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Having the right camping or hiking gear makes the difference between a camping or hiking experience that is fun or frustrating. Investing in the right camping and hiking luggage reduces the stress and strain of transporting camping gear and gets an outdoor adventure off to the right start.

• Experienced campers and hikers recommend researching several types of backpacks including external frame backpacks and internal frame backpacks. They also suggest choosing the most lightweight camping bag that meets your personal needs. Online camping and hiking luggage reviews are a good source of pros and cons of different styles of backpacks, trail bags and hiking backpacks.
• Hydration backpacks make water access easy. A special Nalgene bag built into the hydration backpack holds about 70 ozs. of water and is much lighter than the equivalent of six 12 oz. water bottles. A long flexible tube extending from the bag makes it easy for adults and children to stay hydrated while on the move. Dakine, Camelbak, High Sierra, North Face and Kelty are brands favored by experienced hikers and campers.
• Visit online camping forums, camping clubs and campground websites for tips on the best tents, sleeping bags and cookstoves. Look for features in camping and hiking luggage that accommodate your tent, stove, food, water and personal gear.

Once your research is complete and you are fully-equipped for outdoor adventure, pack your gear and take a practice run close to home before setting out on a long trek or distant campout.

If sleeping on the ground under the stars, preparing meals on a campfire and a woodsy bathroom make you shudder, take heart. You can experience the great outdoors in style. While luxury camping sounds contradictory and no-frills campers decry the thought, there are plenty of outdoor adventures that add comfort to camping. In addition to comfortable and fully-equipped rustic cabin campgrounds, there are a growing number of luxury camping locations featuring five star amenities. These luxury tent camps are complete with plush bedding, marble baths, fine dining, spa treatments, Internet access and cable television.

Roughing it smoothly is a good compromise for couples or families where one partner or some of the kids want to hike, bike, canoe or raft the rapids, while other partners or family members prefer to sleep on high-count linens in an air-conditioned luxury tent or cabin with the privacy and pleasure of a fully-equipped bath.

If luxury camping is your style, outdoor enthusiasts should pack a lightweight hydration pack, such as the North Face Photon Waist Pack or JanSport Hydration Pack. Meanwhile, indoor types can fill stylish outdoor luggage or a day pack with a few good novels, a bottle of good wine and other personal treats.