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听 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.听

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听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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The post The 7 Best Sleeping Pads for Car Campers and Restless Sleepers appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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听 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听 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.听 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.

More Gear Reviews

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The post You Don’t Have to Build Your Own Sleeping Platform to Camp In your Car appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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.

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.听

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

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

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:听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

• :听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.
• :听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.

How to Choose a Sleeping Bag for Camping

Finding the ideal sleeping bag or quilt is a little like finding the ideal life partner. When you start looking, the options might seem overwhelming. But the more you focus on what you really want, the easier it is to narrow down. Here are four aspects to consider.

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 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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The post The 7 Best Sleeping Bags for Car Camping appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I love gawking at cool 4x4s and campers, and I also love a good deal. I have a buddy who suffers from the same affliction, and we have a text thread going back several years that鈥檚 filled mainly with Craigslist links to cool vehicles we鈥檝e found online. This affinity for adventure rig classifieds is how I ended up with a 2006 Power Wagon a few years ago and how he scored a killer deal on an even rarer truck and camper. Mostly, though, surfing the web for adventure mobiles is just a fun way to pass the time when we鈥檙e bored.

So, in an attempt to do something useful with this goofy habit and put all that time spent scrolling to good work, I鈥檓 going to start highlighting some of the coolest rigs and best deals I鈥檝e found recently in an installment I鈥檓 calling 鈥淐raigslist Finds.鈥�

Keep in mind that these things sell like hotcakes, so these exact listings may no longer be available by the time you鈥檙e reading this. The hope here is to provide some insight on what to look for and how to find a good deal on a rig.

Don’t miss: The Best Trailers, Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025

There are all sorts of amazing rigs sold around the world that we never got in the United States, like the Mitsubishi Delica, 70-Series Landcruiser, and a whole host of JDM, or Japanese Domestic Market, campers sold only in Japan. Case in point, this 1998 Toyota Camroad 4WD.

The Camroad was based on a Toyota Toyoace truck chassis and sold by different Japanese manufacturers in the 鈥�90s. This one, a Champ model, has a fiberglass camper affixed to the back of it and is about 16-feet-long and 6.5-feet-wide鈥攆or perspective, that鈥檚 shorter than many full-sized trucks and Sprinter vans on the market today. Japanese campers are renowned for their efficient use of space and excellent build quality, and this one certainly looks like it lives up to that.

It has a pass-through cab, meaning you can access the camper portion of the vehicle without needing to go outside, and looks like it sleeps at least four (two above the cab and two on a convertible dinette). The seller鈥檚 description isn鈥檛 the most detailed, but from the looks of things, it鈥檚 very well-equipped with a shower and cassette toilet inside, a 20-gallon water tank, a microwave, and more.

Like all JDM vehicles, this one is right-hand drive, which may take a bit of getting used to but is legal to drive in the U.S. This rig has an automatic transmission, which makes things a bit easier, and is powered by Toyota鈥檚 legendary 3-liter diesel engine. It even has push-button four-wheel-drive.

Because it鈥檚 nearly 30 years old and was never sold in the U.S., it鈥檒l take the right kind of buyer to fully appreciate and enjoy this rig. But, if you鈥檙e into well-made, quirky adventure vehicles with four-wheel-drive capability and Toyota reliability, this could be a really cool choice.

A Sportsmobile has always been an absolute dream rig in my mind. If you鈥檙e not familiar, the company has been making some of the most . The ones I鈥檝e always been most taken with are those built on the Ford E-Series platform鈥攖hey鈥檙e the old-school, boxy Ford van that was the predecessor to the modern-day Transit. Its truck-like, body-on-frame construction made it more suitable for off-road travel and all the modifications and accessories that go along with that, like suspension lifts, larger tires, steel bumpers, and winches.

These vans were never sold with four-wheel-drive from the factory, but a few companies, including Sportsmobile, , , and , converted them to four wheel drive, turning them into true adventure rigs. Sportsmobile is perhaps best known for their pop-top conversions, which allow for a ton of standing room and extra sleeping space when parked, but retain all the benefits of a low roof van on the highway.

While cool, Sportsmobiles don鈥檛 come cheap鈥擣ord stopped selling E-Series cargo vans in 2014, so even and hold their value. You can sort of still buy from Field Van (formerly Sportsmobile West), who has created their own custom fiberglass body that fits on an E-Series cutaway chassis, but it鈥檒l cost you north of $200K.

All that to say, this particular Sportsmobile is actually a pretty good deal. It鈥檚 a 2013 (so one of the last years of the E-350) with a Quigley 4WD conversion, and it has the sought-after 6.8L, V-10 engine with only 40K original miles. Lots of folks think the diesel engines are the way to go in these vans, but the V-10 is nearly as powerful and costs significantly less to maintain鈥攜ou鈥檒l just be buying a lot of gas because the engine is not known for being efficient.

The seller says the van鈥檚 interior was updated in 2018 by Field Van (formerly Sportsmobile West) and now has a quartz countertop with an induction cooktop. There鈥檚 also 200 watts of solar panels on the roof and four AGM batteries. Should those run out, it also comes with a Yamaha generator.

It鈥檚 loaded with extras like an onboard air compressor, front and rear, heavy-duty bumpers, an outdoor shower, and one of the cleanest interiors I鈥檝e seen in a long time. I鈥檓 a big fan of the floorplan on this one, too, which gives you more seating in the back and space to walk though to the back of the van. All in all, it鈥檚 about as drool-worthy as it gets.

This one is the most turnkey of the three vehicles, and a killer option for anyone looking for a true go-anywhere, haul-anything adventure rig. The Ford F-250 is a very popular truck for hauling a camper and doing serious work, and this particular one has two of the best options available for the model: the . The 7.3L V-8 puts out 430 horsepower and 475-pound-feet of torque and is a great alternative to a diesel engine, both for the lower maintenance costs associated with it and because regular unleaded is easier to find while traveling internationally. It鈥檚 also designed to be an exceptionally long-lived engine, so 76,000 miles shouldn鈥檛 scare anyone off.

The means the truck gets a slight lift, a locking rear differential, Ford鈥檚 Trail Control drive mode selector, a special rock crawling mode, and 35-inch tires. The seller also installed an onboard air compressor for quickly airing up those big tires.

The model鈥檚 max payload is 4,210 pounds, which means it likely doesn鈥檛 even know that camper is in the bed. As for the camper, this Four Wheel Campers Hawk looks to be a fully loaded, front-dinette model. It sleeps four, and the seller says it has every option available, including an 85L Isotherm fridge, a Thetford cassette toilet, inside and outside showers, 230 watts of solar on top, and Victron charging components, among other things.

If I were looking for a slightly used three-quarter-ton truck and slide-in camper combo, this rig has just about everything I鈥檇 be looking for. You鈥檙e getting a lot of value here, too, considering a new F-250 Tremor and a new, would be north of $40K.

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Stooping in a lightweight, minimalist backpacking tent while camping out of your car isn鈥檛 much fun. Neither is getting blown over in a flimsy big-box store shelter. With that in mind, we tested 17 tents designed for car campers and families who prioritize spaciousness, convenience, and storm-worthiness over all else. These six options had us lounging in comfort and style no matter what conditions rolled through the campground.

Updated April 2025: After months of additional testing, we added four new tents, including our new top-pick, the NEMO Aurora Highrise 4. We’ve also updated info and pricing on some of our previous picks that we still highly recommend.听

Best Car Camping Tents at a Glance

• Best Overall:
• Easiest Setup:
• Most Durable:
• Best Budget Buy:
• Most Convenient:
• Best for Glamping:
• Other Tents We Tested
• How to Choose Tents
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

Don’t miss: The Best Sleeping Pads and Camping Mattresses

Best Overall

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4

Weight: 13.8 lbs
Peak height: 75鈥�
Interior space: 90鈥� x 100鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy setup/takedown
鈯� Effective ventilation
鈯� Spacious vestibule
鈯� High ceiling
鈯� Floor gets dirty fast

The Aurora Highrise 4 stood out in our test thanks to its supreme livability. Unlike many other four-person tents out there, this one does, in fact, comfortably house a family of four thanks to its 75-inch peak height, steep sidewalls, and two generous 19.5-square-foot vestibules.

During testing, two families of four remarked on the internal geometry, which maximizes space and freedom of movement. Its steep walls create more headroom above the 62.5-square-foot floor area than other dome tents鈥攁 6-foot-2 tester could easily stand upright and move around freely. Two doors on either side allowed campers to enter and exit the tent without disturbing others and were tall enough that our 6-foot-2 tester didn鈥檛 have to crouch to get in and out.

With just two base poles that set up the main body of the tent and two cross poles that pitch an awning at the top, the Aurora Highrise proved easy enough for first-time campers to set up without having to look up directions. One veteran tester was able to set it up by herself in about 15 minutes. It was just as easy to break down and pack up thanks to its oversized stuff sack.

Testers who camped out in Crescent City, California during a 17-hour rainstorm applauded the tent鈥檚 waterproofing and ventilation. The hearty 68-denier polyester body material and burly 150-denier polyester floor make this freestanding tent a hoss. It proved impervious to 20 mile-per-hour wind gusts without any help from the included guylines. The PU polyester rainfly, rated to 1,2000-millimeters, boasts a structured overhang that extends six inches beyond the mesh windows, which kept the tent dry even with its two windows opened for ventilation

We loved the small details on this tent that made a big difference in comfort and convenience, like a light-diffusing pocket in the canopy for pre-bed rituals, and the slightly opaque mesh on the windows that offered shade on the hottest days but didn鈥檛 spoil views.

Our only dig on this tent is its mostly-white floor, which proved impossible to keep clean鈥攁 problem for anyone bringing kids or pets along for the ride. Overall, the Aurora Highrise 4 is a standout in the car camping category for its balance of comfort and performance at a reasonable price.

Easiest Setup

Big Agnes Big House 4

Weight: 12.6 lbs
Peak height: 70鈥�
Interior space: 90鈥� x 92鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Very easy setup
鈯� High ceiling
鈯� Blew heavily in high winds
鈯� Vestibule sold separately

Testers loved the Big House 4鈥檚 simplicity above all. Though big and boxy, the 90-by-92-inch tent was the easiest to set up across the category. A veteran tester was able to get the Big House 4 up on her own in under ten minutes thanks to its straightforward geometry and color-coded webbing and snaps.

With a 57-square-foot floor area, the Big House 4 is billed as a four-person tent, but testers reported that you鈥檇 need to purchase the vestibule鈥攕old separately ($180)鈥攖o make room for four folks and all their gear, from the stuff you鈥檇 want to keep outside like mud-covered shoes to wet swimsuits.

That said, the generous 70-inch ceiling height meant our six-foot testers could stand upright and move around the interior freely. Testers also appreciated the tent鈥檚 two giant doors鈥攕panning 80 percent of two walls鈥攚hich allowed them to enter and exit the tent without crouching. Eight internal pockets were more than enough for a family of three to stash personal items like toothbrushes, phones, and headlamps.

The Big House 4 also impressed us with its waterproofing and durability. A 75-denier polyester taffeta rain fly with a 1,500mm waterproof polyurethane coating kept the tent body (made from the same material) and the interior perfectly dry through three days of rain in Crescent City, California. That hearty PU coating also appeared to reinforce the durability of the tent鈥攊t showed very little wear and tear after over three months of testing.

Our only gripe: The tent鈥檚 height proved suboptimal in high winds. Even when secured with its guy lines, the tent blew heavily in 25-mile-per-hour winds.

