Buy-It-for-Life Camping Gear, According to a Pro
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Your old camping gear may spark serious nostalgia, but at the end of the day, these items need to dutifully fulfill their job each and every season. If you've been making do with worn, flimsy, or faulty gear, it's time for an upgrade.
To get recommendations on the most durable, long-lasting camping gear for outside adventures, we tapped Outside Magazine’s Digital Managing Director, Abigail Wise. An ardent rock climber and long distance runner, she’s camped from east to west and mountains to desert. Two immediate takeaways from her advice? You don’t need to break the bank for the good stuff, and it’s okay to look outside the camping aisle.
Read on to find out which items Wise suggests will help you make worthwhile camping memories for many years to come.
The North Face Cat’s Meow Sleeping Bag
Even in the warmest months, snoozing outside can get chilly, so having a sleeping bag that keeps you warm is a must. That usually means opting for a “mummy” type bag like The North Face’s Cat’s Meow, which tapers in toward the toes and protects against temps as low as 20 degree Fahrenheit. Some mummy bags can feel constricting, but Wise fits inside alongside her 50-pound lab with comfort. And, after five years, it’s been washed more times than she can count without a hole in sight.
There are many tent styles, but the REI Half Dome 2 series has a great reputation, and it’s what Wise grabs when tent camping. With room enough for two, it packs down small and comes in handy for both car camping and backpacking. Newer versions include a fly cover that rolls up with little effort, so you can fall asleep while gazing up at the stars and quickly drop it down to protect yourself from rain. It’s easy to pitch and comes with the added benefit of REI’s expert repair services to fix any rips or tears.
Ozark Trail Basic Mesh Folding Camp Chair
When it comes to camping gear, sometimes it's best to keep it simple. Proof: Wise swears by this campfire seat that is comfortable, sturdy…and basic—the Ozark Trail Basic Mesh Folding Camp Chair, which she purchased at a Walmart for $12 and has been sitting on for the last seven years. It is light to carry, sets up in under 10 seconds, and even though it doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, it never causes a problem.
Yeti is known for their extremely insulated coolers that are well-suited for car camping, but they also make a line of drinkware reinforced to meet the most important beverage needs of the great outdoors. “It keeps your coffee hot and your margs cold for hours, washes out super easy, and is virtually indestructible,” says Wise. It also doesn’t need to get stowed away after camping season. It fits in most car cup holders and transitions back to your regular routine as a nice reminder of your love of the outdoors. Just don’t forget the lid!
Sandwiches and dehydrated food get the job done, but whipping up some Juicy Lucys or a monster steak in the wild truly feels like luxury (and turns you into an al fresco master chef). The Primus Kuchoma gas grill lets you get that done. It comes with a robust 1lb gas tank, weighs about 10lbs, and packs plenty of cooking space for its compact size. Plus, it is self-igniting, so it’s okay if your matches get wet. If a grill is not in your future, Wise swears by Flaming Hot Cheetos to spruce up lesser meals. “Crushed up, they’re a great topping for the least flavorful of camping meals.”
Buy It Here
You might not think of a game as camping gear, but it's worth considering how you'll occupy yourself after dinner with no screens. Having a go-to, physical game is the perfect way to fill the twilight hours. Wise always reaches for this board and card game, which she says is like Pictionary but for the stars. “You draw a card and have to connect stars on a star map to draw a shape, while your teammates guess what it is. What better place to play than under the actual stars?” Agreed.
Outside you need a light source that can weed whack through the inkiest of dark nights, especially for peace of mind on late night trips to the bathroom. Your best bet, says Wise, is the BD Sprinter 275m, a headlamp which is actually designed for nighttime running. At 275 lumens, it cuts through up to 50 meters of darkness and has a taillight so you can be seen from behind. An overhead strap keeps it fastened to your head, and the rechargeable battery lasts up to 28 hours, which gets you through quite a few moonless nights.
Ultimate Direction Ultra Vesta
The Ultimate Direction’s Ultra Vesta is built for trail runners but it’s also Wise’s pack of choice for camping hikes. Designed to be more energy efficient than a typical day pack, it emphasizes ease of access as well as comfort. It has strategically placed pockets for no-stop access to quick-needs items like water, snacks, and your camera. The 10.8 liter main compartment isn’t huge, but it fits essentials like food and more water. And, if you suffer from chaffing, Wise says this is an excellent choice.
Every camper should have a trusty multi-tool, like a pocketknife. One of the sturdiest options out there, says Wise, is the Leatherman Wave. Made from stainless steel and black oxide, it has 18 tools meticulously packed inside its slim 4-inch long 1-inch wide body—a can opener, bottle opener, screwdrivers (including a bit driver), files, knives, a saw and even replaceable wire cutters. Not all heroes wear capes, sometimes they just have the right tools. Especially so in the wilderness.
Matt Bell is a lifestyle writer with a nose for adventure. He's driven across the U.S. on three different occasions, paid rent in more than one country, and has navigated through more transit terminals than he can remember. His work has been published by Afar, Esquire, Men's Journal, Outside Magazine, Travel and Leisure and more.