The thread on outdoor equipment was getting sorta long and I had to
add my 2 cents. I strongly recommend Eureka tents. We are on our
third one because our family grew. Our original Eureka Timberline
tent has been slept in over 450 times over a 28 year period and is
still good. The 4 person Eureka I simply never bothered to count the
nights.
We currently use an 8 person Eureka tent that is very easy to set up
and take down. We have probably about 100 nights in it.
Forget the inflatable air mattresses, they ALWAYS deflate. Instead,
go for the low tech closed cell foam pad about 1/2' thick. This
matters more than the quality of your sleeping bag because you lose
most of your heat to the ground. A 32 degree bag with a sheet thrown
over it adds about 10 degrees to its range and allows you to sleep in
warmer weatehr.
Get a cheap Coleman propane stove. Forget white gas or coleman fuel,
too much of a PITA.. We cook A LOT on the propane and it is cheap.
Even at 53 yrs old, I am perfectly comfortable sleeping on the ground,
in fact more comfy than on most beds.
One important rule I always follow. Wear clean socks to bed. Even
socks that feel dry that have been used have sufficienbt sweat in them
to conduct away a lot of heat. Clean socks make a huge diff.
I use a 29 yr old 0 degree sleeping bag that I ALWAYS hang up in the
closet, never store in the sack, and I am never cold even on very cold
nights.