If backpacking is a minimalistic pursuit, car camping is a celebration of excess. Thanks to trunk space and truck beds, racks and rails, the car camper has room for all the essentials鈥攑lus the extras, too. For outdoor enthusiasts with outsized toy collections, there鈥檚 no better way to travel. Whether you鈥檙e chasing swell, singletrack, steelhead, or some other white rabbit, this top-rated, torture-tested gear will ensure home is where you park it鈥攁nd that you鈥檙e comfortable and ready to play when you do.

The Winners at a Glance

BioLite BaseCharge 600 and 1500

Snow Peak Mesh Folding Chair

Moon MoonShade XL

Front Runner Slimpro Van Rack

Ignik Backside

SOL Flat Pack Gear Tub

Luno Gear & Shoe Storage Bag

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down

Sidio SidioCrate Starter Pack

Garmin inReach Messenger

How We Test

Testers: 12

Products Tested: 45

Miles Road Tripped: 8,200+

Highest Elevation Driven: 13,114 feet on Imogene Pass, Colorado

Longest Road Trip: 2,500-mile, detour-stacked adventure from Bellingham, Washington to Bishop, California, and back again

Longest Stint on the Road: Our full-time vanlife tester used gear every day for three months straight

To find the best car camping accessories of 2023, we enlisted a diverse crew of road-tripping testers. A podcaster and roving journalist, as well as two doctors-in-training鈥攐ne medical, one astronomical鈥攃alled in from the Pacific Northwest. A pair of outdoor photographers, a ski shop boot fitter, and our car-camping accessories category manager all call Tahoe home, and they explored the Golden State on bike trips in the Sierra and surf missions to the coast. A bike mechanic from San Luis Obispo, California, sought warmer fall riding in Arizona. A Utah-based aircraft mechanic who does all the work on his overland rig explored the high-mountain passes of Colorado.

The rigs of these testers were similarly diverse. They ranged from the two-door Nissan Versa, an atypical adventuremobile that only turns heads when it鈥檚 putzing along in your blind spot, to a handful of double-take-worthy machines, including a well-loved 2000 Toyota Tundra with a custom-built platform camper bed; a lifted, off-road-ready 2001 Jeep Cherokee; a 2006 Chevy Express with 30-inch topper and woodstove; a crispy 2019 RAM ProMaster; a powerful 2021 GMC Canyon Diesel with a camper shell; and more. One even included a Sprinter van made famous on the hit Netflix show 鈥�.鈥�

We asked this squad to hit the road, put 45 products to the test, and report back. After road trips, surf chases, bike journeys, camping weekends, and more, they filled out review forms. Testers rated gear on a quantitative scale for aspects like durability and practicality, and dove deep on qualitative feedback, discussing everything from pros and cons to installation woes and favorite features. Finally, our category manager, Drew Zieff, sifted through these review forms, picked winning products, then penned the reviews you find below.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

is a Tahoe-based freelancer who writes for Backcountry Magazine, Whitelines, REI, Gear Junkie, and Forbes, among others. A regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor, he heads our snowboard gear coverage in the winter. A few years back, he and his partner turned a plumbing van into their dream adventure mobile鈥攁 speedbump-filled odyssey. After a couple years of vanlife, the highlight of which was surfing from Canada to Mexico, the couple put roots down in Tahoe, though they still take van trips to the coast when there鈥檚 swell. Familiar with the needs of both weekend warriors and full-time road trippers, Zieff proudly directed our car-camping accessories test this year.

Amanda Monthei

is a , public information officer on wildfires, and the podcast host of . A former wildland firefighter herself, she applies her knowledge gleaned from the front lines to educate the public. She鈥檚 written about wildfires and natural disasters for 国产吃瓜黑料 as well as NBC, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She鈥檚 also an avid angler, surfer, and skier, and pens stories on a range of outdoor subjects. Monthei put more miles on the odometer than any other tester, mostly from a Washington to California road trip in her 2000 Tundra.

