When taking a sleeping bag deep into the backcountry or high into the alpine, you have to balance comfort with portability鈥攜ou do have to drag them up there, after all. This is not the case with a car camping sleeping bag.

As far as we鈥檙e concerned, car camping is all about comfort鈥攕ave the rehydrated meals and paper-thin foam sleeping pads for the backcountry. And if there鈥檚 any part of your kit where you shouldn鈥檛 cut corners, it鈥檚 your bedding. The scenery always looks that much nicer after a good night鈥檚 sleep.

The good news about shopping for sleeping bags in 2025 is that there鈥檚 something for every type of camper, but the downside of that abundance is that it can be hard to parse all the models and features to find what you really want. Our testers, a mix of men, women, and children with different sleeping preferences (hot/cold; side, stomach, back sleepers, etc.) put 24 sleeping bags and blankets to the test on cold, windy shoulder-season trips and balmy summer nights. These sleeping bags and quilts came out on top.

Updated April 2025: We added five new sleeping bags to this list, including our new “Best Overall” pick, the Rumple Wrap Sack. We also updated pricing and info on the sleeping bags we previously included and still highly recommend.听

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best Value:
• Roomiest:
• Most Versatile:
• Best for Families:
• Best Blanket:
• Best Wearable Bag:
• Other Sleeping Bags We Tested
• How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Don’t miss: The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style

Best Overall

Rumpl Wrap Sack Sleeping Bag 20

Weight: 5 lbs
Sizes: Standard
Dimensions: 82鈥� x 35鈥�
Comfort rating: 20-30F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Wide temperature range
鈯� Roomy
鈯� Smart design
鈯� Too cold below 30F
鈯� Clips could be uncomfortable to roll on

This unique sleeping bag is the most comfortable and innovative bag we鈥檝e tested in a while.

The best way to describe the Wrap Sack is a hybrid between a sleeping bag and an adult swaddle. Two wings on either side of the bag offer two different amounts of Rumpl鈥檚 proprietary recycled synthetic insulation. Depending on how mild or chilly it is at night, you can wrap one or both of these sides around yourself and secure them via four easy-to-close clips; when it鈥檚 cold out, zip the outer layer of the Wrap Sack like a traditional sleeping bag.

This layering design made the Wrap Sack versatile enough to accommodate big temperature swings at night. It proved ideal for summer nights that start out in the 80s and drop down into the 40s, which is common in the parts of far Northern California where we tested. That said, one tester cautioned that the Wrap Sack does not have enough insulation to live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. Even with the bag fully cinched, he woke up cold on a 28-degree night on the Scott River in California.

While it鈥檚 not a bag for nights that dip below freezing, the Wrap Sack鈥檚 ability to handle big temperature swings above 32 degrees and its roominess made it a tester favorite.The rectangular shaped bag allowed active sleepers enough space to toss and turn, and our 6鈥�2鈥� tester had enough room to stretch out even with the Wrap Sack鈥檚 hood stuffed with a camp pillow.

Even after over 20 days in the field and two machine washes, the robust, fully-recycled nylon exterior showed no visible wear. The Wrap Sack packs down to the size of a watermelon鈥攏ot exactly small, but smaller than the Big Agnes Echo Park, the other extra-roomy option on this list.

Best Value

The North Face Wawona 20 Sleeping Bag

Weight: Regular 4.9 lbs (Regular); 5.3 lbs (Long)
Sizes: Regular, Long
Dimensions: 78鈥� x 32鈥� (Regular)
Comfort rating: 20F and 35F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good value
鈯� Soft liner fabric
鈯� Incorporates recycled materials
鈯� Large pack down size for a single
鈯� Comfort rating is off
鈯� No hood

The Wawona is reasonably priced yet doesn鈥檛 feel like a budget bag. Testers gave it top marks for its next-to-skin comfort thanks to a cozy, brushed high-pile fleece that comprised the top interior of the bag. At 78 inches by 32 inches (regular), this rectangular bag is also comfortably roomy.

With only a $10 price difference between the 20-degree and 35-degree versions, we opted to test the Wawona 20 to see how well it performed in lower temps. While the recycled polyester fill proved sufficient in 40-degree temps, testers noted that it didn鈥檛 live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. The lack of a hood left one tester wishing he had worn a beanie and needing to layer up in a down jacket to make it comfortable during a 28-degree night on the Scott River in Northern California. We would have expected a bag that packs down to no smaller than a five-gallon cooler to have more insulation power.

Still, testers had plenty of good things to say about this more affordable sleeping bag. The 50-denier polyester ripstop outer proved surprisingly durable鈥攊t was no worse for wear after we used the Wawona as a blanket on bare, rocky ground for some stargazing. And the hearty YKK zipper (usually the first thing to go on a budget bag) worked just as well after a season of camping as it did at the start. One tester especially appreciated the storage pocket built into the bag鈥檚 lining at chest height, where he stashed his essential ear plugs when not in use.

And perhaps the Wawona鈥檚 biggest flex: At such a reasonable price, campers could buy two Wawona bags and zip them together to enjoy an affordable double bag.

Roomiest

Big Agnes Echo Park

Weight: 4 lb 16 oz
Sizes: Regular
Dimensions: 80鈥� x 30鈥�
Comfort rating: 0F and 20F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good value
鈯� Roomy design
鈯� Integrated pad and pillow sleeves
鈯� Heavy and bulky

While technically a little bit smaller than Rumpl Wrap Sack, the Big Agnes Echo Park is the roomiest traditional bag we tested with a higher temperature rating, making this our top pick for larger campers who want a comfortable, spacious bag that can hack it in lower temps.

The Echo Park comes in 0-, 20-, and 35-degree temperature ratings and uses Big Agnes鈥� proprietary FireLine Max Eco synthetic insulation. We tested the 20-degree version ($200) to see how it stacked up to the other bags in the same price range (at 0 degrees, the Echo Park bumps up to $230). It proved toasty on a 28-degree night in Northern California, yet testers were also able to dump enough heat via full-length zippers on the either side to stay comfortable on nights that didn鈥檛 dip below 60 Fahrenheit. The cotton-polyester blend on the interior felt supple next to skin and as comfortable as our bedding at home.

Big Agnes lists max user height for the Echo Park as 6鈥�6鈥�, which we found to be accurate; a 6鈥�5鈥� tester commented that this was the first bag he鈥檇 tested where his feet had room to spare. It is wide without being as boxy as the Rumpl and North Face sleeping bags on this list, with a 74-inch hip girth and a 64-inch foot girth, which feels snug but not constricting like a mummy bag. This lightly tapered design enhances space and comfort while still keeping the bag close enough to the body to help insulate.

On top of being incredibly roomy and high on the creature comfort scale, the Echo Park is packed with features we would expect to see on higher priced bags, making it a great value. The integrated sleeping pad sleeve accommodates pads as wide as 30 inches and successfully kept our pads from moving around at night; the pad sleeve also features a separate pillow pocket to keep your camp pillow in place. While incredibly comfortable, the Echo Park also proved plenty durable鈥攖he 40-denier ripstop exterior showed little wear and tear after two months of use.

The large footprint and quantity of synthetic insulation did make this bag a beast to pack down. It doesn鈥檛 get much smaller than the size of a carry-on bag, so you won鈥檛 fit the Echo Park into a backpack. But if packability isn鈥檛 a priority, this comfy, extra-roomy bag is a good buy.

Most Versatile

Kelty Supernova 20

Weight: 3 lbs (regular)
Sizes: regular and long
Dimensions: 75 inches (regular)
Comfort rating: 20F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Good temperature regulation
鈯� No hood

No single sleeping bag will be optimally comfortable and functional for every body type, sleep style, and trip destination, but for the frontcountry camper, the Kelty Supernova Down comes pretty darn close.

This summer, lead tester Miyo McGinn brought it on a very loosely planned summer road trip that she knew at the outset might include sea kayaking; backpacking in the alpine; and car camping in the mountains, desert, and beach. At each disparate location she stopped for the night, the Supernova worked beautifully鈥攊t fit comfortably in a backpacking pack, and felt light and unrestricting even when fully zipped up. The 550-fill down offered ample warmth for high elevation overnights with temps around freezing, opened up flat like a quilt for mild seaside nights with 55-degree lows, and the zipper allowed for plenty of venting for everywhere in between.

The roomy mummy-ish shape (with some extra space around the knees and hips, in addition to the shoulders, before tapering around the feet and lower legs) is particularly comfortable for side sleepers and anyone with wider hips, without sacrificing all the insulating benefits that a form-fitting cut provides.

The recycled 50-denier recycled polyester taffeta liner fabric felt buttery soft next to skin, and 20-denier recycled nylon taffeta exterior held up well over three weeks of constant use. The Supernova isn鈥檛 quite ultralight, nor does it pack down as tiny as some dedicated backpacking sleeping bags, but it still tilts the scales at a perfectly respectable 3 pounds and fits in a stuff sack about as big as a family-sized bag of potato chips.

鈥淢ost bedding that鈥檚 as luxurious as I want on a comfortable car camping trip is too bulky or too delicate for more rugged adventures, like short backpacking or sea kayaking trips鈥� said McGinn. 鈥淏ut the Supernova was great for all of the above鈥攊f it replaced all the other three-season quilts and bags in my gear closet, I wouldn鈥檛 miss them.鈥�

Best for Families

NEMO Jazz Double

Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz
Sizes: double
Dimensions: 78鈥� x 129鈥�
Comfort rating: 32F

Pros and Cons
鈯� As comfortable as home bedding
鈯� Integrated, removable bed sheet
鈯� Passed its comfort rating with flying colors
鈯� Bulky packed size

Thanks to its versatility, the NEMO Jazz Double became test director Joe Jackson鈥檚 go-to family sleeper for his crew of three last summer. The 78-by-129-inch double bag was roomy enough to comfortably sleep two adults (5鈥�9鈥� and 5鈥�11鈥�) plus a six-year-old kid. Most impressively, this 30-degree bag鈥攎ade with a supple, recycled taffeta interior, and featuring Nemo鈥檚 proprietary synthetic recycled Stratofiber insulation鈥攚orked for all three of their different heat preferences.

The double zipper pulls on either side of the bag are a smart design feature that let campers dump heat from their upper body or from their feet if they get too toasty. The Jazz Double鈥檚 incredibly soft, integrated polyester-stretch bedsheet offers an in-between layering option and proved warm enough on its own on milder nights in the 50s. Bonus: The sheet is removable for easy washing.

For a bag this plush, the Jazz Double also impressed us with its hardiness. One tester used the Jazz Double coupled with the NEMO Roamer Double sleeping pad鈥攕lipped into the bag鈥檚 integrated pad sleeve鈥攐n a night on the Scott River that was below 30 degrees and reported that it really did live up to its 32-degree comfort rating. Credit the insulated quilted layer added to the top of the pad sleeve for adding extra comfort and warmth. The bag鈥檚 50-denier recycled polyester outer also survived more than two dozen nights of camping and two washes and dries without breaking down in any visible way.

Our biggest gripe is that this almost-nine-pound bag is extremely bulky. Packed down into its stuff sack, the bag still measures 33-by-16-inches, which took up the entire driver鈥檚 side seat of one tester鈥檚 Toyota Tacoma during transport.

Best Blanket

Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Quilt

Weight: 1 pound 15.4 ounces
Sizes: 0/S
Dimensions: 82鈥� x 59鈥�
Comfort rating:听N/A

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly versatile
鈯� Durable
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Expensive for a blanket
鈯� Not warm enough in 30-degree temps

Featuring the same sterling materials that Mountain Hardwear incorporates into its highest-end jackets, the Stretch Down Quilt is the most high-tech camp quilt we鈥檝e ever tested.

Weighing in at just shy of two pounds, this 650-fill down quilt offers an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio for a blanket. While we don鈥檛 think anyone would be comfortable using it as their sole cover on nights that dip below 40 degrees, this blanket makes a versatile layer for those who camp in milder climates where a sleeping bag would be overkill.

The stretchy 20-denier nylon and elastane exterior meant this 82-by-59-inch blanket had enough give to comfortably envelop a family of three sitting by a campfire and was notably pleasant next-to-skin. Testers also appreciated the corner snaps that let them turn this blanket into a wearable poncho for lounging around the campfire.

For how supple it feels, the Stretch Down Quilt held up admirably after we used it as a picnic blanket on abrasive volcanic rock and rocky beaches that would have shredded lesser exteriors. Its durability is a good thing, too, because at $300, we would hope to get many years out of it.

Best Wearable Bag

Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol 30F

Weight: 2.1 lbs
Sizes: regular, long
Dimensions: 72鈥� x 62鈥� (regular); 78鈥� x 64鈥� (long)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Convenient temperature regulation; Packability
鈯� More restrictive than some rectangular bags

Most sleeping bags that also claim to be loungewear tend to be more on the gimmicky end of the spectrum. Not the Yawn Patrol, which is a sleeping bag, quilt, and extra long poncho all in one, thanks to clever zipper design.

One smooth-running zipper extends from the top of the bag to the feet to split it into a quilt. Another runs a third of the way down for easy entry and to create sleeves for reading or drinking while inside the bag. Josie Boulding, a Union Bay, B.C.-based tester, loved the bag鈥檚 poncho mode. 鈥淚 could wear the whole thing in camp to stay warm around the campfire,鈥� she says.

Tougher, 45-denier nylon protected the bottom of the bag from dirt, while a lighter-weight 30-denier nylon top shell and the interior were both soft next to skin. When she actually slept in the nearly rectangular bag, the insulated hood with a pillow pocket, phone pocket, draft collars, and 650-fill down kept Boulding toasty and all those zippers gave the bag a huge comfort range, from the 60s to its 30-degree limit. Bonus: At just 2.1 pounds, it can be pressed into service for short backpacking trips.

Other Sleeping Bags We Tested

• :听The Xenith II had the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any bag we tested in this category. But for most car campers, this bag would be overkill, especially at this price.
• :听We tested the Exped Megasleep head-to-head with the Nemo Jazz Double. We preferred the Jazz for its supple, integrated sheet.
• : The Boost features brilliant arm holes (which doubled as vents) and a great heat-dumping center zipper, but felt like a better fit as a backpacking sleeping bag than a car camping option.

How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping

Finding the ideal sleeping bag or quilt is a little like finding the ideal life partner. When you start looking, the options might seem overwhelming. But the more you focus on what you really want, the easier it is to narrow down. Here are four aspects to consider.

Seasons and Temperature Rating

Bags generally fall into three temperature categories: Summer (rated 30 degrees F and warmer); three-season (rated between 15 and 20 degrees); and winter (rated 15 degrees and lower鈥攕ome expedition bags are rated as low as -40 degrees). These temperature ratings are based on 鈥渁verage鈥� sleepers and don鈥檛 consider external factors like the thickness and rating of your sleeping pad; climatic factors like wind or humidity; or how quickly your body regulates heat loss or gain. Even if you tend to prefer cold sleeping environments, we recommend erring on the side of buying a higher temperature bag鈥攜ou can always open zippers, but making a bag warmer requires extra layers.

Camping vs. Backpacking Sleeping Bags

Car camping, or camping at a campground or near your vehicle, is about comfort: look to prioritize roominess, fabric feel, and features, like pillow pockets and multiple zippers, rather than weight and packability. Cotton, fleece, or flannel-like interior linings will make sleeping that much more cozy than the usual polyester stickiness you experience with backpacking bags. Pockets help corral slippery pillows right where you want them; an additional pocket to keep a headlamp, phone, or watch close at hand is a nice bonus feature. And extra zippers provide options for customizing warmth and lounging in camp.

What Type of Insulation Is Best in a Sleeping Bag?

Down bags are generally warmer for their weight and more compressible than bags with synthetic insulation. But if down bags get wet, they lose insulating capacity and take longer to dry out than synthetic bags. Many manufacturers use down processed with a hydrophobic chemical that prevents it from absorbing as much water. Others keep the insulation dry with a water-repellant finish or fabric.

