I鈥檒l tell you a secret: The dad in your life doesn鈥檛 want things for Father鈥檚 Day. Yes, golf clubs are nice, and if you鈥檙e thinking of getting him a new mountain bike, you should definitely do that. But what he really wants is a little bit of order in his life. Because fatherhood is chaos. There are shoes everywhere. My basement is basically just a sea of Legos,听stuffed animals, and Nerf guns. For some reason, someone put a hairbrush and scrunchies in the fridge. And don鈥檛 get me started on the car, which is听a superfund site. My family consists of听two kids, a dog, a geriatric cat, a wife with an affinity for kitchen gadgets, and we鈥檙e all crammed inside a house that鈥檚 roughly the size of a cubicle in corporate America. That鈥檚 why I dream about books arranged alphabetically on shelves and a robot butler that follows my children around picking up all of the half-eaten sandwiches and dirty glasses they set down throughout the day. Bringing order to parental chaos is an uphill battle, but there are a handful of products that can help organize certain aspects of a dad鈥檚 life, from the garage to the campsite.

Organization for the Car: Decked D-Bag ($175)听

Don鈥檛 think of the as an expensive duffel bag. Think of it as a go-bag for the most fun aspects of your life. This expandable hardshell/softshell hauler听was designed to be packed full of gear, with a 42-liter outer bag that鈥檚 loaded with interior organizational features, like a tool roll that has slots for wrenches and screw drivers, and two zippered bags for loose items like batteries or snacks. The tool roll snaps onto the hardshell panel, but can snap out and roll up to be carried separately. There鈥檚 also a smaller duffel that snaps in and out of the bag too, like听Russian nesting dolls of organization. The D-Bag is designed for听jobs that听require tools, but I鈥檝e found it鈥檚 perfect for holding all of my mountain bike gear (helmet, shoes, gloves, extra layers, snacks, tools, pump, and tubes).听The flat, hard-shell shape of the bag makes it easy to pack in your truck or trunk, so it can live inside your car.

Organization for the Garage: Front Runner Wolf Pack ($40)听

People have been using the 鈥渂in system鈥� for garage organization since caveman times, so the concept at play here isn鈥檛 groundbreaking, but the 听by overlanding brand Front Runner听is a superior bin. It鈥檚 made from plastic that鈥檚 tough enough to stand on with lids that lock tight. The bins stack on top of each other like Legos, which makes storing and packing more orderly. At 31 liters, I think it鈥檚 the perfect size鈥攂ig enough to fit an entire camp kitchen set up, but not too big that you start overstuffing it with crap you don鈥檛 need. I have two of these: one听to hold all of my camp kitchen supplies, and the other holds my fire kit, kindling, matches, a small axe, and work gloves. If I could, I鈥檇 have a dozen of these stacked in my garage, each neatly containing a different aspect of my outdoorsy life.

Organization for the Backpack: Peak Design听Packing Cubes ($30 and up)

Not all packing cubes are created equal. Peak Design鈥檚 are loaded with smart features and听are made from super-light recycled weatherproof and abrasion-resistant nylon. It has the typical main compartment for stuffing shirts or socks, but the back of the cube has a second expandable compartment that separates dirty clothes from clean pieces.听It also has an expansion zipper that doubles the size of the cube, but then zips back down to compress the contents inside. The small version fits nine liters of clothes (about 10 shirts) and the medium is twice as big. There鈥檚 also a shoe-specific pouch that rolls up tight when you鈥檙e not using it. When I travel again, I will organize my pack or roller luggage with these nifty cubes. (I can say nifty because I鈥檓 a dad.)

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Organization for the Campsite: NiteIze Gear Line ($20)

My family brings a lot of stuff to camp. I can somehow manage to wear the same shirt and pair of shorts for six days in a row, but my son burns听through an entire wardrobe before breakfast. For a semblance of organization, we hang dirty clothes on the tent poles outside of the tent鈥攏ot a good look. And then there are water bottles,听lanterns,听mugs, toys,听and other random items tossed around camp. Enter the , a four-foot long ribbon of order with D-ring webbing and built-in carabiners. It lets me hang clothes, hats, and all of the little things that clutter a campsite. I wish the Gear Line was twice as long, but as is, it鈥檚 the perfect length to hang inside your tent or between two trees.

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Car camping is wonderful because it鈥檚 so accessible. Vehicles let us bring luxuries, offer an easy exit in case of disaster, and make it so we don鈥檛 have to be so picky about our gear. It鈥檚 also how the majority of people get introduced to sleeping outdoors. For those who haven鈥檛 experienced that yet, the good news is that you can put together an entire car camping kit from used gear and comfortably sleep outdoors all summer. I asked Matt Endress, manager of Get N鈥� Gear, an Ashland, Oregon, outdoor gear consignment shop, for tips on how to pick the right items. Besides these things, you should have anything else you need at home already.