Dustin Stiffler

lives full-time in his 2019 RAM ProMaster鈥攗nsurprisingly, he spent more nights on the road than any other tester. Stiffler鈥檚 van is usually parked in San Luis Obispo, California, where he wrenches on bikes and nerds out on gear at , or Patagonia, Arizona, where he鈥檚 a guide and mechanic for . When he鈥檚 not hard at work, Stiffler鈥檚 often going hard in the saddle of his gravel bike or volunteering for .

The Reviews: The Best Car Camping Accessories of 2023

BioLite BaseCharge 600 and 1500 ($699-$1,699)

Weight: 13 lbs (600); 26.5 lbs (1500)
Pros: Easy-to-read display, generous inputs and outputs
Cons: Expensive, durability concerns

BioLite, a brand best known for its innovative solid fuel stoves, lighting solutions, and compact batteries, made an electric leap in 2022, adding these two portable power stations and a ($400) to the lineup. The foot-long BaseCharge 600 has four USB outputs (two USB-A, one USB-C, one USB-C PD input/output), two AC outputs, a carport output, two DC barrel outputs, and a wireless charging top deck. Yup, you can charge your phone wirelessly just by slapping it on the top of the BaseCharge power station (as long as it鈥檚 out of its case), tech our testers jokingly thought was reserved for fancy hotel rooms. The 622-watt-hour lithium-ion battery can charge an electric cooler for 15 hours, a laptop nine times, or resuscitate your cell phone 48 times. It sports easy-carrying handles and a simple-to-read digital dashboard that provides real-time data on how much juice you鈥檙e using and how much you have left in the tank. Tester Amanda Monthei used the 600 on both work and surf trips in the PNW. She appreciated the reliability of the inset, ergonomic handles, the readable display, and the reassurance supplied by the backup power source. 鈥淎 charge on this thing lasts forever,鈥� she claimed after an eight-day stint on the road. Drew Zieff, our category manager, put the 1500 on the chopping block, and at one point he was charging Bluetooth headphones, walkie-talkies, a drill, and his laptop. Impressed, he echoed Monthei鈥檚 perspective on the power at play. 鈥淵ou could power a remote commercial photo shoot with this, an electric cooler for most of a weekend, or type away on your laptop from the road for a work week or three,鈥� he reported. Our testers鈥� sole concerns centered around durability. The unit isn鈥檛 waterproof, and one of our testers lost one of its grippy rubber feet during testing.

Bottom Line: A futuristic, well-designed battery that allows car campers to keep electronics topped up on the road.

Snow Peak Mesh Folding Chair ($165)

Weight: 6.8 lbs
Pros: Comfortable, tall seating height, sleek style
Cons: Tough to pack in smaller trunks

鈥淭his is definitely the best camp chair I’ve ever used,鈥� commented an impressed six-foot, three-inch tall tester after sinking into Snow Peak鈥檚 Mesh Folding Chair on a car camping trip in Washington鈥檚 Cascades. Tired of straight-backed camp chairs, he was most appreciative of the relaxed, comfortable posture afforded by the design. The nifty-yet-simple aluminum alloy frame and clever engineering create a durable, stable seat. The breathability of the polyester mesh paneling scored high marks on warm lakeside days at the foot of Mt. Rainier, too. A handy snap system for securing the folded-up unit was simple to use, although stashing the roughly 27-by-23-inch rectangle in compact trunks was trickier than with more collapsible competitors.

Bottom Line: The Mesh Folding Chair blends a smart, simple design with clean style.

Moon MoonShade XL ($595)

Weight: 14.8 lbs
Pros: Portable, lightweight, removable design, more shade than the original
Cons: Long setup time, hard to erect in the wind

If your weekend adventuremobile is a weekday commuter, there鈥檚 no need for a bulky, heavy, permanently installed awning that makes your vehicle look like a safari rig. Moon鈥檚 original MoonShade is a lightweight, canopy-style alternative to permanent awnings that鈥檚 portable, stowable, and can be mounted to rails, racks, bare car roofs, and even trees. The brand鈥檚 cult-like following has been clamoring for a bigger version, and the newly-launched 9-by-12-foot MoonShade XL delivers, providing 100-square feet of coverage鈥攁pproximately 70 percent more than the original. At 14.8 pounds, it鈥檚 6.5 pounds heavier, attaches using sticky adhesive anchors, features thicker poles, and peak vents in the canopy to withstand wind better.

