Sleep like a baby
This cushy setup gives new meaning to sleeping “on the ground.”
- Tall and roomy tent. The Mountainsmith Conifer 5+ tent has a 6-foot ceiling and 117 square feet of floor space, with mesh panels that make it feel even bigger. $399; mountainsmith.com
- Rugged welcome mat. The tough but welcoming indoor/outdoor mats from Plastica help keep you from tracking dirt inside. From $105; plasticashop.com
- Super-comfy sleeping pad. The MegaMat self-inflates, can be tethered to another one to create a queen-size bed, and rivals any “real” mattress for comfort. $219; exped.com
- Chic extras. lambswool throw (spread out; $144; alderandcoshop.com); striped wool blanket in charcoal with natural (bottom of stack; $198; coyuchi.com); Soho throw (top of stack; $145; alderandcoshop.com).
Cook like a pro
With gear like this, you’ll want to be the first one up to cook your favorite camping recipes.
- Soft-sided coolers. The Folding Coolers chill almost as well as the old Coleman, but collapse for easy storage. From $55; kelty.com
- Quick-setup workstand. REI’s Camp Kitchen snaps together in minutes, with space for camp cooking and storing. $89; rei.com
- Stove with firepower. The Primus Firehole 100 has 2 powerful burners, match-free ignition, and an easy-clean design. $170; rei.com
- Quick-boil kettle. Tea lovers can get to steeping quickly with a fast-boil, ultralight Halulite tea kettle. $25; gsioutdoors.com
- No-space bowl. Collapsible bowls squish for easy transport. $10; containerstore.com
- Quality knife & board. The Chopping Board Set’s chef’s knife nestles into a cutting-board case with no-slip corners. From $40; snowpeak.com
- Handy extras. Forest tea towel (on table; $14; makelike.com); 12-in. seasoned cast-iron skillet ($40; lodgemfg.com); Hanna tea towel (on shelf; $26; shop.leahduncan.com).
Get off the ground
The best way to make camp feel luxurious? An air mattress, like the Coleman Quickbed ($75; coleman.com) with built-in pump (use an adapter for your car’s power outlet). The REI Kingdom 4 Tent ($389; rei.com) easily fits the bed.
Use comfort touches from home
Wake up in your own sheets to birdsong and mountain views—if only home were this spectacular. The alpaca throw ($179; crateandbarrel.com) adds warmth.
Treat your feet
An indoor-outdoor throw rug (similar rugs from $49; vivaterra.com) or a pair of slippers makes you forget your floor is dirt.
Bring a chair with a back
No one wants to sit slumped at a picnic table after a day of hiking. Instead, bring a folding chair and relax in style. Teak folding stool: $288; dwr.com
Create mood lighting
Once you’re done cooking, there’s no need to blind each other with headlamps or flashlights. Lanterns from $17 at worldmarket.com.
Do the dishes
The collapsible Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink stands on its own when full, and lets you keep up your beauty routine. $27/10-liter size; seatosummit.com
Dim the lights
The Snow Peak Hozuki LED lantern has a continuous dimmer and a candle mode, which flickers in the breeze. $100; snowpeak.com
Set up your screen
Joby GorillaMobile for iPhone acts as a tripod for travel photos ... or stabilizes your screen in case you can’t go a night without your favorite show. $40; joby.com
Kick up your heels
Set up the Eagles Nest DoubleNest in two minutes using the company’s Slap Straps ($20). Then lounge away until the dinner bell rings. $70; eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com
Get cooking
A portable stove is an essential on any camping checklist. The Camp Chef Everest stove has nearly twice the BTUs of standard models and is big enough for a 10-inch frying pan and dutch oven side-by-side. $125; campchef.com
Spice up your meals
How to store camp spices in a post–film canister world? In a compact 6-compartment GSI Outdoors Spice Missile. $10; gsioutdoors.com
Sip in style
Camp cups are for cocoa. The base of the GSI Outdoors Glacier wineglass unscrews and nests into the rim for storage. $14; gsioutdoors.com
Don't sacrifice your espresso
The Rok manual espresso maker is for the obsessive who can’t go a few days without a proper pressurized shot. $150; amazon.com.
More gear for comfy nights at camp
- Solera +15F Women's Sleeping Bag. This comfy bag’s hourglass shape gives women extra wiggle room around the torso and hips, and piles on insulation in the hood, upper torso, and foot box. $84; camptrailz.com.
- Eureka Sleeping Pad. The right padding can make a world of difference in your sleeping comfort. Eureka! sells a variety of thicknesses and sizes. From $50; eurekacamping.com
- Coleman LED Quad Lantern. Four mini LED flashlights snap together to create this four-in-one lantern. So while the main lantern’s in use, you can pop out a panel to take with you to, say, the latrine. $80; coleman.com
- REI Quarter Dome 2 Tent. The mesh roof on this lightweight, easy-to-assemble, three-season, two-person tent makes it perfect for stargazing. $350; rei.com
- Century 4680 Matchless Stove. You can ignite this lightweight two-burner stove with the push of a button. $90; amazon.com.
- MSR Flex 4 System. These pots, plates, and mugs for four are color-coded and easy to pack. $160; msrgear.com
More great camp cooking gear
- Coleman Party Stacker Cooler. Keep like foods with like foods with a couple of these stacking coolers. Ideal for the organized camp cook. Three sizes, $28–$35; coleman.com
- Planetary Design Double Shot Press Mug. Join an insulated mug with a built-in plunger and―voilà!―it’s a French press. $29; amazon.com.
- Jetboil Personal Cooking System. These ultracompact and fuel-efficient units are hot and fast―they can boil two cups of water in two minutes. From $80; jetboil.com
- Freeplay Energy Indigo Lantern. It’s an area light, flashlight-style directional light, and―with the flip of the dimmer switch―a night-light, all in one. Bonus: The crank handle’s fun to play with. $50; amazon.com.
