Father鈥檚 Day is just around the corner. To celebrate all of the rad dads out there, our gear team pulled together these Father鈥檚 Day deals that make buying the perfect gift a breeze. Picks range from relatively affordable alpaca socks to pricier (albeit discounted) top-of-the-line smartwatches. In between, you鈥檒l find rooftop tents from Yakima, trekking poles from Leki, and discounts on Arc’teryx gear.

While these deals are all quite different, they do have a few things in common. First off, we know dad would be stoked to unwrap any of these on June 15th. And each and every one has been approved and hand-picked by our gear team.

Garmin鈥檚 having a huge Father鈥檚 Day sale right now, and you can currently save up to $200 on smartwatches, GPS navigators, satellite communicators, golf accessories, you name it. Check out the , or keep reading for a few of our top picks.

The F膿nix 8, Garmin鈥檚 most feature-packed, high-performance, sports-oriented smartwatch, is exceptionally versatile. You may already be familiar with the critically acclaimed F膿nix Solar (was $1,000+, now $800+), which, as the name implies, gets a battery boost from the sun. There鈥檚 also the F膿nix E (was $800, now $600), a streamlined option at a more tolerable price point. As of late, though, we鈥檝e been testing and loving the F膿nix 8 AMOLED version, which features an incredibly crisp and detailed touchscreen.

The F膿nix is packed with features like sleep tracking, GPS mapping, smart notifications, a new voice-activated assistant and voice memo capabilities, a handy flashlight, and downloadable music and Bluetooth connectivity so you can listen to jams on runs without lugging your phone. It also comes pre-loaded with an editable avalanche of activities to choose from that go beyond the standard swim, bike, and run. Not to mention, the eighth edition of this watch is also more waterproof, durable, and dive-ready than ever, making it a dream watch for multi-sport adventurers.

One of the biggest gripes Garmin fans have had regarding the updated F膿nix line is price: The larger, 51-millimeter models will cost you $1,200. That said, Garmin鈥檚 biggest dollar-per-dollar discounts during this Father鈥檚 Day sale are on the F膿nix lineup, and you can now save $200 on the entire line, making it a great time to snag one of these killer smartwatches (for dad, or for yourself).

Let鈥檚 be honest here. Gifting a satellite communicator like the Garmin InReach Mini 2 for Father鈥檚 Day isn鈥檛 entirely altruistic, as it provides loved ones with priceless peace of mind whenever dad heads into the wilderness. This lightweight, compact device allows users to send text messages to check in with friends and family, transmit GPS coordinates, or hit an SOS button in a worst-case scenario. For many 国产吃瓜黑料 team members, the InReach Mini 2 is a critical piece of gear they won鈥檛 leave the trailhead without, especially on longer solo adventures and overnights.

Garmin鈥檚 Forerunner 165 Music is a top pick for runners and triathletes who want baseline smartwatch features, training insights, music capabilities, and a streamlined package at a much more affordable price. For reference, the 165 retails for a third of the price of the F膿nix (depending on the exact model), and it鈥檚 now slashed by $50. In fact, the Forerunner 165 Music rose to the top of the heap of our annual watch testing, earning the 鈥渂est for a budget鈥� superlative. If you鈥檙e looking for bang for your buck, this one鈥檚 for you.

If the dad on your list is a hiker who could use a sock drawer refresh, check out this Paka gift box. It features a trio of cozy, cushioned, mid-cut socks, each in a different earthy colorway and all crafted from an alpaca fiber blend. Not only is buying a gift box a way to give his sock drawer a quick refresh, buying in a pack of three will save you some hard-earned cash.

Imagine a Venn diagram. In one circle, you have whiskey aficionados and beer drinkers. In the other, you have outdoor enthusiasts. Smack-dab in the middle of that heavily overlapping Venn diagram is North Drinkware, a boutique crafter of cups from the Pacific Northwest. These cups aren鈥檛 ordinary, mind you, but instead feature famous mountains sculpted into the base of each glass, resulting in some serious inspo with each sip.

If you鈥檙e shopping for a dad who loves his whiskey, the tumblers or heavy-bottom tumblers are the way to go. Cerveza fans will be blown away by the pint glasses. In either case, the thick glass holds cold well, so you can pre-chill glasses to your heart鈥檚 content.

Even cooler than a pre-chilled vessel, however, is the fact that you can shop by mountain range to make the gift customized to the recipient. Check out pre-packaged gift sets that celebrate mountains from Colorado to Hokkaido. Or, for an even more customized gift, build your own box set and pull together a set of glasses featuring mountains that mean something to dad.

Whatever you do, don鈥檛 forget to use the code DADTEN for up to 40 percent off before Father鈥檚 Day.

Chirp is having a hefty , with recovery rollers and wheels up to 67 percent off. The RPM, short for Rolling Percussive Massager, is one of our favorite Chirp recovery tools, and it鈥檚 currently on sale for 20 percent off. An electric, rotating, knobby rolling pin designed to massage tired muscles and work out post-workout kinks, the RPM is a great gift for dads who say 鈥渁ge is just a number鈥� on the ski slopes and 鈥渙uch鈥攃ouch鈥� when they return home. You can use it to roll out everything from biceps and triceps to glutes and quads. Our personal favorite? Slotting it in the included stand and letting it work wonders on tired feet.

For the dad who is serious about pizza, there are few better ovens for at-home use than the Roccbox from Gozney. It鈥檚 a smaller version of the brand鈥檚 commercial pizza ovens, so restaurant-quality pizza is just a few 500掳 seconds away.

It鈥檚 a versatile beast of a pizza oven, providing home pizzaiolos with the option to cook with gas or wood. The box is covered with a silicone jacket that reduces the risk of burns (though it can still burn you, so be careful), and has removable legs and burner that make packing it up a breeze. Right now you can pick it up for $100 less than usual, which is a nothing-to-sniff-at discount of 20%

If dad is an outdoors multihyphenate, he needs a hard-wearing waterproof jacket that does everything. This is where the Beta AR from Arc鈥檛eryx comes in. A lightweight-yet-durable shell designed for mountain adventures of all types, we love this jacket for climbing, hiking, camping, running, mountaineering, and any other alpine activities you can think of.

The jacket leverages Gore-Tex Pro tech for waterproofing, has pit zips to keep things cool when temperatures rise, and has two pockets on the front and one inside for small bits of gear. If he鈥檚 on a climb, scramble, or sketchy approach, have no fear: the stormproof hood is helmet compatible.

Arc鈥檛eryx鈥檚 trail running shoes are not to be slept on. The Sylan Pro is the brand鈥檚 most plush running shoe offering, making it ideal for tackling long trail runs or hikes where comfort is paramount. A rocker midsole provides an easy footfall that propels the wearer forward with each step and the 28mm stack height ensures there is plenty of foam underfoot.

The Sylan Pros are very comfortable, but they鈥檙e also designed for protection. The integrated knit collar keeps rocks and scree from finding its way into the shoes and polyurethane-coated upper keeps the foot protected from bigger rocks and roots. Finally, the 6mm lugs and Vibram sole give Dad the confidence he needs on ascents, descents and everywhere in between.

Don鈥檛 let Dad get caught without power. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is the perfect companion for a car camping trip or glamping adventure, delivering 1500W of AC and 100W of USB-C power that charges聽 phones, lights, or the fancy espresso machine that he won鈥檛 leave home without.

There are six output ports that pull from 1070Wh of power, charging an iPhone 74 times, a laptop 14 times, or a Starlink for 10 hours on one full charge. This is plenty for keeping a bustling campsite going for days on end, meaning the adventure never has to stop (at least, until the real world starts calling).

Leki has taken the trail running, hiking, and skiing to the next level with its innovative poles, which are highlighted by the brand鈥檚 Shark system, which uses integrated gloves to provide leverage and power transmission going up and downhill. The Cross Trail 3s are ideal for hiking, backpacking, or trail running, giving dad an extra couple of points of contact with the ground when things get tricky.

They come in a couple of different sizes and pack down small for easy storage, whether he鈥檚 packing them away at home or in his pack during a runnable descent. Heat-treated aluminum shafts are ultra tough and lightweight, and the tips have an interchangeable basket system that lets him adapt to the conditions for the best possible support.

In our opinion, Rab is seriously slept on when it comes to the best brands in the outdoor biz. The British brand makes exceptional mountain gear, from its apparel to bags and beyond. The Positron down jacket is the perfect companion for all seasons, from skiing or hiking in the winter to cold summer mornings high in the mountains.

A Pertex Quantum Pro shell staves off light rain and wind, while lofty 800-fill down keeps him toasty warm without any excess weight. The adjustable hood fits over a helmet, and wrist and hem adjusters make it easy to keep wind from making its way into the jacket. Summer is always a great time to pick up a warm down jacket, since most brands take this as an opportunity to flash some significant markdowns.

If he loves a pocket knife but doesn鈥檛 want something that feels like it belongs strapped to a Navy SEAL, the James Brand Carter is a top choice. The brand makes great knives and EDC, using high-quality VG-10 stainless steel to make the Carter鈥檚 blade and G10 fiberglass laminate for the handle.

Not only does it perform, it just looks cool. The thumb disc on top of the blade stands out for its design, but is also an immensely useful feature, allowing him to flip the knife into position with ease. The reversible pocket clip will let him stow the knife anywhere he wants, and the trusty slide lock mechanism is intuitive and reliable. These things rarely go on sale, so this is a great chance to save yourself more than $20 while also snagging a great gift.

A rooftop tent is every guy鈥檚 dream. It proves his outdoor bonafides when he drives around town with it folded up, and looks even cooler when it鈥檚 splayed fully open at the campsite. Yakima makes some of the best you can buy, indeed, the SkyRise has been one of our favorites since it was first launched in 2016.

The 3-person tent provides an ample footprint for comfortable sleep at night while doubling as an awning that鈥檚 perfect for hanging out under with a deck of cards and a drink at the end of a long day on the trail, lake, or wherever his car camping adventures take him. The best feature, however, is probably the 2.5-inch wall-to-wall mattress pad that will have him drifting off into the most peaceful sleep of his life. We never see these at this steep of a discount, so if he鈥檚 had his eye on a rooftop tent, now is the time to surprise him with one.

Every dad needs a Leatherman 鈥� it鈥檚 pretty much a requirement at this point. The Wave Plus is one of the most versatile multi-tools you can buy, packing 18 different tools into its small frame. It has needle-nose and regular pliers, wire/hard-wire cutters, an electrical crimper, a wire stripper, a 420HC knife, serrated knife and saw, and others.

The multi-tool provides Dad with anything he needs to get the job done at home, at camp, or in the backcountry. Plus, it comes with the signature nylon sheath with snap closure, just like the ones your dad鈥檚 dad and your dad鈥檚 dad鈥檚 dad had in their toolbox.

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The post The 15 Best Father鈥檚 Day Deals on Outdoor Gear appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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 our six favorite coolers for car campers, vanlifers, and beach bums.

Watch: How to Choose a Cooler

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best for True Connoisseur:
• Best Value:
• Best for Boaters:
• Best Braun for the Buck:
• Best For Vanlifers:
• Other Products We Tested
• Products to Avoid
• How to Choose a Cooler
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

Best Overall

Yeti Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler

External Dimensions: 16鈥� x 18鈥� x 21鈥�
Capacity: 32 L
Weight: 24.5 lbs
Score: 9.5/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� The most portable cooler of our test
鈯� Retained coolness beyond testers鈥� expectations
鈯� Took months of beating with aplomb
鈯� Tall height means it has to be packed thoughtfully

For as much as we didn鈥檛 want to deliver yet another win to Yeti, it felt like betting with the house. We could not ignore how well the Roadie 32 Wheeled Cooler performed in every aspect of our test, and it became my family鈥檚 favorite cooler for five months of adventures. This model is a smaller, upgraded version of the Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler, which we also tested and loved. While testers initially questioned why a 32-liter cooler needs wheels, they quickly realized the benefits. Five-inch-diameter, off-road-capable wheels made navigating rough terrain manageable. We also appreciated the 26.5-inch-long telescoping handle鈥攆ive inches above the height of the cooler鈥攚hich made it easy to maneuver even when the cooler was fully loaded.

