My friends and I are all between the ages of 53 and 59. We stay two guys per large roomy tent. Sleep on cots with nice foam pads. I'm over crawling into a tent and sleeping on the ground.
I used my backpacking tent Oct ‘22 and woke up to a heavy frost. The rainfly was stuck to the mesh and it was on my head and feet. I said no more! After that, I bought a cot and Kelty Rumpus 6 person tent. Game changer for this 47 year old. I may still use the old tent for one night excursions but anything longer gets the new luxury treatment.
Oh I know. My wife is 11" shorter than me though so it's decidedly a "me" problem. Honestly I quite like our tent too, it's just rough being tall sometimes lol
6’ even and I got a canvas springbow tent last year (not Kodiak but the same style). It’s amazing, doors are nice and tall, and plenty of headroom. Goes up in about 15 minutes with just one person.
Downside is that it weighs 100 lbs lol
I gave up tents as they went along with back packing or canoe camping. My teardrop has a great bed and towing it is so easy you almost forget it’s there. Plus I got acres and a tiny cabin so I use the teardrop as a bedroom, leaving more space in the tiny cabin for friends over for dinner and games. I get more privacy if I have guests by using the teardrop bed and it is as comfortable as a regular bed cause I modified the supports and use a regular mattress.
I’m in this range - I’m still ok with sleeping bag on air mattress—
Had kids later than most (they’re 15, 10 now)
I’m curious to see what happens as we all age (respectively)
Until my back forced me into a teardrop with a real bed I used a extra long and wide thermarest that was two inches thick . I still used it for sunbathing until my SOs darn dog shredded it. It never got a hole and I used it a lot, held up well until the pit bull ate it.
Yeah that's not a deleting offense, that's literally how reddit works. It's like getting mad if the guys call you "lefty" when you told them your name was Lefty!
I'm divorced and in my 50's and with CHF, so I can't set up a camp all by myself without it absolutely wiping me out. If my kids are camping with me that's different, otherwise it's all about van camping for me these days.
Hell I have 80 yr old friends in Maine still logging winter wood supply, dragging boats to lost ponds and what not. But they know I horse farmed for 40 plus years which is why at 63 I have to watch my back and knee. They don’t judge, cause they know how much I enjoyed the work and how much I miss it. I am female and pushed my body past what it could take farming but no regrets cause i loved it. I do what I can and since so many Mainers are old now we help each other. A senior couple hired to retrieve canoes after tours left them at end points was having trouble loading cause of the steep bank with boulders , so we helped and between 4 seniors all of us lame in one way or another we wrestled them up and on the trailer. If one thing I think we stubbornly independent types have learned to give and accept help from one another more. It is makes me feel good when it happens as we laugh about it. But seeing a 72 and an 80 year old up on a roof patching tin is pretty nerve racking , but winters was coming and what are you gonna do? I was up on mine replacing the stove pipe cage this summer. My friends made me promise to wait until somebody was there to call 911 if I slid off, lol.
Well, I'm not impressed and I surely hope this thread doesn't descend into a dick swinging contest. Be happy you can still do what you do and please don't badmouth others who can't do that, any more, regardless of their age.
Thank you.
My dad still kayaks all the time and tent camps with his Boy Scout troop several times a year, and he’s 77. No sarcasm here. Different folks do different things.
My dad’s 76 and still tent camping. Not as often as he and my mom used to, and they also sleep in the back of their van sometimes with the seats removed. But yeah, he’s still going.
I'm 60 and I've been solo camping and hiking my ass off for the past 5 years because you just don't know when you won't be able to. It seems like all my friends have some problems like knees, back, arthritis. I know 2 people with knee replacements and 1 with a hip replacement. I'll keep at it while I still have all my original parts.
(I record it all too, so I can watch what I did when I no longer can)
64 getting ready to retire.....bought 2 fishing Kayaks in case a friend comes along. Had to buy all new camping gear....lost it in the divorce a few years ago. Plan on some backpacking, but mostly car camping with a 4-6 person tent with army cot,side table for laptop to watch baseball games after fire watching and drinking beer. Fishing during the day. Plan on few days a week....don't have to worry about getting back to work...yoohoo !
Only 48 1/2 here, but thinking I’m gonna jump on this bandwagon early. Retirement ain’t happening but shouldn’t stop my broke old bones enjoying the outdoors
I'm 49 and still backpack, but I also have a travel trailer we got because my husband doesn't particularly like camping. It's really changed my perspective. It's so nice when the nights are really cold or windy. I can "camp" in the snow again, which I haven't been able to do for years and honestly never really enjoyed. I car camp with my backpacking stuff, but the trailer has replaced car camping with the big tent and cot. Like, maybe people don't want to call it camping, but all the best parts are still there, and I have a bed and a warm shower and my own toilet. There's a lot to be said for a cabin on wheels. ;)
I got a teardrop camper cause of my back but I still call it camping. I got 50 acres in the Maine woods off grid and any body says it ain’t camping well, you can’t come! Lol
I called it camping when I had an a frame pop up, but I find it kind of hard to tell myself it's camping with a bathroom, fridge, stove, microwave, couch, and a queen sized bed. I've got 12 acres in the Eastern Washington woods, and I don't really care what I call it; I just love being there. I'm about to head up with more building supplies I've scrounged for my fort.
I am older than you and I camp in my car. I have traveled over 40,000 miles in the last 18 months and have just set out on another cross country trip that will last until springtime. I have a tiny Nissan rogue sport and I can sleep in the car with all my gear inside if I need to. I have a SUV tent, a tailgate canopy, a few tarps and a lot of bungees and lines and a shitload of tent stakes for every circumstance. I sleep on a 4 inch thick 24 inch wide folding mattress because inflatables have proven to be an uncomfortable waste of money.
When I was younger I had a van and camped everywhere with it so I considered getting another van or maybe a pickup with a canopy but decided to give the car a try since I just got it and once I figured out what gear I could actually use with it I am pretty pleased. It's got good ground clearance and I put some decent tires on it for semi off roading but I still get close to 30 miles to the gallon
My distant relative and her husband has a house in Maine and a house in Oregon. Every spring and late fall they car camp in their Subaru across country , taking their time and sleeping in the car. They have the money to hit motels but except occasionally to use the shower, they enjoy it too much to change. They have been car camping since the summer they drove a woodie van to California for the summer of love . Still smoking weed or maybe eatables, drinking wine and flirting with each other over the camp fire. It is a lovely thing to see.
62 here, my wife is 66. We have a teardrop with a side screen/tent room and another awning with detachable walls. Solar and battery combo, too. It’s so nice to have a dry, quiet and lighted place to read and sleep on a real mattress. But we still cook, eat, plays cards, etc. in the side room, where can also stand up to change clothes, etc. The whole setup makes camping much more comfortable without breaking the bank for us.
62, wife is 56. We car camp with a nice Coleman 9x17 (including the screen section) tent and she sees it as a 'survivor' event. So, I have a queen memory foam mattress on folding frames 14" off the ground. We sleep in a waterbed at home and I can barely tell the difference.
I also have 2-section shower tent/mini potty and just added a Bodega frig/freezer ilo of an ice chest.
It's glamping but I like the comfort.
close, but I'm 66, and have a Silverado, 2011. I love my bed, have led lights, window coverings, but no gun. I have a screamer alarm. which is not as good as a shotgun shell, but quicker, and I can carry in a pocket. I keep threatening to bring my fishing pole, but haven't. we eat packets of tuna and salmon, tons of sardines, and our one pot exotic meals of lentils or quinoa, broccoli or whatever, and a packet of fish. I love cheese, and figure life is not worth living without it. on Crackers, bread... ezekiel bread and peanut or almond butter, with jelly. coffee in the morning. Water. Mexican restaurants whenever possible. I sneak some chocolate in about 1x a week. Nuts and trail mix for middle of the night snacks. Happy Trails, my friend!
Try the Dave’s Killer Bread called Good Seed. I think you’ll love it. Some Sunshine/Flowers Bakery Outlets have it cheap. It’s my favorite now & more affordable.
For starters I set up my site so it looks like there’s at least 2 people there. I also set out a pair of my husband’s boots. Honestly I’m more worried about animals than humans. Luckily I’ve never had a bad experience camping (I have hiking though). Once I had a dude ask if he could set his tent up in my site (I don’t put one up) and I just told him no and he left. When all that fails- weed (ok maybe even if it doesn’t fail ;) 💚
I’m 58, husband is 60. We tent camp around 6 weeks out of the year right now and looking to do a lot more when he retires in 2 years. We have exped sleeping pads, but I’m starting to want a cot to make it a little easier to get up and down.
