camping gear - Pitstops for Kids

Must have van life camping gear

July 1, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

We have been camping in a 1984 Westfalia camper van, and it is epic! That said, space is at a premium in a Westy, and older camper vans, while charming and Instagram-worthy, lack some of the creature comforts of bigger RVs. If you are living the van life, tent camping, or camping in a smaller van, pop-up trailer, or camper, the following must-have camping gear is, well, MUST HAVE.

Must have van life camping gear

Tough duffels for organization:

We love our new Patagonia Black Hole duffel, made of water-resistant 100 percent recycled material. They range from 40-100 liters, with or without wheels. For van life, we recommend wheel-less, because these duffels are easy to stack on top of one another, toss around, and set in the dirt. We use one for all our bedding in our van, which keeps us organized and keeps our pillows and blankets clean.

We also like our Big Agnes Big Joe, which comes in 45-110 liter sizing. This one stores our dog gear, their bedding, and their food.

Pick up the Black Hole for under $230 on Amazon.

Comfy bedding for plenty of zzzz’s:

Our Sierra Designs’ Frontcountry Duo bed is amazing. If you’re camping as a couple, this sleeping bag feels more like bedding, with a zipperless design and toe holes so you don’t overheat. It comes in a single option as well, and a backcountry version that’s rated to a lower temperature. We lay our Frontcountry Duo out along our bottom floor bed, which we convert from our passenger bench seat at night.

Pair the Frontcountry Duo with a Thermarest Vela Double Quilt on chilly nights. This zipperless sleeping bag/quilt stuffs down small when you don’t need it, repels dog hair beautifully, and is rated to 32 degrees.

Chairs that invite lingering:

One nice thing about van life is that you can bring along extra weight, since you won’t be carrying it far. We like to relax by the fire in style with our GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker chairs. We’ve set these chairs in creeks, on the edges of lakes in the sand, by the fire pit, on lawns in parks, and everywhere in-between. They’re heavy, but they pack down small, and they are rocking chairs!

GCI’s Spring-Action Rocking Technology allows for smooth rocking while you enjoy your time in the outdoors. There’s even a cup holder and a cell phone pocket.

Power that runs on solar:

If you plan to spend time off-the-grid with your camper van, you’ll want on-the-go power at your fingertips. We have the Jackery Portable Power Station 240, which we can pair with our Goal Zero solar panel to provide power for our camper lights, our phones, our laptops if we bring them, our InReach, and our music. The price of the Jackery depends on the power level you opt for, but can start as low as $99 and go into the thousands. Pick something that meets your needs in the outdoors with a little bit of wiggle room, just in case.

Bear in mind that you don’t HAVE to power the Jackery with a solar panel. You can charge it using a wall outlet before you leave home, as well. We do both!

A lantern that turns your van into a party (or a romantic evening):

BioLite AlpenGlow 250 is an LED camping lantern with so many light and color modes, it takes a bit of a tutorial to take advantage of them all! But once you know, you know, and you can toggle between a very bright LED light, a dimmed yellow light version, solid color lights, half a light (to save power) and a full-on color dance party. You get a USB cord included (we charge this lantern with our Jackery power bank) and the 250 lumen version is small enough to fit in our glove box (there’s also a 500 lumen version).

More must have van life camping gear:

An extra cargo box to bring all your toys:

We love our Thule Transporter Combi cargo box, which is hitch-mounted. Read our full review! We love the design because we don’t have to worry about loading and unloading a rooftop cargo box on our van, and we don’t have to worry about the extra weight on our pop-top. The Transporter Combi fits our grill, our charcoal, our portable toilet, our recycling, and more, so we don’t have to carry any of this inside the van when we travel.

Pillows that can take a beating:

Our Avocado mini green pillow travels in our van, serving many purposes. It’s great to prop myself up to read or work on my laptop on those travels when work comes along for the ride, and it’s small enough to not take up precious storage space. The size is also perfect for small kids and toddlers!

A high-quality auto tool kit:

We hope we’ll never need to use our car and van tool kit (or at least not often!) but having it brings peace of mind.

Reusable propane:

This is a game-changer. The Ignik Gas Growler allows us to refill with propane in a portable form, which saves tons of those green gas canisters from the landfill. Plus, the convenience and cost savings are significant! We use the gas growler to power our stove, but you can use it for anything you’d need propane for.

