Base layers for men often don鈥檛 get the same sexy headlines, bleeding-edge technological advances, or eye-bulging price points as their outer layers counterparts. But your next-to-skin layer is just as important, arguably more so. The priciest, top-of-the-line Gore-Tex shell won鈥檛 do you much good if a soaking wet base layer is chafing your skin and chilling your bones. Picking the best base layers is incredibly nuanced and personal to your location, physical output, and body. We tested 42 new men鈥檚 base layers last winter to help you navigate this tough choice.

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Coolers are the gastroenterological core of every camping trip. If your cooler fails, your drinks are only lukewarm and your perishables go bad. While ice retention, exterior durability, and interior capacity are all important features to consider, we also think the devil is in the details when it comes to buying the right cooler. A massive amount of insulation won鈥檛 do you any good if the clasps don鈥檛 seal it closed, and spaciousness doesn鈥檛 matter if you can鈥檛 find things or carry it. After months of testing, here are the six best coolers for car campers, vanlifers, and beach bums.

Updated August 2025: After months of additional testing, we added five new coolers, including the Rugged Road 65, Canyon Pro 65, Maluna 50-Quart, Grizzly 60, and Wyld Gear 65 Freedom Series. We鈥檝e also updated info and pricing on some of our previous picks that we still highly recommend.

Watch: How to Choose a Cooler

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Active recovery footwear is having a moment. It鈥檚 technically a category as old as the bedroom slipper鈥攁nd has existed as a purpose-made product for more than a decade. But we seem to be reaching a new peak in active recovery footwear. New kicks launch each season and new recovery technologies debut every year. Recovery research is increasingly showing us all that we cannot ignore this intrinsic part of the training process. I also need more recovery in my life. And, like many of you, I have grown tired of torturing myself with a lacrosse ball.

This truly luxurious trial gave my barking dogs, tight hips, and sore calves a break (and potentially a recovery boost). And, as a bonus, I got to help you figure out the best recovery sandals for you鈥攁n update that spanned from spring to summer this year. The world, my fitness, and my goals have changed since the first round up but the pure luscious joy that a good recovery slip can deliver has not. Here鈥檚 what I found.

How I Tested

I started the test with a deep dive into recovery sandal research, scouring reviews and zeroing in on the best recovery sandals on the market, then pulling back the curtain on the science of each one to make sure brands weren鈥檛 making any bullshit claims. Once samples arrived, I subjected each one to a couple of tests.

For this most recent round of testing, I reached out to all of the recovery footwear brands that I tested for the previous story and asked if they had updated any of the original slips or taken them off the market. I also reached out to some brands that I missed on my original list and ran them through the paces.

For starters, I ran a similar 4.5-mile loop over the course of two weeks and wore each of these sandals for a full day after each run, taking notes on how they felt. I kept the run as uniform as possible, wearing the same pair of shoes and keeping the same pace, and kept my use of the sandals as similar as possible to reduce the number of variables affecting my results. I wore them inside my house and took them on the four 0.4-mile, head-clearing neighborhood walks I take each day.

In addition to the above daily-driver test, I wore each sandal for an hour and took them each on a 0.4-mile neighborhood walk when my legs were beat to a pulp after my first ambitious 8-mile run. I also cycled through all these sandals after days of manual labor to test their effectiveness against general full-body soreness.

The soreness tests remained incredibly similar for the update. My 4.5-mile loop is basically exactly the same 8 months later except for leg strength training, hill sprint work, and downhill specific run training as I prepare for a Rim to Rim to Rim Grand Canyon run.

Best Recovery Sandals: At a Glance

• For Active Recovery:
• For Foot Injuries:
• Most Versatile:
• Best Cushion:
• For Minimalists:
• Adjustable Support:
• For Camping:
• Most Luxurious:
• Most Stylish:
• Best Upper:
• Best Stimulation:
• What Are Recovery Sandals?
• Do I Need Recovery Sandals?

Best for Active Recovery

Hoka Ora Recovery Slide 3

The Ora Recovery Slide 3s were cushy as hell鈥攋ust as you might expect from the brand that made us fall in love with maximalist shoes. The dual-density foam layup is made from a soothingly soft, sugarcane-based EVA midsole and a sturdier, more supportive EVA outsole. The shoe felt truly therapeutic during my sorest steps around the neighborhood. But it was actually the way these slides helped inform my steps that made me fall in love with them.