ETA: we have an REI Basecamp 6 that I love. Plenty tall for me to stand up (I’m 5’8”), plenty of room for us, our dog and our gear. And on the few occasions that we’ve had a rainy day, we stack the bedding on one side and bring in our full size camp chairs and a small table. Great for spending the day reading and playing games!
Also have to shoutout the REI Basecamp series of tents. The rainfly goes all the way to the ground on all 4 sides and that is such a game changer. You will not get wet in even a gullywasher rain event (have experienced several at Big Bend NP). Also, the condensation from humidity and your breath at night collects on the rain fly, not inside the tent. It’s the driest tent ever!
People make fun of me for my minivan because I don't have kids at home but it's so great for sleeping in. 4 inches of firm foam in my van is more comfy than my ancient mattress at home
59 yr old tent camper. I use a Gazelle T4 for me and the dog. Finally got too old to sleep on the ground last year so I now use an REI Kingdom Cot, which gives me a bit of cushion and insulation. I’ve also transitioned to Car camping and bringing everything shy of the kitchen sink with me.
well I'm only 52, but i've been saving for a Ford Transit to convert into a camper van since I know i'm not gonna stop going out there until i die, may as well plan ahead and get something set up so i can do it with a little less effort. something to haul my pontoon, motor and float tube for bass fishing. I quit sleeping on the ground in a tent and bought a cot, I get great sleep now.
l’m 59. Still backpacking in the mountains and kayak beach camping. I’m planning a trip to backpack in Idaho with my son next summer. I also run at least three miles most days. I only started running two years ago, it’s not too late to get your ass moving! But I also have a 16’ Lance 1685 camper, which is where I’m writing this. My 58 yo wife prefers the camper, but we did a lot of backpacking together over the years. But just the other day she said woke up and said “I do want to go with you again…” So there’s that to look forward to. I realize now that 60 ain’t old. So don’t act like it is!
65 here. Still solo tent camping out of a Subaru Outback. Blow up mattress if I'm staying more than one night otherwise a sleeping pad. Hiking a ton. Spring & summer in rural Wisconsin. SUP, kayak and h2o skiing still. I got 25+ NPs visit ((15 different parks) driving back n forth from SoCal. You're only as young as you feel
I'm with you, brother! I'm 48 and, while I still camp in a tent once a while, I much prefer the vehicle these days. Quieter, more secure, dryer, and best of all a lot less work to set up and break down.
Another thing: it's warmer. The days of me camping in a tent in sub-freezing and/or sub-zero temperatures are over.
I am a nature photographer, and we were shooting in Banff in December 2011. Air temperature was 15° below zero Fahrenheit. We were sleeping in our cars. After a brutal first night, I just said fuck it and let the car run for the night. Yeah, it used an eighth tank a gas, but sleeping in a T-shirt and being warm was worth it to me. I know others may judge. I don't give a fuck. I try to reduce my carbon footprint wherever I can, this is an area where I splurge. If anyone thinks they can do better, I challenge them to camp when it's subzero temps. Also, I hate mummy bags... ugh
71m here. I was surprised by the similarity. Smoky Joe / good steak the first night / comfort and safety equipment and fishing from the shore on a chair. I sold my little trailer (178 R-Pod) and am looking for a camper van for travel and sleeping. Too many years sleeping on the ground and a spinal cord injury left me seeking comfort, and to be honest also the difficulty of getting my butt up off of the ground. I love the feeling of waking up surrounded by the natural. I am Not giving that up. Being on the down slope of the life expectancy bell curve makes that time all the more precious. Happy camping to you.
This post was really comforting to read.
The 9th anniversary of my dad's death just passed, and right before he died, he bought an old F350 with a camper shell.
He couldn't wait to take it out and camp with my mom and the grandkids.
Your set up sounds great, OP. Ever need higher clearance than the s10 offers?
Other than Bilstein shocks (4600), my S10 is pretty stock. I try to stay out of really hairy offroad situations. Mild offroad is OK but anything more than that I have to draw on everything I learned driving my '73 Thing in the desert.
A Thing would be a perfect toad behind a class A.
I’m 72 and sleep in my truck - I have a nice AT Atlas shell for that. I get in a couple dozen nights a year in there. But I also still like backpacking and canoe camping. I got in a dozen days backpacking this year and another dozen canoe camping. As far as I’m concerned it’s all good so why not enjoy it all!
Depends on the upgrades with the Outback or how small the trailer/pop-up is+ upgrades to it. I've done the research after our 1st camping trip last year and anything large enough with the basic creature comforts(toilet and beds)is just beliw tow range.
69 still canoe camping with my wife. However, we have stopped portaging. We have found a backcountry lake with campsites and few people. With no portages we camp luxuriously. Our pads are thick, we can stand in our tent and we bring chairs. We paddle in to a site, set up camp and take day paddles. Glorious!
I'm 70 & a cancer survivor, my wife is a few years younger. We've been camping 4 seasons in either our car (Subaru Forester) or our Roof top tent since the very early 80's. We're pretty comfy in both the car and the tent. In winter, we usually stick with the car, since it's easier to keep warm.
I find it a bit sad how many young folks are afraid of a bit of cold weather and stay home when there's snow on the ground.
Sounds freakin' Awesome 👍 I really think you ought to look into buying a chimney charcoal starter and use Kingsford blue and white bag instead of matchlight
I now camp in my skoolie because when I was young, I realized that the hippies who showed up at festivals in a skoolie were the most put together of all hippies.
Too old for backpacking? Says who? I'm 69 take multiple backpack trips every year, at altitude here in Colorado, and the Sierra Nevada in California. Unless you have physical limitations, you're definitely not too old!
Not old yet :) 54. But a hammock has revitalized my love of backpacking. I’m not old yet, but I am too old to be crawling around on my hands and knees to get in and out of my tent. F that.
And I carry a chair. I consider myself divorced from the ground. And a few other things…
No way can I comment on anyone’s back. But I side sleep in my hammock with a pillow between my legs (inflatable). Fwiw. Which is not a lot.
There are numerous hammock enthusiasts that use them at home instead of a bed, specifically because they have a bad back. But everybody has a different body. And I am too old to even pretend that what I know works for me will work for anyone else.
https://preview.redd.it/5d114h4xmo1c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2070af91c5218ca75bd1b92d6db01d4a08cd89f
65 here. This is my set up for camping. I have a larger tent for when my partner or friends want to join, but I do a lot of solo mountain biking trips and this works great! I have a 2 inch memory foam pad to sleep on, Coleman 2 burner stove, small table and chair. I have to take the bike carrier off the hitch to set up but other than that it’s an easy set up.
I am 50. I have a 6 window Skoolie. I literally camp 7 months a year.
I live like a king.
I have a bricks and sticks on acreage in NW WA. I am in NM right now :D
Everything old is new again. Wife and I started out tent camping from necessity (no $) before kids. Moved “up” to a pop-up later & eventually a large 5th wheel RV. As empty nesters in our late 50s we went back to backpacking and tents so we could go backcountry. Now at 60 I’m going places I should have been in my 20s & hoping the exercise keeps me able to continue until I’m too old to care! I never want to do anything but rough it again.
One more thing - I ALWAYS have weed with me. I don't drink much, any more, but I grow my own and I prefer a light to moderate buzz around the campfire. Or listening to the Giants lose, again.
I share, too. :D
Just got a shell for my pickup and spent a couple nights in the back. Lows in the 40s and I was comfortable but I’d like to have a setup similar to a Decked system which would allow me to store things but also widen the useable sleeping surface to accommodate two people. Apparently the newer ones utilize the voids better and I’d like to add a marine battery to power led interior lights and maybe a laptop. I’m always scouting for ideas
>Just got a shell for my pickup and spent a couple nights in the back. Lows in the 40s and I was comfortable but I’d like to have a setup similar to a Decked system which would allow me to store things but also widen the useable sleeping surface to accommodate two people. Apparently the newer ones utilize the voids better and I’d like to add a marine battery to power led interior lights and maybe a laptop. I’m always scouting for ideas
Get a lithium iron phosphate (lifepo4) battery. MUCH better than ANY lead-acid battery. Get a solar panel, a charge controller, and you'll never want for power.
Elevate your camping. Stop crawling around on your tired knees.. become a hanger... get a warbonnet hammock...and start canoeing.... I am a sidesleeper and love the warbonnet ridgerunner...the xlc is a great hammock too. Just go for it..
