Spring and early summer are a great time of year to go camping, and we hope that these best camping gear picks will inspire you to get out and enjoy the best of season, and the great outdoors! If your excursion to the outdoors is a consistent outing, you may want to look at getting yourself a motorhome to accompany you, if you’re a buying second hand one you may want to look online at sites like autofinanceonline.co.uk to see about the best deals for you.
Backpacks for Any Occasion
Weighing in at only 1 lb, 14 oz, Cotopaxi’s go-to mid-sized daypack has a classic canvas look, roomy enough for both daily and extended travels. Each backpack is guaranteed to last the human lifespan, and the company gives a portion from each purchase back to various human aid charities around the globe.
An ultralight backpack designed for hiking comfortably – even with a load of over 40 lb. Coming in at between 4.4 and 4.8 lbs (depending upon size), the new Anti-Gravity Suspension in this backpack makes it feel like you’re not even wearing it. Includes internal sleeve for a hydration bladder, and an adjustable harness and load lifters that keep the pack’s weight suspended off your back, increasing airflow and comfort.
Designed with a rugged cotton canvas fabric and tough suede leather bottom, the Cotopaxi Kilimanjaro Pack is a go-to lifestyle daypack that’s stylish enough for commutes and college campuses, but tough enough for travels abroad. The price is affordable, too.
Made with Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel fabric, this smaller crossover pack is highly weather-resistant, super durable and designed to carry whatever necessities you may need on the trail.
What to Wear on the Trails
Fleece and wool are great for warmth, but when you’re packing light, they can take up much needed space in a backpack. L.L. Bean’s Downtek line is virtually weightless, remarkably warm and highly water resistant – with this model coming in as their most packable style. We liked this lightweight sweater style jacket for it’s utility use, too-lots of pockets to stash snacks, sunglasses, lighters, and more, weighing in at only 10 ounces. Convenient for trail use, it packs into its own pocket, repelling 33% more moisture than untreated down and provides just enough warmth without being overly hot during spring temperature fluctuations.
Incredibly warm and light, this jacket is useful all year-round, and packs up super small for travel. A compact alternative to fleece, the Packaway jacket’s ripstop nylon exterior is also treated to shed water and block wind. Definitely a go-to item for camping.
If you’re ready to take a dip in the river, look no further than United by Blue. Their sturdy and well-cut boardshorts are a classic look, with just as much function as they have form. Crafted from a blend of recycled polyester and spandex, these boardshorts have the stretch you need to stay comfortable on the water. The tie closure has a hidden privacy flap-a nice touch vs. traditional velcro or snap closures. Their new, Stillwater pattern is shown here. Boardshort sizes run a bit large, so be sure to take that into consideration when ordering. $64 on their website. Gorham Tee also shown, $36. Each purchase takes a pound of trash out of the oceans, so you can purchase knowing you’re doing good for Planet Earth.
What to Eat on the Trail
Hydration on the Go
Keep that coffee hot! An absolute camping essential needed for the array of liquids your family will be bringing, is a superior Thermos. SIGG has just introduced their state of the art Hot/Cold collection that will hold every liquid you need. The new Hot/Cold collection comes in 4 sizes (0.3L, 0.5L, 0.75L, 1.0L) and 6 new colors for 2015.
SIGG has also just release a BPA and PVC free lightweight version of their popular water bottle, with a leak proof active top that promises to keeps you hydrated, and your gear free of spills. Their unique bite and sip feature makes it easy to grab a drink while you’re on the go, and even when left open, we noticed little to no leakage from the cap. $14.99 on MySIGG.com.
Food & Drink Storage (aka, where to put the beer!)
Light, Bright, and Powered Up
A critical piece of hiking gear is a good light, and in the case of emergency, a way to power up your GPS or cell phone.
First Aid and Bug Free Zone
Created by Herbalist Doctor Julia Fedorekno, the all-natural repellent meets the highest standards of efficacy and differentiates itself as the ONLY clinically proven, all natural organic product that repels ticks and mosquitos for four hours. It’s also made with essential oils and botanical butters, so in addition to protecting you and your loved ones from bugs, it also doubles as a pleasant-smelling moisturizer, unlike DEET-based products. Officially tested in the Florida woods at dusk, this little bar definitely helps to repel unwanted pests like mosquitoes and gnats. Approximately $30 on their website.
Whether you decide to take the afternoon to hike the trails, plan a serious mountain excursion, or just go ‘glamping’ for the weekend, we hope these camping accessories will put a little more function in your outdoor escape. Get out there and enjoy the weather-nature is calling! If you’re looking for more in-depth camping information such as advice on what to do when the temperature changes, take a look at 50campfires.com.
I’m bored to death at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome blog!