I've taken 100+ people on their first overnight trip. The same mistakes show up every single time.

1. Buying a 20°F sleeping bag for summer camping.

You'll sweat through the night and hate it. Match the bag to the season. A 40-50°F bag is perfect for 3-season trips.

2. Skipping a sleeping pad.

Your bag doesn't insulate underneath you — the ground steals your heat. A $30 foam pad changes everything.

3. Packing a 65L pack for a 1-night trip.

You'll overfill it and destroy your back. A 35-40L daypack forces you to pack smart.

4. Cotton everything.

Cotton absorbs sweat and stays wet. One rainy hike in a cotton shirt and you're cold for hours. Merino wool or synthetics only.

5. No headlamp.

Phone flashlights die. A $15 headlamp is the most underrated piece of gear you'll ever own.

Save yourself the trial and error. I built TrailCraft to teach the stuff you only learn the hard way — camping fundamentals, navigation, gear selection, and trail readiness. All in one place.