The Oras take advantage of their huge 33mm/27mm stack height to carve a serious rockered curve in the front. That helps roll your foot forward with every step. This mechanical aid felt like a hand from an old friend when my legs were achy and tired after a long run. I was able to walk it out further, giving the lactic acid more time to flush out of my system. Wearing these did make my legs feel better over the course of the day. It is worth noting that this rocker profile isn鈥檛 for everyone. I bought a pair of these for my dad, and he couldn鈥檛 stand the way they messed with his gait鈥攁nd went back to his beat-to-hell Rainbow Sandals instead.

Best for Foot Injuries

OOFOS OOahh Sport Slides

While these slides were not as cushy as the Hokas or Crocs, they did deliver a top-three performance in terms of comfortable walking stride鈥攅ven on the very first step. That鈥檚 thanks to the ample footbed. At first glance, the footbed looks almost comically large, but that extra material allows it to slope inward, creating a three-dimensional hammock for my feet. It delivered support and an extremely stable walking platform, but with an overall width that really gave my feet room to splay out on each step. This unrestricted feeling was appreciated on every walk, but particularly when my feet were swollen after my long run.

The OOah鈥檚 were the only recovery sandal I wanted to put on after I sustained an embarrassing toe-overuse injury from not clipping my toenails before a high-mileage week. The downside of that ample footbed and upper is that they felt sloppy during quick movements and were ankle-rolling machines when I was on the playground chasing my six-year-old.

Most Versatile

Kane Revive Active Recovery Shoe

It feels almost embarrassing to call anything 鈥渕inimalist鈥� in this test, due to how straight-up huge the three slip-on models are. With the Kanes, there鈥檚 also an added 10mm heel-to-toe drop鈥攁s opposed to the zero-drop Crocs and the 5mm drop on the Hokas. With that said, in terms of movement alone, there was something brilliantly minimalist about how these recovery kicks walked. Credit the heavy longitudinal channels on the outsole, which allowed the shoe to bend laterally with my foot during each step. That flexibility also provided a light stretch to my stiff arches when I walked. I also appreciated the light rocker in the sole, which helped move my steps along.

The Kane Revive is more of a shoe than a sandal, but it still breathed extremely well thanks to the myriad holes in the upper. But the thing I loved most about the show was its versatility. While the footbed texture and smooth ride made them feel like a recovery shoe, plentiful heel support and a more streamlined silhouette made them my favorite for running errands and pretending to be the Loch Ness Monster at my kid鈥檚 playground without worrying about rolling my ankle. The biggest con: The fully encased uppers were the toughest to get on and off of the bunch. If I were recovering from an ultra or a multiday objective, I definitely would prefer the ease of a slip-on.

Best Cushion

Crocs Mellow Recovery Slides

The steps I have taken in these Crocs have been the softest, most marshmallow-y, and best cushioned of my life. The difference was so noticeable that I made audible pleasure sounds during my first test drive鈥攄elivering 鈥渙ohs鈥� and 鈥渁aahs鈥� not yet out of my house. My feet visibly sunk into the footbeds like a fancy memory foam mattress when I first put them on, and they delivered Cadillac-smooth rebound with every single step. These slip-ons were the most luxurious of the bunch in terms of cushioning鈥攁nd I could feel myself sinking into the cush with each step. That helped my whole leg relax, which translated into a tangible feeling of relief all the way up to my back. They were my favorites when my legs were their most sore, both after long runs and after manual labor. As for downsides: The Mellows had the least breathable upper in the test, with only two small vents at the base and an ample amount of plastic over the top of my foot. As a result, my feet swamped out pretty badly on hot days.