Most Durable

Snow Peak Alpha Breeze

Weight: 24.2 lbs
Peak Height: 73″
Interior Space: 109″ x 102″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Four points of entry
鈯� Excellent ventilation
鈯� Durable
鈯� Heavy

The Alpha Breeze showcases Snowpeak鈥檚 emphasis on designing elegant, simple products with a decidedly luxurious fee. The top-tier materials鈥攊n this case, polyester fabric and duralumin poles鈥攁re strong and functional, and durable enough to stay that way for quite a while.

The extra-thick copper-aluminum poles gave us confidence when a sustained 15 mph wind picked up during an overnight on Camano Island in Washington. The structure barely flinched under the gusts, and the forearm-length Douglas fir boughs they knocked down onto our campsite. The 75-denier, DWR-treated polyester taffeta rain fly and 300-denier polyester tent floor both looked brand-new after two dusty, rocky trips in Montana鈥檚 Bitterroot Mountains.

Besides the fact that it felt indestructible, Seattle-based tester Maeve Axtell loved the boxy tent鈥檚 four doors, with one on each side. 鈥淚t was easy to get in and out without disturbing other people sleeping in the tent, and when it got warm we could get cross-breezes from every direction,鈥� said Axtell. The tent鈥檚 high ceiling and two mesh-covered 鈥渨indows鈥� on opposite walls contributed to the spacious feeling inside that the four doors created, although all those openings only left space for four mesh pockets and 10 loops to stash small essentials inside.

All good things come at a cost, though, and with the Alpha Breeze, the cost is weight. Despite its heft, it鈥檚 not excessively bulky and doesn鈥檛 take up an unreasonable amount of trunk real estate. Another ding? It鈥檚 not especially easy to set up: and the tent鈥檚 6-plus-foot height makes the Breeze a tad unwieldy to pitch. Testers ultimately forgave those shortcomings, since both features made for a rock-solid pitch and roomy, comfortable interior.

Best Budget Buy

Coleman 8-Person Darkroom Skydome

Weight: 21.6 lbs
Peak height: 68鈥�
Interior Space: 12鈥� x 9鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Great price
鈯� Blocks sunlight
鈯� Poor wind performance

At $230, the eight-person Darkroom Skydome costs less than half what other popular eight-person tents cost (like The North Face Wawona 8 and Big Agnes Bunk House 8), making it a great entry-level option for families. You don鈥檛 get the same high-performance materials with that price, but for casual frontcountry camp trips in mild temperatures and weather, the Darkroom Skydome gets the job done.

Besides the price and easy setup, the tent鈥檚 light-blocking fabric is what made this tent stand out, especially for folks with little kids. Coleman uses a dark-coated polyester on the rain fly and inner panels of the Skydome to block out 90 percent more light than the brand鈥檚 normal car-camping tents. Besides creating ideal sleeping and napping conditions even when the sun is still up, the dark fabric also helps keep the interior cool during the day.

While inexpensive tents don鈥檛 always have the best track record in terms of durability and weatherproofing, the Darkroom Skydome proved surprisingly robust for a budget option. After over a dozen days in the rain, testers gave its 300-millimeter-rated polyurethane rainfly high scores for waterproofing in spite of the low rating. One tester used it for over 30 nights鈥攊ncluding on three different rafting trips, which are notoriously rough on tents because they鈥檙e exposed to the elements not only when they鈥檙e pitched, but also while being transported on the water. It held up admirably to rain and rough pack jobs until sustained 20 mile-per-hour wind gusts snapped one of the two aluminum poles.

At 68-inches tall, it鈥檚 slightly shorter than the other tents on this list. That made it easier to pitch鈥攕etup was incredibly simple despite its massive footprint鈥攂ut didn鈥檛 offer the same generous standing height. Testers taller than 5鈥�10鈥� had to crouch significantly in the tent. And like many large-capacity tents, this 鈥渆ight person鈥� shelter is stretching it with six occupants.

It鈥檚 not our pick for seasoned campers who head out into the wild no matter the weather, but for families with young kids and the budget-conscious, the Darkroom Skydome is a smart buy.

Most Convenient

MSR Habiscape 4P

Weight: 12.7 lbs
Peak Height: 73″
Interior Space: 95″ x 95″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Lots of livable space
鈯� Highly weatherproof
鈯� Mediocre ventilation

There鈥檚 a lot we liked about the Habiscape, from the generous elbow room (86 square feet including the vestibule) to the ample standing height (73 inches), but it was a dual-sided pocket that hooked us. Next to the door MSR built in something they call a 鈥減ass-thru pocket鈥濃€攁 bug mesh-lined portal that鈥檚 accessible from both inside and out. Without opening the door, testers could reach through to grab car keys, bug spray or a headlamp. 鈥淚t seems like a little thing, but the convenience was huge,鈥� says Chris Baikie, a British Columbia-based tester. 鈥淭here were definitely fewer bugs in the tent because of it.鈥�

Set-up for the Habiscape requires two people, but the asymmetric design and color-coding helped make it quick and easy. The dome structure and low-hanging 68-denier polyester fly stood up to a 20 mile-per-hour windstorm with little flapping. The rest of the tent is equally tough, with the same 68-denier poly on the floor, 40-denier ripstop nylon walls, and 7000 series aluminum tent poles.

We had to duck under the vestibule door to get inside, but it provided enough room for a cooler and gear, and kept drips out of the tent during rainstorms. A second door came in handy for frequent nighttime bathroom excursions. The Habiscape packs down easily, and ends up smaller than many tents of its size, at roughly nine inches by two feet. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost perfect,鈥� says lead tester Ryan Stuart. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 not even that heavy.鈥�

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The North Face Wawona 4 Tent: 4-Person 3-Season

Set up more than just a place to sleep鈥攕et up a basecamp for adventure. The North Face Wawona 4 Tent delivers just that with enough room to stand up inside, stash all your gear, and even set up a cozy lounge area. The extended front vestibule keeps gear organized and protected, while large mesh windows and a top vent ensure you stay cool on warm nights. Sturdy DAC poles and a waterproof fly provide confidence in unpredictable weather, and an easy-pitch design means you can pack up in no time.

Best for Glamping

White Duck Outdoors Rover Scout Tent

Weight: 62 lbs
Peak Height: 84鈥�
Interior Space: 8鈥� x 13鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable materials
鈯� Very weather-resistant
鈯� Complicated setup
鈯� Heavy

Tester Saylor Fleet, a longtime wall tent lover who used the previous version of the Rover Scout Tent for over a decade, likened this updated model to a sprinter van. 鈥淚t’s big enough to stand up in, sleep in, and cook in,鈥� he said. Heck, this 8-by-13-foot tent is essentially a canvas-sided cabin that easily sleeps six adults. Its size and sturdiness make it ideal for families or hunters looking to set up a basecamp for extended stints in the backcountry.

During testing, we set up a luxury camping situation for two adult testers with individual cots and a small kitchen鈥攊ncluding a Coleman stove, dishware, and a small wash bin on a roll-a-table鈥攁nd still had plenty of space to walk around.

But the Rover Scout isn鈥檛 just for those who like to spread out; it鈥檚 also got performance chops. Testers appreciated how well the Dynatek cotton and recycled polyester canvas held onto heat on a night in the low 40s on the Klamath River in Oregon. On the flip side, they liked that they could easily roll up the two doors and two walls of the tent to dump heat when temps rose into the mid 70s during the day.

Unlike car-camping-oriented tents with traditional pole structures, the Rover Scout necessitates the use of guy-outs to stay upright and storm-worthy. You have to be selective about your site because you have to be able to drive stakes in the ground to firmly secure those guy-outs鈥攜ou鈥檒l have a tough time pitching this tent on loose sand and bedrock.

While it took a while for two testers to hunt down an ideal site鈥攁nd a good 30-minutes to erect鈥攐nce it was up, it wasn鈥檛 going anywhere. Category managerJoe Jackson pitched it on the Klamath River in the fall and left it up for two weeks between camping stints. During that time, it saw four days of rain and wind gusts of over 30 miles-per-hour, yet Jackson returned to find it unscathed and fully dry after his time away.

White Duck鈥檚 canvas not only proved durable, but it avoided the achilles heel of canvas tents: It did not get covered in mildew when it was put away slightly wet. The downside to the Rover Scout鈥檚 design? While the canvas is lighter than that of wall tents we鈥檝e tested in the past, the aluminum and steel frame is heavy: At 62 pounds, it was too heavy for our smaller testers to handle on their own.

That said, it packs down to roughly the size of a couch cushion, compact enough to fit into the back of a Honda Element with room left over for camp supplies.

Other Tents We Tested

• : We used this as a base camp for a raft guide weekend. We loved it as a communal shelter but found it too large and expensive for most campers.
• : This tent really did pop up in under 30-seconds thanks to a two-handled ripcord that erects the tent from the top. Ultimately, it鈥檚 too small for most recreational campers.
• : The Fernweh felt like a member of the Jackson family at the end of three summers of testing because of how comfortably the massive living space accommodated months of family camping. But it takes two adults over an hour to set up properly, even with practice.

How to Choose a Camping Tent

Size and Dimensions

Start with the number of people who will be sleeping in the tent and add at least one. No one ever complained about a little extra elbow room, and ultra-wide camping pads often need extra space. Next, consider packability: If you have limited storage or trunk space, a more packable option will make jamming it between all of the coolers and propane easier. Height is crucial, but comes with a tradeoff: Being able to stand up to get dressed or stretch your legs is nice, but means it will be harder to set up, especially if you鈥檙e doing it solo.

Feature Set

Look for ample pockets for staying organized, big vestibules and/or high bathtub walls that protect the interior from blowing rain, multiple venting options, and roomy doors. Of course, a tent鈥檚 principal job is to protect you from the elements, so weatherproofing should be a primary consideration. A fly that reaches to the ground provides the most coverage, but can also limit venting, making for uncomfortably stuffy conditions when it鈥檚 hot. A tall pole structure is susceptible to high winds, so make sure the tent has plenty of guy-out points for stabilizing and protecting the tent from gusts.

Budget

Price is always important, but try to prioritize value. Spending a bit more for a tent with more durable materials, like higher denier fabrics and burly aluminum poles, will save you money in the long run. You can find a no frills, serviceable four-person summer tent in the $200 range, with waterproofing, durability, and reparability generally improving as you start getting into higher price ranges.

But if you鈥檙e looking for a tent to use three seasons of the year, that you expect to get a lot of use in stormy weather, or that you鈥檇 like to use for the rest of your life, we recommend budgeting between $350 and $600. That鈥檚 the cost of more reliable construction and waterproofing鈥攚hich, as all of our testers who have woken up to puddles inside their tents can tell you, is priceless when you really need it.

How We Test Car Camping Tents

• Tents tested: 17
• Number of nights camped: 50+
• Number of testers: 17
• States tested in: California, Oregon, Washington

For this test, we mainly considered four- to eight-person, three-season tents because they tend to be the best fit for most car campers who prioritize comfort and space over weight and packability. When all was said and done, our crew of 17 testers tested 17 tents鈥攏ewer options on the market as well as some perennial favorites鈥攖o find the best for frontcountry campers.

We tested these tents in the beaches, rivers, and mountains of California, Oregon, and Washington from September through November. Conditions included everything from sub-freezing temps and sustained rainstorms to blazing hot rafting trips on the Klamath River in Northern California.

After a number of weekend camping trips, testing concluded with a month-long field-testing stint in Crescent City, California, to whittle down the final contenders. Testers included four families with kids ranging in age from two to eleven, and parents in their early thirties to their mid fifties. Some were first-time campers, while others could measure the amount of time they鈥檝e spent in years.