A truly long-lasting cooler (or two):

Yes, it’s worth it to buy a Yeti. Or a Pelican. Or any double-walled, highly insulated, hard-sided cooler. Our ice lasts for days, our drinks stay cold, and we aren’t afraid to bring food ingredients like raw meat, fresh veggies, and dairy, even though we don’t have any electric refrigeration. Yes, the hype is worth the money. We have a Yeti Tundra 45.

A hot shower (or cooling spray):

Our Helio Pressure Shower from Nemo Equipment doesn’t just offer the welcome chance of a warm shower (thanks to its solar heating capability). Because it’s pressurized, you get a strong sprayer that’s great for getting sand off your feet, hosing off muddy dogs, and even doing the dishes. It’s not a gravity-based solar shower, so you don’t need to find a tree to hang it from. Any sunny patch in your campsite will do!

Safe, portable water:

A Lifesaver Jerrycan will set you back, but you get peace of mind that extends far beyond camping season. Thanks to built-in filters, a Lifesaver is a portable water purifier capable of filtering 10,000 litres/2,650 US gallons of clean drinking water, removing viruses, bacteria, cysts and parasites. Its great for camping, for off-grid living, and for emergencies. We have ours always filled with water and stored in the garage in case of evacuation or loss of power and water.

Additional resources:

Need power out in the wilds? Consider trying out portable solar generators for your next trip
The solar living institute
Reasons why solar power will just keep getting better

Van life gear review: Thule Transporter Combi review

March 31, 2021 By Amy Hagstrom

Much like last summer, most Americans will opt to travel by car instead of air this year, with a big uptick in road trip travel once it’s safe to do so. To kick off the start of the summer travel season, with hopes that travel will soon be part of our plans again, I tested out Thule’s Transporter Combi hitch-mounted cargo box.

For me, this is the summer of #vanlife, during which I’ll be traveling and camping in a Westfalia camper van. While it’s possible to mount a roof-mounted cargo box on a Westy, it significantly increases the weight of the camper pop-top, so I opted for Thule’s hitch-mounted version.

The Transporter Combi comes with everything you need to get going, and I was able to install it on my hitch with my partner in a matter of about two hours. (I’m sure some can install it faster than that!) I love that the cargo box tilts down for partial access to the rear of the van; the tilt feature also makes it easier to get heavy items out of the cargo box. I also love that we don’t need any ladders or step stools to get gear out when we get to our campsite or destination!

The cargo box comes pre-wired with tail lights (4 pin) and a license plate adapter (with light). It installs into 2 inch and 1 1/4 inch receivers with no additional adapters or tools needed.

Like many Thule boxes, the lock system is designed for safety (and is idiot proof!): the key can only be removed if all the locking points are closed and secure, so there’s no chance of driving away and having the box lid fly open. You get two keys, so now we have one on the van key chain and the other stashed away just in case.

You get 13 cubic feet inside (dimensions are 50.5 x 23.5 x 24.5 in). It’s so roomy! We joked that we could put the teenaged kids inside. The weight of the box is 55 pounds and the capacity is 150 pounds. We use ours to store those bulky items that don’t pack well into the back of the van, such as firewood, the portable bathroom, and the material for our awning…nothing too heavy, but certainly bulky.

We had no trouble with weight or driving the Westy with this cargo box, though if you have a similar van, keep in mind that the engine is also in the back, which can mean you need to balance the weight be placing heavier items inside the van near the front.

During our close-to-home camping trip, we used the cargo box even once it was unloaded, storing dirty laundry, dishes, and garbage away in a secure location.

The Transporter Combi is $679 on the Thule site, and as of this posting, their operations are going so you shouldn’t have any delay in ordering and receiving. Enjoy the #vanlife!

Family camping at new heights: Gear for elevated camping

September 21, 2020 By Amy Hagstrom

Have you ever wanted to camp off the ground? Elevated camping is becoming more and more popular, because camping in tents and hammocks designed to be strung in trees allows families to camp on un-even terrain, away from pesky insects, and out of the elements. It’s also just super fun and cool. If you want to try elevated camping, here’s what you’ll need!