Best for Minimalists

Salomon Rx Slide 3.0

A minimalist recovery shoe reads like an oxymoron. Even though Salomon鈥檚 Rx Slide 3.0 had the least cushioned footbeds in the test, it really delivered therapeutic steps to my sore hips and knees. The wide EVA midsole, which cradled underfoot, married with a breathable 3D mesh upper that hugged my Fred Flintstone feet without smothering them felt damn good on my pissed off feet. The dual-density鈥�two part midsole with highly cushioned layer next to the sole of my foot backed up by a slightly denser cradling layer below鈥攈elped absorb impact on my most tired days, while the lightweight construction made them track more like a house slipper than a recovery shoe. I especially appreciated how stable they felt on my short post-run walks around the neighborhood. The wide chassis kept me from pronating when my hips and knees were still wrecked from hill repeats. These were also the pair I reached for on hot afternoons when my feet were swollen and cranky. The open mesh drained heat exceptionally well when I wore them all day during a brutal 95-degree high and the slip-on design made them easy to take off when I wanted to air out. That mesh, which made it so good for the heat, snagged on sticks and rough ground whenever I took these on little trail walks around my office so they wouldn鈥檛 be my top pick for a camp shoe. And while they cradled my feet beautifully at rest, the footbed was flatter than others I tested, so I didn鈥檛 get the same gentle arch massage or mechanical 鈥渞ocker鈥� assistance. Still, for sheer lightness and breathability, the Rx Slide 3.0 was a standout

Adjustable Support

OOFOS OOahh Sport Flex

The original OOFOS OOahh I tested last fall delivered cloud-like softness, yet the Sport Flex has an even more dialed-in fit. The version I tested for the update includes a discreet Velcro strap across the upper that lets you snug them up to your foot鈥檚 exact width, which I found key for getting the full cuddle benefit from the deeply contoured footbed. I wore these the day after hammering out four straight days of running and lifting and immediately noted how the arch cradled my tired plantar fascia. The sole is made of OOFOS鈥檚 signature OOfoam, which feels somewhere between a marshmallow and a dense yoga block, absorbing impact so my calves didn鈥檛 tense up with my steps. The wide, slightly sloping footbed let my forefoot splay, which felt especially nice when my toes were puffy from mileage. Even though the Sport Flex鈥檚 had that wide sloping footbed, they still felt secure thanks to the adjustable upper. This is a real plus compared to the original OOahh that could feel sloppy on quick moves. The plushness does come at a cost: The slide can feel a bit squishy on uneven terrain, so I stuck to sidewalks and indoor recovery with these. As far as pure foot-coddling goes, though, the Sport Flex was one of the most soothing in the entire test.

Best Double-Duty Camp Shoes

Bogs Boga Slip On

Unlike many slides in this roundup, the Boga鈥檚 rubbery exterior and slip-resistant outsole made it perfectly suited for the river-based camping trips that dominate my summer weekends. The contoured footbed offered surprising comfort, with a slightly raised arch and a soft underfoot feel that still provided solid ground contact. I wore these after back-to-back days of shoveling dirt and rebuilding an irrigation system at my house, which left my legs even more beat than my longest runs. The gentle support coupled with a massaging ridge just in front of the ball of my foot before my toes caused me to make an audible pleasure noise. The slip-on design was easy to pop on with muddy hands, and they rinsed clean with a hose. However, the heavier rubber upper trapped more heat than mesh competitors, so my feet got aggravatingly sweaty during walks in temps above 80 degrees. While the Bogas gripped well on damp surfaces, they didn鈥檛 flex with my foot quite as naturally as EVA-based recovery slides. The soft swiveling strap, like a classic Croc, locked the slips to my feet making them an even more capable all around sandal.

Most Luxurious

Roll Recovery Superplush Slide

True to its name, Roll Recovery鈥檚 Superplush Slide felt like stepping onto a memory foam mattress. The broad footbed is engineered with an ultra-soft, proprietary EVA blend that delivered the most decadent cushioning in this update. On the days when my feet were absolutely throbbing after my first hard downhill trail workout for my Rim to Rim to Rim attempt, I was incredibly thankful for how kind those cush sinking feeling steps were to my barking dogs. Credit the proprietary Superplush foam used in the midsole of this recovery slip. The foam is incredibly porous, made of algae along with the EVA foam, which had a lovely soft give and rebound thanks to all of the air in the foam. They reduced the jolt of each step around my block allowing the rest of my kinetic chain to relax. The upper is a simple, wide band that felt secure without pinching, and the footbed鈥檚 slight arch contour offered a gentle, static massage. I also liked the slightly rockered heel-to-toe design, which helped move my foot forward with minimal effort鈥攁n underrated asset when your calves are tight and your hips ache. If there鈥檚 a downside, it鈥檚 that the Superplush was almost too soft for active errands or uneven ground. They felt best when I was shuffling around the house or yard. For pure luxury, though, the Superplush Slide was untouchable.

