I greatly appreciate all the advice I can get as I am certainly no expert myself.

However, recently someone approached me about taking their first hiking trip - just 2 nights. They needed gear and had never done it before.

My advice was - you need water and to keep stuff dry. Those are your two rules. Everything else was suggestion.... I learned most of what I know by going and doing. Yes I had help - but I didnt really understand it until I was out there.

Anyway - my friend wound up buying a propane coleman stove(which I advised against). After the trip he says "You think I can return this?" - We both just laughed, but thats its - you do and you learn... hopefully not the hard way.