Kammok Wallaby paired with the Dragonfly net and Kuhli tarp

Gear for elevated camping:

Start with your hammock:

The first step to gear up for any elevated camping situation is to select your hammock. You don’t have to get fancy, but you will want to consider your various hammock options. Below, we’ve listed some of our favorites, and why we love them.

Grand Trunk: You can’t go wrong with a Grand Trunk hammock, in our opinion. We’ve tried many, from the lightweight single parachute nylon model for just $59 to the Skeeter Beeter Pro, which has integrated mosquito netting built in. You can get a double or single hammock in all kinds of fun colors and patterns at Grand Trunk.

Kammok: We love the Kammok Wallaby, which is just $65 and comes in multiple colors. Pair the Wallaby with Kammok’s Python Straps for $30 more, which make any hammock easier to suspend from just about anywhere. Either Kammok or Grand Trunk options would make for a great base hammock.

Sea to Summit: Sea to Summit makes an ultralight hammock that’s an absolute must if you’re purpose for elevated camping is to go light. It’s very thin, so you’d definitely need to pair it with a hammock pad (see below) to protect yourself from cold temperatures at night.

Kammok Wallaby

Add your pad layer:

Klymit Hammock V pad: If you’re serious about sleeping above the ground, you’ll want the protection of a sleeping pad. Not only does the right pad help your hammock keep its shape (so you don’t roll up like a burrito) but it keeps you warm…without a pad, you’re exposed to the cold night air directly. Klymit makes a specialized hammock pad that’s shaped to fit. The Hammock V pad comes in an insulated version or non-insulated, and while it will set you back $169, we recommend the insulated if you’ll be doing a lot of camping.

If you use a regular sleeping pad instead, pick one that’s small and narrow to fit the hammock, and consider covering it with a specialized pad sheet, to reduce slippage. Klymit makes one of these too…the Quilted V Sheet will work, and it’s oh-so cozy!

Add your rain and bug protection:

Kammok Kuhli tarp or Grand Trunk Air Bivy: Both these items give solid protection from wind and rain, serving as a shelter/rainfly for your hammock. Of course, they don’t cover 100% of the space, so you’re still going to get wet if the rain comes in sideways. The Kuhli tarp and the Air Bivy are both extremely versatile and lightweight, making them a great addition to your camping gear whether you sleep elevated or not. We’ve used both for BBQs, car camping, and the like.

Sea to Summit Bug Net: For 13 more ounces, you can be protected from flying insects while sleeping in your hammock…worth it in my book! The Sea to Summit bug net works with all Sea to Summit hammocks. We haven’t tried it with other hammocks.

Grand Trunk Mozzy Net: The Mozzy Net is a good option because it’s versatile…it stands alone, so can be used with any hammock or even around a picnic table or kitchen area. The downside: it’s a bit clunky to set up; the multiple guy lines that make it adjustable to any situation also make it complicated to get the right shape until you’ve had practice.

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Add-on: Portable microscope

You’re up in the trees, so what can you see? When going camping with kids, it is always a good idea to pack some devices that can provide entertainment even though their primary purpose is educational. Such a device is a handheld microscope as it is an easy-to-use product that lets children explore the world around them, and even more, the world they can’t see with the naked eye. Usually, a handheld microscope connects to one’s smartphone, tablet, or laptop in order to provide magnified images of leaves, fruit, and a myriad of insects that one might discover at a campsite. This way, your trip with the kids can be both instructive and fun, as you’ll spend some time gathering items and bugs that you can look at in-depth.

Want to go big? Try a tent-hammock combo!

Kammok Sunda: If you want your hammock to actually be a tent, and vice versa, the Kammok Sunda is a two-person tent and hammock hybrid. It’s very pretty, but even better, it can convert to a stand-alone tent or a stand-alone hammock, depending your needs. This is a great feature, as there will be times you want to set up your tent-hammock in the air, but cannot find the suitable trees to do so. The Sunda is on pre-order right now, for $349.

Tentsile Flite

Tentsile: We’re currently testing a Tentsile Connect, and have packed it a few miles into a lake in Northern California’s Trinity Alps. It’s heavy enough to relegate it to car camping and short backpacking trips, but oh-so-cool! It sets up with a ratcheting system for suspension that has a learning curve but is easy once you’ve tried it a few times. In our experience, a couple teenage boys armed only with the YouTube tutorial video were able to set it up in about 10 minutes on the first try. There are many sizes and styles of Tentsiles to choose from (some, but not all, get quite expensive). Tentsile tents come with rainflies, which can be pegged on the ground, though the tents themselves are not meant to be on the ground. The two-person Tentsile we like best is $350.

