Here at the Gumption Gear HQ we frequently write about the latest outdoor and adventure lifestyle products. But we’re not just gear heads, we are a collection of families and parents striving to share the outdoor experience with our young families. So when it comes to car camping, our gear list is constantly evolving as we adapt to the ever changing needs of our own growing families.
The Car Camping Essentials
Of course, the great news about car camping, is that there is no need to buy the lightest, fastest, expedition-ready products if you have a vehicle at your disposal. And while that means you will save valuable dollars, it doesn’t need to mean that you’ll short change your family on a comfortable camping experience. With the right gear, you’ll have a more satisfying, stress free experience allowing you to spend more time making memories. For the year ahead, here are 12 items in our own personal car camping stash that will ensure a more enjoyable experience for years to come.
Coleman Tenaya Lake Tent
When it comes to family sized tents, there’s no shortage of options available. But there is a problem. Too often it feels as though you’re forced to invest a small fortune, or suffer the indignity of spending your family vacation crawling over each other like puppies in a playpen. Trust us when we say that there’s a better way. With a cabin-style build for maximum space and cabinets to stash your gear, the Tenaya Lake Tent from Coleman (available in 6 and 8 person options) breaks the rules by offering big space minus the burden of a big price tag. The Fast Pitch™ system uses pre-attached, color-coded top poles and hub, fast fit feet and snag-free Insta-Clip™ suspension to let you set up your tent 45% faster than a comparable Coleman tent with conventional setup.
coleman.com; MSRP $279.99
Coleman FYRECADET
Simply put, it’s one of the best camp stoves we’ve ever used. You’ll love the FYRECADET Grill for it’s 22,000 total BTUs of cooking intensity. You’ll marvel at its HyperFlame technology, which provides an even heat distribution across the pan and better wind resistance. You’ll appreciate the Swaptop™ interchangeable cooktops that let you change out the pan supports for cooking versatility. But at the end of the day, you’ll respect it for the legendary Coleman durability and performance that ensures years of great camptime meals.
coleman.com; MSRP $139.99
Orion Cooler 65
There’s plenty of premium coolers for you to choose from. But this American made gem truly stands out from the crowd. Orion’s multi-color, camo plastic blends make every single Orion cooler unique so you’ll never worry about accidentally grabbing your neighbor’s bland white cooler. You can be certain that the locking lid gasket and integrated insulation will keep your food and beverages cold and fresh for any extended family getaway. But our favorite feature is the 6 tie down points (4 of which double up as bottle openers) giving multiple ways to secure your cooler for transport. As an added bonus, every Orion cooler has YakAttack gear tracks on each side for easy customization via RAM accessory integration, a key innovation that allows you to add holders for fishing rods, phones, cups, fish finders, GPS and more.
orioncoolers.com; MSRP $449 (Orion 45), $499 (Orion 65), $549 (Orion 85)
STANLEY Mountain Coffee System 1.1QT
Spending time in the great outdoors doesn’t necessitate sacrificing your morning coffee-fix. And let’s face it, with little tikes going full tilt, you’re going to need a quality dose of caffeine to keep up. As your all-in-one brew-and-carry option, the Stanley Mountain Vacuum Coffee System nests a boiling pot, French press and vacuum insulated bottle into one simple convenient package. Available in 1.1Qt and 17oz sizes, this system will kick start your day, even if you got up on the wrong side of the cot.
www.stanley-pmi.com; MSRP $60 & $50
Treeline Outdoors Half Hatchet
Whether gathering kindling for a campfire, pounding in tent stakes or clearing some brush for camp, the hatchet is the original camping multi-tool. Weighing in at 1.5 lbs with an overall length of 13 inches, the Half Hatchet is a well balanced, lightweight and highly adaptable option for your car and base camping endeavors. The head is forged of high carbon steel, coated in durable paint to deter rust and has a polished wide cutting edge with a beveled nail slot on one end and a striking face on the other. Even better, it’s made right here in the USA.
