Best Camping Gear

Our staff-tested picks for the latest, greatest stuff you need to make your camping trip comfy and fun. Plus: Print our must-have camping list
Best Camping Gear
Jeffery Cross
Written by Lora J. Finnegan April 10, 2009

Solera +15F Women’s Sleeping Bag
This comfy bag’s hourglass shape gives women extra wiggle room around the torso and hips, and piles on insulation in the hood, upper torso, and foot box. $100; slumberjack.com for retailers

Eureka Rapidair Mat
Dual valves mean you won’t have to fiddle with a cap in the race against time when inflating and deflating this luxuriously cushy pad. Three different thicknesses, $70–$175; eurekatent.com

Coleman LED Quad Lantern
Four mini LED flashlights snap together to create this four-in-one lantern. So while the main lantern’s in use, you can pop out a panel to take with you to, say, the latrine. $70; coleman.com

REI Quarter Dome T2 Tent
The mesh roof on this lightweight, easy-to-assemble, three-season, two-person tent makes it perfect for stargazing. $269; rei.com

Century 4680 Matchless Stove
You can ignite this lightweight two-burner stove with the push of a button. $62; centurycamping.com for retailers

MSR Flex  4 System
These pots, plates, and mugs for four are color-coded and easy to pack. $160; msrgear.com

Photo by Jeffery Cross
  • Coleman Party Stacker Cooler. Keep like foods with like foods with a couple of these stacking coolers. Ideal for the organized camp cook. Three sizes, $28–$35; coleman.com
  • Planetary Design Double Shot Press Mug. Join an insulated mug with a built-in plunger and―voilà!―it’s a French press. $29; amazon.com.
  • Jetboil Personal Cooking System. These ultracompact and fuel-efficient units are hot and fast―they can boil two cups of water in two minutes. From $80; jetboil.com
  • Freeplay Energy Indigo Lantern. It’s an area light, flashlight-style directional light, and―with the flip of the dimmer switch―a night-light, all in one. Bonus: The crank handle’s fun to play with. $50; amazon.com.

Coleman Party Stacker Cooler
Keep like foods with like foods with a couple of these stacking coolers. Ideal for the organized camp cook. Three sizes, $18–$25; coleman.com

REI Double Shot Press Mug
Join an insulated mug with a built-in plunger and ― voilà! ― it’s a French press. $29; rei.com

Jetboil Personal Cooking System
This ultracompact and fuel-efficient unit is hot and fast ― it boils two cups of water in two minutes. $100; jetboil.com

Freeplay Energy Indigo Lantern
It’s an area light, flashlight-style directional light, and ― with the flip of the dimmer switch ― a night-light, all in one. Bonus: The crank handle’s fun to play with. $42; freeplayenergy.com

More:  Get our printer-friendly must-have camping list

 

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