It’s no secret that being outside in nature is good for health and wellbeing, even if it’s just twenty minutes a day. A full-on camping trip, however, brings the nature reward to an entirely new level. Whether you head to a remote site in the desert, a family camping hot spot near a lake, or embark on a backpacking journey with a partner, there’s nothing quite like quality time in nature. It’s a great excuse to disconnect from the real world to connect to yourself again.
But before you go ahead and book a trip, you’ve got to make sure you have the proper gear, including everything you’ll need for your campsite and hiking adventures. If you’re a camping newbie, stores like Backcountry, REI, and Amazon can feel overwhelming with a ton of camping suggestions, you’re not entirely sure about. And if you’re a seasoned vet, you’re probably wondering if your age-old gear, stuffed away in storage can hold up this year.
Lucky for everyone, we’ve put together this guide of the best camping essentials of 2021 to set you up for success outdoors, including the best camping tents, backpacking sleeping bags, hiking backpacks, headlamps, hiking boots, and more. We even went out to a few camping pros who basically do this for a living to get their top recommendations on items they can’t live without. Consider this your camping checklist for your summer adventures in the great outdoors.
Read more: The 2021 Men’s Health Outdoor Awards
Best Camping Tent
Cabin Camping Tent
Different camping trips call for different types of tents, so keep that in mind when shopping for one. If you’re driving to the campsite with a group, the Coleman Cabin camping tent is a great bang for your buck that’s suitable for both camping pros and novices. It’s fool-proof to set up, roomy for up to six people, and has just enough ventilation to keep you covered and comfortable outdoors.
Best Camping Sleeping Pad
Inflatable Camping Sleeping Pad
Say goodbye to pebbled digging into your back as you try to snooze outdoors. This two-inch thick inflatable sleeping pad will make sleeping while camping actually comfortable. With more than 28,000 reviews and 4.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon, it’s a sure bet.
Best Camping Cooler
Roadie 24 Hard Cooler
Ain’t no cooler like a Yeti cooler—and you’re not just paying for the brand name. Sure, it’s an investment, but it’s entirely worth it,
especially if you’re a frequent beach goer, outdoor cookout host, or tailgater. Any Yeti is great, but the Roadie 24 is lighter than its predecessor and holds 20% more. It can hold up to 18 cans and will keep them cold for days.
Read more: Best Camping Coolers
Most Versatile Portable Firepit
FirePit+
Everyone that comes across this fire pit is amazed by its capabilities. While there are other options that can burn fire, this one is extra special and serves as a multi-purpose product that minimizes smoke. You can burn charcoal or wood and control the size of the flame directly through your phone. Plus, you can purchase cooking add-ons to convert the pit into a grill or griddle.
Read more: BioLite FirePit+ Review
Best Camping Lantern
Luci Outdoor 2.0: Solar Inflatable Light
This solar-powered lantern will literally never need batteries. It does the trick of illuminating your space with four different modes: low, medium, high, and flashing. It has a battery level indicator to make sure you never get left in the dark. Plus, it’s compact, lightweight, and with over 4,000 perfect Amazon reviews, it’s the best affordable lantern on the market.
Read more: Best Gifts for Outdoorsmen
Best Camping Stove
Profile Propane Camping Stove & Grill
This gas-powered camping stove by Primus doubles as a grill, bringing your kitchen to the great outdoors. The windscreen will protect your food from debris and keep your flame lit, making it the ultimate outdoor cooktop.
Camping Expert’s Pick
BTR Stool
“I’ve recently fallen in love with my BTR stool from Hillsound Equipment. A lightweight stool might seem like a luxury item, but it’s essential when winter camping, and I always carry it with me in my camera backpack when I’m shooting photos and footage on the trails. There’s nothing like a comfortable chair off the cold ground at the end of a long day on the trail.” — Jeff Pelletier, Trailrunner and Outdoors Filmmaker
Best Camping Sleeping Bag
Cosmic Down 40
Pair this baby with a sleeping pad and you’ll get a deep, solid eight hours in the great outdoors. It features DriDown, which provides solid insulation with a breathable shell. It has a relaxed mummy shape to keep you cozy and snug without extreme compression-like many others in this category.
Best Camping Kit
Compact Adventure Kit
VSSL creates compact necessity kits for any adventure. The replaceable tins inside carry everything from first aid essentials to fire starters to fishing tackle. And the canister itself is an LED flashlight with a built-in compass. Pretty cool, huh?
