Official request to join the camping clique - oh and some hints and tips too please!

[hockeypuck]

I have finally purchsed my Diablo 600 and am about to become...A Camper!!! Thanks everyone who offered tent suggestions - may I join you all now?

Also, I now have a tent, but nothing to go in it.

1. Where is the best place for cheap airbed, sleeping bags etc etc?

1. Would it be prudent to do a dummy run of 2 nights away at the end of this season, without a camping stove etc (eating out, or cold things) and then purchase the other things, stove, pots etc etc over the winter? We might after all detest camping!

Feck me are we are clique then?!

If not then we should be!!!!
Surely camping qualifies as a clique-like subject. Plus I have never been in a MN clique in the 6 years I have been on MN. I feel like I should be. Obviously a very open, friendly, helpful and non-cliquey clique!