Most Stylish

Norda 008 Slide

Most recovery slides scream 鈥減erformance foam,鈥� but the Norda 008 is a whole different beast, crafted from a premium Dyneema and bio-EVA combo that is fashionable, durable as hell, and a highly functional recovery tool. Norda鈥檚 running shoes are known for their ultra-strong Dyneema uppers, and designers brought that same ethos to this slide. The 008s are lightweight, breathable, and feel incredibly sturdy in every part of the slip. On foot, the 008 felt surprisingly firm and tracked less like a cushy pillow and more like a supportive platform that encouraged stable midfoot loading. I wore these after a brutal set of weighted box step ups and appreciated how the slight underfoot stiffness seemed to activate my feet rather than simply coddle them. The wide toe box gave my battered toes space to decompress, and the subtle footbed texture encouraged a bit of blood flow. At $145, they鈥檙e easily the most expensive option here and the ride is more stimulating than purely plush, which can feel a bit cruel when your feet hurt like hell. But the muted tones and sleek, lower profile of these recovery slips compared to the rest made me look significantly less schlubby. I even dressed them up with a collared shirt and nice shorts for a date. Note: I would suggest sizing up. My heels ever so slightly crept over the backs of the pair I tested in my normal shoe size.

Best Upper

Vionic Rejuvenate Recovery Sandal

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The cushioned, two-part upper鈥攚hich is adjustable via a Velcro strap鈥攔eally set the Vionics apart from the rest of the sandals in this test. The customizable fit made my entire foot鈥攏ot just the soles鈥攆eel cradled and loved, and the soft brushed cotton-like fabric interior also had a much more organic next-to-skin feel than the plastic uppers of the other slips. While every foot is different, I found its high arches took some getting used to. For the first 150 to 200 steps, I felt like I was lurching forward, but once I adjusted, I did appreciate the light massage the hump gave the arch of my foot. Another perk is that these slips look much lest orthotic than some of the other options, thanks to that leather-looking adjustable upper. Wearing them made me feel more like a put together adult (when worn with jeans) than a middling-sporty dad when picking up my daughter from school.

Best Stimulation

Topo Athletic Revive

The pronounced, wavy ridges covering the footbeds of Topo Athletic鈥檚 Revives are designed to stimulate blood flow鈥攚hich is why I turned to them when my feet were at their most swollen. The washboard-like texture provides a light massage with every step, which felt especially good on day three of my training plan when my soles were throbbing. Walking around in these babies seemed to positively affect the swelling. The Athletic Revives feature a wide toe box, which also allowed my angry toes to splay out and relax. One downside: These lean more towards slippers than sandals with their rugged Vibram outsole and fuzzy upper, so I鈥檓 less likely to turn to them as a camp shoe. But in a hut setting? Now we鈥檙e talking; I鈥檓 already salivating about how they will feel after a long ski tour this winter.

What Are Recovery Sandals?

Recovery sandals are shoes that are easy to get on and off, are extremely comfortable to walk around in, and stimulate blood flow to your feet. All of the recovery footwear I tested, and most in this category, have versions of the following attributes to achieve those goals:

• Some type of raised surface in the footbed that stimulates blood flow at the bottoms of your feet
• Cushy feel under foot
• A stable platform to walk on 鈥� usually from a wide exterior outsole
• A large, roomy, footbed

Do I Need Recovery Sandals?

While each purchase has a nuanced answer based on individuals鈥� needs and budget, my short answer is: yes. If you have the money and don鈥檛 mind occasionally getting called out for wearing one of these pretty ostentatious styles in public, they are a great investment. If you are going to wear sandals anyway, why not wear a pair that at best benefits your athletic recovery with every dang step?

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The everyday jogger isn鈥檛 as robust as soft shell pants you鈥檇 climb a mountain in, nor are they lifesaving items like avalanche airbags or helmets that traditionally get tested more rigorously. But during my decade of working as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Gear Guy, the tests I鈥檝e enjoyed the most are when we’ve gone deep on everyday pieces of gear, like putting the best joggers for men through their paces.