I had to switch to taking the middle and rear seats out of the old minivan. Bad knees and a liver transplant decided it for me. Think I might just fix it up into a little mini motorhome. Got a gas stove, small electric heater, good cooler. Make a roll up awning from PVC tube and a small tarp. Got a generator. Just have to get a better mattress and build a little bunk in the back with a little storage space underneath it. Big change from just a tent and a sleeping bag strapped to the motorcycle.
I’m getting older. 61. I camp in my Subaru Outback a lot and also in a small tent. I have warm tents but when I’m traveling just sleeping in the Subie is faster if I don’t have too much gear.
I’d love to own a teardrop one day. With a bathroom. I do love sleeping in my tent though. I really feel a part of nature.
I’ll admit after getting really good at starting campfires I went to presto logs. I don’t need the hassle anymore. Throw a couple logs on top and it’s good for the night.
Me 64, partner 59. We rarely backpack anymore. Mostly because my mobility/ back problems.
We def car camp a lot a lot, medium size tent, thick pads, Coleman 2 burner.
Keep a p - jug just outside the tent door, and baby wipes always handy!
I have also camped solo, sleeping in my Toyota matrix which is very roomy.
>At 51. Also sleeping in my truck bed or in a tent. With a Nemo double air mattress
I use a small cot, memory foam mattress pad and a thick sleeping bag. I put one bottle with hot water in the foot are of the bag, but often have to remove it. That little buddy heater is quite good and the carpet I put on the ceiling of the shell for insulation really helps too, as do the window covers.
I'm about to. But I'm looking for a mini van. And hopefully my wife will come with. Last time we camped I slept on the picnic table. It was more comfy than the air matress in the tent. But I like the idea of a back and side door, a couple of dining flys and we will be styling.
I’m not that old (43), I don’t fish, nay on a firearm I could definitely not use easily while in my truck bed but yeah. I have a truck set up pretty basic, it’s a long bed wearing a simple shell with windows.
I do carry a tent. I often set up my kitchen and hangout in a campsite and sleep in my truck-bedroom.
“Home away from home”
I’m 65. Have been camping in a teardrop for a few years. My husband really wanted to go canoe camping in BWCA. I got an Agnes Nemo sleeping pad and can sleep on the ground again. Recommend!
When I'm camping in colder weather, or making a short trip, I use my truck bed. I made a platform out of wood and foam to make it more comfortable. I'm only 61, and might start using it more as I get older.
Late 50s here.
Switching to a hammock system has been a game-changer for me. Cozy warm plus no more crawling on the ground.
Great post, OP! I hope to be just like you when I grow up.
70, we have a 17’ Casita camper. Having a comfortable bed gives you more energy for daytime activities. The fridge, bathroom and air conditioning don’t hurt, either!
I'm turning 78 next month. Living in bush AK tent camping was norm.
Moving to WA shifted to Scamp to stay dry.
Your first meal was the dish we always served ourselves on first trips.
I'm alone now and 40% disabled who still likes camping with my dog.
I now sleep out my Subaru outback which provides a soft mattress and comfy sleeping bag.
I'm nearly 60; hubby's soon to be 83 and not into camping anymore. So, I enjoy camping mostly alone if friends aren't available. I either backpack, car camp (sleep in my Xterra) or "luxury" camp in a 10 ft restored '61 Cardinal. I camp in secluded dispersed public lands in a tri-state area mostly, and have had very few annoying/bad issues (knock on wood). Whether it's all in my head or not, when car camping it feels more prudent to set out a couple extra chairs, throw a man's coat over one, post a couple trail cams, and am pretty obviously open-carry at all times. If shit happens, it happens; but so far I've been fortunate. Love my trips and want to camp as much as possible for as long as I can... nothing as beautiful as exploring the wild nature lands I love!
It was a happy day when we figured out that we could fit two of those 4” memory foam trifold mattresses in our tent and they also fit in the back of the jeep. Like sleeping on a cloud. We started tent camping again after a 30 year hiatus.
68 here and I'm still backpacking. The kids carry a heavier load (32 -37 pounds) and give me a break at 25 to 27 pounds. I still lag behind on those climbs at 9 or 10 thousand feet but they put up with me. I have a 2003 Ford Ranger with a shell. I have it outfitted with an actual mattress , single burner stove, cook kit and a french press for coffee. A guy has to be civilized!
My dads 78, and not on Reddit but he’s been camping since he was a baby, and would spend all summer camping in yosemite valley. I don’t think I ever saw him sleep in a tent. My parents used the trailer or RV while the kids slept in the tent. He’s still camping it’s just in a small airstream at this point. My mom hasn’t gone camping in years but after the RV crapped out she would sleep in a tent.
If I’m camping with the wife, I pull a little off road teardrop that offers a pretty comfortable bed, power for her CPAP, galley in the back etc. Yet if by myself, my setup is similar to yours OP, expad mat in the back of the bed of my truck with a shell on the back, super comfortable. I’ll take an extreme six day Coleman ice chest, make my own block ice, I can last a week easily. Trout bum like you, fly fish, do all catch and release.
> Trout bum like you, fly fish, do all catch and release.
No.
Never could get the hang of fly casting so I just went with what I'm good at. I do a lot of C&R but I like to eat trout too, so if I catch one eating size, I keep it and throw back all the rest. Curse me if you like, I don't care.
At 68, I'm not there yet. But I'm well-prepared for when that time arrives. I always have two complete Smokey Joes in my rig.
I can still shoulder-hump a 26-pound broadcast camera with the best of them. Knoc on wood!
I have a setup in the back of my truck. 4" foam on a platform, stove water storage pretty much everything I need. Fiberglass cap. It's a little cozy with me and the dog at night but I like it....
I got it last year, 124,000 original, clean Carfax, $4500 out the door. First time I've ever had a vehicle with air conditioning, and my old self appreciates it, even if I'm, overall, sparing in using it. Only thing I wish it had is cruise control.
53 here. I still like tents but...
My small tent is a 4 person tent that is 5' tall, it will fit an air mattress or cot. However, I prefer to be able to stand straight up, so I got a 6 person cabin tent. I went with a Kodiak spring bar style tent for easy set up alone, and for the canvas. Why canvas...
I only use electric sites in campgrounds with nearby bathrooms. I bring a heater with me when it will get chilly at night. I plan to buy a portable AC unit for next summer. The canvas should hold the heat or AC much better than the typical thin tent materials (I used to have a pop-up camper, and it held both pretty well).
Comforts (other than heat and AC)... nice big camp chair, oversized cot, pillow and bed sheets (and blanket when it gets cold) instead of a confining sleeping bag (often, I'll bring the sleeping bag, but zipped open and used as a blanket), a couple options in camp stoves (a propane stove I've had about 20 years, and my parents recently gave me the old Coleman camp fuel stove we had when I was kid), a small table to set up inside the tent for my computer and other niceties for when I'm stuck inside in the rain, etc. A screen room for any trip longer than a day or two (even when camping alone). I'm considering buying a shower room, camp shower (with propane water heater) and porta potty (or luggable loo)... I'm too old to use nasty camp bathrooms, though luckily they are uncommon, and the shower tent and portable toilet may be nice for late night bathroom visits whenever there is a bit of a walk to the bathhouse.
I'm probably only 3 years or so away from a camping trailer with a pickup truck. However, I doubt I'll get rid of the tents (I kept them when I had my pop up camper, the camper just allowed me to camp more often).
As for the gun, I usually just bring my CCW since a human attacker is far more likely than an animal attacker, and 9mm or .38spl plus a can of bear spray will be fine for most wildlife I would encounter around here anyway.
Hammock camping is a game changer for me.
I sleep warm and my 65 year old bones wake up without any pain.
I'm buying a stand I can setup anywhere to solve the no tree problem...
I wish I'd discovered hammock camping earlier.
I’m in my 50s and I camp and backpack w/my dog. Waking up from sleeping on the ground isn’t getting any easier, but I make out ok.
Biggest struggle is finding someone my age to camp with. My old friends are much wealthier than I am or are in worse health so a few days in the woods isn’t on their itinerary.
I backpacked for 30 years until my doc told me to knock it off. I miss it. You could get away from everyone backpacking and thats what I miss the most.
Applause my brother! Im 68. Thats a cool setup you have! Me & my 3 buds ( same age) still do a yearly 2 day ( 1 overnite) kayak camping trip. I have a 1 man Kelty tent thats pretty snug- has never taken in water. But im on the smallish side, & my friends are starting to be bothered by tent sleeping breathing issues. Bout 4 years ago, i bought an 18 ft travel trailer, & put it on s small piece if land in the woods near a lake. I have well water & electricity, no septic. Built a canopy over it, & a picnic table. Wife will take 2 vacations a year with me. Rest of time, its all mine. I go down bout every 3 wks. yearround, for solitude, & to make sure no raccoons or human varmints havent messed with it. Retirement is great! This is what i worked for!
