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Family Camping Essentials 🏕️
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items Are you a tent camper or do you want to be? These are our tried and true recommendations for tent camping from a family of four plus one pup who have adventured all over the US in a tent.
Map
Sections
5
Sleeping
Eating
Activities
Apparel
Pets
Sleeping
A comfortable setup for sleeping is so important with tent camping. Here are our top recommendations for the entire family.
A high-quality sleeping bag is so important for camping! We absolutely love our sleeping bags from Marmot and have one a piece.
Marmot Trestles Elite Eco 30 Sleeping Bag - Men's | REI Co-op
A sleeping pad is so useful for tent camping. We love these self-inflatable mats and the ease they bring for setup.
Therm-a-Rest BaseCamp Sleeping Pad | REI Co-op
If you tend to get cold while camping or would like to extend your season, a propane heater, like this one will help immensely. We have one and it makes a huge difference.
Powersense Heater
We have these exact rubs for storing our sleeping mats, bags, and bedding for camping. They are easy to stack and super affordable.
Storage Tote in Black with Yellow Lid
We love hanging a small, portable lantern from the top of our tent to make it more comfortable and to add some ambiance.
Radiant 314 Rechargeable Lantern
In the warmer months, it is so nice to have a little air flow and circulation in the tent. Here is a great option, similar to ours, that can be hung or set up.
Camping Fan with Light
We absolutely love our Wawona 6 tent and have had it for a number of years! The footprint is perfect for a family of four and includes great space to store gear in the annex. It is a bit of an investment, but so worth it!
The North Face Wawona 6 Tent | REI Co-op
Eating
We’ve tested so many products in this space to give you our top recommendations for making food prep in the wilderness easier.
We have this exact camp kitchen from Kelty and love how easy it is to set up and use. We love hanging it from a tree, our car, or laying it flat on a table. Plus, it is so nice for organizing your kitchen items.
Camp Galley Deluxe Bag
We love our collapsible sink and how convenient it is for storing when we are finished washing dishes or small articles of clothing.
Flat Pack Collapsible Sink - 16 L
If you are a coffee lover, we would recommend our Aeropress. It’s compact and easy to use.
AeroPress Coffee Makers | The French Press Alternative
We love our Nanopresso for making a fancy shot of espresso while out in nature.
WACACO Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker
We love our Coleman camp stove. It’s simple to use with propane, cute, and has two burners.
Cascade Classic Camp Stove
We have this set of roasting sticks and absolutely love them! Our favorite part is the rotator built in to make for even cooking.
Jolly Green Rotating Marshmallow Roasting Sticks
Activities
Here are some fun and simple recommendations for activities you can do in the wild, if just listening to nature and staring at its grander isn’t enough for you.
Our favorite board game of all time that is perfect to play out in nature while sitting around the fire or a picnic table.
Keymaster Games Parks (2nd Edition)
We absolutely love to hammock while camping. If you are going with multiple people, you might enjoy the double nest hammock from Eno. You can also get a single nest, which is great for one person.
ENO DoubleNest Hammock | REI Co-op
A cute little water color set to take on your next adventure and capture what you see.
Mini Watercolor Palette Paint Set Travel Size -
We love to bring an assortment of Frisbees and balls when we go camping to allow for open ended activities at our campsite.
Frisbee
For years, we have used and loved our Osprey Poco baby carrier. It is perfect for taking hikes and walks with your baby or toddler.
Osprey Poco Child Carrier | REI Co-op
We do not own this set (yet), but it would be absolutely perfect for camping and for use as an evening activity with the whole family.
Starlux Games Capture the Flag REDUX
Apparel
Staying comfortable, warm, and cozy while camping is so important. Here are the pieces and brands we love!
The perfect mid-layer piece to wear for a cool camping morning. Super high quality and a variety of colors. I personally own the dark green.
Global Wool Sweater - Women's
My husband and I both own global jackets and love them. They are a simple layer to ward off the cool on a camping morning.
Global Jacket - Men & Women’s
Good, high-quality socks are so important when camping. We love these from Topo that truly keep your feet warm.
Mountain Socks
Chaco sandals are a camping must-have. Between water activities, sitting around a fire, or in and out of a tent, they are a necessity.
Chaco Sandals
My husband and I both own a Dopp Kit by Topo Designs and absolutely love the functionality and organization. It provides for cosmetics or small items when camping.
Dopp Kit
I have owned my Blundstone boots for years and absolutely love them! They are perfect for being in the outdoors!
Blundstone USA Boots
Pets
If you have a furry friend that joins you on adventures, here’s what we’d recommend.
We have one of these for our dog Buckley and it feels just like a sleeping bag. It’s compact-able and super easy to wash!
Camping Dog Bed
This pot wax is perfect for use before taking your dog on a hike out in the wilderness. As a bonus, it’s made in the USA.
Dog Paw Trail Wax 2oz
These treats are absolutely adorable and are so fun for when you want to include your pup in the making of s’mores!
Bocce's Bakery Campfire S'Mores Dog Treats
A necessity for pet owners. A super comprehensive first aid kit to have on hand.
Cat & Dog First Aid Kit for Car
We absolutely love this bag for carrying treats, poop bags, a water bowl, and any other necessities while hiking with our dog.
Mountain Hydro Hip Pack