The Essential Guide to All the Outdoor Gear You’ll Need This Summer
Welcome to The Best Summer Ever , your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether you’re dreaming of the perfect summer of going on epic adventures or doing as little as possible (preferably somewhere with good air conditioning), we’ve got you covered, because the best summers don’t just happen. You must do this.
Whether your idea of ”going camping” involves a solo hike off the beaten path or packing the SUV full of gear for a family adventure at the KOA, camping and summer go together like mosquito bites and Calamine lotion. To help you prepare for what you consider “the rough,” here’s a guide to essential camping gear and supplies, from tents to hiking boots, for both backpackers and campers.
Necessary camping equipment: tents, sleeping bags and much more.
An absolute must when camping: a first aid kit
Hopefully you never have to use it, but you should have a first aid kit . You don’t need anything special; This one , for example, is very lightweight, waterproof, and provides hospital-grade first aid for cuts, scrapes, broken bones, headaches and more.
Choosing the right tent for your camping trip
Like all things camping, choosing a tent depends on your personal trip. If you’re packing your car to park it at a campsite, size and weight aren’t a big issue, so you might want to get a larger car. If you’re going camping in a remote location, you’ll want to keep your packing as lightweight as possible.
Another factor is the weather. My ideal tent is something like this OneTigris Minimalist 2-Person Mesh Tent, but only if I’m camping in my favorite places: the beaches of southern California, where the warmth from the sand keeps the temperature comfortable all night and the ground is so soft that you won’t need an air mattress. I love the mesh that keeps bugs out but allows you to feel the breeze and see the stars. Unless you’re pitching a tent on a perfect beach, it combines with an awning for more traditional protection from the elements. Camping Tip : When a tent says “two people,” it means “one person.”
A more versatile solution for car camping is a mid-range tent such as the Skydome Tent from Coleman (makers of portable stoves). It’s easy to install, stands six feet tall at its highest point, and costs less than $200. And it’s designed to block 90% of light, so you can sleep or take a nap in the middle of the day.
At the far end of the spectrum are glamping-style tents, which are ideal for festivals where the outdoors is only part of the trip; something like this airy Koala tent, it’s more spacious than my first apartment. It has two separate bedrooms, a stove so you can cook inside, and views from all angles. Even though it is huge, it is inflatable to make installation easier. Camping Tip: A hand pump is included, but to save your back, purchase a power pump .
The Best Pillows and Air Mattresses for Camping
I hate sleeping on a thin mattress on the ground; That’s why I love this Coleman crib: it has a frame. It is queen size and has a battery operated pump. The huge bed might be a drag on the idea of ”grunt work”, but you won’t be bothered when you get a really good night’s sleep. On the other side of the spectrum is this self-inflating foam pad that weighs two pounds, eight ounces, so it’s easy enough to carry into the wilderness, but it’s designed to be as comfortable as possible. You can adjust the firmness with a few breaths, and deflation is also easy.
Best Sleeping Bags for Camping
If you go camping with a backpack in the summer, a sleeping bag is a must-have. While the Rab Mythic Ultra Down Sleeping Bag has its benefits, you can find perfectly functioning ultralight sleeping bags for much less money. This TETON Ultralight Sport Sleeping Bag strikes a balance between price ($54.99) and performance.
But if you’re traveling in a car and weight and space aren’t an issue, I recommend forgetting about a sleeping bag altogether. I find sleeping bags cramped, claustrophobic and often too hot for summer camping, so I just bring some old blankets from home. I would prefer to have multiple layers of blankets so I can control the temperature and not feel cooped up.
Fire pits, coffee makers and other almost essential camping gear.
You could get by with just a tent and a sleeping bag, but if you want to truly enjoy the camping experience, you’ll need to go a little further. The following items will make spending time outdoors much easier and more fun.
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Grill/Fire Pit : The idea of cooking over a campfire pales in comparison to cooking it, so if you have the space, something like this UCO Flatpack Smokeless Roasting Roast and Grill is an all-in-one outdoor cooking solution.
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Coffee Maker : I love the classic camp percolator coffee maker, but I have a silicone handle because I ‘ll get burned without it.
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Thermos : You need a durable, reliable, time-tested thermos that can keep hot liquids hot and cold liquids cold. I like classic Stanley . Long before they became known for their fancy water bottles, it kept the company in business for over 100 years.
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Hiking Shoes : Like everything else, the shoes you take with you on a hike depend on how you hike. An old pair of Converse will do just fine for car camping, but if you’re going camping, your feet will thank you for wearing something more durable and supportive. However, this doesn’t mean you need a pair of heavy hiking boots. Shoes like this one from Hoka are a happy medium between heavy hiking boots and running shoes. This is a great solution for more casual hikes.
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Panic Button : You (probably) won’t need a GPS device at a campground, but if you’re going on an adventure camping trip, a panic button could save your life. This lightweight Garmin satellite communicator provides two-way messaging and interactive SOS virtually anywhere on Earth, as long as you have a satellite subscription.
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Fire starting equipment: My wife once gave me a Bear Grylls lighter with a ferrocerium rod, SOS instructions and a built-in emergency whistle. The idea was good, but useless. Just bring a lighter.
Travel Gear You Probably Never Thought Of.
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Welding gloves. A pair of welding gloves is an essential part of my camping backpack because the ability to manually rearrange hot logs ensures optimal fire building.
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Flashlight Gloves : What can I say? I like the gloves. These LED gloves are better than a flashlight because you don’t have to hold them in your hands. You’ll also find them useful at home for all kinds of low-light, detail-oriented work.
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Headlamp . Like LED gloves, headlamps are better than flashlights because they allow you to keep your hands free.
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Booze : This is a matter of taste, but my favorite camping drink is Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock & Rye, a delicious blend of rye whiskey, candy, orange and honey that’s strong enough to make a difference, but still smooth.
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Toilet Paper Tablets : These compact, individually packaged “tablets” contain disposable personal towels for all your errands; throw some in the glove compartment in case the campground doesn’t refill the TP.
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Hanging Cord Adjusters : Add some cord adjusters to your tent stakes. Whether you’re setting up a tent or a hammock, cord adjusters take the place of knots. These are things that you didn’t even know you needed, but that you always needed.
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Mosquito repellent : Avoid bug sprays and citronella candles. Instead, bring Thermacell , a proven repellent that actually works.
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Body/face wipes . If you want your friends to be impressed with your camping readiness, grab a few of these face and body wipes on a hot, muddy day. They’re like a shower in a package.