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To us, spending time outside is an absolute necessity. And camping is one of our favorite ways to do that. Where else can you get dirty with the people you love the most (or by yourself, if you’re into that), immerse yourself in a forest of color-changing leaves, sleep under the stars, wake up to a dew-covered tent on a brisk fall morning, eat flame-cooked meals, roast marshmallows, and sing “Kumbaya”?
A handful of our editors are pretty obsessed with camping; we grew up camping with our parents and have made a lifestyle out of time spent in the woods with our loved ones. Without question, fall is our favorite time of the year to wake up in a tent. We make tons of quick weekend escapes throughout Colorado and New York, and plan at least one longer camping trip every year to places like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Moab, Glacier National Park, Olympic National Park, Iceland, South America, and many more — because nothing recharges our batteries better than some unplugged adventures.
Camping has come a long way from the days of canvas tents, PVC folding chairs, and cooking a can of beans over the fire. Whether you're going backpacking in the Adirondacks or car-camping in Yosemite National Park, here is your ultimate checklist of camping essentials we swear by.
From shelter and warmth to food, toiletries, games, bear spray (yes, bear spray), and stuff for your pup, this is the best camping gear that will enhance even the most experienced hiker's outdoor adventure.
GET THE BEST SLEEP
From sleeping bags to sleeping pods and everything in between, here's what you need to bring some coziness to the great outdoors.
Intex Prestige Downy Airbed Kit With Hand-Held Battery Pump
The key to a good air mattress while camping is recognizing before you get to the campsite that you probably won't have electricity. Thankfully, this queen airbed comes with a handheld electric pump — just don't forget six C batteries for said pump.
This Intex is offered in full- and twin-sized options, with a price tag that is definitely worth it for a better night's sleep. Just be sure your campsite is cactus-free.
More: The Best Four-Season Tents to Bring Warmth to Winter Camping
TETON Sports Mammoth Queen-Size Double Sleeping Bag
TETON Sports Mammoth Queen-Size Double Sleeping Bag
Grab your boo and your sleeping bag, too. This queen-size double bag has plenty of space for two and can keep you warm in temperatures as low as zero degrees, so it's great for cold fall nights at higher elevations where temperatures can drop below freezing. It has a super soft poly-fleece liner that feels like your winter sheet set.
The Mammoth is much plumper than a packable sleeping bag, which adds a different level of comfort and makes sleeping on the ground tolerable. And it comes with a stuff sack, so you won't have to fumble with trying to roll up this behemoth when it's time to hit the road.
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When your comforter from sixth grade just won't cut it for mountainside chilling, replace it with this ultra comfy camping blanket, filled with post-consumer recycled synthetic insulation. The exterior fabric is ripstop nylon that's treated with DWR (Durable Water Repellent), so it resists moisture and damage.
It also compresses pretty darn small, so you can stuff it in your backpack and spread it out when you find the perfect stargazing spot on a chilly October night.
Not a big fan of the puffy blankets? You’re in luck. Rumpl now makes these incredibly soft wool blankets, made from a 50/50 blend of responsibly sourced Australian merino wool and organic cotton. They’re reversible and sold in throw, queen, and king sizes.
Use it in the car en route to your campsite, add some extra comfort to your sleeping setup, or wrap yourself up while you sip morning coffee in a beautiful yellow aspen grove. Trust us — this blanket makes relaxation contagious.
Country Living The Field Guide: Eating Outdoors
Country Living editors share everything you need to cook up and plan an amazing outdoor adventure. This full-color, beautifully crafted keepsake includes 100-plus recipes and ideas for camping, picnics, porch parties, and more.
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If car camping is your go-to but you want a sleeping bag that can also handle the occasional backpacking trip, this Kelty is your pick. It's not the lightest or most packable sleeping bag, but it's affordable and does what it needs to do: It packs down small, keeps you warm, and holds your sleeping pad in place so you won’t roll off of it.
The warmth-to-weight ratio of this down sleeping bag is ideal for backpacking — especially on brisk nights — and a larger toe box gives you the freedom to move around in the heat of the night. It's the perfect bag for countless nights of camping from your trunk, with the option to head off-grid if your feet want to take you there.
More: 11 Best Down Sleeping Bags for Better Sleep Outdoors
Therm-a-Rest Air Head Lite Inflatable Travel Pillow
Whether you're camping an hour away from home or venturing overseas for a 3-week Andean backpacking trip, Therm-a-Rest's newest offering is up for the challenge. We've taken it on numerous flights and camping trips and can now call it our top choice when space is limited.
The huge amount of comfort stuffed into such a small package makes this one of our favorite extras for nearly all travel.
More: 8 Best Camping Pillows for Better Sleep
Next time you head out on a backpacking or kayaking trip, moisture is pretty much a given — and a wet sleeping bag can really put a damper (pun intended) on the trip’s vibe. Big Agnes’ Anvil Horn is treated with DownTek, so the feathers absorb 33% less moisture and dry 66% faster than standard down.