We asked all testers to evaluate tents on their functionality, ease of setup and take-down, standout features, and overall comfort and livability.

Meet Our Testers

Joe Jackson has been professionally testing gear for 国产吃瓜黑料 for over a decade and has pitched and slept in over 90 tents during that time. While he is proud of the breadth of tents he has tested for this publication, his biggest flex is that he lived out of an in Oregon for eight months.

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. McGinn got her start reviewing gear as 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 gear editorial assistant in 2021.

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There was a time when you had to choose between comfort and off-roading chops when it came to pulling your adventure home along with you. You could spend a week in a luxury trailer as far as the pavement would take you, or sleep off-kilter in a Jeep pop-up camper deep in the wild. Now, whether you chase your motor-powered thrills at a gravel campground or 500 miles from the nearest interstate, your options are better than ever.

Our favorite slide-in, pop-up, and tow-behind equipment of the year keeps your storage space usable, maximizes sprawl鈥攜es, there’s a short-bed camper that fits a king-sized mattress鈥攁nd promises as much off-road prowess as you can dream of.

Updated April, 2025: We added a new pick鈥攖he Wayfarer Vans Walt Conversion鈥攖o this list, and updated other pricing and product info throughout.听

At a Glance

• Best Van Conversion:
• Best Minimalist Camper:
• Best Off-Road Trailer:
• Best Luxury Rig:
• How to Choose a Trailer or Camper
• How We Test
• Meet Our Lead Testers

Best Van Conversion

Wayfarer Vans Walt Conversion

Type: Van Conversion
Material: Laminated composite wall and ceiling panel; Havelock wool insulation; 9-ply solid-core baltic birch plywood

Pros and Cons
鈯� Simple, high-quality build
鈯� Modular layouts
鈯� Will convert used vans
鈯� 2-3 day install time
鈯� Conversions only available for Ram Promaster and Ford Transit
鈯� No custom work

Watch: Inside Look at the Wayfarer Walt Van Conversion

Van conversion companies are a dime a dozen these days. The vast majority offer expensive, fully custom buildouts loaded with complicated electrical and plumbing systems that can easily cost six figures鈥攕ometimes even without factoring in the price of the van itself鈥攁nd take weeks, if not months, to build.

That鈥檚 not the case with Colorado Springs-based Wayfarer Vans: their largest conversion, built on a 159鈥� High Roof Ram Promaster cargo van platform, starts at $25K. While that price can climb to around $55K if you add every optional accessory possible, like a 12V air conditioner, bug screens, 400 watts of solar, and a Propex Heater, it鈥檚 still an incredible value in today鈥檚 campervan marketplace. Wayfarer also completes the installation in just 2-3 days.

The value is what originally caught our attention, but what stood out during a multi-week test last summer was the quality and functionality. There鈥檚 tons of storage space for gear throughout, and the Baltic Birch cabinets and furniture felt solid and didn’t rattle loose鈥攅ven after we drove on miles of washboard roads in Montana. A simple hand pump and removable, five-gallon fresh and grey water containers meant we didn’t worry about built-in tanks leaking or accidentally leaving the water pump on while out fishing for the day.

An over-bed shelf with bungees kept things like extra layers and blankets out of the way without adding the additional weight of more cabinets. The built-in, insulated partition that separates the cab and living area made for a great privacy screen while changing at trailheads, and quickly rolled up and out of the way during travel.

We also loved the modular interior: all the furniture simply bolts into cargo track on the floor, which meant we could move things around to accommodate multiple bikes and other bulky items. Most other vans with modular interiors we鈥檝e tested feel more like camping in a mobile erector set, whereas the Walt felt like a cozy, minimalist cabin with the added benefit of modularity. It鈥檚 the perfect blend of #vanlife and practical work van functionality.

Despite the reasonable price point, the brand still uses proven, premium materials throughout, like Havelock Wool insulation, 9-ply solid-core Baltic Birch plywood, and laminated composite wall and ceiling panels. Translation? They鈥檙e built for the long haul, and you鈥檇 be hard-pressed to find a better-built, more adaptable, and well-thought-out campervan for the money.

Best Minimalist Camper

Tune Outdoor Tune M1

Type: Canopy-style popup truck camper
Weight: From 387 lbs (short-bed Tacoma)
Material: Aluminum/Composite

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredible space-to-weight ratio
鈯� Sleek
鈯� Retains bed utility
鈯� Heavier than some wedge campers
鈯� Expensive

Watch: Tour of the Tune M1 Truck Camper

True innovation has been tough to come by in the lightweight, shell-style truck camper market lately, but that changed when Denver-based Tune Outdoors launched its Tune M1 in 2023.

Instead of releasing just another wedge camper or traditional slide-in, Tune combined some of the best existing features on the market, like building with aluminum extrusions and honeycomb composite panels, and added its own twist: The Tune M1 rests on a truck鈥檚 bed rails, but the side walls flare out at the bottom to provide far more interior living space than anything else out there. That extra width also provides more standard sleeping space鈥攊n fact, an optional bed extension platform accommodates a nearly king-sized mattress on a short-bed Tacoma.

The Tune M1鈥檚 starting price includes features that cost extra at many other brands, like built-in lighting, a 4-inch memory foam mattress, and 440-plus feet of T-Track. All that T-Track means you can bolt nearly anything to the camper, and easily build out the interior if you wish.

Bonus: Side awning panels fully open for gear access. Our favorite option is the tempered glass side panels, which not only look fantastic, but also let more light inside and allow for panoramic views. 鈥淭he packed-down silhouette is so tight that we never held back on even the burliest roads,鈥� says Aaron Gulley, a longtime 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor and gear tester. 鈥淏ut it has so much popup space that the truck bed felt roomy for two people even with coolers, a generator, and requisite camping gear.鈥�

The perfect cross between a fully featured slide-in and a wedge camper, the Tune M1 is ideal for families who need more space, or anyone who wants a truck camper but also wants to continue using their truck bed for truck things.

Best Off-Road Trailer

Boreas Campers EOS-12

Type: 4-Season off-road travel trailer
Material: Composite and metal construction
Weight: 3,750 lbs (dry weight)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Incredibly capable off road
鈯� No-wood construction (no mold, rot, etc.)
鈯� 50-gallon fresh water capacity
鈯� Expensive
鈯� No indoor sink/cooking option

Watch: Inside the Boreas EOS-12 Trailer

We鈥檝e followed Pueblo, Colorado-based Boreas Campers closely since it debuted its AT and XT models, both class-leading off-road teardrops, a few years ago. The EOS-12 builds on the solid foundation of those campers and takes everything to a new level鈥攍iterally.

The EOS-12 is a 20-foot, overland-style pop-up travel trailer built to go anywhere and keep you comfortable off-grid for extended periods of time in any weather conditions. Composite panel construction keeps the rig well insulated and light on its feet with a dry weight of 3,750 pounds.

The trailer features a slim canvas pop top that keeps it aerodynamic, a well-appointed outdoor kitchen, and a full indoor wet bath. With one queen-sized main bed and a dinette that folds out to about a twin sized bed, we found it could sleep three adults comfortably, and appreciated the copious amounts of storage inside.

The EOS-12 really shines when it comes to its mechanical and electrical features. It rides on a Cruisemaster XT鈥攁n independent trailing arm suspension with airbags and auto-level, capable of handling much rougher terrain than you鈥檙e likely to experience鈥�540 amp hours of Battleborn lithium batteries, Victron electrical components, and 400 watts of solar panels.

Everything on this camper, from the exterior rock lights to the air compressor and the furnace, are operated by a portable Garmin O.N.E. tablet, which, despite our initial hesitation, performed flawlessly.

鈥淲e loved using the EOS-12 on a 5-day mule deer hunt,鈥� says Eric Ladd, a mountain biker, hunter, skier, and all-around adventure seeking ER doc based in Santa Fe, NM. 鈥淲e never worried about where we were towing it, it didn鈥檛 come close to running out of power or water, and we ate like kings thanks to the amazing outdoor kitchen鈥攄espite being off grid the entire time.鈥�

Best Luxury Rig

Airstream Trade Wind

Type: Travel Trailer
Material: Aluminum
Weight: 6200 lbs (dry weight)
Length: 25鈥� 2鈥�

Pros and Cons
鈯� Fully off-grid power system
鈯� Gorgeous interior design
鈯� Roomy floor plan
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Not as off-road-capable as others

Watch: Tour the Airstream Trade Wind Trailer

The reintroduction of the Trade Wind model shows that Airstream is listening to consumers. While the Basecamp models have been marketed towards younger generations looking to get a little further off the beaten path, the Trade Wind is the first of the company鈥檚 iconic, silver bullet-shaped travel trailers to come off the factory floor with everything a boondocker needs鈥攁nd, as it turns out, everything our testers have added to their personal Airstreams.

It comes with a robust solar system, Battleborn lithium batteries, a 3-inch lift kit and all-terrain Goodyear Wrangler Workforce Tires. When you combine the system upgrades with a stellar floor plan that sleeps up to five, gorgeous interior design, and other smart features like a recirculating water heater, optional composting toilet, and an optional rear hatch that lets you easily load bulky gear, it all adds up to an incredible, luxurious, off-grid basecamp.

鈥淲e have owned an Airstream for nearly a decade and modified it for heavy, backcountry, boondocking use. The new Trade Wind is everything we always wanted ours to be鈥攁nd much more,鈥� said Gulley. 鈥淭his is a rig built to go anywhere and do everything, and to do it in classic Airstream style. We definitely see an upgrade in our near future.鈥�

How to Choose a Camper or Trailer

Buying a camper of any kind is a big investment, so it鈥檚 best if you can try one out or at least see one in-person before pulling the trigger. Visiting a dealer is great, but a lot of today鈥檚 best rigs are sold direct-to-consumer, which means that events like Overland Expo are a great way to see a camper up close.

Even better, try renting the type of rig that interests you on to get a real feel for it. Even if they don鈥檛 have the specific model you鈥檙e looking for, you鈥檒l get an idea of whether you鈥檙e a van, trailer, or truck camper person.

What Kind of Camper Should I Buy?

The short answer is, it depends. In general, we think most folks are better served by buying a tow-behind they can pull with their current vehicle. Trailers have more space than a van or truck camper could ever provide, and they don鈥檛 have engines, transmissions, and other expensive parts to maintain.

How Much Should I Expect to Spend?

For a new rig, you should budget anywhere from $100-250K for a van, $10-30K for a truck camper (sans truck), and $30-130K for a trailer, depending on your tastes and needs.

How Much Solar Do I Need?

It all depends on how much luxury you want off grid. For most weekenders, around 200-300 watts of solar and 100-200 amp hours of lithium batteries will be more than enough.

How We Test

• Number of testers: 6
• Nights Spent Camping: Over 20
• Number of campers/trailers tested: 7
• Longest Stint Spent Off-Grid: 7 days
• Most Challenging Test Drive: 23 miles of rugged, New Mexico washboard

Between attending overland expo shows to tour the latest rigs and testing demo trailers on extended trips, category manager Bryan Rogala spends over 30 nights camping in everything from rooftop tents to Airstreams every year.

