incredibly readable, and even funny at times as the author recounts his own experiences in the wild. If nothing else, the menus offered for camp eating will certainly stir a hunger!

My two sons and daughter wanted to go camping. Whenever I do something new we all go to the library first. I found this book "Camping Made Easy" and I couldn't put it down. I took it to the beauty shop, work, and football practice. By time I was half way through my book had a thousand little yellow stickies of what I needed to go back over or write down at home. Why bother? I needed the book so I purchased it! This is a much needed manual and you can be sure it is the first thing that is packed in my backpack!