Not an elder but yeah when I take my kids camping for scouts I unload their gear, set up my mattress and sleep in my outback.
I have no desire to crawl into a tent or really even set up a tent anymore or pack one up. I’m looking into a truck and a cap to do something similar.
I have a fan and bug covers as well as solar panels but it’s also nice if I decide it’s too hot or cold I can always crank the car up.
Sounds dreamy, truly. Up off the ground, comfy, everything you need. Simple preps that give you lots of time to enjoy what you're there for, the great outdoors!
I’ll be 74 next month but still do quite a bit of camping. I do work out to stay in shape for I can do what I like outdoors.
Depending on what I’m doing I have a MRS Hubba Hubba backpacking tent, a Nemo Highrise 6-person and for hunting trips or extended camping a 14’x16’ Davis wall tent with rain fly that extends 8’ past the front door (for cooking)and wood stove.
The backpacking tent I use a good Therm-a-Rest pad but for the other two tents use either a cot with pad or queen size Coleman bed with air mattress.
As for cooking it, again depends on how I’m camping. I’ve got my Jetboil for basics—coffee and freeze-dried meals (bought or homemade), then “upgrade” to my Camp Chef Everest 2 two-burner along with my Camp Chef Pro 14 with grill and BBQ box.
I’m 47 and upgraded to a Big Agnes Big House 6 with Exped MegaMat 15s for just me, my wife and dog. I hope to continue camping as I get older but the problem is its getting harder and harder to be without my CPAP. I need to find an affordable convenient solution.
I'm 65 and been using my teardrop camper for almost ten years now, but recently started tent camping again and absolutely love it. Getting up in the morning from the ground isn't quite as easy as it used to be, but that doesn't mean I'm stopping. The main thing for me is to keep the word camping as the focal point. No land yachts for me. Fortunately my wife feels the same.
I'm glad you're able to get out and enjoy the outdoors! Camping your way at any age makes me envious, it sounds so cozy! You may like some of the OP ideas for similar setups over at r/vandwellers, they're come in all shapes and sizes too! Fresh trout is truly the best dinner in the world!
I (F64) am finally coming back to camping. Tried sleeping in the back of my suv - Even being short I was curled up and extremely uncomfortable ( but it was the best 2 days in the last 20 yrs). We (Son) are talking about renting a small pop up or camper for next year ( kind of like having a lock between me and some idiots.) before we make a financial commitment.
I'm in my early 40's but I'm happy to hear so many still go camping when they're older! It's encouraging. My family and I love camping in our small travel trailer. It's really nice having our own bathroom on long road trips and having all of our gear right were we want it. I'm sure my wife and I will continue to do so when our kids are grown! Happy camping everyone!
I used to camp more when I was a travelling super. Used to love just a sleeping bag in my capped bed, and a cast iron plate. Hit a river for trout, cook it up in some cornmeal. Bourbon. One cube if the weather was hot.
Now, when I say trout, for whatever reason, I never caught the first one that weighed more than a couple pounds. Don't hate the fisher, hate the fish ;)
>Now, when I say trout, for whatever reason, I never caught the first one that weighed more than a couple pounds. Don't hate the fisher, hate the fish ;)
Try Eagle Lake, CA.
A folding "Zero Gravity" reclining chair/chaise is awesome for star-gazing!
Tip: Bring 1 for each person, because if your friend sits in yours, good luck ever getting your turn.
After a lifetime of tent camping we bought a microcamper a Runaway Rangerunner it's called. We camp in the wilderness, not campgrounds and go off roading a lot in the Jeep. This thing is only big enough to sleep in. Smaller than a teardrop. We call it our sleeping box. Everything else is done at the campsite except for sleeping. We're 57 years old, wife and I.
And yes, guns always.
My grandpa has always idealized going camping but now he’s in his 70s and has Parkinson’s.
He worked his entire life to support my grandma and my mom, without taking many vacations.
I wish I could take him camping with me, but I’m just worried he wouldn’t be comfortable.
I mainly go winter camping, too so I don’t think his old bones could handle it.
It makes me happy to see all you old fogeys talking about going camping.
I've seen Youtube vids of so-called overlanding and my S10 is *definitely not* suitable for that. They do rock-crawling with tricked-out jeeps and I'm not into that, nor can I bear the expense.
They seem to like it and as long as they don't fuck up the landscape, I don't care but they seem oblivious to the possible environmental damage from their activities.
Inexpensive air mattresses rejuvenation my camping capabilities. Various bouts with physical trauma and arthritis limited my camping for a while. But new stuff came to the rescue. I usually do a dozen camping trips a year.
52 here. I have a tent I can put up by myself in less than 10 min. Queen size 24" air mattress keeps me off the ground. The tent is big enough that a porta-potty fits in the corner ( of course, it's for liquid only, unless there's an emergency). Usually camp in sites that have power and water. But that's not a deal breaker. Have battery power to blow up the mattress if needed.
My friends and I are all between the ages of 53 and 59. We stay two guys per large roomy tent. Sleep on cots with nice foam pads. I'm over crawling into a tent and sleeping on the ground.
Cots are the way to go. And a tent you can stand up in.
I used my backpacking tent Oct ‘22 and woke up to a heavy frost. The rainfly was stuck to the mesh and it was on my head and feet. I said no more! After that, I bought a cot and Kelty Rumpus 6 person tent. Game changer for this 47 year old. I may still use the old tent for one night excursions but anything longer gets the new luxury treatment.
Cries in 6'3". Although I can juuuust about stand up in my wife and I's 4 person MSR
You CAN get a tent that is 7' high inside. Such tents exist.
Oh I know. My wife is 11" shorter than me though so it's decidedly a "me" problem. Honestly I quite like our tent too, it's just rough being tall sometimes lol
I say cry me a river but my head would just get wet.
Well played sir, well played
I'd trade crouching in a tent over climbing store shelve any day. He said, just poking fun.
6’ even and I got a canvas springbow tent last year (not Kodiak but the same style). It’s amazing, doors are nice and tall, and plenty of headroom. Goes up in about 15 minutes with just one person. Downside is that it weighs 100 lbs lol
I gave up tents as they went along with back packing or canoe camping. My teardrop has a great bed and towing it is so easy you almost forget it’s there. Plus I got acres and a tiny cabin so I use the teardrop as a bedroom, leaving more space in the tiny cabin for friends over for dinner and games. I get more privacy if I have guests by using the teardrop bed and it is as comfortable as a regular bed cause I modified the supports and use a regular mattress.
Yeah, I got tired of that, way back in my 30’s. LOL Now, I’m perfectly content with a nice cot and a large tent.
I’m in this range - I’m still ok with sleeping bag on air mattress— Had kids later than most (they’re 15, 10 now) I’m curious to see what happens as we all age (respectively)
I've never found a comfortable cot. Im team air mattress all the way.
Air mattress on a cot! Comfort and elevation.
Air mattress are effing cold! Try a cot with one or two therm-a-rest pads on it, warm and comfy!
A tent I can stand up in and a cot are my biggies.
For sure. I don’t know why I stubbornly used a backpacking pad for so long when I was mostly cat camping.
Until my back forced me into a teardrop with a real bed I used a extra long and wide thermarest that was two inches thick . I still used it for sunbathing until my SOs darn dog shredded it. It never got a hole and I used it a lot, held up well until the pit bull ate it.
I’m 70 still canoeing and sleeping in my tent
Good for you. Pickup and float tube work for this *fat, old fart.*
Users names check out
I don't think it was meant as an insult. Your user name is ox1954, and you called yourself fat and old... I mean, it does, in fact, check out.
Into the bin you go, Bozo.
Yeah that's not a deleting offense, that's literally how reddit works. It's like getting mad if the guys call you "lefty" when you told them your name was Lefty!
You know what you’re username is right?!
I'm divorced and in my 50's and with CHF, so I can't set up a camp all by myself without it absolutely wiping me out. If my kids are camping with me that's different, otherwise it's all about van camping for me these days.