Tent

Endress says that tents depreciate in value quickly, so it鈥檚 relatively common to find good deals.

Sniff It

The way a used tent smells can clue you in on whether the plastic it鈥檚 made from is in good shape or not. 鈥淧lastic tends to deteriorate over time and smell is a dead giveaway. If it鈥檚 funky like Playdoh,鈥� he says, don鈥檛 buy it.

Check the Poles

Look for tents with either aluminum or fiberglass poles since they鈥檙e the most reliable. If they鈥檙e broken, or the tent is missing one, beware. What might seem like an easy replacement or quick fix might become a nightmare. 鈥淵ou can find a cheap tent with a broken pole,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淏ut all of those tents use different lengths and it鈥檚 really hard to get cheap replacements听because they have to be cut to size.鈥� If the poles are metal, watch for discolorations where they might have been bent and re-bent back into place, causing weak spots. Heavily used fiberglass tends to splay at the ends of poles. Both should be avoided.

鈥淩ethreading the shock cord [that runs through many aluminum poles] is something that you can do pretty easily since you can buy lengths of it online,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an easy way to salvage a good tent.鈥�

Set It Up

This one may seem like common sense, but it is important that you erect your new-to-you tent in your living room or backyard鈥攅ven the shop if they鈥檒l let you鈥攂efore bringing it into the field. Making sure you have a fully functional shelter before relying on it in the field will hedge your bets against a camping disaster.

Pads

Inflate It

Always test a used sleeping pad to make sure it holds air. 鈥淒unk it in water [pinhole leaks will release bubbles under water], then leave it inflated overnight,鈥� Endress says. It鈥檚 hard to conduct a thorough test in a store, so make sure that the business has a refund policy before making the purchase, just in case. Or you鈥檒l be stuck making repairs yourself.

Go Big and Comfy

鈥淧eople spend a lot of money on sleeping bags, but if you are trying to stay warm, the most efficient way is solid, fitting baselayers, and a good pad,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淎 lot of coldness comes from the bottom.鈥� We recommend spending a little extra money on a nicer pad with a solid R-value so you stay extra comfortable and warm.

Sleeping Bags

Don鈥檛 Stress About Weight

鈥淪leeping bags start getting expensive when you are talking about warmth-to-weight ratio, but when you鈥檙e car camping that doesn鈥檛 really matter,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淲hen I go with my kids, I bring a bunch of blankets and pillows.鈥�

Look Closely

鈥淐heck the zipper, and don鈥檛 be afraid to shove your nose in the bag,鈥� Endress says. If it smells funky, steer clear.

Rating Matters Less than Wear

If you do go with a sleeping bag, pay close attention to the loft鈥攖he fluffiness of the insulation鈥攐f the used bag, rather than the weight. The puffier the bag, the more warmth it is going to deliver. 鈥淒own loses loft over time,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淭he rating means nothing after a long period.鈥� Pick it up and feel how fluffy it feels. Pay attention to how it is stored. The loft has likely deteriorated dramatically on sleeping bags that are tightly packed for an extended period of time. 鈥淏e very wary of any down [or synthetic] sleeping bag that has been packed in its stuff sack for a while,鈥� Endress says.

Sometimes used bags can still retain some loft, but only in bunched up areas around the seams. Look closely for this because it can make the bag significantly less warm. You want one that has its loft spread as evenly as possible throughout the panels. 鈥淲hen it鈥檚 bad, it鈥檚 like having really good insulation in your house, but a window open,鈥� Endress says.

Stoves

Don鈥檛 Overthink It

Camp cooking can be very simple. If you prep most of your meals at home before you take off, you may require less gear. If you bring chili in a Tupperware container, all you need is a pot and stove to heat it up鈥攜ou could even do it over the fire.

Check the Return Policy

鈥淭he store is probably not going to have it hooked up to gas,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淢ake sure you get a receipt and fire it up right when you get home.鈥�

Go Coleman

鈥淐oleman stoves have been made bascially the same way for decades and are hard to beat,鈥� Endress says. On top of being reliable, these two-burner classics are simple machines that can be fixed with minimal training. Learning how to replace o-rings and clean out the pipes of an means you will never have to buy a new stove again.

Coolers

Keep It Simple

鈥淎 cooler is a cooler,鈥� Endress says. 鈥淵ou can get them dirt cheap. Any garage sale is going to have them.鈥�

Don鈥檛 Sweat the Insulation

鈥淐heck that it actually seals, and look for cracks, but as far as insulative properties, unless you are a hunter and need to keep game in a cooler for three days before you to get back to civilization, you don鈥檛 need a crazy insulative cooler,鈥� Endress says. But how you pack it can make a difference.

Lantern

Replace the Mantles

You can buy a gas lantern and easily , Endress says. It鈥檚 much cheaper than buying one new.

