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Proven Picks for Easy Camping
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items My friends and I proudly call ourselves seasoned lazy campers. For more than a decade, we’ve been taking yearly trips to mark life’s milestones, and it’s become one of our favorite traditions. Over the years we’ve gone through a lot of gear, but this...
Sections
5
The Tote
Cooking
Relaxing
Sleeping
Personal Pack
The Tote
*Section under construction* The main reason we end up breaking or losing supplies is simple—we don’t put them away properly when packing up. By the end of the weekend, we’ve had a great time but we’re tired and ready for our own beds. Now we use an ...
Invest in a sturdy tote. This is the one we finally landed on after a lot of trial and error with other options. It fits all of our dry storage easily, and the lid keeps critters out. Since we usually camp at primitive sites, the wheels have been a g...
Sterilite 40 Gallon Wheeled Industrial Storage Tote, Large Bins with Lids ...
This is a smaller first-aid kit we keep in our tote. It keeps everything organized and easy to grab for basic cuts, scrapes and burns. We do have a bigger kit that stays in the car year round as well though.
Pac‑Kit Trailblazer 1 Outdoor First Aid Kit, 65 Pieces
Another one of those things you just want to keep in the camping tote and not have to worry about it for years to come. No batteries to buy or having to check for corrosion every time you go camping. Just a simple light.
Hand Crank Flashlights -4 Pack
Bring a striker kit. They do come in handy and it's pretty cool. Yes, you could just buy a massive pack of lighters (never just bring one, they tend to walk away) and have them around. But where's the fun in that?
SEYIIRE Magnesium Fire Starter Survival Kit
Love these lighters!
BIC EZ Reach Lighters, Pack of 2
We don't always use these but we keep a few in the tote just in case. Great for starting the fire back up after it rains!
Duraflame Indoor/Outdoor Fire Starter
Always have tin foil! If it's kept dry it can last a few trips.
Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil 12"
Sometimes we bring washable dishes when we have a smaller group. But we always have paper plates in the tote just in case.
Disposable Paper Plates, 8.5", 200 Count
Skip the plastic knives. It took us a few trips before realizing you could just buy fork and spoon combo packs.
Plastic Fork and Spoon Combo, 120 Count
Cooking
These are the cooking supplies that have stood the test of time—used year after year and still going strong. Durable, reliable, and worth every bit of space they take up. After every trip, most these things get washed, dried and put right back in the...
First rule of camping: don’t forget your Yeti. Nothing beats that first cup of coffee by the campfire with friends — and when the nights get cold, having soup that actually stays hot is a total lifesaver.
YETI Rambler 20 oz Tumbler with MagSlider Lid
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An extra insulated mug for the friend who forgot theirs. There's always one lol.
14 oz Coffee Mug, Vacuum Insulated Camping Mug with Lid
We switched to these extendable roasting sticks a few years ago and they work really well. I was skeptical at first when my friend brought them out but they were actually really convenient. They have held up great so far, they store easily and theres...
8 Pack Smores Sticks - 34in.
Definitely worth investing in when you are camping with a group. Especially if you aren't bringing a grill. The legs are sturdy and it folds up flat for storage.
Camp Chef Lumberjack Over-the-Fire Grill
When I was a kid my Dad showed us how to make campfire pies with these. They are so nostalgic for me now and we never go camping without them.
Coghlan's Cast Iron Camp Cooker
I have had these knives for 10+ years and they are still sharp. I am not nice to them, they are washed straight in the dish washer. And we have taken them on every camping trip.They are easy to throw in the big tote and safe to travel with because th...
Hampton Forge 3 Pc Printed Paring Knives
Even if you bring bottled water, its a great idea to have at least one of these along while camping. We bring 2 when we have a larger group. Filling 2 of these and hauling them back to camp is way easier than trying to drag a huge 5gal water cooler t...
Igloo 2 Gallon Portable Water Cooler
If you have access to power, this type of kettle is essential for a relaxing cup of coffee in the morning or hot water for washing dishes after a big camp meal. Many of our trips are spent at campgrounds with primitive sites and we just walk this ove...
