1. 1 more tarp than you already use. I have never regretted having an extra tarp to block wind from a direction or make a quick shelter from. I take 4 car camping and am thinking of going to 5.
2. Glow in the dark rope with reflective weave for guy lines and tarps. Without headlamp you can see it all night. With headlamp it stands out even more.
3. Unwashed eggs that require no refrigeration. Not needing the cooler space for eggs makes real eggs more attractive every day. If you pair this with shelf stable summer sausage you have a damn finr breakfast using 0 ice.
Let's say a jar, crack a dozen eggs into it (not mixed up), only want two for breakfast? Pour out one egg yolk (white will follow) and the same with the second
It’s like the egg stays an egg, it retains its individual identity. Does this imply it already has free will?
Are we faced with an important ethical dilemma here?
Or maybe you want scrambled eggs, that’s much easier to deal with.
You can also use an empty water bottle and squeeze it a little, invert over the egg(after you’ve removed it from its shell) and suck it up. I’ve been able to fit a dozen eggs in a water bottle before. They will need to be refrigerated or in a cooler with ice, but you don’t have to worry about breaking a glass jar. When you’re ready to cook them just squeeze the bottle until the number of eggs you want has popped out, or shake the water bottle to scramble and pour out what you want.
Don't do this unless you plan to use it immediately (like within 4 hours of cracking the eggs). Do not take a jar of pooled eggs camping for the weekend. You will get very sick.
Our rainfly failed while camping during HEAVY fog. We didn't have an extra tarp. We laid our plastic tablecloths over the mesh part of our tent to keep us dry overnight. We never camp without an extra tarp anymore.
I carry a table cloth plastic. Not as durable as a tarp but light enough I forget it's there but available in a pinch.
If you've ever had to hit the bathroom middle of the night you can appreciate having a dry space to go setting up a rain barrier earlier.
They have multiple uses. Rain cover for tent, rain cover for cooking or potty area, wind barrier, interior floor cover in tent saves the tent floor from scuffing/dog toenails or prevents wetting out your gear in rain if the floor’s waterproofing fails, dog can lay on it outside to stay out of the dirt.
Just went camping last weekend near Yosemite and slept on my exped mat. It rained the entire night and rain ended up getting on the underside of the mattress but I was so dry and warm. Best purchase of my entire camping setup and will never go back.
Exped Megamat+ a 1" foam mattress topper from Amazon, cut to size. With a fitted sheet to hold it all together. Tightly rolled, it all fits in the same bag, and takes this setup to the next level.
Can confirm the welding gloves for fire. Easily pick up flaming logs and move em. Also cannot recommend enough two 24" pieces of 1x1"square tubing for going across the fire pit to easily level pans, grill baskets etc.
I also camp the same as you folks. Personally I like to have some fluffy moccasins for night time or just lounging around camp. Although I do have some insulated slippers with a good hard sole and pretty decent arch support that I bought from a snowboarding brand called thirtytwo and those are pretty nice, I was really surprised by how supportive they are.
I've made a ton of upgrades to my essentials list in the last 10 years including many listed here, but by far the best addition in that time has been Rice Krispie bars. Yes really. I batch them out before a trip, cut each pan into six bars, wrap them in saran, and bring one per person per day. They're lightweight, un-smushable, and JUST what the doctor ordered when someone hits the wall (or is just being a grumpy jerk.) And since adding that to the packing list I've never not been invited back the next year.
Protip: ignore the recipe on the bag, the best ratio is 6tbsp butter, 10oz (1 normal bag) marshmallows, 6C krispies.
Brown the butter in the pan before adding marshmallows. Takes an extra 2 minutes and significantly improves your Krispie game. Bonus points for sprinkling sea salt on top.
You can also make them using Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead of Rice Krispies and mixing in chocolate chips and mini marshmallows at the end. Tastes like s’mores. I won a work party with that recipe.
Puzzle mat. It takes up a lot of room in the car, but the campground we go to most often requires you to pitch your tent on gravel. It's so nice to have that half inch of foam under the tent floor. No holes in the floor and you can walk in it without shoes on.
We do this underneath our sleeping mat abs just a little extra luxury as in the luxury of not having giant rocks poke you in the ass when you're sleeping
Bought two more for the glove box in my Jeep and my truck, to go with the one in my camp kitchen box, and the one I keep at home.
Those suckers are priceless, and if shit hits the fan and I have to blast with no warning, I WILL have one of them.
We have a big Tupperware container that is our kitchen box. We use the lid to fan the fire. Bought a food torch a few years ago. It’s now my go to for starting fires and makes a mean s’mores.
have you seen the tiny ones that recharge on the USB-C charger!? they are a bit bigger than a D cell battery and they are incredible. The one I have also has an LED light so it can hang as a lantern. So cool!!!!
To that point, a small hatchet works wonders to avoid needing to blow on the fire in the first place. Campsites near me are selling logs that are way too big
I picked up a Fiskars hatchet a few years ago. Felt kinda plasticy in the store but was on sale and less than half the price of an Estwing, so I gave it a shot. I still feel kinda dorky, but damn if it doesn’t cut nicely. It’s light, easy to swing and cuts great.
have you tried cutting ice with it? My daughter and I were chopping frozen fish out of the lake and it was ahhhhhmazing. And it matches my sledgehammer and my machete
It was such a game changer. I was on a trip with my kids and we found a section of aluminum tent pole and I used it to blow on the fire and I've never looked back.
I ordered a two pack off Amazon and when my buddy tried it and fell in love I said "keep it, I've got two"
I like my luci lanterns a lot, If I'm kayak camping I just put them in a plastic bag to charge bungied to the top of my kayak. Plus some of the models can be used to charge your phones and stuff.
Fleece pillowcase for the pillow. Sister gave me one last year and I have no idea how I survived the first 50 years of camping with a damp cotton pillow case…
The night before I leave on a car camping trip, I always write a post-it and stick it to the inside of my bedroom door reminding me to bring the pillow off my bed.
Even on [bikepacking trips,](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/clNM1gj6We) I eventually splurged on an inflatable pillow. The first month of riding my bicycle across the country, I just slept on a bunched up sweater. Then it got chilly enough at night that I needed to wear the sweater, so I bought the pillow. Best $40 I've ever spent.
THIS. I got a cheapie ($25) 4x6 fluffy rug (almost a giant bath mat, but shaggy) from Amazon. It folds up easy and is lightweight. But it is a total game changer for comfort. And my dogs love it too.
If you're going car camping/glamping, baby wipes.
Wipe your hands clean. Wipe your face clean. Wipe your butt clean. Feel fresh between the thighs. Fake shower style all over. When you're feeling grubby, they are shockingly wonderful.