As for the cooler body, it鈥檚 made out of Yeti鈥檚 famous rotomolded polyethylene that came away without damage after months of consistent hard use transporting perishables around campsites and being errantly left outside for months. The footprint of the base is slightly smaller than the lid, which, coupled with the taller height (to accommodate wine bottles), packed neatly into a variety of vehicles. On the thermoregulating front, the pressure-injected polyurethane insulation kept an entire cooler鈥檚 worth of food satisfactorily cold with only a Yeti Blue Ice pack tucked inside for two full days with highs over 102 degrees鈥攆ar outperforming our expectations of a cooler only chilled with an ice pack. Plus, the single drain plug never leaked.

Best for True Connoisseur

Snow Peak Hard Rock 40-Qt Cooler

External Dimensions: 25″ x 16″ x 15″
Capacity: 38 L
Weight: 25 lbs
Score: 9/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Beautiful design
鈯� Thoughtfully built to last forever
鈯� Expensive

The Hard Rock 40 is a collaboration between two brands with sterling reputations: Grizzly Coolers鈥� products are bomb proof, and Snow Peak鈥檚 Japanese aesthetic is sleek. The result is a cooler so sexy that four testers did not even bat an eye at the eye-watering price. The bear-proof rotomolded cooler easily kept our perishables cold on a four-day camping trip in California鈥檚 North Coast, retaining about 80 percent of the ice block in temps with highs in the 70s.

Testers noted that the Bear Claw Latch System rubberized closures, which wrap over and around rectangular knobs to lock down the cooler, made the cooler impossible to unintentionally crack open and let air out when closed down. Those closures also look cool as hell with contoured edges and a low-profile design that integrates seamlessly with the cooler body. Its matte finish and subtle, claw-like silhouette give it a tactical-meets-minimalist look that鈥檚 both tough and sleek. Not only does this closure design make the cooler virtually impervious to animals without prehensile fingers, it makes it easy to latch and unlatch with one hand. The drain plug is just as easy to crank open and closed. Like the other premium coolers in this category, it is rotomolded with a hefty serving of polyethylene, which makes it impervious to the beating we delivered during months of car camping and gives it lifelong durability.

Best Value

Igloo ECOCOOL Latitude 52-Qt Cooler

External Dimensions: 25″ x 15″ x 15″
Capacity: 49 L
Weight: 9.8 lbs
Score: 7/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good bang for your buck
鈯� Sustainable materials
鈯� Not as insulating as the other coolers on this list
鈯� No drain plug

The ECOCOOL Latitude 52-Qt cooler proves that there is still space for a low-tech cooler in a market dominated by $400 beasts that hold onto ice for weeks. For $60, the ECOCOOL did a respectable job of keeping snacks and drinks cold during a 60-degree weekend of camping in Oregon鈥檚 Siskiyou Mountains. Would we want to depend on it for a multi-day river trip? No. But that isn鈥檛 what this cooler is designed for. Rather, this cooler is made for more casual car camping. Testers reported that the handles didn鈥檛 bend under a 50-pound load, and the lid鈥檚 solid hinge and sturdy clasps added to its potential longevity. As a bonus, the ECOCOOL is made from post-consumer recycled resin. One feature we would鈥檝e liked to see: A drain plug.

Best for Boaters

Bote Kula 10

External Dimensions: 24鈥� 脳 15鈥� 脳 19鈥�
Capacity: 38 L
Weight: 24 lbs
Score: 7.5/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Rounded sides packed well into crowded boats
鈯� Top holds two cans steady on rocking boats
鈯� Does not play well with ice blocks
鈯� Handle is too big for packing tightly

Boaters notoriously pack a lot of drinks (usually beer), and the Bote Kula 10 has the capacity for quenching their thirst. 鈥淭his cooler was built to party,鈥� reported one tester, who found the included bottle opener easy to use and appreciated the magnetic aluminum can holders while rowing down a Class II stretch of river. Teetotalers, on the other hand, found the bottle opener to be a little much. Cylindrical beverages, such as cans of beer or bubbly water, packed efficiently against the interior鈥檚 rounded corners. Those same rounded corners on the exterior helped it squeeze into the rarely square, open spaces of the 13.5-foot Sotar Raft we tested it in. The only downside of the rounded body was it did not play well with blocks of ice that typically tuck beautifully into the corners of classic square coolers. This posed a problem on our hottest camping trip on the Klamath River, in which bags of crushed ice didn鈥檛 stand a chance against triple digit temps.

Best Braun for the Buck

RTIC 65 QT Ultra-Tough Cooler

External Dimensions: 31.62鈥� 脳 17.5鈥� 脳 17鈥�
Can Capacity: 84 Cans (No Ice)
Weight: 38 lbs
Score: 8.5/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredible durability throughout
鈯� Smart accessories
鈯� So heavy

With an admirable 3 inches of foam built into the body, the Ultra Tough held its own in terms of ice retention against similarly-sized and rotomolded Yeti coolers but at a more affordable price point. We were also impressed with this cooler鈥檚 padded rope handles, which allowed for comfortable carry even when filled with a family of three鈥檚 food and drinks for a weekend camping trip. Every tester agreed that having two drain plugs was a significant bonus for both removing excess water and cleaning. It drained two blocks鈥� worth of melted ice in under five minutes and removed enough of the water that we only had to wipe it with a washrag upon our return. Non-skid feet added a little extra traction when loaded into the back of a truck.

At more than $200, this RTIC cooler is still not cheap, but it鈥檚 $150 less than its Yeti counterparts and has a solid chance of lasting just as long thanks to durable design details, from the hardy clasps to the thick rope handles. One downside of all of that burl? At nearly 38 pounds empty, it was the heaviest cooler we tested鈥攅ven heavier than one with a built-in refrigeration system.

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Canyon Coolers Pro 65qt Cooler

Looking for a cooler built to withstand a long and happy life filled with campsites, beaches, and backyard BBQs? Meet the Pro 65 from Canyon Coolers, a 66-quart ice chest featuring pressure-injected foam insulation with a durable rotomolded construction. This hard-sided cooler also features a divider that can be used as a convenient side table, oversized latches for secure closure, and oversized drain plugs for easy cleaning.

Best For Vanlifers

Dometic CFX-2 45

External Dimensions: 16鈥� x 19鈥� x 27鈥�
Capacity: 45 L
Weight: 40 lbs
Score: 8/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Really efficient
鈯� Can keep ice indefinitely with power source
鈯� Need access to power
鈯� Lid can make accessing food at bottom difficult

Built with integrated cooling systems, Dometic coolers are marvels of modern cooler science. Dometic鈥檚 game-changing, hyper-efficient electric coolers essentially invited mini-fridges into our vans, truck conversions, and even campsites鈥攁s long as you have a converter or generator to plug them in to. But what we love about the CFX-2 45 doesn鈥檛 have to do with electronics; it鈥檚 that it鈥檚 tough as hell. Our test model spent a vast majority of its time in the back of a 2020 Ford Transit, pulling double duty as a cooler and a step-stool for kids ranging from 35 to 65 pounds. We never had to worry about denting or cracking it. Credit goes to the reinforced corners, stainless steel hinges, heavily fortified plastic folding handles, and thick lid.

With the ability to connect to 12/24 volt car DC as well as 100-240 volt home AC, testers plugged it in at home before packing up the night before to maximize charge and coolness. Once on the road, it stayed plugged in at all times to retain cold air. Since the lid swings up from the top, rather than off the side, testers noted that food at the bottom can be tricky to reach. But that slight annoyance didn鈥檛 bother us too much during a two-week cross country trip. Our only real complaint is the $800 price tag, but it鈥檚 hard to even fault Dometic for that since the CFX-2 45 is essentially a portable mini fridge.

Other Products We Tested

• : This iceless cooler blew testers鈥� minds with how quickly it dropped in temps when we threw cold packs in it. But the stainless steel exterior proved susceptible to scratches and dings.
• : We loved this cooler鈥檚 hardy design details, like the metal rope handles; but in the end we decided the RTIC 65 was a better overall choice in this size and price class.
• : RTIC did a great job of lightening up this cooler while maintaining fantastic thermoregulation with its super deep, heavily insulated lid, but it did not perform as well in either ice retention or durability as its heavy duty RTIC counterpart that made this list.

Products to Avoid

Single Use Coolers: To be honest, coolers have traditionally been a pretty non-eco friendly outdoor gear category. Their plastic exterior and foamy plastic insulation does not have the best track record for the earth or the health of those who manufacture it. A case can be made that most coolers have some environmental blood on their latches. With that said, nothing is more wasteful than a single-use cooler. On top of going immediately into a landfill, they don鈥檛 really do anything in terms of insulating their contents either. They are both wasteful and pointless.

How to Choose a Cooler

What Size Cooler Is Best?

Pick a cooler that鈥檚 big enough for your average trip length. If you get a cooler that is too small, you will go hungry, but a cooler that is too big will create coolness-wasting dead space. Each trip is different and group size can change things, but as a very general rule of thumb, I like to bring a 20- to 45-liter cooler on day- to weekend trips for my family of three, and a 55- to 70-liter cooler on trips lasting three days to a week.

Do You Really Need an Expensive Cooler?

This is a really tough question to answer as an individual who is obsessed with fancy coolers but spent most of his life using the cheapest coolers available. The short answer? If you are a reasonable drive from a place with ice and are camping for a weekend, you don鈥檛 need a cooler that can hold a single block of ice for a fortnight. Is it a good investment to buy a durable cooler (usually an accompanying factor in a pricey cooler) even if you don鈥檛 need it to retain ice forever? Yes, I think spending some extra dough is worth it.

What鈥檚 the Best Way to Pack a Cooler?

A cooler is only as good at retaining ice as the person using it. If you have a $400 cooler built to keep ice solid through the entirety of a Grand Canyon trip, but you leave it wide open in the sun for an hour on a super hot day, you just robbed that cooler of its ability to keep its contents cold.

I could write another 2,000 words on cooler maintenance, but there are three main rules you should follow: One: Try to reduce the cooler鈥檚 temperature before your trip, and keep it in the shade. The heat of the cooler itself drastically changes performance. Two: Keep the lid shut as much as possible. That means grabbing food with purpose rather than rummaging around. It also means grabbing multiple things at a time, such as all your sandwich fixings, and then immediately closing the lid rather than opening it once for ham, once for mayo, and once for cheese. Three: If your cooler has latches, keep them tight after every opening.

How We Test

• Number of coolers tested: 12
• Number of testers: 12
• Days camped: 30+
• Meals eaten: 80+
• Days rafted: 6
• Trips to the beach: 10
• Number of coolers accidentally left in a side yard for 5 months: 1

We had an absolutely epic end of summer, fall, and early winter adventuring with these coolers, aiming to give them the most real world scenarios to see how they held up in the mountains, on beaches, and on rivers. Our group of 12 testers used them on five main testing trips in three states ranging in weather from blazing hot to frigid rain. While general durability, capacity, and ice retention are all extremely important factors, we also spent hours poring over the finer details like the handles, closures, and drain plugs to tease out the nuance of what made them worthy of this guide.

Meet Our Testers

Joe Jackson made a name for himself testing coolers during his first year working at 国产吃瓜黑料 over a decade ago. Ever since he has been obsessed with the intricacies of closed cell foam, durable rotomolding, and keeping every goddamn lid closed to not let out all of the insulated air. His love of cooler testing and maintenance started during the ten years he worked as a raft guide and was solidified the year he managed a rafting company that cooked all of its meals out of food stored in coolers.

Sarah Jackson absolutely and utterly doesn鈥檛 fuck around when it comes to cooler packing and maintenance. She is the person everyone asks where the cheese is packed (even if it isn鈥檛 in her cooler) and has been known to move a cooler half a dozen times to keep it in the deepest shade on a hot campsite. She has tested, loved, and even destroyed coolers with her husband, Joe, for over a decade.

