Skyrocketing gasoline prices are making an impact on summer plans

By Ed Godfrey

Published: June 13, 2008

A colleague of mine told me this week that if gas prices keep rising, he soon will be living in a tent.

Apparently, he will have a lot of company, at least this summer. More Oklahomans are choosing to live in a tent for their vacations this year, accordin

g to local retailers that sell camping equipment. There has been a renewed interest in the outdoors because of gas prices that are nearing $4 a gallon and predicted to go higher.

Both Bass Pro Shops and Sportsman's Warehouse are reporting an upswing in the sale of camping gear.

"People I have talked to, they said the gas prices are so high, they are not even going to travel," said Gary Rusen, camping manager at Sportsman's Warehouse in Oklahoma City. "They are going to stay closer to home."

Just in the past two weekends, Rusen said numerous customers have been buying camping supplies: tents, sleeping beds and other camping accessories.

Rusen said most of his customers have been a mix of people who have never camped before to those who are starting again.

"I have been out of some stuff, we have been selling so much of it," Rusen said. "I am selling a lot of canoes, too."

It's a trend nationally, said Brent Lawrence, communications manager for Bass Pro Shops.

"We have had a lot of interest at the store level and online in camping supplies," Lawrence said. "It's been a big growth segment for us."

Bass Pro Shops across the country are reporting increased sales in camping gear and accessories, especially family-size tents and two-burner camp stoves, Lawrence said.

"I think gasoline prices has to play a large role in that," he said. "People need to watch their budgets. Everybody is doing that.

"A lot of people are taking the opportunity to start camping in local parks instead of going to Disneyland or something like that. They are taking closer to home trips."

Camping supplies have always been a strong seller in Oklahoma, but "it's really picked up in the last few months," said Maranda Howell, promotions manager for the Bass Pro Shop stores in Oklahoma City and Broken Arrow.

Bass Pro Shops will not provide specific figures, but Howell said sales of camping gear in the first four months of 2008 were significantly greater than for the same time period last year.

"We are seeing it in cookware, lanterns, backpacks, sleeping bags, climbing accessories, tents, the whole nine yards," she said.

But Howell doesn't think the increase can be attributed to rising fuel costs alone, pointing out that the two Oklahoma stores also are selling more motor boats and fishing supplies this year.

"People are just getting more involved in the outdoors," she said.

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