Go LED

There is an unmistakable charm in the light an old propane lantern gives off, but LED lanterns are much easier to work in the field, Endress says.

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For nearly a decade, my go-to lights for summer backpacking trips have听been the index-finger-size听Fenix LD01 and second-generation ($30, 0.8 ounces), which clip to my hat brim and are impressively bright (up to 100 lumens) for their size and weight, given the LED technology at the time of their release.

But while guiding trips in Yosemite National Park听last month, I experimented with the ($40, 1.9 ounces).

The Iota听is a small, light, and reasonably priced headlamp that offers acceptable brightness for in-camp use and occasional night hiking. Overall, few backpackers will feel as if they need more from a headlamp. My only gripe is that it lacks a red night-vision LED, a much appreciated feature on my , although that would wreck the Iota鈥檚 size and price point.

Key Product Specs

• 1.9 ounces (54 grams)
• One LED bulb with a nonadjustable oval beam
• Up to 150 lumens of light output听
• Rechargeable lithium battery
• $40 MSRP

Standout Features

Battery听

The Iota is powered with a lithium-ion battery, not disposable AAAs like most other headlamps. To recharge it, plug the included mini USB cord into a wall mount, car adapter, or portable battery. (Personally, I carry an and mini USB cord already, to recharge my smartphone and听InReach听and sometimes my satellite phone). A full recharge takes three听hours. For high-use owners, the Iota鈥檚 rechargeable battery will be a huge economic and environmental win; for more occasional users, it鈥檚 simply more convenient.

Size and听Weight

Versus the more powerful and fully featured Black Diamond Spot and Revolt models, the Iota is about three-fifths the weight and one-half the size. It feels more appropriate for summer trips, when a light is rarely needed,听and it fits in smaller spaces, like day-hiking packs and vests, whether for intended or just-in-case use.

Familiar Features

If you have used other Black Diamond headlamps, several nice features of the Iota will be familiar.

Lockout

This prevents the Iota from being accidentally turned on inside your pack, draining the battery. With the Iota off, simply hold the power button for six听seconds. I use this feature every morning when I remove the Iota from around my neck (where I keep it at night) and pack it away.

PowerTap Technology

Generate maximum brightness (150 lumens) instantly by tapping the side of the Iota, then tap it again to return the brightness to its former level. This buttonless adjustment beats the alternative: holding the power button while it revs up or dims down.

Memory

By default听the Iota turns on at 60 percent output鈥攊t does not remember its setting when it was last turned off. For camp use, I found 60 percent to be blinding听and wished it would start up at a lower level. There is a way to reprogram it (watch ), but unfortunately, these directions were omitted from the user manual.

Shortcomings

For a 1.9-ounce headlamp with a rechargeable battery and $40 MSRP, it鈥檚 hard to find fault听with the Iota. But it does leave me wanting more sometimes.

Brightness

With a max output of 150 lumens, the Iota is sufficient for camp use and occasional night hiking. For faster-paced and more extended uses (e.g., biking, trail running), look for a more powerful light with a longer burn time. Within the Black Diamond line, I鈥檇 point you to the ($60, 3.4 ounces), which is also rechargeable and has a max output of 300 lumens (but beware:听its advertised burn time is overstated, per ).

Red Night Vision

In the summer, I use the red night-vision LED on my Spot as much as (if not more than) the white light. The aforementioned Revolt has one听but at a听cost of $20 and 1.5 ounces more. The Spot has one, too, but that would mean going back to disposable AAAs, which I鈥檓 now hesitant to do.

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Almost three years ago, when my wife, Jen, suggested purchasing and moving into an Airstream full-time, I was drawn to the plan but concerned about the logistics. As freelancers鈥擨鈥檓 a writer, Jen鈥檚 a photographer鈥攚e can work from almost anywhere, but would we really be able to stay connected well enough to keep up with the constantly shifting assignment schedule and deadlines? And was it really possible to keep all of Jen鈥檚 computers, drives, cameras, and electronics powered up in the field? We made the plunge despite my reservations, and our work hasn鈥檛 suffered a bit. An energy-efficient laptop (a MacBook Air, in my case) and a cell plan with unlimited data are probably the two most essential tools to our road-life careers. But we鈥檝e amassed a collection of other gear that鈥檚 also indispensable.

Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium ($1,800)

Since we spend most of our time camping off-grid on public lands, having enough power to run both our Airstream home and our electronics is probably our biggest challenge. This ensures that our computers and phones never run dry. The Goal Zero Yeti is about the size of two car batteries, weighs only 29 pounds, and has two standard 110 wall plugs, two 12-volt ports (including a car-lighter style), and four USBs, so we can plug in a whole range of gear at once. The digital display with by-the-minute updates makes it simple to monitor output and reserves. Using the Yeti solo, I have powered my MacBook Air for five workdays.

