12 Awesome Car Camping Gift Ideas
Make camp feel like your living room (just with a way better view).
The beauty of car camping is you can pack the car full of pretty much anything you might need for a night or two under the stars. So if you have the right gear, you really don't need to sacrifice too much comfort. Our team and our community of Explorers have spent our fair share of nights sleeping in the back of our cars or in tents and these are the pieces of gear we'd recommend you pick up for the holidays for your favorite camper.
1. Eureka X-Loft Tent: 2-Person 3-Season
Haley Baker says, "This tent was the perfect basecamp for our adventures in Montana. With ample headroom for a 2-person tent, enough space beside both of our sleeping pads for books and cameras, and the gear caddy keeping all of our random odds and ends stowed, we felt like we were living in a dream!" Read here review here.
2. Exped MegaMat 10 Sleeping Pad
Liam McNally says, "I slept on one of these bad boys for seven nights straight while setting up and attending our Pursuit Series event in Bear Valley, CA last year and I honestly slept just as comfortably as I do at home. The ExPed MegaMat is like no other sleeping pad I've used and when I'm car camping (as opposed to backpacking), this is my first choice."
3. Sierra Designs Cloud 800 Sleeping Bag
Brandon Dewey says, "Knowing the weather can change quickly, I decided to pack gear that would keep me warm no matter what the weather decided to do. So I packed my Sierra Designs Cloud 800 Sleeping Bag and I’m so glad that I did because even though the weather dipped to the bag’s 20 degree limit, I was still nice and warm all night and got a good night's sleep."
4. Kicker Bullfrog BF100 Bluetooth Speaker
Laura Hughes says, "Real talk— I have tried more than a few outdoor-ready Bluetooth speakers. So I was not sure what to expect when I packed the Kicker Bullfrog BF100 Bluetooth Speaker for a 2-week trip down the Alsek River, which flows from the Yukon to Southeastern Alaska. After riding rapids, camping out on silt sand beaches, and hiking to glacial vistas, the Kicker Bullfrog really hit the mark when it comes to holding its own in rugged terrain!" Read her review here.
5. Black Diamond Astro Headlamp
Kristi Teplitz says, "The Brightness Memory is nice. If I’m walking around camp and have my headlamp dimmed to my optimum setting, I can turn the headlamp off and then back on and it’ll be at the same setting I turned it off at. Most headlamps I’ve tried over the years default to turning on at the lowest dim and you have to work your way back up to where you want it to be." Read her review here.
6. Mountain Khakis J Town Low Beanie
Josiah Roe says, "Born in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Mountain Khakis has come to embody the spirit of the Tetons. Rugged. Authentic. Reliable. Timeless." See more in our Holiday Lookbook 2018.
7. BioLite FirePit
Austin Jackson says, "A campfire is always such a nice way to wind down at the end of the night, but when there is no designated fire pit, it's very difficult to have a fire yet still leave no trace. Luckily, on my most recent micro-adventure to the Alvord Desert of Southeast Oregon, I was able to bring the BioLite FirePit along." Read his review here.
8. Blue Ridge Chair Works Backpack Chair and Carolina Snack Table
Josiah Roe says, "The incomparable, hand-made, brilliantly designed wood and canvas furniture from Alan Davis in the mountains of North Carolina." See more in our Holiday Lookbook 2018.
9. Coleman Triton Instastart 2-Burner Stove
Liam McNally says, "In anticipation of a group climbing trip to Joshua Tree last spring, I decided to step up my camp kitchen game and spend a few bucks on the Coleman Triton Instastart 2-Burner Stove. Not only was it worth every penny, but I can't believe how long I went without it." Read his review here.
10. luminAID PackLite Max 2-in-1 Phone Charger
Josiah Roe says, "Let there be light; and there was light and a lot of it along with the ability to charge your cell phone. The LuminAID inflating Maxlite Pack 2-in-1 Phone Charger is a must-have component of any camping, backpacking, and vanlife setup." See more in our Holiday Lookbook 2018. Buy Now
11. Purist Mover Bottle 18oz
Kristi Teplitz says, "Designed after the self-cleaning properties of the lotus plant leaves, Purist has come up with a way to transform silicon dioxide into a glass bottle interior, which makes their bottles super resistant to aftertastes. This means you can go from coffee to water to beer to bourbon (in any order you like) in the same bottle without any residual flavor from the previous drink! Each sip tastes, well, pure!" Read her review here and see more in our Holiday Lookbook 2018.
12. Kammok Hang Forever Kit
Liam McNally says, "I never knew that I needed a hammock in my life until I tried out the Roo Double from Kammok. It's so easy to pack up and take along on virtually any adventure, providing unbeatable comfort anywhere that you can find two sturdy trees. The Hang Forever Kit comes with everything you need to hang."
Cover photo: Ben Canevari
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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