On the first night of a trip to Mammoth, California, Tahoe-based photographer and videographer experienced a downpour that would鈥檝e soaked his squad prematurely. 鈥淟uckily, we had set up the awning right when we got there and all our chairs and cook setup were dry,鈥� he reported. When the sun poked out later in the trip, he said, 鈥淭he awning provided great shade in the shadeless Mammoth bike park lot.鈥� Kern appreciated the lantern-hanging hook on the underside of the awning and the overall packability. While he liked the price point and that the MoonShade XL was easily removable, he did note that the setup time was longer than many permanent options.

Bottom Line: A removable, portable awning for fans of the MoonShade who want more coverage.

Front Runner Slimpro Van Racks ($1,486- $2,386)

Pros: Sturdy, easy setup, versatile, wide range of compatibility on vans
Cons: Expensive, not compatible with older vans

Front Runner鈥檚 newest van rack, the Slimpro, earned fantastic across-the-board scores from full-time road warrior Dustin Stiffler. He reported that installation was 鈥淒IY friendly鈥� without special tools鈥攁 welcome rarity in the vanlife world. That ease-of-use continued as he affixed solar panels and a pair of Front Runner鈥檚 road-ready accessories, the and , to the rack鈥檚 T-slot crossbars. The plug-and-play system made component installation painless and intuitive, and even allowed him to later shift his solar panel configuration to accommodate a cargo box. The Slimpro impressed on the aerodynamic front, and earned praise for the durability of its epoxy powder-coated aluminum construction, too, looking brand new after months of coastal fog and desert sun.

Bottom Line: A user-friendly ergonomic rack for vanlifers.

Ignik Backside ($80)

Pros: Adds cushioning to camp chairs, logs
Cons: Battery and car adaptor not included

Is Ignik鈥檚 Backside necessary? No. Is it awesome? You bet your ice-cold bum it is. This portable pad gives padding to any camp chair, but more importantly 鈥淚t roasts rumps to perfection like a Traeger grill,鈥� according to category manager Zieff, who was impressed by the almost instantaneous and even heat delivery. Plug the 100-percent recycled polyester and foam heating pad into an approved USB-C power bank or Ignik鈥檚 12-volt car adapter ($15), click the attached remote to your desired heat level, and the Backside warms your buns with up to 20 watts of heat. You don鈥檛 have to worry about forgetting to turn it off at the end of the evening鈥攊t shuts off automatically after 90 minutes to conserve power. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e facing a campfire, your butt is neglected. No longer,鈥� explained Zieff, who was stoked to use the Backside on cold drives to the ski resort, too. While there are plenty of options on the market to retrofit car seats with heaters and even a few heated camp chairs, too, the versatile Backside earned praise from our testers for its ability to bounce between use cases with ease. It鈥檚 small enough to take camping, affordable enough to justify the spend, and powerful enough to make a difference on freezing drives and cold campouts. Testers鈥� sole complaint? A battery isn鈥檛 included. Also available in an extra large version (Backside XL) to extend coverage and warmth to your back.

Bottom Line: Near-instant heat for your derriere, from car to log.

SOL Flat Pack Gear Tub ($35)

Pros: Collapsible, durable bottom, easy to carry
Cons: Offers less space than a non-collapsible bin

From gear room to gravel backroad and back again, SOL鈥檚 Flat Pack Gear Tub is a relatively inexpensive, durable bin with infinite uses. 鈥淚 mainly used it for storing and rinsing wetsuits,鈥� wrote one California tester, who also recommended the tub for washing dishes, storing camp kitchen gear, and general trunk organization. The ingenious but simple design鈥攆lexy, ribbed thermoplastic rubber sides sandwiched between a durable, hard plastic bottom and rim with molded handles and no-slip feet for added stability on uneven ground鈥攃ollapses down to just over three inches tall. The space-saving advantages of this sub-three pound crate are obvious. And unlike some semi-rigid organizers, the tub is exceptionally waterproof, durable, and easy to clean, making it suitable for galley chores. The only bummer? The bin loses some packable volume when deployed, as the walls are less steeply angled than those of rigid bins.