Because evaluating adventure rigs isn鈥檛 as simple as testing a pair of running shoes, our testing criteria looks a bit different. We look at build quality, standard features and components, pricing, and availability, as well as details like trailer suspension and camper wall construction methods, in an effort to find a broad array of what we think are the most well-made and value-driven rigs on the market.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Bryan Rogala is a longtime contributor to 国产吃瓜黑料 and has been reviewing trailers and campers since 2018. He covers overlanding gear and rigs in his regular column, and his 101 video series for 国产吃瓜黑料 Online. As a hunter, mountain biker and skier, he鈥檚 in a constant search for the perfect adventure rig.

Aaron Gulley and Jen Judge, both former 国产吃瓜黑料 contributors and gear testers, spent 3.5 years living full-time in their 2014 Airstream Flying Cloud 23FB. Their travels as cyclists, hikers and hunters have taken them and their Airstream all around the U.S., and provided serious insight into the world of travel trailers.

Corey Leavitt is a filmmaker, truck nerd, and adventure rig enthusiast. He鈥檚 filmed and helped produce all of Rogala鈥檚 101 videos, rehabbed a truck camper, and spends more time on Craigslist seeking the next rig than anyone should.

Eric Ladd is a mountain biker, hunter, skier, and all-around adventure seeking ER Doc. He鈥檚 modified his own travel trailer for off road and off grid use, and takes his young family of four camping all over the Western U.S.

More Gear Reviews

The Best Tents for Camping in Comfort and Style
The Camp Kitchen Gear Our Testers Swear By
11 Pieces of Camping Gear that Aren’t Essential but Are Really Nice to Have

The post The Best Trailers, Truck Campers, and Van Conversions of 2025 appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

If backpacking is a minimalistic pursuit, car camping is a celebration of excess. Thanks to trunk space and truck beds, racks and rails, campers have room for all the essentials鈥攑lus some luxurious extras. For outdoor enthusiasts with outsized toy collections, there鈥檚 no better way to travel.

Whether you鈥檙e chasing swell, singletrack, steelhead, or some other white rabbit, this top-rated, thoroughly-tested camping gear will ensure that you feel right at home no matter where you choose to park it.

Updated March, 2025: We added four new picks to our list and updated product information and pricing throughout.听

At a Glance

• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

Helinox Beach Chair

Weight: 3.4 lbs (packed)

Pros and Cons:
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Stable
鈯� Low to the ground
鈯� Cumbersome setup

After an embarrassing and painful incident involving hot pizza, an affable black lab, and a tippy camp chair, we鈥檝e come to appreciate stability in camp furniture. Thanks to a low-slung design and wide, splayed feet for beachside buoyancy, the Helinox Beach Chair is stable and secure, even when you lean back.

The stout yet lightweight anodized aluminum frame is tilted at the perfect reclined angle for comfort and support. (It鈥檚 also crafted by the same folks who make your favorite tent poles, and rated up to 320 pounds.) The hard-wearing, 600-denier polyester fabric stretches between the four poles, cradling the rump and lumbar with hammock-like suspension. There鈥檚 even a headrest flap to turn your puffy into a pillow. In a word, we find the Beach Chair napable.

Demerits are few and far between.. Although the setup of the frame is painless, stretching the fabric seat into place requires some tugging. Additionally, the chair is so low and comfortable that it鈥檚 best suited for campfire lounging over mealtime or card games 鈥榬ound a camp table.

Xtratuf Riptide Unisex Sandal

Weight: 8 oz (men’s 8)
Sizes: men’s 4-14; women’s 6-16

Pros and Cons

鈯� Lightweight
鈯� Comfortable
鈯� Heel strap isn’t adjustable

A more streamlined and stylish alternative to the ubiquitous, crocodile-stamped clogs, Xtratuf鈥檚 Riptide Sandal is the car camping slip-on you never knew you needed. It鈥檚 so versatile, our testers continued to wear the Riptide well after testing was wrapped.

Pair it with a cozy sock, and it鈥檚 a comfy camp slipper. Walk the dog or go for a little hike, and the heel strap keeps your foot locked in place while the textured outsole provides a modicum of traction. The foam construction is comfortable for all-day use and floats, too, making these a welcome replacement for water shoes on paddle and rafting adventures. Hell, one of our testers did his first kickflip in over a decade wearing these things.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e super lightweight, flexible, and comfortable. I use them for everything from my sandals on backpacking trips to a slipper for midnight bathroom runs when I鈥檓 camping in my van,鈥� reported one Tahoe-based gear tester. Our biggest gripe is that 鈥渟port mode,鈥� as it were, is permanently engaged. If you try to slip into the Riptide without pulling the heel strap in place, you鈥檙e inevitably stepping down on the strap, which isn鈥檛 comfortable for more than a minute or two.

Onwrd Supply ON2 Single Seat Organizer

Weight: 5.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Modular design
鈯� Durable
鈯� Hidden laptop compartment
鈯� Adjustable components
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Patches felt unnecessary

Smart car campers stay organized and turn underused nooks and crannies into dedicated gear storage. Onwrd Supply鈥檚 ON2 Single Seat Organizer helps tick both of those boxes. The system is built around an adventure-proof, 900-denier base panel designed to hang over most driver and passenger seats (we also tested it by hanging it on the backdoor of a custom van build and the wall of a gear room).

The panel features a flat, stealthy zippered pocket for hiding your laptop or other valuables鈥攁 welcome and unexpected stash spot for the wary wanderer. The main attraction? Six rows of MOLLE-style velcro loops, which are designed to house and hold Onwrd鈥檚 ever-expanding lineup of modular components. The result, according to our test team, is a system that鈥檚 endlessly customizable.

The ON2 comes with six components, including a water bottle holder (which we also used as a mini trash can), an insulated soft cooler perfect for refrigerating gas station booty, an organizer that doubles as a briefcase and triples as a shoulder bag, a nifty tool roll, and a collapsible tote that saved us from having to buy plastic grocery bags on multiple occasions. The seventh is a patch kit that, honestly, we could鈥檝e done without, especially if that kept the price more palatable. We care less about the aesthetic of a seat organizer than its gear-hauling abilities, but that鈥檚 the beauty of modular systems鈥攖o each their own.

Radius Outfitters Camp Seatback Laundry Bag

Weight: 1.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Various hanging options
鈯� Breathable, odor-proof mesh
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Expensive

What to do with dirty laundry while camping? If the answer is to cram it in an airtight bag or bin, sealing it off like radioactive waste in a nuclear entombment facility, we have a less stinky solution: the Radius Outfitters Camp Seatback Laundry Bag.

Like all of the Radius Outfitters gear we鈥檝e tested over the years, the Camp Seatback Laundry Bag is well-made and off-road-ready. A combo of thin yet bomber straps, g-hooks, and velcro allow you to hang the bag on seatbacks, grab handles, tree branches, and more.

The mouth of the bag is robust and rigid, while the mesh portion is collapsible. Crafted from a resilient PVC material, the mesh is strong and, most importantly on longer adventures, breathable and aroma-proof. There鈥檚 even a zipper down the center, so you can empty the guts from the bottom of the bag or access a specific item without digging through every sweat-soaked sock and garment.

For longer-term trips or full-time vanlifers, this useful accessory lets you stay on top of your laundry. But don鈥檛 let the word鈥檚 鈥淟aundry Bag鈥� fool you. This utilitarian accessory won鈥檛 be pigeonholed, and along countless road trips, we鈥檝e also deployed it as a trash can, recycling bin, ski pole receptacle, you name it. It is, however, more expensive than the sleeping bag stuff sacks we鈥檝e been using for camp laundry.

Nemo Double Haul Convertible Duffel and Tote

Weight: 3.1 lbs (55L)
Sizes: 30L, 55L, 70L, 100L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Multiple carry options
鈯� Wide range of sizes
鈯� Durable recycled polyurethane-coated nylon fabric
鈯� Mesh pockets helpful for smart camp storage
鈯� Soft-sided storage isn鈥檛 ideal for electronics

We tested plenty of gear boxes and bags last summer and fall, but Nemo鈥檚 Double Haul Duffel was a shoo-in favorite thanks to its brilliant design that transforms this bag from duffel to pack to tote.

鈥淭he options are outrageous,鈥� commented tester and outdoor photographer Katie Botwin, who chucked her camera gear, clothes, watercolor supplies, and hiking essentials in the 100-liter version for a three-day trip in the Sierra and still had volume to spare. Her personal favorite hauling configuration was backpack mode: the comfy, cushioned straps made hauling the heavy pack a breeze and simultaneously freed up her hands.

Others preferred to unzip and prop the Double Haul open, converting it into a massive, rectangularly-mouthed tote. Thanks to the rigid trusses incorporated into the lid of the bag, the Double Haul stays open and doesn鈥檛 flap in transit, allowing you to pack heaps of gear in this thing when it鈥檚 in tote mode.

We also appreciated the interior and exterior organizational mesh pockets and included zippered storage sack, which doubles as a gear organizer for smaller essentials otherwise destined to disappear in a 100-liter duffel.

Testers agreed that the ability to sling the Double Haul over the shoulder like a traditional duffel or grab the reinforced handles when loading the rig only increased its utility for serious expedition use. 鈥淚鈥檇 happily use this for backyard car camping trips, international mountaineering trips, and everything in between,鈥� summed up Botwin.

The Bluesign-approved, polyurethane-coated recycled nylon fabric was durable and weatherproof, according to Utah overlander and aircraft mechanic Emerson Bowling, who tested the 55 liter version on trips to Wyoming, Montana, and throughout his home state.

鈥淚t got rained on for about eight hours when I left the bag outside overnight after a few too many campfire beers with some friends. Luckily, everything inside was completely dry after my dumb mistake.鈥�

Rux Waterproof Bag

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Weight: 1.2 lbs
Volume: 25L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Inner liner unfurls into a roll-top dry bag
鈯� Heavy-duty
鈯� Waterproof
鈯� Expensive

At first glance, Rux鈥檚 Waterproof Bag looks like an overpriced tote. But this sack is burly, crafted from a waterproof, resilient, 840-denier TPU-coated nylon, and sports sturdy handles and lash points. The best feature? A hidden liner that unfurls into a roll-top dry bag, boosting carrying capacity, increasing camping utility, and justifying the price tag. “If James Bond had a tote bag this would be it,” said one tester. “Technical yet simple, rugged yet sophisticated.”

Impressed by the two-in-one bag鈥檚 durability and waterproofing, testers also used this bag for hauling wet surf gear. 鈥淣ever went to the river surf wave without it,鈥� commented one. He appreciated that he could count on the bag to keep his change of clothes and personal effects dry while he was surfing, then stash his wet gear on the way home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 ideal for vanlifers, car campers, and everyday adventurers鈥攜ou can use it tote-style to haul groceries one day and as a dry bag the next.鈥�

Radius Outfitters Tool Roll

Weight: 2.5 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Construction is rugged, easy to clean
鈯� A variety of pockets and sleeves
鈯� Cinching straps ensure any tool stays put
鈯� Pricey

The Radius Outfitters Tool Roll is 鈥渁 great way to keep your vehicle tools organized,鈥� according to Utah overlander and aircraft mechanic Emerson Bowling. 鈥淵ou can carry a surprising amount of tools for how small this packs,鈥� he reported, noting that if you do carry a smaller kit, the roll鈥檚 cinching straps still allow you to batten down the hatches and ensure a rattle-free ride.

That said, Bowling filled it to the brim, and he was subsequently appreciative of the three stacks of tool sleeves鈥揾is go-to for stashing wrenches, adjustable wrenches, a ratchet, and a pipe wrench that he joked doubles as his hammer. He also loved the multiple zippered pockets: In the two narrower pockets, he carries a screwdriver with interchangeable apex tips, sockets, wire stripper-crimper tool, and hex key set, while the massive main zippered compartment holds consumables like wiring, connectors, duct tape, and other bits and bobs.