Mainstays 1.7L Electric Kettle with Auto Shut-Off
This was a gift from my Aunt when I went off to college. She loves to tell us stories of when she lived in the Czech Republic. This was a regular part of her coffee ritual there. Every time I use this pour-over I think of her adventures. I've had it ...
Melitta Pour-Over Filter Cone Coffeemaker
For the pour-over coffee maker. The flat bottom ones work best. Just buy the big pack and store them in a ziplock bag. Now it just lives in the camping tote and it's one less thing we have to think about for the next several years worth of trips.
Melitta #4 Natural Brown Cone Coffee Filters, 100 Ct
We bought this for camping but we use it year round. Any group event is easier with an extra table. We've definitely gotten our moneys worth!
6 ft Heavy Duty Folding Table with Handle
Relaxing
These are the things that turn camping into a true getaway—our cozy favorites for kicking back, staying comfy, and enjoying slow moments around the campsite.
This is one of those things we avoided for a few years because it felt excessive. But now we would never go camping without it. It's so nice to have a place to eat and prep meals out of the rain. And more often than not it will rain for at least one ...
10x10 Pop Up Canopy Tent
We just started using these a few years ago. They add so much to the experience late at night around the campfire. Not to mention how helpful they are when you are trying to find your tent in the dark.
Solar String Christmas Lights, 39FT 100 LED Solar String Lights with 8 Lighting Modes
You'll have the best nap of your life in one of these out in the woods. We have slept in them overnight too when the weather allows. I'd watch a few set-up videos before bringing one out at the campsite though.
Double Camping Hammock
Get a camping chair you can really relax in. I love how wide this one is. It reminds me of the saucer chairs but it folds up for easy storage.
CORE Oversized Padded Round Camping Chair
This is the camping couch of my dreams! Plenty of room to sprawl out or share. and the cooler bags on the side are great for drinks and snacks.
DKMOCO Oversized Padded Double Camping Chair
Sleeping
a rough night of sleep can be a real downer on a camping trip. Here are a few things we have collected over the years to keep ourselves comfortable and dry through all kinds of weather.
This is the only to tent worth buying. Trust me, my group has gone through so many different brands and styles. Now when we set up camp it's just a rainbow of these tents throughout the site. The best feature by far is that the poles are collapsable ...
10' x 9' Ozark Trail Six-Person Dark Rest Tent
We were DONE lugging a huge blow up mattress into our tent every year and having to replace it every other trip. This sleeping pad is sturdy, super compact to store, and self inflating. If we have room we pack an extra egg-crate topper but its not ne...
Lilypelle 4" Self Inflating Double Sleeping Pad
We'll throw this in the car if we have room for a little extra cushion on the sleeping pad.
Mainstays 1.25" 7-Zone Mattress Topper, Full
We always trust the ozark trail products. We've had these sleeping bags for 10+ years and they've held up perfectly. I'd recommend getting the 2 pack and bringing the spare in case of heavy rain or for the friend who probably forgot theirs.
Ozark Trail Cool Weather Rectangular Sleeping Bag (2 pack)
Keep your pillows dry! Even if your tent doesn't leak in the rain, condensation happens. Prevent musty pillows and throw on a waterproof cover.
Waterproof Pillow Protectors with Zipper (2 Pack)
Personal Pack
I'm an efficient duffel packer! I like to keep my camping gear organized so I can find what I need without dumping out my bag in the tent. These are a few things I'd happily recommend to any camper.
The duffel is super compact. It easily holds everything I need and zips up for storage when its not in use.
Protege 20-inch Small Collapsible Duffel Bag
I bought these for the kids when they were little. But they make great wet/dry bags for camping. I like to bring a few and use them as water-proof packing cubes in my duffel bag.
BTEPSGA 4 Pcs Wet Dry Bag
Protect your phone! Put it in a brightly colored, waterproof case for the weekend. I like this one because it has a lanyard attachment, making it easy to keep track of around camp.
MoKo Waterproof Phone Pouch (2 pack)
Bring a book light! It's great for reading in the tent and doubles as a lightweight clip-on light around camp.
Rechargeable Book Light