The development of our camping setup has proved to be quite intriguing. One amusing element of camping is the ongoing cycle of obtaining gear. You acquire what you believe are essential items, only to stumble upon new gadgets that could improve your experience. Consequently, your assortment of camping equipment gradually takes up a substantial portion of your living space.
Over the years, we have tried out different tents, sleeping pads, chairs, coolers, cooking tools, and storage solutions. Some items turned out to be great investments, while others did not meet our expectations. Here is where we have landed, for now.
Tent
Our current camping setup has gone through several changes. Initially, we used a Coleman 4-Person Dark Room tent (Amazon $180), which served its purpose well but felt a bit cramped as we bought more stuff with us each time we went camping.
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| Coleman 4-Person Tent |
Subsequently, we upgraded to the Coleman 8-Person Screen Room with Dark Room Technology (Used from REI $180), which significantly increased the interior space. We were able to bring in more stuff to the tent than leave it outside. As for the Dark Room Technology, this innovation proved to be invaluable, enabling us to sleep soundly until late morning despite the brightness due to the early sunrise.
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| Coleman 8-Person Tent |
Despite the advantages of our current tent, we are considering another upgrade not because of size limitations but due to the setup process. Assembling tent poles and setting up camp has become less appealing over time, prompting us to look for a simpler and quicker setup. The Naturehike Village 13 8-Person Tent has caught our attention as a potential replacement, although a final decision is pending.
Sleeping Pad & Bag
For sleeping arrangements, we rely on Lost Horizon sleeping pads (Amazon $260), a fortunate find on Amazon due to their mix of air and memory foam for comfort. This pad is about 4 inches thick, and we usually don't add any extra air after opening the valve.
We started out with one queen size for my wife and me, but ended up getting another one for all of us. We used to bring inflatable mattresses for the kids, but they were not able to stay inside their mattresses and would fall onto the ground. Our setup is one queen size for adults, and one full size for the kids. We put them right next to each other to make it a huge sleeping area.
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| Initial Sleeping Set Up with Lost Horizon and two inflatable kids' mattresses |
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| Kids in Sleeping bag |
We tried adding more air once, but it actually made the pad too firm for us. Storing them presents a challenge, requiring an electric pump to deflate them efficiently. Getting all the air out manually is almost impossible, and I strongly recommend purchasing one with electrical pump. It makes a huge difference.
Our children each have their own sleeping bags, while my wife and I share a large sleeping bag for added warmth on cold nights, opting for a cost-effective option that has met our needs satisfactorily. We simply bought the ones that had the best overall design.
Sometimes, the expensive gear isn't necessarily the gear you end up liking the most.
Camping Chair
Our camping chairs, purchased from Big 5 ($10), may appear basic compared to high-end options like the Helinox Chair One (Amazon $190) and Snow Peak (Amazon $150). Despite their simplicity, our Big 5 chairs offer convenience, comfort, and durability, serving their purpose adequately. I'm so glad I bought them 15 years ago.
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| Mighty Big 5 Camping Chair |
We tried our friends' high-end chairs from Helinox and Snow Peak. There's no question that those chairs were comfortable and well made.
The problem was the price. $150 or more for a chair? We would rather spend that money on something else. That said, we are now considering director's chairs with attached side tables to enhance our camping relaxation experience.
So, apparently, our camping chair search isn't over yet.
Canopy
The CORE 13' x 13' canopy from Costco ($190) provides ample shade during our camping trips, proving more useful than a screened canopy due to our primary need for sun shelter. Its versatility extends to beach outings, making it a versatile addition to our outdoor gear collection.
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| Core Canopy |
A large shade area is extremely useful when we are camping with the kids, and we haven't found anything much bigger than what we have now.
Coolers
This is where things get a little complicated.
We've gone through quite a few coolers. We started with inexpensive plastic coolers. Then I started seeing Yeti everywhere. After hearing so many campers talk about them, I eventually gave in and bought one too.
Yeti
Because of the limited space in our Tesla Model X, I didn't want a large hard-shell cooler, so I ended up getting a Yeti soft cooler Hopper Flip 18 (Amazon $300). It worked fine, but the zipper drove me crazy.
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| Yeti Hopper Flip 18 |
The waterproof zipper is thick and requires some effort to open and close. That might not sound like a big deal, but when you're camping, you are constantly opening the cooler.
And inevitably, the second you close it, someone asks you to get something else.
Open it again.
Close it.
Open it again.
Eventually, I had enough.
That's when I discovered the Oyster cooler. This has become our favorite cooler for camping. It's made of aluminum, has a clean and sleek design and best of all, there is no zipper. You simply push the lid down or pull it up.