Although the simple yet well-executed design earned two thumbs up from Bowling, it鈥檚 the roll鈥檚 construction that makes the piece worthy of trailhead show-and-tell with fellow off-road-trippers. 鈥淭he materials they chose for this are top-notch,鈥� said Bowling, referencing a durable Cordura exterior fabric and easy-to-clean PVC interior. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e nice to the touch yet hold up well to heavy use, and tools don鈥檛 mar up the inside at all.鈥�

Gregory Alpaca Gear Wagon

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Weight: 28.8 lbs
Volume: 140L

Pros and Cons
鈯� Collapsible construction
鈯� Heavy-duty build and 8-inch wheels
鈯� Can handle 250-lb load
鈯� Can get bogged down on sand
鈯� Pricey

While Gregory is best known for its backpacks, its new Alpaca Gear Collection of totes, gear boxes, and storage solutions is a slam-dunk. Our favorite piece of Gregory camping gear? The collapsible 140-liter Gear Wagon, which sits on beefy, eight-inch, all-terrain wheels, can haul 250 pounds of gear, and folds up to fit in a relatively easy-to-store carrying case. 鈥淚t collapses small enough that we can easily pack it car camping in our Subaru Outback,鈥� noted outdoor photographer Katie Botwin.

While recovering from back-to-back shoulder and knee injuries, Botwin relied on the wagon heavily, whether she was packing for a camping trip, unloading groceries, or organizing equipment for a photo shoot. It makes camping easier for everyone else, too.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e tent camping, and the site is a short walk from the car, or you鈥檙e heading to the beach for a picnic, the wagon will save you time and energy鈥揳nd maybe save you from an injury of your own,鈥� said category manager Drew Zieff, who appreciated this wagon鈥檚 ability to navigate especially rugged terrain.

Testers鈥� sole complaint was that the wheels could be overwhelmed in deep sand, especially when the wagon load was imbalanced toward the rear.

Therm-A-Rest Honcho Poncho Kids

Weight: 11.5 oz

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comes in kids-specific sizing
鈯� Available in rad colors and animal prints
鈯� Expect it to get covered in sticky s鈥檓ores

Last year, we included the adult version of Therm-A-Rest鈥檚 Honcho Poncho Down鈥攁 campfire cloak that鈥檚 admittedly silly, but extremely comfortable. This year, the brand released a kid鈥檚 version that鈥檚 stuffed with synthetic, hollow-fiber insulation and designed to fit most five to 10-year-olds. If our adult testers loved the Honcho Poncho, our kid testers were borderline elated.

According to one Bend-based tester, her 7-year-old kiddo loved the snug, warm poncho during afternoon thunderstorms and late-night meteor showers on a road trip to Montana. 鈥淚t was uncharacteristically cold and wet in southwest Montana, so this poncho got more use than expected,鈥� she reported. 鈥淲e probably wouldn鈥檛 have stayed up to see the Perseids meteor shower if it wasn鈥檛 for this poncho鈥攊t added the warmth and fun factor needed to stay up late.鈥�

Mom鈥檚 one gripe? The Poncho鈥檚 鈥渂illowy sleeves鈥� will inevitably get spattered with s鈥檓ores. 鈥淎fter a few weeks of use, we definitely have several marshmallow goo stains.鈥�

UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit & Grill

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Weight: 14.9 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Rugged construction
鈯� Packs flat, easy to store
鈯� Firepit doubles as a grill
鈯� Sharp metal can cut your fingers

This is a packable, multi-purpose fire pit primed for any car camper or vanlifer who enjoys a contained campfire, has limited trunk space, and prefers an open-flame char.鈥淚t鈥檚 perfect for sunset beach hangs with friends,鈥� reported a vanlifer and gourmet chef who took the UCO Flatpack Smokeless Firepit & Grill on a circuitous California-to-Colorado road trip. He loved that the flat-packing design was easy to set up, take down, store, and clean.

Durability was excellent, which our tester vetted by chucking the firepit off a 40-foot cliff at San Onofre, confirming 鈥渋t鈥檚 still sturdy as a rock鈥� after retrieving it from the ravine. He happily noted that the pit fit several full-sized logs, and nerded out over the double-wall construction and smoke-siphoning air channels.

鈥淭he design allows the sediment to flow down and not accumulate, and there鈥檚 good airflow, which is ideal for the burn,鈥� he reported.

Luno Packable Camp Pillow

Weight: 2.8 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Comfy
鈯� Compressible
鈯� Easy-to-clean, two-sided pillowcase
鈯� Pricey
鈯� Smaller than your pillow at home

Smaller and more compressible than your average pillow at home, at 24-by-13-by-6.5 inches (flat), Luno鈥檚 Packable Camp Pillow is a worthy addition to any camping setup. 鈥淚 was asleep within six minutes of unboxing,鈥� reported one tester, a Sierra hut keeper and snowboard guide.

A shredded memory foam filling makes it soft; those scraps are also removable, enabling campers to customize firmness to taste. The pillow also comes with an easy-to-clean two-sided pillowcase: one side is a polyester jersey blend meant for warmer weather, and the other is a polyester spandex blend best employed on chilly nights.

Dometic GO Area Camp Light

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Weight: 1.2 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Area light, hanging lantern, or flashlight
鈯� Color and brightness settings help find lost gear, set the mood, or banish bugs
鈯� Removable, replaceable light diffuser
鈯� Pricey
鈯� Bulky

This 400-lumen lantern sports four brightness settings, eight color settings (including an amber option that doesn鈥檛 attract bugs), and a hook and handle combo for a multitude of carry and campground possibilities.

Category manager Drew Zieff, who took the Area Camp Light on a van trip down Highway 1, loved the misted plastic light diffuser, which softens and spreads the otherwise brilliant bare light. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 trying to keep a low-profile camping in a residential neighborhood, the diffused glow comes in clutch鈥損lus, it鈥檚 easy on the eyes, whether you鈥檙e having dinner at camp, reading before bed, or putzing around at dawn, looking for a bar of surf wax while your partner sleeps in,鈥� reported Zieff.

Another tester took the lantern on a climbing trip in the Sierra and offered similar praise. He loved the vibe-enhancing color settings, 鈥渟oft and pleasant鈥� dimmable light, long-lasting battery life, and USB output. If your speaker or phone is running low on juice, you can plug into the lamp and charge up.

Yeti Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case

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Weight: 17.2 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Removable divider and caddy
鈯� Built-in pockets in the lid
鈯� Durable
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Few included accessories

Yeti is famous for its bombproof coolers. But if you鈥檙e storing gear instead of beer, the uninsulated Loadout GoBox 60 Gear Case is cooler than any cooler. The cargo box is pricey (who鈥檚 surprised?), but our testers found the cost to be worth it. For one thing, the GoBox comes with multiple zippered storage pockets integrated into the lid, a removable divider, and a partitioned caddy. That made it easy to stay organized both in camp and on the road.

On a surf road trip from Canada to California, we filled the box with bulky gear like ratchet straps, a massage roller, and tools, and we organized smaller items鈥攍ike fin screws, fin keys, and wax鈥攊n the compartmentalized pockets and caddy. Testers loved the organization system, but they did wish the GoBox 60 came with multiple caddies and dividers rather than just the one each. That said, you can always accessorize further by tacking on more pricey extras at checkout. (An is $15, a , $20.)

Testers found the hard plastic box quite durable. It meets IP65 and IP67 ratings鈥攎eaning it鈥檚 dust-proof and submersible to one meter for up to 30 minutes. It’s also quite sturdy. 鈥淎 couple of days after filling the tub with tools, I found myself using those tools (and the GoBox as a step-stool) for an hour to fix a broken surf rack on the van,鈥� reported category manager Drew Zieff.

He appreciated that the build was sturdy enough to hold his 155-pound frame, though later research revealed Yeti doesn鈥檛 recommend standing on the GoBox鈥攑erhaps because heavier folks can max out the plastic lid. It’s not a bad suggestion: the longer, skinnier dimensions of the box feel a little tippy, so it鈥檚 generally best deployed as a camp stool rather than a casting platform while fly fishing. But in our experience, the impact-resistant plastic was sturdy enough to take a bit of beating and show no worse for wear.

Nocs Provisions Field Tube

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Weight: 8 oz.

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy to use
鈯� Compact
鈯� Focus dial is smooth and intuitive
鈯� Too big or bulky for certain ultralight adventures
鈯� Pricey

The Nocs Provisions Field Tube is the definition of big fun in a small package. The fog- and waterproof monocular is five inches long with a 32-millimeter front lens, making it packable for road trips, day hikes, and car camping adventures. The simple, one-handed design is intuitive, too鈥攋ust look through the eyecup, aim, and roll the smooth, outsized focus wheel to dial in sharpness and clarity through the multi-coated lenses.

The monocular boosts vision with either 8x or 10x magnification, depending on the version you choose, and provides crisp visuals. We found it handy for everything from scoping potential campsites to spontaneous bird- and whale-watching outings, although dedicated birders may prefer the , which we also tested and appreciated.

But for its price and convenience for most in-camp uses, the monocular won out. 鈥淚 could watch fish rise from way down river in California, and check out waves from way up the beach on the Oregon coast,鈥� reported one tester.

The North Face Base Camp Gear Box

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Weight: 4.1 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Sets up and packs down quickly
鈯� Folds flat for efficient storage
鈯� Duffle-style grab handles
鈯� Multiple compartments for smaller gear
鈯� Doesn鈥檛 hold as much weight as hard-sided storage cubes

From hauling ski boots to organizing climbing gear, The North Face鈥檚 Base Camp Gear Bins are infinitely useful. (We tested the 65-liter medium size, but the Base Camp is also available in a for $175 and a for $99.)听 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a picnic basket鈥攂ut for gear,鈥� noted one tester.

She added that she loved the multiple carry options. When loads are light, the ergonomic, duffle-style carry handles enable one-handed hauling from trunk to campsite. When you’ve got more cargo, the reinforced grab handles on all four sides of the box come in handy: they let us carry up to 45 pounds without issue

The Base Camp sports four internal mesh pockets, which let us organize small items like headlamps or sunscreen, and the water- and abrasion-resistant, TPU-coated polyester fabric features a transparent window so you can remember what you鈥檝e stashed inside. The lid and base of the box are both padded, inspiring one tester to flip the empty box open and use it as a changing mat in gravel and concrete parking lots.

Aside from a trace of dirt and grime, the fabric is no worse for wear.听 The soft-sided box retains its shape thanks to a pair of foldable metal kickstands, which pop up or stow away in seconds. The resulting structure is sturdy enough to stack gear on top, though not sturdy enough to stand on.

How We Test

• Testers: 15
• Products Tested: 55
• Miles Road-Tripped: Approximately 17,144
• Highest Elevation Driven: 11,000 feet
• Longest Road Trip: A 2,500-mile, detour-stacked adventure down the California coast, through Nevada, Utah, and Colorado
• Longest Stint on the Road: Eight weeks

To find the best camping gear and accessories of the year, we enlisted a diverse crew of road-tripping testers, ranging from a wildfire-chasing podcaster in the Pacific Northwest, to outdoor photographers in California, to a Utah-based aircraft mechanic who works on his overland rig in Utah鈥檚 Uintas.

