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From essential gear to accessories and apparel, heres everything you need for a camping adventure.
Credit:Travel + Leisure
Besides experience level, consider your camping style, location, and personal preferences when selecting your essential gear.
And being 6 feet 4 inches tall, some of my essential gear picks reflect my height.
TheJetboil Flash Stoveis another favorite of mine that I reserve for backpacking trips.
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The spacious design means a heavier weight thats best suited for camping by car or boat.
Being 6 feet 4 inches tall, Ive longed for a tent with ample headroom for quite some time.
There are also eight storage pockets to keep valuables and essentials in quick and easy reach.
NEMO Riff Endless Promise Down Sleeping Bag.Credit: Amazon
Meanwhile, the denier polyester canopy and rain fly have reliably withstood rainstorms and strong winds.
Its temperature rating is intended for three-season use.
When the sleeping bag is nearing its end of life, Nemo can recycle 100 percent of the materials.
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The packed size and weight arent ideal for backpacking.
The pad measures 4.25 inches thick when inflated and boasts an R-value of seven for all-season use.
Its StrataCore construction integrates a continuous layer of thermal foam to maintain warmth and support along the sleep surface.
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The vertical sidewalls make a noticeable difference in preventing sagging and maintaining the pads full size.
Best Camping Pillow
HEST Camp Pillow
This compressible pillow packs comfort in a travel-ready design.
Though compact, its weight and volume make it a bit bulky for space-conscious backcountry campers.
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And whatever happens, the water-resistant cover is machine washable.
Best Water Bottle
Hydro Flask 24 oz.
Wide Mouth With Straw
Its easy to carry, well-insulated, and can be configured with different lid designs.
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The stainless-steel design isnt the most lightweight.
The vacuum insulation holds up longer than it takes me to deplete whatever Im drinking.
The temperature control knobs arent the most precise.
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The Coleman Cascade Classic Camping Stove is a great companion for group camp trips.
Even on windier days, the twin wind guards, and top lid shield the burners from flickering out.
Camping cutlery doesnt come included.
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The 16-piece set has everything youll need for a group camping trip and nothing you dont.
Accessories
After taking care of essential gear, its key to leave room for accessories.
TheWonderboom 3 Bluetooth Speakeris my go-to choice for campsite tunes for its compact, waterproof design and quality sound.
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The lightweightHelinox Table Oneis another campsite staple for its cup holders and folded packability.
The clarity becomes a bit blurred toward the edge of the lens.
As a novice user, I appreciate how the focus knob locks in place once you stop moving it.
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
The Nature DX binoculars are waterproof and come with a neck strap, making them well-suited for paddling excursions.
The battery may be depleted if charging multiple devices per day.
I always take a stab at find multipurpose gear to simplify my packing list.
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The self-inflating lantern weighs just 0.78 pounds and packs flat for easy storage when not in use.
It delivers 300 lumens of light and multiple brightness prefs, including a red-light mode for enhanced night vision.
The rechargeable battery is sold separately.
Credit: Breakwater Supply
Between the comfortable strap and 0.17-pound weight, I hardly notice its there while wearing it.
Some of the water-based emergency items might not be useful for desert campers.
The Breakwater Supply Waterproof First Aid Kit has been my go-to for preparing for the unexpected.
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Though minimalist, its a bit too bulky to fit in the ultralight category.
While many campsites provide picnic tables, I much prefer the flexibility and comfort of acamp chairoutside mealtime.
The Helinox Chair Two is a favorite for its ergonomic support, stability, and packability.
Thinksport Clear Zinc SPF 50 Sunscreen.Credit: REI
Simply stuff it with a sweatshirt or fleece and attach it to the headrest.
Assembly is incredibly intuitive just pop the legs in the hubs after the shock-corded pulls lock into place.
The 2.6-pound chair has an impressive weight capacity of 320 pounds.
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Best Sunscreen
Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen
It delivers lasting protection thats resistant to sweat and moisture.
It leaves a white cast behind, even when fully rubbed in.
More time outdoors calls for top-notch sun protection.
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Im a fan of Thinksport Clear Zinc SPF 50 Sunscreen for its lasting performance and suitability for sensitive skin.
The formula is vegan and dermatologist recommended for those with sensitive skin.
It rubs in quickly without any oily residue or grease, though it leaves a fairly noticeable white cast.
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Its more expensive than some other popular bug sprays.
It provides up to 12 hours of protection, so a little bit goes a long way.
The spray pump bottle is easy to use and effective at applying repellent without over spraying.
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Its a bit bulky and on the heavier side for backpacking.
The pour-through lid offers further insulation with its double-wall construction.
The cooler is leak resistant but not leakproof.
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It has 45 liters of interior capacity, or the equivalent of 76 cans or 54 pounds of ice.
And when the Roadie arrives at the campsite, the handle neatly tucks away.
Both sides have indented handles if I need to shift it around or tilt it to drain melted ice.
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It doesnt compress or pack down a potential downside for campers with limited storage space at home.
Regardless of what the weather forecast shows, I like to be prepared for unexpected rain and cooler temperatures.
For clothing, I also opt for items containing merino wool, which has natural odor resistance.
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For footwear, I seek out waterproof and quick-drying materials thatll perform well for hiking and water sports alike.
I love wearing theBedrock Cairn Evo Sandalsin summer for their solid traction and breathability.
The fit can run a bit narrow.
Credit: Dick’s Sporting Goods
The Salomon X 360 Ultra Pioneer ClimaSalomon Waterproof Hiking Shoes handle wet and slippery conditions like a pro.
The All Terrain Contagrip outsoles are equipped with aggressive lugs that provide excellent grip.
Campers will also appreciate that the X 360 Ultras employs recycled materials in its construction.
Credit: Travel + Leisure / Jhett Thompson
The Merrell Speed Eco Hiking Shoes offer ample cushion and support for active days in the outdoors.
We love their breathability and how they dont require a break-in period.
The outsoles are fitted with durable lugs to grip slippery and loose surfaces alike.
The Speed Eco Hiking Shoes are also Cleansport NXT treated for lasting odor resistance.
It only has two pockets.
The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket delivers reliable protection from the elements.
The jackets three-layer shell uses recycled ripstop nylon, a polycarbonate polyurethane membrane, and a tricot backer.
Its treated with a PFC-free durable water-repellent coating to shed precipitation.
The hood, cuffs, and hem can be easily adjusted for a secure and snug fit.
If things get steamy, opening the underarm zippers affords excellent ventilation and temperature regulation.
Though it only comes with two pockets, theyre plenty roomy and ideally positioned for warming hands.
Between uses, simply stuff the jacket into one of the pockets (once dry).
Though eight ounces, the base layer is suited for multiple wears.
Once wet, cotton becomes a poor insulator, whereas wool keeps your warm even when wet.
Thus, the Smartwool Thermal Merino Base Layer became a mainstay for its 100 percent merino wool construction.
The interlocking knit design offers both breathability and next-to-skin comfort.
I love that its formfitting but offers ample stretch and mobility for hiking, kayaking, and other activities.
Campers who don’t shy away from low-temperature conditions should consider addingheated clothing or accessoriesfor added comfort.
But when I have access to a cooler, I bring provisions to cook homestyle meals.
At minimum, food should be stored in coolers and gear boxes with secure latches.
At night, tuck your food storage in your car or place it at a distance from your tent.
If camping in bear country, make use of bear boxes if provided on-site.
You may also want to bringa hammockfor relaxing outside of your tent.
He used his first-hand experience with outdoor adventure in compiling this list of essential camping gear.
Credit: SmartWool