To test the dickens out of 15 different pairs of joggers, I wore them during all kinds of activities for two months, then teamed up with the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lab at CU Denver to add objective data on durability, stretch, and air permeability to help you find the absolute best men’s joggers for all your needs鈥攆rom the track to the couch.

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Thanks to instant coffee, which has been commercially available since the late 1930s, saving weight in the backcountry and still getting zooted on caffeine is not new. When I started raft guiding a century ago in the late 鈥�90s, we used to mix up heaping spoonfuls of Folgers with General Foods International Coffees Suisse Mocha and Orange Cappuccino powders to get fired up in the morning. We called this our 鈥渃oncoction,鈥� and while it was efficient, it tasted horrible and put every guide who drank it in immediate gastric distress.

So while instant coffee鈥攁nd its usefulness to weight and time-conscious outdoor enthusiasts鈥攊s not new, we are experiencing a relatively new phenomenon of super delicious premium instant coffees. These can please a genuine snob and will not necessarily send you directly to a porta potty or cathole once ingested. We tested 24 different instant coffee varieties to bring you our favorites so you can maximize your enjoyment without having to sacrifice ounces.

Watch: The Instant Coffee Winners

Best Instant Coffee Blends

Generally speaking, blends are more approachable and less bold. If you like to put cream or sweetener in your coffee, I would suggest opting for one of these blends.

Doma Deep Instant Craft Coffee

• Weight: 7 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 7/10

The first word testers used to describe the flavor profile of this special edition blend from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, was 鈥渂ig.鈥� The boldness of this blend was matched with well rounded sweetness. 鈥淚t is so caramel-y I almost get butterscotch, and then the finish is like cherry juice,鈥� said Case. 鈥淚t is more three dimensional than some of the other blends.鈥� The Doma Deep Instant manages to be extremely drinkable while also having, well, depth at the same time. I found it to be a killer start to the earliest mornings thanks to its inviting sweetness.

Swift Coffee Mainstay

• Weight: 6 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 7/10

Swift has their own instant offerings, but it鈥檚 also the instant coffee manufacturer that independent roasters like Doma, Case, and Verve use to make their instant coffees. It is not a surprise that they have so many winners on this list鈥攖hey have their hands in most of the best instant coffees available to us. Their Mainstay Blend features flavors that were the most pleasantly integrated of the coffees that we tasted. 鈥淚 like the balance of it,鈥� Case said. 鈥淭here is no sharp acidity, but it has sweetness and is a little bitter, which is what I want in instant coffee.鈥� Testers noted that what the Mainstay Blend may have lacked in subtle notes, it made up for in a lovely even mouth feel.

Verve Wilder

• Weight: 6 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 7/10

I was thankful that we performed the cupping blind when testers described this blend as 鈥渨ild.鈥� The fact that testers used the same adjective the name uses to describe the blend鈥檚 fruitiness followed by a little bit of wildflower notes at the end proved that the Santa Cruz roaster absolutely nailed it. 鈥淭his one’s really juicy,鈥� Case said. I found that juiciness to be delightful and refreshing as an afternoon cup, and, hot or cold, this will be the blend I bring for trips with long days when I need a late pick-me-up.

Case Epiphany

• Weight: 7 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 6/10

Case made this list even though testers gave it a six because it was my personal favorite and, frankly, I wanted to reward my local coffee shop for being honest enough to give their own blend a number below its competitors. Coffee taste is subjective, and this super-rich and caramel-forward blend is extremely drinkable and reminds me of working from the coffee shop down the street from my house. That nostalgia is what put it on this list for me, personally. When asked about giving his own blend a score of six on a blind test, Case felt great about it. 鈥淲e aimed to make a chuggable blend, and I do think it absolutely is that,鈥� Case said.

Best Single Origins Instant Coffee

A single-origin coffee comes from one bean that delivers an extremely unique and often bold flavor. With a single-origin coffee, roasters are really married to the taste of an individual bean because they can鈥檛 blend it with others.

Swift Burundi Heza

• Weight: 6 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 8/10

The depth of flavor on this single-origin coffee was off the charts and a clear standout for the connoisseurs. 鈥淚t has acidity, but is also so savory,鈥� said Case. Testers caught notes of berries on the front with a savory finish that delighted those who enjoy a flavor profile with a lot going on.