treelineoutdoors.com MSRP $85
Slumberjack Sleeping Bags
When it comes to family camping, you don’t need sleeping bags that come with a slew of technological widgets and gadgets that can run you extra coin. All you really need is dependable cozy comfort, and that’s why SlumberJack remains our go-to option for car camping adventures. Ideal for any outdoor escape and available in a breadth of temperature ratings, SlumberJack offers some of the highest-quality camp bags you’ll find anywhere. These bags not only keep you warm and cozy, but come at a price that’s hard to beat.
slumberjack.com; $44.95 (Kids Kit), $69.95 (TimberJill 20), $74.95 (TimberJack 20)
Liberty Bottles Campfire Collection
Tell me if this sounds familiar. You arrive at camp and pull down the ice chest only to discover a soggy mess of mayhem. OJ that tastes like cooler water, a milk container that feels like a wet handshake, and a frightening conglomeration of egg yolk floating in red wine and ice chunks. No more! The Campfire collection was designed to mitigate the puddle of “yuck” often found all over the inside of your cooler. Repackage in these American made aluminum bottles and you will have cooler that’s not just organized, but protected from car camping chaos.
libertybottles.com; MSRP; $15-25
Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Kit
Meet the Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Kit: your ticket to earning the title ‘Master Camp Chef’. This versatile and compact kit holds the Camp Kitchen Knife and Paring Knife inside a case that doubles as a cutting board. While functionality is at the heart of this convenient package, it still offers the performance and durability that has made Gerber an industry icon. The Santoku inspired Freescape Camp Kitchen knife outperforms those kitchen blades you got as a wedding gift, while a full-tang construction ensures it can stand up to campsite duties, such as cutting through twine or feathering sticks. Both knives feature a textured rubber grip for comfortable, secure grasp, and both knives are dishwasher safe. As added bonus, the case contains a built-in ceramic sharpener.
gebergear.com; MSRP; $88
TREO Camp Chair
While a stump, rock, or the ground all make fine seats in a pinch, the Treo camp chair from Therm-A-Rest makes it easy to attain comfort at base camp. The patent-pending Treo delivers big chair comfort in an exceptionally small package. It’s built with a realistic seat height and width that doesn’t require a technical plan of descent just to get into. Even better, it packs entirely into its own tripod base, saving you both room and sanity when packing up for your big family get-a-way. Perfect option for big and little campers alike.
thermarest.com; MSRP $99.95
GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookset
The GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Camper Cookset is no stranger to our outdoor excursions. In fact, this cookset has remained an integral part of our car camping adventure for years. Why? Because in addition to proving an impressive level of durability, it easily nests all the essentials needed to tackle your multi-person cooking concerns into one convenient and innovative package. Loaded with plates, bowls, mugs, pots a frypan and a wash basin, this set is fully equipped for the gourmet needs of your family while weighing in at a meager 3lbs and 10oz.
GSIoutdoors.com ; MSRP $129
COAST Portland LED Lanterns
This year, we retired our traditional camp light options for the EAL20 and EAL 12, LED lanterns ready to illuminate the night long after the sun goes down. The Coast EAL20 LED Lantern has 9 high-quality LED’s which provide incredible brightness and energy efficiency, giving you up to 80 hours of runtime on one set of (4) D cell batteries. Choose between flashing red, solid red, area light, and energy saving modes; or select your preferred light level with the built-in dimming switch. The EAL 12 offers up to 168 lumen light output on high; 84 lumens on low making it a perfect light and fast option. Not to mention, the solid red makes for a nice night light for your little campers. Backed by Coast’s 5 year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
coastportland.com; MSRP $23-55
PackTowls
Setting up a stationary camp doesn’t mean that your camping adventures will be static. From paddle boarding to swimming, and freshening up at the camp shower, you’re going to need a towel. Made out of a microfiber fabric, the PackTowls from Cascade Designs are soft, highly absorbent, and include a mesh stuff sack for compact packing that will let your towel breathe when it’s packed away. How good are they? The Original Pack Towl absorbs 10 times its weight in water. That’s a lot. Sorry bulky old cotton towels, your time has come and gone.
packtowl.com; MSRP $15-35