Pay attention to fill power. That number measures the volume taken up by the amount of down in your sleeping bag; the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more efficiently it will trap warm air. It will also weigh less and pack down smaller than bags with a lower fill power rated to the same temperature. Synthetic bags are more affordable, and therefore an excellent choice for new campers who are unsure how often they want to sleep outside, or backpackers who are headed to wet environments.

How Roomy Should a Sleeping Bag Be?

Bags come in many shapes and sizes鈥攔ectangles, mummies, modified mummies, and double bags. Mummies are warmer and lighter-weight than rectangular bags, but can also be claustrophobic. Rectangular bags are excellent for restless sleepers who need to move and don鈥檛 have space or weight constraints. Some quilts can be opened up to act as comforters, although they require a warm sleeping pad and don鈥檛 come with hoods. Women-specific bags often come in modified mummy shapes to accommodate the curvier parts of a woman鈥檚 body. Doubles are simply sleeping bags built for two, although many solo bags can be zipped together to create a double bag.

How We Test

• Number of Sleeping Bags Tested: 24
• Warmest Temperature Tested In: 80F
• Lowest Temperature Tested In: 20F
• Number of Nights Camped: 42
• Number of Testers: 16

In this category, we primarily considered sleeping bags designed for car campers versus backpackers. This meant focusing on more affordable options with comfort-forward features and weeding out the highly technical and expensive bags that would be overkill for most recreational campers.

In the end, we tested 24 sleeping bags that fit the bill on multiple camping trips along the Scott River. We then pitted the top contenders against each other in a head-to-head test in Crescent City, California, where we kept one camp up for an entire month and invited testers to try the different options. We asked testers to rate things like next-to-skin comfort, warmth, feature-set, and packability.

The bags that made this list were rated as the best picks for casual campers who care more about comfort and affordability than packability and performance in cold climates.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Joe Jackson

Test director Jackson has been testing gear professionally for 国产吃瓜黑料 for over a decade. By his best estimation, he has tested more than 100 sleeping bags for this publication. His most trying sleeping bag test took place on an incredibly cold night on Donner Summit, where he intentionally soaked sleeping bags to see how long each wetted bag could keep him warm in freezing temps.

Saylor Flett

Saylor Flett runs the outdoor recreation and leadership program at Feather River College in Quincy, California. He once spent a month sleeping in a cave in Yosemite and has spent hundreds of nights camping out on portaledges and riverbanks.

Josie Jackson

The test director鈥檚 daughter is arguably the most mobile sleeper of our 16 testers, and as a seven-year-old, is the least likely to be subject to brand bias鈥攕he could care less about who makes a sleeping bag, all she cares about is if it鈥檚 warm and comfortable.

Miyo McGinn

Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. Miyo got her start reviewing gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear editorial assistant in 2021.

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The post The 7 Best Sleeping Bags for Car Camping appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Nothing quite beats having a place to rest your butt at camp. We鈥檙e talking about more than just a rotting stump you found trailside. From the ultra pared-down, highly portable bucket seat to the high-end armchair we鈥檇 consider using as living-room furniture, there is a camp chair that will enhance every trip.

While you can buy cheap camp chairs for $10, you will see a lot of chairs with price tags north of $100 on our list. We believe that a comfortable, well-made camp chair is a worthwhile investment because of how integral it is to an enjoyable camping trip. After all, the best part about camping is lounging comfortably around a campfire with friends and family for hours.

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best Value:
• Most Versatile:
• Most Portable:
• Splurge:
• Best for Families:
• Other Products We Tested
• Products to Avoid
• How to Choose a Camp Chair
• How We Tested Camp Chairs
• Meet Our Testers

Best Overall

Big Agnes Big Six Armchair

Chair Weight: 3.9 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24″ x 26″ x 40″
Packed Dimensions: 5″ x 6″ x 22″
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Seat Height: 20鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Killer back support
鈯� Great packability
鈯� Functional cupholders
鈯� Legs sink into fine sand
鈯� Complicated setup

The Big Six Armchair beat out all other camp chairs on this list because it checks all of our boxes: it鈥檚 comfortable, stable, and very packable for a high-backed chair. Testers were surprised how supportive the Big Six proved for a two-piece, sub four-pound chair that packs down small enough to fit into a 25-liter daypack. Credit the 20-inch seat height, generous 20-inch back height, and the high-tenacity Robic nylon upper that stretches tightly against six connection points on the chair to provide firm upper back support.

On top of a killer comfort-to-size ratio, testers appreciated that this relatively packable chair features two luxurious armrests with two solid cupholders. 鈥淭his would be a great chair even if it never left camp,鈥� said one tester. But the beauty of this chair is that you can easily take it with you on short outings. One tester鈥檚 family slid it into their beach bag and hiked a quarter mile from camp to a secluded rocky beach in Crescent City, California.

Our only gripe: The chair can be confusing to put together鈥攊t takes about a dozen times setting up the octopus-like pole structure before it starts to become intuitive.

Best Value

GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker

Weight: 12 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24鈥� x 24鈥� x 43.8鈥�
Packed Dimensions: 25″ x 4.9″ x 34.8″
Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
Seat Height: 19.7鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 3/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Great value
鈯� Durable
鈯� Very comfortable
鈯� Awkward and large when packed down

An oldie but goodie, the Freestyle Rocker has been our go-to for everything from camping to tailgating to soccer games for years because it鈥檚 so comfortable. The nearly 20-inch seat height, taut, mesh backrest, and spring-action rocker make this chair a delight to fall back into after a long day of outdoor activities.

The chair鈥檚 sturdy base and gentle rocking motion meant we never worried about tipping backwards even when perched on riversides and sandy beaches. Despite being a more budget-friendly option, the Freestyle Rocker has proved remarkably durable thanks to the powder-coated steel frame that only folds at the seat, a design that creates fewer potential failure points and provides solid structural integrity overall.

Our biggest complaint about this chair is that it doesn鈥檛 pack down small enough to comfortably fit into the trunk of small vehicles (like a Honda Element). Unusually, it folds flat on the vertical axis, so its packed dimensions retain the chair鈥檚 31-inch height.

Most Versatile

DOD Sugoi Chair

Weight: 5 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24鈥� x 26鈥� x 37鈥�
Packed Dimensions: 4鈥� x 15鈥� x 18鈥�
Maximum Capacity: 250 lbs
Seat Height: 12鈥�-17鈥�

Comfort: 8/10
Stability: 7/10
Portability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Soft, supple seat material
鈯� Variable seat height
鈯� Can sit upright or recline
鈯� Does not dry quickly

The soft, cotton canvas seat made the slingback-style Soto stand out in our test. It delivers a delightful give that enhances comfort while still providing enough back support. The chair鈥檚 adjustable seat height also won us over.

The Soto鈥檚 telescoping legs have four height settings鈥攆rom 12 to 17 inches鈥攖hat not only let you dial in your preferred seat height, but let you turn this chair into a recliner by dropping the rear leg heights to a lower setting than the front legs. No matter which height the legs were adjusted to, the Soto proved stable for testers up to 280 pounds, even when set up on uneven terrain.

A classic skin-on-frame style makes setup and takedown straightforward. It鈥檚 also very portable鈥攊t folds flat and tucks into a briefcase-sized canvas carrying case. The only downside to this canvas-backed chair is that it retains moisture. After getting soaked during an early morning rainstorm on the Scott River, it didn鈥檛 fully dry out until the next morning.

Most Portable

Helinox Chair One (re)

Weight: 2.5 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 28″ H x 21.5″ W x 20″ W
Packed Down Dimensions: 14.6鈥� x 4.7鈥� x 4.3
Maximum Capacity: 320 lbs
Seat Height: 14.5鈥�

Comfort: 6/10
Stability: 7/10
Packability: 10/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easily fits in a daypack
鈯� Lightest-weight chair we tested
鈯� Low seat is not great for those with knee problems

While not the plushest or most luxurious chair, the Helinox Chair One (re) is a smart pick for campers who value packability. It鈥檚 the only chair on this list that packs down small (and light enough) enough to fit into a sub-30-liter daypack鈥攏ot a prerequisite for a camp chair, but nice for those who want to pick up and find a serene spot to relax miles beyond their campsite.

This updated version of a perennial favorite is sturdier thanks to a stiffer frame made from repurposed aluminum and the addition of a second tension line (there used to be just one). For a low-back bucket seat chair, it鈥檚 surprisingly supportive thanks to the rigid materials that are stretched tautly by the two tension lines.

With a 14.5-inch seat height, the Chair One (re) is also 30-percent taller than the original Chair One, which made for more comfortable sitting without diminishing its packability. That said, it still sits relatively low to the ground, making it a tad more difficult for folks with knee issues to get in and out of.

But if you鈥檙e looking for a camp chair you can take with you on short hikes from the campsite, the Chair One (re) offers the best balance of comfort, stability, and packability.

Splurge

Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair

Weight: 13.3 pounds
Deployed Dimensions: 24.0″ x 29.9″ x 36.3″
Packed Down Dimensions: 4鈥� x 4鈥� x 42鈥�
Maximum Weight Capacity: 500 pounds
Seat Height: 16.75鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Portability: 2/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Best back and seat tension in test
鈯� Durable and solid
鈯� Sturdy feet on loose terrain
鈯� Very expensive
鈯� Large and heavy

If it weren鈥檛 for its large size and hefty price tag, the Yeti Trailhead might have won our test because it鈥檚 damned near structurally perfect. Two heavy-duty click points鈥攐ne with a handle on the back of the chair and one at the front of the seat鈥攕tretch the Trailhead鈥檚 highly breathable mesh tightly over the alloy steel and plastic frame. This made the Trailhead as sturdy as a lawn chair and provided best-in-class back support.

Its four, heartily padded feet offered plenty of stability on rocky shores and sandy campsites alike. Our bigger tester (6鈥�4鈥� and 280 lbs) especially appreciated the two-foot-wide seat that sits 16.75 inches above the ground and the 20-inch seat back height.

The downside to that robust build is weight: at 13.3 pounds, the Trailhead is a seriously heavy camp chair that makes transport cumbersome. While it comes with a carrying case that made schlepping it nearly a quarter of a mile to a campsite in Scott River, California, manageable, this chair is not for campers who value portability. Another drawback is the eye-watering $300 price tag. But the fact that the Trailhead is comfortable, stable, and durable enough to pull double-duty as a patio chair softens the blow a bit.

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Helinox Sunset Camp Chair

Kick back in Helinox’s Sunset Camp Chair and enjoy big comfort anywhere. A bit of neck support goes a long way after full days spent hiking, and the Sunset’s stuff sack doubles as a pillow that you can strap to the chair. Select models have mesh panels for extra durability, and the rest have unique styles that fit in perfectly at concerts and park hangs. Lightweight DAC poles pack small and make setup easy.

Best for Families

Kelty Lowdown Couch

Weight: 21 lbs
Deployed Dimensions:64″ x 23.5″ x 80″
Packed Down Dimensions: 35鈥� x 13.5鈥� x 9鈥�
Maximum Weight Capacity: 600 lbs
Seat Height: 12.5鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 3/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Balances comfort and stability
鈯� Extremely burly materials
鈯� Very heavy
鈯� Huge packed size

Our crew of 25 testers have collectively spent hundreds of hours on this three-person couch over the course of three summers鈥� worth of testing. When all was said and done, the Lowdown established itself as the unequivocal favorite among kids and families.

While all of the other chairs on this list depend on rigidity for support, the Lowdown has an almost hammock-like back that allowed testers to sink into the low seats. We don鈥檛 always love this style of seat because it can feel like you鈥檙e melting into the chair (not in a good way); but the Lowdown features light padding on the seat and back that offers just enough support while enhancing comfort.

And although it鈥檚 five feet wide, this camp couch is incredibly stable. Credit the steel frame that boasts eight connection points to the ground. The design proved so sturdy, kids felt confident standing on it, and we had to repeatedly ask them to stop using it as a wrestling platform . Save for a tiny hole left by a campfire ember, the 600-denier polyester seat cover continues to look almost new after multiple summers of use.

As a three-seater, the Lowdown doesn鈥檛 score high marks for portability. It packs down to the size of a large couch cushion and weighs a whopping 21 pounds, which makes it bulkier to transport than many car camping tents. That said, setup and takedown is not complicated for such a large chair鈥攐ne piece folds out/in like an accordion and the carrying case simply wraps around the collapsed chair. We just needed a truck bed to throw it in once packed up.

Other Products We Tested

• : While we loved the added comfort of a higher-backed Chair One (re), part of the original chair鈥檚 appeal is its incredible packability, which is diminished by the higher back on this version.
• : This chair received high comfort marks and is an engineering marvel that rolls down skinnier than a frozen bean burrito and weighs only 29 ounces. But it was outmatched in comfort compared to the big dawg chairs that made our final list.
• : This proved to be an awesome lightweight counterpart to the Chair One (re) in terms of packability and weight, but it was less comfortable.
• : The decision whether to feature the GCI Pod Rocker or the GCI Freestyle Rocker was heavily debated amongst our testers because they were both well-loved, but too similar to both be included on our list. We chose the Freestyle Rocker in the end because it has a better cup holder and was slightly easier to transport.

Products to Avoid

Cheap Kids Chairs: Our lead tester bought his daughter cheap kids camping chairs from big box stores three summers in a row, only to throw them away after each summer. Most of these kids’ camp chairs are too unwieldy and are prone to collapsing. They鈥檙e simply not worth the lower price because they don鈥檛 hold up to extended use.

How to Choose a Camp Chair

Consider Seat Height and Level of Support

Camp chairs are often an afterthought because we tend to overlook the small pains of sitting in a slouchy chair or bending down to sink into a chair that is just a few inches off the ground. But if you camp a lot, it鈥檚 worth investing in a quality chair that suits your body鈥檚 needs. If you have bad knees, don鈥檛 get a chair with a low seat height. If you have back problems, avoid slingback style chairs and go for a chair with firm support.

Packability vs. Features

Be realistic about how you are going to use a camp chair and what features are important to you鈥攏ot all camp chairs come with all the bells and whistles, like cupholders, reclining back, adjustable leg height, etc. If you have a tendency to pack heavy for your camping trips, you might not be able to fit the plushest, bulkiest camp chairs on this list. If you have to hike into your campsites, you鈥檒l want a chair that鈥檚 lighter and portable. Do you want a camp chair that could double as a backpacking chair? You鈥檒l want to pay close attention to a chair鈥檚 weight and packed dimensions and realize that you will sacrifice comfort in the name of packability.

Budget

Car camping chairs have traditionally been looked at as a place to save money. We suggest splurging here. Good chairs are like good bedding; we spend significantly more time on them than we think, so maximizing your comfort with a comfortable chair made to last is a worthwhile investment.

How We Tested Camp Chairs

• Number of Chairs Tested: 17
• Total Testers: 16
• Number of Campfires Sat Around: 36
• Number of Kid Disputes Over Chairs: 10+

We cast a wide net in the camp chairs we tested, from the cush and fully-featured to the pared down and more packable. Since size and packability aren鈥檛 always the biggest priorities for car campers, we mainly focused on big loungers with seat heights north of a foot, though we did include some minimalist chairs that can reasonably be stuffed into a pack.

Our group of 16 testers spent hundreds of hours in different campsites鈥攚ith main hubs being on the Scott River in Northern California as well as a month in Crescent City on the far northern California coast. We hiked these chairs into remote beaches and set them up on rocky river banks. On top of the major factors like overall comfort and portability, we also paid attention to the nuances like how easy they were to set up and take down, how stable they were on uneven terrain, and how well their cupholders fit our bevvies.

Meet Our Testers

Joe Jackson has tested over 75 camp chairs for this publication during the more than 10-years he has professionally tested gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Gear Guy. He takes testing camp chairs very seriously鈥攈e once hiked a collection of camp chairs into one of the most remote class V whitewater runs in California in the name of credible product testing.

Zach 鈥淩ed鈥� Williams was our designated van camper for this test. He and his family use camp chairs more than their chairs at home during the summer on multi-week road trips and regular weekend camping trips.

