Ultimate Camping Gear Guide (2024)

A successful camping trip starts with packing the right gear to help you brave the elements. But if your equipment list is spartan and you’re only focused on what helps you make it through the weekend, you’re doing it wrong. A few creature comforts make your time outdoors that much more enjoyable, and many are available at a reasonable price. This list includes gear and apparel we’ve tested ourselves and use on our own trips, as well as items from brands we trust that we’ve researched and evaluated from afar. Throw them in your trunk, and your trip will already be off to a good start.

Related: The Ultimate Backpacking Checklist | The Ultimate RV Camping Gear Guide

Make sure to check the local regulations at your destination before you leave. Most public and private campgrounds are open but continue to operate on protocols to mitigate spreading the virus. While you’re there, consider saving trips to popular trails or other attractions for future visits to avoid crowds.

If we hadn’t known the price before we tested it, we might have assumed the Tuck costs twice as much as it does. The spacious shape allowed us to sleep in a variety of positions and still stay warm. The hood and draft tube felt like luxurious touches. Plus, the zipper placement, which runs across the width of the bag at the shins, lets you create a foot vent for dumping heat.

We never thought a pillow would be partially responsible for our stoke ahead of car-camping weekends. Then we slept on the Drift. Shredded memory foam creates a 5.5-inch-thick platform to rest your head on that we found to be plush yet supportive. The ripstop polyester side of the reversible case repels water and dirt. Turn it inside out, and jersey cotton offers next-to-skin softness.

The 9.4-inch curved hickory shaft on the Jonaker offers leverage for light-duty campground tasks, like making kindling and driving tent stakes into the ground. The 1-pound Swedish steel head is designed to maintain its sharp edge and, when not in use, is protected by an included leather sheath.

Don’t get caught in the field without a first aid kit. The Sportsman has enough bandages, moleskin, and medication for a four-day excursion, and labeled, injury-specific pockets make finding the tools and supplies you need a cinch.

The Ignite Plus still reigns supreme in our camp stove testing on account of its massive cook surface—large enough for two 12-inch pans—and excellent simmer control. Boiling water takes a bit longer, but not burning dinner makes it worth the wait.

Our tactics for determining how much fuel was left in a propane tank used to be time-consuming, unreliable, or both. Now, we power on the Bernzomatic, clip the device to an open canister, and look at the approximate measurement, displayed on screen in quarter segments. (Jetboil also has the JetGauge specifically for backpacking canisters.) For long trips, skip a standard-size 16-ounce fuel canister for Ignik’s Gas Growler Deluxe, a 1.2-gallon refillable tank.

Cook up a feast with this 21-piece set from Stanley. It has plates, bowls, and sporks for four people, as well as a 3.5-liter pot, a seven-inch frying pan, a cutting board, a dish rack, and utensils. Everything nests and locks together for unfussy carting from your car to campsite and back.

Sporks have their time and place (backpacking, for instance, when dehydrated grub is commonplace). But for car-camping trips, dig into your meal with proper utensils. This full-size set can endure rugged settings thanks to its titanium build.

Don’t be fooled by its retro look—this 12-ounce, lightweight mug is no relic from the camping days of yore. MiiR installs vacuum-insulation and a lid to keep drinks hot or cold for hours. We also like the comfortable handle and the lid’s tight-fitting seal, which prevents dribbles and leaks.

The three-cup version of this percolator is perfect for a couples trip and the 12-cup version is large enough for you and your crew to get your caffeine fix. The stainless-steel handle has a silicone grip so you can safely pour a cup when your coffee is done brewing. For freshly ground beans, use VSSL’s Java coffee grinder.

We absolutely love the Roadie 48. It took the top spot when we tested and reviewed coolers for its insulating capability, all-terrain wheels, and smooth-sliding periscopic handle. It also comes with a dry basket that’s easy to reach and handy for storing food and snacks.

Add a homey touch to your alfresco dining with this affordable tablecloth set. The vinyl fabric is easy to clean and stays in place thanks to six steel clamps.

Don’t be the person who leaves their campsite trashed. Best case scenario, you’ll be pissing off the campground staff or the next group of visitors. Worst case, your scraps pose a threat to wildlife. Avail yourself of this pop-up trash can that folds flat for transport and storage and extends into a 33-gallon bin with handles and a zip top.

This lightweight flameless lighter, powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, uses an arcing electrical current to light things on fire. The rubberized exterior is easy to grip, and an LED light on the bottom makes for a useful flashlight in a pinch. The wrist lanyard combines three feet of paracord with an equally long tinder thread. Of course, it can’t hurt to have a few waterproof matches stashed away just in case.

Sure, it’s cool to ignite your fire with a ferro rod. But we’re not judging if you reach for a quick-starting flammable fire starter instead. That’s usually our move. This package comes with 30 lightweight packs of the wood, rock, and paraffin material. Just pop one in your fire pit, light a match, and watch your fire get going in a matter of seconds.