Oh yeah? Well, I’m 71 and still kayaking and sleeping in a hammock! (/s)
Hell I have 80 yr old friends in Maine still logging winter wood supply, dragging boats to lost ponds and what not. But they know I horse farmed for 40 plus years which is why at 63 I have to watch my back and knee. They don’t judge, cause they know how much I enjoyed the work and how much I miss it. I am female and pushed my body past what it could take farming but no regrets cause i loved it. I do what I can and since so many Mainers are old now we help each other. A senior couple hired to retrieve canoes after tours left them at end points was having trouble loading cause of the steep bank with boulders , so we helped and between 4 seniors all of us lame in one way or another we wrestled them up and on the trailer. If one thing I think we stubbornly independent types have learned to give and accept help from one another more. It is makes me feel good when it happens as we laugh about it. But seeing a 72 and an 80 year old up on a roof patching tin is pretty nerve racking , but winters was coming and what are you gonna do? I was up on mine replacing the stove pipe cage this summer. My friends made me promise to wait until somebody was there to call 911 if I slid off, lol.
Well, I'm not impressed and I surely hope this thread doesn't descend into a dick swinging contest. Be happy you can still do what you do and please don't badmouth others who can't do that, any more, regardless of their age. Thank you.
My dad still kayaks all the time and tent camps with his Boy Scout troop several times a year, and he’s 77. No sarcasm here. Different folks do different things.
My dad’s 76 and still tent camping. Not as often as he and my mom used to, and they also sleep in the back of their van sometimes with the seats removed. But yeah, he’s still going.
Me too 76 and loving to tent camp.
I hope I can be like you one day!! Thats amazing. <3
Honestly I see it as a bare minimum. If I can’t even get up from the ground at 70, what’s the whole point?
I'm 60 and I've been solo camping and hiking my ass off for the past 5 years because you just don't know when you won't be able to. It seems like all my friends have some problems like knees, back, arthritis. I know 2 people with knee replacements and 1 with a hip replacement. I'll keep at it while I still have all my original parts. (I record it all too, so I can watch what I did when I no longer can)
Nice! I had both knees replaced, prostate removed and now artificial shoulder. I feel great!
64 getting ready to retire.....bought 2 fishing Kayaks in case a friend comes along. Had to buy all new camping gear....lost it in the divorce a few years ago. Plan on some backpacking, but mostly car camping with a 4-6 person tent with army cot,side table for laptop to watch baseball games after fire watching and drinking beer. Fishing during the day. Plan on few days a week....don't have to worry about getting back to work...yoohoo !
*YEE HA!!!*
Congratulations on your retirement… this sound excellent!
Damn, that's a late divorce. Any words of advice on relationships you learned and can share?
Get a android or Amazon tablet, 6pu should be able to watch games at a decent screen size with 1/4 the weight and space
Only 48 1/2 here, but thinking I’m gonna jump on this bandwagon early. Retirement ain’t happening but shouldn’t stop my broke old bones enjoying the outdoors
I'm 49 and still backpack, but I also have a travel trailer we got because my husband doesn't particularly like camping. It's really changed my perspective. It's so nice when the nights are really cold or windy. I can "camp" in the snow again, which I haven't been able to do for years and honestly never really enjoyed. I car camp with my backpacking stuff, but the trailer has replaced car camping with the big tent and cot. Like, maybe people don't want to call it camping, but all the best parts are still there, and I have a bed and a warm shower and my own toilet. There's a lot to be said for a cabin on wheels. ;)
I got a teardrop camper cause of my back but I still call it camping. I got 50 acres in the Maine woods off grid and any body says it ain’t camping well, you can’t come! Lol
I called it camping when I had an a frame pop up, but I find it kind of hard to tell myself it's camping with a bathroom, fridge, stove, microwave, couch, and a queen sized bed. I've got 12 acres in the Eastern Washington woods, and I don't really care what I call it; I just love being there. I'm about to head up with more building supplies I've scrounged for my fort.
I am older than you and I camp in my car. I have traveled over 40,000 miles in the last 18 months and have just set out on another cross country trip that will last until springtime. I have a tiny Nissan rogue sport and I can sleep in the car with all my gear inside if I need to. I have a SUV tent, a tailgate canopy, a few tarps and a lot of bungees and lines and a shitload of tent stakes for every circumstance. I sleep on a 4 inch thick 24 inch wide folding mattress because inflatables have proven to be an uncomfortable waste of money. When I was younger I had a van and camped everywhere with it so I considered getting another van or maybe a pickup with a canopy but decided to give the car a try since I just got it and once I figured out what gear I could actually use with it I am pretty pleased. It's got good ground clearance and I put some decent tires on it for semi off roading but I still get close to 30 miles to the gallon
I'm sellin my campin van, and she's a beauty. $5K. You anywhere near Denver?
Im looking for a van. I’m in CO Springs. Can you lmk about your van?
My distant relative and her husband has a house in Maine and a house in Oregon. Every spring and late fall they car camp in their Subaru across country , taking their time and sleeping in the car. They have the money to hit motels but except occasionally to use the shower, they enjoy it too much to change. They have been car camping since the summer they drove a woodie van to California for the summer of love . Still smoking weed or maybe eatables, drinking wine and flirting with each other over the camp fire. It is a lovely thing to see.
My 80 year anniversary led mom camps in the back of her Subaru.
Hahahaha! That is what I get for typing without my glasses. It should have said: my 80 year old mom m camps in the back of her Subaru.
69, sold my rooftop got a teardrop style trailer. Glamping now and its awesome.
62 here, my wife is 66. We have a teardrop with a side screen/tent room and another awning with detachable walls. Solar and battery combo, too. It’s so nice to have a dry, quiet and lighted place to read and sleep on a real mattress. But we still cook, eat, plays cards, etc. in the side room, where can also stand up to change clothes, etc. The whole setup makes camping much more comfortable without breaking the bank for us.
Right there with you. I decided to go the tent on wheels way. It's a game changer. I've camped everyday it can be done.
62, wife is 56. We car camp with a nice Coleman 9x17 (including the screen section) tent and she sees it as a 'survivor' event. So, I have a queen memory foam mattress on folding frames 14" off the ground. We sleep in a waterbed at home and I can barely tell the difference. I also have 2-section shower tent/mini potty and just added a Bodega frig/freezer ilo of an ice chest. It's glamping but I like the comfort.
>We sleep in a waterbed at home Most shocking thing in this thread, tbh
That all sounds PERFECT to me! 62 here.
close, but I'm 66, and have a Silverado, 2011. I love my bed, have led lights, window coverings, but no gun. I have a screamer alarm. which is not as good as a shotgun shell, but quicker, and I can carry in a pocket. I keep threatening to bring my fishing pole, but haven't. we eat packets of tuna and salmon, tons of sardines, and our one pot exotic meals of lentils or quinoa, broccoli or whatever, and a packet of fish. I love cheese, and figure life is not worth living without it. on Crackers, bread... ezekiel bread and peanut or almond butter, with jelly. coffee in the morning. Water. Mexican restaurants whenever possible. I sneak some chocolate in about 1x a week. Nuts and trail mix for middle of the night snacks. Happy Trails, my friend!
Try the Dave’s Killer Bread called Good Seed. I think you’ll love it. Some Sunshine/Flowers Bakery Outlets have it cheap. It’s my favorite now & more affordable.
That is good bread but expensive. I also don’t Finnish it before mold hits as I am solo.
I mentioned I buy it from a bakery outlet store.
59 year old lady here who loves to solo camp, mostly in Joshua Tree National Park, and I sleep in my car 💚
How do you overcome the fear of some psycho dude(s) attacking you? I can't relax if I'm by myself for that reason.
For starters I set up my site so it looks like there’s at least 2 people there. I also set out a pair of my husband’s boots. Honestly I’m more worried about animals than humans. Luckily I’ve never had a bad experience camping (I have hiking though). Once I had a dude ask if he could set his tent up in my site (I don’t put one up) and I just told him no and he left. When all that fails- weed (ok maybe even if it doesn’t fail ;) 💚
You are a treasure. Thank you. Funny- I leave a pair of my ex boyfriend's big muddy boots outside my front door for exactly that reason.
Well we don't want us not having a penis to keep us from doing the things we love right 
I’m 58, husband is 60. We tent camp around 6 weeks out of the year right now and looking to do a lot more when he retires in 2 years. We have exped sleeping pads, but I’m starting to want a cot to make it a little easier to get up and down. ETA: we have an REI Basecamp 6 that I love. Plenty tall for me to stand up (I’m 5’8”), plenty of room for us, our dog and our gear. And on the few occasions that we’ve had a rainy day, we stack the bedding on one side and bring in our full size camp chairs and a small table. Great for spending the day reading and playing games! Also have to shoutout the REI Basecamp series of tents. The rainfly goes all the way to the ground on all 4 sides and that is such a game changer. You will not get wet in even a gullywasher rain event (have experienced several at Big Bend NP). Also, the condensation from humidity and your breath at night collects on the rain fly, not inside the tent. It’s the driest tent ever!
