Reddit reviews ALPS Mountaineering Lightweight Series Self-Inflating Air Pad, Regular

I've recently bought a lot of this stuff after doing a good amount of research. Here are my recommendations:

Tent - I would get an Alps tent if you want a good value tent but aren't as worried about weight. How many people will you be going with?

Sleeping Bag - I have this sleeping bag which I absolutely love, but I haven't been able to find it online since I bought it. It packs as small as down sleeping bags but costs a fraction of the price and will still keep you warm in 30 degree weather (which it's done for me).

Pack - I just bought the Osprey Volt 75L which I think is a great value even though I haven't used it yet. I got it for $140 on amazon and the 60L version is less expensive than that. I'm not sure if this pack is bulletproof but it has great reviews and Osprey products are known for their high quality.

Cooking- I use this pot which works perfectly with a pocket rocket. I'm not sure what you mean by fire making equipment but if it's not below freezing or at a high altitude, the gas canisters are the most efficient and reliable way to cook food. Also, they're extremely light. If you're using a fire to cook you'll need a heavier duty pot/pan.

Clothes - I just look for good deals and buy when I find one. Get a good shell that's waterproof and breathable. I have a Marmot Nano AS Jacket that I love. Just make sure you have a baselayer that wicks sweat away and other layers that can pack down. DON'T USE ANY COTTON CLOTHES!

Tools - Other than a knife I have found any tools that are useful for their weight. If you have a solid knife you should be good.

Misc - Here's other things in my list for camping/backpacking:

Sleeping Pad - I use the Alps Sleeping Pad. You definitely need a sleeping pad if you're camping in colder weather for the insulating properties. You'll lose a significant amount of heat through the cold hard ground without a pad. The Alps pad is a little heavier but they're very durable and a great value.

Paracord - It's always useful to have paracord for different things.

Water Filter - You need this if you're going to the backcountry. It's not realistic to bring enough water with you for a weeklong trip. I have use this MSR water filter and the Sawyer Squeeze. The MSR filter costs more, but works very well and is fairly durable. The Sawyer Filter weighs almost nothing, but it's a little more difficult to use and definitely more difficult if you're trying to filter large quantities of water.

Not everyone will agree with everything on my list, but I try to find the best value in my gear. I look for the best value in terms of price, quality, weight, and packability. There are higher quality options that weigh less but cost more. There are other lower quality options that cost less. You'll have to decide what your balance is, but this should be a good list to get you started.

You're so thoughtful for putting all this together for her! The quality of your sleep has the biggest impact on the quality of your experience, IMHO, and a good air mattress makes all the difference. I use this model, which rolls up small, is lightweight, and is surprisingly cushy for how compact it is. I highly recommend it! Also, if she doesn't have them yet, you could get her some legit disposable earplugs and a comfortable sleep mask. A tent fan would be bomb, too, but I haven't found one that's worthwhile yet.

Beyond sleeping accoutrements, depending on her style, you could get her body glitter, body paint, metallic tattoos, body/face gems, funky sunglasses, a bubble necklace, a pipe bracelet, spoon jewelry, iridescent wings, light toys, a hooded leotard, flowy pants, etc. Big emphasis on the depending on her style part. There are as many different looks as there are people in the forest. Happy gifting!

My personal one here it works great I’ve used it well over year and always sleep great while using it.

Self Inflatable Air Pad - So much better than sleeping on the tent tarp / yoga mat.

Handheld Water Misting Fan - The most popular item at my tent the past couple of years. Put a few small ice cubes and water for a refreshing cool down.

Thanks for the advice! What do you think about the following setup:
ALPS Mountaineering Lightweight Series Self-Inflating Air Pad and
Therm-A-Rest Tech Blanket
I think the inflatable pad is a good idea for both in (and out) of hammock use. The blanket looks to be a pretty good size and won't lie underneath me (destroying the insulating ability).
It even has a snap system to prevent the pad from shifting (I would diy this part). Should I place the pad between the 2 layers on the BB of just lie directly on top of it?

Since you've mentioned that you are a complete novice, I would recommend sticking to car camping until you're more experienced. Having said that, a tent and sleeping bag and sleeping pad will be a good first investment.

I have a Wenzel Alpine tent. Certainly not the highest-end tent on the market, but it has served me very well.

I also have an ALPS Mountaineering self-inflating sleeping pad.

These should fit your budget nicely and be an excellent entry point into camping for you.

Any generic sleeping bag will be OK to start out with, just be sure its temperature rating fits the environment in which you plan on camping.

I got this ALPS Mountaineering sleeping pad from amazon. Its self-inflating and very reasonably comfortable. A 12v fan is also nearly essential for muggy summer nights. Lastly, these window socks are awesome in that they let you keep your windows down without bugs getting in.