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| Oyster Cooler |
It's incredibly simple.
Another thing I like is that you don't always have to keep filling it with ice. That makes it convenient for camping trips when you don't want to constantly deal with melted ice. Believe it or not, two pre-frozen ice packs will keep the temperature low for two full days and nights. As long as the beers are cold, I'm okay with it.
There is one downside. Because the lid can open from either side, it can sometimes come completely off. It's not a huge problem, but it can be annoying.
The other problem is the price.
Oyster sometimes offers what they call an "Oops" edition ($350 in 2024) at a lower price. I ended up buying one of those because I couldn't justify paying full price.
For camping, though, I think we've finally settled on the Oyster.
Dometic Recon Softside ZL Large
But apparently, I wasn't finished experimenting with coolers. I also bought a Dometic Recon Softside ZL Large cooler ($260 with 20% off). This one is mainly for beach trips and day trips rather than camping. I like it because I don't have to worry as much about scratching or denting the cooler—or scratching the car while moving it around.
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| Dometic Recon Softside |
The opening is also very easy. It opens from both sides and the lid doesn't easily come off like the Oyster.
I've watched quite a few YouTube videos comparing coolers and their temperature retention over time. If you're seriously researching coolers, those tests are probably more useful than anything I can tell you from a few camping trips.
And then there is one more cooler.
Yes, I know.
Freezill
I also backed a Freezill cooler ($150) on Kickstarter. I bought it before I purchased the Oyster, so here's the funny part: I haven't even used it yet. I completely forgot about it. Then one day, it showed up at our door. My wife was not particularly happy to see another cooler arrive.
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| FREEZILL from Kickstarter |
Right now, it's sitting in my office, waiting for its first camping trip.
At this point, my wife has basically banned me from bringing any more coolers home.
What can I say?
Cooking Gear
Our cooking setup revolves around a Snow Peak-style IGT table, SevenTrees IGT Frame 3 unit ($120). I bought it from Korea, since they have a wide variety of camping gears to choose from and it was a fraction of the cost compared to Snow Peak ($300+). It was paired with a Dometic table ($60, Discontinued) for the children's dining area.
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| IGT Table Frame |
To reduce waste, we use a refillable Mr. Heater Fuel Keg propane tank (Amazon $40 for 2). along with a tank refill kit (Amazon $28), which you will have to purchase separately. Since I don't have to purchase a new tank every time I go camping, that is one less thing to worry about.
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| Refillable Propane Tank |
We also use stainless-steel pots by CAROTE Tri-Ply 5-piece set(Amazon $26 Discontinued) , plates and cups for our dining requirements. All were purchased from Amazon and they are great.
Previously, we used disposable paper plates, but eventually, I became concerned about the excessive waste we were generating. Switching to reusable stainless-steel plates and cups has proven effective for us.
Camping Storage
In terms of camping storage solutions, we have tried various options. Currently, we use like-it Modular Short Wide Drawers ($40) from Container Store for our camping storage needs.
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| like-it Modular Wide Drawer |
In the past, we experimented with HDX storage bins from Home Depot ($9), which were inconvenient due to their separate lids. Having to manage the lid every time we accessed the container became bothersome, especially during frequent reorganization while camping.
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| HDX Storage Bin |
Subsequently, we tested Husky 5-gallon Professional Heavy-Duty Waterproof Stackable Storage Containers with hinged lids (Home Depot $54 for two), which did not meet our expectations. The containers' large openings were unsuitable for our storage needs, and we found them less user-friendly than expected.
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| Husky waterproof containers |
Moreover, issues arose with moisture retention between camping trips, potentially leading to mold growth inside the containers. This realization led us to prefer a drawer-style storage approach, allowing easy access without the need to handle separate lids.
Currently, we have embraced the drawer-style storage system.
Final Thought
The cycle of acquiring new camping gear seems never-ending, with each trip providing a reason for a new purchase, whether it is a different tent, an improved sleeping pad, a new chair, an additional cooler, or an enhanced storage solution.
Over time, I had envisioned that our camping gear acquisitions would decrease, yet experience has shown me otherwise. The acquisition of camping gear continues, although at a slower pace, adding a sense of excitement to our outdoor adventures.
Each camping trip offers valuable insights into our actual needs. Sometimes, we realize that an expensive piece of equipment was unnecessary, while other times, we discover items that significantly enhance our camping experience, making us wonder how we managed without them before. This currently represents our camping gear inventory. Check back after a few more trips, and it is likely that our list will have evolved significantly.
LET'S GO!