Swift Brazil – Cerrado

• Weight: 7 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 8/10

One taster who traditionally does not like the taste profile of single-origin coffees from Brazil was surprised that this one proved one of his favorites during the blind test. 鈥淭his is much more fruity than other light coffees here,鈥� said Case. Tasters noted a distinct creaminess in this single origin instant from Swift which was offset by a pleasant sharpness on the front that smoothed out in the end. Swift says it can hold up to cream, but after testing it with oat as well as cow鈥檚 milk, I found it to be significantly better on its own.

Canyon Instant Coffee

• Weight: 6 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 8/10

The acidity in this coffee was lemon or lime like on the front but offered a sweetness that balanced out the intensity. 鈥淒efinitely fruit forward,鈥� Case said after slurping a spoonful of this Ethiopian. The liveliness of this coffee was really enjoyable as a wake up in the dark hours of the morning and was also a great refresher after lunch. My personal preference was to drink a cup after a big daytime meal to stave off a siesta thanks to its brightness.

Tandem Coffee Roasters Danche

• Weight: 7 g
• Tasters鈥� Rating: 7/10

The Danche from this Portland, Maine鈥揵ased roaster delivered a more acidic taste than the other Ethiopian blends (that dominated this test). While the Danche still offered enough balance between acidity and sweetness to remain enjoyable, the extra kick made it stand out from the other 24 coffees and drink more like a traditionally brewed cup. 鈥淚’m tasting lots of acid. It’s really nice to have this contrast in the table for sure. It really tastes less like an instant coffee,鈥� Case said.

The Instant Coffee Test

I started by trying to find the newest offerings of instant coffees from brands that I have tried in the past. While I haven鈥檛 ever performed a head-to-head instant coffee evaluation before, I have, by my estimation, tested more than a dozen different instant coffees for one-off review consideration for 国产吃瓜黑料.

I scoured the internet for best instant coffee reviews and took note of which brands received the highest marks. I reached out to those brands and received hundreds of servings of instant coffees. For ten weeks, I only drank instant coffee when making coffee for myself at home, making notes on the flavor and user experience. (I work from home and drink a minimum of two cups of coffee a day, so I had ample opportunity to get through the lot.) I also weighed a single serving of each of the coffees in their packaging on my kitchen scale to give an accurate idea of how many grams you are adding to your pack per serving.

I then took 24 of the coffees I tested to my satellite office, in Ashland, Oregon. Local award-winning roaster and coffee shop owner Tim Case helped me set up the last part of the test, which was a proper cupping of all 24 of the instant coffees we tested. Case and his team of two seasoned roasters poured eight ounces of water that was right around 170 degrees (as per the brewing instructions of the instant coffees) and stirred them up. We tasted them blind, waiting until the coffees cooled enough that the heat wouldn鈥檛 overload our palettes. We gave each one an individual score out of one to ten and took tasting notes. It is worth noting that coffee is pretty subjective, so we did our best to make sure the top picks would make everyone happy.

The instant coffees listed here made our final list because they taste as close to the coffee you can make at home with a pour-over or french press. While they would probably lose in a taste test to a properly brewed version of themselves, any coffee on this list tastes better than a traditionally brewed mainstream coffee like a Folgers.

More Gear Reviews

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The Best Backpacks, Duffels, and Roller Bags for 国产吃瓜黑料 Travel

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Few things can tank morale on a camping trip like a bad night鈥檚 sleep. Fortunately, with so many stellar sleeping pads available, there鈥檚 no reason your gear should keep you from getting your beauty sleep, especially when you鈥檙e car camping and you鈥檝e got the room to go big. We spent 50+ nights testing every type of sleeping pad for camping (and even cots) that prioritize comfort over weight and packability鈥攆rom smart options designed for literal car campers to plush camping sleeping pads that can double as a guest room mattress. The options below delivered our best nights of sleep.

Updated August 2025: We added two new picks to this list, including the game-changing Zempire Monstabed Twin, a tall camp bed that鈥檚 as comfy as it gets. We also added the Sea To Summit Pursuit Plus鈥攁 do-it-all option for car campers who occasionally backpack, too.

