BajaNomad - camping equipment?

camping equipment?

lav_ocotillo - 8-30-2020 at 08:39 PM

hi everyone!
i normally live in southern arizona but have been living with my partner and their family in mexico city + morelos. the two of us are planning a socially-distant, thoughtful month in baja and are thinking to rent a car and camp/rent air bnbs when we just have to, but don't want to deal with flying to mexicali etc w camping gear.
we're considering buying some things at the walmart in mexicali but, i don't know if this is a ridiculous idea, would it be beneficial for anyone to rent us a solid tent/sleeping pad/etc for a month or so?
alternately, any alternate suggestions? we know it's super hot and are okay with that! i camp in the sonoran desert in the summer which i don't find too unbearable

lav_ocotillo - 8-30-2020 at 08:42 PM

nvm, saw this exact thread posted elsewhere! yay collective brain

TMW - 8-30-2020 at 09:26 PM

No need for a tent get a cheap cot or pad and sleep on the ground. Get a cheap sleeping bag too. Actually with the warm weather just use some blankets. However it does get cold along the Pacific ocean even in the middle of summer.

JZ - 8-30-2020 at 11:58 PM

Fly into Cabo, LA Paz, or Loerto..

Baja Sur is the best of Baja.

mtgoat666 - 8-31-2020 at 05:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lav_ocotillo

hi everyone!
i normally live in southern arizona but have been living with my partner and their family in mexico city + morelos. the two of us are planning a socially-distant, thoughtful month in baja and are thinking to rent a car and camp/rent air bnbs when we just have to, but don't want to deal with flying to mexicali etc w camping gear.
we're considering buying some things at the walmart in mexicali but, i don't know if this is a ridiculous idea, would it be beneficial for anyone to rent us a solid tent/sleeping pad/etc for a month or so?
alternately, any alternate suggestions? we know it's super hot and are okay with that! i camp in the sonoran desert in the summer which i don't find too unbearable

Much easier to pay the extra baggage fees and bring your own camping gear.

weebray - 8-31-2020 at 06:53 AM

Lots of bad advise here but the worst is to get a cheap sleeping pad. Trying to find an inexpensive Therm-a-Rest used at a garage sale, flea mkt. or ? is a great idea; buying a cheap sleeping pad is not.

BajaMama - 8-31-2020 at 07:08 AM

I would at the least get a screen tent - it can get buggy at night. Cheap bags or blankets would work. We used pads last weekend, but are upgrading to cots - the ground is too hard for these old backs, even with pads. A five gallon bucket with a quart sized dipper .makes a fabulous shower. A propane camp-stove is a necessary. Walmart may have kits - tent, stove, bags. Being the end of the season may be on sale...

Howard - 8-31-2020 at 07:43 AM

A good Swiss Army Knife and some type of collapsible shovel. You will use them!

lav_ocotillo - 8-31-2020 at 11:29 AM

wow thank you everyone! this site is such an incredible resource

AKgringo - 8-31-2020 at 11:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard

A good Swiss Army Knife and some type of collapsible shovel. You will use them!

I prefer a multi-tool with a plier option but a knife, or tool, could cause you problems with any air travel.

wilderone - 8-31-2020 at 04:12 PM

You can get sand storms, wind, cold, mosquitos - better off with a tent. If there's a Dollar Tree in Mexicali you can get everything else. You don't need good equipment - it only has to last a month, and in fair weather. One of the most useful camp items is a chair with a back. gets old sitting on a rock.

thebajarunner - 8-31-2020 at 04:13 PM

I have slept on my folding cot, under the stars for about 250 Baja nights. Never slept in a tent
The big problem is the dew.
On a clear night your sleeping bag gets wet, sometimes real wet!!
But just toss it over the hood or the tail gate in the morning sun while you make your coffee and it dries out quickly
Agree on the sleeping pad. Even a decent cot is pretty firm.
I have a Thermarest that folds three times into a nice compact square.

HeyMulegeScott - 9-2-2020 at 05:55 PM

I was surprised this winter to see the La Paz Walmart had no camping gear and supplies.

TMW - 9-2-2020 at 06:51 PM

Being that you are only doing this for a month don't over think it. If you listen to some people here you'll spend lots of money on good stuff and after a month what will you do with it they won't buy it from you. If you think you'll use it more often fine get the good stuff. I've been going to Baja for over 40 years, camping over 95% of the time. I've had RVs, tent campers, cab-overs, truck shells, tents and for the last 20 years I sleep on a cot outside under the stars. If it rains I have eyelets on the shell I can hook a tarp to. My motto is KISS=Keep it simple stupid.

Allwaters - 10-30-2020 at 07:25 AM

Quote: Originally posted by lav_ocotillo

Allwaters - 10-30-2020 at 07:27 AM

North Baja cold in winter, south baja warmer. Cheap sleeping bag is good, take tarps at least or tent, water jugs, cooking stuff, propane canisters, lamp, cooler and the like. Don't forget fishing stuff!

bajaric - 10-30-2020 at 12:29 PM

Allwaters how are they going to get all that on an airplane?
the post was from last summer, wonder if the OP ever went?
Pictures or it didn't happen!

My two cents rent a full size SUV with bench seats (do they make those any more?) and buy some pots and pans and little camp stove and some folding chairs and a couple of nice down filled comforters --

Or salvage a thick foam pad out of a memory foam mattress and buy a big quality stand up tent when you get there.
or both!

[Edited on 10-30-2020 by bajaric]