Josie Jackson (7) has been testing gear since she left the hospital as a newborn. Her father (Joe) has asked her opinion on hundreds of pieces of gear, and she never avoids telling him the cold, hard truth about the gear she doesn鈥檛 like.

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Stooping in a lightweight, minimalist backpacking tent while camping out of your car isn鈥檛 much fun. Neither is getting blown over in a flimsy big-box store shelter. With that in mind, we tested 17 tents designed for car campers and families who prioritize spaciousness, convenience, and storm-worthiness over all else. These six options had us lounging in comfort and style no matter what conditions rolled through the campground.

Updated April 2025: After months of additional testing, we added four new tents, including our new top-pick, the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4. We’ve also updated info and pricing on some of our previous picks that we still highly recommend.听

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Easiest Setup:
• Most Durable:
• Best Budget Buy:
• Most Convenient:
• Best for Glamping:
• Other Tents We Tested
• How to Choose Tents
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

Best Overall

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4

Weight: 13.8 lbs
Peak height: 75鈥�
Interior space: 90鈥� x 100鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy setup/takedown
鈯� Effective ventilation
鈯� Spacious vestibule
鈯� High ceiling
鈯� Floor gets dirty fast

The Aurora Highrise 4 stood out in our test thanks to its supreme livability. Unlike many other four-person tents out there, this one does, in fact, comfortably house a family of four thanks to its 75-inch peak height, steep sidewalls, and two generous 19.5-square-foot vestibules.

During testing, two families of four remarked on the internal geometry, which maximizes space and freedom of movement. Its steep walls create more headroom above the 62.5-square-foot floor area than other dome tents鈥攁 6-foot-2 tester could easily stand upright and move around freely. Two doors on either side allowed campers to enter and exit the tent without disturbing others and were tall enough that our 6-foot-2 tester didn鈥檛 have to crouch to get in and out.

With just two base poles that set up the main body of the tent and two cross poles that pitch an awning at the top, the Aurora Highrise proved easy enough for first-time campers to set up without having to look up directions. One veteran tester was able to set it up by herself in about 15 minutes. It was just as easy to break down and pack up thanks to its oversized stuff sack.

Testers who camped out in Crescent City, California during a 17-hour rainstorm applauded the tent鈥檚 waterproofing and ventilation. The hearty 68-denier polyester body material and burly 150-denier polyester floor make this freestanding tent a hoss. It proved impervious to 20 mile-per-hour wind gusts without any help from the included guylines. The PU polyester rainfly, rated to 1,2000-millimeters, boasts a structured overhang that extends six inches beyond the mesh windows, which kept the tent dry even with its two windows opened for ventilation

We loved the small details on this tent that made a big difference in comfort and convenience, like a light-diffusing pocket in the canopy for pre-bed rituals, and the slightly opaque mesh on the windows that offered shade on the hottest days but didn鈥檛 spoil views.

Our only dig on this tent is its mostly-white floor, which proved impossible to keep clean鈥攁 problem for anyone bringing kids or pets along for the ride. Overall, the Aurora Highrise 4 is a standout in the car camping category for its balance of comfort and performance at a reasonable price.

Easiest Setup

Big Agnes Big House 4

Weight: 12.6 lbs
Peak height: 70鈥�
Interior space: 90鈥� x 92鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Very easy setup
鈯� High ceiling
鈯� Blew heavily in high winds
鈯� Vestibule sold separately

Testers loved the Big House 4鈥檚 simplicity above all. Though big and boxy, the 90-by-92-inch tent was the easiest to set up across the category. A veteran tester was able to get the Big House 4 up on her own in under ten minutes thanks to its straightforward geometry and color-coded webbing and snaps.

With a 57-square-foot floor area, the Big House 4 is billed as a four-person tent, but testers reported that you鈥檇 need to purchase the vestibule鈥攕old separately ($180)鈥攖o make room for four folks and all their gear, from the stuff you鈥檇 want to keep outside like mud-covered shoes to wet swimsuits.

That said, the generous 70-inch ceiling height meant our six-foot testers could stand upright and move around the interior freely. Testers also appreciated the tent鈥檚 two giant doors鈥攕panning 80 percent of two walls鈥攚hich allowed them to enter and exit the tent without crouching. Eight internal pockets were more than enough for a family of three to stash personal items like toothbrushes, phones, and headlamps.

The Big House 4 also impressed us with its waterproofing and durability. A 75-denier polyester taffeta rain fly with a 1,500mm waterproof polyurethane coating kept the tent body (made from the same material) and the interior perfectly dry through three days of rain in Crescent City, California. That hearty PU coating also appeared to reinforce the durability of the tent鈥攊t showed very little wear and tear after over three months of testing.

Our only gripe: The tent鈥檚 height proved suboptimal in high winds. Even when secured with its guy lines, the tent blew heavily in 25-mile-per-hour winds.

Most Durable

Snow Peak Alpha Breeze

Weight: 24.2 lbs
Peak Height: 73″
Interior Space: 109″ x 102″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Four points of entry
鈯� Excellent ventilation
鈯� Durable
鈯� Heavy

The Alpha Breeze showcases Snowpeak鈥檚 emphasis on designing elegant, simple products with a decidedly luxurious fee. The top-tier materials鈥攊n this case, polyester fabric and duralumin poles鈥攁re strong and functional, and durable enough to stay that way for quite a while.

The extra-thick copper-aluminum poles gave us confidence when a sustained 15 mph wind picked up during an overnight on Camano Island in Washington. The structure barely flinched under the gusts, and the forearm-length Douglas fir boughs they knocked down onto our campsite. The 75-denier, DWR-treated polyester taffeta rain fly and 300-denier polyester tent floor both looked brand-new after two dusty, rocky trips in Montana鈥檚 Bitterroot Mountains.

Besides the fact that it felt indestructible, Seattle-based tester Maeve Axtell loved the boxy tent鈥檚 four doors, with one on each side. 鈥淚t was easy to get in and out without disturbing other people sleeping in the tent, and when it got warm we could get cross-breezes from every direction,鈥� said Axtell. The tent鈥檚 high ceiling and two mesh-covered 鈥渨indows鈥� on opposite walls contributed to the spacious feeling inside that the four doors created, although all those openings only left space for four mesh pockets and 10 loops to stash small essentials inside.

All good things come at a cost, though, and with the Alpha Breeze, the cost is weight. Despite its heft, it鈥檚 not excessively bulky and doesn鈥檛 take up an unreasonable amount of trunk real estate. Another ding? It鈥檚 not especially easy to set up: and the tent鈥檚 6-plus-foot height makes the Breeze a tad unwieldy to pitch. Testers ultimately forgave those shortcomings, since both features made for a rock-solid pitch and roomy, comfortable interior.

Best Budget Buy

Coleman 8-Person Darkroom Skydome

Weight: 21.6 lbs
Peak height: 68鈥�
Interior Space: 12鈥� x 9鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Great price
鈯� Blocks sunlight
鈯� Poor wind performance

At $230, the eight-person Darkroom Skydome costs less than half what other popular eight-person tents cost (like The North Face Wawona 8 and Big Agnes Bunk House 8), making it a great entry-level option for families. You don鈥檛 get the same high-performance materials with that price, but for casual frontcountry camp trips in mild temperatures and weather, the Darkroom Skydome gets the job done.

Besides the price and easy setup, the tent鈥檚 light-blocking fabric is what made this tent stand out, especially for folks with little kids. Coleman uses a dark-coated polyester on the rain fly and inner panels of the Skydome to block out 90 percent more light than the brand鈥檚 normal car-camping tents. Besides creating ideal sleeping and napping conditions even when the sun is still up, the dark fabric also helps keep the interior cool during the day.

While inexpensive tents don鈥檛 always have the best track record in terms of durability and weatherproofing, the Darkroom Skydome proved surprisingly robust for a budget option. After over a dozen days in the rain, testers gave its 300-millimeter-rated polyurethane rainfly high scores for waterproofing in spite of the low rating. One tester used it for over 30 nights鈥攊ncluding on three different rafting trips, which are notoriously rough on tents because they鈥檙e exposed to the elements not only when they鈥檙e pitched, but also while being transported on the water. It held up admirably to rain and rough pack jobs until sustained 20 mile-per-hour wind gusts snapped one of the two aluminum poles.

At 68-inches tall, it鈥檚 slightly shorter than the other tents on this list. That made it easier to pitch鈥攕etup was incredibly simple despite its massive footprint鈥攂ut didn鈥檛 offer the same generous standing height. Testers taller than 5鈥�10鈥� had to crouch significantly in the tent. And like many large-capacity tents, this 鈥渆ight person鈥� shelter is stretching it with six occupants.

It鈥檚 not our pick for seasoned campers who head out into the wild no matter the weather, but for families with young kids and the budget-conscious, the Darkroom Skydome is a smart buy.

Most Convenient

MSR Habiscape 4P

Weight: 12.7 lbs
Peak Height: 73″
Interior Space: 95″ x 95″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Lots of livable space
鈯� Highly weatherproof
鈯� Mediocre ventilation

There鈥檚 a lot we liked about the Habiscape, from the generous elbow room (86 square feet including the vestibule) to the ample standing height (73 inches), but it was a dual-sided pocket that hooked us. Next to the door MSR built in something they call a 鈥減ass-thru pocket鈥濃�攁 bug mesh-lined portal that鈥檚 accessible from both inside and out. Without opening the door, testers could reach through to grab car keys, bug spray or a headlamp. 鈥淚t seems like a little thing, but the convenience was huge,鈥� says Chris Baikie, a British Columbia-based tester. 鈥淭here were definitely fewer bugs in the tent because of it.鈥�

Set-up for the Habiscape requires two people, but the asymmetric design and color-coding helped make it quick and easy. The dome structure and low-hanging 68-denier polyester fly stood up to a 20 mile-per-hour windstorm with little flapping. The rest of the tent is equally tough, with the same 68-denier poly on the floor, 40-denier ripstop nylon walls, and 7000 series aluminum tent poles.

We had to duck under the vestibule door to get inside, but it provided enough room for a cooler and gear, and kept drips out of the tent during rainstorms. A second door came in handy for frequent nighttime bathroom excursions. The Habiscape packs down easily, and ends up smaller than many tents of its size, at roughly nine inches by two feet. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost perfect,鈥� says lead tester Ryan Stuart. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not even that heavy.鈥�

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The North Face Wawona 4 Tent: 4-Person 3-Season

Set up more than just a place to sleep鈥攕et up a basecamp for adventure. The North Face Wawona 4 Tent delivers just that with enough room to stand up inside, stash all your gear, and even set up a cozy lounge area. The extended front vestibule keeps gear organized and protected, while large mesh windows and a top vent ensure you stay cool on warm nights. Sturdy DAC poles and a waterproof fly provide confidence in unpredictable weather, and an easy-pitch design means you can pack up in no time.

Best for Glamping

White Duck Outdoors Rover Scout Tent

Weight: 62 lbs
Peak Height: 84鈥�
Interior Space: 8鈥� x 13鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable materials
鈯� Very weather-resistant
鈯� Complicated setup
鈯� Heavy

Tester Saylor Fleet, a longtime wall tent lover who used the previous version of the Rover Scout Tent for over a decade, likened this updated model to a sprinter van. 鈥淚t’s big enough to stand up in, sleep in, and cook in,鈥� he said. Heck, this 8-by-13-foot tent is essentially a canvas-sided cabin that easily sleeps six adults. Its size and sturdiness make it ideal for families or hunters looking to set up a basecamp for extended stints in the backcountry.

During testing, we set up a luxury camping situation for two adult testers with individual cots and a small kitchen鈥攊ncluding a Coleman stove, dishware, and a small wash bin on a roll-a-table鈥攁nd still had plenty of space to walk around.

But the Rover Scout isn鈥檛 just for those who like to spread out; it鈥檚 also got performance chops. Testers appreciated how well the Dynatek cotton and recycled polyester canvas held onto heat on a night in the low 40s on the Klamath River in Oregon. On the flip side, they liked that they could easily roll up the two doors and two walls of the tent to dump heat when temps rose into the mid 70s during the day.

Unlike car-camping-oriented tents with traditional pole structures, the Rover Scout necessitates the use of guy-outs to stay upright and storm-worthy. You have to be selective about your site because you have to be able to drive stakes in the ground to firmly secure those guy-outs鈥攜ou鈥檒l have a tough time pitching this tent on loose sand and bedrock.

While it took a while for two testers to hunt down an ideal site鈥攁nd a good 30-minutes to erect鈥攐nce it was up, it wasn鈥檛 going anywhere. Category managerJoe Jackson pitched it on the Klamath River in the fall and left it up for two weeks between camping stints. During that time, it saw four days of rain and wind gusts of over 30 miles-per-hour, yet Jackson returned to find it unscathed and fully dry after his time away.

White Duck鈥檚 canvas not only proved durable, but it avoided the achilles heel of canvas tents: It did not get covered in mildew when it was put away slightly wet. The downside to the Rover Scout鈥檚 design? While the canvas is lighter than that of wall tents we鈥檝e tested in the past, the aluminum and steel frame is heavy: At 62 pounds, it was too heavy for our smaller testers to handle on their own.

That said, it packs down to roughly the size of a couch cushion, compact enough to fit into the back of a Honda Element with room left over for camp supplies.

Other Tents We Tested

• : We used this as a base camp for a raft guide weekend. We loved it as a communal shelter but found it too large and expensive for most campers.
• : This tent really did pop up in under 30-seconds thanks to a two-handled ripcord that erects the tent from the top. Ultimately, it鈥檚 too small for most recreational campers.
• : The Fernweh felt like a member of the Jackson family at the end of three summers of testing because of how comfortably the massive living space accommodated months of family camping. But it takes two adults over an hour to set up properly, even with practice.

How to Choose a Camping Tent

Size and Dimensions

Start with the number of people who will be sleeping in the tent and add at least one. No one ever complained about a little extra elbow room, and ultra-wide camping pads often need extra space. Next, consider packability: If you have limited storage or trunk space, a more packable option will make jamming it between all of the coolers and propane easier. Height is crucial, but comes with a tradeoff: Being able to stand up to get dressed or stretch your legs is nice, but means it will be harder to set up, especially if you鈥檙e doing it solo.

Feature Set

Look for ample pockets for staying organized, big vestibules and/or high bathtub walls that protect the interior from blowing rain, multiple venting options, and roomy doors. Of course, a tent鈥檚 principal job is to protect you from the elements, so weatherproofing should be a primary consideration. A fly that reaches to the ground provides the most coverage, but can also limit venting, making for uncomfortably stuffy conditions when it鈥檚 hot. A tall pole structure is susceptible to high winds, so make sure the tent has plenty of guy-out points for stabilizing and protecting the tent from gusts.

Budget

Price is always important, but try to prioritize value. Spending a bit more for a tent with more durable materials, like higher denier fabrics and burly aluminum poles, will save you money in the long run. You can find a no frills, serviceable four-person summer tent in the $200 range, with waterproofing, durability, and reparability generally improving as you start getting into higher price ranges.

But if you鈥檙e looking for a tent to use three seasons of the year, that you expect to get a lot of use in stormy weather, or that you鈥檇 like to use for the rest of your life, we recommend budgeting between $350 and $600. That鈥檚 the cost of more reliable construction and waterproofing鈥攚hich, as all of our testers who have woken up to puddles inside their tents can tell you, is priceless when you really need it.

How We Test

• Tents tested: 17
• Number of nights camped: 50+
• Number of testers: 17
• States tested in: California, Oregon, Washington

For this test, we mainly considered four- to eight-person, three-season tents because they tend to be the best fit for most car campers who prioritize comfort and space over weight and packability. When all was said and done, our crew of 17 testers tested 17 tents鈥攏ewer options on the market as well as some perennial favorites鈥攖o find the best for frontcountry campers.

