Camping

There are a few things you'll always need for any camping adventure: food, clothes, and, most importantly, shelter. But regardless of where you'll be pitching your campsite, tent shopping for the first time can be tricky. Instead of making a big purchase you'll regret, ask yourself the following questions ahead of time.

How often will I use it? If you won't be using a tent regularly, then buying your own might not be a necessity at this time. If it's looking like a one-time thing, then ask friends and family if they have a tent you can borrow. As long that you promise to clean it and deliver it back ASAP, most people will be happy to lend their tent out for a few days. If your friends and family aren't an option, then consider renting instead of buying. Many outdoor stores including REI offer high-quality tent rentals. Renting a tent will save you a ton of money and storage space, but the best part is, they'll be able to show you how to put it together so you don't have to worry about deciphering the instruction booklet on your own.

How easy is it to put together? If you don't plan on battling the elements during your future camping excursions, then a pop-up or self-erecting tent is the way to go — these are (by far) the easiest tents on the market to put together. For most pop-up tents, all you have to do is remove the tent from the bag, pull a few strings from the top, and let the tent expand into its full shape. After you finish staking your tent to the ground to secure it from flying away, the whole process takes less than 15 minutes. Just make sure you don't order a pop-up tent solely designed for beach or picnic shade — you need to be able to zip yourself in and secure the tent to the ground.

Keep reading for three more questions to ask yourself before buying your first tent.

We are approaching the second weekend of Coachella and that means just one thing (OK, maybe two): camping! And while some people are worried about their sartorial music festival choices, we are more concerned with our digs. Enter Field Candy and its line of tents ($685-$762).

All six of the designs are creative, original, and wholly unexpected. Want to blend in with a field full of sheep? Sleep inside a giant book? There's a tent for that! We love them all, but our favorite is probably the watermelon tent. There is something so appealing about the idea of retiring to a fresh slice of fruit after a long day in the desert — don't you agree? No matter which one you choose, though, you are guaranteed to stand out in the crowd. Because we all know that's really the most important part of Coachella.

While I certainly enjoy digging into a store-bought bag of trail mix from time to time, more often than not, I find myself compelled to tweak and tinker in order to find the exact flavor profile I'm after. Experimentation is key, but I generally stick to a few essential guidelines when compiling a new signature blend.

1. Roast your nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds shine when roasted briefly; simply preheat your oven to 350ºF, lay the nuts out on a sheet pan in a single layer, and toast for 6-10 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly golden. Alternatively, buy them pre-roasted, or toast them on the stove.
2. Don't forget the salt! Sweet flavors perk up when enhanced with a pinch of salt. Consider including at least one salty element to your trail mix, such as roasted salted peanuts, almonds, shelled pistachios, or cashews; peanut-butter-stuffed pretzel bites; pretzel M&M's; or yogurt-covered pretzels. If none of those flavors jive with your flavor profile, simply toss dried fruits with a pinch of flaky sea salt.

Keep reading for four more tips.

For newbies to camping, the key to setting up for satisfying fireside meals is preparation and packing the right "gear," as camping enthusiasts like to call it. While camping is an excellent opportunity to experiment with clever kitchen hacks, make sure to include these items on your packing list. That way, you won't forget the essentials (like matches, a can opener, and a pot to boil water), as well as those critical items that make brisk, early mornings infinitely more bearable (like a coffee percolator).

1. Fire starters: You never know what mother nature will bring, but at least you'll have fire with a set of REI Stormproof Matches ($7) or a powerful and efficient BlastMatch Fire Starter ($25).
2. Camping cooler: Anything perishable needs to be stored securely in a cooler on ice. This Picnic Time Zuma Insulated Cooler Backpack ($22) makes it easy to transport everything deep into the woods.
3. Percolator: Early mornings can be a bit nippy, making coffee a warming, energizing must have, no matter where you are in the world. Brew your morning pick-me-up in something durable and foolproof like this GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Percolator ($40).
4. Pan and skillet: Don't leave home without these indispensable pieces: an REI Cook Pot ($35) is essential for simmering hearty oatmeal and warming up canned beans, while an REI Nonstick Frypan ($27) makes frying up proteins like fresh-caught fish or strips of bacon a breeze. Alternatively, this lidded Lodge Pre-Seasoned Combo Cooker ($30) is an excellent multitasker for those who are car camping and don't have to worry about carrying heavy cast-iron pots.
5. Swiss Army knife: Keeping a Victorinox Camper Swiss Army Knife ($24) around is always a good idea. This particular version has a can opener (crucial!) and a nifty set of tweezers to help you remove small fish bones from fillets, if necessary.

See the complete camping kitchen checklist.