Weddingbee boards

Since our STDs are going out soon with our website on them, I am trying to make sure our registry is nearly done and complete (because I know my relations well enough to know they'll go look sooner then later, even if they wait until the day of to buy things). My FI and I would like to upgrade our camping gear but neither of us knows enough about camping stuff to feel confident we'd make the best decisions as to what to put on our registry. So...

Do any of you lovely Bees have any recommendations for 4-6 person tents (preferrably 1 room), queen sized air mattresses, lights, mess kits, folding chairs, etc? Also, any beach supplies you think we ought to add to our list? I would love pictures too, if you have any! We're hoping we get these things as wedding gifts because we're going on a 3 day, 2 night mini-moon camping at our favorite state park (which has a FAB beach) after the wedding.

We've only ever had Coleman tents so you can't really go wrong with something like this http://www.target.com/Coleman-Bayside-6-Person-Family-Tent/dp/B001O5L2ES/sr=1-9/qid=1259547462/ref=sr_1_9/177-0462106-5997146?ie=UTF8&search-alias=tgt-index&frombrowse=0&index=target&rh=k%3Atent&page=1

We also have a knock off Aerobed which is awesome because it is comfy and has a built in pump which honestly is the best thing in the world! Something like this http://www.target.com/Intex-Pillow-Rest-Midrise-Bed/dp/B0019FE47K/ref=br_1_2?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=193650011&node=193650011&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Intex%20Pillow%20Rest%20Midrise%20Bed

We have a Coleman lantern that is older & propane, works great but I want a newer one with LED/battery. I suggest looking at the Coleman rechargeable lanterns.

For mess kits, we just has a mish mash of everything we've bought over the years so I can't really find pics of it. Just make sure you have silverware, plates, bowls, pots, pan, knives etc. (Target has a lot to view!)

I have these chairs and I have this chair, however you might not need something so large but it's worth looking into! http://www.target.com/Travel-Chair-Footrest-Red-Gray/dp/B0017ISV1O/ref=br_1_11?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=10749091&node=10749091&searchRank=reviewrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Travel%20Chair%20Footrest%20Red%20Gray

You also might need sleeping bags, bug spray, for the beach I suggest a beach mat that way it's resuable and you don't have to get your towels all sandy.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions! I'd be happy to help!

@SoontobeMrsM- Thanks for the recommendations! I like the look of the air mattress and chairs, but the tent, besides being bright orange!, has poor reviews because of ventilation. Did you too find it overly hot in the summer months or too dark inside?

@Mackinacjeni- Frankly, my FI hates vacations. He hates traveling, leaving home, going places, and he normally hates the very idea of camping, much less actually doing the activity! i have sloooowly been drawing him out. He really enjoyed our last Car Camping trip but I fear he will never, ever be an adventurous camping man. I used to be a wilderness camper when I was younger, but too many years living in the "big" city and a plethora of physical ailments means I can no longer indulge in such things, especially on my own. Soo...we are looking for only things which are good for Car Camping.

Hmmm...most of my gear is lightweight for backpacking trips, so I don't have a lot of recommendations for car camping. But I thought I would point out that if you have a local REI in your area, that is a fabulous place to get quality camping gear at a reasonable price point (I shop at REI's Canadian cousin, Mountain Equipment Co-op [MEC]). Plus you can register with them!

http://www.rei.com/

Now is the time to get stuff that is an investment, and they will have tons of stuff you could use for car camping too.

One thing I recommend for either car camping or backpacking is a headlamp! They are far superior to a flashlight. They keep your hands free and give you TONS of light, becuase they are usually LED based. Makes it super easy to find your way to the bathroom at night, or assemble your gear if you get into your campsite late.

Happy Camping!

@Rabbit- We don't have that exact tent, I just used that as a suggestion. We do have a Coleman that has great ventilation but it's older and not online anymore. I would read reviews for tents and find a good one. The air mattress looks super comfy, ours is!

@Valhalla- I miss MEC! It was my favorite store when I lived in Vancouver! They sell things there I can't get here in the states. Once a year or so I send a list of things i want to friends (along with money) who buy it for me and ship it to me in the states. Their turtle lights rock! i am also a member of REI here, but I rarely shop there due to the high prices (although their stuff is excellent and their lifetime warrenty is amazing!) I will Def looking into headlamps! Thanks for the tip!

@SoontobeMrsM- I see. My current tent is Coleman. I love it but it was only meant for 1-2 people since its an ultralight backcountry tent. With my FI and I in there together, there is no room for anything else, not even our shoes! And we can barely sit up in it. Perfect for 1 camping on her own, terrible for two. The tent is definately on my list! Thanks again!

@artbee- The reviews say the door is super awkward due to its dual zipper system and that it blows over in minor wind gusts (25mph+). Have you experienced any of these problems? Do you find the tent easy to set up? Considering how inexperienced my FI is camping (my dragging him out twice means he's been camping...twice in his life!) we need something quick and super easy to set up.

@FutureMrsMartin- Great idea! Amazon informs me that Serta makes a memory foam topped air mattress which has gotten great reviews. Not sure if its up to the rigors of camping, but its on my list! :)