We tested these tents in the beaches, rivers, and mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington from September through November. Conditions included everything from sub-freezing temps and sustained rainstorms to blazing hot rafting trips on the Klamath River in Northern California.

After a number of weekend camping trips, testing concluded with a month-long field-testing stint in Crescent City, California, to whittle down the final contenders. Testers included four families with kids ranging in age from two to eleven, and parents in their early thirties to their mid fifties. Some were first-time campers, while others could measure the amount of time they鈥檝e spent in years.

We asked all testers to evaluate tents on their functionality, ease of setup and take-down, standout features, and overall comfort and livability.

Meet Our Testers

Joe Jackson has been professionally testing gear for 国产吃瓜黑料 for over a decade and has pitched and slept in over 90 tents during that time. While he is proud of the breadth of tents he has tested for this publication, his biggest flex is that he lived out of an in Oregon for eight months.

Miyo McGinn is a former assistant editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. McGinn got her start reviewing gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear editorial assistant in 2021.

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If backpacking is a minimalistic pursuit, car camping is a celebration of excess. Thanks to trunk space and truck beds, racks and rails, campers have room for all the essentials鈥攑lus some luxurious extras. For outdoor enthusiasts with outsized toy collections, there鈥檚 no better way to travel.

Whether you鈥檙e chasing swell, singletrack, steelhead, or some other white rabbit, this top-rated, thoroughly-tested camping gear will ensure that you feel right at home no matter where you choose to park it.

Updated March, 2025: We added four new picks to our list and updated product information and pricing throughout.听

At a Glance

• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

Helinox Beach Chair

Weight: 3.4 lbs (packed)

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Stable
鈯� Low to the ground
鈯� Cumbersome setup

After an embarrassing and painful incident involving hot pizza, an affable black lab, and a tippy camp chair, we鈥檝e come to appreciate stability in camp furniture. Thanks to a low-slung design and wide, splayed feet for beachside buoyancy, the Helinox Beach Chair is stable and secure, even when you lean back.

The stout yet lightweight anodized aluminum frame is tilted at the perfect reclined angle for comfort and support. (It鈥檚 also crafted by the same folks who make your favorite tent poles, and rated up to 320 pounds.) The hard-wearing, 600-denier polyester fabric stretches between the four poles, cradling the rump and lumbar with hammock-like suspension. There鈥檚 even a headrest flap to turn your puffy into a pillow. In a word, we find the Beach Chair napable.

Demerits are few and far between.. Although the setup of the frame is painless, stretching the fabric seat into place requires some tugging. Additionally, the chair is so low and comfortable that it鈥檚 best suited for campfire lounging over mealtime or card games 鈥榬ound a camp table.

Xtratuf Riptide Unisex Sandal

Weight: 8 oz (men’s 8)
Sizes: men’s 4-14; women’s 6-16

Pros and Cons

鈯� Lightweight
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Heel strap isn’t adjustable

A more streamlined and stylish alternative to the ubiquitous, crocodile-stamped clogs, Xtratuf鈥檚 Riptide Sandal is the car camping slip-on you never knew you needed. It鈥檚 so versatile, our testers continued to wear the Riptide well after testing was wrapped.

Pair it with a cozy sock, and it鈥檚 a comfy camp slipper. Walk the dog or go for a little hike, and the heel strap keeps your foot locked in place while the textured outsole provides a modicum of traction. The foam construction is comfortable for all-day use and floats, too, making these a welcome replacement for water shoes on paddle and rafting adventures. Hell, one of our testers did his first kickflip in over a decade wearing these things.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e super lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. I use them for everything from my sandals on backpacking trips to a slipper for midnight bathroom runs when I鈥檓 camping in my van,鈥� reported one Tahoe-based gear tester. Our biggest gripe is that 鈥渟port mode,鈥� as it were, is permanently engaged. If you try to slip into the Riptide without pulling the heel strap in place, you鈥檙e inevitably stepping down on the strap, which isn鈥檛 comfortable for more than a minute or two.

Onwrd Supply ON2 Single Seat Organizer

Weight: 5.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Modular design
鈯� Durable
鈯� Hidden laptop compartment
鈯� Adjustable components
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Patches felt unnecessary

Smart car campers stay organized and turn underused nooks and crannies into dedicated gear storage. Onwrd Supply鈥檚 ON2 Single Seat Organizer helps tick both of those boxes. The system is built around an adventure-proof, 900-denier base panel designed to hang over most driver and passenger seats (we also tested it by hanging it on the backdoor of a custom van build and the wall of a gear room).

The panel features a flat, stealthy zippered pocket for hiding your laptop or other valuables鈥攁 welcome and unexpected stash spot for the wary wanderer. The main attraction? Six rows of MOLLE-style velcro loops, which are designed to house and hold Onwrd鈥檚 ever-expanding lineup of modular components. The result, according to our test team, is a system that鈥檚 endlessly customizable.

The ON2 comes with six components, including a water bottle holder (which we also used as a mini trash can), an insulated soft cooler perfect for refrigerating gas station booty, an organizer that doubles as a briefcase and triples as a shoulder bag, a nifty tool roll, and a collapsible tote that saved us from having to buy plastic grocery bags on multiple occasions. The seventh is a patch kit that, honestly, we could鈥檝e done without, especially if that kept the price more palatable. We care less about the aesthetic of a seat organizer than its gear-hauling abilities, but that鈥檚 the beauty of modular systems鈥攖o each their own.

Radius Outfitters Camp Seatback Laundry Bag

Weight: 1.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Various hanging options
鈯� Breathable, odor-proof mesh
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Expensive

What to do with dirty laundry while camping? If the answer is to cram it in an airtight bag or bin, sealing it off like radioactive waste in a nuclear entombment facility, we have a less stinky solution: the Radius Outfitters Camp Seatback Laundry Bag.

Like all of the Radius Outfitters gear we鈥檝e tested over the years, the Camp Seatback Laundry Bag is well-made and off-road-ready. A combo of thin yet bomber straps, g-hooks, and velcro allow you to hang the bag on seatbacks, grab handles, tree branches, and more.

The mouth of the bag is robust and rigid, while the mesh portion is collapsible. Crafted from a resilient PVC material, the mesh is strong and, most importantly on longer adventures, breathable and aroma-proof. There鈥檚 even a zipper down the center, so you can empty the guts from the bottom of the bag or access a specific item without digging through every sweat-soaked sock and garment.

For longer-term trips or full-time vanlifers, this useful accessory lets you stay on top of your laundry. But don鈥檛 let the word鈥檚 鈥淟aundry Bag鈥� fool you. This utilitarian accessory won鈥檛 be pigeonholed, and along countless road trips, we鈥檝e also deployed it as a trash can, recycling bin, ski pole receptacle, you name it. It is, however, more expensive than the sleeping bag stuff sacks we鈥檝e been using for camp laundry.

Nemo Double Haul Convertible Duffel and Tote

Weight: 3.1 lbs (55L)
Sizes: 30L, 55L, 70L, 100L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Multiple carry options
鈯� Wide range of sizes
鈯� Durable recycled polyurethane-coated nylon fabric
鈯� Mesh pockets helpful for smart camp storage
鈯� Soft-sided storage isn鈥檛 ideal for electronics

We tested plenty of gear boxes and bags last summer and fall, but Nemo鈥檚 Double Haul Duffel was a shoo-in favorite thanks to its brilliant design that transforms this bag from duffel to pack to tote.

鈥淭he options are outrageous,鈥� commented tester and outdoor photographer Katie Botwin, who chucked her camera gear, clothes, watercolor supplies, and hiking essentials in the 100-liter version for a three-day trip in the Sierra and still had volume to spare. Her personal favorite hauling configuration was backpack mode: the comfy, cushioned straps made hauling the heavy pack a breeze and simultaneously freed up her hands.

Others preferred to unzip and prop the Double Haul open, converting it into a massive, rectangularly-mouthed tote. Thanks to the rigid trusses incorporated into the lid of the bag, the Double Haul stays open and doesn鈥檛 flap in transit, allowing you to pack heaps of gear in this thing when it鈥檚 in tote mode.

We also appreciated the interior and exterior organizational mesh pockets and included zippered storage sack, which doubles as a gear organizer for smaller essentials otherwise destined to disappear in a 100-liter duffel.

Testers agreed that the ability to sling the Double Haul over the shoulder like a traditional duffel or grab the reinforced handles when loading the rig only increased its utility for serious expedition use. 鈥淚鈥檇 happily use this for backyard car camping trips, international mountaineering trips, and everything in between,鈥� summed up Botwin.

The Bluesign-approved, polyurethane-coated recycled nylon fabric was durable and weatherproof, according to Utah overlander and aircraft mechanic Emerson Bowling, who tested the 55 liter version on trips to Wyoming, Montana, and throughout his home state.

鈥淚t got rained on for about eight hours when I left the bag outside overnight after a few too many campfire beers with some friends. Luckily, everything inside was completely dry after my dumb mistake.鈥�

Rux Waterproof Bag

听

Weight: 1.2 lbs
Volume: 25L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Inner liner unfurls into a roll-top dry bag
鈯� Heavy-duty
鈯� Waterproof
鈯� Expensive

At first glance, Rux鈥檚 Waterproof Bag looks like an overpriced tote. But this sack is burly, crafted from a waterproof, resilient, 840-denier TPU-coated nylon, and sports sturdy handles and lash points. The best feature? A hidden liner that unfurls into a roll-top dry bag, boosting carrying capacity, increasing camping utility, and justifying the price tag. “If James Bond had a tote bag this would be it,” said one tester. “Technical yet simple, rugged yet sophisticated.”

Impressed by the two-in-one bag鈥檚 durability and waterproofing, testers also used this bag for hauling wet surf gear. 鈥淣ever went to the river surf wave without it,鈥� commented one. He appreciated that he could count on the bag to keep his change of clothes and personal effects dry while he was surfing, then stash his wet gear on the way home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 ideal for vanlifers, car campers, and everyday adventurers鈥攜ou can use it tote-style to haul groceries one day and as a dry bag the next.鈥�

Radius Outfitters Tool Roll

Weight: 2.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Construction is rugged, easy to clean
鈯� A variety of pockets and sleeves
鈯� Cinching straps ensure any tool stays put
鈯� Pricey

The Radius Outfitters Tool Roll is 鈥渁 great way to keep your vehicle tools organized,鈥� according to Utah overlander and aircraft mechanic Emerson Bowling. 鈥淵ou can carry a surprising amount of tools for how small this packs,鈥� he reported, noting that if you do carry a smaller kit, the roll鈥檚 cinching straps still allow you to batten down the hatches and ensure a rattle-free ride.

That said, Bowling filled it to the brim, and he was subsequently appreciative of the three stacks of tool sleeves鈥揾is go-to for stashing wrenches, adjustable wrenches, a ratchet, and a pipe wrench that he joked doubles as his hammer. He also loved the multiple zippered pockets: In the two narrower pockets, he carries a screwdriver with interchangeable apex tips, sockets, wire stripper-crimper tool, and hex key set, while the massive main zippered compartment holds consumables like wiring, connectors, duct tape, and other bits and bobs.

Although the simple yet well-executed design earned two thumbs up from Bowling, it鈥檚 the roll鈥檚 construction that makes the piece worthy of trailhead show-and-tell with fellow off-road-trippers. 鈥淭he materials they chose for this are top-notch,鈥� said Bowling, referencing a durable Cordura exterior fabric and easy-to-clean PVC interior. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e nice to the touch yet hold up well to heavy use, and tools don鈥檛 mar up the inside at all.鈥�

Gregory Alpaca Gear Wagon

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Weight: 28.8 lbs
Volume: 140L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Collapsible construction
鈯� Heavy-duty build and 8-inch wheels
鈯� Can handle 250-lb load
鈯� Can get bogged down on sand
鈯� Pricey

While Gregory is best known for its backpacks, its new Alpaca Gear Collection of totes, gear boxes, and storage solutions is a slam-dunk. Our favorite piece of Gregory camping gear? The collapsible 140-liter Gear Wagon, which sits on beefy, eight-inch, all-terrain wheels, can haul 250 pounds of gear, and folds up to fit in a relatively easy-to-store carrying case. 鈥淚t collapses small enough that we can easily pack it car camping in our Subaru Outback,鈥� noted outdoor photographer Katie Botwin.

While recovering from back-to-back shoulder and knee injuries, Botwin relied on the wagon heavily, whether she was packing for a camping trip, unloading groceries, or organizing equipment for a photo shoot. It makes camping easier for everyone else, too.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e tent camping, and the site is a short walk from the car, or you鈥檙e heading to the beach for a picnic, the wagon will save you time and energy鈥揳nd maybe save you from an injury of your own,鈥� said category manager Drew Zieff, who appreciated this wagon鈥檚 ability to navigate especially rugged terrain.

Testers鈥� sole complaint was that the wheels could be overwhelmed in deep sand, especially when the wagon load was imbalanced toward the rear.

Therm-A-Rest Honcho Poncho Kids

Weight: 11.5 oz

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comes in kids-specific sizing
鈯� Available in rad colors and animal prints
鈯� Expect it to get covered in sticky s鈥檓ores

Last year, we included the adult version of Therm-A-Rest鈥檚 Honcho Poncho Down鈥攁 campfire cloak that鈥檚 admittedly silly, but extremely comfortable. This year, the brand released a kid鈥檚 version that鈥檚 stuffed with synthetic, hollow-fiber insulation and designed to fit most five to 10-year-olds. If our adult testers loved the Honcho Poncho, our kid testers were borderline elated.

According to one Bend-based tester, her 7-year-old kiddo loved the snug, warm poncho during afternoon thunderstorms and late-night meteor showers on a road trip to Montana. 鈥淚t was uncharacteristically cold and wet in southwest Montana, so this poncho got more use than expected,鈥� she reported. 鈥淲e probably wouldn鈥檛 have stayed up to see the Perseids meteor shower if it wasn鈥檛 for this poncho鈥攊t added the warmth and fun factor needed to stay up late.鈥�

Mom鈥檚 one gripe? The Poncho鈥檚 鈥渂illowy sleeves鈥� will inevitably get spattered with s鈥檓ores. 鈥淎fter a few weeks of use, we definitely have several marshmallow goo stains.鈥�

UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit & Grill

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Weight: 14.9 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Rugged construction
鈯� Packs flat, easy to store
鈯� Firepit doubles as a grill
鈯� Sharp metal can cut your fingers

This is a packable, multi-purpose fire pit primed for any car camper or vanlifer who enjoys a contained campfire, has limited trunk space, and prefers an open-flame char.鈥淚t鈥檚 perfect for sunset beach hangs with friends,鈥� reported a vanlifer and gourmet chef who took the UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit & Grill on a circuitous California-to-Colorado road trip. He loved that the flat-packing design was easy to set up, take down, store, and clean.

Durability was excellent, which our tester vetted by chucking the firepit off a 40-foot cliff at San Onofre, confirming 鈥渋t鈥檚 still sturdy as a rock鈥� after retrieving it from the ravine. He happily noted that the pit fit several full-sized logs, and nerded out over the double-wall construction and smoke-siphoning air channels.

鈥淭he design allows the sediment to flow down and not accumulate, and there鈥檚 good airflow, which is ideal for the burn,鈥� he reported.

Luno Packable Camp Pillow

Weight: 2.8 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comfy
鈯� Compressible
鈯� Easy-to-clean, two-sided pillowcase
鈯� Pricey
鈯� Smaller than your pillow at home

Smaller and more compressible than your average pillow at home, at 24-by-13-by-6.5 inches (flat), Luno鈥檚 Packable Camp Pillow is a worthy addition to any camping setup. 鈥淚 was asleep within six minutes of unboxing,鈥� reported one tester, a Sierra hut keeper and snowboard guide.

A shredded memory foam filling makes it soft; those scraps are also removable, enabling campers to customize firmness to taste. The pillow also comes with an easy-to-clean two-sided pillowcase: one side is a polyester jersey blend meant for warmer weather, and the other is a polyester spandex blend best employed on chilly nights.

