Are you a camper? Or a wannabe camper? Maybe you want to dip your toe in the water and don’t quite know where to begin. I’ve been there, and I know it can be overwhelming. The aisles at Canadian Tire are filled to the rafters with gear. Do I need a special container to store eggs? Do we need to buy an axe? Bear bells? What’s the best way to avoid getting eaten alive by mosquitoes?

Here’s a tip, if you’re just starting out I suggest you buy a few lightweight sleeping bags and then beg, borrow and buy the rest of it secondhand for your first time out. You never know, you might just hate camping. I hate to be blunt, but let’s face it, camping is not for everyone. (And just for the record, we love camping. We’ve been going with the kids ever since they were two.)

Here are a few ideas of some of the things you can search for on your local Used.ca sites for outdoor fun this summer

Tents

Boats and canoes

Trailers and transportation

Camp stoves

A backpack

Folding chairs

Cooler

What else am I missing?

Are you a camper? We’d love to hear what’s on your “must bring” list (besides the beer of course).