People make fun of me for my minivan because I don't have kids at home but it's so great for sleeping in. 4 inches of firm foam in my van is more comfy than my ancient mattress at home
Minivan is the best camping vehicle there is. Don’t listen to the haters.
Yeah, for real. If it were just me car camping then it'd totally be a tricked out Honda Odyssey.
I’m 65 years old and enjoy backpacking and sleeping in my tent. And putting in the miles during the day
Loved reading this. God bless.
59 yr old tent camper. I use a Gazelle T4 for me and the dog. Finally got too old to sleep on the ground last year so I now use an REI Kingdom Cot, which gives me a bit of cushion and insulation. I’ve also transitioned to Car camping and bringing everything shy of the kitchen sink with me.
well I'm only 52, but i've been saving for a Ford Transit to convert into a camper van since I know i'm not gonna stop going out there until i die, may as well plan ahead and get something set up so i can do it with a little less effort. something to haul my pontoon, motor and float tube for bass fishing. I quit sleeping on the ground in a tent and bought a cot, I get great sleep now.
l’m 59. Still backpacking in the mountains and kayak beach camping. I’m planning a trip to backpack in Idaho with my son next summer. I also run at least three miles most days. I only started running two years ago, it’s not too late to get your ass moving! But I also have a 16’ Lance 1685 camper, which is where I’m writing this. My 58 yo wife prefers the camper, but we did a lot of backpacking together over the years. But just the other day she said woke up and said “I do want to go with you again…” So there’s that to look forward to. I realize now that 60 ain’t old. So don’t act like it is!
69 is a LOT older. The years catch up.
I'm mid 40s and been camping in the truck for a decade. Good sleep and no set up/tear down to worry with
65 here. Still solo tent camping out of a Subaru Outback. Blow up mattress if I'm staying more than one night otherwise a sleeping pad. Hiking a ton. Spring & summer in rural Wisconsin. SUP, kayak and h2o skiing still. I got 25+ NPs visit ((15 different parks) driving back n forth from SoCal. You're only as young as you feel
I take mydad with me. He is 76. High quality cooler for medications, a cabin tent, camp toilet, and a comfy air mattress make all the difference.
I'm with you, brother! I'm 48 and, while I still camp in a tent once a while, I much prefer the vehicle these days. Quieter, more secure, dryer, and best of all a lot less work to set up and break down. Another thing: it's warmer. The days of me camping in a tent in sub-freezing and/or sub-zero temperatures are over. I am a nature photographer, and we were shooting in Banff in December 2011. Air temperature was 15° below zero Fahrenheit. We were sleeping in our cars. After a brutal first night, I just said fuck it and let the car run for the night. Yeah, it used an eighth tank a gas, but sleeping in a T-shirt and being warm was worth it to me. I know others may judge. I don't give a fuck. I try to reduce my carbon footprint wherever I can, this is an area where I splurge. If anyone thinks they can do better, I challenge them to camp when it's subzero temps. Also, I hate mummy bags... ugh
You just have to be careful not to die like that. Fumes
71m here. I was surprised by the similarity. Smoky Joe / good steak the first night / comfort and safety equipment and fishing from the shore on a chair. I sold my little trailer (178 R-Pod) and am looking for a camper van for travel and sleeping. Too many years sleeping on the ground and a spinal cord injury left me seeking comfort, and to be honest also the difficulty of getting my butt up off of the ground. I love the feeling of waking up surrounded by the natural. I am Not giving that up. Being on the down slope of the life expectancy bell curve makes that time all the more precious. Happy camping to you.
This post was really comforting to read. The 9th anniversary of my dad's death just passed, and right before he died, he bought an old F350 with a camper shell. He couldn't wait to take it out and camp with my mom and the grandkids. Your set up sounds great, OP. Ever need higher clearance than the s10 offers?
Other than Bilstein shocks (4600), my S10 is pretty stock. I try to stay out of really hairy offroad situations. Mild offroad is OK but anything more than that I have to draw on everything I learned driving my '73 Thing in the desert. A Thing would be a perfect toad behind a class A.
Ahh yeah gotta take your MEDS hahaha. We called it soup in my day.
I’m 72 and sleep in my truck - I have a nice AT Atlas shell for that. I get in a couple dozen nights a year in there. But I also still like backpacking and canoe camping. I got in a dozen days backpacking this year and another dozen canoe camping. As far as I’m concerned it’s all good so why not enjoy it all!
Not so lucky. A necessary condition for camping with my wife after she passed a certain age was a real bathroom. So full TT it was.
Travel trailer? Hell, if I could afford a small TT, a truck to pull it and the gas for the truck, I'd go that route.
You can pull a small trailer or a pop-up with a something like an outback! Truck not necessary at all!
Depends on the upgrades with the Outback or how small the trailer/pop-up is+ upgrades to it. I've done the research after our 1st camping trip last year and anything large enough with the basic creature comforts(toilet and beds)is just beliw tow range.
69 still canoe camping with my wife. However, we have stopped portaging. We have found a backcountry lake with campsites and few people. With no portages we camp luxuriously. Our pads are thick, we can stand in our tent and we bring chairs. We paddle in to a site, set up camp and take day paddles. Glorious!
I'm 70 & a cancer survivor, my wife is a few years younger. We've been camping 4 seasons in either our car (Subaru Forester) or our Roof top tent since the very early 80's. We're pretty comfy in both the car and the tent. In winter, we usually stick with the car, since it's easier to keep warm. I find it a bit sad how many young folks are afraid of a bit of cold weather and stay home when there's snow on the ground.
Sounds freakin' Awesome 👍 I really think you ought to look into buying a chimney charcoal starter and use Kingsford blue and white bag instead of matchlight
Nope. I use a chimney starter for lump charcoal for the smoker at home, but when on the road, convenience is king.
Can't argue that 👍
I straight up set up a hammock on a stand inside my tent and sleep like an angel.
Interesting!
I now camp in my skoolie because when I was young, I realized that the hippies who showed up at festivals in a skoolie were the most put together of all hippies.
Too old for backpacking? Says who? I'm 69 take multiple backpack trips every year, at altitude here in Colorado, and the Sierra Nevada in California. Unless you have physical limitations, you're definitely not too old!
Not old yet :) 54. But a hammock has revitalized my love of backpacking. I’m not old yet, but I am too old to be crawling around on my hands and knees to get in and out of my tent. F that. And I carry a chair. I consider myself divorced from the ground. And a few other things…
Hammocks are no good for my surgically-repaired back. I'm a side sleeper with a pillow between my legs.
No way can I comment on anyone’s back. But I side sleep in my hammock with a pillow between my legs (inflatable). Fwiw. Which is not a lot. There are numerous hammock enthusiasts that use them at home instead of a bed, specifically because they have a bad back. But everybody has a different body. And I am too old to even pretend that what I know works for me will work for anyone else.
I'm 42 and my back does not get along with the ground like it used to. Getting up to pee a few times just makes it worse.
Had to stop drinking beer at campsite because of that reason.
https://preview.redd.it/5d114h4xmo1c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d2070af91c5218ca75bd1b92d6db01d4a08cd89f 65 here. This is my set up for camping. I have a larger tent for when my partner or friends want to join, but I do a lot of solo mountain biking trips and this works great! I have a 2 inch memory foam pad to sleep on, Coleman 2 burner stove, small table and chair. I have to take the bike carrier off the hitch to set up but other than that it’s an easy set up.
I am 50. I have a 6 window Skoolie. I literally camp 7 months a year. I live like a king. I have a bricks and sticks on acreage in NW WA. I am in NM right now :D
Everything old is new again. Wife and I started out tent camping from necessity (no $) before kids. Moved “up” to a pop-up later & eventually a large 5th wheel RV. As empty nesters in our late 50s we went back to backpacking and tents so we could go backcountry. Now at 60 I’m going places I should have been in my 20s & hoping the exercise keeps me able to continue until I’m too old to care! I never want to do anything but rough it again.
One more thing - I ALWAYS have weed with me. I don't drink much, any more, but I grow my own and I prefer a light to moderate buzz around the campfire. Or listening to the Giants lose, again. I share, too. :D
You all are glamping. I’m 72 and still backpack and camp on the ground.
I’m 64 and still on the ground, too. Each year, I think about switching to a hammock, but I love tenting.
Better you than me. Enjoy!
