Outdoor Camping Tent Bag

- Outdoor camping - sleeping in a tent?
I'm planning on having a hitchhiking trip in the next following weeks. I got a tent, i got a sleeping bag. It is important that i pack as lightly as possible since I'll be carrying all my belongings on my back. Do i need anything else (in terms of sleeping/shelter)? I think i could very well do without any over-kill padding etc, I don't mind hard ground.. But do I even need the sleeping bag? it's summer, isn't it? Could I potentially do without it? It would conserve a lot of space. Any other tips of what I should bring with me?

A If your going to be out for weeks, I would bring the sleeping bag and a pad. If your in warm weather, and you plan on it being that way for the majority of your trip, bring a 40 degree rectangular bag. Slumberjack makes the Talon, which compacts pretty small, is light, cam be opened to a blanket and is pretty cheap http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80597 Stuff size says 8 x 18 but that's not compressed, and it comes with a compression sack. It also comes in a long version if you are over 6 foot. I've had a lot of experiences were it's July, hot as hell outside, but at night, in the forest, it got chilly and I was glad to have a sleeping bag. After some time you won't want to be sleeping on the hard ground all the time. I understand the weight thing but you can get something very light and cheap like this thing at 8 oz http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___41312 If you get injured and have to rest it off or are stuck in some bad weather (rain and such) and are going to be waiting it out, you'll want some comfort over a hard ground. Get some sort of pad and strap it to your pack, you'll be glad you did. Also bring first aid kit, fire starter, water purifier (Aqua Mira drops are great and light), water bottles, knife, multi tool, empty bags, soap, towel. Don't know what your going to eat if you plan on going to restaurants along the road or what not, but you might still want to keep a small mini propane or alcohol stove with you. Maybe some noodles, rice and dehydrated meals. Protein bars come in handy. With hitchhiking and being on the road a lot, I'd bring some pepper spray/mace. You never know who you'll meet. Unless you are very skilled, a knife is not a good weapon for the most part. You have to get in close range to use it, and you probably won't know your opponent or what they are capable of. They can possibly get that knife from you. Map, compass and/or GPS are useful. If you have a cell pone/charger, bring it with both a wall and a car charger. You can charge your phone when you get a ride. Your wallet should be kept in your front right pocket if possible. Just be safe and aware.

- 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!