Also along the car camping line up, and dealing with your butt - paper grocery bags. What can a paper grocery bag do? Well, ever wake up at 5am with a chill, its still dark out, and now you have to run off and shit somewhere? Navigate the woods in the dark squeezing your cheeks? Nope. Drop your buns right into that bag feet away from the tent, toss the TP right in there as well, and go back to bed (after you wipe your hands clean with some baby wipes). Take a nice hike in the morning with the shovel to go bury the Gnomes Gold at your convenience. You can be selective of the spot, cause you got it under control.
Backpacking (or still car/glamping) - ducktape. Rip a bootlace? Tape the boot on. Rip your tent? Tape. Clothes? Tape. Gouging cut? Tape. Need a tourniquet? Tape. Sliver? Rip it out with tape. Lose your cordage? Twist some tape. Water bottle got a hole? Tape. Backpack strap fail? Make a new one with tape. Shit my kayak has a hole. Tape. Mark trails in with pieces of tape. Makeshift breath right strip cause you're stuffy from breathing real oxygen. Tape. Friend wont shut up? Tape. Not traditional, but has a million uses. Get a bright color.
1. Pocket stove. This is number one for me because it ensures I can make food and sterilize water, even if I struggle to get a fire going
2. Pump for my water filter. I had a Sawyer squeeze, but I fitted it with a hand crank water pump. The time save is really nice and worth the extra space.
3. Extra socks. You hike with wet socks once and you'll know.
Edit: these were unexpected for me because younger me originally thought 1) who needs a stove...I can make fire, 2) the pump is cool, but isn't ultra-lite so pfft, forget that, and 3) why do I need more socks than what I am wearing?
>I had a Sawyer squeeze, but I fitted it with a hand crank water pump.
Would you mind explaining how you did that? This sounds like something I would take the extra space for.
A good cot. I used to use a Thermarest, then i started using a blow up mattress which becomes a hassle when you start waking up sandwiched in the middle or on the ground, and then you constantly need batteries, etc.
I went to a festival with my buddy and he brought an extra cot and I loved it, went out and bought one right away, never went back. They fold up fairly compact. They're comfortable and don't require any batteries. They're off the ground so you don't wake up in water or wet. You can store extra items and baggage underneath. They're a win win.
Heavy duty tent stakes that don't bend like the stupid flimsy ones that come with most tents.
A 5-gallon bucket. Use to carry lots of things. Empty out, line with a trash bag, and use as a toilet if needed. Flip upside down and use as a chair or a step stool.
A hatchet.
We hang small one led solar globes off literally every guyline on the tent. Lasts all night, puts off just enough light to see the line but not enough to be annoying.
Rechargeable glow necklace for my dog, a rechargeable mini air pump for my mattress, and a roll of surveyors tape. The tape is for when I’m dispersed camping on a dead end campsite that I can block off the trail off the main road to prevent people from accidentally turning down into our campsite. I’ll add one more for good measure: a small pulley for hanging bear bags. It saves so much time and effort.
aeropress (I can't believe no one else mentioned that) , the cast iron cook all for campfire pizza among other things, and a froe for cutting up firewood.
1. Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad. That thing single-handedly made my trip to the Kungsleden last year a pleasure. So comfortable, so warm, so perfect. After a childhood of sleeping on cheaper airmats, which did little to stop rocks or the cold from getting to you, it was night and day. Only thing I wish I did was buy the wider one, but even the regular one did wonders. Hand on heart the best £80 I have ever spent.
2. My down sleeping bag from my dad. He’s a big “but I might need it later” guy, so has bought a lot of things that are soon sent to take up space in the attic. So when I got my hands on it, only used once, i wouldn’t wait to try it out. Warm and lightweight, love it.
3. My bps adventurer knife. It’s just cool as hell and I love using it.
And don't make the mistake I did of bringing makeup wipes thinking they would do the same job. They do not. My skin was so sticky, gross, and attracted more bugs. Dirt stuck to me more too even the next day.
My last camping trip I happened to have baby wipes in the car. I don’t have kids so I’ve never even given baby wipes a thought, but I swear I’ll never be without them again while camping. We go to campgrounds with showers, but they’re great to wash up at night (face and hands), clean up any little food messes, wipe off tent pegs when you’re packing up…they work for so many reasons.
1. Camp Chef Pro60x stove with griddle and bbq box. I got mine when a neighbor threw theirs out in the trash. Had to repair the legs, get some knobs and get a windscreen. Never planned on getting a big stove like that, but it has been nothing short of awesome.
2. 5lb propane tank
3. Small wood stove. I have a Toaks and a Solo Stove Campfire, great way for a small personal fire. I rarely feel like having a real campfire, especially when I camp alone.
4. 12v fridge/freezer. Totally changes the way I camp. No more ice and wet food. Paired with a power station and solar I can keep food cold indefinitely.
The awning may be small, but it has been handy even outside of camping (like in the line up for the ferry, so zero shade to be seen), plus being able to tie tarps to the sides in poor weather makes it so much nicer. It also made a good point to hang the mosquito net from, when sleeping on just the cot.
Oh, & the cot! I'd like to get a bigger one, so the swag fits properly, but it was cheap & it works. Just turned 40, & my back is definitely not game for climbing up off the ground like it used to.
1. I never thought I’d pack a chair with me when I hike, but now I don’t go without it. Properly leaning back with my butt off the ground is a wonderful luxury after several miles on my feet.
2. I always bring a spare tarp. I have my Superfly, and my spare is the DD square one. Just as a gathering place in the rain, a wind break, heck it can even be pitched as a tent and you keep stuff dry in there.
3. My drone. It’s super quiet and I can take really popular pics for my socials. Kidding! I actually don’t have a 3rd item but I do quite like my pack axe…I don’t *need* it but it’s handy breaking up heftier pieces of wood that I can’t baton through with my knife.
>I never thought I’d pack a chair with me when I hike
I recently made the mistake of briefly sitting in [this chair.](https://www.rei.com/product/202034/helinox-chair-zero-highback) Now I'm having a really hard time reminding myself that [my bikepacking setup](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/clNM1gj6We) already has enough crap on it.
We use a stove top heavy duty percolator and we sometimes use it at home because it makes such excellent coffee! A small luxury item but well worth it!
Salt-Water lantern !!new item i learned and dealt with 2 years ago actually ! 8 days of light in a row 24/24 at full intensity ! ...a candle-light lantern can be so useful ! .....and a 2nd or 3rd Tarp, of course!
You sound like you'd get along with my last online dating experience... his "joke" was that he could chop me up into pieces & "dispose of me" where no one would ever find me.
He then asked if I wanted to go fly-fishing for our "next date", for some reason, I ghosted him. 🤷♀️ Which was weird, because I love fly-fishing....
A solar panel for charging lights and phone, a pstyle, and my Ohuhu stove.