Road-tripping and car-camping rigs were similarly diverse. They ranged from the two-door Nissan Versa鈥攁n atypical adventure mobile that only turns heads when it鈥檚 putzing along in your blind spot鈥攖o a handful of double-take-worthy machines, including a well-loved 2000 Toyota Tundra with a platform camper bed; a 2006 Chevy Express with 30-inch topper and wood stove; a custom-built 2008 Sprinter 3500; a powerful 2021 GMC Canyon Diesel with a camper shell; a 2023 Ford Bronco Badlands; and more. One even included a Sprinter van made famous on the hit Netflix show 鈥�.鈥�

We asked this squad to hit the road, put 42 products to the test, and report back. After road trips, surf chases, bike journeys, camping weekends, and more, they filled out review forms. Testers rated gear on a quantitative scale for aspects like durability and practicality, and dove deep on qualitative feedback, discussing everything from pros and cons to installation woes and favorite features. Finally, our category manager, Drew Zieff, sifted through these review forms, picked winning products, then penned the reviews on this page.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

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

Amanda Monthei

is a writer, public information officer on wildfires, and the host of the podcast. A former wildland firefighter herself, she applies knowledge gleaned from the front lines to educate the public. She鈥檚 written about wildfires and natural disasters for 国产吃瓜黑料 as well as NBC, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She鈥檚 also an avid angler, surfer, and skier, and she pens stories on a range of outdoor subjects. Monthei tested gear while camping for business and pleasure in her 2000 Tundra throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Cody Buccholz

is a professional chef who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and adventuring in his 2008 high-top Sprinter with his pup, Jefecito. Even when he鈥檚 not slinging gourmet grub, you can often find Buccholz posted up in a beach or trailhead parking lot, whipping up savory meals for new and old friends. He tested a small mountain of gear while on a long, detour-filled road trip from California to Colorado.

The post The Best Camping Gear and Accessories to Add Comfort and Organization to Your Trips appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Everything tastes better when you鈥檙e camping鈥攖hat鈥檚 just a fact. Unless, of course, you char the pancakes over an overenthusiastic stove, or the milk curdles in a cut-rate cooler, or you impale yourself on some flimsy, dull excuse for knives, cutting your trip short (not to mention your precious fingers). You get the picture鈥攈azards abound.

Luckily, our fearless team of 13 testers put 50 pieces of camp kitchen gear on the chopping block to bring you the seven best accessories we could find.

Updated March 2025: We’ve added three new picks to complete your camp kitchen setup. Other product and price info have also been updated.听

At a Glance

• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

VSSL Java G25 Coffee Grinder

Weight: 15.2 ounces

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable
鈯� Well designed
鈯� Kitchen-ready aesthetic
鈯� Precise, adjustable grind
鈯� Small capacity
鈯� Heavy

VSSL鈥檚 sleek and adaptable Java G25 Coffee Grinder is another piece of gear that鈥檚 equally at home on a granite countertop and a granite outcrop. Crafted from aircraft-grade, adventure-ready aluminum with stainless steel grinding componentry, the G25 is as rugged as it gets. 鈥淪uper well-built,鈥� reported a Seattle coffee lover and longtime gear tester.

VSSL trimmed the G25鈥檚 diameter down last year by two millimeters so it can be stashed inside the company鈥檚 ($75) and the ($50), and increased the catch capacity to 30 grams. Still, testers reported that the heft (15.2 ounces) means the G25 isn鈥檛 coming on backpacking trips. Instead, it鈥檚 best suited for car campers and coffee enthusiasts who want to achieve a barista-quality grind both at home and on the road.

Whether you鈥檙e using a French press or a Moka Pot, the G25 has you covered with 50 grind settings. A combo of high-carbon stainless steel conical burrs, dual ball bearings, and an expandable handle that increases leverage deliver a precise and even grind every time. 鈥淭he grind quality is incredible and super adjustable,鈥� commented our Seattle tester, who primarily uses the G25 for pour-overs.

Our category manager relied on the G25 daily during a month-long van trip in the Pacific Northwest, pairing it with an AeroPress. He loved everything from the multitude of grind settings and easy-to-open push tab to the hand feel, heft, and mechanical smoothness of the componentry. His biggest compliment? He鈥檚 used it nearly every day at home since the trip.

Just one ding: This is really a single-serving grinder. If you need more capacity, peep the double-cup ($220).

Camp Chef Mesa Aluminum Table

Weight: 22 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Straightforward setup
鈯� Generous surface area
鈯� Adjustable height
鈯� Not the most packable
鈯� Tallest setting is a little unsteady
鈯� Legs are tricky to adjust

We鈥檝e tested a number of camp tables over the years and the Camp Chef Mesa is our current favorite thanks to its portability and practicality. A durable, collapsible, easy-to-clean roll-top aluminum table with four height settings, the Mesa is ideal for campers who love cooking and sharing elaborate meals outdoors.

The Mesa features a two-piece design, with folding legs that pop up in seconds and a roll-top piece that quickly unfurls and snaps on top. One tester ignored instructions (setting up camp furniture shouldn鈥檛 feel like an Ikea nightmare) and had no problems erecting the table solo. Packing it require some forethought, though, as the four-foot side won鈥檛 fit longways in some trunks.

The matte-finished aluminum slats are easy to clean and create a spacious 27.5-inch by 47.25-inch eating or cooking surface. Our favorite element is the four height settings of the legs. The lower option (27 inches) is best suited for loungy camp chairs and is by far the sturdiest. Our 155-pound category manager laid across the Mesa without issue despite Camp Chef鈥檚 100-pound weight limit recommendation.

At the highest setting (39 inches), the Mesa is a little more wobbly but still stable enough to whip up involved camp recipes. The two highest settings (39 and 35 inches) work best for cooking and give chefs the option to choose what works best given campsite topography. (For reference, the standard countertop height in the US is 36 inches). If you hate bending over to cook or cooking while seated, the Mesa is the move. We also loved that the table seats four comfortably and six more cozily.

If we have to nitpick, adjusting leg height can be tricky once the table is already set up. For quicker adjustments, tweak the height during setup.

(Photo: Courtesy RovR)

RovR ChillR 16oz Tumbler 4-Pack

Pros and Cons
鈯� No metallic taste
鈯� Durable exterior
鈯� Stackable set of four
鈯� No insulation

RovR is most famous for its ($399) that look as if their tires were sourced from a monster truck rally. But the brand鈥檚 drink ware ought to be on your radar, too. The ChillR 16oz Tumbler鈥攁 single-walled, ceramic-coated, dishwasher-safe pint glass that comes in a stackable set of four鈥攊s a great addition to any camp box.

Whether you鈥檙e pouring coffee for the crew after a night of camping, hydrating after mountain biking, or doling out microbrews from a growler around the campfire, the ChillR鈥檚 ceramic interior provides a clean, crisp taste. There鈥檚 none of the metallic finish that so often plagues steel vessels. The coating proved easy to clean, too, whether we were hand washing the cups at camp with diluted, biodegradable soap or tossing them in the dishwasher at home.

Apart from the taste (or lack thereof), what we love most about the RovR ChillR is that it does what most camping cups cannot: it fits into your daily life at home. The ChillR鈥檚 durable enough for camp use, yet the muted, powder-coated exterior looks sharp in any van, RV, or home kitchen. Stackability is another bonus for campers with limited trunk or cupboard space. Be warned, though鈥攖his isn鈥檛 a double-walled camp mug and doesn鈥檛 insulate like one.

Aeropress XL Coffee Press

Weight: 1 lb

Pros and Cons
鈯� Easy to use and clean
鈯� Double the capacity of the original Aeropress
鈯� Filter cap doesn鈥檛 fit many mugs

The Aeropress XL incorporates the same plunging tech as the backcountry barista-approved original version, but with double the capacity鈥攁 volume boost that allows car-camping couples to streamline their mornings by fixing one batch of brew instead of two. 鈥淢y partner and I efficiently enjoyed excellent-quality coffee together every morning while camping thanks to the XL,鈥� reported Chris Cloyd, a June Lake-based hut keeper, ultra-runner, and coffee addict (with a 鈥淒eath Before Decaf鈥� tattoo to prove it). For anyone intimidated by the looks of this gizmo, Cloyd describes the XL as 鈥渆asy to use, and easier to clean.鈥�

Testers reported that the XL filter cap does impede the press from being used directly with many mugs, making it important not to lose the included plastic carafe. If you鈥檙e rolling solo, try the more compact, single-serving .

Radius Outfitters Large Kitchen Organizer

Weight: 3 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Extremely tough and well-made
鈯� Makes on-the-road organization easy
鈯� Pricey

When professional chef-slash-vanlifer Cody Buccholz got his paws on the Radius Outfitters Kitchen Organizer, he ditched his knife roll鈥攁 massive statement for any culinary pro. 鈥淚鈥檝e bragged about how efficient, protected, and organized my tool roll is now to every chef I鈥檝e gotten to cook for since I started testing it,鈥� said Buccholz after a California-to-Colorado road trip.

Three levels of sleeves accommodate 12-inch utensils, two zippered compartments house 15-inch tools (grill masters, slot your spatulas and tongs here), while a cutting board pocket, two additional transparent pockets for smaller essentials, and an integrated bottle opener get the party started. Crafted from a 1680D Cordura exterior and lined with a glossy, easy-to-clean PVC Tarpaulin, the Kitchen Organizer is 鈥渢ough, well-designed, and built for life on the road鈥搄ust like everything else we鈥檝e tested from Radius so far,鈥� commented test director Drew Zieff. Also available in a smaller version.

Sea to Summit Detour Stainless-Steel Kitchen Knife

Weight: 5.2 oz

Pros and Cons
鈯� Weighty, reliable handle
鈯� Apt size for working in tight quarters
鈯� Affordable
鈯� Possibly too small if you鈥檙e cooking for a crowd

Sea to Summit鈥檚 new, comprehensive Detour line of mostly collapsible car-camping cookware has two main ingredients: stainless steel and hard nylon.

Testers offered mixed reviews of some of the company’s products: the collapsible pots are impressively compact, but the silicone siding wasn鈥檛 ideal for even heat transfer. But there were no mixed reviews on the Detour Kitchen Knife, a compact, dexterous, multi-purpose knife with a razor-sharp, five-inch stainless steel blade.

鈥淚鈥檓 working in a small space with a tiny cutting board and this small, sharp knife was perfect,鈥� commented Buccholz, who used the Detour kit to whip up his favorites on a road trip, among them butter chicken, green curry, and tortilla soup. 鈥淚 love the way this knife felt in my hand鈥攊t鈥檚 heavy and strong, and the shape of the handle felt secure in my palm.鈥�

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Coleman Cascade 3-In-1 Stove

To cover all of your camp chef bases, pack the Cascade 3-In-1 Stove when you hit the road. This camp-cooking package comes with the Cascade stove and two pieces of cast-iron cookware, so you can grill and griddle in addition to boiling, frying, and saut茅ing meals. Independent dials allow you to control the heat coming out of each burner, and rotary ignition means instant, match-free burner lighting. Plus, the cast iron pan supports lift out for quick cooktop cleanup.

Oyster Tempo Cooler

Weight: 12 lbs 6 oz
Dimensions: W 20.1 x D 11.8 x H 12.6″
Volume: 23L
Capacity: 36 355ml Cans & 2 Ice Packs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Double-walled, vacuum-sealed design is thermally efficient
鈯� No ice required
鈯� Lid opens from both sides and is completely removable
鈯� Hefty price tag
鈯� One size only
鈯� No drain for rinsing or melted ice
鈯� Dents easily

The Oyster Tempo鈥檚 selling points are solid, and they better be鈥攖he sleek cooler is pricier than rotomolded options many campers already consider exorbitant. While status quo coolers call for a hefty ice-to-drink ratio, the aluminum Tempo skips ice completely. Instead, it pairs two flat, purpose-built ice packs with a thermally efficient double-walled design similar to that of your favorite water bottle.