Bottom Line: A collapsible, utilitarian tub for use at home and on the road.

Luno Gear & Shoe Storage Bag ($50)

Pros: Easy-to-use magnetic design, mesh bottom for drip-drying
Cons: None, but don鈥檛 forget the bottom is mesh

Luno engineered the Gear & Shoe Storage Bag to keep stinky shoes out of your car camping bedroom (AKA the trunk). The bag adheres to the outside of your vehicle using four microfiber-lined magnets. A mesh bottom lets shoes drip dry while the water-resistant 330-denier coated nylon ripstop top flap and body material protects against morning dew and overnight precipitation. During a road trip from Bellingham, Washington to Bishop, California, angler, surfer, and podcaster Monthei used the bag for wet wading boots, which kept her other gear and sleep setup dry and mud-free. While it鈥檚 technically meant for shoes, Monthei employed it for wet waders, gloves, and surf wax. She also tapped the bag as an organizational tool inside the camper shell of her Tundra, where she stashed keys, a water bottle, and headlamp, among other things as a makeshift bedside table. The applications, she felt, were endless: 鈥淚t’ll definitely stay in the back of the truck, whether I’m road-tripping or not.鈥�

Bottom Line: A handy organizational tool designed for wet, stinky shoes and just about anything else.

Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down ($260)

Pros: Stylish, warm, good hood
Cons: Pricey for non-technical apparel

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if this is high fashion, but it鈥檚 certainly high-alpine fashion,鈥� joked one Tahoe-based tester after wearing Therm-a-Rest鈥檚 Honcho Poncho Down on deck dance parties and surf trips to the coast. The new design is a lighter, warmer update of the popular Honcho Poncho, stuffed with 650-fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down instead of synthetic polyester. OG Poncho devotees will also notice the welcome addition of an anorak-style front zip, tailored arm holes (an improvement over batwings), new recycled DWR-coated nylon shell fabric, and a more fitted, three-paneled hood. , an outdoor journalist, put the Honcho Poncho Down to the test on a vanlife trip with her partner. The duo used it as a camping blanket in the Redwoods, a beach mat in Encinitas, California, and a scrunched-up pillow on the way to Austin, Texas. She dug the poncho鈥檚 snap system, noting 鈥淭his thing can turn from a blanket to a poncho and back in less than five seconds.鈥� Testers who were familiar with the original Honcho Poncho judged the down rendition worth the increase in price, noting that the update takes up less space in a trunk or pack, the 650-fill down is warmer, and the poncho design is more wearable than ever.

Bottom Line: A solid upgrade to a versatile camp favorite.

Sidio SidioCrate Starter Pack ($159)

Pros: Customizable dividers, easy to find items through clear siding
Cons: Price, lots of pieces, off-road durability

Sidio has taken the ordinary鈥攁 classic milk crate, used by gear heads in garages for decades鈥攁nd made it something more. The brand鈥檚 Starter Pack, which comes with two Full Crates, one Half Crate, as well as the necessary dividers and lids, is a great mix for road-trippers and overlanders. The Full Crate can handle up to 200 pounds of gear or 250 pounds of stacked weight. Between the 41 divider slots and a slew of accessories (a grip that turns the crate into a basket, multiple divider lengths, bottom mats, cutting board lids, etc.), a mathematician鈥檚 grasp of factorials is necessary to determine the number of possible configurations. Category manager Zieff loved the Full Crate鈥檚 clear lid, which allowed him to see small pieces of gear like fin keys, fire starters, and tent stakes. Zieff鈥檚 partner, fellow gear tester and outdoor photographer , stole one of them for herself after she fell in love with the partitioning dividers. 鈥淚 road trip and camp on shoots often, and the dividers help me stay organized,鈥� raved Botwin, who used the customization to store chargers, batteries, flash pouches, and other camera accessories.

Bottom Line: A modular crate worth coveting.

