Last updated: March 2026 Written by Mike — dad of three (14, 12, and 9), regular camper in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and a guy who’s spent plenty of nights with nothing but a fire, a water filter, and whatever I packed in. I camp both ways — established campgrounds with the family and primitive spots when I want the real thing. I’ve also done mutual aid electrical work in remote areas after storms in California, Texas, Florida, and Maine, which taught me more about living without