Dometic GO Area Camp Light

听

Weight: 1.2 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Area light, hanging lantern, or flashlight
鈯� Color and brightness settings help find lost gear, set the mood, or banish bugs
鈯� Removable, replaceable light diffuser
鈯� Pricey
鈯� Bulky

This 400-lumen lantern sports four brightness settings, eight color settings (including an amber option that doesn鈥檛 attract bugs), and a hook and handle combo for a multitude of carry and campground possibilities.

Category manager Drew Zieff, who took the Area Camp Light on a van trip down Highway 1, loved the misted plastic light diffuser, which softens and spreads the otherwise brilliant bare light. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 trying to keep a low-profile camping in a residential neighborhood, the diffused glow comes in clutch鈥損lus, it鈥檚 easy on the eyes, whether you鈥檙e having dinner at camp, reading before bed, or putzing around at dawn, looking for a bar of surf wax while your partner sleeps in,鈥� reported Zieff.

Another tester took the lantern on a climbing trip in the Sierra and offered similar praise. He loved the vibe-enhancing color settings, 鈥渟oft and pleasant鈥� dimmable light, long-lasting battery life, and USB output. If your speaker or phone is running low on juice, you can plug into the lamp and charge up.

Yeti Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case

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Weight: 17.2 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Removable divider and caddy
鈯� Built-in pockets in the lid
鈯� Durable
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Few included accessories

Yeti is famous for its bombproof coolers. But if you鈥檙e storing gear instead of beer, the uninsulated Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case is cooler than any cooler. The cargo box is pricey (who鈥檚 surprised?), but our testers found the cost to be worth it. For one thing, the GoBox comes with multiple zippered storage pockets integrated into the lid, a removable divider, and a partitioned caddy. That made it easy to stay organized both in camp and on the road.

On a surf road trip from Canada to California, we filled the box with bulky gear like ratchet straps, a massage roller, and tools, and we organized smaller items鈥攍ike fin screws, fin keys, and wax鈥攊n the compartmentalized pockets and caddy. Testers loved the organization system, but they did wish the GoBox 60 came with multiple caddies and dividers rather than just the one each. That said, you can always accessorize further by tacking on more pricey extras at checkout. (An is $15, a , $20.)

Testers found the hard plastic box quite durable. It meets IP65 and IP67 ratings鈥攎eaning it鈥檚 dust-proof and submersible to one meter for up to 30 minutes. It’s also quite sturdy. 鈥淎 couple of days after filling the tub with tools, I found myself using those tools (and the GoBox as a step-stool) for an hour to fix a broken surf rack on the van,鈥� reported category manager Drew Zieff.

He appreciated that the build was sturdy enough to hold his 155-pound frame, though later research revealed Yeti doesn鈥檛 recommend standing on the GoBox鈥攑erhaps because heavier folks can max out the plastic lid. It’s not a bad suggestion: the longer, skinnier dimensions of the box feel a little tippy, so it鈥檚 generally best deployed as a camp stool rather than a casting platform while fly fishing. But in our experience, the impact-resistant plastic was sturdy enough to take a bit of beating and show no worse for wear.

Nocs Provisions Field Tube

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Weight: 8 oz.

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy to use
鈯� Compact
鈯� Focus dial is smooth and intuitive
鈯� Too big or bulky for certain ultralight adventures
鈯� Pricey

The Nocs Provisions Field Tube is the definition of big fun in a small package. The fog- and waterproof monocular is five inches long with a 32-millimeter front lens, making it packable for road trips, day hikes, and car camping adventures. The simple, one-handed design is intuitive, too鈥攋ust look through the eyecup, aim, and roll the smooth, outsized focus wheel to dial in sharpness and clarity through the multi-coated lenses.

The monocular boosts vision with either 8x or 10x magnification, depending on the version you choose, and provides crisp visuals. We found it handy for everything from scoping potential campsites to spontaneous bird- and whale-watching outings, although dedicated birders may prefer the , which we also tested and appreciated.

But for its price and convenience for most in-camp uses, the monocular won out. 鈥淚 could watch fish rise from way down river in California, and check out waves from way up the beach on the Oregon coast,鈥� reported one tester.

The North Face Base Camp Gear Box

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Weight: 4.1 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Sets up and packs down quickly
鈯� Folds flat for efficient storage
鈯� Duffle-style grab handles
鈯� Multiple compartments for smaller gear
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 hold as much weight as hard-sided storage cubes

From hauling ski boots to organizing climbing gear, The North Face鈥檚 Base Camp Gear Bins are infinitely useful. (We tested the 65-liter medium size, but the Base Camp is also available in a for $175 and a for $99.)听 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a picnic basket鈥攂ut for gear,鈥� noted one tester.

She added that she loved the multiple carry options. When loads are light, the ergonomic, duffle-style carry handles enable one-handed hauling from trunk to campsite. When you’ve got more cargo, the reinforced grab handles on all four sides of the box come in handy: they let us carry up to 45 pounds without issue

The Base Camp sports four internal mesh pockets, which let us organize small items like headlamps or sunscreen, and the water- and abrasion-resistant, TPU-coated polyester fabric features a transparent window so you can remember what you鈥檝e stashed inside. The lid and base of the box are both padded, inspiring one tester to flip the empty box open and use it as a changing mat in gravel and concrete parking lots.

Aside from a trace of dirt and grime, the fabric is no worse for wear.听 The soft-sided box retains its shape thanks to a pair of foldable metal kickstands, which pop up or stow away in seconds. The resulting structure is sturdy enough to stack gear on top, though not sturdy enough to stand on.

How We Test

• Testers: 15
• Products Tested: 55
• Miles Road-Tripped: Approximately 17,144
• Highest Elevation Driven: 11,000 feet
• Longest Road Trip: A 2,500-mile, detour-stacked adventure down the California coast, through Nevada, Utah, and Colorado
• Longest Stint on the Road: Eight weeks

To find the best camping gear and accessories of the year, we enlisted a diverse crew of road-tripping testers, ranging from a wildfire-chasing podcaster in the Pacific Northwest, to outdoor photographers in California, to a Utah-based aircraft mechanic who works on his overland rig in Utah鈥檚 Uintas.

Road-tripping and car-camping rigs were similarly diverse. They ranged from the two-door Nissan Versa鈥攁n atypical adventure mobile that only turns heads when it鈥檚 putzing along in your blind spot鈥攖o a handful of double-take-worthy machines, including a well-loved 2000 Toyota Tundra with a platform camper bed; a 2006 Chevy Express with 30-inch topper and wood stove; a custom-built 2008 Sprinter 3500; a powerful 2021 GMC Canyon Diesel with a camper shell; a 2023 Ford Bronco Badlands; and more. One even included a Sprinter van made famous on the hit Netflix show 鈥�.鈥�

We asked this squad to hit the road, put 42 products to the test, and report back. After road trips, surf chases, bike journeys, camping weekends, and more, they filled out review forms. Testers rated gear on a quantitative scale for aspects like durability and practicality, and dove deep on qualitative feedback, discussing everything from pros and cons to installation woes and favorite features. Finally, our category manager, Drew Zieff, sifted through these review forms, picked winning products, then penned the reviews on this page.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

is a Tahoe-based freelancer who writes for Backcountry Magazine, REI, Gear Junkie, and Forbes, among others. A regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor, he heads our snowboard gear coverage in the winter. A few years back, he and his partner turned a plumbing van into their dream adventure mobile. After a couple years of vanlife, the highlight of which was surfing from Canada to Mexico, the couple put roots down in Tahoe, though they still take van trips to the coast when there鈥檚 swell. Familiar with the needs of both weekend warriors and full-time road trippers, Zieff happily directs our camping accessories and camping kitchen coverage each summer.

Amanda Monthei

is a writer, public information officer on wildfires, and the host of the podcast. A former wildland firefighter herself, she applies knowledge gleaned from the front lines to educate the public. She鈥檚 written about wildfires and natural disasters for 国产吃瓜黑料 as well as NBC, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She鈥檚 also an avid angler, surfer, and skier, and she pens stories on a range of outdoor subjects. Monthei tested gear while camping for business and pleasure in her 2000 Tundra throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Cody Buccholz

is a professional chef who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and adventuring in his 2008 high-top Sprinter with his pup, Jefecito. Even when he鈥檚 not slinging gourmet grub, you can often find Buccholz posted up in a beach or trailhead parking lot, whipping up savory meals for new and old friends. He tested a small mountain of gear while on a long, detour-filled road trip from California to Colorado.

The post The Best Camping Gear and Accessories to Add Comfort and Organization to Your Trips appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The Outdoor Media Alliance show hosts gear journalists twice annually in a converted warehouse in Denver, where we hear about upcoming products from dozens of top-shelf brands. After two days at OMA, I curated a list of six new products that got me excited for the upcoming camping, trail running, and skiing seasons.

Helinox String Trees Game

Any time I camp with kids, my first directive on arrival is to tell them to bugger off and go explore. I don鈥檛 worry if they鈥檙e gone for hours and don鈥檛 care what they do as long no one comes back bleeding. However, at some point their games of tag in the forest wear off and they start complaining about boredom. The next time that happens I鈥檓 breaking out this game, which I know will entertain for hours.

String Trees is loosely based on shuffleboard and consists of a rope that you string horizontally between two trees, pillars on a shade structure, or the like, and a series of rings that can be slid across the rope. Both players stand at one side of the rope and take turns trying to shove one ring at a time down the rope so that it lands in one of several color-coded sections that represent various points. The farthest section of color equals the highest number of points. But because players alternate shoving rings from the same side, they can push each other鈥檚 rings past the color-coded sections into the black, which erases previous points. The person with the highest number of points wins.

La Sportiva Prodigio Pro Running Shoes

I鈥檝e skied in La Sportiva boots and spent many miles on the trail in their hikers but had never once run in their shoes because they were so darn stiff. The company designed听 shoes for mountain runners who wanted burly soles and tons of stability, but I grew up in the Hoka generation and wanted a little more squish. Then I got my hands on the Prodigio Pro at the OMA show and became a La Sportiva running shoe convert.

Thanks to a much more forgiving midsole, these shoes ate up chunk on trails, padded my feet when I came screaming down steep sections, and delivered lots of bounce-back when I was striding out on the flats. Like all Sportiva shoes, the last is fairly narrow, and the clever, reinforced mesh upper completely swallowed my foot for a conforming and protective fit with zero movement. I loved the knit collar around my ankle that kept all debris out, and chunky lugs gripped at all times, even in loose kitty litter that sometimes leaves me on my ass.

For more details on the Prodigo Pro read from our RUN editors.

Pelican AVP-D ModPak AV Double Pouch

Sometimes I want to bring a mirrorless camera on my trip but don鈥檛 want to carry around a camera bag. I don鈥檛, however, want my camera and lenses just floating around in a regular pack with no protection. Now I can get that protection without the bulk thanks to this Pelican pouch, which is just big enough to hold a mirrorless camera and two lenses.

The protection comes from a smart internal design that keeps everything snuggly in place, combined with a rigid EVA and Cordura outer that prevents pricey gear from getting smashed. A giant zipper opens the entire front of the pouch for easy access, and molly straps on the back let you attach the pouch to your backpack, as long as it鈥檚 equipped with a molly system.

Nite Ize CamJam SlideLock Rope Tightener

At this point in history, you鈥檇 think we would have thought of every possible clever way to tie something down. But no, the nerdy and very smart engineers over at Nite Ize are still putting in long hours and finding new ways to help us secure whatever it is we need to stay in place. One of their newest inventions is the SlideLock.

Up top, the SlideLock is a carabiner, but at the bottom there鈥檚 a device that you can feed a medium-size rope through. You then keep pulling the rope until you鈥檝e adjusted it to whatever length you want, at which point听 teeth in the device bite onto the rope to keep it from slipping back out. The uses are endless, but I plan on using mine to help me string up camping tarps (the carabiner will go through the tarp holes and the rope around a tree) or help me tie down junk in the back of my truck.

Deuter Freerider Pro 32 +10 Backcountry Pack

[Available Fall 2025]

Backcountry ski packs have always presented a goldilocks gear problem. You need several types because you don鈥檛 want a huge pack on single-day adventures, but smaller packs aren鈥檛 big enough for weekend hut trips. Deuter aims to solve that conundrum with the Freerider Pro, which holds 32 liters when packed down but grows to 42 liters if you expand the roll-top closure. Some people will say that 32 liters might be too big for one-day trips but I think it鈥檚 actually perfect because there鈥檚 enough room for extra gloves, a puffy jacket, or extra food. And while 42 liters isn鈥檛 enough for a week-long hut trip, it will store enough gear to get you through a couple days out in the woods.

As you would expect, the bag carries both snowboards and skis in multiple configurations. It comes with a dedicated avalanche gear pocket, and a hefty waist belt helps deal with the heft when it鈥檚 loaded down. You can access your gear through the top, but there鈥檚 also a zipper around the backpad that flays open the entire bag for easy access to everything inside.

Fjallraven Bergtagen Mountain Cap

[Available Fall 2025]

Every brimmed hat with ear flaps I鈥檝e ever come across was made exclusively for winter wear, with both the hat and the flaps insulated, making them way too hot for spring or summer. Thanks to some out-of-the-box thinking, however, Fjallraven has now created an all-season hat with ear flaps that I can鈥檛 wait to test. I鈥檓 calling it 鈥渁ll season鈥� because the hat itself is made from a polyester/wool/cotton blend that breathes well enough for use during high-output activities throughout the year, and the ear flap is made from a light wool/polyester blend that will cut the chill when backcountry skiing but not make me overheat if I want to use the flap for sun protection in the summer. The ear flap is also thin enough that it nearly disappears when tucked into the hat, adding to the cap鈥檚 all-season prowess.

The post Six Pieces of New Outdoor Gear I鈥檓 Most Excited About Trying appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Everything tastes better when you鈥檙e camping鈥攖hat鈥檚 just a fact. Unless, of course, you char the pancakes over an overenthusiastic stove, or the milk curdles in a cut-rate cooler, or you impale yourself on some flimsy, dull excuse for knives, cutting your trip short (not to mention your precious fingers). You get the picture鈥攈azards abound.

Luckily, our fearless team of 13 testers put 50 pieces of camp kitchen gear on the chopping block to bring you the seven best accessories we could find.

Updated March 2025: We’ve added three new picks to complete your camp kitchen setup. Other product and price info have also been updated.听

At a Glance

• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

VSSL Java G25 Coffee Grinder

Weight: 15.2 ounces

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable
鈯� Well designed
鈯� Kitchen-ready aesthetic
鈯� Precise, adjustable grind
鈯� Small capacity
鈯� Heavy

VSSL鈥檚 sleek and adaptable Java G25 Coffee Grinder is another piece of gear that鈥檚 equally at home on a granite countertop and a granite outcrop. Crafted from aircraft-grade, adventure-ready aluminum with stainless steel grinding componentry, the G25 is as rugged as it gets. 鈥淪uper well-built,鈥� reported a Seattle coffee lover and longtime gear tester.

VSSL trimmed the G25鈥檚 diameter down last year by two millimeters so it can be stashed inside the company鈥檚 ($75) and the ($50), and increased the catch capacity to 30 grams. Still, testers reported that the heft (15.2 ounces) means the G25 isn鈥檛 coming on backpacking trips. Instead, it鈥檚 best suited for car campers and coffee enthusiasts who want to achieve a barista-quality grind both at home and on the road.

Whether you鈥檙e using a French press or a Moka Pot, the G25 has you covered with 50 grind settings. A combo of high-carbon stainless steel conical burrs, dual ball bearings, and an expandable handle that increases leverage deliver a precise and even grind every time. 鈥淭he grind quality is incredible and super adjustable,鈥� commented our Seattle tester, who primarily uses the G25 for pour-overs.

Our category manager relied on the G25 daily during a month-long van trip in the Pacific Northwest, pairing it with an AeroPress. He loved everything from the multitude of grind settings and easy-to-open push tab to the hand feel, heft, and mechanical smoothness of the componentry. His biggest compliment? He鈥檚 used it nearly every day at home since the trip.