With 650-fill power down, this bag has a solid warmth-to-weight ratio compared to many other bags. Translation: It’s warm, relatively lightweight, and compresses well enough for backpacking, as long as you value comfort over minimalism.
If you’ve never tried a Big Agnes System bag, it’s time to catch up. They have an integrated sleeve on the underside that holds most inflatable sleeping pads, which is the perfect solution for keeping restless sleepers from slipping and sliding off their pad. We swear by this design and pretty much always favor it when camping.
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Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Sleeping Bag Liner
Appalachian Gear Company All-Paca Sleeping Bag Liner
Tired of the clammy feel of a sleeping bag's insides? Slide this incredibly soft liner inside your sleeping bag to instantly turn a basic sleep setup into a luxurious one.
This sleeping bag liner is made of alpaca wool, which is softer than your favorite merino wool base layer. It also adds around 15 degrees of warmth, which should help cut the chill out of a brisk night.
One of our writers, Andrew Bettlach, has been loving this addition to his camping gear. He's most excited to bring this to Patagonia, where this liner will turn a rental sleeping bag into a dream cave.
If you're tired of getting down onto the ground (even if it's on an air mattress), a cot is what you need. You'll be pleasantly surprised to find out that the Teton XXL cot is actually bigger than a twin mattress.
The aluminum frame and S-shaped steel legs can support up to 600 pounds. Its size and stability even make it a great option for out-of-town guests if you run out of couch space in the basem*nt.
Most single camping mattresses are either too small or too prone to rips and tears. But ust’s Fillmatic is the perfect size for one person, and solid enough for frequent outdoor use.
This thick sleeping pad is made from 4 inches of open-cell foam cushioning, so it’s perfect for restless side sleepers even when the ground isn’t perfectly flat. The fabric is thicker than your typical sleeping pad, so punctures are highly unlikely. It’s self-inflating, too, so you won’t pass out trying to blow this pad up with your lungs.
In addition to camping, we’ve used this mattress for group travel (like ski trips) when floor space is the only remaining option, and our friends are always curious. It’s a legit game changer — trust us.
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The Ear Buddy Noise-Cancelling Ear Plugs (50-Pair)
Your friends will thank you for passing this bottle around the campfire before bed, especially if you're the one who snores. It's pretty quiet in the wilderness, and one snoring body or overactive bladder in a big group can keep everyone up all night.
Every camping trip can benefit from a few thick, woven Mexican blankets. They come in handy for keeping cozy by the fire, adding layers underneath your sleeping bag, keeping some dirt off your car seats, and as an entryway mat for your sleeping bag. You can even roll one out and use it to, yup, as the name suggests, practice yoga with the rising sun.
Here's another amazing invention we didn't know existed until we needed it — desperately. Tenacious makes super-strong, waterproof adhesive repair tape for tents, tarps, backpacks, ski gear, and so much more. Carry it with you anytime you're camping, but especially when backpacking.
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ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 5-Person Tent
Not enough cargo space for an oversized eight-person tent? This roomy tent is perfect for spring, summer, and fall ... and up to six people, or most reasonable combinations of humans and dogs.
Its rainfly and floor are waterproof-coated, all seams are taped for waterproofing, and the body is a breathable polyester and mesh blend. There's ample ventilation, too, in case you're a hot body in the night.
Poler's Napsack is the O.G. of wearable sleeping bags. Zippers at each shoulder let you free your arms to feed the fire, the cinch-closure bottom frees your legs (and can even be pulled up to function more like a puffy jacket), hand pockets keep snacks and your pocket knife close, the insulated hood warms your noggin, and a cell phone-sized chest pocket keeps your lifeline nearby.
Toss this wearable sleeping bag in your trunk and it may just become the most-used piece of gear you own. It's reversible, too, so you can keep the business side clean for wearing around the house, then flip it to the party side when you're up late with tunes, drinks, and flames in the woods.
More: 6 Wearable Sleeping Bags for Camping, Sporting Events, and Bonfires
When your car is stuffed to the gills for a cross-country National Park road trip or your backpack is bursting at the seams, every inch of space counts. Stuff your sleeping bag (or clothing) in this waterproof compression sack, close it up, cinch it down, and watch it shrink in size. The one-way valve lets air out without letting water in, so all the contents stay dry, even if your boat (or car) capsizes.
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BUILD THE ULTIMATE CAMPSITE
Because every campsite should have its extra perks, here's everything you need to create the best atmosphere.
These bright LED bulbs are easy to hang inside of a tent, on a tree branch, or just about anywhere a little extra glow could come in handy. They're battery-operated, so as long as you have batteries, you have light.
More: Brighten the Night With the 9 Best Camping Lanterns