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When taking a sleeping bag deep into the backcountry or high into the alpine, you have to balance comfort with portability鈥攜ou do have to drag them up there, after all. This is not the case with a car camping sleeping bag.

As far as we鈥檙e concerned, car camping is all about comfort鈥攕ave the rehydrated meals and paper-thin foam sleeping pads for the backcountry. And if there鈥檚 any part of your kit where you shouldn鈥檛 cut corners, it鈥檚 your bedding. The scenery always looks that much nicer after a good night鈥檚 sleep.

The good news about shopping for sleeping bags in 2025 is that there鈥檚 something for every type of camper, but the downside of that abundance is that it can be hard to parse all the models and features to find what you really want. Our testers, a mix of men, women, and children with different sleeping preferences (hot/cold; side, stomach, back sleepers, etc.) put 31 sleeping bags and blankets to the test on cold, windy shoulder-season trips and balmy summer nights. These nine sleeping bags and quilts came out on top.

Updated August 2025: We added two new sleeping bags to this list, including our new “Comfiest” pick, the Kelty Wayback 20. We also updated pricing and info on the sleeping bags we previously included and still highly recommend.听

Watch: What to Know Before Picking Your Next Sleeping Bag

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Nothing quite beats having a place to rest your butt at camp. We鈥檙e talking about more than just a rotting stump you found trailside. From the ultra pared-down, highly portable bucket seat to the high-end armchair we鈥檇 consider using as living-room furniture, there is an option that will enhance every trip. The best camping chairs are comfy, portable, and meet the needs of your crew, whether you’re camping solo or are taking your newborn out for their first family adventure.

While you can buy cheap camping chairs for $10, you will see a lot of chairs with price tags north of $100 on our list. We believe that a comfortable, well-made camping chair is a worthwhile investment because of how integral it is to an enjoyable trip. After all, the best part about camping is lounging comfortably around a campfire with friends and family for hours.

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Stooping in a lightweight, minimalist backpacking tent while camping out of your car isn鈥檛 much fun. Neither is getting blown over in a flimsy big-box store shelter. With that in mind, we tested 24 car camping tents designed for families who prioritize spaciousness, convenience, and storm-worthiness above all else. These seven options had us lounging in comfort and style no matter what conditions rolled through the campground.

Updated July 2025: After months of additional testing, we added three new tents, including The North Face Wawona 6, a weatherproof option that speaks to adventurous families. Snow Peak鈥檚 Amenity Dome earned kudos from our test team for its overall simplicity, functional design, and airflow. Last but not least, we included the Zempire Pro TM V2鈥攁 high-end inflatable tent that鈥檚 as liveable as it gets. We鈥檝e also updated info and pricing on some of our previous picks that we still highly recommend.听

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Two years ago, I had a mild midlife crisis when I turned 40. I say 鈥渕ild鈥� because I did not make any negative life-altering choices or obsess over opportunities missed in the first 40 years of my life. I did, however, make the stereotypical massive purchase which had a toe hold in vanity.

Driven by the determination to maintain some level of athleticism as I age, I cleaned out my garage鈥攚hich had long been a gear hoarding space鈥攁nd turned it into my ultimate home gym.听 When all was said and done, my out-of-pocket expenses came to around $5,000鈥攖he third-largest single purchase I鈥檝e made in my life (after my home and my Tacoma).

It鈥檚 still not the fanciest home gym in the world, but I did splurge on some top-tier equipment that I knew would enhance our workouts at home. My wife uses our garage gym six to seven days a week, while I am in for a solid three workouts per week. I used to open my garage and shudder at the mess, and now I see nothing but opportunity to better myself.

Essentials: The Must-Haves for a Basic Home Gym听

A kettlebell, yoga mat, and speaker are where it all started for me. I would put my daughter (then a newborn) down for naps and rip a fast kettlebell and core workout in my backyard while listening to tunes and obsessively watching our baby monitor. Both my workout time and space are much more plentiful now, but these three products still remain key parts of my fitness routine.

Paradigm Pro Elite 33 mm kettlebells

$55 at Everlast

This 25-pound slam ball holds a great deal of expressed rage inside of it. Slamming it on the ground of my padded gym floor and grunting like a gorilla is one of the single best ways to release frustration鈥攁nd it鈥檚 a great core exercise when done correctly, too.