Zach 鈥淩ed鈥� Williams uses his 2020 Ford Transit and teacher鈥檚 schedule to maximize adventure for his family of four. He tested coolers for us on multi-week road trips, weekend camping trips, tailgating in ski resort parking lots, and rafting trips.

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The post The 6 Best Coolers of 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Summer is right around the corner, so here are two ways to ensure it鈥檚 the best one yet.

1. Kick off summer with the , May 31 and June 1 in Denver, Colorado. The event blends music, film, keynote speakers, outdoor brands, and great food in the ultimate celebration of adventure. Last year鈥檚 inaugural event drew nearly 20,000 people, and the festival will be even bigger and better this year, with Khruangbin and Lord Heron leading the musical lineup and legends like Diana Nyad and Alex Honnold headlining the speaker series.

2. Spend more time outside. Warm weather and long days serve up the perfect conditions for camping, hiking, paddling, and more. Make summer鈥檚 precious days count by putting more adventures on the calendar and equipping yourself with the best gear.

Below are ten products guaranteed to upgrade the season. They鈥檒l help you sleep more comfortably outdoors, elevate your camp cooking with family and friends, and maximize fun on the water. Gear up and get out there.

Camp

REI Co-op Campwell 6 Tent

Got a big crew? Get a big tent. This cabin-style tent sleeps six comfortably with a spacious interior and elevated peak height (over five feet), so everyone can spread out and relax. Clear night? Roll back the fly and enjoy stargazing through the full mesh ceiling. It鈥檚 the perfect summer home for adventure-loving families and friends.

Exped MegaMat Sleeping Pad

When it comes to sleeping well outdoors, a key consideration is what you put between you and the ground. For a solid night鈥檚 rest, you want a pad that鈥檚 thick for maximum cushion and insulated for warmth. The MegaMat delivers and then some. It offers four luxurious inches of cushion, enough insulation for winter weather when paired with a winter bag, and easy inflation/deflation. Bonus: The surface fabric is soft against skin and made with 100% recycled material.

REI Co-op Siesta Hooded 20 Sleeping Bag

If you鈥檝e ever felt cramped by a too-narrow mummy bag, get ready for a revelation: The relaxed rectangular fit of this cozy sleeping bag offers plenty of roll-around room for a comfortable night鈥檚 sleep. The 20-degree temperature rating can handle the chillier side of mountain summers, and the two-way zipper lets you open the bag completely or even turn it into a quilt in warmer weather.

Hest Camp Pillow

They may look similar, but not all camp pillows are created equal. This one stands apart for its ultracomfortable memory foam, dirt- and water-resistant fabric, and removable/washable cover. Take it everywhere this summer, from camping to meadow napping to festival lounging.

Cook

AeroPress XL Coffee Press

If camp coffee鈥�good camp coffee鈥攊s one of your nonnegotiables, get the XL Coffee Press from AeroPress. It can brew up to six shots of espresso or two cups of coffee at a time, keeping you on your morning game. To brew, just add your coffee grounds and water, then stir and press. It鈥檚 that simple.

REI Co-op Graphic Camp Mug

What鈥檚 a pot of coffee without a mug to match? The REI Co-op Graphic Camp Mug is made of high-quality stainless steel, features an easy-sipping lid, and is double insulated to keep your drinks hot (or cold). Plus, you can match it to your personal style with a choice of eight colors and designs.

YETI Roadie 48 Wheeled Cooler

This cooler is as close as it gets to summer on wheels. It chills up to 76 cans of your favorite beverage, and the PermaFrost insulation can keep ice frozen for days. But this is a Yeti cooler, so top-notch insulation is just the start. The whole thing is tank tough, and the NeverFlat wheels and telescoping handle make it easy to maneuver through festival crowds and over rough terrain.

Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven

Nothing says summer like cooking over a campfire. This cast-iron beauty is the way to do it for soups, stews, meats, and more. The deep eight-quart Dutch oven is preseasoned using a hot industrial oven so the oil is baked in, making it hand-me-down durable. That and the cast iron鈥檚 even heat distribution make the Deep Camp Dutch Oven a welcome addition to any camp kitchen.

Float

Bote Breeze Aero Bloom Inflatable Paddleboard with Paddle

Get on the water this summer with a limited-edition paddleboard from Bote. The Breeze Aero Bloom is inflatable and lightweight (just 20 pounds), so it鈥檚 easy to pack on road trips. Eco bonus: The deck pad is made with an environmentally friendly material sourced from harmful algae, removing it from the environment and returning clean water to the ecosystem.

Bote Highwater Hitchhiker

Whatever kind of paddling or boating you do, keep your valuables dry with the hip-pack-size Bote Highwater Hitchhiker. The TRU Zip zipper is fully waterproof, dustproof, airtight, and submersible, so you can focus on the water fun, not the risk of getting your stuff wet.

is the nation鈥檚 largest consumer co-op, with a growing community of 24 million members who expect and love the best-quality gear and outstanding customer service. The co-op is a purpose-driven and values-led company dedicated to enabling life outside for all.

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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

The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style
The Best Sleeping Bags for Car Campers
The Best Backpacks, Duffels, and Roller Bags for 国产吃瓜黑料 Travel

The post The 8 Best Instant Coffees for Backcountry 国产吃瓜黑料rs appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Don鈥檛 let sweltering summer temps stop your next car-camping trip or overlanding odyssey. A portable air-conditioning unit can open up a new season on the road. Or, for a family who lives the adventure life full-time, traveling with the finest new wireless AC unit can be a 鈥渢otal game changer.鈥� So says outdoor filmmaker , currently based on Oahu鈥檚 Ka鈥榚na Point with co-director husband Artem and their toddler Molly. The family trio camps out of an FJ Cruiser rigged with powerful essentials鈥攊ncluding the brand鈥檚 mightiest portable air conditioner yet, .

As longtime users of EcoFlow gear, York is grateful for the upgraded WAVE, especially when it comes to cooling in tough conditions. 鈥淭he difference in real-world performance is huge,鈥� says York, who tested WAVE 3 in the heat and humidity of the wild west side of Oahu. 鈥淚t now cools small rooms鈥攏ot just tents.鈥� She also added that the unit is noticeably quieter and more stable, 鈥渁nd its new one-button drainage system is a major quality-of-life improvement.鈥�

The family began kitting out their camp-mobile with EcoFlow gear starting with a pair of portable power stations (the and ) plus to stay connected and charged while off-grid. When other work and family necessities called鈥攅.g. comfort, cold food storage, on-demand ice, plus climate control for work equipment鈥攎ore EcoFlow solutions swiftly filled the gap. They integrated EcoFlow鈥檚 WAVE 3 portable AC and portable refrigerator into their expanded setup, providing what York calls 鈥渁 full-power ecosystem that allows us to work, travel, and live remotely with flexibility and comfort鈥攁nd without compromise.鈥�

Requiring no installation and about the size of a carry-on, WAVE 3 seamlessly combines power, efficiency, mobility, and wireless convenience. The upgraded unit boasts a whopping 6100-Btu cooling capacity with 6800 Btus of heating power for colder environments (like central Alaska, where the family will be soon heading). A host of other new customizable functions鈥攈igher air volume, remote monitoring, smart聽 humidity and temp control, leak-proof water drainage notification, and even an app-based 鈥淧et Care Smart Switch鈥濃�攃an also help turn demanding outdoor work environments into a (literal) breeze. And easier days for York mean more family fun wherever their car, and cameras, lead them.

鈥淥ne surprise we really appreciated was the built-in dehumidifier,鈥� adds York, noting the humidity in Hawaii. 鈥淚 used to run a separate unit before underwater shoots to prevent fogging inside the dive housing鈥攁nd to dry gear before sealing it in vacuum storage. WAVE 3 now handles both jobs easily.鈥�

She also calls out the new display and controls as much more intuitive, with features like Energy Flow monitoring and charge/discharge limits, 鈥渢hat provide a real sense of control鈥攅specially off-grid.鈥� And when it comes to distance from the power grid, the WAVE 3鈥檚 optional 1024Wh LFP battery pack provides up to 8 hours of uninterrupted AC, and can be fully recharged in as fast as 75 minutes.

Speaking of recharging, the WAVE 3鈥檚 solar charging port now connects directly to the battery鈥攎eaning you can use the sun to charge it while using the AC unit elsewhere, plugged into a wall. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super-convenient,鈥� York says, 鈥渁nd the extra USB-A port is a nice touch too鈥攑erfect for Christmas lights or charging small accessories on the go.鈥�

The latest upgrades to the EcoFlow GLACIER Portable Refrigerator also proved to be a major win for the family. Beyond the industry鈥檚 fastest cooling speeds, they appreciated the unit鈥檚 鈥渨ay more road-trip friendly鈥� redesign鈥攊ncluding handier double-sided doors and space-saving sliding handles.

鈥淚t fits a 6-pack and pretty much all the essentials we usually take on trips鈥攁nd it packs perpendicularly into the back of our FJ,鈥� husband Artem raves of the compact fridge鈥檚 roomy 55L capacity. 鈥淭hat means, if we fold one seat down, we can actually use that space as a sleeping area or fit long gear, like C-stands or a surfboard.鈥�

If there鈥檚 a single epiphany gained from equipping their off-grid occupations with these latest innovations, it鈥檚 just how compatible outdoor living can be with life鈥檚 essentials鈥攁nd just how quickly every member of the family acclimates to it.

鈥淚t鈥檚 funny how normal all this has become for our daughter,鈥� says Artem. 鈥淪he鈥檚 growing up thinking this is just how life works鈥攑ower and comforts-of-home anywhere, anytime.鈥�

Same deal for mom and dad.

鈥淥nce we tried it, we quickly realized how much easier and more comfortable it made our life outdoors,鈥� says York. 鈥淓coFlow didn鈥檛 just change the way we work. It changed the way we live.鈥�

is a leading provider of eco-friendly energy solutions, committed to powering a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has aimed to be the FIRST in power solutions鈥擣lexible, Innovative, Reliable, Simple, and Thorough鈥攆or individuals and families, whether at home, outdoors or on the go. With a smart manufacturing center in China, and headquarters in the USA, Germany and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered over 5 million users in 140 markets worldwide.聽

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I, like many, feverishly guard my Yeti gear. My water bottle cabinet is stacked with Ramblers and my garage has four different-sized coolers neatly stacked and waiting for my family鈥檚 next adventure. The cooler and drinkware brand鈥檚 stuff is so good that it鈥檚 found a permanent place in my rather large but ever-rotating gear collection that鈥檚 fed by my job as a gear tester.

That said, there鈥檚 one piece of Yeti gear that I was rather happy to give away to friends. After lugging the Yeti Trailhead Camp Chairs on several camping trips, I decided that I wanted them gone and gladly shuffled them off to other garages. Those chairs, I will admit, are more comfortable than any other camp chair on the market. But they鈥檙e also the heaviest and bulkiest camp chairs I鈥檝e ever tested and were a royal pain in the ass to lug around. Their bulk took up an absurd amount of space in my truck bed, and hauling two around a campsite felt like lugging sacks of stones. Bottom line: The comfort was not worth the effort.

Given that experience, I was curious鈥攁nd skeptically hopeful鈥攁bout Yeti鈥檚 new beach chair. I鈥檝e now been testing the Hondo Beach Chair for a few weeks, and, thankfully, it is exactly what I鈥檝e been hoping for and will absolutely become part of my permanent Yeti gear collection.

Yeti Hondo Beach Chair Wear-Test Review

Made from a powder-coated aluminum and slung with a breathable and UV-resistant mesh, the Hondo is rated to hold 350 pounds. Weighing 11 pounds, it鈥檚 not (their Chair One comes in at 2.25 pounds), but it is two pounds lighter than the Trailhead, which is noticeable when walking around a campsite or from your car to your kid鈥檚 soccer game. It also comes with a removable padded shoulder strap that makes carrying two or three at a time a total breeze.

