or,for a free training & demo:
Go to a/the rally with a tent, sleeping bag & pad & $ to eat on & wander around each day to be "amongst those that know". You'll see every brand & variation of minimal to the whole enchillada style of camping & be in the midst of "friends" too. Some will have $400 tents while others will be in a $50 Kelty(me). Bigger rally= more demos.
I had the genuine delight to have had an "Uncle Dean" (bless him!!!) that knew the ways of the wild & was out on weekends with my cousins & me, camping and fishing. I had a canvas pup tent ala U.S. Army & slept in an old worn out quilt (my Mom had made a foot pocket in the bottom after folding) & on the ground.
FWIW, of that large group one cousin & myself have been in the "pass it on to your kids" category as we know camping and made it available to our kids.
Go to a/the rally with a tent, sleeping bag & pad & $ to eat on & wander around each day to be "amongst those that know". You'll see every brand & variation of minimal to the whole enchillada style of camping & be in the midst of "friends" too. Some will have $400 tents while others will be in a $50 Kelty(me). Bigger rally= more demos.
I had the genuine delight to have had an "Uncle Dean" (bless him!!!) that knew the ways of the wild & was out on weekends with my cousins & me, camping and fishing. I had a canvas pup tent ala U.S. Army & slept in an old worn out quilt (my Mom had made a foot pocket in the bottom after folding) & on the ground.
FWIW, of that large group one cousin & myself have been in the "pass it on to your kids" category as we know camping and made it available to our kids.