Tentsile Connect, set up in Trinity Alps CA

Note: the downside of elevated tents is their weight. Even hammocks can get heavy, once you add the rope you need, your tarp or cover, and a mosquito net. If you want to travel light, be sure to add up the weight of your elevated camping system before committing!

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Best travel water filter system (SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON)

August 22, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

When traveling abroad and when backpacking or camping in the backcountry, it’s crucial to have a travel water filter system you can rely on. The best systems we’ve found use gravity to do most of the work, but there’s an abundance of choice. Which travel water filter system is right for you? Read our side by side comparison!

Katadyn BeFree gravity system:

The simplicity of a gravity-based filtration system makes them reliable, plus these systems are lightweight, easily packable, and versatile for a large group or family. The Katadyn Gravity BeFree 3.0 L filter fits this bill perfectly. It’s extremely easy to use: you just fill the reservoir and hang it using the included rugged bail handle and carry loop, and wait for it to filter at an impressive two liters per minute.

When you’re not using it, the filter packs down small; it collapses and then can be rolled tight, fitting easily into a day bag, backpack, or carry-on bag. It’s been tested to protect against harmful organisms, removing protozoa (99.99%) and bacteria (99.9999%), which means it meets EPA standards, so not only can you bring the Katadyn filter along on your next backpacking or kayaking adventure in the US, but it works well for trips abroad as well, when you need to be assured of potable water. Note that it does not meet standards for virus removal; it’s to ensure safe drinking water against bacteria only.

This filter is BPA-free of course, and the wide-mouth opening makes it easier to fill than most. I’ve learned this the hard way with other bladders, when trying to awkwardly fill them in shallow streams, hard to access lakes, or bubbling springs. I did notice that it was easier to fill the bladder by using a second container, such as a backpacking cooking pot or cup to help feed the water into the reservoir.

You should clean the Katadyn filter occasionally, which is simple: just shake or swish to remove debris. We actually do this every trip, and it’s worked out very well. So far, this filter has come along with us on a front-country and backcountry combination trip to Mt. Katahdin in Maine as well as a backpacking trip through Central America. Next, it will accompany my son through Indonesia.

You can pick up the Katadyn Gravity BeFree online at the official Katadyn site or Amazon for $69 for the 3L option.

LifeStraw Flex with Gravity Bag:

Pair the confidence you already have in LifeStraw with the convenience of filtering a gallon of water at a time. You get next-level protection against heavy metals including lead as well as bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and organic chemical matter like pesticides, and herbicides, all in an ultralight system. The whole thing only weighs 6 ounces, and can filter one liter every two minutes. As always with LifeStraw, when you buy a product, you give a product to one school child (one year of clean water).

It works in the same manner as other gravity-based systems: just fill the bag, hang, add the filter, and allow the water to drip through the filter and into your water vessel whenever you need it. Alternatively, you can use the LifeStraw filter individually like you would any LifeStraw, which is a nice bonus of versatility. Pick up the system for only $54, a great value.

Platypus GravityWorks:

The GravityWorks system is similar to that of the LifeStraw and Katadyn varieties, but it involves two bladders instead of one. This can be a pro or a con: on one hand, the system is slightly heavier and bulkier to pack, but on the other, you have a dedicated clean-water bladder to use in a variety of ways, storing clean water and carrying it to your next backpacking location, for instance.

You can choose between a 2 liter and 4 liter kit (I like the 2 liter). Just fill the ‘dirty water’ bladder with lake, stream, or iffy hotel water, then attach the included hose and filter system between it and the dedicated clean water bladder. Hang the dirty water bladder higher (hence the use of gravity), and wait for your water to fill the bladder. The disadvantage to this system is that you have to wait for the clean water bladder to completely fill, which can take a matter of about 20 minutes. With the other systems, you can have water on demand, though you might have to squeeze the bag a bit if you’re impatient.

With the GravityWorks system, you get extra parts, including a universal bottle adapter. Pick up the Platypus GravityWorks on Amazon for $99.