Just one ding: This is really a single-serving grinder. If you need more capacity, peep the double-cup ($220).

Camp Chef Mesa Aluminum Table

Weight: 22 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Straightforward setup
鈯� Generous surface area
鈯� Adjustable height
鈯� Not the most packable
鈯� Tallest setting is a little unsteady
鈯� Legs are tricky to adjust

We鈥檝e tested a number of camp tables over the years and the Camp Chef Mesa is our current favorite thanks to its portability and practicality. A durable, collapsible, easy-to-clean roll-top aluminum table with four height settings, the Mesa is ideal for campers who love cooking and sharing elaborate meals outdoors.

The Mesa features a two-piece design, with folding legs that pop up in seconds and a roll-top piece that quickly unfurls and snaps on top. One tester ignored instructions (setting up camp furniture shouldn鈥檛 feel like an Ikea nightmare) and had no problems erecting the table solo. Packing it require some forethought, though, as the four-foot side won鈥檛 fit longways in some trunks.

The matte-finished aluminum slats are easy to clean and create a spacious 27.5-inch by 47.25-inch eating or cooking surface. Our favorite element is the four height settings of the legs. The lower option (27 inches) is best suited for loungy camp chairs and is by far the sturdiest. Our 155-pound category manager laid across the Mesa without issue despite Camp Chef鈥檚 100-pound weight limit recommendation.

At the highest setting (39 inches), the Mesa is a little more wobbly but still stable enough to whip up involved camp recipes. The two highest settings (39 and 35 inches) work best for cooking and give chefs the option to choose what works best given campsite topography. (For reference, the standard countertop height in the US is 36 inches). If you hate bending over to cook or cooking while seated, the Mesa is the move. We also loved that the table seats four comfortably and six more cozily.

If we have to nitpick, adjusting leg height can be tricky once the table is already set up. For quicker adjustments, tweak the height during setup.

(Photo: Courtesy RovR)

RovR ChillR 16oz Tumbler 4-Pack

Pros and Cons
鈯� No metallic taste
鈯� Durable exterior
鈯� Stackable set of four
鈯� No insulation

RovR is most famous for its ($399) that look as if their tires were sourced from a monster truck rally. But the brand鈥檚 drink ware ought to be on your radar, too. The ChillR 16oz Tumbler鈥攁 single-walled, ceramic-coated, dishwasher-safe pint glass that comes in a stackable set of four鈥攊s a great addition to any camp box.

Whether you鈥檙e pouring coffee for the crew after a night of camping, hydrating after mountain biking, or doling out microbrews from a growler around the campfire, the ChillR鈥檚 ceramic interior provides a clean, crisp taste. There鈥檚 none of the metallic finish that so often plagues steel vessels. The coating proved easy to clean, too, whether we were hand washing the cups at camp with diluted, biodegradable soap or tossing them in the dishwasher at home.

Apart from the taste (or lack thereof), what we love most about the RovR ChillR is that it does what most camping cups cannot: it fits into your daily life at home. The ChillR鈥檚 durable enough for camp use, yet the muted, powder-coated exterior looks sharp in any van, RV, or home kitchen. Stackability is another bonus for campers with limited trunk or cupboard space. Be warned, though鈥攖his isn鈥檛 a double-walled camp mug and doesn鈥檛 insulate like one.

Aeropress XL Coffee Press

Weight: 1 lb

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy to use and clean
鈯� Double the capacity of the original Aeropress
鈯� Filter cap doesn鈥檛 fit many mugs

The Aeropress XL incorporates the same plunging tech as the backcountry barista-approved original version, but with double the capacity鈥攁 volume boost that allows car-camping couples to streamline their mornings by fixing one batch of brew instead of two. 鈥淢y partner and I efficiently enjoyed excellent-quality coffee together every morning while camping thanks to the XL,鈥� reported Chris Cloyd, a June Lake-based hut keeper, ultra-runner, and coffee addict (with a 鈥淒eath Before Decaf鈥� tattoo to prove it). For anyone intimidated by the looks of this gizmo, Cloyd describes the XL as 鈥渆asy to use, and easier to clean.鈥�

Testers reported that the XL filter cap does impede the press from being used directly with many mugs, making it important not to lose the included plastic carafe. If you鈥檙e rolling solo, try the more compact, single-serving .

Radius Outfitters Large Kitchen Organizer

Weight: 3 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely tough and well-made
鈯� Makes on-the-road organization easy
鈯� Pricey

When professional chef-slash-vanlifer Cody Buccholz got his paws on the Radius Outfitters Kitchen Organizer, he ditched his knife roll鈥攁 massive statement for any culinary pro. 鈥淚鈥檝e bragged about how efficient, protected, and organized my tool roll is now to every chef I鈥檝e gotten to cook for since I started testing it,鈥� said Buccholz after a California-to-Colorado road trip.

Three levels of sleeves accommodate 12-inch utensils, two zippered compartments house 15-inch tools (grill masters, slot your spatulas and tongs here), while a cutting board pocket, two additional transparent pockets for smaller essentials, and an integrated bottle opener get the party started. Crafted from a 1680D Cordura exterior and lined with a glossy, easy-to-clean PVC Tarpaulin, the Kitchen Organizer is 鈥渢ough, well-designed, and built for life on the road鈥搄ust like everything else we鈥檝e tested from Radius so far,鈥� commented test director Drew Zieff. Also available in a smaller version.

Sea to Summit Detour Stainless-Steel Kitchen Knife

Weight: 5.2 oz

Pros and Cons
鈯� Weighty, reliable handle
鈯� Apt size for working in tight quarters
鈯� Affordable
鈯� Possibly too small if you鈥檙e cooking for a crowd

Sea to Summit鈥檚 new, comprehensive Detour line of mostly collapsible car-camping cookware has two main ingredients: stainless steel and hard nylon.

Testers offered mixed reviews of some of the company’s products: the collapsible pots are impressively compact, but the silicone siding wasn鈥檛 ideal for even heat transfer. But there were no mixed reviews on the Detour Kitchen Knife, a compact, dexterous, multi-purpose knife with a razor-sharp, five-inch stainless steel blade.

鈥淚鈥檓 working in a small space with a tiny cutting board and this small, sharp knife was perfect,鈥� commented Buccholz, who used the Detour kit to whip up his favorites on a road trip, among them butter chicken, green curry, and tortilla soup. 鈥淚 love the way this knife felt in my hand鈥攊t鈥檚 heavy and strong, and the shape of the handle felt secure in my palm.鈥�

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Coleman Cascade 3-In-1 Stove

To cover all of your camp chef bases, pack the Cascade 3-In-1 Stove when you hit the road. This camp-cooking package comes with the Cascade stove and two pieces of cast-iron cookware, so you can grill and griddle in addition to boiling, frying, and saut茅ing meals. Independent dials allow you to control the heat coming out of each burner, and rotary ignition means instant, match-free burner lighting. Plus, the cast iron pan supports lift out for quick cooktop cleanup.

Oyster Tempo Cooler

Weight: 12 lbs 6 oz
Dimensions: W 20.1 x D 11.8 x H 12.6″
Volume: 23L
Capacity: 36 355ml Cans & 2 Ice Packs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Double-walled, vacuum-sealed design is thermally efficient
鈯� No ice required
鈯� Lid opens from both sides and is completely removable
鈯� Hefty price tag
鈯� One size only
鈯� No drain for rinsing or melted ice
鈯� Dents easily

The Oyster Tempo鈥檚 selling points are solid, and they better be鈥攖he sleek cooler is pricier than rotomolded options many campers already consider exorbitant. While status quo coolers call for a hefty ice-to-drink ratio, the aluminum Tempo skips ice completely. Instead, it pairs two flat, purpose-built ice packs with a thermally efficient double-walled design similar to that of your favorite water bottle.

The result gives campers more packable volume (a 23-liter Oyster with ice packs keeps 36 cans cold, while a 24-liter rotomolded cooler with ice only handles 18 cans), takes up less trunk space, and still keeps contents frostier longer than the competition.

When test director Drew Zieff arrived home after a three-day trip and emptied the Tempo, he noted that his leftover beers 鈥渟till felt as though they鈥檇 been plucked from a glacial stream.鈥� Another tester dug the sexy profile and compact build. 鈥淚t takes up less space than our rotomolded cooler, which made trunk management easier,鈥� he reported. When asked if he鈥檇 recommend the product to a friend, however, Cloyd joked, 鈥淒epends on their tax bracket.鈥�

MiiR 12-oz Camp Cup

Pros and Cons
鈯� Nostalgic look gives off camp vibes
鈯� Push-tab lid is road-trip-friendly
鈯� 12 ounces ain鈥檛 always enough

Were it a cocktail, MiiR鈥檚 Camp Cup would be equal parts contemporary and classic. The double-walled, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel mug sports an intuitive push-tab lid鈥攅verything a modern cup collector covets鈥攂ut it鈥檚 available in bright, speckled hues that salute the enamel mugs of yesteryear.

One tester packed the green-speckled Camp Cup for camping trip in the Umatilla and Gifford-Pinchot National Forests and loved both form and function from first sip. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 burn your mouth鈥攖hat鈥檚 the one thing I hate about real enamel mugs,鈥� she reported. 鈥淎nd then by the time the cup has cooled, that hot drink is also cold.鈥�

The MiiR version offers campers the best of both worlds: it鈥檚 a clear stylistic homage to those cute, spatterware relics, but modern insulation minimize chances of a seared upper lip or, worse, a lukewarm drink.

Ignik FireCan Deluxe Portable Propane Fire Pit and Grill

Weight: 13.8 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Dual-purpose fire pit and grill combo
鈯� Quick-and-easy fires no matter where you roam
鈯� Extremely compact
鈯� You may want to purchase a new 5-lb propane tank
鈯� Cooking for groups is challenging
鈯� Oven mitts aren鈥檛 a bad idea

Fire ban? Meet the FireCan Deluxe鈥擨gnik鈥檚 durable, shoebox-sized, propane-powered firepit and grill combo.* 鈥淚t鈥檚 a safer solution to campfires,鈥� commented one tester, a part-time vanlifer and Colorado-based digital nomad who loved having a warm and contained fire no matter where she parked. Having a powerful propane grill or a firepit at this size is a win for any car camper鈥攈aving both is the dream.

Grilling is simple: just attach a propane tank via the included Quick Connect hose to the marked grill input, light it with a long lighter, and drop in the grill attachment. It gets hot鈥攆ast. Another tester was blistering peppers within minutes.

Just a few drawbacks: removing the grill and adjusting the lid can be finicky, so one tester recommended bringing oven mitts. Also, three or four salmon filets max out the grill, so feeding a bigger group necessitates cooking in shifts. For the most part, though, FireCan feedback was warmer than its 38,000-BTU output. You may also want to get a smaller 5-pound tank鈥�20-lbs tanks are overkill for a quick camping trip.

*In certain conditions, such as high winds or severe drought, all open flames may be banned. When in doubt, check in with local rangers, forest service, fire departments, etc.

Gerber Compleat Cutting-Board Kit

Weight: 4 lbs 4 oz
Dimensions: 9.6鈥� x 15.6鈥� (Bamboo cutting board), 8.9鈥� x 14.3鈥� (polypropylene cutting board), 6鈥� blade (Chef鈥檚 Knife), 3.25鈥� blade (paring knife)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Self-contained cutting board kit
鈯� Comes with kitchen essentials
鈯� Storage space for you to add your favorite tools
鈯� Cutting board lid can get dirty on the road

Nothing excites car campers like space-saving gear, and that鈥檚 exactly what Gerber鈥檚 new Compleat Cutting Board Kit is. Approximately the size of a casserole dish, the six-piece set features a striking bamboo cutting board that doubles as a lid, another polypropylene cutting board, two sharp, ergonomically handled knives (a 3.25-inch paring knife and a six-inch chef鈥檚 knife), and a two-piece set with nifty storage space for additional kitchen tools.

For category manager Drew Zieff, the set was a brilliant addition to the kitchen of his custom-built 2006 Chevy Express, replacing cutting boards that used to flop off the counter whenever he hit a pothole. Overall, the Gerber piece is a game-changer鈥攊t sits self-contained under the stove, no storage bin required.

Field Company No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet

Weight: 4.5 lbs
Dimensions:听10.3″ x 16.3″ x 2″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Cooking surface improves with time and seasoning
鈯� Lighter-weight than other cast irons
鈯� Not non-stick, even when well-seasoned
鈯� Requires more care than other pans

There鈥檚 something magical about cast iron. What other cookware ages like fine wine and looks as good on a French range as it does over a campfire grate? Case in point: Field Company鈥檚 utilitarian No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet. This machined-smooth, 10.25-inch-diameter skillet is as durable as it is versatile, and it鈥檚 become our go-to pan over the last few years. From whipping up vegetable stir-fries in the van, to cooking fresh-caught trout over the campfire, to searing ribeyes at home, the skillet just does it all.

Field Company crafts its skillets from recycled iron here in the USA, using traditional sand-casting techniques. (Essentially, molds are made from a master pattern using a wet, untreated sand mixture, then molten metal is poured into the mold. The resulting casting is cleaned, thinned, and smoothed by machine before it鈥檚 pre-seasoned and prepped for your stove.) Field Company aims for a relatively lightweight construction, centering heft at the base of the pan for searing prowess and then thinning it out toward the sloped rim.

The 4.5-pound pan is about a pound lighter than standard cast-iron skillets. Testers also appreciated the ergonomic handle, which is convex and curved to fit comfortably in the hand. Thanks to the light weight and good grip, it was easy enough to pull one-handed from campfire to boulder. Still, cast iron isn鈥檛 ideal for the faint of wrist鈥攅specially when the skillet is loaded with a juicy, coiled tenderloin or packed with venison medallions. The handle can also get hot, so a ($29, sold separately) isn’t a bad idea.

The durability and versatility of cast iron is a major draw. Most testers were grateful to have a pan that could handle a high-powered two-burner camp stove and campfire cooking alike. And thanks to coils on the bottom, it can handle an electric range at home, too.

The biggest downside to the No. 8 is the same downside that befalls all cast-iron skillets: maintenance can be finicky. You shouldn’t use soap on the pan, and you may have to oil it regularly if you want to keep its seasoning鈥攊.e., cast iron’s natural, stick-resistant coating鈥攊ntact. The No. 8 skillet does come pre-seasoned with three coats of grapeseed oil, which we found plenty non-stick for most camping foods. Still we’d recommend cooking on it for a few weeks before you jump into something trickier, like fried eggs.

Gerber Compleat 16-Piece Cook Set

Weight: 10 lb
Dimensions:听10″ x 2.5″ (saut茅 pan), 10″ x 5″ (stock pot), 6.7鈥� x 2.6鈥� (bowls), 8.7鈥� x 1鈥� (plates), 8.8鈥� x 7.1鈥�(mixing bowl)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Space-saving nesting design
鈯� Enough plates and bowls to feed 8
鈯� Generously sized pot and pan
鈯� High-quality stainless steel
鈯� Squeezing the kit back into its storage bag isn鈥檛 easy

Gerber鈥檚 Compleat 16-piece Cook Set is the Russian nesting doll of camp cookware. The stars of the show are the 2.6-quart saut茅 pan and 5.6-quart stock pot. Both are crafted from stainless steel with a substantial, three-ply base construction, which distributes heat better than most purpose-built camping pots and pans.

It鈥檚 easy enough to clean, too: even after we charred a chicken stir fry past the point of no return, distracted by the sunset on an Oregon surf trip, we were able to clean it with a pot scraper and a little biodegradable soap. Plus, the 2.5-inch rim of the saut茅 pan and five-inch-deep pot provide so much culinary real estate that cooking for four is no problem, and cooking for eight is possible with a little forethought.