Goal Zero Nomad 100 Solar Panel ($500)

If the sun is out, we can keep the Yeti mostly topped up, even when Jen and I are both working long days, with this portable . (We also have two built-in 80-watt panels from on our roof to trickle the Airstream batteries.) There are bigger, more powerful panels, but we love that the Goal Zero Nomad鈥攁bout the size of two laptops when folded up鈥攕tows easily under the bed when not in use. Since it plugs straight into the Yeti, we usually leave both in the sun to charge and run an extension cord into the trailer so we鈥檙e charging as we work.

Generac iQ2000 Generator ($750)

This ensures that we never go completely dark, even if the solar isn鈥檛 collecting. This gas-powered, 1600-watt device runs pretty much everything in the trailer (except the microwave or AC), and the four-liter tank (1.06 gallons) lasts up to a day, which is plenty of time to plug our computers and other devices into the trailer to fill up. I generally hate the whine of four-stroke engines, but the Generac iQ2000 is surprisingly muted鈥攚e can barely hear it when we set it up 50 feet from the Airstream on an extension cable.

SureCall Fusion2Go 3.0 RV ($450)

After power, connectivity is our second biggest challenge, and this helps keep us plugged in. Composed of an internal and external antenna that are wired together, the SureCall Fusion2Go picks up a cell signal and amplifies it, turning shaky, 1x service to two or even three bars of 3G. This has really extended the range of places where we can stay. Sites that were once a no-go due to lack of service are now choice places to camp. The boost range is pretty limited, however; for best results, park your phone right next to the receiver and internal antenna.

REI Kingdom Lounge Chair ($70) and Snow Peak Medium Single-Action Table ($330)

We knew from the get-go that we wanted an outdoor office system for working under the Airstream awning in good weather, but since most camp chairs are made for lounging, finding something appropriate was a challenge. After trying a dozen setups, we settled on the canvas REI Kingdom Chair. Alas, it鈥檚 been discontinued, but the brand鈥檚 came in as a close second: upright for good work posture yet cozy enough for sitting around the fire. The has a sleek bamboo tabletop that鈥檚 not cheap or uneven like so many camp models. The ingenious easy-up locking action means it鈥檚 no fuss to tear down if the wind or rain kicks up. Most important, two of the chairs plus the table fold flat enough to fit into the shower when not in use.

Mpowerd Luci听Lux Pro ($35)

Though we have lights in the Airstream, when we鈥檙e camping without shore power (almost always), we use these for light. One end of the Mpowered Luci听Lux Pro features an integrated solar panel鈥攖he lanterns fully recharge in the sun by day, so we can avoid tapping into our trailer batteries at night. The soft, warm light is as creamy as any high-end chandelier and adjusts in four power settings up to 150 lumens. Best of all, this new model has a built-in USB charging port for 100 percent renewable power for phones or other electronic gadgets when you鈥檙e off-grid.

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Still using an old gas-powered lantern to light your campsite? It鈥檚 time to upgrade. Thankfully with today鈥檚 robust camp-lantern market, you have options. We waded through the sea, compared reviews, and tested as many as we could. Whether you want an LED lantern with a retro vibe or a colorful globe to set a party mood, there鈥檚 something for you on this budget-friendly list.

MPOWERED听Luci ($20)

The , at 75 lumens, isn鈥檛 the brightest lantern on this list, but the design makes it a fun part of your car-camping kit. At 4.4 ounces, the solar-powered lights weigh next to nothing. Simply inflate and attach to just about anything; without the need of an extra hook or carabiner,听you can spread these throughout your campsite, or put two or three over your kitchen area. The minimal weight and solar aspect make it a good backpacking lantern as well.

Barebones Forest Lantern ($50)

We admit this lantern is on this list mostly for aesthetics. Yes, the light is fine鈥攜ou get 325 lumens in an easily adjustable light鈥攁nd it can also charge your phone. The battery-life indicator is a useful addition. But really, is about ambiance and making you feel like a Scout again.

Black Diamond Moji Color ($25)

The offers compact, featherweight lighting that鈥檚 popular with backpackers, and the Moji Color takes that same 100-lumen lantern and adds a red-green-blue LED so you can add color to your camp. Pick a single color or set it to cycle through the spectrum.

Power Practical Luminoodle ($20)

Power Practical takes 100 lumens and over a five-foot听rope of lights that you can power with a portable USB battery pack. Hang it听in your tent, in a tree, over your kitchen鈥r keep it bundled in the bag for a single source of light. It floats too, if you鈥檙e into that.

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After installing a rooftop solar system that has been easily powering our off-grid lives, Jen and I have become solar converts. But while I鈥檓 now convinced that a trailer-sized setup can be effective, I鈥檝e remained ambivalent about smaller sun-fueled devices like lanterns and headlamps.