Garmin inReach Messenger ($300)

Weight: 4 oz.
Pros: Small, lightweight, seamlessly switches between connection sources
Cons: No navigation capability, slightly heavier than the Mini 2

The new inReach Messenger does everything a modern, lightweight two-way satellite communicator should do while smoothing out many of the kinks commonly found in the category. One of the biggest gripes? The inability to switch between satellite, cell service, and wifi within the same messaging app鈥攁 major pain point, especially amongst day hikers and overlanders. The Messenger does this especially well, paired with Garmin鈥檚 new, simple, streamlined Messenger app that鈥檚 leagues easier to use than the old Garmin Explore. One tester was able to carry on a long conversation using the device from a receptionless trail near Grants, New Mexico, to a 3G car ride, to a hotel wifi network without so much as a hiccup. Unlike many other lightweight communication devices, the Messenger has a diminutive one-inch-long screen and three simple buttons that allow you to send custom texts (albeit laboriously) in the event that your phone dies. Thanks to the Messenger鈥檚 Reverse Charging feature, which acts as an emergency battery bank, a dead phone is less likely. It saved the day for one tester who brought her phone battery back to 14-percent after 20 minutes. TracBack, which leaves a simple breadcrumb trail, and a weather report feature both worked well. 鈥淏ased on weather reports we pulled mid-hike, we revised our plans twice and were drier for it,鈥� reported a tester overnighting in the Pemigewasset wilderness area of New Hampshire. Within Garmin鈥檚 own lineup, the Messenger is $100 less (but a half-ounce heavier) than the navigation-equipped lightweight satellite communicator, the inReach Mini 2. Testers felt that the puck-like Messenger, which is smaller than a tin of Altoids, was easier to carry (and lay flat on the dashboard of a car) than the competition. The waterproof rubberized casing kept the Messenger scratch-free and the lanyard anchor came in handy for hanging it off a pack. One small ding? The claimed 28-day battery life with minimal tracking under 鈥渇avorable conditions鈥� is probably a bit unrealistic鈥攐ur testers found it lasted between 7-10 days in the backcountry.

Bottom Line: An easy-to-use two-way messenger that鈥檚 especially good for switching between wilderness and civilization.

When it’s time to upgrade your gear, don鈥檛 let the old stuff go to waste鈥揹onate it for a good cause and divert it from the landfill. our partner, Gear Fix, will repair and resell your stuff for free! Just box up your retired items, , and send them off. We鈥檒l donate 100 percent of the proceeds to .

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In a world where everyone has a smartphone, a host of navigation apps to choose from, and a growing array of phone-based SOS/SAR options, do standalone Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS Devices) still have a place in backcountry navigation? We decided to take this debate into the woods to find out. While snowshoeing the Frankenstein Cliff to Arethusa Falls loop in Crawford Notch and bushwhacking through Echo Lake State Park in New Hampshire鈥檚 White Mountains, we tested two of Garmin鈥檚 newest releases, the GPSMAP 67i ($600) and the eTrex SE ($150).

The GPSMAP 67i features a huge improvement in battery life and navigation upgrades that include multiple-GNSS for more consistent satellite connection than GPS alone (think 100+ satellites vs. 24), and multi-band signal reception to enhance the accuracy of those connections. It鈥檚 also compatible with Garmin鈥檚 Outdoor Maps+ and is designed for serious outdoors person who want a robust device that packs a lot of features while keeping you on course, connected, and safe. Garmin claims it will run for up to 180 hours in GPS mode (no inReach, no other GNSS) and up to 840 hours in Expedition mode (no inReach, GPS only, fewer track points, low-power mode activated). After six days of navigation and messaging we had about 20 percent battery life remaining (the unit was turned off after each use). Considering that our tests included multiple-GNSS mode, the flashlight, inReach functions and other features, Garmin鈥檚 claim of 180 hours in GPS seems accurate. One note: testers wished they could actually see聽 the remaining battery percentage, rather than a dwindling green bar.

