General Tips for the Summer Lesbian Traveler (camping and festivals) Blog Volume one: Gear
Let’s just start with the assumption you will be, at some point, camping if you go on any road trips. Partially because it is just what we lesbians do and partially because we are frugal (ie broke). Before you start breaking this down to butch and femme, let me assure you… I have seen the most femme among us pitch a tent without breaking a sweat and start a fire with a blow drier and some leaves… sooo, yeah.
1. A tent. Unless you are into serious winter or harsh weather camping (like my friends JLo who spent over 6 weeks on Mt. Everest living in a tiny yellow tent) a Wal Mart brand tent will do just fine. Ozark Trails are literally some of the best designs and built tents on the market. Don’t bother with Eddie Bauer or Hilary Brand. Spend the 140.00 for the camping cabin if you have the means. You will not regret it. But for short trips, the $45.00 4 sleeper will suffice. They design these things with shoe closets, lighting options, and even sky lights. I have set Ozark Trail tents up, in the dark and drunk on Canadian Whiskey and only with the very slightest of encouragement from a few of my intoxicated Canadian friends who just occasionally yell “You’ve got it, ay” and “come have another sip, ay”. They are sturdy and easy. (not the Canadians, the tents)
2. Tarp. Yes. Blue tarps. Buy two or three. They are cheap. DO NOT put them under your tent, no matter what your dad,the Boy Scout leader, told you. ALL modern tents come with a built in water proof bottom, (which is more than I can say about myself) resistant to punctures. If you put the tarp under it, you will trap water and then your tent will leak. Use one tarp to cover your gear if it rains while you are setting up. (it will rain while you are setting up). Use one tarp to tension over your tent at a slant to give protection from said rain (unless you have the skylight model–then you’ll have to risk it) Use one to lay down in your car to pack up wet gear, people and dogs.
3. Splurge on a battery powered, fold down box fan. It will save your relationship, should you be in one.
4. Mag Lights. DO not mess with large, waterproof, weapon like flashlights. Get one mag light for each person and one spare to keep in the car. (general life hack anyway). When you open it, immediately throw out the extra bulb, you will never use them, you will just buy another $8.00 Mag Light. The batteries last a long time, and if you remove them for storage they will last a long time. SO when you loose your flashlight or drop it in the pit toilet, you will only be out $8.00. Plus they come with a nifty belt loop holster, what butch doesn’t want THAT!
5. Air Mattress and a repair kit. Don’t buy the kind with a build in pump. They break. Buy a small travel pump and remove the batteries with not in use. HINT: Single lesbians out there.. if there are other single lesbians at the campground or festival who are not on my blog, they will have a mattress and no pump.. There is your opener..you are welcome.
6. At least a four pack of lighters and one BBQ grill lighter. Both cheap, both handy, all compact to travel with.
6.A P-Style or similar brand. Bright color, never dark or camo.. trust me. Spend the extra and get the carry case.
7. Pocket knife for your pocket–see my blog about “Things rural lesbians need to know” If you can’t find it, message me.
8. Get a tote with a flat top and two locking clasps. Make sure it will fit in your trunk and back seat. Almost all gear should be able to fit into this. Including spare batteries, some utensils, etc. Flat because it can be stacked for storage and because you can set things on it if you want.
9. For Cooking. NOT Cast Iron.. NO one wants to carry that shit, even from the car 10 feet away to the site. NO ONE. Go to GoodWill. Get one small skillet, one medium sauce pan, one larger pan for boiling dish water and some unmatched forks, spoons and one butterknife– the knife will only be used to open the battery case on the pump or lantern. Two steak knifes, a metal spatula and one larger spoon, TADA. Camp kitchen complete.(marshmallow sticks that collapse from Wal Mart-nice touch)
10. Cooking stove, should you choose one. Any brand that closes. They use the canister of propane. Take one can for for up to 4 people for 4 days. That should do it . Unscrew it when not in use to conserve it. The canisters are not generally recyclable, don’t beat yourself up, it is okay.
11. Spend the money on a real blue and white camping coffee pot from Gander Mountain or even Wal Mart. Go ahead, treat yourself… the rest of your companions will thank you. And ALWAYS offer a nice cup of coffee to neighboring campers, You will make the best friends this way. NO filter required.
12. Here is a cool thing for camping that most people don’t think about. A collapsible two sided dish washing station. They fold flat, dry fast and are sooo handy to use.. set it on your flat tote and wash away.
13. Two net bags. One for wet clothes and one for drying dishes.
14.Sleeping bags. Buy the lowest temperature one you can afford, but not the mummy style. The Mummy bags are dense and hard to wash and hard to dry out if they get wet. But better to sleep on top of a below 20 degree bag if you get hot than freeze your ass off when the summer night time temperature in some Wisconsin State Park drops from 85 to an unexpected 40 degrees. (trust me on this) If you find the kind that zip together.. do that, definitely buy those.
This covers most of the major pieces of equipment that you need to get started and have a nice camping adventure. If I missed something, let me know. If you are really broke, find older lesbians. They will have more camping gear than you can imagine and duplicates of everything. They will likely be happy to lend it or even give it to you if you can scale the shelving unit in their garage or shed and drag it out.