Rogue Adjustable Bench 3.1 – Black – Black – Premium Foam Pad

A solid bench is a very important safety investment when building a home gym. If you鈥檙e thinking of cutting corners with this purchase, I suggest you do a quick web search for videos of benches failing while people were bench pressing. I trust this heavy, solidly built steel bench with my life. I also love how easily I can move this bench to any incline and back to flat thanks to its slick adjustment mechanism and sturdy handle. Though hefty, it鈥檚 easy to roll the 52-inch-long-bench out of the way when not in use.

PAPABE 150-pound Dumbbell Set

My wife and I decided to get the least expensive dumbbell set that we could find, which is how we landed on Pababe. While affordable, these weights get the job done just fine. They鈥檙e rubberized, so we can drop them and create minimal damage to our mats. The light knurling on the handle delivers a just right grip that doesn鈥檛 rip up my palms during high-rep exercises but isn鈥檛 slippery when my hands are sweaty.

Rogue Flat Pack Games Box

We use this 30-inch by 24-inch by 20-inch cube for box jumps to build our explosive energy. I鈥檝e also found that doing one-leg step ups to failure is one of the best ways to get the legs in shape for backcountry skiing. You can find cheaper plyo boxes, but I chose to spend extra on this one because I鈥檝e learned that Rogue makes quality equipment that鈥檚 made to last.

NordicTrack X22i Incline Treadmill

I love this treadmill for its high-quality screen, iFit compatibility, and dainty 70-inch by 39-inch footprint that fits nicely in my garage. But the X22i鈥檚 best feature is its 40-percent incline. The steep incline means I can get in a proper skimo workout (with nerdy poles and all!) and burn out on vert to get my legs prepared for big ski objectives.

Splurge: Turn Your Home Gym Into a Legit Workout Space

The equipment above is all you really need to maintain your fitness as a mountain athlete. The following pieces will elevate your home workout space into a real gym, as I did on my 40th birthday. You will notice that everything in this splurge tier is from Rogue Fitness. While I believe you can get excellent equipment from Rogue鈥檚 competitors, I chose to pay full price for every Rogue item in my garage because of their durability and the brand鈥檚 lifetime warranty on all of the structural welds and frames. Buying all your equipment from one brand can also save you a lot of money on shipping costs.

Rogue RML-390F Flat Foot Monster Lite Rack – Single 1.25″ Pullup Bar

This 48-inch by 49-inch rack slips perfectly into the corner of our garage and has an ample 30-inches of space within, giving us plenty of space to perform squats and bench presses. The Flat Foot option makes it a stable, sturdy platform to do pull ups on even without bolting it to a wall or into the floor. Assembly is straightforward鈥擨 enlisted the help of a handy neighbor and we had it up in under an hour.

Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar

A friend purchased a Rogue TB-2 Trap Bar while I was saving money to build this gym and after using his I begrudgingly realized I needed to save another $415 to add this item to my purchase list. It offered a much better deadlift experience than the regular barbells I had been using. The trapezoidal design and raised handles help me maximize each of my deadlifts without having to bend too far and challenge my spine.

Rogue 45LB Ohio Power Bar – Black Zinc

While there are myriad barbells on the market that can serve you extremely well, with different designs aimed at maximizing different lifts, I chose the Power Bar because it is built specifically for my three favorite lifts鈥攖he squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. The shaft doesn鈥檛 flex much, which is nice for when we want to lift heavy. I also find that the extra hearty knurling (the textured areas on the bar) gives me extra grip while bench pressing.

Rogue 260 LB HG 2.0 Set

I have to be honest with this purchase: I bought Rogue plates because I had purchased enough gear from Rogue to qualify for free shipping (which is where plate manufacturers can get you). I could rattle off all of the benefits of these weights, like the fact that they are in killer shape after almost two years of use and thousands of drops, or how seamlessly they slide on and off the barbell and trap bar after thousands of uses.

But in my opinion, you could be well served by a more budget-plate company and save yourself around $100. That said, I would highly suggest sticking with rubberized bumper plates if you plan on lifting heavy weight and potentially dropping them.

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