When it comes time to dish up, the set also includes polypropylene dinnerware. You get four lipped plates that can handle chilis and stews, four bowls so deep they can double as helmets, and a large mixing bowl. The set also comes with a silicone-wrapped handle for the saut茅 pan that pops off for storage, a pair of perforated lids, and a nifty silicone heat pad.

If you鈥檙e doing the math, we鈥檝e only touched on 15 pieces. The 16th is the cherry on top鈥攁 dual-handled carrying case. This cinch-closure storage bag is about the size of a small bear canister, and it fits the rest of this gear鈥攕o long as it鈥檚 neatly stacked. If you鈥檙e packing components willy-nilly, however, zipping the bag shut can be difficult鈥攐ur testers’ biggest gripe. Do it right, though, and you’ll be rewarded with serious space savings.

New West KnifeWorks Tactical Outdoor Chef

Weight: 7.7 oz
Dimensions:听12.1″ x 1.9″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Full tang provides durability
鈯� Sharp, high-quality steel
鈯� Versatile for a wide range of camp uses
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Sharpening serrated blades is tricky

New West Knifeworks鈥檚 Tactical Outdoor Chef may be pricey, but it’s one of the few chef’s knives we’ve found that you don’t have to baby. Over a summer of testing, it was capable of handling all the tasks we’d expect of a chef’s knife, as well as all the tasks we’d typically leave to a full-tang bushcraft blade. It’s durable, well-made, endlessly useful, and, to be quite honest, rad as hell.

As the name promises, the TOC is a mash-up of tactical military blades and every culinary artist鈥檚 go-to brush: the chef鈥檚 knife. Designed with the help of a Navy Seal, the TOC sports a razor-sharp, 6 鈪�-inch blade that riffs off the classic, curved shape of the bowie knife, a weapon typically reserved for stabbing bad guys. We stuck to stabbing fungi during testing, and the TOC made quick work of Operation Shiitake.

Jokes aside, we loved cooking with the TOC, whether we were slicing garlic with the pointed tip or chopping chicken with the belly of the blade. The asymmetrically serrated section, however, is what made our test team fall head over heels for this knife as a utilitarian camping companion. 鈥淭his is a very weird use case, but I needed to shave off a millimeter or two from this one spot on my warped van bumper because it was catching the trunk door,鈥� reported one tester. 鈥淭hat serrated section carved off sliver after sliver of hard plastic bumper鈥攕omething I never would鈥檝e thought to do with any other chef鈥檚 knife.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e shaving bumpers or trimming pork tenderloins, the resilient, stain-resistant, American-made steel is ultra-sharp and resists dulling. The full-tang construction is balanced in-hand and beefy enough to tackle tasks like splitting squash or chopping rope. And while the ergonomically contoured handle looks like wood grain from afar, it鈥檚 actually a composite of G10 fiberglass and rubber, a combo we found confidence-inspiring while working with fresh fish, poultry, and other slippery proteins.

Yes, it’s expensive. But from blade to butt to the handsome leather sheath it comes in, you get what you pay for.

Miir New Standard Carafe

Weight: 1.8 lb
Dimensions:听6″ x 6″ x 10.5″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Sleek design
鈯� Two-piece construction makes for easy cleaning
鈯� Big enough to serve four
鈯� Included lid isn鈥檛 leakproof

Ever wished you could bring your Chemex camping without constantly fearing for the glass gizmo鈥檚 well-being? Miir鈥檚 got the answer with its indestructible and ingeniously designed New Standard Carafe.

The coffee contraption is crafted from double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, which is both ultra-durable and ensures your brew stays piping hot for hours. On chilly fall mornings in the Sierra, we were able to enjoy what hobbits affectionately call second breakfast, finishing off still-warm java up to two hours after brewing. The New Standard Carafe is easy to use and compatible with most carafe coffee filters. Our coffee-savvy testers found it did the job well鈥攁nd that the resulting pour-overs were crisp and smooth.

Testers in the Sierra loved that the carafe held a generous 33 ounces of brewed coffee. That was enough to caffeinate our group of four runners and climbers during a trip near Tahoe’s Donner Summit: each person got an eight-ounce pour to greet a sunrise over Frog Lake.

Our favorite feature, though, is the brilliant two-piece design. The top half of the carafe unscrews from the bottom, facilitating easy cleaning at home or on the road. One major con: the Carafe’s included lid isn’t leakproof. If you want your brew to be portable, you鈥檒l have to shell out for MiiR鈥檚 additional ($10). But we found the add-on worth it: simply screw the lid to the bottom section of the carafe to eliminate chances of spillage while driving to the trailhead or hiking up short spurs to watch the sun rise.

How We Test

• Number Of Testers: 13
• Pieces Of Gear Tested: 50
• Miles Road Tripped: Approximately 9,779
• Longest Stint On The Road: 3 months
• Forearms Singed: 2
• Cups Of Coffee Consumed: Enough to live, not enough to die. We’ll go with high triple digits.
• Van Bumpers Shaved: 1

Our testers run the gamut, from car campers who care more about efficiently shoveling down calories than fixing ornate meals, to gourmet chefs whipping up five-star cuisine in teeny van kitchens and over bonfires on the beach. This diverse team road-tripped, car camped, boondocked, and vanned all over the American West for months, cheffing up meals and taking notes all the while. Upon return to civilization, they filled out review forms for each camp kitchen item, ranking aspects like durability and practicality on quantitative scales. Then, they dove deeper into qualitative questions. For instance:

• What recipes did you whip up with this gear and where?
• Did this piece of gear make your life on the road easier or harder? Better or worse? How so?
• Would you use this product at home, too, or strictly at camp? Why or why not?

Last but not least, our lead tester and category manager, Drew Zieff, analyzed as much gear as possible himself, sifted through the review forms, then compiled the reviews.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

is a Tahoe-based freelancer who writes for Backcountry Magazine, REI, Gear Junkie, and Forbes, among others. A regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor, he heads 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 winter snowboard gear coverage and summer car camping accessories and kitchen reviews. His appreciation for cooking can be traced back to his formative years in high school, when he inexplicably began to experience red eyes, a dry mouth, and a sudden, overwhelming passion for the Cooking Channel. In 2018, he and his partner turned a plumbing van into their dream adventure mobile鈥攁 speedbump-filled odyssey. After a couple of years of vanlife, during which he took the lead on camp cookery, the couple put roots down in Tahoe. They still take as many van trips as possible and love to whip up elaborate meals in BLM pull-offs and Walmart parking lots.

Amanda Monthei

is a , public information officer on wildfires, and the host of the podcast. A former wildland firefighter herself, she applies her knowledge gleaned from the front lines to educate the public. She鈥檚 written about wildfires and natural disasters for 国产吃瓜黑料 as well as NBC, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She鈥檚 also an avid angler, surfer, and skier, and pens stories on a range of outdoor subjects. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, she鈥檚 used to camping for extended stints in her 2000 Tundra, whipping up meals on backroads shoulders and backwoods campgrounds, and reviewing car camping accessories for 国产吃瓜黑料 along the way. Monthei tested camp mugs, pots, and more while road tripping throughout the Pacific Northwest this past summer and fall.

Cody Buccholz

is a professional chef who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and adventuring in his 2008 high-top Sprinter with his pup, Jefecito. When he鈥檚 not slinging gourmet grub, you can often find Buccholz posted up in a beach or trailhead parking lot, whipping up savory meals for new and old friends. He tested a small mountain of gear for this article while on a long, detour-filled road trip from California to Colorado, and brings a discerning, professional perspective to our camp kitchen gear testing.

The post 14 Camp-Kitchen Essentials to Elevate Your Outdoor Cooking appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Here鈥檚 how bedtime in camp goes in your mind: After a long day exploring some beautiful, wild place, you settle in around the campfire, favorite beverage in hand. Your eyes get droopy as you watch the sun set and stars begin to blink on. Finally, you snuggle into your cozy sleeping bag, yawning once before dropping off to sleep immediately for nine straight hours of deep, uninterrupted slumber.

Here鈥檚 how it actually goes: After a long day exploring some beautiful, wild place and watching the stars come out, you snuggle into your sleeping bag and鈥othing. You toss and turn as the minutes tick by, trying to find a comfortable position. You stare at the tent ceiling, but sleep won鈥檛 come. Maybe you鈥檙e too hot, or worse: too cold, despite the rating of your sleeping bag. Maybe you can鈥檛 relax and stop listening for approaching bears. Or maybe you just can鈥檛 get comfortable on your pad. You finally drift into fitful sleep, but when morning comes too soon, you鈥檙e cold, more tired than ever, or dealing with a cramp in your neck.

Sound familiar? You鈥檙e not alone. But your camp nights don鈥檛 have to be this way. Two seasoned sleep experts are quick to offer key advice: Beyron Zecher, backpacker and nurse practitioner at St. John鈥檚 Health Sleep Disorder Center in Jackson, Wyoming; along with Barry Robertson, Sea to Summit鈥檚 Perth, Australia-based Minister of Education, who have your new gameplan on sleeping better outdoors.

Dial in Your Gear

Comfort plays a huge role in a good night鈥檚 sleep, so don鈥檛 rely on the absolute lightest or cheapest gear if you struggle for your Zs. Choose a stable, well-constructed sleeping pad that鈥檚 not too narrow or too short, and that offers enough insulation for the conditions ahead. Your sleeping bag should match your sleeping style: If you snooze sprawled out on your stomach, for example, your bag should be wide enough to accommodate. Make sure the bag is rated warm enough for the weather; on colder nights, wear thick base layers and a hat to bed. Consider a sleeping bag liner for a thermal boost to easily up the performance of your bag. And always pack a decent pillow. Bring one from home if you鈥檙e car camping and get a lightweight, inflatable one for backpacking.

Prep Your Campsite

The princess couldn鈥檛 sleep with a pea poking her under the mattress, and neither can you: Take the time to clear all twigs and stones from under your tent site before setting up your shelter. Make sure your site is as flat as possible; if it鈥檚 slightly tilted, sleep with your head on the uphill side. At higher altitudes, you鈥檒l also need to factor wind protection. 鈥淚f it isn鈥檛 windy at the moment,鈥� Robertson adds of mountain camping, 鈥渋t will be when the katabatic effect comes up early in the morning.鈥�

Preserve a Bedtime Buffer

鈥淕ive yourself ample time to wind down,鈥� Zecher says. 鈥淎void vigorous exercise three hours prior to bed because exercise can increase your body temperature and make you more alert.鈥� That cutoff means finishing hiking well before bedtime so you have a few hours to set up camp, eat, and chill. Stop consuming caffeine at least four hours before bedtime. And stay away from screens, including tablets and phones, for two hours before you hit the hay. The lights emitted by screens can mess with your body鈥檚 melatonin production, Zecher explains. Darkness kicks off your body鈥檚 production of this hormone, which 鈥渢ells your brain it鈥檚 time to get ready for bed.鈥� Also skip alcohol: Though this common depressant may help you fall asleep, metabolizing it during the night will disrupt sleep quality and make night wakeups more likely.

Eat Up

Robertson revels in the simple joys of one-pot cooking, using bowls to keep multiple ingredients warm. It ultimately takes less time (especially at altitude) than freeze-dried fare, 鈥減lus there鈥檚 the primordial satisfaction of cooking your own food, then there鈥檚 the closure feeling you get as daylight fades.鈥� Enjoy the magic of that caloric warmth, being well-fed and increasing blood flow as you digest and ready for sleep.

Change Clothes

Make this one change before you settle into your sleep system. Too cold to strip down to base layers? 鈥淚t鈥檚 too cold to change out of damp base layers,鈥� Robertson argues. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l work as evaporative cooling in your sleeping bag. Strip everything off and put on dry base layers.鈥�

Maintain Consistency

Stick to your regular bedtime routine as much as possible, whether that means sipping hot tea, reading in bed, or stretching. 鈥淩outines help the brain wind down through all these different cues that it鈥檚 time to go to bed,鈥� Zecher says. That includes bedtime. If you usually go to bed at 11 p.m., stay up until 11 even if it gets dark at 8.

Get Up To Pee

鈥淚t won鈥檛 go away or get better,鈥� Robertson says. Set yourself up so it鈥檚 not a big deal or a disruptive exit. When sharing a tent, he always makes a get-up-and-go kit (with TP, hand sanitizer, pocket trowel, plus extra headlamp), hung by the tent door.

Create a Peaceful Atmosphere

Environmental stimuli鈥攆rom summer鈥檚 lingering sunsets to fellow campers rustling to twigs snapping in the woods鈥攃an disturb your precious sleep. Shut it all out with an eye mask (or bandanna or Buff) and/or ear plugs. Camp near a river or stream for natural sound-blocking white noise, or use an app on your phone for the same effect. Zecher suggests quieting the mind further through suppression exercises, like going through the alphabet backwards or naming all the state capitals in your head. Guiding yourself through imagery can have the same calming effect: 鈥淢ove through a sequence of things,鈥� Zecher says. 鈥淲alk the day鈥檚 hike from start to finish, noticing every bush and rock. It鈥檚 a form of meditation.鈥�

Speaking of walking, Robertson has one other hack for controlling exterior noise: Go farther from other human beings. If you can work harder to create more distance, take the opportunity and appreciate solitude that will pay off come nightfall.

is an award-winning manufacturer of innovative, meticulously engineered, lightweight gear designed for camping, backpacking, water sports, and travel. Their ethos 鈥榯o equip and inspire鈥� applies to adventures at every altitude, and this Western Australian brand is no stranger to some of the most remote places on this planet. Sea to Summit was established in 1990 and is currently distributed in over 73 countries, with offices in Australia, North America, Germany, and China.

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Gear is a generous Valentine鈥檚 Day gift. Picking something other than the usual chocolate, flowers, or booze shows that you acknowledge your partner鈥檚 interests and listen to their needs. Beyond that, the right gear gift can enable you and your Valentine to plan a romantic outdoor getaway.

Below we list some of our favorite gear specifically designed for two. Each product offers your partner (and yourself) something that is both extremely practical for your adventures together and romantic in its thoughtfulness.

When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.听Learn more.

Exped MegaMat Duo sleeping pad

This wildly comfortable, two-person mattress is a brilliant Valentine鈥檚 Day gift because it invites intimacy while also offering better sleep.

I have slept more nights on the MegaMat Duo over the course of the past three years than any other inflatable camp mattress on the market. By my best estimate, that amounts to around 90 good nights of sleep. The secret to this comfort is the ample amount of super springy, open-cell polyurethane foam that鈥檚 both soft and supportive, whether or not you inflate it to a rock-hard PSI.

My wife and I are not alone in our听 deep love of the MegaMat: 国产吃瓜黑料 columnist Wes Siler used the MegaMat as the base point of an essay on why it鈥檚 smart to invest in high-end camping gear and apparently had 鈥渁n awful lot鈥� of good sex on one, too.

Exped MegaSleep Duo sleeping bag

Pairing a pricey camping mattress with the same brand of sleeping bag system may sting during the initial purchase, but it鈥檚 usually a smart investment. Just like in partnerships, compatibility goes a long way.

The MegaSleep鈥檚 measurements perfectly match the MegaMat Duo sleeping pad and offers two different insulation levels and temperature ranges depending on which side of the sleeping bag is facing up. One side (colored burgundy) is heartily insulated, and when it is oriented on top, performs like a 25-degree sleeping bag. Flip it over to its less insulated blue side, and it lands more in the 40-degree bag range that鈥檚 ideal for summer nights.

It also has a full-length zipper that detaches, so you can create two different sleeping bags (one 25-degree and one 40-degree) if you and your partner have wildly different sleeping temperatures like my wife and I.

Lifestraw Peak Series 3L gravity water filter system

Nothing says 鈥淚 love you鈥� like saving your partner from a fortnight of water-borne diarrhea. Before my wife and I started splitting rent, we split up our pack weight in the backcountry. A 3-liter gravity filter was the first piece of gear I added to our shared backpacking load鈥攃lean water is something that I never want to ration unless I absolutely have to.