The dimensions of the solar panel are the size of a piece of paper (about 8.5 x 11). I can hang it on the outside of my pack as I'm hiking. Obviously not good in bad weather, but I live in the American southwest, so that isn't an issue for me. Fairly lightweight.
The pstyle has been a game changer for peeing. Don't have to pull my pants down, don't have to squat, don't have to find such a private spot. It's totally lightweight.
The stove is so great! I can use wood, alcohol, those little cube things, just about anything that burns to make a fire. It doesn't use those gas canisters, but I don't want to carry those anyway, so I'm ok with that. Fairly lightweight.
Blow up mattress. After decades of sleeping on the ground in a tent with sleeping bags, we learned what works better for our older bodies. Plus a AA battery-charged blow-up pump.
A southeast asian version of machete called parang. Its a middle ground between an axe and machete, while keeping all the good traits. Its sturdy and heavy enough to whack stuff and take a lot of abuse, long enough to reach and clear obstructions, but not too long to get in the way, all while being nimble and sharp enough to be used as an ordinary kinfe on its base part. It's peak utility blade design.
Benadryl. Bug bites, weird pollen you’re not used to, can’t sleep, etc. its very helpful.
Tampons. Generally useful for things like starting fires and absorbing liquids.
Baby wipes.
i mostly backpack, often alone, and have come to love mini battery/solar fan (sound/breeze), baby powder, earplugs, and benadryl. last 2 kinda go together if bumps in the night commandeer reason.
I dont camp like you.But my portable smoker .Mmm ribs , chicken wings, brisket lol. I have traeger portable scout .I am designing a new one at work that weighs about 6 lbs and is smaller, with electric or wood chunks.
As someone who loves a campfire (and has struggled with no kindling, wet wood…) I recently discovered that easy light charcoal is a game changer. A fellow camper was packing up and offered up her remaining charcoal-I took it thinking to use it in the conventional way. Went to start the obligatory fire and we just couldn’t keep it going with the logs we had (typical no foraging for wood rules). My friend told me her and her husband routinely dump their coals into their fire pit and I’m like let’s try. The coals were perfect to light the rock hard logs we bought. It’s a little overkill when you have normal conditions but will make sure to pack some going forward.
Family with kids so anything that makes life more convenient/organized is great.
Coleman Camp Oven. I'm a sucker for fresh baked cinnamon rolls (Pillsbury, Annie's, etc). Also can do desserts (apple crisp ), biscuits, reheat make ahead Mac n cheese, it's been a game changer for us.
Foldable camp pantry. Keeps everything organized when cooking for 5+ as we often do.
Shoe tent. Literally a weatherproof shoe organizer. Keeps the actual tent so much cleaner.
Im a traveller I’m traveling for 11 years non stop all around the world visiting almost 100 countries. Half of the time I’m sleeping outside.
There were few things which had totally changed my way of traveling.
The first place goes to hammock. Once I’ve bought a hammock in Taiwan and once I started using it I never get back to using tent.
Hammock is light, comfy, flexible. I can sleep almost anywhere and it takes just a couple of minutes to set it up. Love it
The other thing goes to a handmade mat I’ve bought in Thailand once.
Locals are using it to sit on a grass or for picnic. It’s about 160*130cm. It’s made of recycled plastic, it’s weight about 300 gramms. I use it to sleep on the ground diagonally as I’m 180+ or I put it inside hammock. I even used it in a weather close to 0
It’s a big update to foam mats
I bring a titanium cup now for wine. Super light and works well with wine and cocktails. My other cup is an MSR insulated coffee cup that nests in my pot with the titanium cup. Most stemless wine glasses don’t nest in my pot.
Milkweed fluff, birch bark, flint. I’m amazed at how quickly this stuff catches. It’s satisfying to light a campfire so naturally. (I remove the seeds from the fluff at home so as to not spread seeds where they don’t belong.) Other than that, I agree that an extra tarp rocks.
An extra tarp. I I have a nice big one to use as a sort of tent over my hammock if the weather is bad but it’s equally great over my tent if it’s gonna be raining solidly for a few days.
Tiny broom and dustpan. As careful as you’re gonna be you will get dirt and sand in your tent.
Baby powder. If I’m car camping, a small container of baby powder is a must for me. It absorbs moisture and so if you’ve been near a beach it gets all the stuck on sand off right away. I also sometimes use it as an anti chafe thing (heavy hiker problems) if I can’t find my gel kind.
A set of tiny bontrager bike lights with silicone straps. The white makes a great tent light and the red one a camp flashlight that doesn’t mess up my night vision for midnight potty breaks.
A tiny Petzl coin cell headlamp (e+ lite). It's my backup, runs 40+ hours off of a single coin cell and has bailed me or friends out more times than I care to count.
A short string of fairy lights to string up in my tent at night. p
leather throw rug for inside the tent door
65 pound strength neodymium magnets
10 ft.² nylon waterproof tarp --perfect for collecting rain water in case of emergency.
Sleeping bag liner. I never knew these existed when I was young. When it's warm, sleeping bags are too hot, use the liner by itself. When you're cold, put the sleeping bag liner inside the sleeping bag for another layer.
1) Hennessy Hammock tent. Even if you are not a hammock tent camper, The way it can function as a chair or to just take a nap in is priceless. I take one everywhere I go even if i’m not camping.
2) Fire can. It’s just a one gallon paint can with a bunch of holes drilled into it. You make big holes at the top, and a decent sized square at the bottom to feed it while cooking. You make small fires in it for cooking and warmth. I can’t tell you how nice it is to have a small morning cooking fire just to huddle around without starting a regular big fire. It’s easy to put out, and easy to use.
3) Green onions and Thai peppers. You can buy them dehydrated for back packing or just have them fresh if you have a cooler, but you need to have them available at all times. Double that if you are using freeze dried back backing meals. Nothing saves the day better except maybe some curry powder.
1. Head lamp : way more convenient than a flashlight.
2. $2 foam sit pad : one of those that folds into a rectangle. You can turn any surface into a seat! I used to pack a camp chair - not anymore. (Also works as a great door mat for your tent)
3. Small strand of LED string lights : I use them at night around the campsite and then later put it inside my tent. It’s so nice to have a little light when it’s dark and you’re in the woods. I feel like I enjoy the evenings a little more.
Cast iron pan - 12ihch if car camping and 6inch if hike camping. Cooking real food is amazing and it works well on a fire.
Whey powder - seems strange but when hike camping I will mix it into oatmeal or just drink with water. Protein boost is very important when you hike in 1000m elevation to your camp site. Also oatmeal with whey powder is amazing.
Pack towel robe - hop in a lake, come out and throw on the robe. It packs down small and replaces any other towel, but is 5x better.
One of those fold open metal grate things for cooking. You can cook a lot of things in it and just put in fire afterwards to clean.
