Customer Reviews

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Camping and Hiking

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a very inexperienced camper, I feel relatively prepared after reading this book! Although the author is clearly more of an *x-treme* outdoorsman than I will ever be, the information about all levels of outdoor activities is interesting and might prove useful one day. A very quick, easy read - highly recommended!

This book seems great for people who need basic skills for camping. I bought it for a college class and already knew about camping, but I am planning to keep it for reference anyway!

I purchased this title to give as an introduction guide to someone before they went camping. I decided to read it myself to get a mental picture of what the reader would learn. I observed a couple things:

It does a good job of dispelling most myths or unnecessary worries when camping remotely for the first time. It uses a mix of humor and first-hand experience to circumvent the anxiety and implant a bit of security.

It covers the essential 10 and comfort camping tools most people pick up (and sometimes never think of). For its intent, I appreciated the discussions on types of each item and their pros/cons. For example, fuel types since propane is not always the best or efficient way to go, and some campers don't know otherwise.

WHY ONLY THREE STARS?
My final observation, causing the 3-stars, was that many topics regarding decision making on part of the camper when it comes to item selection can tend to be subtlety to blatantly biased. One example can be found within the discussion of battery types where the author mentions Carbon-Zinc, Alkaline, and Lithium. He shrugs off any possible use of Rechargeables as being highly inferior and that "they are more appropriate for running toy bunnies." This makes the author look like an idiot himself. Unless he has been living under a rock (no pun intended), he would know that the current technology in NiMH available to the consumer is very close to and sometimes exceeding the performance of alkalines. They perform well at lower temperatures significantly compared to alkalines due in part to their chemical structure. He mentions a lack of "detection" when running out as well, though most quality outdoor equipment includes voltage regulation making that point mute. Finally, NiMH are superior to Alkalines in high-drain devices (ie. quality headlamps). I don't need my science degree to tell you this, it's esaily assimilated by anyone interested. And supposedly this is the "revised" and updated edition.

New campers: get your basics, but pick gear based on your own preferences or reviews by others.

I already camp and hike but was looking for a book that would cover areas that I wasn't familiar with yet. It does a very good job of filling this need. It would also be an excellent starter for someone who hasn't camped or hiked before. Once you decide on a specific interest there are deeper books on specific areas available.

Inspired by Jehovah God and Ken Burns, I've set some lofty goals to see the National Parks on a budget along with my grandchildren. This book does what it says it will: take a rank beginner like me through the basics and not-so-basics of what to do, what not to do, what is needed, and what's out there. Even though it was published almost ten years ago, the descriptions of brands and technology are matching what I am finding at EMS, [...], and CraigsList. Right now I'm getting outfitted. Going outside and doing it for real... that's yet to come.

this is well written, as are all the "idiots", but be warned it is very basic to the point of intuitive. but if you have never been camping it is a great read.