What To Look For
When you're researching the best tent camping, look for a book specific to an area where you'd like to camp. Many guides to camping and hiking take you through specific trails and show you the best places to camp. Other guides describe a different campground in each region of a state. So a guide to tent camping in the Southeast might describe different campgrounds in North and South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.
Tent camping books also describe what type of weather to prepare for at different times of year, fees that might be incurred at different campgrounds and the best type of gear to bring with you. These books will also have an appendix with a checklist for camping equipment, a map legend and resources for you to contact in the different geographical locations.
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake made when people purchase tent camping books is to buy an older, used copy that is out of date. Buying a used copy of a fiction book is rarely a problem because the story never changes, but buying or borrowing from the library an older copy of a camping guide book can lead you to wrong trails, closed campgrounds and outdoor bathrooms that have long since been filled in.
Before heading out on the trail, always purchase a new book or trail guide, especially if you have never been to the area before. Another common mistake is to bring the book along and forget to keep it safe from water. Pack any books or maps you bring along in zip-style bags so that they stay protected from water.
Where To Buy
Tent camping books can be purchased online at bookstores like Barnes&Noble or Amazon.com. Sporting goods stores and adventure outfitters often have an area with a limited selection of camping and hiking books and maps.
Cost
Books in this genre can be purchased between $9.95 and $14.95. These books are usually published in paperback. For example, "The Best in Tent Camping: The Smokies and The Southern Appalachian Mountains, 4th edition" by Johnny Molloy is offered for $10 at Amazon.com, but retails for $14.95 in most bookstores.
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