The biggest difference, however, is in the bulk. Like most beach chairs, Yeti鈥檚 version folds flat and, packed down, is only about 2.5 feet on its longest side. You can stack two or three into your car and only take up a few cubic feet of space. In my truck, the chair disappeared against the side of my bed, unlike the Trailhead, which squeezes down into an awkward cylindrical shape that never fits anywhere well because of its girth.

Like all beach chairs, the Hondo sits closer to the ground on two lengthwise braces instead of four individual feet so that it鈥檚 more stable in sand. People accustomed to taller camp chairs might balk at the lower-to-the-ground design, but I鈥檝e found it to be an advantage. By sitting closer to the ground, I鈥檓 actually closer to the coals of the campfire, which is where the heat is. The chair doesn鈥檛 sit so low that it feels awkward to get out of, at least for someone like me, still relatively young and spry. In terms of seating height, the Hondo feels similar to the Helinox Chair One, so you won鈥檛 be a total outlier. When I hauled the chair to my son鈥檚 soccer game, I found that I had to scoot a little forward to not be blocked out by other spectators in taller chairs, but that was no big deal.

Beach chairs are also built to recline so you can sunbathe, and I鈥檝e found this to be an advantage for camping as well. When the stars come out at night, it鈥檚 been fun to haul the chair to a dark spot, recline it as far as it will go and stare up at the constellations. During the day, leaning the chair back has also facilitated great naps.

I have yet to take the chair to the beach, but it will obviously do its job well when placed in the sand and next to the water. There鈥檚 a sturdy cup holder, and plastic tabs on both arms are designed to integrate with other Yeti products like the SideKick Dry one-liter gear case that will hold daily items like sunscreen and car keys.

Like all Yeti products, the Hondo is pricey at $300, but as we always say about the brand, the investment is worth the initial pain. I know that I鈥檒l gladly haul this chair around to camping trips and beach outings for the next 10 years, toss it around in my truck, leave it out in the sun, and generally abuse it without ever worrying that it will break or not be the most comfy seating option during every adventure.

See our full gear guide to 2025 camp chairs.

The post Yeti鈥檚 New Hondo Beach Chair Tested and Reviewed聽 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Few things can tank morale on a camping trip like a bad night鈥檚 sleep. Fortunately, with plenty of stellar sleeping pad options out there, there鈥檚 no reason for your gear to prevent 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 42 nights sleeping on a variety of pads (and even cots) that prioritize comfort over weight and packability鈥攆rom smart options designed for literal car campers to pads so plush they can pull double duty as a guest room mattress. These provided us with the best nights of sleep.

Updated May 2025: We added six new pads to this list, including our new “Best Overall” pick, the NEMO Roamer Double Sleeping Pad. We also updated pricing and info on the Big Agnes Circleback, a pad we previously tested but still recommend.聽

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best for Camping In Your Car:
• Best Value:
• Easiest Inflation:
• Most Luxurious:
• Most Efficient:
• Most Sustainable:
• Other Sleeping Pads We Tested
• How to Choose Your Sleeping Pad
• How We Test
• Meet Our Main Testers

Don’t miss: The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style

Best Overall

NEMO Roamer Double Sleeping Pad

Weight: 7 lbs 8 oz
Thickness: 4.0 in
Available sizes: XL Wide, Double
Dimensions: 78鈥� x 52鈥� (double)
R-value: 6

Pros and Cons
鈯� Supple upper
鈯� Best in test for deflation/packing
鈯� Expensive

The Nemo Roamer, available as a double or extra-wide single pad, is our top pick because of how comfortable it is and how easy it is to deflate and pack. We only tested the double, which at 78-by-52 inches, was generous enough to comfortably fit two adults and a six-year-old child.

The Jackson family put in over a dozen nights on the double version while camping, and we even used it as a guest room mattress for visitors. The deluxe four-way stretch polyester fabric and TPU topper is incredibly soft next-to-skin. That four-way stretch fabric also makes the NEMO Roamer one of the quieter pads we tested鈥攊t didn鈥檛 crinkle or rustle like unbrushed polyester pads do鈥攚hen our very mobile six-year-old sleeper thrashed around through the night. One tester noted that it felt like the mattress conformed to her body even when it was stiffly inflated. It also lived up to its R-value of 6: One tester found it offered plenty of insulation from the cold ground on a 28-degree night on the Scott River in California.

The Roamer Double was one of the few self-inflating mattresses in our test that actually completely self-inflated in about 15 minutes thanks to the pad鈥檚 large air channels (that鈥檚 not exactly fast, but it鈥檚 respectable for a double pad this thick). Testers who wanted to speed up inflation time or preferred a firmer surface used the included inflation bag. When it came to packing up the Roamer, every tester noted how quickly the pad deflated thanks to the very efficient dual deflate valve system. We let out all the air in about 90 seconds in a single roll鈥攁 revelation for seasoned car campers used to having to roll and re-roll pads during packdown to get all of the air out. Packed down into its duffel bag it鈥檚 about the size of a couch cushion.

We really have no complaints about the Roamer. It鈥檚 one of the priciest double mattresses on the market, but it also affords exceptional comfort for a camping mattress. If you鈥檙e on a budget and don鈥檛 need a double, the XL Wide pad (78鈥� x 30鈥�, $250) offers the exact same tech specs at a more palatable price.

Best for Camping In Your Car

Luno AIR + FOAM PRO Camping Mattress

Weight: 6 lbs
Thickness: 4鈥�
Available sizes: Short, Regular, Tall
Dimensions: 72鈥� x 25鈥� (regular)
R-value: 11.4

Pros and Cons
鈯� Versatile for car and tent camping
鈯� Incredibly durable base
鈯� Topper not as supple as others in price range

Luno has been at the forefront of making ultra-plush sleeping mattresses specifically designed to fit in the back of vehicles for literal car campers. The 4-inch thick Camping Mattress uses Luno鈥檚 Air + Foam technology, which sandwiches open cell foam between sturdier protective layers to create a memory foam mattress-like cushion and serious insulation (11.4 R-value). It also comes with a head support bridge that connects the mattress to a car seat headrest to bridge the rear footwell and maximize every inch of sleeping space.

But the Camping Mattress isn鈥檛 just for those who camp in their cars. At 72 inches by 25 inches (regular), the rectangular mattress fits as seamlessly in the back of a Honda Element as in a crowded four-person tent.

With a 150-TPU bottom, this mattress was one of the most rugged we tested. Testers used it on a volcanic rock-strewn campground along the Klamath River and it came back with nothing more than minor scratches. The 30-denier elastic polyester upper is just as hardy, and while comfortable enough to sleep on without a cover sheet, it鈥檚 not as supple against your cheek as other mattresses in the $250-plus price range.

The Luno Camping Mattress landed in the middle of the pack when it came to inflation time. While Luno claims it self-inflates in 60 seconds, we found that we had to top it off with its included inflation bag to make it sleep-ready, bringing the total inflation time closer to two minutes. But when it came to packing up, testers loved how tidily the Camping Mattress rolled up and cinched down in Luno鈥檚 cam-strap headrest accessory. Once rolled up, the Camping Mattress was about the size of a pillow.

Best Value

Kelty Kush Airbed

Weight: 4 lbs 15 oz
Thickness: 6鈥�
Available sizes: Queen
Dimensions: 79″ x 55.5″
R-value: N/A

Pros and Cons
鈯� Affordable
鈯� Included rechargeable pump
鈯� Packs down small
鈯� Loud topper
鈯� Not comfortable against bare skin

Unlike the other pads on this list, the Kelty Kush Airbed does not offer fancy foam integrations, a luxuriously brushed topper, or self-inflation system. But it made this list because it costs a fraction of what other mats cost and still offers enough warmth, comfort, durability, and air retention to get one tester through a 35-degree night camping in late fall near Mt. Ashland, Oregon.

At a whopping six inches thick, it was the fattest mattress in our test, which likely explains its ability to handle near freezing temps even without the foam you find in other pads. The lack of internal foam also means the Kush Airbed packs down smaller (to about the size of a laptop) than other mats at this thickness.

While not self-inflating, it easily blew up in about four minutes with its included USB rechargeable pump, which holds a charge really well. One tester was able to inflate the Airbed and top off three other pads on a single charge. The Kush held air like a champ, remaining plenty sturdy with no need for top-offs during a weekend trip in Ashland, Oregon.

A few niggles: The zip-zip sound of a tester tossing and turning on the mat鈥檚 peached polyester upper drove his tent mate nuts. That top was also pretty rough against skin, an issue easily mitigated by staying in our sleeping bags or packing a top sheet.

Easiest Inflation

DOD Soto Sleeping Pad

Weight: 13.9 lbs (medium)
Thickness: 4鈥�
Available sizes: Small, Medium, Large
Dimensions: 82鈥� x 45鈥� (medium)
R-value: 8.3

Pros and Cons
鈯� Best-in-test inflation
鈯� Soft, cotton upper
鈯� Bulky valves were ankle hazards

The Soto鈥檚 dual valve inflation system proved the most user-friendly in our test. Using either the pump integrated into the included pillow or our own electric pump, we had the Soto sleep-ready in under a minute.

While it didn鈥檛 boast the highest R-value in our test, its four-inch-thickness and open cell foam insulated one tester on a night that dipped below freezing on the Scott River in California. The Soto was the only sleeping pad in our test that featured a polyester-cotton upper, which made it feel more naturally soft and comfortable to the touch. It also proved surprisingly durable thanks to its hardy TPU-coated polyester body material: Six rowdy, cooped-up kids used the Soto as a wrestling mat during a wet, three-day camping trip and it looked no worse for wear after a light towel cleaning. What鈥檚 more, it remained fully inflated and needed no top-ups even after that multi-day ruckus.

The Soto comes in three available sizes (small, medium, large), and all are the same height (82 inches), so you should consider the number of sleepers rather than sleeper height when choosing the right size for you. We tested the 82-by-54-inch large pad, which was big enough to sleep two adults and a six-year-old.

Our only complaint: The dual air valves that make the Soto so easy to inflate are bulky鈥攖hey stick out from the top of the air mattress and proved to be trip hazards in one family鈥檚 crowded tent.

Most Luxurious

ExPed Megamat Duo

Weight: 11 lbs 14 oz (queen)
Thickness: 4鈥�
Available sizes: Medium, Long-Wide+, Queen
Dimensions: 80鈥� x 60鈥�
R-value: 8.1

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely durable
鈯� Includes carrying handles
鈯� Inefficient pump
鈯� Long inflation time

We have been testing versions of the ExPed Megamat for over three years now and can confidently say that it sets the benchmark for comfort and warmth in the camp mattress category. This year, ExPed updated the iconic mattress by coring out 30 percent of the foam to make it less bulky and improve packability. The result is a mattress that still delivers the same R-value (8.1) as the previous model and some of the best cushioning on the market in a package that is easier to roll up and store.

The ample foam in the interior meant that the Megamat Duo was still extremely comfortable even when not stiffly inflated, something side-sleepers appreciated. Aside from the Nemo Roamer Double, this mattress was the most comfortable in our test. Case in point: One tester slept on the Megamat Duo for seven straight days on a camping trip in Crescent City, California, then slept on it in a guest bedroom at home for two more weeks.

Its recycled 50-denier polyester and TPU polyether-laminated upper showed three superficial scuffs after our kid stress testers put it through the wringer as a play mattress, but it held air and its 75-denier polyester bottom looked no worse for wear after the unfair treatment. Another small detail we really appreciated about the Megamat Duo: The included handles made it the easiest two-person mattress we tested to move around once inflated.

The MegaMat is an exceptionally plush pad once inflated, but it was the most challenging of the high-end pads to inflate. While it self-inflates to some extent, it requires pretty extensive top-up with the included pump, which worked at half the speed and required double the effort compared to other hand and foot pumps we tested. When all was said and done, it took about eight minutes to fully inflate this pad with the pump and some hard labor.