We love the Peak Series 3L because it鈥檚 exceptionally user-friendly鈥攋ust fill it, hang it, and let gravity do the filtering. It also has NSF certification鈥攁 rigorous certification level that not all water filters go through鈥攕o I know it will actually filter out bacteria, parasites, and microplastics that would make us sick. Lastly, it stops letting water move through it when it can no longer safely filter water, which means I don鈥檛 have to keep track of how long we鈥檝e used it and risk catching giardia.

MSR Windburner Duo Stove System

As I said, I believe splitting pack weight is one of the great advantages of partnership. A solid two-person stove like MSR鈥檚 Windburner Duo will allow both you and your Valentine to eat more quickly and efficiently in the backcountry.

My wife and I used a Jetboil Sumo for years but switched to the Windburner Duo six years ago because the wind-shield around the heat source works better for tailgating out of the back of my truck in our ski resort鈥檚 comically windy parking lot. I have not organized a formal test, but I can anecdotally say that the boil time is around four minutes, and its 1.8 liter-capacity delivers plenty of hot water for a freeze-dried meal and a couple of eight-ounce hot drinks for a delightful backcountry date night.

Miir Tomo thermos

The 1-liter Miir Tomo has been our go-to ski resort coffee solution for three years now because it does the best job of keeping our coffee warm throughout an entire ski day. When I start getting my family ready at 6:30 a.m. to ski at our local hill, I fill the double-walled, vacuum-insulated thermos with boiling-hot coffee. Two hours later, my wife and I are drinking piping-hot coffee out of the two 8-ounce cups built in as the lid and bottom of the Tomo. Even when I leave this thermos sitting in our truck on mornings that are below freezing, we always have steaming-hot coffee to enjoy hours later at lunch.

Backpacker鈥檚 Pantry Pad Thai meal pouch

My wife and I both agree that a fantastic view beats a fancy indoor meal every time. The Pad Thai from Backpacker鈥檚 Pantry has a delightful sriracha kick and feels fancy thanks to the included peanuts you can sprinkle on top of the noodles to complete the dish. One sub-$10 package delivers 730 calories of spicy and peanut-buttery noodles that鈥檚 ready to eat in under 20 minutes. My wife and I find that one pouch serves up a light alpine dinner for a couple.

While the end result is backpacking-good (i.e. not on the same level as my favorite Thai restaurant in town), my wife and I can both eat it from the same container while enjoying an unreal sunset in the high alpine, which is plenty fancy for us.

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November is the time of year when we in the northern hemisphere get that sweet reminder of how shitty it feels to be too cold. If you are one of us who depends on a fire to stay warm through the winter, you know this fact: kindling is king. Whether it鈥檚 for your wood stove at 6:00 am when your house is as chilly as the dickens, or when you get off the river with frozen fingers on a fishing trip, the answer remains the same: If you want good kindling fast, you need a good hatchet. To help you find the right one for your needs, I tested some of the best models on the market. Here are my five top picks.

At a Glance

• Best Value:
• Best for Wilderness Survival:听
• Best for Precision Cutting:
• Most Ergonomic:
• Lightest:
• How I Tested

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Best Value

CRKT Chogan Hatchet

听

Weight: 1.5 lbs.

Overall Length: 13.2 in.

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Insanely capable
鈯� Extremely affordable
鈯� Not powerful enough for most hardwoods

This one-and-a-half-pound, sub-14-inch hatchet proved small but mighty. The head is made from one solid piece of 1055 carbon steel鈥攌nown for its durability and edge retention鈥攚hich was heavy enough in relation to the glass-reinforced nylon handle to provide a hefty swing. This concentration of weight behind the blade allowed it to work its way through softer woods like cedar and fir, but it did find its limitations with the harder woods like madrone and oak. While I could get through the heavier woods, it typically took me at least a dozen strokes, with some feeling dangerously taxing on the nylon handle. It was a heck of a little hammer on the stakes, though, and I found it particularly easy to swing accurately; in fact, it’s about the same size and weight of the hammer I keep in my toolbox back home.

Best for Wilderness Survival

Gerber Bushcraft Hatchet

听

Weight: 2.4 lbs.

Overall Length: 15.3 in.

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Handle doubles as waterproof match storage
鈯� Heavy enough for hardwood
鈯� Rubber gets mangled if you miss a strike
鈯� Blade is small compared to rest of hatchet

My wilderness survival game is relatively tight, but I would by no means call myself a bushcrafter. (In other words, I can reliably make a good fire with a single match, but can鈥檛 use a bow drill for shit). Still, I found this hatchet a blast to play with, even with my novice skills. There are five feet of ever-useful paracord in the handle, which contains a hollow, waterproof compartment big enough to store five waterproof matches and half a handful of wood shavings. The Bushcraft鈥檚 hefty two-and-a-half-pound weight and more than 15-inch length allowed it to work through oak and madrone quite easily鈥攚hen it came to hardwoods, it felt more like a small ax than a hatchet. For all the advantages that extra weight gave for the Bushcraft in terms of swing, its heft didn’t do it any favors in the carrying test. This would be my last pick to take on a long hike. It also lacked some blade length compared to the Ono and James Brand options. That made it harder to get through the thickest pieces of wood. The back of the head was a proper hammer that drove even the toughest stakes. The rubber insets around the back of the handle felt good in the hand, but it did get pretty mangled after a few missed strikes on the stakes. While this didn鈥檛 hurt the overall performance of the hatchet, it did become a bit unsightly.

Best for Precision Cutting

Silky Ono Hatchet

听

Weight: 1.8 lbs.

Overall Length: 12 in.

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Crazy-sharp blade
鈯� Very sexy look
鈯� No real ability to hammer

鈥淥oooooh,鈥� my friend and I moaned audibly as we took this premium Japanese-crafted hatchet out of its hand-wrapped and -written-on packaging. I don鈥檛 fault us for our gratuitousness: this hatchet is sexy. It’s a big-ass piece of alloy steel with a perfectly grippy, textured, rubber handle and a four-and-a-half-inch blade. It looks like a meat cleaver you鈥檇 want by your side during a zombie apocalypse. The blade is so damned sharp鈥攔ight on par with the frighteningly sharp Hellgate below鈥攖hat I could shave pine logs as if they were giant bricks of Parmesan cheese. I really appreciated the superior grip of the handle while I made a 6:00 am fire with frozen fingers, and the swing weight from that large-bladed head let it crush through hardwood in spite of its kinda-short 12-inch length. I couldn鈥檛 really hammer tent stakes in with the back of it, which puts it at a disadvantage as a do-it-all camping tool. Still, I was willing to forgive the Ono due to how well it ate through wood to make kindling.

Most Ergonomic

The James Brand TJB Hatchet

Weight: 1.9 lbs.

Overall Length: 14 in.

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Ergonomic wooden handle
鈯� Great swing momentum for extended chopping
鈯� Too big to pack into the backcountry

The James Brand partnered with legendary German ax-making company Adler to craft this beaut. The delightfully contoured, U.S.-sourced hickory handle and big old C60 steel head combine for an incredibly classy-looking hatchet. The blade was plenty sharp enough to make matchsticks out of oak. The TJB also boasted the second-largest striking surface in the test at four inches. The combo of that large, efficient head; the dampening factor of the wood handle; and a nice texture at the base of the grip just felt so damned good, strike after strike. I could make kindling with it all day. In fact, on my camping trip, I got carried away splitting cedar for over an hour straight without feeling much fatigue. It a little on the larger side to bring camping, and is suboptimal to pack in anywhere at its nearly two-pound weigh-in, but this hatchet is definitely the one that will live next to my woodpile at home if The James Brand lets me keep the sample. It feels a little lame to complain about the packaging, but I found myself not knowing what to do with it: When I first received this hatchet, I thought the ornate wooden box it came in was a nice touch, particularly for the price. Unfortunately, I broke the box while transporting the hatchet to my camping trip and had to put it in a landfill pretty quickly into my testing process.

Lightest

Montana Knife Company Hellgate Hatchet

Weight: 0.9 pounds

Overall Length: 10 inches

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Beautiful craftsmanship
鈯� Perfectly balanced swing
鈯� Portable and lightweight
鈯� More than twice the price of most competitors

I know that comparing this hatchet to the others on this list is inherently unfair: It鈥檚 like bringing a gun to a proverbial hatchet fight. Or, perhaps more accurately, comparing a cottage-built ultralight thru-hiking pack to a clunky, big box-brand backpacking pack. Here鈥檚 the thing, though: I couldn鈥檛 leave this truly beautiful tool off this list because it was so remarkably capable. It weighs less than a pound but was still able to cut through softwoods like butter, thanks to its razor-sharp blade and perfectly balanced swing weight. The lack of swing weight meant that hardwoods like madrone put up a hell of a fight, usually taking half-a-dozen hits or more to split, but I wasn鈥檛 complaining about the reps thanks to the Hellgate鈥檚 aforementioned balance. The lightly textured handle has a slight curve on the back that made it feel like it was made for my palm. This is a very subtle detail that delivered a notable amount of comfort over extended use. I found myself using it consistently for 20- to 30-minute increments without really thinking about the fact that I had a hatchet in my hand. On top of that, the Hellgate was made for hiking. While walking the 60-acre property during my portability test, I barely noticed I was bringing it along. The biggest bummer: The $375 price tag is certainly worthy of sticker shock. Still, I stand behind it: It hit like a heavy weight in a bantamweight package.

How I Tested

I made an absolutely obscene amount of kindling for this test. Over the past three weeks I have offered my kindling-creating services to all the wood-stove users in my friend group (there are four) and invited myself over to chop away on their wood piles for as long as it took to get a feel for each axe. I also took these hatchets on an annual fishing and camping trip with friends. While my buddies fished, I stayed back at camp and played with the hatchets.

I tested each blade on five different kinds of wood (pine, cedar, fir, oak, and Oregon madrone) and created all different sizes of kindling, from curly-gossamer shreds to solid thumb-size chunks. I used the backside of each hatchet to hammer in tent poles at the beginning of the trip. I also carried these hatchets around the 60-acre campsite we stayed on to gauge portability, and I weighed them on a kitchen scale (when I got home of course) to compare each one’s weight to its manufacturer-listed specs. Here are the results.

The post The Best Hatchets for Camping, Homesteading, and Backcountry Survival appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I鈥檓 not a prepper. I don鈥檛 own guns, I don鈥檛 can food, and I鈥檝e never dug a bunker. If we鈥檙e playing the word association game and you say 鈥渟tockpile,鈥� I will respond with 鈥渂eer.鈥� But when Hurricane Helene devastated my hometown (read my essay about the experience here), I found myself wishing I was a bit more prepared for life with disaster gear and without modern amenities. We spent seven days without cell service, 15 days without electricity, and 18 days without running water. We still don鈥檛 have potable water and probably won鈥檛 for a while. It was a brief look at what life would be like without the basic things most of us take for granted.

I might not be a prepper, but I am an avid car camper, so I have a garage full of camping gear, some of which came in handy in the wake of this natural disaster. Here are the pieces of disaster gear that made the last couple of weeks without first-world amenities so much more tolerable.

At A Glance

• and

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EcoFlow River 2 Max Portable Power Station

I don鈥檛 have a backup generator for my house, so when we lost power on the first day of the storm (Friday, Sept. 27), we were thrust back into the dark ages. Fortunately, I keep the EcoFlow River Max charged and loaded for camping trips, and the 500-watt power bank gave us enough juice to charge phones, headlamps, lanterns, and my computer while allowing us the luxury of plugging in a single lamp each night. It has DC, AC, and USB outputs so it can charge whatever devices you can鈥檛 live without.

It doesn鈥檛 have the sort of surge power you need to operate a Kureg (I tried), and can鈥檛 power something huge like a fridge, but I can鈥檛 tell you how comforting it was to have a light on in the house. The whole family would gather around the lamp at night. At that rate of usage, the River Max had enough power to last for two days, after which I would charge it for a couple of hours at a friend鈥檚 house who had power. Leaning on a friend like that was a luxury a lot of people didn鈥檛 have, so I wish I had the ($279) to feed this power bank during the day.

Dometic Go Hydration Water Faucet and Jug

This piece of disaster gear wins MVP of the disaster for me. We still don鈥檛 have drinking water in Asheville, but the combo of the Dometic Go 11-liter Jug and the Go Hydration Water Faucet has added a bit of civility to daily rituals, like washing hands, brushing teeth, or filling a glass with water. Just tap the button at the top of the faucet twice,, and a steady stream comes out. Tap it once and it stops. It鈥檚 super easy to use, and having water on tap is a hell of a privilege. Otherwise, we鈥檇 be fumbling with individual bottles or large containers when trying to wash hands or clean a dish.

The faucet is USB rechargeable, and it has held its charge for more than three weeks of heavy daily use. Water stations were set up throughout the city, so I could fill this jug, and a few others, to keep us in stock with drinking and washing water from the first day on.

NEMO Helio LX Pressure Shower

My wife says she can handle any sort of difficulty in life, as long as she can take a shower. After 18 days without running water, I would also put 鈥渟hower鈥� near the top of my priority list. Fortunately, we had this Helio LX Pressure Shower to get us through. The system holds almost six gallons of water and pressurizes with a foot pump. Give it a minute of pumps, turn the nozzle on, and you鈥檝e got running water. It doesn鈥檛 offer the water pressure you鈥檇 find at home, but if you occasionally give it a few pumps during your shower, you can get a stream steady enough to wash head to toe for several minutes.

It鈥檚 designed as a solar shower, so you can set it in the sun to warm the water inside, but I was taking most of my showers at the end of the night before bed, so any warmth gained from the sun was long gone. Instead, I added a gallon or so of nearly boiling water to take the edge off of each shower. You have to be careful though; I have a friend who burned a hole in his Helio by adding too much boiling water.

ROVR 60 cooler

I originally got this cooler because it has wheels, and rolling a bunch of beers around is way better than carrying a bunch of beers around. But the ROVR came in clutch during our disaster because it gave us enough room to store some essentials from the fridge (like yogurt and cheese sticks) and kept them cool for days on a single bag of ice.

Maybe more importantly, the ROVR has a neat interior organization feature that you can load up with items you want to keep cold, but not get wet. Put your cans and bottles and ice in the main part of the cooler, and all your dairy and whatnot goes in the dry bin. No cooler is as good as a fridge, but the ROVR gave me a little piece of mind, because I knew that the cheese and sandwich meat I put in the dry bin wouldn鈥檛 get soggy and ruined.

JetBoil Flash Cooking System

I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 addicted to coffee, but I鈥檓 not willing to go a day without it to find out. With no power, my fancy coffee maker was just an expensive paperweight, so I made coffee every morning on my JetBoil Flash, just like I do when I鈥檓 car camping. I鈥檝e had this JetBoil for several years, and the thing still ignites on the first click every time. The boil time is fast, too (no more than a couple of minutes for a liter of water), which is important when you鈥檙e itching for your first cup of Joe in the morning.

Biolite HeadLamp 200

I wore this tiny headlamp around my neck almost around the clock for two weeks while we were without power. I have other headlamps, but this was my go-to because it鈥檚 unobtrusive and so light (it weighs just 50 grams), I barely knew it was on my body. It鈥檚 not the brightest torch (only 200 lumens), but it offered enough light for the myriad of situations that had me turning it on. I had to charge it every couple of days with the USB, but that was only during heavy usage.

Home Depot 5 Gallon Bucket

Never underestimate the value of a good bucket. I spent a lot of time with these buckets鈥攆irst hauling water from my hot tub into the back of my toilets so my family could flush, and then hauling water from a variety of other water sources in the neighborhood to do the same. You could buy Yeti鈥檚 version of the 5-gallon bucket, the , which I have no doubt would be the most durable option out there. But I opted for cheap buckets from the hardware store, and they performed admirably, with no cracks, leaks or broken handles after weeks of heavy use.

Pro tip: If you find yourself in a similar situation when you have to haul water into your house to flush toilets or take a shower, just make sure you buy the lid with your bucket. Because losing half of your water on the commute from the water source back home sucks.

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