The Best Camping Gear

Wise Owl Outfitters Camping Hammock

This camping hammock will elevate your outdoor experience — literally. Wise Owl Outfitters’ take on the classic sleep sling begins with a high-quality, heavy-duty construction out of 210T parachute nylon. The result is an incredibly durable, comfortable hammock that is also lightweight and compact. Both the SingleOwl and DoubleOwl versions of this hammock weigh less than two pounds and, when fully compressed, are no larger than an eggplant. The hammock includes tree straps and carabiners for a speedy one-minute setup. With all of these features, this hammock is sure to take your next outdoor hangout swing in a more relaxed direction.

Pros:

• Constructed from 210T ripstop nylon weave
• Both lightweight and compact
• Sets up in as little as one minute
• Straps come with loops for five different adjustments of height and comfort level

Cons:

• Isn’t waterproof

Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag

If you’re venturing into the outdoors, then you’re going where the environment is unpredictable. You’re going where you’d want to have Earth Pak’s waterproof dry bag. Constructed from 500D PVC material, this bag is fully waterproof and resistant to abrasions and punctures. This is a bag that is capable of protecting your most valuable personal items year after year. Earth Pak offers their dry bags in a variety of colors and sizes — from a compact, single-strap 10-liter daypack to a double-strap 55-liter backpack — so you’ll be properly packing for whatever nature throws at you. If you want your gear perfectly protected from rain, sleet, or sand, this is the bag for you.

Pros:

• Constructed from 500D PVC
• Available in multiple sizes and colors
• Includes an IPX8 6.5-inch waterproof phone case

Cons:

• No interior pockets

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Wherever you are in nature, water is a necessity. Either you bring your water with you, or you find it along the way. The LifeStraw will purify virtually any natural water source that you happen to come across in the wild. It features lab-tested, advanced membrane technology that will strain 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, and microplastics from water. This microbiological filter lasts for 1,000 gallons of clean and safe drinking water and doesn’t expire, so you can rest assured that it’ll function when you need it to. However you’re camping, if you’re out in the wilderness, the LifeStraw is a tool you shouldn’t adventure without.

Pros:

• Advanced filtration technology
• Meets US EPA, NSF, and ASTM protocols for water purifiers
• Filters while drinking
• Ultracompact and ultralight

Cons:

• Can’t filter chemical toxins

Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp

A headlamp made with every user in mind, Black Diamond’s Spot 350 is a perfect balance of utility, durability, and simplicity, all at a competitive price. Featuring a new, compact design and a multi-faceted optical lens, this headlamp can emit up to 350 lumens of light on its max setting, all while being easy on the head. Its brightness memory enables you to conveniently turn the headlamp on and off at a chosen brightness, while its PowerTap technology allows instant transitioning between multiple light modes. Should your expeditions become watery, the Spot 350 also features an IPX8 waterproof housing, allowing it to operate up to 1.1 meters underwater for 30 minutes. If you want a high-quality light source at a low price, this headlamp is for you.

Pros:

• Emits up to 350 lumens
• Weighs three ounces with batteries
• Red light mode
• Waterproof

Cons:

• Headlamp is not rechargeable

Marmot Limestone Four-Person Camping Tent

A good tent makes the difference between a good night’s rest and no rest at all. Marmot’s four-person camping tent is the kind of shelter that combines reliability, comfort, durability, and portability. With a canopy constructed from 40-denier polyester mesh and 68-polyester taffeta and a rainfly made from 68-denier ripstop polyester, this tent can consistently brave the elements for the majority of the year. As indicated by its name, this tent offers enough space for four adults. Marmot’s Zone Pre-Bend design creates vertical interior walls for increased interior space. The color-coded, easy-pitch clips and additional pole and pole-sleeve combination make this tent quick to set up. Because of these features and more, this tent is the one you want for your next trip into the great outdoors.

Pros:

• Weatherproof and spacious construction
• Easy setup
• Weighs under 12 pounds

Cons:

• Doesn’t include tent footprint

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which gear I need for camping?

The kind of camping you want to do determines the type of gear you need. Most camping involves staying out in nature in some sort of shelter — usually a hammock, a tent, or a car. In general, you should be prepared to bring a backpack that has a volume of 30 – 50 liters, a packable sleeping bag and sleeping pad, a hammock or tent, an extra pair of socks and underwear, a portable light source, and six to eight meals’ worth of food.

What kind of tent should I buy?

Your camping environment determines your tent, but it’s important to consider all settings you would want to camp in — what they are like and during which season.

Tents are generally categorized by season and shape, with the former being most important. One-season and two-season tents are basic tents designed for summer use. They’re not intended to endure inclement weather at all. Three-season tents are the most common and are designed for regular use throughout spring, summer, and fall weather. Four-season tents are intended primarily for winter and will often be uncomfortable in warmer seasons. They’re also more expensive. Last, five-season tents are specialized expeditionary tents for extreme weather environments.