Outdoor Camping Tents

Where's a good place to get reasonably priced outdoor camping gear?
I recently was at REI and noticed how expensive everything was. Just wondering where I can get cheap camping gear (stoves, tents, rain jackets, hiking boots etc.) Thanks.

A I order from Campmor a lot for specialty gear. There are a lot of things that you don't need specialty gear though, so that is a way to save some money and keep from becoming a slave to the gear. You don't need camping cookware or table service for example. You can get a melamine plate from Target or dollar store to eat on, or use a pie pan. You can use a grease keeper to cook in...etc. You also don't need specialty clothing for camping or travelling. Often just your grubbies will do nicely, or any type of high performing wick wear to keep you comfortable, especially good wicking underwear but not necessarily underwear from a camping place. Right? The thing about REI and it is notable...is that it is a membership store. The membership entitles you to special invitation to scratch and dent sales, and other exclusive deals at their place. PLUS everything you buy there has an unconditional exchange policy. You don't like it? Take it back. Doesn't matter why. With that in mind, you can feel confident about your purchases and experiment with different items until you have the right set up for your needs.

What equipment do we really need to go camping?
My husband, son (8 months) and I are going camping later this month, for three days. We have a tent, a canopy, an air-mattress, a lamp, sleeping bags and we're going to buy one of those camping stoves. For our son, we have his pack-n-play. What else should we buy? It's our first real outdoor tent-camping experience.

A I'm going to advise you bring a first aid kit, lots of flashlights, warm clothes and that you have some way of keeping your child contained within a certain area. At 8 months he probably can crawl. All you need is to be wrestling with the tent and then, "Honey, wheres Johnny?" Be very prepared and safety oriented. Have fun!