Lightest Foam Mattress

Klymit Insulated Klymaloft Sleeping Pad

Weight: 3.1 lbs (extra large)
Thickness: 3.5鈥�
Available sizes: Regular, XL, Double
Dimensions: 72鈥� x 23鈥� (regular)
R-value: 7

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredible comfort-to-weight ratio
鈯� Cush upper
鈯� Not as comfortable when not stiffly inflated

Testers loved the Klymaloft for its integrated soft stretch-knit polyester fabric cover鈥攃onsidered the most luxurious topper after the top-rated Nemo Roamer. No need to remember a separate topsheet. The supple, sheet-like cover only spans 80 percent of the mattress (where you need it most), minimizing additional weight and bulk while maximizing comfort.

The combination of the plush foam topper and the i-beam air chambers created an excellent sleeping platform for testers who prefer a stiffer mattress but was not as comfortable at lower PSIs compared to the other premium mattresses on this list. That foam and i-beam combo also gives the Klymaloft a respectable R-value of 7, offering enough insulation for nights that dipped into the low 40s.

At just 4.4 pounds, the Klymaloft is pounds lighter than the other full-size, foam-integrated mattresses on this list鈥攕omething one tester greatly appreciated after setting up a campsite a quarter mile from where he parked on the Scott River in California. While we rarely had to lug our testing mattresses long distances, weight is worth considering if you want something more portable than the plushest car camping pads.

While not self-inflating, the Klymaloft鈥檚 straightforward, twist-pull valve made inflation painless with an electric pump. It was also one of the quickest and easiest pads to deflate and pack up, taking fewer than four minutes to fully deflate fully and roll up into its stuff sack. Packed down, it鈥檚 roughly the size of a 5-gallon jug鈥攕till too large to take backpacking, but significantly smaller than the other single mattresses on this list.

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EXPED Ultra 1R Mummy Sleeping Pad

When the weather’s warm and every ounce counts, the EXPED Ultra 1R Mummy Sleeping Pad is perfect for backpacking trips and summer excursions. Made to fit underneath your mummy bag, it features a 7 cm thick air cushion to support your body weight with air chambers that run head to toe. The included Schnozzel Pumpbag means you don’t need to huff and puff to blow up the sleeping pad, while the 20-denier ripstop provides abrasion resistance without adding to pack weight.

Most Sustainable

Big Agnes Circleback

Weight: 2.1 lbs
Thickness: 4.5鈥�
Available sizes: Regular, Long
Dimensions: 72鈥� x 25鈥� (regular)
R-value: 4.7

Pros and Cons
鈯� Circularly recyclable
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Hard to fit back into the stuff sack

In the world of sustainable product design, the gold standard is circularity鈥攊tems made so that they can be broken down and remade without a constant input of new materials and output of waste. We鈥檝e never tested a camping pad that achieves that standard鈥攗ntil the Circleback, which uses a TPU air bladder that is 100-percent recyclable and an insulating cover made entirely of recycled and recyclable polyester. When it鈥檚 time to retire the pad, Big Agnes will take it back and reuse every last scrap.

Sustainability aside, the Circleback鈥檚 modular insulation system is worth close consideration from anyone looking for a classic, do-it-all inflatable sleeping pad. With the removable cover, the Circleback has an R-value of 4.7, making it plenty comfortable in three seasons.One tester stayed warm and snug on an October trip in the North Cascades with overnight temps around freezing. Without the cover, the Circleback becomes a stripped down, lightweight summer pad.

Testers praised the extra polyester insulation, cushioning, and noise-muffling properties the polyester taffeta removable cover affords, but some testers found themselves sliding off the slick surface. 鈥淓ven at a flat tent site, I woke up a couple mornings on the ground, with the pad next to me,鈥� said a Seattle-based tester who used the 4.5-inch-thick pad on a three-night trip outside of Bozeman, Montana. Keeping the pad at a moderate to low firmness helped, but testers cautioned that it might not be ideal for restless sleepers.

The whole kit packs down to 6-by-13 inches (regular), making it a solid option for short backpacking trips where the priority is comfort over size or weight.

Other Products We Tested

• : The Arpenaz offers great value, and we found it extremely comfortable when coupled with a cot, but it didn鈥檛 provide enough insulation on colder nights to be one of our picks for campers who sleep on the ground.
• : While this pad has the potential to double as a car camping mattress and a base-camp style backpacking pad, it lacks some of the comfort details car campers look for in a mattress.
• : The Campmeister truly amazed testers with its incredibly light weight coupled with its respectable R-value of 7, but it didn鈥檛 impress testers as much in the comfort department.

How to Choose Your Sleeping Pad

Foam-Filled vs. Air-Filled Sleeping Pads

Self-inflating foam pads should inflate most of the way within roughly a half hour, depending on the model, and come with inflation sacks or pumps to finish the job. Our favorite pumps have a snug connection point with the pad and a large air chamber that鈥檚 easy to roll and push with minimal effort. Campers who don鈥檛 want to wait can invest in an electric pump, like Exped鈥檚 battery-operated Widget Pump. Almost all foam-insulated camping pads have high enough R-Values for winter camping (above 5), but it鈥檚 worth double-checking the rating if your adventures will include sub-freezing nights.

Sleeping Pad R-Value

This ubiquitous term will inevitably crop up when searching for the most appropriate pad for your outdoor activity. R-value is a universal measurement that rates a sleeping pad鈥檚 ability to resist heat transfer. R-values in sleeping pads typically range from 1-7, but some go well beyond R-7, especially in the case of car camping pads or expedition-level pads.

A pad with an R-value up to 2 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit; an R-value between 2 and 3.9 works in temps with an expected nighttime low of 32 degrees; an R-value between 4 and 5.4 works in temps with an expected nighttime low as cold as 15 degrees; and a pad with an R-value of 5.5 or higher works in temps down to an expected nighttime low of zero degrees.

Pads with R-values above 7鈥攕uch as luxury car camping mattresses, self-inflating foam pads, or heavy-duty expedition mats鈥攐ffer extreme insulation for subzero temperatures, but also serve cold sleepers in more moderate temps (around freezing). Some premium car camping mattresses or self-inflating pads can reach R-values of 10 or higher, offering maximum comfort and warmth retention. These extremely high R-values are particularly useful when sleeping directly on cold ground, frozen surfaces, or inside unheated vehicles. While backpackers often aim for the lowest R-value that still keeps them safe, car campers may want to consider pads with R-values of 7 or higher since a pad鈥檚 weight and packability are not high priorities when accessing a campsite by car.

Does Packability Matter for a Sleeping Pad?

When you鈥檙e car camping, packability isn鈥檛 as big of a concern as when you鈥檙e backpacking and need to cram all of your gear into one bag. For that reason, the best sleeping pads tend to be thick, wide, and much heavier than their backpacking counterparts. Still, if you have a small car or limited storage, packed size might still be a major consideration. Some of the sleeping pads on this list pack down quite small (about the size of a large bag of potato chips), while others are beasts.

What Kind of Materials Do Sleeping Pads Use?

Aim for a higher-denier material on both the top and bottom of the pad, especially if you plan on dragging it outside for stargazing, or share your bed with a canine. While many backpacking pads use nylon uppers for weight savings and better durability, most car camping pads feature a polyester upper material to balance durability and next-to-skin comfort. Some of our favorite car camping mattresses on this list even feature brushed (or peached) polyester or stretch-knit uppers for enhanced comfort.

How We Test

• Number of Pads Tested: 12
• Number of Testers: 15
• Number of Days Camped: 42
• Number of states tested in: 3
• Number of kids lightly injured while wrestling on mats: 4

We set up three different main camps with these mattresses and invited 13 testers to use them as 鈥済uest beds鈥� and provide feedback on comforts or grievances. During the camping trips, we encouraged a lightly feral group of seven children to wrestle and play on the mats to rapid test their durability. To test air retention in a more controlled setting, we inflated all the mattresses and left them inflated for four days in an insulated garage where temps fluctuated from the high fifties to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Then we hand tested them. For one last layer of nuance, test director Joe Jackson spent at least one night on every one of these mattresses in a guestroom that he often sleeps in to offer his wife respite from his snoring.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Joe Jackson聽has been testing gear professionally for 国产吃瓜黑料 for over a decade. By his best estimation, he has tested over 75 sleeping pads ranging from gram pinching ultra light backpacking pads to the luxurious mattress-replacing numbers you see on this list.

Miyo McGinn is a former assistant editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. Miyo got her start reviewing gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear editorial assistant in 2021.

Saylor Flett runs the outdoor recreation and leadership program at Feather River College in Quincy, California. He has slept on sleeping pads in a cave in Yosemite for a month and on hundreds of riverbanks.

Josie Jackson is Joe Jackson’s seven-year-old daughter and arguably the most mobile sleeper of our 16 testers. She is also the least likely to be subject to brand bias because she could care less about who makes a sleeping pad, just if it’s comfortable.

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I remember the first time I saw someone sleeping in their vehicle for fun. It was 1999. I was in Vail, and I hit a parking lot apr猫s party with a dude who was sleeping in his Ford Ranger pickup. He had built a plywood sleeping platform with all of his ski gear stored beneath, allowing him to camp out in his truck, save money on pricey ski resort lodging, and snag first chair in the morning.

He sold me on the idea of camping out in your car, and I鈥檝e spent the last twenty-plus years trying to perfect my own system. I鈥檝e built elaborate platforms for my Toyota 4Runner with built-in gear storage, and purchased the pre-fab Decked system for the back of my Ford F150. Both are good permanent solutions for people who overland or camp on the regular, but what about the weekend warrior who only plans to sleep in their daily driver on weekends? Enter the , which might be the perfect solution for the majority of car campers who are looking to sleep in the back of their vehicle without going full van life.

Hele Box Solo Car Camping Platform

Dimensions: 6鈥� x 24鈥�
Weight: 25 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy setup
鈯� Customizable to your vehicle
鈯� Portable
鈯� Doubles as a table
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Heavy and awkward to carry in its case

Setting Up the Hele Box

The Hele Box is a portable sleeping platform that can be broken down and stored in an included storage case when not in use, and it鈥檚 fast and easy to deploy when it鈥檚 time to camp on weekends. Fold the back seats of your vehicle down, set up the Hele Box, and you essentially double the space in your vehicle, giving you a bedroom 鈥渦pstairs鈥� and a garage 鈥渄ownstairs.鈥�

Set up takes less than five minutes, and is just a matter of sliding poles together, clicking the legs into place, and laying out the wooden slats. It鈥檚 24 inches wide and 72 inches long, which is big enough to accommodate me (I鈥檓 6鈥�3鈥�), but small enough to fit in the back of most regular-sized SUVs with the back seats folded down. Hele Outdoors has to let you know if the Hele Box platform will fit into your specific vehicle, but if you own a Subaru Outback or Toyota 4Runner (likely 75-percent of you reading this review), rest assured that it will fit.

There鈥檚 even a way to shorten the platform鈥檚 length from 72 inches to 66 inches if you have a smaller vehicle. The Hele Box fit perfectly in the back of our 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, commonly referred to as the 鈥渕om jeans of SUVs,鈥� giving me plenty of room to sleep and store gear beneath and around the platform.

Adjustable Legs to Fit a Variety of Cars and SUVs

My favorite design feature of the Hele Box is the聽 independently adjustable legs, which allow you to fine tune the amount of head room you need above the platform as well as the amount of storage space below. I have some bulky gear boxes, and I found a sweet spot that gave me enough headroom while allowing me to slide my camp kitchen and other items below the Hele Box. Also, some cars have backseats that don鈥檛 fold flat, but Hele Box鈥檚 legs, which adjust in half-inch increments from 8.75 inches to 14 inches, allow you to ground the platform around any uneven surfaces while keeping the sleeping surface flat I spent a lot of time and energy trying to figure out how to design my DIY sleeping platform around my 4Runner鈥檚 back seats, which did not fold completely flat. If I had the Hele Box, it would have just been a matter of adjusting two legs.

