For a lot of kids where I grew up, the month of July was synonymous with summer camp. Spending a few weeks away was a right of passage, and parents looked forward to a little peace and quiet听almost as much as the kids relished the opportunity to free from the folks.
Thankfully, you don鈥檛 have to be a kid to go to summer camp. Really, any vacation spent outdoors counts. Here鈥檚 some of our favorite gear for campers of all ages.听
Grayl Geopress Purifier Water Bottle ($90)
A water bottle with a built-in filter is a must. Instead of worrying about a safe听water source or lugging in bottled water, use , and rest easy knowing it removes over 99 percent of viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts. It works just as well for backpacking as it does for international travel, since it鈥檚 a filter and bottle in one, cutting down on unnecessary gear. Bonus: it will filter 24 ounces of water in just eight seconds, so you don鈥檛 have to waste time pumping or waiting on a gravity-fed system.听听
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HydraPak Stash 750-Millileter听Water Bottle ($20)
If you don鈥檛 need a filtered water bottle, the听 is a fantastic option. At 2.9 ounces, it weighs about half a normal hard-sided canteen, and it collapses down to a quarter of its size when empty, so it鈥檚 easy to pack in any bag.听
Mack鈥檚 Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs ($9)
I鈥檓 a light sleeper, and I鈥檝e tried a lot of different ear plugs over the years. and the best bang for the buck I鈥檝e found. They鈥檙e also an absolutely essential part of my kit, because nothing is worse than a snoring tentmate.听听听
Moleskin Classic Notebook ($16)
Call me old-fashioned, but I think journaling with a pen and paper is the best way to document your summer-camp experiences. is a classic because it鈥檚 reasonably priced and high quality鈥攊t鈥檚 not going to fall apart on you if it gets beat up in your bag.听
Mystery Ranch In and Out Backpack ($79)
A good daypack is essential. Weighing just one pound, Mystery Ranch鈥檚 听is the perfect combination of light and burly, thanks to its 100-denier听Cordura fabric and minimalist design. It鈥檚 not too basic to be effective, though, featuring a reservoir for a听hydration bladder, a water-bottle pocket, two external pockets, and tool-carry loops for trekking poles or ice axes. The whole thing also stuffs into one of the front pockets, which makes it easy to toss in your bag when you aren鈥檛 using it.听听听
Eagle Creek Expanse Hauler Bag ($82)
This is because of its versatility. The Expanse Hauler is a 50-liter duffel bag that converts to a backpack and has enough grab handles to let you carry it a bunch of different ways. It features Eagle Creek鈥檚 Bi-Tech Armor Lite听fabric, to help protect high-abrasion areas, and it weighs only two pounds, so it won鈥檛 bog you down. I also love how big the opening is, letting听you access everything in your bag quickly. Bonus: it鈥檚 currently on sale.听听
Nomad Battery Cable ($50)
This听 combines your phone鈥檚 charging cord and a small, portable battery, so you have less to pack. The battery will charge your phone first and then recharge itself when you have it plugged into an outlet. The best part? It鈥檚 built to military standards, with braided ballistic-nylon construction, so it won鈥檛 break or fray like those cheap cords you usually buy.
Matador FlatPak Travel Toiletry Bottles (Three听for $35)
are made from welded Cordura with a proprietary coating, and the company says they are five times lighter and 3.5 times more compact than your run-of-the-mill silicone travel bottles. They鈥檙e also burlier and pack better than the cheap ones, thanks to their flat design.听听
Otto听DesignWorks听Cinch Lock (From $50)
was designed to secure bikes, but it鈥檚 become a favorite camp accessory because of its versatility. You can lock up your bike or piece of luggage, and because it鈥檚 so compact and only weighs between 145 and听260 grams (depending on the length you go with), it鈥檚 easy to pack. It also works better than most cable locks on the market. Trust us.听