My objections probably go back to some early shortcomings in the category: A decade ago, I had a lantern and a few tablet-sized panels with poor batteries and tiny, underpowered cells that simply didn鈥檛 work. The lantern鈥檚 beam was dim, the charge times were glacial, and the devices鈥� charge never lasted even half as long as their battery-powered counterparts. Granted, I had one of the first prototypes. Still, soured, I swore off the gadgets.

But after such a good experience with our trailer system鈥攁nd having discovered that typical solar panels degrade slowly and have a useful lifespan of 鈥擨 decided to give these portables another chance. Have the panel and battery technology come far enough to make sun-powered handhelds as good as their disposable-battery equivalents? We tested a range of devices through winter and spring to find out.

MPOWERD听Luci Pro ($35)

If a single device has helped to mitigate some of my ambivalence about portable solar contraptions, it鈥檚 the , a featherweight inflatable lantern that has become a staple of our road and backcountry setups. The latest iteration from MPOWERD keeps that original form but improves on it with a brighter, 150-lumen light (compared to the base model鈥檚 65) fueled by ten warm LEDs; four power settings (compared to three on the original) for even better battery economy; and a new adjustable snap strap for easier hanging. The light quality is as good as ever, courtesy of the frosted-plastic finish. (There鈥檚 also a cooler clear version.) Though getting a full charge takes pretty much all day in complete sun, once the lantern gets that initial fill, we鈥檝e had no problem keeping it topped up after a few hours of use per night.

But what really sets the Luci Pro apart from the original is its waterproof USB port, which allows for fast wall charging and serves as an emergency cellphone charger. The Luci Pro doesn鈥檛 have enough juice to fully charge a modern smartphone, but I鈥檝e gotten about a 30 percent increase on my iPhone X battery, which means you鈥檒l never be stranded in the woods without a way to communicate. Three years in, our original Lucis still shine as bright as ever, though one doesn鈥檛 hold air quite as well as it did when new.

BioLite SunLight ($25)

BioLite鈥檚 first foray into the solar realm looks nearly as promising as its original stick-fired stove. Roughly the size of a single-serve box of cereal, the SunLight has a 100-watt LED lantern on one side and a solar panel on the other, plus a swiveling wire that doubles as a stand and a clip for hanging. The light is not as bright as the Luci, but charge times are shorter, with ours reaching full power in about half a day of full sunshine. The SunLight also has a USB port, though it鈥檚 for alternative charging only, not powering up your devices. Light quality is soft and warm, making this another favorite. We don鈥檛 like the SunLight as much as either of our Lucis, mostly because it鈥檚 not as packable; however, the sleek design is certainly more appealing.

HybridLight The Headlamp ($25)

This is the one device I was most curious about, largely because I didn鈥檛 imagine the matchbook-size panel could power much of anything. I was wrong. The micro-USB stick-style charger, which plugs into a waterproof sealed port on the side of this headlamp, indeed brought the device to full power, though it took two full days in the sun. The beam isn鈥檛 as bright or powerful as other high-performance headlamps on the market, but the high setting is adequate for hiking, and the low setting takes care of around-camp duties. It鈥檚 a pity there鈥檚 no red beam, which would make the light useful for reading at night without disturbing a sleeping partner, and I wish the panel had a cord attachment rather than the rigid stick, which makes it difficult to charge from a backpack and is susceptible to breaking off.

Still, despite its cheap-feeling finish, the HybridLight performed surprisingly well, though not on a par with my rechargeable , which has a brighter beam, far more refined settings, and the option to run off AAA batteries in a pinch. On the other hand, this headlamp uses completely regenerative power, so while it鈥檚 slow to fill, you can truly stay off-grid. As a light to use around camp for a couple hours a night, it鈥檚 a winner. But if you need something more powerful, a rechargeable that you can refill from a solar-powered bank may be a better option.

Goal Zero Torch 250 ($80)

One of the most expensive products we tested was also the most versatile. This three-in-one solar flashlight has a 180-lumen torch beam on the end, a 70-lumen floodlight on the main body, and two flashing red lights that can be used for emergency visibility. About the size and weight of a pint bottle of beer, the Torch 250 has a panel on one side that brought the 16 watt-hour lithium-ion battery to full charge in about one and a half days in the Southwest summer sun. There鈥檚 also a USB cord that plugs into the wall for a much quicker fill (about six hours). That port doubles as a device charger with enough juice to power up two iPhones and still have a little battery left for light. Goal Zero even includes a hand crank, which you can churn to add power if all else fails. (It would take about ten hours of cranking to reach a full charge.) Still, this is a super-high-quality handheld light that would be great to leave in a sunny spot in your car or trailer so you鈥檇 have light whenever you need.