Hele Box Add-Ons

The sleeping platform itself consists of hardwood slats, so you just throw your sleeping pad on top. Any sleeping pad that matches the Hele Box鈥檚 dimensions will work,, but if you don鈥檛 love your current pad, I can recommend Hele Outdoors鈥� pad. It鈥檚 three inches thick, made from a super plush and comfortable combo of foam and air, and has a soft topper and no-slip bottom so it stays put on the slats.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial鈥攂ut wait, there鈥檚 more!鈥攁dd a set of tall legs to your Hele Box kit, and the platform doubles as a large table that can聽 stand alone or extend from your tailgate. Either way, the six foot long table will give you plenty of room for cooking and feeding the whole family. The ($520) comes with multiple sized legs, an extra storage box, and the plush sleeping pad.

From what I can tell, nothing was overlooked in the design. The materials are solid (aerospace-grade aluminum and hardwood slats) and built to last. Each leg has a double locking system with clicking pegs and a twisting brace that further secures the connection so there鈥檚 no wobble, even if you toss and turn in the middle of the night. Even the storage case that holds the system when it鈥檚 not in use doubles as gear storage with built-in dividers. I also appreciate the ability to shorten the platform to 66 inches, because that means truck owners with 5鈥�6鈥� truck beds (like me) can still use the platform in their tiny truck beds.

It鈥檚 a small detail, but I also like how all of the components actually fit well into the storage case when you鈥檙e ready to pack it up at the end of the weekend. There鈥檚 nothing more frustrating than taking a tent out of its original packaging and not being able to fit it back into the bag.

Is the Hele Box Better Than Other Sleeping Platforms?

The Hele Box Solo weighs 25 pounds (with a weight capacity of 250 pounds), which feels heavy when you鈥檙e carrying it around in its case, but it鈥檚 a fraction of the weight of many other sleep/storage systems, like the Decked in the back of my truck, or the system I built for my 4Runner.聽 I think the drawers and sleeping platform I built weighed three times as much, which meant I never took them out of the back of my 4Runner. But the Hele Box is light enough to truly be portable and removable. There is a new wave of similar portable car camping sleep systems hitting the market right now, and the Hele Box seems to be on par with the average weight and is a little less expensive than most.

One thing you should consider before buying: The Hele Box isn鈥檛 like a traditional cot, most of which are made from canvas and have at least a little bit of sag built into their design so your body is cradled in one position while you sleep. The Hele Box is a solid platform, which allows for storage beneath you while you sleep, but also means it doesn鈥檛 have any gives. This is important if you鈥檙e an active sleeper. If you鈥檙e tossing and turning all night, you might just roll right off of the platform. If you need more room to wander, or you don鈥檛 camp solo, check out the double size Hele Box.

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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 24 sleeping bags and blankets to the test on cold, windy shoulder-season trips and balmy summer nights. These sleeping bags and quilts came out on top.

Watch: What to Know Before Picking Your Next Sleeping Bag

Best Sleeping Bags at a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best Value:
• Roomiest:
• Most Versatile:
• Best for Families:
• Best Blanket:
• Best Wearable Bag:
• Other Sleeping Bags We Tested
• How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Updated April 2025: We added five new sleeping bags to this list, including our new “Best Overall” pick, the Rumpl Wrap Sack. We also updated pricing and info on the sleeping bags we previously included and still highly recommend.聽

Best Overall

Rumpl Wrap Sack Sleeping Bag 20

Weight: 5 lbs
Sizes: Standard
Dimensions: 82鈥� x 35鈥�
Comfort rating: 20-30F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Wide temperature range
鈯� Roomy
鈯� Smart design
鈯� Too cold below 30F
鈯� Clips could be uncomfortable to roll on

This unique sleeping bag is the most comfortable and innovative bag we鈥檝e tested in a while.

The best way to describe the Wrap Sack is a hybrid between a sleeping bag and an adult swaddle. Two wings on either side of the bag offer two different amounts of Rumpl鈥檚 proprietary recycled synthetic insulation. Depending on how mild or chilly it is at night, you can wrap one or both of these sides around yourself and secure them via four easy-to-close clips; when it鈥檚 cold out, zip the outer layer of the Wrap Sack like a traditional sleeping bag.

This layering design made the Wrap Sack versatile enough to accommodate big temperature swings at night. It proved ideal for summer nights that start out in the 80s and drop down into the 40s, which is common in the parts of far Northern California where we tested. That said, one tester cautioned that the Wrap Sack does not have enough insulation to live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. Even with the bag fully cinched, he woke up cold on a 28-degree night on the Scott River in California.

While it鈥檚 not a bag for nights that dip below freezing, the Wrap Sack鈥檚 ability to handle big temperature swings above 32 degrees and its roominess made it a tester favorite.The rectangular shaped bag allowed active sleepers enough space to toss and turn, and our 6鈥�2鈥� tester had enough room to stretch out even with the Wrap Sack鈥檚 hood stuffed with a camp pillow.

Even after over 20 days in the field and two machine washes, the robust, fully-recycled nylon exterior showed no visible wear. The Wrap Sack packs down to the size of a watermelon鈥攏ot exactly small, but smaller than the Big Agnes Echo Park, the other extra-roomy option on this list.

Best Value

The North Face Wawona 20 Sleeping Bag

Weight: Regular 4.9 lbs (Regular); 5.3 lbs (Long)
Sizes: Regular, Long
Dimensions: 78鈥� x 32鈥� (Regular)
Comfort rating: 20F and 35F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good value
鈯� Soft liner fabric
鈯� Incorporates recycled materials
鈯� Large pack down size for a single
鈯� Comfort rating is off
鈯� No hood

The Wawona is reasonably priced yet doesn鈥檛 feel like a budget bag. Testers gave it top marks for its next-to-skin comfort thanks to a cozy, brushed high-pile fleece that comprised the top interior of the bag. At 78 inches by 32 inches (regular), this rectangular bag is also comfortably roomy.

With only a $10 price difference between the 20-degree and 35-degree versions, we opted to test the Wawona 20 to see how well it performed in lower temps. While the recycled polyester fill proved sufficient in 40-degree temps, testers noted that it didn鈥檛 live up to its stated 20-degree comfort rating. The lack of a hood left one tester wishing he had worn a beanie and needing to layer up in a down jacket to make it comfortable during a 28-degree night on the Scott River in Northern California. We would have expected a bag that packs down to no smaller than a five-gallon cooler to have more insulation power.

Still, testers had plenty of good things to say about this more affordable sleeping bag. The 50-denier polyester ripstop outer proved surprisingly durable鈥攊t was no worse for wear after we used the Wawona as a blanket on bare, rocky ground for some stargazing. And the hearty YKK zipper (usually the first thing to go on a budget bag) worked just as well after a season of camping as it did at the start. One tester especially appreciated the storage pocket built into the bag鈥檚 lining at chest height, where he stashed his essential ear plugs when not in use.

And perhaps the Wawona鈥檚 biggest flex: At such a reasonable price, campers could buy two Wawona bags and zip them together to enjoy an affordable double bag.

Roomiest

Big Agnes Echo Park

Weight: 4 lb 16 oz
Sizes: Regular
Dimensions: 80鈥� x 30鈥�
Comfort rating: 0F and 20F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Good value
鈯� Roomy design
鈯� Integrated pad and pillow sleeves
鈯� Heavy and bulky

While technically a little bit smaller than Rumpl Wrap Sack, the Big Agnes Echo Park is the roomiest traditional bag we tested with a higher temperature rating, making this our top pick for larger campers who want a comfortable, spacious bag that can hack it in lower temps.

The Echo Park comes in 0-, 20-, and 35-degree temperature ratings and uses Big Agnes鈥� proprietary FireLine Max Eco synthetic insulation. We tested the 20-degree version ($200) to see how it stacked up to the other bags in the same price range (at 0 degrees, the Echo Park bumps up to $230). It proved toasty on a 28-degree night in Northern California, yet testers were also able to dump enough heat via full-length zippers on the either side to stay comfortable on nights that didn鈥檛 dip below 60 Fahrenheit. The cotton-polyester blend on the interior felt supple next to skin and as comfortable as our bedding at home.

Big Agnes lists max user height for the Echo Park as 6鈥�6鈥�, which we found to be accurate; a 6鈥�5鈥� tester commented that this was the first bag he鈥檇 tested where his feet had room to spare. It is wide without being as boxy as the Rumpl and North Face sleeping bags on this list, with a 74-inch hip girth and a 64-inch foot girth, which feels snug but not constricting like a mummy bag. This lightly tapered design enhances space and comfort while still keeping the bag close enough to the body to help insulate.

On top of being incredibly roomy and high on the creature comfort scale, the Echo Park is packed with features we would expect to see on higher priced bags, making it a great value. The integrated sleeping pad sleeve accommodates pads as wide as 30 inches and successfully kept our pads from moving around at night; the pad sleeve also features a separate pillow pocket to keep your camp pillow in place. While incredibly comfortable, the Echo Park also proved plenty durable鈥攖he 40-denier ripstop exterior showed little wear and tear after two months of use.

The large footprint and quantity of synthetic insulation did make this bag a beast to pack down. It doesn鈥檛 get much smaller than the size of a carry-on bag, so you won鈥檛 fit the Echo Park into a backpack. But if packability isn鈥檛 a priority, this comfy, extra-roomy bag is a good buy.

Most Versatile

Kelty Supernova 20

Weight: 3 lbs (regular)
Sizes: regular and long
Dimensions: 75 inches (regular)
Comfort rating: 20F

Pros and Cons
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Good temperature regulation
鈯� No hood

No single sleeping bag will be optimally comfortable and functional for every body type, sleep style, and trip destination, but for the frontcountry camper, the Kelty Supernova Down comes pretty darn close.

This summer, lead tester Miyo McGinn brought it on a very loosely planned summer road trip that she knew at the outset might include sea kayaking; backpacking in the alpine; and car camping in the mountains, desert, and beach. At each disparate location she stopped for the night, the Supernova worked beautifully鈥攊t fit comfortably in a backpacking pack, and felt light and unrestricting even when fully zipped up. The 550-fill down offered ample warmth for high elevation overnights with temps around freezing, opened up flat like a quilt for mild seaside nights with 55-degree lows, and the zipper allowed for plenty of venting for everywhere in between.

The roomy mummy-ish shape (with some extra space around the knees and hips, in addition to the shoulders, before tapering around the feet and lower legs) is particularly comfortable for side sleepers and anyone with wider hips, without sacrificing all the insulating benefits that a form-fitting cut provides.

The recycled 50-denier recycled polyester taffeta liner fabric felt buttery soft next to skin, and 20-denier recycled nylon taffeta exterior held up well over three weeks of constant use. The Supernova isn鈥檛 quite ultralight, nor does it pack down as tiny as some dedicated backpacking sleeping bags, but it still tilts the scales at a perfectly respectable 3 pounds and fits in a stuff sack about as big as a family-sized bag of potato chips.

鈥淢ost bedding that鈥檚 as luxurious as I want on a comfortable car camping trip is too bulky or too delicate for more rugged adventures, like short backpacking or sea kayaking trips鈥� said McGinn. 鈥淏ut the Supernova was great for all of the above鈥攊f it replaced all the other three-season quilts and bags in my gear closet, I wouldn鈥檛 miss them.鈥�

Best for Families

NEMO Jazz Double

Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz
Sizes: double
Dimensions: 78鈥� x 129鈥�
Comfort rating: 32F

Pros and Cons
鈯� As comfortable as home bedding
鈯� Integrated, removable bed sheet
鈯� Passed its comfort rating with flying colors
鈯� Bulky packed size

Thanks to its versatility, the NEMO Jazz Double became test director Joe Jackson鈥檚 go-to family sleeper for his crew of three last summer. The 78-by-129-inch double bag was roomy enough to comfortably sleep two adults (5鈥�9鈥� and 5鈥�11鈥�) plus a six-year-old kid. Most impressively, this 30-degree bag鈥攎ade with a supple, recycled taffeta interior, and featuring Nemo鈥檚 proprietary synthetic recycled Stratofiber insulation鈥攚orked for all three of their different heat preferences.