The result gives campers more packable volume (a 23-liter Oyster with ice packs keeps 36 cans cold, while a 24-liter rotomolded cooler with ice only handles 18 cans), takes up less trunk space, and still keeps contents frostier longer than the competition.

When test director Drew Zieff arrived home after a three-day trip and emptied the Tempo, he noted that his leftover beers 鈥渟till felt as though they鈥檇 been plucked from a glacial stream.鈥� Another tester dug the sexy profile and compact build. 鈥淚t takes up less space than our rotomolded cooler, which made trunk management easier,鈥� he reported. When asked if he鈥檇 recommend the product to a friend, however, Cloyd joked, 鈥淒epends on their tax bracket.鈥�

MiiR 12-oz Camp Cup

Pros and Cons
鈯� Nostalgic look gives off camp vibes
鈯� Push-tab lid is road-trip-friendly
鈯� 12 ounces ain鈥檛 always enough

Were it a cocktail, MiiR鈥檚 Camp Cup would be equal parts contemporary and classic. The double-walled, vacuum-insulated, stainless steel mug sports an intuitive push-tab lid鈥攅verything a modern cup collector covets鈥攂ut it鈥檚 available in bright, speckled hues that salute the enamel mugs of yesteryear.

One tester packed the green-speckled Camp Cup for camping trip in the Umatilla and Gifford-Pinchot National Forests and loved both form and function from first sip. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 burn your mouth鈥攖hat鈥檚 the one thing I hate about real enamel mugs,鈥� she reported. 鈥淎nd then by the time the cup has cooled, that hot drink is also cold.鈥�

The MiiR version offers campers the best of both worlds: it鈥檚 a clear stylistic homage to those cute, spatterware relics, but modern insulation minimize chances of a seared upper lip or, worse, a lukewarm drink.

Ignik FireCan Deluxe Portable Propane Fire Pit and Grill

Weight: 13.8 lbs

Pros and Cons
鈯� Dual-purpose fire pit and grill combo
鈯� Quick-and-easy fires no matter where you roam
鈯� Extremely compact
鈯� You may want to purchase a new 5-lb propane tank
鈯� Cooking for groups is challenging
鈯� Oven mitts aren鈥檛 a bad idea

Fire ban? Meet the FireCan Deluxe鈥擨gnik鈥檚 durable, shoebox-sized, propane-powered firepit and grill combo.* 鈥淚t鈥檚 a safer solution to campfires,鈥� commented one tester, a part-time vanlifer and Colorado-based digital nomad who loved having a warm and contained fire no matter where she parked. Having a powerful propane grill or a firepit at this size is a win for any car camper鈥攈aving both is the dream.

Grilling is simple: just attach a propane tank via the included Quick Connect hose to the marked grill input, light it with a long lighter, and drop in the grill attachment. It gets hot鈥攆ast. Another tester was blistering peppers within minutes.

Just a few drawbacks: removing the grill and adjusting the lid can be finicky, so one tester recommended bringing oven mitts. Also, three or four salmon filets max out the grill, so feeding a bigger group necessitates cooking in shifts. For the most part, though, FireCan feedback was warmer than its 38,000-BTU output. You may also want to get a smaller 5-pound tank鈥�20-lbs tanks are overkill for a quick camping trip.

*In certain conditions, such as high winds or severe drought, all open flames may be banned. When in doubt, check in with local rangers, forest service, fire departments, etc.

Gerber Compleat Cutting-Board Kit

Weight: 4 lbs 4 oz
Dimensions: 9.6鈥� x 15.6鈥� (Bamboo cutting board), 8.9鈥� x 14.3鈥� (polypropylene cutting board), 6鈥� blade (Chef鈥檚 Knife), 3.25鈥� blade (paring knife)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Self-contained cutting board kit
鈯� Comes with kitchen essentials
鈯� Storage space for you to add your favorite tools
鈯� Cutting board lid can get dirty on the road

Nothing excites car campers like space-saving gear, and that鈥檚 exactly what Gerber鈥檚 new Compleat Cutting Board Kit is. Approximately the size of a casserole dish, the six-piece set features a striking bamboo cutting board that doubles as a lid, another polypropylene cutting board, two sharp, ergonomically handled knives (a 3.25-inch paring knife and a six-inch chef鈥檚 knife), and a two-piece set with nifty storage space for additional kitchen tools.

For category manager Drew Zieff, the set was a brilliant addition to the kitchen of his custom-built 2006 Chevy Express, replacing cutting boards that used to flop off the counter whenever he hit a pothole. Overall, the Gerber piece is a game-changer鈥攊t sits self-contained under the stove, no storage bin required.

Field Company No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet

Weight: 4.5 lbs
Dimensions:听10.3″ x 16.3″ x 2″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Durable
鈯� Versatile
鈯� Cooking surface improves with time and seasoning
鈯� Lighter-weight than other cast irons
鈯� Not non-stick, even when well-seasoned
鈯� Requires more care than other pans

There鈥檚 something magical about cast iron. What other cookware ages like fine wine and looks as good on a French range as it does over a campfire grate? Case in point: Field Company鈥檚 utilitarian No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet. This machined-smooth, 10.25-inch-diameter skillet is as durable as it is versatile, and it鈥檚 become our go-to pan over the last few years. From whipping up vegetable stir-fries in the van, to cooking fresh-caught trout over the campfire, to searing ribeyes at home, the skillet just does it all.

Field Company crafts its skillets from recycled iron here in the USA, using traditional sand-casting techniques. (Essentially, molds are made from a master pattern using a wet, untreated sand mixture, then molten metal is poured into the mold. The resulting casting is cleaned, thinned, and smoothed by machine before it鈥檚 pre-seasoned and prepped for your stove.) Field Company aims for a relatively lightweight construction, centering heft at the base of the pan for searing prowess and then thinning it out toward the sloped rim.

The 4.5-pound pan is about a pound lighter than standard cast-iron skillets. Testers also appreciated the ergonomic handle, which is convex and curved to fit comfortably in the hand. Thanks to the light weight and good grip, it was easy enough to pull one-handed from campfire to boulder. Still, cast iron isn鈥檛 ideal for the faint of wrist鈥攅specially when the skillet is loaded with a juicy, coiled tenderloin or packed with venison medallions. The handle can also get hot, so a ($29, sold separately) isn’t a bad idea.

The durability and versatility of cast iron is a major draw. Most testers were grateful to have a pan that could handle a high-powered two-burner camp stove and campfire cooking alike. And thanks to coils on the bottom, it can handle an electric range at home, too.

The biggest downside to the No. 8 is the same downside that befalls all cast-iron skillets: maintenance can be finicky. You shouldn’t use soap on the pan, and you may have to oil it regularly if you want to keep its seasoning鈥攊.e., cast iron’s natural, stick-resistant coating鈥攊ntact. The No. 8 skillet does come pre-seasoned with three coats of grapeseed oil, which we found plenty non-stick for most camping foods. Still we’d recommend cooking on it for a few weeks before you jump into something trickier, like fried eggs.

Gerber Compleat 16-Piece Cook Set

Weight: 10 lb
Dimensions:听10″ x 2.5″ (saut茅 pan), 10″ x 5″ (stock pot), 6.7鈥� x 2.6鈥� (bowls), 8.7鈥� x 1鈥� (plates), 8.8鈥� x 7.1鈥�(mixing bowl)

Pros and Cons
鈯� Space-saving nesting design
鈯� Enough plates and bowls to feed 8
鈯� Generously sized pot and pan
鈯� High-quality stainless steel
鈯� Squeezing the kit back into its storage bag isn鈥檛 easy

Gerber鈥檚 Compleat 16-piece Cook Set is the Russian nesting doll of camp cookware. The stars of the show are the 2.6-quart saut茅 pan and 5.6-quart stock pot. Both are crafted from stainless steel with a substantial, three-ply base construction, which distributes heat better than most purpose-built camping pots and pans.

It鈥檚 easy enough to clean, too: even after we charred a chicken stir fry past the point of no return, distracted by the sunset on an Oregon surf trip, we were able to clean it with a pot scraper and a little biodegradable soap. Plus, the 2.5-inch rim of the saut茅 pan and five-inch-deep pot provide so much culinary real estate that cooking for four is no problem, and cooking for eight is possible with a little forethought.

When it comes time to dish up, the set also includes polypropylene dinnerware. You get four lipped plates that can handle chilis and stews, four bowls so deep they can double as helmets, and a large mixing bowl. The set also comes with a silicone-wrapped handle for the saut茅 pan that pops off for storage, a pair of perforated lids, and a nifty silicone heat pad.

If you鈥檙e doing the math, we鈥檝e only touched on 15 pieces. The 16th is the cherry on top鈥攁 dual-handled carrying case. This cinch-closure storage bag is about the size of a small bear canister, and it fits the rest of this gear鈥攕o long as it鈥檚 neatly stacked. If you鈥檙e packing components willy-nilly, however, zipping the bag shut can be difficult鈥攐ur testers’ biggest gripe. Do it right, though, and you’ll be rewarded with serious space savings.

New West KnifeWorks Tactical Outdoor Chef

Weight: 7.7 oz
Dimensions:听12.1″ x 1.9″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Full tang provides durability
鈯� Sharp, high-quality steel
鈯� Versatile for a wide range of camp uses
鈯� Expensive
鈯� Sharpening serrated blades is tricky

New West Knifeworks鈥檚 Tactical Outdoor Chef may be pricey, but it’s one of the few chef’s knives we’ve found that you don’t have to baby. Over a summer of testing, it was capable of handling all the tasks we’d expect of a chef’s knife, as well as all the tasks we’d typically leave to a full-tang bushcraft blade. It’s durable, well-made, endlessly useful, and, to be quite honest, rad as hell.

As the name promises, the TOC is a mash-up of tactical military blades and every culinary artist鈥檚 go-to brush: the chef鈥檚 knife. Designed with the help of a Navy Seal, the TOC sports a razor-sharp, 6 鈪�-inch blade that riffs off the classic, curved shape of the bowie knife, a weapon typically reserved for stabbing bad guys. We stuck to stabbing fungi during testing, and the TOC made quick work of Operation Shiitake.

Jokes aside, we loved cooking with the TOC, whether we were slicing garlic with the pointed tip or chopping chicken with the belly of the blade. The asymmetrically serrated section, however, is what made our test team fall head over heels for this knife as a utilitarian camping companion. 鈥淭his is a very weird use case, but I needed to shave off a millimeter or two from this one spot on my warped van bumper because it was catching the trunk door,鈥� reported one tester. 鈥淭hat serrated section carved off sliver after sliver of hard plastic bumper鈥攕omething I never would鈥檝e thought to do with any other chef鈥檚 knife.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e shaving bumpers or trimming pork tenderloins, the resilient, stain-resistant, American-made steel is ultra-sharp and resists dulling. The full-tang construction is balanced in-hand and beefy enough to tackle tasks like splitting squash or chopping rope. And while the ergonomically contoured handle looks like wood grain from afar, it鈥檚 actually a composite of G10 fiberglass and rubber, a combo we found confidence-inspiring while working with fresh fish, poultry, and other slippery proteins.

Yes, it’s expensive. But from blade to butt to the handsome leather sheath it comes in, you get what you pay for.