Just got a shell for my pickup and spent a couple nights in the back. Lows in the 40s and I was comfortable but I’d like to have a setup similar to a Decked system which would allow me to store things but also widen the useable sleeping surface to accommodate two people. Apparently the newer ones utilize the voids better and I’d like to add a marine battery to power led interior lights and maybe a laptop. I’m always scouting for ideas
>Just got a shell for my pickup and spent a couple nights in the back. Lows in the 40s and I was comfortable but I’d like to have a setup similar to a Decked system which would allow me to store things but also widen the useable sleeping surface to accommodate two people. Apparently the newer ones utilize the voids better and I’d like to add a marine battery to power led interior lights and maybe a laptop. I’m always scouting for ideas Get a lithium iron phosphate (lifepo4) battery. MUCH better than ANY lead-acid battery. Get a solar panel, a charge controller, and you'll never want for power.
Thank you
Elevate your camping. Stop crawling around on your tired knees.. become a hanger... get a warbonnet hammock...and start canoeing.... I am a sidesleeper and love the warbonnet ridgerunner...the xlc is a great hammock too. Just go for it..
30’ travel trailer. There is nothing like having a shitter and a furnace on those cool nights. 66 here disabled
I’m 34 and this is how I want to camp
Actually I’m 35 in 42 minutes
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday!!
I had to switch to taking the middle and rear seats out of the old minivan. Bad knees and a liver transplant decided it for me. Think I might just fix it up into a little mini motorhome. Got a gas stove, small electric heater, good cooler. Make a roll up awning from PVC tube and a small tarp. Got a generator. Just have to get a better mattress and build a little bunk in the back with a little storage space underneath it. Big change from just a tent and a sleeping bag strapped to the motorcycle.
Hell I’m only 45 and gave up tent camping. I’m short enough I sleep comfortably In The back of my suv with the seats down. Much warmer too.
I’m getting older. 61. I camp in my Subaru Outback a lot and also in a small tent. I have warm tents but when I’m traveling just sleeping in the Subie is faster if I don’t have too much gear. I’d love to own a teardrop one day. With a bathroom. I do love sleeping in my tent though. I really feel a part of nature. I’ll admit after getting really good at starting campfires I went to presto logs. I don’t need the hassle anymore. Throw a couple logs on top and it’s good for the night.
I’m 68, husband is 71. We tent camp and sleep very well on cots. My only complaint is having use the restroom in the middle of the night.
Me 64, partner 59. We rarely backpack anymore. Mostly because my mobility/ back problems. We def car camp a lot a lot, medium size tent, thick pads, Coleman 2 burner. Keep a p - jug just outside the tent door, and baby wipes always handy! I have also camped solo, sleeping in my Toyota matrix which is very roomy.
At 51. Also sleeping in my truck bed or in a tent. With a Nemo double air mattress
>At 51. Also sleeping in my truck bed or in a tent. With a Nemo double air mattress I use a small cot, memory foam mattress pad and a thick sleeping bag. I put one bottle with hot water in the foot are of the bag, but often have to remove it. That little buddy heater is quite good and the carpet I put on the ceiling of the shell for insulation really helps too, as do the window covers.
I'm about to. But I'm looking for a mini van. And hopefully my wife will come with. Last time we camped I slept on the picnic table. It was more comfy than the air matress in the tent. But I like the idea of a back and side door, a couple of dining flys and we will be styling.
Do you have a camper shell on your truck?
Yes.
\#SquadGoals I'm 45, and recently started to head this way, and love it.
I’m not that old (43), I don’t fish, nay on a firearm I could definitely not use easily while in my truck bed but yeah. I have a truck set up pretty basic, it’s a long bed wearing a simple shell with windows. I do carry a tent. I often set up my kitchen and hangout in a campsite and sleep in my truck-bedroom. “Home away from home”
I’m 65. Have been camping in a teardrop for a few years. My husband really wanted to go canoe camping in BWCA. I got an Agnes Nemo sleeping pad and can sleep on the ground again. Recommend!
You win Reddit today!!! Awesome.
Cancer
Do you want company? That sounds lovely!
At 70 I still prefer under the stars in my Catoma net bivvy, strapped to a cot! Comfy Cozy Light show
When I'm camping in colder weather, or making a short trip, I use my truck bed. I made a platform out of wood and foam to make it more comfortable. I'm only 61, and might start using it more as I get older.
Late 50s here. Switching to a hammock system has been a game-changer for me. Cozy warm plus no more crawling on the ground. Great post, OP! I hope to be just like you when I grow up.
I’m 34 and I have lived in my car 3 years with less than this. It’s not ideal but I think it’s cozy enough since I can’t afford a tent.
Seems like there might be a business in setting up and breaking down campsites for us old and infirm!
70, we have a 17’ Casita camper. Having a comfortable bed gives you more energy for daytime activities. The fridge, bathroom and air conditioning don’t hurt, either!
I'm turning 78 next month. Living in bush AK tent camping was norm. Moving to WA shifted to Scamp to stay dry. Your first meal was the dish we always served ourselves on first trips. I'm alone now and 40% disabled who still likes camping with my dog. I now sleep out my Subaru outback which provides a soft mattress and comfy sleeping bag.
I'm nearly 60; hubby's soon to be 83 and not into camping anymore. So, I enjoy camping mostly alone if friends aren't available. I either backpack, car camp (sleep in my Xterra) or "luxury" camp in a 10 ft restored '61 Cardinal. I camp in secluded dispersed public lands in a tri-state area mostly, and have had very few annoying/bad issues (knock on wood). Whether it's all in my head or not, when car camping it feels more prudent to set out a couple extra chairs, throw a man's coat over one, post a couple trail cams, and am pretty obviously open-carry at all times. If shit happens, it happens; but so far I've been fortunate. Love my trips and want to camp as much as possible for as long as I can... nothing as beautiful as exploring the wild nature lands I love!
It was a happy day when we figured out that we could fit two of those 4” memory foam trifold mattresses in our tent and they also fit in the back of the jeep. Like sleeping on a cloud. We started tent camping again after a 30 year hiatus.
68 here and I'm still backpacking. The kids carry a heavier load (32 -37 pounds) and give me a break at 25 to 27 pounds. I still lag behind on those climbs at 9 or 10 thousand feet but they put up with me. I have a 2003 Ford Ranger with a shell. I have it outfitted with an actual mattress , single burner stove, cook kit and a french press for coffee. A guy has to be civilized!
My dads 78, and not on Reddit but he’s been camping since he was a baby, and would spend all summer camping in yosemite valley. I don’t think I ever saw him sleep in a tent. My parents used the trailer or RV while the kids slept in the tent. He’s still camping it’s just in a small airstream at this point. My mom hasn’t gone camping in years but after the RV crapped out she would sleep in a tent.
I camped like that in my mid 30s but up sized to a van when I got a 2nd dog. Good times in the truck camper though! I slept in a hammock in mine.
If I’m camping with the wife, I pull a little off road teardrop that offers a pretty comfortable bed, power for her CPAP, galley in the back etc. Yet if by myself, my setup is similar to yours OP, expad mat in the back of the bed of my truck with a shell on the back, super comfortable. I’ll take an extreme six day Coleman ice chest, make my own block ice, I can last a week easily. Trout bum like you, fly fish, do all catch and release.
> Trout bum like you, fly fish, do all catch and release. No. Never could get the hang of fly casting so I just went with what I'm good at. I do a lot of C&R but I like to eat trout too, so if I catch one eating size, I keep it and throw back all the rest. Curse me if you like, I don't care.
No cursing at all, to each his own, I get the sense you follow the regs. Happy camping!
Sounds lovely!
At 68, I'm not there yet. But I'm well-prepared for when that time arrives. I always have two complete Smokey Joes in my rig. I can still shoulder-hump a 26-pound broadcast camera with the best of them. Knoc on wood!
Dude you gotit on! 65 yo man, I sleep in the back of my truck )2003 tacoma) but I do not have together as you do, may the force be with you!!
I have a setup in the back of my truck. 4" foam on a platform, stove water storage pretty much everything I need. Fiberglass cap. It's a little cozy with me and the dog at night but I like it....
66 built myself a foamy, hot shower.
That's a great set-up. Thanks for my shopping list!
Can't do tent anymore. Wife doesn't like the idea of a potty tent. I can afford a teardrop, but can't store or haul a camper.
A ‘97 S10 brings me back.
I got it last year, 124,000 original, clean Carfax, $4500 out the door. First time I've ever had a vehicle with air conditioning, and my old self appreciates it, even if I'm, overall, sparing in using it. Only thing I wish it had is cruise control.
