European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 22, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                C m i n getting the right gear Novice camper should first rent before investing in equipment by Chuck Roberts staff writer if you re going camping for the first time you should probably rent your equipment before Rushing out to buy a Carload of expensive camping gear. That Way if your inaugural camping experience turns into the weekend from hell and you swear never to set foot into a tent again you be Only invested about $18 for a weekend s Worth of equipment. Everything you need for a weekend of getting Back to nature should be available at military outdoor recreation centers said Roy Durtschi director of the outdoor recreation Center in Darmstadt Germany for two people to rent All the equipment they would need for a weekend trip it would Cost $38 for the following $2 for a cooler $2 for a water Jug $4 for two air mattresses $4 for a stove $4 for a lantern $10 for a tent and $12 for two sleeping bags. To Speed up the process and be on your Way faster on Friday you can Stop by outdoor rec earlier during the week and Reserve equipment with a Down payment of half the total Price. By doing so the equipment should be assembled and waiting for you on Friday. Planning ahead is especially advisable for Holiday weekends such As the fourth of july when equipment can run out Durtschi  you have never been camping before Tell the clerk. At the desk and he should show you a list of the things you will need. That s what Durtschi says he does with first timers so that their first experience hopefully will be the first of Many More. While going Over the checklist Durtschi will pass on tips such As using your own cooking equipment and using your own flashlight instead of a Camp lantern. For car camping personal cookware works Best because it s available and you re familiar with it. Specialized camping cookware works Best for backpacking trips because it s lightweight. A flashlight from Home can be substituted for a Camp lantern during summer when the nights Are Long and the Days begin too Early. And who wants to bother lighting up a lantern in the Middle of the night for a trip to the bathroom Durtschi asked. If you Are worried about How to set up a tent you can take it outside and do a dry run on the parking lot. If you Haven t set up a tent since your boy scout Days when tents were made of heavy Canvas and involved a confusing tangle of poles pegs and ropes you should be pleasantly surprised. Outdoor recreation centers offer modern lightweight tents that even Lucy and Ethel could put together in no More than 15 minutes. With today s tents you basically fit together lightweight tubes that Are already connected by an elastic Cord running through the Middle of them. You then take the connected tube and run it through a seam and up goes your tent. The most common mistake made by Novice campers is is Gus Schuettler the base outdoor recreation Center a everything the camper needs from backpacks to sleeping bags. Packing too few or too Many personal belongings Durtschi said. People who pack a cosmetics bag and five pairs of pants for a two Day trip can quickly find themselves bogged Down with unnecessary items. Pack Light and have a Good time advises Durtschi who has a degree in outdoor recreation from Brigham Young University. But packing too Light can be even More of a drag. Some campers try to Cut Corners by net using an air mattress and pad and using a Blanket instead of a sleeping bag. Those campers will probably have a cold night on hard ground Durtschi said because most people Don t realize How cold the night air can be. Another common mistake which Durtschi said he was guilty of recently is not taking enough warm clothing. People forget that it will probably be a lot cooler when they head for destinations such As the Alps or Denmark. But when should a renter become a buyer if you Camp Only about three times a year it s probably Best to rent. More frequent campers invest in their own equipment starting with a sleeping bag and pad. For example you would spend enough Money renting a sleeping bag to buy a new one after about 10 trips. Then Progress to a stove and lantern. Your fast Purchase should probably be a tent. Because this will be your most expensive investment you should try out different types and sizes and make sure it easy to set up and maintain. For a family of three Durtschi said it might pay to buy a four person tent for a Little extra space on those Rainy Days when you re stuck inside. Is out Schuettner outdoor rec directors like Roy Durtschi in Darmstadt Germany can help first time campers determine what equipment is needed for a trip. Recreation july 22, 7993 stripes Magazine 3