Best Hiking Backpack
Talon 22
Easy fit adjustment, an external hydration sleeve, side mesh pockets, and helmet and trekking pole attachments make this the perfect do-it-all day pack for your next camping trip.
Camping Expert’s Pick
InReach Mini Satellite Communicator
“Safety is always an important consideration when on the trail. I never head into the backcountry without my Garmin inReach Mini, which is a two-way satellite communicator with GPS. The inReach can allow someone with access to track my location, along with two-way text messaging to standard cell phones, as well as an SOS button to call for help in the worst-case scenario. Devices like this aren’t cheap, but they are an excellent insurance policy and will provide peace of mind to your loved ones just knowing you have it.” — Jeff Pelletier, Trailrunner and Outdoors Filmmaker
Best Camping Skewers
Stainless Steel Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
These steel sticks are so simple, yet so genius. S’mores are a necessity to any camping trip, and these skewers are a perfect solution to achieving that golden brown marshmallow goodness. They feature a collapsible design that is easy to clean and carry. You can even get creative with them by using them to roast veggies, hot dogs, and more!
Best Camping Speaker
Xtreme 3
The JBL Xtreme is the ultimate party starter in the most rugged environment. The waterproof rating exceeds its competition and the bass is close to concert-like. Plus, you get 15 hours of playtime and a built-in power bank so your phone will never die.
Camping Expert’s Pick
100% Grass Fed Organic Beef Sticks, 24 Pack
“I forever love my jerky sticks. It’s my perfect treat snack in high-altitude situations. The flavor burst brings happiness to my face. Mighty organic has some of the best jerky sticks around. I’m not looking to tear a molar out at high altitude chewing on a tough piece of meat, and that’s why I got with the delicious meat sticks!” —Tommy Danger, Adventure expert, hiked climbed six of the seven summits along with 25+ high altitude mountains.
Best Camping Blanket
The Original Puffy
The Rumpl Original Puffy is a camping essential, especially when venturing to areas where the temperatures drop at night. It’s made from 100% recyclable materials and has technology that brings extreme insulation from a shockingly lightweight design. Think of this as your warmest insulated jacket in the form of a machine-washable blanket. It’s also stain, water, and odor-resistant, and it comes with cape clips to keep you warm while keeping your hands free.
Camping Expert’s Pick
UNEEK Shoes
“For the river, my Keens are my favorite camping shoes for sure—they dry fast, have grip and stability, and if you don’t use sunscreen, they’ll leave a pattern on your feet.” — Adam Dulye, Camp chef expert and Executive Chef for the Brewers Association, frequently on rivers and trails, always cooking outside.
Best First Aid Kit
The Mover Max
If you’re going car camping and have the space for it, The Mover Max from JUDY brings you the ultimate first aid kit along with warmth and safety tools for those just-in-case moments. Better safe than sorry.
Best Camping Table
Feather Lite Table
A camping table is one of those items you don’t think you need until you find yourself outdoors without one. This of this as a station for your food, drinks, and other small accouterments. It’s lightweight, packable, and made from sturdy aluminum.
Best Camp Chair
Chair Zero Ultralight Compact Camping Chair
High-tech meets comfort. It’s made of a single shock-corded frame that unfolds and re-snaps together, plus a ripstop polyester sheet you unfurl, stretch on, and ease into with an audible moan of relaxation. And it only weighs a pound.
Best Camping Protein Bar
High Protein Chocolate Bars
This superfood-packed protein bar tastes like a chocolatey dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth. It brings you a healthy dose of protein and fiber, without all the sugar to keep you energized and feeling strong on the trail.
Best Coffeemaker for Camping
Coffee and Espresso Maker
Turns out the simplest way to make coffee is also one of the best-tasting. It’s an easy, tiny luxury, and the perfect way to start a camping weekend outright.
Best Camping Headlamp
HeadLamp 330
Don’t skimp on the camping headlamp. You won’t regret spending a little more on this model, which has a rechargeable battery and the ability to shield the brightness based on your gaze. It’ll change your nights.
Mini Bugout Fine-Edge Knife
At 3.7 inches closed, it’s the perfect in-your-pocket camping knife, ready for anything that needs cutting.
Ducan 24
This lightweight hiking backpack is filled to the brim with technical features like side pockets positioned to allow easy access while walking—as well as an air space suspension system that ensures ventilation for unparalleled comfort. No matter what you’re looking for, this pack has it.
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