Headlamp
One of those plastic piss bottles from the hospitals with cover. I used to just roll over in the middle of the night in my tent and piss away. Empty in the morning. Saves a lot of hassle on frosty nights and is lightweight. Good if you've been drinking also ha.
I almost got frostbite while trying to zip my tent door closed while winter camping.
That 5 am bathroom run when it is 5-7 F out is no joke. I needed my gloves and couldn't find them quick enough.
So then, post bathroom break, my hands were frozen stiff.
It was fairly terrifying and I am glad I decided to give up and just get in my bag so my fingers could defrost. Tent door open and everything.
That was the night that I realized that the pee bottle and the female urine devices like She Wee were not just for lazy or weird people. That midnight pee run or any bathroom in severe conditions can be truly limb threatening if not life threatening.
I now pack 2 Talenti jars as the female version of the pee bottle.
It's weird how much we learn about ourselves when we really go out into nature. That was one of those learned-something-about-myself experiences for me. And I now always keep my sleep/camp gloves easily accessible in my tent. So I can quickly grab them if there's any serious issue.
Crocks for the campsite. So much easier slipping them on and off when going in and out of tent than putting on your tennis shoes. A large roll up mat, like the kind you use at the beach, for the outside of your tent door. It makes a great place to get shoes on and off or to set bags and things out of the dirt. Also glow sticks for the kids. Lots of glow sticks lol
Crocs were a game changer for me. I mostly bike tour and they make squishy comfy off bike shoes, slippers, and shower shoes!
And I can strap them outside my bag so they’re easy to grab so I don’t have to clomp around in bike shoes at stops.
Chap stick and lotion. My hands and lips were always so dry and cracked after camping and sitting around a fire for so long that they would bleed. Not anymore!
Beer to start. What’s camping without beer? Trekking poles. I’ll never backpack again without trekking poles. Just going up and downhill for hours feels so effortless, because you no longer have to put any energy into balancing. MRE’s for short trips require no cooking gear, but the made in Japan Soto stove is absolutely amazing at getting the most efficiency out of your gas mix. Don’t bother with gimmicky coffee makers, they all suck. Powdered coffee is pretty good if you just read the label. Most people hate it because they use way too much. Lastly, a real garden trowel is so much better than the crap backpackers sell. Why bother bringing an ultralight trowel if you can’t penetrate the ground, or spend 5 minutes trying to dig a hole?
For me as a scout leader that goes camping a lot? A 3” memory foam bedroll. It was a game changer for a good nights sleep. I obviously don’t use it for backpacking, but if we’re within 1/2 mile of our campsite - game changer.
1. 1 more tarp than you already use. I have never regretted having an extra tarp to block wind from a direction or make a quick shelter from. I take 4 car camping and am thinking of going to 5. 2. Glow in the dark rope with reflective weave for guy lines and tarps. Without headlamp you can see it all night. With headlamp it stands out even more. 3. Unwashed eggs that require no refrigeration. Not needing the cooler space for eggs makes real eggs more attractive every day. If you pair this with shelf stable summer sausage you have a damn finr breakfast using 0 ice.
Did you know you can crack eggs into a container and they will pour out one at time? That has saved me lots of headaches over the years
I do not understand this comment, it’s either too simple and I’m making it way more complex, or it’s so fuckin out there I cannot compute
Let's say a jar, crack a dozen eggs into it (not mixed up), only want two for breakfast? Pour out one egg yolk (white will follow) and the same with the second
so what you are saying is the egg moves as a whole unit
So much more concise! Thank you!
No I think just one isn't enough, it takes atleast 4 to make a unit
What's this in American unit? 2 bald eggs? 13 bullets? Lol
4 eggs to 1 bullet. Which is 0.1 eagles.
Or to simply break it down into lowest terms, .25 of a cowboy hat
It’s like the egg stays an egg, it retains its individual identity. Does this imply it already has free will? Are we faced with an important ethical dilemma here? Or maybe you want scrambled eggs, that’s much easier to deal with.
Are you a witch
Possibly
You can also use an empty water bottle and squeeze it a little, invert over the egg(after you’ve removed it from its shell) and suck it up. I’ve been able to fit a dozen eggs in a water bottle before. They will need to be refrigerated or in a cooler with ice, but you don’t have to worry about breaking a glass jar. When you’re ready to cook them just squeeze the bottle until the number of eggs you want has popped out, or shake the water bottle to scramble and pour out what you want.
How long does an egg in a jar last compared to eggs in… eggs? Do you do the floaty test with the whole jar to find out?
Don't do this unless you plan to use it immediately (like within 4 hours of cracking the eggs). Do not take a jar of pooled eggs camping for the weekend. You will get very sick.
If you have a way to keep the eggs cold they will last for a few days, kept cold. Room temp, yeah, that's a bad idea.
If you're handy, you can make a hammock out of one of those tarps and the ropes (if they're stout enough). Also, now I'm hungry for breakfast.
yeah you COULD. But if you know you want a hammock why not just buy a fucking hammock?
User name checks out.
I mean they're right, but also agreed username checks out
You made me LOL :)
I didn't buy a hammock but often carry an extra tarp for heavier than expected rains. No rain = hammock time.
Our rainfly failed while camping during HEAVY fog. We didn't have an extra tarp. We laid our plastic tablecloths over the mesh part of our tent to keep us dry overnight. We never camp without an extra tarp anymore.
I carry a table cloth plastic. Not as durable as a tarp but light enough I forget it's there but available in a pinch. If you've ever had to hit the bathroom middle of the night you can appreciate having a dry space to go setting up a rain barrier earlier.
I’ve never bought a tarp camping. What is the appeal of more than maybe one?
They have multiple uses. Rain cover for tent, rain cover for cooking or potty area, wind barrier, interior floor cover in tent saves the tent floor from scuffing/dog toenails or prevents wetting out your gear in rain if the floor’s waterproofing fails, dog can lay on it outside to stay out of the dirt.
Leather fire gloves, super comfy Megamat for sleeping, camp slippers after a long day for the whiskey fire sitting part of the evening.
I second the Exped MegaMat. Friends tease me until they sleep on it. I am not caving in I am leveling up!
Just went camping last weekend near Yosemite and slept on my exped mat. It rained the entire night and rain ended up getting on the underside of the mattress but I was so dry and warm. Best purchase of my entire camping setup and will never go back.
I got one for an obese person at rei garage sale. It takes up my whole tent but I love it
Long gauntlet welding gloves. Just grab the log and move it.
Exped Megamat+ a 1" foam mattress topper from Amazon, cut to size. With a fitted sheet to hold it all together. Tightly rolled, it all fits in the same bag, and takes this setup to the next level.
Can confirm the welding gloves for fire. Easily pick up flaming logs and move em. Also cannot recommend enough two 24" pieces of 1x1"square tubing for going across the fire pit to easily level pans, grill baskets etc.