鈥淲ith all its navigation resources enabled, this unit is an absolute bloodhound,鈥� said one user who navigated an off-trail route skirting the bases of the 700 to 800 foot tall granite slabs of Cathedral and White Horse Ledges, which often mess with tracking devices. Using only GPS at the start delivered some sporadic off-route tracking results, but with settings adjusted to multi-GNSS and multi-band for the return trip, he reported 鈥渢his thing followed the route like it was on rails.鈥�

The eTrex SE is Garmin鈥檚 update to the meat-and-potatoes eTrex 10, a popular unit among outdoorists that want a reliable, easy-to-use device without the bells and whistles. The SE鈥檚 battery life leapfrogs the previous version by a factor of 5X, and, using two AA batteries, it provides up to 168 hours in one-second GPS tracking mode and up to 1,800 hours in expedition mode. Our test unit still showed 50 percent聽 battery after five days of testing in a variety of modes (turning it off after each use). Garmin shared the multi-GNSS wealth with this device as well, but didn鈥檛 import the 67i鈥檚 multi-band technology. Even so, on a hike up Hedgehog Mountain in Albany, New Hampshire while several inches of snow clung to the pine canopy, testers reported reception was remarkably consistent and delivered accurate tracking data. Using the handheld unit solo to navigate works fine, but testers still preferred using the Explore app with its topo map content to plan and track progress. The added accuracy is exciting news for the geocaching community as well: users just pair their registered device with the Garmin Explore app to record their cache searches. For a unit that sits in the entry-level price range, this is a great buy.

As far as the overall argument for carrying a separate GNSS gadget, our review crew said the most obvious advantage was having backup鈥攔elying on one device can lead to problems. If that phone dies or breaks, your communication, navigation, and lifeline go with it. Battery life was also a big factor in this analysis, with these newly launched handhelds looking for a recharge only weekly, or even monthly. They鈥檙e also rugged implements manufactured to military specs, which means that when they鈥檙e dropped, used in a storm, or taken for an unexpected swim, they have a much higher chance of survival.

But it was in our testing area near Mt. Washington where the argument was pushed over the edge. With a 鈥榝eels-like鈥� temperature of six degrees, we were able to keep our gloves on as we changed courses and settings, sent messages, and toggled every single button. Try that with a cell phone. Consensus: these standalone GNSS units still have a firm place in the backcountry navigation world.

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If you鈥檙e like us, odds are you鈥檝e probably never thought too deeply about portable solar panels. As long as they harness energy from the sun and charge your devices on a long trek, they鈥檙e all the same, right?

Actually, no. The ($85) is the first such product to earn an Editors鈥� Choice Award, checking all the boxes with an extra-thick Sharpie: it鈥檚 light, compact, durable, and powerful鈥攅verything a backpacking solar panel should be. In fact, we couldn鈥檛 find another contender that delivered the same combination of size, weight, and performance.

The Solar 7, which collects but doesn鈥檛 store solar energy, only eats up a tiny bite of pack space and can even tuck into a roomy pants pocket; it鈥檚 perfectly designed for hikers who want unlimited energy (well, as long as the weather cooperates) on multi-day hikes. Open, it measures 15.7 by 6.7 inches. But it folds down to about the size of a smartphone鈥攋ust under 7 by 4 inches. Plus, this sun-absorber weighs a mere 8.1 ounces. Still, its 7.2-Watt, 5V/1A output packs a punch. The Solar 7 directly charged a smartphone from 10 percent to full in a little over two hours. You can also pair it with a power bank. Our testers found that their preferred method was to use the Solar 7 during the day to refuel a 10,000 mAh power bank, which they鈥檇 use to recharge devices in camp.

The Solar 7 includes a charging cord with USB, micro-USB, USB-C, and lightning connectors, so users don鈥檛 have to carry multiple cords. 鈥淥n a four-day trip through the Seven Lakes Basin in Olympic National Park, it kept my phone, GPS unit, and headlamp all running with plenty of juice,鈥� one tester said. 鈥淚 hooked it to my pack, plugged in my half-depleted power bank, and arrived at camp four hours later with a full charge.鈥�

With an IP67 rating (dustproof, shockproof, waterproof), the Solar 7鈥檚 ETFE panels are built to last. Testers loved the anchoring options; with beefy grommets on each corner and four S-carabiners included, this device is easy to hang from a pack. The included waterproof storage bag is big enough to hold at least one other device or power bank鈥攁 nice bonus.

Hikers walking through direct sunlight will reap the best results, but any trail or camp sans canopy will keep the trickle flowing. Priced at $85, the Solar 7 hits the wallet harder than others, but it is still an excellent value. It鈥檚 tough to find competitors that fight in the same weight class.

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