Buying a backpack is like taking up golf. People should ask you: Are you sure you want to do this?

It takes a lifetime to change the way you think about shoes.

Water purification systems on the trail (actually saw someone do that with a disposable straw filter once on TV; thought it was nasty).

New and old ideas about tents and how they ought to be made and used.

This camping stove was invented when people respected fire and knew what they were doing. People today aren't like that.

In the old days, the mirror on the compass showed you who was lost. With the Etrex, you have to consult the manual.

Technical advice on choosing a good sleeping bag, with a little pertinent history of a personal nature.

An overview on how to get started fly fishing for Smallmouth bass

Unlike previous generations, camping no longer always involves sleeping in a tent. RVs, commercial campgrounds and other options provide an alternative. But there's is still something satisfing about connecting with nature through the complete camping experience of sleeping in a tent. Here is a blueprint and a few tips for picking one that gives you all the modern advantages, without the traditional hassles.

When's the last time you went camping? Last week? Last summer? Maybe you haven't gone since you were a kid. No matter how much experience you have, camping is the ultimate outdoor adventure. The key to the perfect outdoor getaway, however, is having the right camping gear.