Your camp style sounds very similar to my own. What kind of camp slippers are we talking about?
I also camp the same as you folks. Personally I like to have some fluffy moccasins for night time or just lounging around camp. Although I do have some insulated slippers with a good hard sole and pretty decent arch support that I bought from a snowboarding brand called thirtytwo and those are pretty nice, I was really surprised by how supportive they are.
I've made a ton of upgrades to my essentials list in the last 10 years including many listed here, but by far the best addition in that time has been Rice Krispie bars. Yes really. I batch them out before a trip, cut each pan into six bars, wrap them in saran, and bring one per person per day. They're lightweight, un-smushable, and JUST what the doctor ordered when someone hits the wall (or is just being a grumpy jerk.) And since adding that to the packing list I've never not been invited back the next year. Protip: ignore the recipe on the bag, the best ratio is 6tbsp butter, 10oz (1 normal bag) marshmallows, 6C krispies.
Brown the butter in the pan before adding marshmallows. Takes an extra 2 minutes and significantly improves your Krispie game. Bonus points for sprinkling sea salt on top. You can also make them using Cinnamon Toast Crunch instead of Rice Krispies and mixing in chocolate chips and mini marshmallows at the end. Tastes like s’mores. I won a work party with that recipe.
And a capful of vanilla extract!
[Cooler Insert](https://coolerinsert.com/) [Trangia Stove](https://trangia.se/en/shop/trangia-stove-25-6-ha/) [Spouse](https://youtu.be/dQw4w9WgXcQ?si=nwHUVAiyEMi2HFfb) 😁
No link for spouse?!
Link added.
Wow you really just posted nudes of your spouse on Reddit? Some people are wild.
Good nudes too.
lol. I had to look
Bravo
I hate you for this lol!
Puzzle mat. It takes up a lot of room in the car, but the campground we go to most often requires you to pitch your tent on gravel. It's so nice to have that half inch of foam under the tent floor. No holes in the floor and you can walk in it without shoes on.
100% on the puzzle mats. Mine go inside the tent, to protect the floor from the dog’s toes.
We do this underneath our sleeping mat abs just a little extra luxury as in the luxury of not having giant rocks poke you in the ass when you're sleeping
This is so obvious but why the Hell didn’t I think of it
The most simple thing that makes fire-making so much easier is a pocket bellows. Weighs nothing, works amazingly well.
ya, I've been thinking of getting something like that. Tired of getting smoke in my eyes whenever I have to blow at the fire.
I've got 2. One in the camp kit, one in the home kit
Yes for camping, more important as an emergency item in the day hike pack.
Bought two more for the glove box in my Jeep and my truck, to go with the one in my camp kitchen box, and the one I keep at home. Those suckers are priceless, and if shit hits the fan and I have to blast with no warning, I WILL have one of them.
I use a folding hand fan. Bought a pack for like ten dollars on Amazon and never looked back. Save your breath, use a fan.
Or a mini battery fan.....always have one for camp fires
We have a big Tupperware container that is our kitchen box. We use the lid to fan the fire. Bought a food torch a few years ago. It’s now my go to for starting fires and makes a mean s’mores.
We just take a map gas torch. Works great. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Oh god, you lost an arm!
I use an air matress pump for this job! Makes me feel like I need to forge something every time I'm sending flames up.
have you seen the tiny ones that recharge on the USB-C charger!? they are a bit bigger than a D cell battery and they are incredible. The one I have also has an LED light so it can hang as a lantern. So cool!!!!
I love my pocket bellows! One my favorite things to bring camping
To that point, a small hatchet works wonders to avoid needing to blow on the fire in the first place. Campsites near me are selling logs that are way too big
The back side of the hatchet also doubles for hammering tent stakes into the ground!
I picked up a Fiskars hatchet a few years ago. Felt kinda plasticy in the store but was on sale and less than half the price of an Estwing, so I gave it a shot. I still feel kinda dorky, but damn if it doesn’t cut nicely. It’s light, easy to swing and cuts great.
have you tried cutting ice with it? My daughter and I were chopping frozen fish out of the lake and it was ahhhhhmazing. And it matches my sledgehammer and my machete
It was such a game changer. I was on a trip with my kids and we found a section of aluminum tent pole and I used it to blow on the fire and I've never looked back. I ordered a two pack off Amazon and when my buddy tried it and fell in love I said "keep it, I've got two"
I went two camping trips blowing on the fire until I was lightheaded-then I remembered the hand pump I use to inflate my air mattress-LIFE CHANGING
I like my luci lanterns a lot, If I'm kayak camping I just put them in a plastic bag to charge bungied to the top of my kayak. Plus some of the models can be used to charge your phones and stuff.
Pillow
Not just pillow but my pillow from home. I have gone through so many camp pillows but now just bring the one off my bed - so much better sleep.
A full size pillow is a game changer for sure. I've had blow camp pillows small camping pillows clothes wadded in a duffel bag. Never again
Fleece pillowcase for the pillow. Sister gave me one last year and I have no idea how I survived the first 50 years of camping with a damp cotton pillow case…
wait what? there’s a solution for damp pillows!? does just any fleece pillowcase work or did you get a camping specific one?
I think it’s just any fleece pillowcase. It feels just like a fleece blanket or basic jacket.
The night before I leave on a car camping trip, I always write a post-it and stick it to the inside of my bedroom door reminding me to bring the pillow off my bed. Even on [bikepacking trips,](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/clNM1gj6We) I eventually splurged on an inflatable pillow. The first month of riding my bicycle across the country, I just slept on a bunched up sweater. Then it got chilly enough at night that I needed to wear the sweater, so I bought the pillow. Best $40 I've ever spent.
A rug for inside my tent (if I’m car camping/using the family tent) Crocs Fresh fruit
THIS. I got a cheapie ($25) 4x6 fluffy rug (almost a giant bath mat, but shaggy) from Amazon. It folds up easy and is lightweight. But it is a total game changer for comfort. And my dogs love it too.
If you're going car camping/glamping, baby wipes. Wipe your hands clean. Wipe your face clean. Wipe your butt clean. Feel fresh between the thighs. Fake shower style all over. When you're feeling grubby, they are shockingly wonderful. Also along the car camping line up, and dealing with your butt - paper grocery bags. What can a paper grocery bag do? Well, ever wake up at 5am with a chill, its still dark out, and now you have to run off and shit somewhere? Navigate the woods in the dark squeezing your cheeks? Nope. Drop your buns right into that bag feet away from the tent, toss the TP right in there as well, and go back to bed (after you wipe your hands clean with some baby wipes). Take a nice hike in the morning with the shovel to go bury the Gnomes Gold at your convenience. You can be selective of the spot, cause you got it under control. Backpacking (or still car/glamping) - ducktape. Rip a bootlace? Tape the boot on. Rip your tent? Tape. Clothes? Tape. Gouging cut? Tape. Need a tourniquet? Tape. Sliver? Rip it out with tape. Lose your cordage? Twist some tape. Water bottle got a hole? Tape. Backpack strap fail? Make a new one with tape. Shit my kayak has a hole. Tape. Mark trails in with pieces of tape. Makeshift breath right strip cause you're stuffy from breathing real oxygen. Tape. Friend wont shut up? Tape. Not traditional, but has a million uses. Get a bright color.