The double zipper pulls on either side of the bag are a smart design feature that let campers dump heat from their upper body or from their feet if they get too toasty. The Jazz Double鈥檚 incredibly soft, integrated polyester-stretch bedsheet offers an in-between layering option and proved warm enough on its own on milder nights in the 50s. Bonus: The sheet is removable for easy washing.

For a bag this plush, the Jazz Double also impressed us with its hardiness. One tester used the Jazz Double coupled with the NEMO Roamer Double sleeping pad鈥攕lipped into the bag鈥檚 integrated pad sleeve鈥攐n a night on the Scott River that was below 30 degrees and reported that it really did live up to its 32-degree comfort rating. Credit the insulated quilted layer added to the top of the pad sleeve for adding extra comfort and warmth. The bag鈥檚 50-denier recycled polyester outer also survived more than two dozen nights of camping and two washes and dries without breaking down in any visible way.

Our biggest gripe is that this almost-nine-pound bag is extremely bulky. Packed down into its stuff sack, the bag still measures 33-by-16-inches, which took up the entire driver鈥檚 side seat of one tester鈥檚 Toyota Tacoma during transport.

Best Blanket

Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown Quilt

Weight: 1 pound 15.4 ounces
Sizes: 0/S
Dimensions: 82鈥� x 59鈥�
Comfort rating:聽N/A

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly versatile
鈯� Durable
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Expensive for a blanket
鈯� Not warm enough in 30-degree temps

Featuring the same sterling materials that Mountain Hardwear incorporates into its highest-end jackets, the Stretch Down Quilt is the most high-tech camp quilt we鈥檝e ever tested.

Weighing in at just shy of two pounds, this 650-fill down quilt offers an incredible warmth-to-weight ratio for a blanket. While we don鈥檛 think anyone would be comfortable using it as their sole cover on nights that dip below 40 degrees, this blanket makes a versatile layer for those who camp in milder climates where a sleeping bag would be overkill.

The stretchy 20-denier nylon and elastane exterior meant this 82-by-59-inch blanket had enough give to comfortably envelop a family of three sitting by a campfire and was notably pleasant next-to-skin. Testers also appreciated the corner snaps that let them turn this blanket into a wearable poncho for lounging around the campfire.

For how supple it feels, the Stretch Down Quilt held up admirably after we used it as a picnic blanket on abrasive volcanic rock and rocky beaches that would have shredded lesser exteriors. Its durability is a good thing, too, because at $300, we would hope to get many years out of it.

Best Wearable Bag

Mountain Hardwear Yawn Patrol 30F

Weight: 2.1 lbs
Sizes: regular, long
Dimensions: 72鈥� x 62鈥� (regular); 78鈥� x 64鈥� (long)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Convenient temperature regulation; Packability
鈯� More restrictive than some rectangular bags

Most sleeping bags that also claim to be loungewear tend to be more on the gimmicky end of the spectrum. Not the Yawn Patrol, which is a sleeping bag, quilt, and extra long poncho all in one, thanks to clever zipper design.

One smooth-running zipper extends from the top of the bag to the feet to split it into a quilt. Another runs a third of the way down for easy entry and to create sleeves for reading or drinking while inside the bag. Josie Boulding, a Union Bay, B.C.-based tester, loved the bag鈥檚 poncho mode. 鈥淚 could wear the whole thing in camp to stay warm around the campfire,鈥� she says.

Tougher, 45-denier nylon protected the bottom of the bag from dirt, while a lighter-weight 30-denier nylon top shell and the interior were both soft next to skin. When she actually slept in the nearly rectangular bag, the insulated hood with a pillow pocket, phone pocket, draft collars, and 650-fill down kept Boulding toasty and all those zippers gave the bag a huge comfort range, from the 60s to its 30-degree limit. Bonus: At just 2.1 pounds, it can be pressed into service for short backpacking trips.

Other Sleeping Bags We Tested

• :聽The Xenith II had the best warmth-to-weight ratio of any bag we tested in this category. But for most car campers, this bag would be overkill, especially at this price.
• :聽We tested the Exped Megasleep head-to-head with the Nemo Jazz Double. We preferred the Jazz for its supple, integrated sheet.
• : The Boost features brilliant arm holes (which doubled as vents) and a great heat-dumping center zipper, but felt like a better fit as a backpacking sleeping bag than a car camping option.

Sleeping Bag FAQ

Seasons and Temperature Rating

Bags generally fall into three temperature categories: Summer (rated 30 degrees F and warmer); three-season (rated between 15 and 20 degrees); and winter (rated 15 degrees and lower鈥攕ome expedition bags are rated as low as -40 degrees). These temperature ratings are based on 鈥渁verage鈥� sleepers and don鈥檛 consider external factors like the thickness and rating of your sleeping pad; climatic factors like wind or humidity; or how quickly your body regulates heat loss or gain. Even if you tend to prefer cold sleeping environments, we recommend erring on the side of buying a higher temperature bag鈥攜ou can always open zippers, but making a bag warmer requires extra layers.

Camping vs. Backpacking Sleeping Bags

Car camping, or camping at a campground or near your vehicle, is about comfort: look to prioritize roominess, fabric feel, and features, like pillow pockets and multiple zippers, rather than weight and packability. Cotton, fleece, or flannel-like interior linings will make sleeping that much more cozy than the usual polyester stickiness you experience with backpacking bags. Pockets help corral slippery pillows right where you want them; an additional pocket to keep a headlamp, phone, or watch close at hand is a nice bonus feature. And extra zippers provide options for customizing warmth and lounging in camp.

What Type of Insulation Is Best in a Sleeping Bag?

Down bags are generally warmer for their weight and more compressible than bags with synthetic insulation. But if down bags get wet, they lose insulating capacity and take longer to dry out than synthetic bags. Many manufacturers use down processed with a hydrophobic chemical that prevents it from absorbing as much water. Others keep the insulation dry with a water-repellant finish or fabric.

Pay attention to fill power. That number measures the volume taken up by the amount of down in your sleeping bag; the more loft your sleeping bag has, the more efficiently it will trap warm air. It will also weigh less and pack down smaller than bags with a lower fill power rated to the same temperature. Synthetic bags are more affordable, and therefore an excellent choice for new campers who are unsure how often they want to sleep outside, or backpackers who are headed to wet environments.

How Roomy Should a Sleeping Bag Be?

Bags come in many shapes and sizes鈥攔ectangles, mummies, modified mummies, and double bags. Mummies are warmer and lighter-weight than rectangular bags, but can also be claustrophobic. Rectangular bags are excellent for restless sleepers who need to move and don鈥檛 have space or weight constraints. Some quilts can be opened up to act as comforters, although they require a warm sleeping pad and don鈥檛 come with hoods. Women-specific bags often come in modified mummy shapes to accommodate the curvier parts of a woman鈥檚 body. Doubles are simply sleeping bags built for two, although many solo bags can be zipped together to create a double bag.

How to Wash a Sleeping Bag

Yes, you can and should wash your sleeping bag regularly, especially before you put it away after the summer camping season, since any trapped moisture will fester in storage. You can get it professionally laundered鈥攖ech cleaners like r in Seattle, Washington, or in Truckee, California, will do that for you, either in person or by mail. But it鈥檚 also easy to do it yourself.

Your best bet is to head to a laundromat to use their bigger, burlier machines to wash your sleeping bag. Be sure to use a front-loading washer and never use a top-loading washing machine with an agitator column鈥攜our sleeping bag could get twisted around it and rip.

Never dry-clean your sleeping bag, and never wash it with regular laundry detergent. Follow the care instructions on the tag on your bag to know which kind of detergent and what water temperature to use. If it鈥檚 a down sleeping bag, you鈥檒l want to wash it with a down cleaner formulated for down feathers and fibers, like Nikwax Down Wash or Gear Aid鈥檚 Revivex Down Cleaner. If it鈥檚 a synthetic bag, use Nikwax Tech Wash or Gear Aid鈥檚 Revivex Pro Cleaner.

If an industrial washing machine isn鈥檛 available, you can, in a pinch, hand wash your sleeping bag in a large basin or tub filled with soapy water. Pour a small amount of cleaner into warm water, and use your hands to wash and rinse the bag. Air drying works if that鈥檚 your only option, but know that it鈥檒l take quite a long time to get the bag completely dry. Read more here.聽

How We Test

• Number of Sleeping Bags Tested: 24
• Warmest Temperature Tested In: 80F
• Lowest Temperature Tested In: 20F
• Number of Nights Camped: 42
• Number of Testers: 16

In this category, we primarily considered sleeping bags designed for car campers versus backpackers. This meant focusing on more affordable options with comfort-forward features and weeding out the highly technical and expensive bags that would be overkill for most recreational campers.

In the end, we tested 24 sleeping bags that fit the bill on multiple camping trips along the Scott River. We then pitted the top contenders against each other in a head-to-head test in Crescent City, California, where we kept one camp up for an entire month and invited testers to try the different options. We asked testers to rate things like next-to-skin comfort, warmth, feature-set, and packability.

The bags that made this list were rated as the best picks for casual campers who care more about comfort and affordability than packability and performance in cold climates.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Joe Jackson

Test director Jackson has been testing gear professionally for 国产吃瓜黑料 for over a decade. By his best estimation, he has tested more than 100 sleeping bags for this publication. His most trying sleeping bag test took place on an incredibly cold night on Donner Summit, where he intentionally soaked sleeping bags to see how long each wetted bag could keep him warm in freezing temps.

Saylor Flett

Saylor Flett runs the outdoor recreation and leadership program at Feather River College in Quincy, California. He once spent a month sleeping in a cave in Yosemite and has spent hundreds of nights camping out on portaledges and riverbanks.

Josie Jackson

The test director鈥檚 daughter is arguably the most mobile sleeper of our 16 testers, and as a seven-year-old, is the least likely to be subject to brand bias鈥攕he could care less about who makes a sleeping bag, all she cares about is if it鈥檚 warm and comfortable.

Miyo McGinn

Miyo McGinn is an assistant editor at 国产吃瓜黑料 based in Bozeman, Montana. She has camped in a dozen different states and four continents, but Washington state, where she grew up, will always be her favorite place to pitch a tent. Miyo got her start reviewing gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear editorial assistant in 2021.

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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 a camp chair that will enhance every trip.

While you can buy cheap camp 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 camp chair is a worthwhile investment because of how integral it is to an enjoyable camping trip. After all, the best part about camping is lounging comfortably around a campfire with friends and family for hours.

At a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Best Value:
• Most Versatile:
• Most Portable:
• Splurge:
• Best for Families:
• Other Products We Tested
• Products to Avoid
• How to Choose a Camp Chair
• How We Tested Camp Chairs
• Meet Our Testers

Best Overall

Big Agnes Big Six Armchair

Chair Weight: 3.9 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24″ x 26″ x 40″
Packed Dimensions: 5″ x 6″ x 22″
Maximum Weight Capacity: 300 lbs
Seat Height: 20鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Killer back support
鈯� Great packability
鈯� Functional cupholders
鈯� Legs sink into fine sand
鈯� Complicated setup

The Big Six Armchair beat out all other camp chairs on this list because it checks all of our boxes: it鈥檚 comfortable, stable, and very packable for a high-backed chair. Testers were surprised how supportive the Big Six proved for a two-piece, sub four-pound chair that packs down small enough to fit into a 25-liter daypack. Credit the 20-inch seat height, generous 20-inch back height, and the high-tenacity Robic nylon upper that stretches tightly against six connection points on the chair to provide firm upper back support.

On top of a killer comfort-to-size ratio, testers appreciated that this relatively packable chair features two luxurious armrests with two solid cupholders. 鈥淭his would be a great chair even if it never left camp,鈥� said one tester. But the beauty of this chair is that you can easily take it with you on short outings. One tester鈥檚 family slid it into their beach bag and hiked a quarter mile from camp to a secluded rocky beach in Crescent City, California.

