Buying camping equipment in LA

Hi,

I'm doing a road trip in May, starting in LA and driving up the coast to San Fran, taking in Yosemite NP, Death Valley and Grand Canyon, on to Las Vegas, Palm Springs and then back to LA.

We're planning to keep costs down so have booked campsites on the Big Sur Coast, Yosemite NP and Grand Canyon....I don't want to take any camping equip with me and wondered of anyone know anywhere we could buy super cheap camping equipment, brand new or second hand, just to last us for a few nights camping....
I heard that there are thrift shops at the airport where people leave things behind and you can pick them up at a bargain price....wondered if there was any truth in this?
I also see that Walmart do pretty cheap camping equipment, is there a big Walmart in LA?

Any advice or help would be great, thanks guys! xx

Never heard of an airport thrift store.. But Walmart is your best option for cheap/inexpensive camping equipment. as Walmarts are everywhere just stop at a gas station and ask for directions..

Heres a Walmart ad (5 pages)that will give you an idea of prices for various Walmart camping equipment.
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=camping&Find.x=16&Find.y=9&Find=Find

[ Edit: Edited on 09-Mar-2010, at 04:14 by jambo101 ]

Great, thanks for your help!

I also read on another forum that it would be worth trying the Salvation Army shops in LA as travellers leave their camping equipment behind there...has anyone done that before?

Jambo101's advice about Wal-Mart is very good.

As a local to Los Angeles area, I would also steer you towards a regional chain called Big 5 Sporting Goods. They specialize in overstocks and close-out discontinued merchandise, very good quality at reasonable prices. The merchandise changes weekly as supplies allow.

I still have camping equipment purchased there years ago way cheaper than regular retail prices.
http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/

Enjoy your trip!

Another good place for cheap camping gear is Target Stores. They have both retail stores everywhere in California as well as online.

Closest stores to LAX (south of the airport):

Target (discount general merchandise)
1200 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA

Walmart (discount general merchandise)
19503 Normandie Ave, Torrance, CA

Big 5 (sporting goods)
2515 E El Segundo Blvd, El Segundo, CA

[ Edit: Edited on 09-Mar-2010, at 23:03 by Daawgon ]

as the others have said, just find a walmart, i did a similar route last year and found the camping equipment i got from there good value for money