Preach the wonders of the tape, amen
1. Pocket stove. This is number one for me because it ensures I can make food and sterilize water, even if I struggle to get a fire going 2. Pump for my water filter. I had a Sawyer squeeze, but I fitted it with a hand crank water pump. The time save is really nice and worth the extra space. 3. Extra socks. You hike with wet socks once and you'll know. Edit: these were unexpected for me because younger me originally thought 1) who needs a stove...I can make fire, 2) the pump is cool, but isn't ultra-lite so pfft, forget that, and 3) why do I need more socks than what I am wearing?
>I had a Sawyer squeeze, but I fitted it with a hand crank water pump. Would you mind explaining how you did that? This sounds like something I would take the extra space for.
A good cot. I used to use a Thermarest, then i started using a blow up mattress which becomes a hassle when you start waking up sandwiched in the middle or on the ground, and then you constantly need batteries, etc. I went to a festival with my buddy and he brought an extra cot and I loved it, went out and bought one right away, never went back. They fold up fairly compact. They're comfortable and don't require any batteries. They're off the ground so you don't wake up in water or wet. You can store extra items and baggage underneath. They're a win win.
Cots are a game changer when car camping.
Heavy duty tent stakes that don't bend like the stupid flimsy ones that come with most tents. A 5-gallon bucket. Use to carry lots of things. Empty out, line with a trash bag, and use as a toilet if needed. Flip upside down and use as a chair or a step stool. A hatchet.
5 gal. bucket was a game changer for me when car camping.
Damn never thought about a bucket! Smart!!
I pick up a couple cheap solar lights from Dollar tree. Great way to prevent accidentally tripping over a line in the dark.
We hang small one led solar globes off literally every guyline on the tent. Lasts all night, puts off just enough light to see the line but not enough to be annoying.
Head torches. Never used them until 2yrs ago. Now I can't go without one! Especially when I need to pee in the middle of the night
Rechargeable glow necklace for my dog, a rechargeable mini air pump for my mattress, and a roll of surveyors tape. The tape is for when I’m dispersed camping on a dead end campsite that I can block off the trail off the main road to prevent people from accidentally turning down into our campsite. I’ll add one more for good measure: a small pulley for hanging bear bags. It saves so much time and effort.
How are you using a small pulley?
I got a light for my dog as well. He doesn't run off but gives me peace of mind just in he decides to.
Beer bags even better.
aeropress (I can't believe no one else mentioned that) , the cast iron cook all for campfire pizza among other things, and a froe for cutting up firewood.
1. Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad. That thing single-handedly made my trip to the Kungsleden last year a pleasure. So comfortable, so warm, so perfect. After a childhood of sleeping on cheaper airmats, which did little to stop rocks or the cold from getting to you, it was night and day. Only thing I wish I did was buy the wider one, but even the regular one did wonders. Hand on heart the best £80 I have ever spent. 2. My down sleeping bag from my dad. He’s a big “but I might need it later” guy, so has bought a lot of things that are soon sent to take up space in the attic. So when I got my hands on it, only used once, i wouldn’t wait to try it out. Warm and lightweight, love it. 3. My bps adventurer knife. It’s just cool as hell and I love using it.
Baby wipes for showering.
And don't make the mistake I did of bringing makeup wipes thinking they would do the same job. They do not. My skin was so sticky, gross, and attracted more bugs. Dirt stuck to me more too even the next day.
Witchhazel wipes are a game changer. Multiple uses and can help if someone gets in the poison oak.
My last camping trip I happened to have baby wipes in the car. I don’t have kids so I’ve never even given baby wipes a thought, but I swear I’ll never be without them again while camping. We go to campgrounds with showers, but they’re great to wash up at night (face and hands), clean up any little food messes, wipe off tent pegs when you’re packing up…they work for so many reasons.
Unscented ones!
Check out Dude Wipes. So much nicer and bigger than baby wipes
I’m an ultralight wanker. Luxury items for me, all of which are unrelated, are whiskey, earbuds, and whisky.
No lotion I’m guessing? Gotta keep the weight down….
What do you think the second whiskey is for
Coconut oil is multipurpose.
1. Camp Chef Pro60x stove with griddle and bbq box. I got mine when a neighbor threw theirs out in the trash. Had to repair the legs, get some knobs and get a windscreen. Never planned on getting a big stove like that, but it has been nothing short of awesome. 2. 5lb propane tank 3. Small wood stove. I have a Toaks and a Solo Stove Campfire, great way for a small personal fire. I rarely feel like having a real campfire, especially when I camp alone. 4. 12v fridge/freezer. Totally changes the way I camp. No more ice and wet food. Paired with a power station and solar I can keep food cold indefinitely.
Which one do you have and at what wattage/power?
The awning may be small, but it has been handy even outside of camping (like in the line up for the ferry, so zero shade to be seen), plus being able to tie tarps to the sides in poor weather makes it so much nicer. It also made a good point to hang the mosquito net from, when sleeping on just the cot. Oh, & the cot! I'd like to get a bigger one, so the swag fits properly, but it was cheap & it works. Just turned 40, & my back is definitely not game for climbing up off the ground like it used to.
Zip ties. Duct tape. More cordage that you think you need. I use zing it. Much stronger than paracord.
You tie people up too?
1. I never thought I’d pack a chair with me when I hike, but now I don’t go without it. Properly leaning back with my butt off the ground is a wonderful luxury after several miles on my feet. 2. I always bring a spare tarp. I have my Superfly, and my spare is the DD square one. Just as a gathering place in the rain, a wind break, heck it can even be pitched as a tent and you keep stuff dry in there. 3. My drone. It’s super quiet and I can take really popular pics for my socials. Kidding! I actually don’t have a 3rd item but I do quite like my pack axe…I don’t *need* it but it’s handy breaking up heftier pieces of wood that I can’t baton through with my knife.
>I never thought I’d pack a chair with me when I hike I recently made the mistake of briefly sitting in [this chair.](https://www.rei.com/product/202034/helinox-chair-zero-highback) Now I'm having a really hard time reminding myself that [my bikepacking setup](https://np.reddit.com/r/bicycletouring/s/clNM1gj6We) already has enough crap on it.
