Camping gear essentials round-up
We completed four camping trips this year! We have based most of our gear from recommendations from our pro-camping friends, and made a few new discoveries of our own.
Flame-retardant free tents with standing room!
Nemo Aurora 6/4p + tent pad
Now that we’ve camped one season in the 6p tent, our conclusion is that we love the sizet but we are often limited by the size of the tent pads in campsites. 4p tent will guarantee that you can fit but you have to get creative with space inside. Larger is not often better.
Make sure you set up your tent at home before venturing out for the first time.
Think about adding some kind of camping rug for inside the tent so it is more comfortable for being barefoot. You can cut up the sizes you need from this.
No one sleep system to rule them all
For the kids, we use Discobed bunk beds. It’s a creative way to create more space in the tent (above and under) and keeps the kids from rolling around on sleeping pads. Available at costco and REI.
I’m a big fan of the Zenbivy sleep system for sleeping bags. hate mummy sleeping pads so I love how innovative the zenbivy system is as it can convert from mummy to flat duvet. Super soft and super quiet.
I am a sleep snob so I invested heavily in my own mattress and pillows for everyone! It’s bulky so only recommended for big cars: Hest sleep system and sleep pillows
People often ask about Sleeping pads vs cots and it comes down to the lighter it is, the less comfortable it is. But it’s not just comfort you’re looking for, it’s insulation. So while cots do a great job of keeping people in place without rolling around, it’s not great at insulation. I also like cots because it gives you space for storage below. This is a good read - cot vs pads
Camp dining
We play a lot of games at the picnic tables so we have to create another space for cooking. You can make do without this to go light. We use the Mountain Summit Camp Kitchen
For summer camping, you’re going to need a reliable cooler to keep things fresh and cold. We have a Lifetime performance cooler that is remarkable and also a smaller YETI. We also have a large Coleman that will not last beyond three hot days. If you camp near a supermarket and can afford ice runs, it may not be that bad.
We love the Snow peak Camping dining ware. Super lightweight, stackable and washes well. My preference is to have dining sets set aside for camping so that you don’t have to pack every single time.
Table cloth + magnetic weights to keep them in place on picnic table
Marshmallow telescoping roasters (Label them so they don’t get lost if you’re in a large group)
Lighting
Mpowered luci string lights oth outside and inside. It’s solar chargeable but we usually charge at home.
We use the super bright Lander Cairn rechargeable Tent light for inside our tent.
Headlamps- We have Black Diamonds. The batteries have lasted a long time but we also have rechargeable ones.
Power Banks
Mikee has one he uses from milwaukee tools that is heavy duty and charges multiple devices multiple times. The battery can also be used to power fans which were essential for us when we camped over labor day during a heat advisory.
We also have a few ankers (20,000mAh) and (27,000 mAh/45W delivery!)
Camp chairs
For us - the super comfy Nemo stargazer :)
For everyone else - the REI Xcamp chair
The Kelty low chair is another favorite if you prefer to be closer to the ground. Also better for kids. Personally I did not buy chairs just for kids because they outgrow them fast and I like giving the flexibility of anyone visiting our campsite to use the chairs.
Hauling stuff
If you’re not pulling up to the campsite and have to hike-in, these wagons are super helpful. And also a nice way to keep things off the ground that don’t fit inside the tent. Wago
*DECATHLON is a great place for camping gear as well. It is the french version of REI.
