You have already received so much great info I almost don't know where to start. So I will keep this short and sweet. With zero camping experience, unless you are very wealthy I would not go for anything more expensive than WalMart stuff. I have seen more than one WallyWorld tent fail in stiff winds, but why buy a $200+ tent only to find out in one night that you and your entire family hate camping. If you survive the first trip and want to go more, you can upgrade to better stuff. Keep in mind that a tent touted as a four person tent means four sleeping bags, usually mummy style, touching on the sides, and no room for gear. Pretty close just for sleeping, and if weather should drive you inside, cabin fever will set in fast. Go bigger than you think you will need! If sleeping on the ground, you can go top dollar with the good stuff, or you can get a decent Coleman brand self inflating pad for about !/3 of the good stuff. I actually prefer my Coleman, unless I am packing it on my back, 'cuz it has a built in pillow. And speaking of pillows, don't forget them. If you guys normally have a nice fluffy pillow under your noggin, a couple of nights without any will be a bummer. Take a large ice chest with food/sodas/whatever, and enough munchies to stuff something in a kids mouth if they start sounding hungery. Insect repellant, and sunblock are a must. I could probably go on, but I kindasorta promised to keep this short. Go, have fun, and then upgrade to better stuff for the next trip...

I'll second, third, fifth or whatever that Eureka makes a great tent.

I wanted a four-season tent with a full fly and went for the K2-XT. It's been out in three seasons so far (I don't count the winter we had here much more than a harsh fall LOL). It has performed spectacularly from high heat to torrential downpour and high winds. It's one of the most solid tents I've ever used. However, it's probably more than what you'd want for family camping. It does have its drawbacks, but if Eureka's other tents are made as well as this one, they're probably a good purchase.

As mentioned before you might want a taller tent for the sake of comfort. There are a number of tents out there made to stand up to heavy windloads, and generally if they're not reinforced with heavy aluminum poles they're going to be pretty short.

Also, though I personally like vestibules and full flys just because I like to be able to go camping year round, rain doesn't always fall straight down, and I like the extra covered space they generally don't allow for speedy entrances or exits.

On one trip out of a number of tents, only the Eureka Tent and Sierra Designs Tent held up in a windstorm that ripped other tents off of the ground and a hailstorm that shredded some of the other tents.

I second the tent over tarp idea. Well, out here a tarp is doable because at night bugs are rarely a problem. But on the east coast anytime in the warmer months the bugs will be an issue. A tent, or even just a bug shelter, is essential. Oh, and just to let everyone know, the REI Trekker sleep pad
(1.75 inch loft) is on sale for $39. Thats a great price for a good solid pad that comes with a repair kit.

Not much I can add to this, other than a +1 to Ken's comments.

That, and take a good look at Colman and Sportmans Guide's "Guide Gear". Their current stuff would have been pretty hot stuff 20, 25 years ago, so it isn't too heavy or cumbersome if they catch the bug (or you do) and decide to start packing your gear in, and it's tough enough to work under fairly tame conditions (ie, not a howling wind, not driving rain, not golfball sized hail, not so cold that even a Raven complains about the chill in the air), but not so expensive that if this is goes totally pear shaped and will never, ever be repeated again under the threat of pain and household trauma that you are out someone's first year of college tuition.

Also look around for places that sell used gear, but not online- smaller, independent sporting goods places often have used items on consignment and you want to check that kind of thing out. And they generally don't mind if you want to set up a tent on the show room floor to see how big it really is.

Hmm... I actually wouldn't feel bad about taking a tarp (rather a poncho as far as personal preference) over a tent. Unless the weather is very cold or rainy and the environment totally barren I wouldn't bother with a tent any longer. It's a lot of extra bulk and weight that most of the time simply isn't necessary. I've slept under a poncho lean-to in many kinds of terrain and weather, including heavy rain, and it always did a good job.

But I agree it's not for the inexperienced or faint of heart. If you're not used to the outdoors and if the thought of bugs and snakes scares you to death you will be more comfortable in a tent. Though you will be less comfortable lugging around that tent on longer hikes and you'd better practice setting it up at home so that you can do it quickly outdoors even in poor weather.

Here are some tips about protecting yourself against bugs:

First the most effective is probably 30% DEET lotion (not spray) that you apply only on skin, and neither on clothing nor underneath cloting. Apply the stuff sparingly especially above the eyes as it may drip on your eyes.