Our only gripe: The chair can be confusing to put together鈥攊t takes about a dozen times setting up the octopus-like pole structure before it starts to become intuitive.

Best Value

GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker

Weight: 12 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24鈥� x 24鈥� x 43.8鈥�
Packed Dimensions: 25″ x 4.9″ x 34.8″
Maximum Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
Seat Height: 19.7鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 3/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Great value
鈯� Durable
鈯� Very comfortable
鈯� Awkward and large when packed down

An oldie but goodie, the Freestyle Rocker has been our go-to for everything from camping to tailgating to soccer games for years because it鈥檚 so comfortable. The nearly 20-inch seat height, taut, mesh backrest, and spring-action rocker make this chair a delight to fall back into after a long day of outdoor activities.

The chair鈥檚 sturdy base and gentle rocking motion meant we never worried about tipping backwards even when perched on riversides and sandy beaches. Despite being a more budget-friendly option, the Freestyle Rocker has proved remarkably durable thanks to the powder-coated steel frame that only folds at the seat, a design that creates fewer potential failure points and provides solid structural integrity overall.

Our biggest complaint about this chair is that it doesn鈥檛 pack down small enough to comfortably fit into the trunk of small vehicles (like a Honda Element). Unusually, it folds flat on the vertical axis, so its packed dimensions retain the chair鈥檚 31-inch height.

Most Versatile

DOD Sugoi Chair

Weight: 5 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 24鈥� x 26鈥� x 37鈥�
Packed Dimensions: 4鈥� x 15鈥� x 18鈥�
Maximum Capacity: 250 lbs
Seat Height: 12鈥�-17鈥�

Comfort: 8/10
Stability: 7/10
Portability: 8/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Soft, supple seat material
鈯� Variable seat height
鈯� Can sit upright or recline
鈯� Does not dry quickly

The soft, cotton canvas seat made the slingback-style Soto stand out in our test. It delivers a delightful give that enhances comfort while still providing enough back support. The chair鈥檚 adjustable seat height also won us over.

The Soto鈥檚 telescoping legs have four height settings鈥攆rom 12 to 17 inches鈥攖hat not only let you dial in your preferred seat height, but let you turn this chair into a recliner by dropping the rear leg heights to a lower setting than the front legs. No matter which height the legs were adjusted to, the Soto proved stable for testers up to 280 pounds, even when set up on uneven terrain.

A classic skin-on-frame style makes setup and takedown straightforward. It鈥檚 also very portable鈥攊t folds flat and tucks into a briefcase-sized canvas carrying case. The only downside to this canvas-backed chair is that it retains moisture. After getting soaked during an early morning rainstorm on the Scott River, it didn鈥檛 fully dry out until the next morning.

Most Portable

Helinox Chair One (re)

Weight: 2.5 lbs
Deployed Dimensions: 28″ H x 21.5″ W x 20″ W
Packed Down Dimensions: 14.6鈥� x 4.7鈥� x 4.3
Maximum Capacity: 320 lbs
Seat Height: 14.5鈥�

Comfort: 6/10
Stability: 7/10
Packability: 10/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easily fits in a daypack
鈯� Lightest-weight chair we tested
鈯� Low seat is not great for those with knee problems

While not the plushest or most luxurious chair, the Helinox Chair One (re) is a smart pick for campers who value packability. It鈥檚 the only chair on this list that packs down small (and light enough) enough to fit into a sub-30-liter daypack鈥攏ot a prerequisite for a camp chair, but nice for those who want to pick up and find a serene spot to relax miles beyond their campsite.

This updated version of a perennial favorite is sturdier thanks to a stiffer frame made from repurposed aluminum and the addition of a second tension line (there used to be just one). For a low-back bucket seat chair, it鈥檚 surprisingly supportive thanks to the rigid materials that are stretched tautly by the two tension lines.

With a 14.5-inch seat height, the Chair One (re) is also 30-percent taller than the original Chair One, which made for more comfortable sitting without diminishing its packability. That said, it still sits relatively low to the ground, making it a tad more difficult for folks with knee issues to get in and out of.

But if you鈥檙e looking for a camp chair you can take with you on short hikes from the campsite, the Chair One (re) offers the best balance of comfort, stability, and packability.

Splurge

Yeti Trailhead Camp Chair

Weight: 13.3 pounds
Deployed Dimensions: 24.0″ x 29.9″ x 36.3″
Packed Down Dimensions: 4鈥� x 4鈥� x 42鈥�
Maximum Weight Capacity: 500 pounds
Seat Height: 16.75鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 9/10
Portability: 2/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Best back and seat tension in test
鈯� Durable and solid
鈯� Sturdy feet on loose terrain
鈯� Very expensive
鈯� Large and heavy

If it weren鈥檛 for its large size and hefty price tag, the Yeti Trailhead might have won our test because it鈥檚 damned near structurally perfect. Two heavy-duty click points鈥攐ne with a handle on the back of the chair and one at the front of the seat鈥攕tretch the Trailhead鈥檚 highly breathable mesh tightly over the alloy steel and plastic frame. This made the Trailhead as sturdy as a lawn chair and provided best-in-class back support.

Its four, heartily padded feet offered plenty of stability on rocky shores and sandy campsites alike. Our bigger tester (6鈥�4鈥� and 280 lbs) especially appreciated the two-foot-wide seat that sits 16.75 inches above the ground and the 20-inch seat back height.

The downside to that robust build is weight: at 13.3 pounds, the Trailhead is a seriously heavy camp chair that makes transport cumbersome. While it comes with a carrying case that made schlepping it nearly a quarter of a mile to a campsite in Scott River, California, manageable, this chair is not for campers who value portability. Another drawback is the eye-watering $300 price tag. But the fact that the Trailhead is comfortable, stable, and durable enough to pull double-duty as a patio chair softens the blow a bit.

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Helinox Sunset Camp Chair

Kick back in Helinox’s Sunset Camp Chair and enjoy big comfort anywhere. A bit of neck support goes a long way after full days spent hiking, and the Sunset’s stuff sack doubles as a pillow that you can strap to the chair. Select models have mesh panels for extra durability, and the rest have unique styles that fit in perfectly at concerts and park hangs. Lightweight DAC poles pack small and make setup easy.

Best for Families

Kelty Lowdown Couch

Weight: 21 lbs
Deployed Dimensions:64″ x 23.5″ x 80″
Packed Down Dimensions: 35鈥� x 13.5鈥� x 9鈥�
Maximum Weight Capacity: 600 lbs
Seat Height: 12.5鈥�

Comfort: 9/10
Stability: 8/10
Portability: 3/10

Pros and Cons
鈯� Balances comfort and stability
鈯� Extremely burly materials
鈯� Very heavy
鈯� Huge packed size

Our crew of 25 testers have collectively spent hundreds of hours on this three-person couch over the course of three summers鈥� worth of testing. When all was said and done, the Lowdown established itself as the unequivocal favorite among kids and families.

While all of the other chairs on this list depend on rigidity for support, the Lowdown has an almost hammock-like back that allowed testers to sink into the low seats. We don鈥檛 always love this style of seat because it can feel like you鈥檙e melting into the chair (not in a good way); but the Lowdown features light padding on the seat and back that offers just enough support while enhancing comfort.

And although it鈥檚 five feet wide, this camp couch is incredibly stable. Credit the steel frame that boasts eight connection points to the ground. The design proved so sturdy, kids felt confident standing on it, and we had to repeatedly ask them to stop using it as a wrestling platform . Save for a tiny hole left by a campfire ember, the 600-denier polyester seat cover continues to look almost new after multiple summers of use.

As a three-seater, the Lowdown doesn鈥檛 score high marks for portability. It packs down to the size of a large couch cushion and weighs a whopping 21 pounds, which makes it bulkier to transport than many car camping tents. That said, setup and takedown is not complicated for such a large chair鈥攐ne piece folds out/in like an accordion and the carrying case simply wraps around the collapsed chair. We just needed a truck bed to throw it in once packed up.

Other Products We Tested

• : While we loved the added comfort of a higher-backed Chair One (re), part of the original chair鈥檚 appeal is its incredible packability, which is diminished by the higher back on this version.
• : This chair received high comfort marks and is an engineering marvel that rolls down skinnier than a frozen bean burrito and weighs only 29 ounces. But it was outmatched in comfort compared to the big dawg chairs that made our final list.
• : This proved to be an awesome lightweight counterpart to the Chair One (re) in terms of packability and weight, but it was less comfortable.
• : The decision whether to feature the GCI Pod Rocker or the GCI Freestyle Rocker was heavily debated amongst our testers because they were both well-loved, but too similar to both be included on our list. We chose the Freestyle Rocker in the end because it has a better cup holder and was slightly easier to transport.

Products to Avoid

Cheap Kids Chairs: Our lead tester bought his daughter cheap kids camping chairs from big box stores three summers in a row, only to throw them away after each summer. Most of these kids’ camp chairs are too unwieldy and are prone to collapsing. They鈥檙e simply not worth the lower price because they don鈥檛 hold up to extended use.

How to Choose a Camp Chair

Consider Seat Height and Level of Support

Camp chairs are often an afterthought because we tend to overlook the small pains of sitting in a slouchy chair or bending down to sink into a chair that is just a few inches off the ground. But if you camp a lot, it鈥檚 worth investing in a quality chair that suits your body鈥檚 needs. If you have bad knees, don鈥檛 get a chair with a low seat height. If you have back problems, avoid slingback style chairs and go for a chair with firm support.

Packability vs. Features

Be realistic about how you are going to use a camp chair and what features are important to you鈥攏ot all camp chairs come with all the bells and whistles, like cupholders, reclining back, adjustable leg height, etc. If you have a tendency to pack heavy for your camping trips, you might not be able to fit the plushest, bulkiest camp chairs on this list. If you have to hike into your campsites, you鈥檒l want a chair that鈥檚 lighter and portable. Do you want a camp chair that could double as a backpacking chair? You鈥檒l want to pay close attention to a chair鈥檚 weight and packed dimensions and realize that you will sacrifice comfort in the name of packability.

Budget

Car camping chairs have traditionally been looked at as a place to save money. We suggest splurging here. Good chairs are like good bedding; we spend significantly more time on them than we think, so maximizing your comfort with a comfortable chair made to last is a worthwhile investment.

How We Tested Camp Chairs

• Number of Chairs Tested: 17
• Total Testers: 16
• Number of Campfires Sat Around: 36
• Number of Kid Disputes Over Chairs: 10+

We cast a wide net in the camp chairs we tested, from the cush and fully-featured to the pared down and more packable. Since size and packability aren鈥檛 always the biggest priorities for car campers, we mainly focused on big loungers with seat heights north of a foot, though we did include some minimalist chairs that can reasonably be stuffed into a pack.

Our group of 16 testers spent hundreds of hours in different campsites鈥攚ith main hubs being on the Scott River in Northern California as well as a month in Crescent City on the far northern California coast. We hiked these chairs into remote beaches and set them up on rocky river banks. On top of the major factors like overall comfort and portability, we also paid attention to the nuances like how easy they were to set up and take down, how stable they were on uneven terrain, and how well their cupholders fit our bevvies.

Meet Our Testers

Joe Jackson has tested over 75 camp chairs for this publication during the more than 10-years he has professionally tested gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Gear Guy. He takes testing camp chairs very seriously鈥攈e once hiked a collection of camp chairs into one of the most remote class V whitewater runs in California in the name of credible product testing.

Zach 鈥淩ed鈥� Williams was our designated van camper for this test. He and his family use camp chairs more than their chairs at home during the summer on multi-week road trips and regular weekend camping trips.

Josie Jackson (7) has been testing gear since she left the hospital as a newborn. Her father (Joe) has asked her opinion on hundreds of pieces of gear, and she never avoids telling him the cold, hard truth about the gear she doesn鈥檛 like.

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