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In 2012, Mpowerd stormed the market with an inflatable solar light, the . We love it and have waxed poetic about its simplicity and functionality on multiple occasions. This month, Luci released the ($35). It performs like its predecessors but adds an internal 2,000 mAh lithium-ion battery that can be used to charge electronic devices. We鈥檝e been testing it for the past few months and have come away impressed.

Besides the addition of the battery, everything we love about the Luci Original is the same in the Outdoor Pro. It fully charges in seven hours, and the ten LEDs cast a comforting 150-lumen glow for 24 hours. The battery, housed in a half-inch-thick disk on the top, is inconspicuous. It adds a little weight and slightly hinders packability, but besides that, it鈥檚 barely noticeable.

The lantern has been a welcome addition to my camping kit. Living in the desert, we have plenty of sunshine to juice up the light. Recently, we鈥檝e been under a high-risk fire ban, which leaves much to be desired at night when a campfire is essential. I鈥檝e replaced my fire with two of these lanterns, and they鈥檙e enough to create an enjoyable atmosphere.

The lithium-ion battery is two-way, meaning it can pump out juice to your phone and take a charge using traditional electricity when the sun is scarce. Although slower than a wall charger, the Outdoor Pro juiced a dead phone to 50 percent in a little over two hours. It鈥檚 a useful function that can be a real help in a pinch.

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The 国产吃瓜黑料 hallways are stacked with boxes, and our offices are overflowing with gear. But even we can't get our hands on every product. To fill the gaps, we often ask experts about the gear they're using. Other times, we read online reviews.听

This week, after coming back from a recent staff camping trip, we wanted to find the best outdoor camp lights. So,听we went to Amazon's bestseller list, scanned for the highest rated lanterns and string lights, then pulled our favorite reviews, which are listed below. Note: some reviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Suaoki LED听Camping Lantern ($20)

“I bought for my fiance because she loves solar-charged devices. It works great, although the 'accordion'听lamp mode takes some practice to open. I love the small size and the versatility. The light is extremely bright, despite its tiny size, and it is easy to use in the tent for reading or for going to the bathroom in the dark.”

MalloMe LED Camping Lantern ($90 for 4)

“I am very impressed with . The size is perfect and the light that they give off is just right. I didn't want them to be so bright that it would blind a person. They work great when the power is out. We are retired and we sure don't need to fall when the lights go out.”

Power Practical Luminoodle Light Rope ($20)

“If you spend a lot of time camping, you need the听. It鈥檚 lightweight, completely flexible, and plugs into any USB power source. The output of this light, both in the bag and strung out is quite impressive. While stuffed in the bag it can softly light the trail you're walking. While strung around the picnic table it provides enough light for the whole family. You can even use it to make sure you and your pet are visible on your evening walk.”

BioLite SiteLight Mini String Light ($20)

“ are so cool! I was so shocked that they were actually very bright and I like that they can be wrapped up into a compact size, perfect for traveling. The wire that they are connected on seems like it will be durable. I just may buy some more down the road since you can connect multiple lines. The only downside is that they don鈥檛 have a battery pack so they have to be plugged in to use.”

Black Diamond Equipment Apollo Lantern ($50)

“I ordered the as an emergency light for our home. It shines bright enough to illuminate our living room at only 80 lumens. No, it's not like having your regular home lighting on, but in an emergency听it will keep you from stumbling around in the dark. It runs on four AA cells, which we always have on hand and is very lightweight. By pulling on the dome lens you can adjust the spread of the illumination for your own conditions. It also has two hooks on top for hanging.”

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The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching. No pressure, but you need to get it right. So we asked Maureen Petrosky, the entertainment ambassador for Jack Daniel鈥檚 and the NFL, to give us some advice for throwing the best damn outdoor party of the year. Then we picked ten听products that will help elevate that patio time听to the next level. 听

Petrosky鈥檚 Advice

Don鈥檛 do it all. You鈥檙e not Martha Stewart, so don鈥檛 take on everything yourself. Have each guest听bring something, whether it鈥檚 ice or napkins or tasty sides. 听

Have a signature cocktail and make it ahead of time. Always offer a cocktail, but make it in big batches ahead of time (see recipe below). You can fill up a self-serve drink dispenser听so guests can have a drink right when they walk in. Make one for the kids, too.听

Prepare a first-aid basket. Think of this as a survival kit for summer. It鈥檚 full of sunscreen, band-aids, bug spray, sunglasses, visors鈥ll of the things that people always forget, but need when they鈥檙e spending time outside.听

Play games. If you have a lawn, set up badminton. People will play badminton because it doesn't require a lot of skill. If you have a small space, set up a few table games, like checkers or mancala. Games are conversation starters and give guests something to focus on besides just eating and drinking.听

Keep people out of the kitchen. It鈥檚 an outdoor party, so you want people to hang out outside. Everyone follows the food. So set up the drinks and snacks outside. Put a small bar in one corner and a small table with food in another so folks have multiple places to gather.