If you're going to use both DEET and sunscreen, apply the sunscreen first, then about 30 min later apply the DEET lotion. Then later on reapply sunscreen on top as needed. DEET does lessen the efficacy of sunscreen. Avoid preparations that combine both a sunscreen and a repellent, because they are often low in strength and, therefore, the protection is not long-lasting.

Follow safety precautions when using it on children (I think it's recommended to use 10%). Don't use it on their hands.

For your clothing, spray them with permethrin but not on your skin (don't spray them when you're wearing them). It will last for about 2 weeks even through several washings. You can even spray your tent and bags, and then they become "bug-out bags" in the true sense.

You should get decent quality head nets, it's so cheap. Try to see if it fits on your T4 Tilley, because you need a hat to wear them.



Hope this helps.
Frankie

Hi digimark

I've had a quick look on the REI website; Lots and Lots of excellent gear. Although expensive everything would be able to double up for trekking apart from the Tent but will still allow you to be comfortable whilst car camping.


For the Tent.

http://www.rei.com/product/732924?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

The Kelty Pavilion 4 Tent looks superb; Strictly for car camping though at 20 lbs. 3 oz. For trail camping something like the http://www.rei.com/product/731624 Marmot Marmot Aeolos 2P Tent looks the business at 5 lbs. 12 oz. 2 required for 4 people.


For Sleeping Bags.

http://www.rei.com/product/747386

Marmot Wasatch +25 Sleeping Bag - Regular - plus points - Nice and wide at the shoulder and light enough to carry on the trail aswell as for car camping at 2 lbs. 12 oz. Good Durable 3 season bag.

For Sleeping Pads.

http://www.rei.com/product/720780

Exped DownMat 9 Deluxe Air Pad. A really comfortable sleeping pad; as comfortable as anything from Thermarest weighing 3 times as much; Can still be used for Trekking at 2 lbs. 12 oz. But the standard Exped DownMat 9 Air Pad is narrower and weighs less at 2 pounds.

For Camping Stove/Stoves;

http://www.rei.com/product/696978

Snow Peak Giga Power Blended Fuel Stove; 11.25 ounces; reasonably lightweight with better stability than normal stoves; Get a couple and use with 500 gram canisters for car camping. Use in conjuction with a table for cooking such as the one found at http://www.rei.com/product/721713?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

For Cooking Utensils

http://www.rei.com/product/708986?vcat=REI_SSHP_CAMPING_TOC

MSR Duralite is a good compromise between cost and functionality and again would be able to double up for trail camping.

For Headlamps

http://www.rei.com/product/751760

Petzl Tikka XP LED Headlamp: Not as powerful as the Princeton Tec Apex Pro LED Headlamp but not as expensive and just fine for car and trail camping being lightweight and compact using AAA batteries.

Hope this helps with respect to actual gear.

Just a couple of thoughts about equipment:

Like you my Darling Bride thinks "roughing it" means staying at a hotel WITHOUT room service. Not long after we were married I took her camping for the first time. I had a great time, she didnt' and hasn't been back since.

Buy the basics tent, sleeping bags, lanterns and a stove.

Since you'll be camping at a state park there will probably be a decent bathroom/showerhouse but check it out beforehand. Nothing is going to make her more miserable than not being able to "freshen up".

For a tent (2 adults and 2 children) a minimum size would be 10X10. Get one that is at least 6' high. Being able to stand up in the tent is a big bonus while getting dressed for you and her. A dome style is the easiest to set up. Stick to the brand names (Coleman is fine) and try Wally World or Dicks Sporting Goods. Decent prices.

Make sure to get an air mattress (double or queen size) for you and her. You will sleep much better. Kids can use foam pads, they'll be fine. Make sure to take pillows.

Sleeping bags don't have to be too expensive. Coleman is fine. Might think about getting one big enough for you and her and seperate ones for the kids.

Lanterns and stove. Coleman again. I use their 2burner propane stove and propane lanterns. Easy to deal with and the fule bottles aren't that expensive.

Borrow kitchen supplies from the house.

As for bugs. Take bug spray and citronella candles.

Pick a weekend and go for it. If the wether forecast is for nasty rainy weather pick another weekend. Nothing will ruin the first trip maore than bad weather.

Have a great time and report back to us after your first adventure.

Or girlfriends, or non-camping friends. Matter of fact, that 2-3 day camping trip might just turn into a very short one nighter. Been there!

DEET is also very good at destroying equipment. I've been using picaridin for a few weeks and I've been bit exactly once.