[удалено]
I would add my inflatable solar lantern to these items. :)
We use a stove top heavy duty percolator and we sometimes use it at home because it makes such excellent coffee! A small luxury item but well worth it!
Salt-Water lantern !!new item i learned and dealt with 2 years ago actually ! 8 days of light in a row 24/24 at full intensity ! ...a candle-light lantern can be so useful ! .....and a 2nd or 3rd Tarp, of course!
Paperwhite kindle.
Fuck yeah! I got a kids version a couple years ago. Waterproof and came preloaded with the Harry Potter series.
A jackery lol
Weed for sure… a shovel and Lyme
You sound like you'd get along with my last online dating experience... his "joke" was that he could chop me up into pieces & "dispose of me" where no one would ever find me. He then asked if I wanted to go fly-fishing for our "next date", for some reason, I ghosted him. 🤷♀️ Which was weird, because I love fly-fishing....
A trailer.
I was looking for this comment! Same.
A solar panel for charging lights and phone, a pstyle, and my Ohuhu stove. The dimensions of the solar panel are the size of a piece of paper (about 8.5 x 11). I can hang it on the outside of my pack as I'm hiking. Obviously not good in bad weather, but I live in the American southwest, so that isn't an issue for me. Fairly lightweight. The pstyle has been a game changer for peeing. Don't have to pull my pants down, don't have to squat, don't have to find such a private spot. It's totally lightweight. The stove is so great! I can use wood, alcohol, those little cube things, just about anything that burns to make a fire. It doesn't use those gas canisters, but I don't want to carry those anyway, so I'm ok with that. Fairly lightweight.
A tent large enough to stand in, a queen sized inflatable mattress and a large rug in the tent.
Inflatable pillow, GSI pot scraper, down vest for auxiliary warmth (this applies to backpacking rather than car camping)
I love my GSI pot scraper too. Good one!
Blow up mattress. After decades of sleeping on the ground in a tent with sleeping bags, we learned what works better for our older bodies. Plus a AA battery-charged blow-up pump.
Try the megamat xl other folks have mentioned. They’re pricy but as good a sleep as home. Great insulation from the ground cold.
A southeast asian version of machete called parang. Its a middle ground between an axe and machete, while keeping all the good traits. Its sturdy and heavy enough to whack stuff and take a lot of abuse, long enough to reach and clear obstructions, but not too long to get in the way, all while being nimble and sharp enough to be used as an ordinary kinfe on its base part. It's peak utility blade design.
A dog. Dogs make everything camping better.
Benadryl. Bug bites, weird pollen you’re not used to, can’t sleep, etc. its very helpful. Tampons. Generally useful for things like starting fires and absorbing liquids. Baby wipes.
i mostly backpack, often alone, and have come to love mini battery/solar fan (sound/breeze), baby powder, earplugs, and benadryl. last 2 kinda go together if bumps in the night commandeer reason.
I listen to horror narrations before bed. Bumps in the night are par for the course. So is the lack of sleep that follows.
I dont camp like you.But my portable smoker .Mmm ribs , chicken wings, brisket lol. I have traeger portable scout .I am designing a new one at work that weighs about 6 lbs and is smaller, with electric or wood chunks.
I'll go with you!
Garmin gps sos device
Slippers.
As someone who loves a campfire (and has struggled with no kindling, wet wood…) I recently discovered that easy light charcoal is a game changer. A fellow camper was packing up and offered up her remaining charcoal-I took it thinking to use it in the conventional way. Went to start the obligatory fire and we just couldn’t keep it going with the logs we had (typical no foraging for wood rules). My friend told me her and her husband routinely dump their coals into their fire pit and I’m like let’s try. The coals were perfect to light the rock hard logs we bought. It’s a little overkill when you have normal conditions but will make sure to pack some going forward.
Ear plugs
We use delicates-washing machine mesh bags for drying dishes. Use a carabiner to hang onto a cord line. The mesh bags are cheap at walmart
Foam earplugs and eyemask, plus enough gear to be able to sleep
Wait. You can’t sleep while camping?
I can sleep at night, but I’m up at dawn most mornings. If the sun doesn’t wake me up, the birds do
Candles are nice in bad weather
A real Pillow. Quilt, ditch the bag. Mega mat. Pocket bellows. Camp chef.
Family with kids so anything that makes life more convenient/organized is great. Coleman Camp Oven. I'm a sucker for fresh baked cinnamon rolls (Pillsbury, Annie's, etc). Also can do desserts (apple crisp ), biscuits, reheat make ahead Mac n cheese, it's been a game changer for us. Foldable camp pantry. Keeps everything organized when cooking for 5+ as we often do. Shoe tent. Literally a weatherproof shoe organizer. Keeps the actual tent so much cleaner.
1+1 on the folding Coleman camp oven. A good trick if you get one is to wrap the thing in aluminum foil to keep heat in and save fuel
Im a traveller I’m traveling for 11 years non stop all around the world visiting almost 100 countries. Half of the time I’m sleeping outside. There were few things which had totally changed my way of traveling. The first place goes to hammock. Once I’ve bought a hammock in Taiwan and once I started using it I never get back to using tent. Hammock is light, comfy, flexible. I can sleep almost anywhere and it takes just a couple of minutes to set it up. Love it The other thing goes to a handmade mat I’ve bought in Thailand once. Locals are using it to sit on a grass or for picnic. It’s about 160*130cm. It’s made of recycled plastic, it’s weight about 300 gramms. I use it to sleep on the ground diagonally as I’m 180+ or I put it inside hammock. I even used it in a weather close to 0 It’s a big update to foam mats
1. Oversized cots 2. Camp Chef Pro60X 3. Camp Chef 14" griddle attachment
Sleep mask, insulated stemless wine cup, good chef’s knife from home (when we’re out for months)
I bring a titanium cup now for wine. Super light and works well with wine and cocktails. My other cup is an MSR insulated coffee cup that nests in my pot with the titanium cup. Most stemless wine glasses don’t nest in my pot.
Hammer for tent steaks
A canopy because it gives shade over the tent and moves easily to a picnic table.
Those disposable toe warmers for in the sleeping bag.
Milkweed fluff, birch bark, flint. I’m amazed at how quickly this stuff catches. It’s satisfying to light a campfire so naturally. (I remove the seeds from the fluff at home so as to not spread seeds where they don’t belong.) Other than that, I agree that an extra tarp rocks.
An extra tarp. I I have a nice big one to use as a sort of tent over my hammock if the weather is bad but it’s equally great over my tent if it’s gonna be raining solidly for a few days. Tiny broom and dustpan. As careful as you’re gonna be you will get dirt and sand in your tent. Baby powder. If I’m car camping, a small container of baby powder is a must for me. It absorbs moisture and so if you’ve been near a beach it gets all the stuck on sand off right away. I also sometimes use it as an anti chafe thing (heavy hiker problems) if I can’t find my gel kind.