Petrosky鈥檚 Tennessee Buck

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 8 chopped strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 4 ounces simple syrup
• 2 cups Jack Daniels Single Barrel Rye听
• Angostura bitters, 2-3 dashes per glass
• 2 cups (16 ounces) ginger beer, chilled
• More strawberry slices, for garnish

Directions: In a large pitcher, muddle chopped strawberries, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Add bourbon and ice and stir. Add 2 to听3 dashes of Angostura bitters to eight ice-filled highball glasses. Strain the cocktail, distributing evenly into the glasses. Top each glass with ginger beer and garnish with a couple of strawberry slices.

Yeti Tank 45 ($200)

A standard cooler is fine, but we like the 鈥渙pen-air鈥� concept of , which has room for 52 cans. The thick roto-molded walls and polyurethane foam insulation will keep you from having to constantly restock the ice.听

Barebones Forest Lanterns ($50)听

Proper lighting is key as the party shifts to dusk. Petrosky suggests a layered approach to lighting, with string lights overhead and individual lights on tables. We like these that you can dim accordingly and that come with built-in USB ports, in case a guest needs to charge a phone.听

Trent Austin Designs Bar Cart ($170)

This industrial-chic bar cart gives you all the space you need for a proper cocktail set up without taking up too much room on the patio.听

Stahl Steel Firepit ($950)听

are made in Portland from quarter-inch steel, but they鈥檙e non-welded so you can assemble the five-piece pit together and take it apart as needed. Most important: they鈥檙e stunning.听

Snowpeak Take Bamboo Chair ($160)听

Snowpeak鈥檚 interpretation of a director鈥檚 chair is as elegant as anything else the company designs, combining washable canvas with laminated bamboo. but can hold up to the elements, and you can store it when you don鈥檛 need extra seating, thanks to the folding design.听

Best Made Co. Enamelware ($100)听

Your guests deserve something better than paper plates, so use听these from Best Made Co. that will last approximately forever, thanks to the steel body and听reinforced rim double-dipped in enamel.听

Chums Red, White and Blue Sunglasses Holder ($7)

will add a听little American flag flare to your BBQ. The neoprene eyewear accessory听keeps your glasses secure whether you're deep in the backcountry听or bending over the grill. Buy them in bulk for an awesome party favor.

Uuni 3 Pizza Oven ($300)听

Burgers and dogs are great, but wood-fired pizza is even better, thanks largely to听Uuni鈥檚. The Uuni 3 is fueled by wood pellets and can reach 932 degrees in 10 minutes, cooking a thin-crust pizza in just 60 seconds.听Create a smorgasbord of toppings and let your guests create their own masterpieces.

Lodge Sportsman鈥檚 Grill ($155)

Lodge makes its cast iron products here in the U.S., and thishas the heft of an heirloom yet is still small enough to set up on the fly. If you have a cramped patio and are only entertaining a few guests, this is the perfect sized grill. If it鈥檚 a larger gathering, fire up a couple for an Iron Chef-style grilling competition.听

Layback Co. Freedom Canvas Hammock ($110)

A hammock can entertain kids for hours and provide a place for grandpa to take his post-dinner nap. is made from heavy, 100-percent cotton canvas with brass eyelets and secures via stout, braided rope. Most importantly, it's on theme.听

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Living in our Airstream, Artemis, power has been the number-one challenge. The daily-life stuff is easy to cope with: cooking is all done on propane;听we avoid excessive appliances,听with pour-over coffee and handheld espresso machines;听and off-the-grid听lighting falls to Goal Zero鈥檚 awesome running off their excellent battery,听or to our听Luci Lux lanterns.

If you鈥檙e used to camping, minimizing electricity use is simple. But we鈥檙e not just recreating;听we鈥檙e working on the road. And the computers, especially Jen鈥檚 MacBook Pro and all her drives and photo peripherals, eat through power.

For the last year, we鈥檝e managed with the combination of that Yeti 400 battery and a 100-watt panel to keep it topped up. It鈥檚 a sleek, simple solution that has worked surprisingly well. If we were only out for long weekends, this setup would be ample. However, over a week or two, our reserves dwindle, even when we鈥檙e careful听with our usage.

We鈥檝e talked about increasing our solar capacity for nearly a year, but the challenges have deterred us. For one, some of the package prices are thousands of dollars, and it鈥檚 daunting to take that leap if you don鈥檛 know what you need. There鈥檚 also the debate between听portables panels, like the Nomad鈥攜ou can move these anywhere to chase the sun but they’re听more labor intensive and easier to steal鈥攙ersus built-ins鈥攕impler but mean you can never park in the trees if you hope to harness energy. For us, installation is a quandary, too, as, unlike on a standard RV, piercing the shell of an Airstream isn鈥檛 a decision to be made lightly.