Miir New Standard Carafe

Weight: 1.8 lb
Dimensions:听6″ x 6″ x 10.5″

Pros and Cons
鈯� Sleek design
鈯� Two-piece construction makes for easy cleaning
鈯� Big enough to serve four
鈯� Included lid isn鈥檛 leakproof

Ever wished you could bring your Chemex camping without constantly fearing for the glass gizmo鈥檚 well-being? Miir鈥檚 got the answer with its indestructible and ingeniously designed New Standard Carafe.

The coffee contraption is crafted from double-wall, vacuum-insulated stainless steel, which is both ultra-durable and ensures your brew stays piping hot for hours. On chilly fall mornings in the Sierra, we were able to enjoy what hobbits affectionately call second breakfast, finishing off still-warm java up to two hours after brewing. The New Standard Carafe is easy to use and compatible with most carafe coffee filters. Our coffee-savvy testers found it did the job well鈥攁nd that the resulting pour-overs were crisp and smooth.

Testers in the Sierra loved that the carafe held a generous 33 ounces of brewed coffee. That was enough to caffeinate our group of four runners and climbers during a trip near Tahoe’s Donner Summit: each person got an eight-ounce pour to greet a sunrise over Frog Lake.

Our favorite feature, though, is the brilliant two-piece design. The top half of the carafe unscrews from the bottom, facilitating easy cleaning at home or on the road. One major con: the Carafe’s included lid isn’t leakproof. If you want your brew to be portable, you鈥檒l have to shell out for MiiR鈥檚 additional ($10). But we found the add-on worth it: simply screw the lid to the bottom section of the carafe to eliminate chances of spillage while driving to the trailhead or hiking up short spurs to watch the sun rise.

How We Test

• Number Of Testers: 13
• Pieces Of Gear Tested: 50
• Miles Road Tripped: Approximately 9,779
• Longest Stint On The Road: 3 months
• Forearms Singed: 2
• Cups Of Coffee Consumed: Enough to live, not enough to die. We’ll go with high triple digits.
• Van Bumpers Shaved: 1

Our testers run the gamut, from car campers who care more about efficiently shoveling down calories than fixing ornate meals, to gourmet chefs whipping up five-star cuisine in teeny van kitchens and over bonfires on the beach. This diverse team road-tripped, car camped, boondocked, and vanned all over the American West for months, cheffing up meals and taking notes all the while. Upon return to civilization, they filled out review forms for each camp kitchen item, ranking aspects like durability and practicality on quantitative scales. Then, they dove deeper into qualitative questions. For instance:

• What recipes did you whip up with this gear and where?
• Did this piece of gear make your life on the road easier or harder? Better or worse? How so?
• Would you use this product at home, too, or strictly at camp? Why or why not?

Last but not least, our lead tester and category manager, Drew Zieff, analyzed as much gear as possible himself, sifted through the review forms, then compiled the reviews.

Meet Our Testers

Drew Zieff

is a Tahoe-based freelancer who writes for Backcountry Magazine, REI, Gear Junkie, and Forbes, among others. A regular 国产吃瓜黑料 contributor, he heads 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 winter snowboard gear coverage and summer car camping accessories and kitchen reviews. His appreciation for cooking can be traced back to his formative years in high school, when he inexplicably began to experience red eyes, a dry mouth, and a sudden, overwhelming passion for the Cooking Channel. In 2018, he and his partner turned a plumbing van into their dream adventure mobile鈥攁 speedbump-filled odyssey. After a couple of years of vanlife, during which he took the lead on camp cookery, the couple put roots down in Tahoe. They still take as many van trips as possible and love to whip up elaborate meals in BLM pull-offs and Walmart parking lots.

Amanda Monthei

is a , public information officer on wildfires, and the host of the podcast. A former wildland firefighter herself, she applies her knowledge gleaned from the front lines to educate the public. She鈥檚 written about wildfires and natural disasters for 国产吃瓜黑料 as well as NBC, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post. She鈥檚 also an avid angler, surfer, and skier, and pens stories on a range of outdoor subjects. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, she鈥檚 used to camping for extended stints in her 2000 Tundra, whipping up meals on backroads shoulders and backwoods campgrounds, and reviewing car camping accessories for 国产吃瓜黑料 along the way. Monthei tested camp mugs, pots, and more while road tripping throughout the Pacific Northwest this past summer and fall.

Cody Buccholz

is a professional chef who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and adventuring in his 2008 high-top Sprinter with his pup, Jefecito. When he鈥檚 not slinging gourmet grub, you can often find Buccholz posted up in a beach or trailhead parking lot, whipping up savory meals for new and old friends. He tested a small mountain of gear for this article while on a long, detour-filled road trip from California to Colorado, and brings a discerning, professional perspective to our camp kitchen gear testing.

The post 14 Camp-Kitchen Essentials to Elevate Your Outdoor Cooking appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Have you ever thought about quitting the rat race, becoming free from rent or a mortgage, and hitting the open road?

Whatever your answer to that question, a lot of people do. For years, Instagram has showcased beautifully aesthetic versions of a more simple life on the road with the hashtag , which is populated with nearly 18 million posts. And the subreddit r/VanLife has almost 300,000 members who discuss the ins and outs of their experience and share pictures of their setups and views.

After spending some time talking to vanlifers and lurking in vanlife spaces on the internet, the most important thing I鈥檝e learned about vanlife is that there is no single version of vanlife. The moniker, I think, refers more to a state of mind that corresponds with a way of being鈥攁 freedom ontology that can be achieved through life on four wheels. Remove the tethers that bind you to a specific place (and the costs associated with them) and experience a more real autonomy and the ability to wander. There is no monolith, only your unique experience.

In many ways, it鈥檚 not surprising that this mode of existence exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic when lockdowns and remote work created competing senses of containment and openness. At the same time indoor experiences became less likely, a lot of work could be done from anywhere. For many, it became the right time to take to the road and experience the outdoors from a new, built-out, moveable home.

Philosophy and aesthetics aside, there are also more material considerations that drive some to consider vanlife. As 国产吃瓜黑料 has reported on, the cost of living in mountain towns has steadily increased over the last several years, and American cities, broadly speaking, aren鈥檛 getting any cheaper.

Is #vanlife the answer?

I spoke to two vanlife pros at different points on the cost, build-out, and lifestyle spectrums to get a more thorough understanding of the expenses, benefits, and unexpected realities of living out of a van.

Bruce Dean, Ph.D., is a Wavefront Sensing Group Leader at NASA鈥檚 Goddard Space Flight Center. In that role, he helped develop one of the flight algorithms as a key component in aligning the James Webb Space Telescope鈥檚 mirrors. He鈥檚 a lifelong runner and endurance athlete, holds 14 U.S. patents, and currently lives in his van in Colorado. He鈥檚 been fulltime in his Mercedes Sprinter van since 2021. He also has a business founded on vanlife, build-outs, and life coaching called .

William Gayle spends summers working for the Parks Service in Yosemite, California, and the ski season in Mammoth Lakes, California. He has spent a number of his years in Mammoth living in a converted minivan that he built out with pull-out drawers and a platform bed.

The Realities of #Vanlife

Both Gayle and Dean offered me a window into their own unique vanlives.

The Cost of Insurance

For Gayle, the most terrifying moment of vanlife came when his van鈥攚ith all of his earthly possessions inside it鈥攚as stolen. Though he insures the vehicle with homeowners insurance, Gayle says it didn鈥檛 really hit him that his van is a moveable and stealable container of his life until he was walking around with only the clothes on his back. Thankfully, it was recovered within 24 hours, but Gayle never shook the worry that it created.

Dean also mentioned insurance as one of his most significant expenses.

General Expenses

Gayle told me that the daily cost of dining out added up quickly. His minivan didn鈥檛 have kitchen facilities, so for at least one ski season, he ended up spending somewhere between $40 and $80 a day on food and drinks. Although Gayle only used his vans for winters in Mammoth, that daily food cost annualizes to somewhere upward of $15,000. For context, the financial website that the average American household spends around $9,985 per year on food.

Dean hasn鈥檛 paid an electrical bill since 2021. He also told me he pays very little for water, and most of the time can refill at campgrounds for free. Many gas-stations are OK with letting him fill his water tank if they happen to have a water tap outside. The only housing related bills that he has every month are for Starlink (mobile satellite internet, currently $165 per month), gas, and insurance. He told me gas costs can vary widely depending on if you travel a lot. He has a full kitchen and cooks every night. He also runs every day and installed a shower so he can shower every night.

Romantic Relationships

When I asked Gayle if there were any elements of vanlife that surprised him鈥攁nd he鈥檇 want readers to know about鈥攈e mentioned relationships, specifically romantic ones. 鈥淚t made romantic relationships hard,” he said. “People want to get out of their own house; they don鈥檛 necessarily want to come hang out in your van where you can鈥檛 even sit up.鈥�

Builds and Fixes

Gayle said his build-out was relatively inexpensive. Modeling his design after truck-bed campers he鈥檚 seen, he completed his first version of a platform bed with underbed pull-out drawer storage in 2018 and modestly iterated from there, completing most of the work before the cost of lumber skyrocketed during COVID.

Dean is handy鈥攁nd can do most repairs and improvements himself. 鈥淚t pays to install the best components available, to help avoid problems later,” he said. “But these can be expensive, most notably, the batteries, solar panels, a refrigerator, and electrical components, these can really add up. That said, you would have anyway if you lived in a conventional home.鈥�

Gas and Tolls

Dean told me that a surprising part of vanlife, at least the way he does, has been the sheer number of toll roads and pay-to-cross bridges. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e more inconvenient than costly,鈥� he said.

Gayle used his van in Mammoth Lakes in winter, and he didn鈥檛 have heat. Driving around to heat up his vehicle ended up being a more significant expense than he expected.

How Does Vanlife Compare to the General Cost of Living in the U.S.?

To get a better understanding of renting in major cities and outdoor destinations, I used , and I picked a few desirable places to stack up against the average cost of vanlife that I discerned from the folks I interviewed for this story. There’s one important caveat I need to note about Forbes’s calculator when it comes to the cost of rent: the calculator uses the median of rent across all rental sizes, which means that it鈥檚 hard to say what square footage you鈥檒l get for your buck using the calculator. I鈥檇 like to believe that any apartment is going to have more livable square footage than a van, but at one point my now-husband and I inhabited a 400-square-foot studio apartment in Los Angeles, California, so I don鈥檛 think I can comfortably make that claim.

Without further preamble, here are a few relevant rental scenarios:

Asheville, North Carolina: $1,554 median monthly rent

Denver, Colorado: $1,899 median monthly rent

Morgantown, West Virgina: $995 median monthly rent

Portland, Maine: $2,582 median monthly rent

St. George, Utah: $1,627 median monthly rent

The Forbes calculator summarizes other relevant cost of living expenses in the pages it creates for individual cities, but it was difficult to discern overall cost with a single number using its capabilities.

That said, it鈥檚 almost definitely cheaper to live in a van if you鈥檙e conscientious about the additional lifestyle costs you鈥檒l need to consider. How will you eat? Kitchen or dining out? Where will you shower? What鈥檚 the plan for accessing water? Is your van paid off, or will you have a monthly payment? How much of a build-out do you really need?

Answer these questions, and you could be on your way. After all, as Dean told me, in a van, 鈥測ou have the added benefit of waking up in a different location every day, and having coffee in the morning overlooking some truly great landscapes. In fact, when I wake up in the morning and drive away from some location, it feels like I got away with something!鈥�

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