Tent: a 2 person tent is fine.
Sleeping stuff: sleeping pads (inflatable), sleeping bags, pillows (or a stuff sack that you put clothes in that will function as a pillow)
Never buy a 2-person tent. A 2-person tent will just barely hold two sleeping bags ... no space for anything else, not enough space to change clothes, you'll step on your spouse while leaving the tent. A 3-person tent is minimal for 2 people to share; this allows you a space in between your sleeping bags for movement. We have a small battery-powered fan, which is wonderful in a 3-person tent; the air hits the back wall and circulates ... makes a tent in summer downright comfortable.
Never buy inflatable sleeping pads either. The sleeping pad
isn't just for comfort; it keeps you from absorbing the cold from the ground. Look into a closed-foam sleeping pad; they just roll up, no blowing necessary -- knee length is fine.
These things are often rent-able from colleges ... they offer their best prices to students, but they also rent to the public. Camping equipment of all types is also easy to find on ebay.
A camp stove and pots to prepare meals.
Bowls, utensils
for food, are you camping in bear country, if so, your site should have a bear box of some sort that you will store all foodstuffs in. DO NOT EVER store any sort of food in your tent, actually just don't do that in general because it attracts pests or larger scavengers which can destroy your tent.
Bring in easy-to-prepare food.
You can cook cheaply over an open fire until you're sure that you're going to enjoy camping. You don't need special equipment of any type. Bring the cast iron frying pan from your own kitchen (rub a bit of dish soap over the bottom side, and clean-up will be easier). Pick up a pack of paper plates and avoid some outdoor dishwashing. Do bring a big bucket for water by your fire ... safety first, you know.
YES to bear-country safety. If you're camping in a public campground in bear country, you'll see big metal "bear boxes" where campers put their food during the night.
YES to bringing easy-to-prepare food. And do as much prep as possible at home. For example, I like to break /beat a bunch of eggs at home and pour them into a water bottle ... easy to cook scrambled eggs over the campfire. If you're doing something like a one-pan farmer's breakfast, pre-cook your sausage at home, and everything'll be quick at the campground. Chop all your vegetables at home with your good knives, store them in a ziplock, and you're ready to cook your beef stew at the campground.
Camping equipment is expensive. If you can rent gear, I would recommend that until you know you really like the hobby.
YES to renting or borrowing first. Lots of people go out and buy a bunch of expensive stuff, then discover that they really don't like camping. That's why it's so easy to find cheaply on the used market.
When you do buy something nice, it should last. I'm still using the sleeping bag that was my 15th birthday present. I've camped across the US twice, worked at summer camp during college, worked for an Outward-Bound type group during college, and have camped ooodles of time with my family -- and that sleeping bag has never let me down.
Don't mean to derail the thread but I know there are different levels of "camping" right? Like driving or RVing into a campground and setting up shop either out of or near your car/RV.
Good point. I'd recommend that you start with "car camping". It's cheap, close to home, and doesn't require much knowledge. In a typical campsite you'll have a parking spot, a flat spot for your tent, a picnic table, and access to a bath house (sometimes with showers, sometimes with just potties).
In a public campground, be sure to meet "your host". These volunteers camp for a month at a time, and they typically come around at dinner time and speak to "their guests" to see that everyone's all right. Also, rangers at public campgrounds sometimes offer ranger-programs -- some tailored to kids, others to adults -- and we've enjoyed those very much.
These have been mentioned previously but I want to emphasize that a sleeping pad and a headlamp are crucial!
Sleeping pad, yes. Headlamp, no. If I'm camping in a public campground, I bring a lantern for the table but no flashlight, and I've never owned a headlamp -- definite sign of a newbie camper. In a public campground, you will have a modest amount of light all around and definitely lights in the bath house ... no need to pack your own.
Folding chairs are great for your back, compared to sitting on the ground and fit easily into a car.
YES to a camp chair. The best part of camping is sitting around the fire at night, and sitting comfortably is well worth the space required for a chair.
camp shoes (sandals, flip flops)
Sturdy closed shoes; tennis shoes are okay. No to sandals or flip-flops, which are an injury waiting to happen, especially for children.