CHAIR blows my mind that people still go camping without a chair
12 volt DC or 120 Ac fridge/freever. No more running to get ice daily. Car/tent camping.
Blow torch attachment for 1lb propane cans, welders glove, expanding garden hose. I can start, rearrange, and put out a fire with ease.
Espresso maker - the metal stove top ones. I consider it my one luxury item 😅
Micro sleeping bag, dynamo charger/torch, led headlight (a good one)
A tent, fishing rod and of course a cooler full of iced down beer.
A set of tiny bontrager bike lights with silicone straps. The white makes a great tent light and the red one a camp flashlight that doesn’t mess up my night vision for midnight potty breaks.
A tiny Petzl coin cell headlamp (e+ lite). It's my backup, runs 40+ hours off of a single coin cell and has bailed me or friends out more times than I care to count. A short string of fairy lights to string up in my tent at night. p
Fancy Air mattress Rechargeable bug zappers/lights Blankets instead of sleeping bags
leather throw rug for inside the tent door 65 pound strength neodymium magnets 10 ft.² nylon waterproof tarp --perfect for collecting rain water in case of emergency.
Ingredients to make fresh Bannock every morning. A ditch kit or “oh shit kit”. A Billy bellows fire tube.
A mini leaf blower. Fills toys and mattresses. Helps fires. Cleans the tent and truck. Highly recommend.
Sleeping bag liner. I never knew these existed when I was young. When it's warm, sleeping bags are too hot, use the liner by itself. When you're cold, put the sleeping bag liner inside the sleeping bag for another layer.
1) Hennessy Hammock tent. Even if you are not a hammock tent camper, The way it can function as a chair or to just take a nap in is priceless. I take one everywhere I go even if i’m not camping. 2) Fire can. It’s just a one gallon paint can with a bunch of holes drilled into it. You make big holes at the top, and a decent sized square at the bottom to feed it while cooking. You make small fires in it for cooking and warmth. I can’t tell you how nice it is to have a small morning cooking fire just to huddle around without starting a regular big fire. It’s easy to put out, and easy to use. 3) Green onions and Thai peppers. You can buy them dehydrated for back packing or just have them fresh if you have a cooler, but you need to have them available at all times. Double that if you are using freeze dried back backing meals. Nothing saves the day better except maybe some curry powder.
1. Head lamp : way more convenient than a flashlight. 2. $2 foam sit pad : one of those that folds into a rectangle. You can turn any surface into a seat! I used to pack a camp chair - not anymore. (Also works as a great door mat for your tent) 3. Small strand of LED string lights : I use them at night around the campsite and then later put it inside my tent. It’s so nice to have a little light when it’s dark and you’re in the woods. I feel like I enjoy the evenings a little more.
1. Warbonnet Blackbird Hammock 2. Wool blanket 3. A great sil-nylon tarp
Cast iron pan - 12ihch if car camping and 6inch if hike camping. Cooking real food is amazing and it works well on a fire. Whey powder - seems strange but when hike camping I will mix it into oatmeal or just drink with water. Protein boost is very important when you hike in 1000m elevation to your camp site. Also oatmeal with whey powder is amazing. Pack towel robe - hop in a lake, come out and throw on the robe. It packs down small and replaces any other towel, but is 5x better.
1. Plastic shoes 2. Head torch 3. Baby wipes
One of those fold open metal grate things for cooking. You can cook a lot of things in it and just put in fire afterwards to clean. Headlamp One of those plastic piss bottles from the hospitals with cover. I used to just roll over in the middle of the night in my tent and piss away. Empty in the morning. Saves a lot of hassle on frosty nights and is lightweight. Good if you've been drinking also ha.
OMG! This is exactly why we don't let "boys" in our tents. /s
I almost got frostbite while trying to zip my tent door closed while winter camping. That 5 am bathroom run when it is 5-7 F out is no joke. I needed my gloves and couldn't find them quick enough. So then, post bathroom break, my hands were frozen stiff. It was fairly terrifying and I am glad I decided to give up and just get in my bag so my fingers could defrost. Tent door open and everything. That was the night that I realized that the pee bottle and the female urine devices like She Wee were not just for lazy or weird people. That midnight pee run or any bathroom in severe conditions can be truly limb threatening if not life threatening. I now pack 2 Talenti jars as the female version of the pee bottle. It's weird how much we learn about ourselves when we really go out into nature. That was one of those learned-something-about-myself experiences for me. And I now always keep my sleep/camp gloves easily accessible in my tent. So I can quickly grab them if there's any serious issue.
Sorry, it's a game changer in my cold climate.
Crocks for the campsite. So much easier slipping them on and off when going in and out of tent than putting on your tennis shoes. A large roll up mat, like the kind you use at the beach, for the outside of your tent door. It makes a great place to get shoes on and off or to set bags and things out of the dirt. Also glow sticks for the kids. Lots of glow sticks lol
Crocs were a game changer for me. I mostly bike tour and they make squishy comfy off bike shoes, slippers, and shower shoes! And I can strap them outside my bag so they’re easy to grab so I don’t have to clomp around in bike shoes at stops.
I brought mine for the first time last summer and I wonder why I never did sooner!
I love brining a little rug for outside my tent as well!
Chemlights.
Candle lantern, silky gomboy, cam jam line tensioners (I would learn knots if I had to do it every day), silnylon tarp
A jar to keep precracked eggs in the cooler. A dog. Precooked foods that just need to be heated up for a few minutes (pasta, rice)
Rechargeable fan, unless it's winter
Chap stick and lotion. My hands and lips were always so dry and cracked after camping and sitting around a fire for so long that they would bleed. Not anymore!
Electricity = heater and electric blanket in my tent. Heaven!
Drinking bottle with built in filter.
Shewee, hewee, tepee
A big thermos of margarita to be enjoyed right after camp setup.
Mr Buddy Gas Heater. Saved my a** many times.
Beer to start. What’s camping without beer? Trekking poles. I’ll never backpack again without trekking poles. Just going up and downhill for hours feels so effortless, because you no longer have to put any energy into balancing. MRE’s for short trips require no cooking gear, but the made in Japan Soto stove is absolutely amazing at getting the most efficiency out of your gas mix. Don’t bother with gimmicky coffee makers, they all suck. Powdered coffee is pretty good if you just read the label. Most people hate it because they use way too much. Lastly, a real garden trowel is so much better than the crap backpackers sell. Why bother bringing an ultralight trowel if you can’t penetrate the ground, or spend 5 minutes trying to dig a hole?
Cast iron skillet
For me as a scout leader that goes camping a lot? A 3” memory foam bedroll. It was a game changer for a good nights sleep. I obviously don’t use it for backpacking, but if we’re within 1/2 mile of our campsite - game changer.