It would be a mistake to sell those thousands of beginning campers on the idea they're buying the comforts of home. They're not. Home is the place to find the comforts of home. They're buying fun and adventure and family experiences. But it would also be a mistake for them not to realize how comfortable camping has become. This is no longer a way of life for the bearded logger and the wandering cowboy. Today's campers want comforts, and they have them. And this helps explain why so many people are now going camping. It's fun, and it's easy -- so easy that there is time left after cooking, and tent keeping, for the women to get out and enjoy outdoor fun with their families.

Camp meals are no great problem. Neither are beds, thanks to air mattresses and sleeping bags. Neither are shelters, because there is one to meet the needs of every camper or prospective camper.

But there is still the sometimes complex problem of helping campers choose the best equipment for their individual needs.