Car Camping Essentials
Base camp essentials that take the rough out of roughing it
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REI Nodder Sleeping Bag
REI Nodder Sleeping Bag
REI Nodder Sleeping BagREI’s 25-degree Nodder Sleeping Bag grows with your kid. An attached stuffsack lets you lengthen the bottom as needed. $70; rei.com
Big Agnes Sleeping Giant
Presenting Big Agnes's Sleeping Giant pad cover.
Big Agnes Sleeping Giant
Big Agnes Sleeping GiantBig Agnes Sleeping Giant
For the best night’s sleep you can get in a tent, insert your pad into Big Agnes’s half-inch-thick, memory-foam Sleeping Giant pad cover. $60; bigagnes.com
Platypus CleanStream Gravity Filter
Presenting Platypus's CleanStream gravity filter.
Platypus CleanStream Gravity Filter
Platypus CleanStream Gravity FilterPlatypus CleanStream Gravity Filter
Time to purify water? Just fill Platypus’s CleanStream Gravity Filter and hang it; in 2.5 minutes, you’ll have four clean liters. $100; cascadedesigns.com
Kelty Loveseat
Presenting Kelty's loveseat.
Kelty Loveseat
Kelty’s two-person Loveseat has a sturdy steel frame and, yep, a bottle opener. $80; kelty.com
The North Face Docking Station
Presenting The North Face docking station.
The North Face Docking Station
If you’re hosting a small army, The North Face’s already huge (97 square feet), six-person Docking Station connects with optional “docks” (from $149) to become a multi-room HQ. $429; thenorthface.com
GSI Glacier Stainless Slotted Spatula & Spoon
Presenting GSI's glacier stainless slotted spatula & spoon.
GSI Glacier Stainless Slotted Spoon
GSI Glacier Stainless Slotted SpoonGSI Glacier Stainless Slotted Spatula & Spoon
Get a nice set of camping utensils like GSI’s Glacier Stainless Slotted Spatula and Spoon ($7 each; gsioutdoors.com), plus some nonstick cookware.
MSR Flex 4 System
Presenting MSR's Flex 4 dining system.
MSR Flex 4 System
MSR Flex 4 SystemMSR Flex 4 System
MSR Flex 4 SystemMSR Flex 4 System
MSR’s Flex 4 System, which comes with color-coded insulated mugs and deep-dish plates. $160; msrgear.com
Brunton 2 Burner Stove
Presenting Brunton's 2 burner stove.
Brunton 2 Burner Stove
At $63, Brunton’s 2 Burner Stove offers the most BTUs (24,000) for the buck. brunton.com
GSI Gourmet Camp Kitchen
Presenting GSI's gourmet camp kitchen.
GSI Gourmet Camp Kitchen
You can even bring the kitchen sink: GSI’s Gourmet Camp Kitchen includes cutting boards, wire-rack storage, and a double wash basin (with optional foot pump for running water). $160; gsioutdoors.com