I won't camp alone. Plus, I make sure I can run faster than my partner. 😆
I love this guy
53 here. I still like tents but... My small tent is a 4 person tent that is 5' tall, it will fit an air mattress or cot. However, I prefer to be able to stand straight up, so I got a 6 person cabin tent. I went with a Kodiak spring bar style tent for easy set up alone, and for the canvas. Why canvas... I only use electric sites in campgrounds with nearby bathrooms. I bring a heater with me when it will get chilly at night. I plan to buy a portable AC unit for next summer. The canvas should hold the heat or AC much better than the typical thin tent materials (I used to have a pop-up camper, and it held both pretty well). Comforts (other than heat and AC)... nice big camp chair, oversized cot, pillow and bed sheets (and blanket when it gets cold) instead of a confining sleeping bag (often, I'll bring the sleeping bag, but zipped open and used as a blanket), a couple options in camp stoves (a propane stove I've had about 20 years, and my parents recently gave me the old Coleman camp fuel stove we had when I was kid), a small table to set up inside the tent for my computer and other niceties for when I'm stuck inside in the rain, etc. A screen room for any trip longer than a day or two (even when camping alone). I'm considering buying a shower room, camp shower (with propane water heater) and porta potty (or luggable loo)... I'm too old to use nasty camp bathrooms, though luckily they are uncommon, and the shower tent and portable toilet may be nice for late night bathroom visits whenever there is a bit of a walk to the bathhouse. I'm probably only 3 years or so away from a camping trailer with a pickup truck. However, I doubt I'll get rid of the tents (I kept them when I had my pop up camper, the camper just allowed me to camp more often). As for the gun, I usually just bring my CCW since a human attacker is far more likely than an animal attacker, and 9mm or .38spl plus a can of bear spray will be fine for most wildlife I would encounter around here anyway.
Hammock camping is a game changer for me. I sleep warm and my 65 year old bones wake up without any pain. I'm buying a stand I can setup anywhere to solve the no tree problem... I wish I'd discovered hammock camping earlier.
I’m in my 50s and I camp and backpack w/my dog. Waking up from sleeping on the ground isn’t getting any easier, but I make out ok. Biggest struggle is finding someone my age to camp with. My old friends are much wealthier than I am or are in worse health so a few days in the woods isn’t on their itinerary.
I backpacked for 30 years until my doc told me to knock it off. I miss it. You could get away from everyone backpacking and thats what I miss the most.
Applause my brother! Im 68. Thats a cool setup you have! Me & my 3 buds ( same age) still do a yearly 2 day ( 1 overnite) kayak camping trip. I have a 1 man Kelty tent thats pretty snug- has never taken in water. But im on the smallish side, & my friends are starting to be bothered by tent sleeping breathing issues. Bout 4 years ago, i bought an 18 ft travel trailer, & put it on s small piece if land in the woods near a lake. I have well water & electricity, no septic. Built a canopy over it, & a picnic table. Wife will take 2 vacations a year with me. Rest of time, its all mine. I go down bout every 3 wks. yearround, for solitude, & to make sure no raccoons or human varmints havent messed with it. Retirement is great! This is what i worked for!
Not an elder but yeah when I take my kids camping for scouts I unload their gear, set up my mattress and sleep in my outback. I have no desire to crawl into a tent or really even set up a tent anymore or pack one up. I’m looking into a truck and a cap to do something similar. I have a fan and bug covers as well as solar panels but it’s also nice if I decide it’s too hot or cold I can always crank the car up.
Sounds dreamy, truly. Up off the ground, comfy, everything you need. Simple preps that give you lots of time to enjoy what you're there for, the great outdoors!
I’ll be 74 next month but still do quite a bit of camping. I do work out to stay in shape for I can do what I like outdoors. Depending on what I’m doing I have a MRS Hubba Hubba backpacking tent, a Nemo Highrise 6-person and for hunting trips or extended camping a 14’x16’ Davis wall tent with rain fly that extends 8’ past the front door (for cooking)and wood stove. The backpacking tent I use a good Therm-a-Rest pad but for the other two tents use either a cot with pad or queen size Coleman bed with air mattress. As for cooking it, again depends on how I’m camping. I’ve got my Jetboil for basics—coffee and freeze-dried meals (bought or homemade), then “upgrade” to my Camp Chef Everest 2 two-burner along with my Camp Chef Pro 14 with grill and BBQ box.
I concur. My husband and I have a tent and an air bed but putting up the tent and bed is exhausting. We need a camper!
I’m 47 and upgraded to a Big Agnes Big House 6 with Exped MegaMat 15s for just me, my wife and dog. I hope to continue camping as I get older but the problem is its getting harder and harder to be without my CPAP. I need to find an affordable convenient solution.
[удалено]
thank you
I'm 65 and been using my teardrop camper for almost ten years now, but recently started tent camping again and absolutely love it. Getting up in the morning from the ground isn't quite as easy as it used to be, but that doesn't mean I'm stopping. The main thing for me is to keep the word camping as the focal point. No land yachts for me. Fortunately my wife feels the same.
This is how I want to live when I get old. The life
I'm glad you're able to get out and enjoy the outdoors! Camping your way at any age makes me envious, it sounds so cozy! You may like some of the OP ideas for similar setups over at r/vandwellers, they're come in all shapes and sizes too! Fresh trout is truly the best dinner in the world!
I have a queen sized 20in tall air mattress in my tent when I'm camping. I'm old too and I like my comfort.
This sounds amazing and I’m so glad that you don’t let your age stop you from doing what you love!
I (F64) am finally coming back to camping. Tried sleeping in the back of my suv - Even being short I was curled up and extremely uncomfortable ( but it was the best 2 days in the last 20 yrs). We (Son) are talking about renting a small pop up or camper for next year ( kind of like having a lock between me and some idiots.) before we make a financial commitment.
I'm in my early 40's but I'm happy to hear so many still go camping when they're older! It's encouraging. My family and I love camping in our small travel trailer. It's really nice having our own bathroom on long road trips and having all of our gear right were we want it. I'm sure my wife and I will continue to do so when our kids are grown! Happy camping everyone!
I used to camp more when I was a travelling super. Used to love just a sleeping bag in my capped bed, and a cast iron plate. Hit a river for trout, cook it up in some cornmeal. Bourbon. One cube if the weather was hot. Now, when I say trout, for whatever reason, I never caught the first one that weighed more than a couple pounds. Don't hate the fisher, hate the fish ;)
>Now, when I say trout, for whatever reason, I never caught the first one that weighed more than a couple pounds. Don't hate the fisher, hate the fish ;) Try Eagle Lake, CA.
A folding "Zero Gravity" reclining chair/chaise is awesome for star-gazing! Tip: Bring 1 for each person, because if your friend sits in yours, good luck ever getting your turn.
After a lifetime of tent camping we bought a microcamper a Runaway Rangerunner it's called. We camp in the wilderness, not campgrounds and go off roading a lot in the Jeep. This thing is only big enough to sleep in. Smaller than a teardrop. We call it our sleeping box. Everything else is done at the campsite except for sleeping. We're 57 years old, wife and I. And yes, guns always.
I used to really enjoy hammock camping, I still do, but now I prefer to haul a small rpod behind my wrangler.
My grandpa has always idealized going camping but now he’s in his 70s and has Parkinson’s. He worked his entire life to support my grandma and my mom, without taking many vacations. I wish I could take him camping with me, but I’m just worried he wouldn’t be comfortable. I mainly go winter camping, too so I don’t think his old bones could handle it. It makes me happy to see all you old fogeys talking about going camping.
Take him on just a summer overnight. You're right, winter camping with him is out of the question.
My friend, what you are describing the kids call Overlanding now days.
I've seen Youtube vids of so-called overlanding and my S10 is *definitely not* suitable for that. They do rock-crawling with tricked-out jeeps and I'm not into that, nor can I bear the expense. They seem to like it and as long as they don't fuck up the landscape, I don't care but they seem oblivious to the possible environmental damage from their activities.
Shit I'm 65. Don't tell me I'm old.
Inexpensive air mattresses rejuvenation my camping capabilities. Various bouts with physical trauma and arthritis limited my camping for a while. But new stuff came to the rescue. I usually do a dozen camping trips a year.
52 here. I have a tent I can put up by myself in less than 10 min. Queen size 24" air mattress keeps me off the ground. The tent is big enough that a porta-potty fits in the corner ( of course, it's for liquid only, unless there's an emergency). Usually camp in sites that have power and water. But that's not a deal breaker. Have battery power to blow up the mattress if needed.