Even in hard times, some consumer goods manage to buck the economic trend. This season, one sector that is thriving is camping supplies. One leading company, REI, reported that sales of family-size tents were up 28 percent in March over the same month last year as people tried to save cash by getting back to basics.

Most campers know at least some of the standard rules: carry out what you carry in, make sure toilet sites are at least 200 feet from water sources, use a biodegradable soap such as Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap. But few realize how hard it can be to buy the right camping equipment.

Most tents are made of PVC or other petroleum-based materials and coated in chemical flame retardants. More eco-friendly tents -- I know of two, made by NEMO and Big Agnes -- can be made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycled from water bottles, and some can even be waterproofed with natural repellents like beeswax. But be forewarned: a two-person "eco-tent" may set you back as much as $450.

The cheaper alternative: borrow or buy used equipment from a friend, or, if you really insist on a conventional tent, buy the best -- and make it last a lifetime.