It鈥檚 the complication, real or perceived, that has made us hesitate. I鈥檓 not the handyman type, so when you start talking watts versus volts, DC versus AC power, inverters, wiring, and the like, it feels as obtuse as calculus. Goal Zero has gotten that equation right: their plug-and-play products are听simple, and it鈥檚 tempting to just grab another panel and a bigger battery, especially now that they鈥檝e launched lithium power stations that offer greater capacity at half the weight and bulk of their current lead-acid battery line-up. But you pay for that convenience鈥�$2,000 for a and $750 per fold-up 100-watt panel, which is what we’d need to cover all our personal and professional needs.

To help decipher the puzzle, I rang up one of the oldest and biggest names in solar for RVs. Mark Spilsbury, the sales manager, said he and his team have gotten very good at discerning clients鈥� needs in a pretty quick conversation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a big math equation. You have to crunch a bunch of numbers,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e tell people to call us.鈥� That鈥檚 tempting. But what I really want is to understand the system and options.

There are two components to any solar setup: the battery-charging system and the AC power supply. The former consists of solar panels, while the latter is an听inverter that takes the 12-volt DC power from your batteries and converts it to 120-volt AC power that flows from a听standard electrical plug.

Spilsbury likens this setup to a car, where the sun provides the fuel (measured in amp hours), and the batteries are the gas tank. In simplest terms, the more panels you have, the faster the fuel flows into your system. And the bigger the batteries, the more tank capacity for storing that fuel. Meanwhile, the more electricity you use, the faster you deplete the tank.听RVs and trailers with big fridges, microwaves, televisions, and other appliances are the equivalent of gas guzzlers.

Like picking the right-size car, configuring a solar system starts with determining how much power you use. For the most accurate numbers, you can get a and a . But Go Power! makes it even simpler with an . You still must know the relative draw of your appliances and lighting, which isn鈥檛 always as easy as it sounds (it took us some deconstruction and Googling to discern that each light fixture in Artemis draws 0.21 amps, for instance). Once you have the numbers, the Calculator spits out handy usage stats.

In our case, Jen and I apparently average 43.5 amp hours (Ah) a day or 305 Ah in any given week. Artemis came equipped with two Interstate 12-volt Group 24 batteries, for a total capacity of 170 Ah. Remembering that you should never run batteries below half power (85 Ah in our case),听that means, without any input into the system, we have approximately two days of usage before our batteries need charging.

The simplest way to lengthen that time is with more battery power, or, to continue the metaphor, a bigger tank. That can mean additional batteries, bigger batteries, or a combination of the two. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e getting free fuel from the sun, you want to have the biggest tank possible that meets your needs,鈥� Spilsbury says. 鈥淔or full time, I generally recommend six batteries total. At least four.鈥� Upgrading from 12-volt batteries to 6-volts can increase capacity without adding more batteries鈥攎aking the switch would up our bank to around 240Ah, though doing it is a challenge,听as the larger batteries (three inches taller) wouldn鈥檛 fit in the box on the tongue. The more batteries you have, the more panels you need to replenish them.

And that brings us full circle: What solar system is right for us?

We crunched the numbers and听found out that adding a 100-watt panel to our system would probably give us enough power. Between it and the Nomad, we鈥檇 be able to harness some 60 Ah each day. However, given that our battery bank is currently split between the RV batteries and the Goal Zero Yeti, it鈥檚 not so straightforward. For simplicity, then, I鈥檓 thinking that our optimal scenario is a panel or two on the roof, which would dump straight into the RV batteries. I might even revisit the 6-volt battery upgrade, though it will take some sort of modification to the battery box. Then, we鈥檇 use the 100-watt portable Nomad exclusively to top up the Yeti 400 (33 ah capacity), which would run our computing needs.

Go Power! has several options that would work, including the ($704). However, I鈥檓 leaning toward the ($1,012), which would put two collectors on the roof, giving us more than enough capacity even if we expand or splurge, with the added benefit of flexible panels that can adhere to Artemis rather than bolt through her shell. We鈥檒l report back in a few months or half a year on what we chose, how the install went, and how the system is meeting our needs.

If you鈥檙e thinking about your own system and it still seems complicated, just remember three simple steps:

1. Determine how much power you use.
2. Choose batteries with enough capacity for those needs.
3. Get panels that meet or slightly exceed what you need to replenish.

If you aren鈥檛 fortunate enough to have a built-in inverter, as we do, you鈥檒l need to pick an appropriate size one of those, too. 鈥淭he takeaway is that, really, everybody is going to be different,鈥� says Spilsbury. 鈥淏ut some easy, back-of-the-napkin calculations and estimates will turn up an appropriate system for anyone.鈥�

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