Sawyer Squeeze:

It’s small, it’s easy to carry, and it’s cheap: the Sawyer Squeeze is a super simple system that involves a bag (bladder) plus a small filter. You fill the bag with water and squeeze it through the filter and into your water vessel. You can get bags in various sizes (the smaller ones are only $12) so this can still work for a family or group, but it will be slower going. I like to have a Sawyer Squeeze in my day pack as an extra filter, just in case. Pick one up on Amazon.

Grayl GEOPress:

Another individual travel water filter system, the Grayl is by far the easiest to use, if you don’t like drinking through a straw. You just scoop up water from a creek, lake, river, or faucet, then press the filter down through the water vessel like you would a French press coffee container. It takes about ten seconds and while you do need to use some force, if you have a sable surface, it’s easy.

Once you’ve filtered your water, you’re good to go. I don’t like drinking my filtered water from a straw if I can help it, so I really liked the design of the GEOPress, which allowed me to gulp instead of drink from a straw. With the GEOPress, you get 24 ounces of safe drinking water swiftly.

The water bottle is heavier and bulkier than I’d like (but they do have a slimmer, lighter version if you’re willing to reduce your ounces), but it’s worth it if you don’t have to also carry a water filter or pump with you. I love the ease of arriving at a river and just scooping up my water.

GEOPress protects from global waterborne pathogens (virus, bacteria, protozoan cysts), pesticides, chemicals, heavy metals, and even microplastics, so you’re getting the purest water possible. The cap has a fast-flowing drink spout that can be sealed closed, and vents air while purifying (unscrew the cap a bit when you’re filtering, or you’ll be hard-pressed (pun intended) to press down the filter).

Pick up a GEOPress in one of four colors for $89 (less than most filter systems) or opt for the smaller ultralight filter for $59.

LifeStraw Universal:

When we hike, we like to have Lifestraw filters in ALL our water bottles. Lifestraw Universal gives you just that: this kit sets you up with one filter (2-stage), two sized bottle caps, and one cap lid. We have used the kit to add a Lifestraw filter to our favorite water bottles, from a wide-mouth Nalgene to a narrow-mouth Camelbak. Details for the caps: the wide cap is 63 mm and the narrow cap is 43 mm. The filter height is 7.3 inches. You also get a carry bag.

As always, the filter does the following:

Removes 99.999999 % of bacteria
Removes 99.999 % of parasites
Reduces organic chemical matter (pesticides, herbicides, VOCs)
Removes 99.999% of microplastics
Compatible with most water bottles
Lasts 1,000 gallons

Now when we backpack or camp, everyone in our family can use a Lifestraw filter in their favorite water bottle, and I can travel with a filter in the bottle I love to use for international trips. The Universal kit is only $34, allowing you to switch out your filter from bottle to bottle at will. Pick up your kit on the Lifestraw website or at other online retailers, such as Amazon.

Tip: Lifestraw, Platypus, and Katadyn all carry their own versions of an individual water bottle with filter included. Find your favorite brand and buy a few extras to have in day packs when you travel!

Camping packing lists and tips

July 15, 2019 By Amy Hagstrom

Family camping trips are an excellent way to spend time together in the outdoors and enjoy a vacation on a budget, provided you have some camping tips and hacks up your sleeve. Otherwise, it can take as long to prepare and pack for a camping trip as the trip itself! To ensure that you’re ready for that next weekend trip to the woods, use the following camping packing lists and tips.

The Camp Kitchen

Organizing and packing your camp kitchen is often the most complicated part of preparing for a camping trip. The workaround is having dedicated camping pots and pans, utensils, and kitchen gadgets stored apart from your home kitchen, which will save you time and effort in packing and unpacking daily supplies. Here’s what you need:

Kitchen Packing List:

Camp stove: Opt for a lightweight backpacking stove or traditional car camping stove.
Fuel: Make sure you have the correct propane fuel for your stove.
Plates, cups, and eating utensils (1 per family member): Use paper products or opt for reusable mess kits, which are available in outdoor stores.
Tablecloth: Buy a cheap one at a dollar store.
Dishwashing tub: Opt for a plastic tub or nylon, sealed, collapsible tub.
Dishwashing supplies: Paper or cloth towels or dishrags; dish soap; and sponge.
Matches
Fire starter
Ice
Cooler
Tarp
Grill (optional): Most campsites provide a grill over the fire pit.
Camp table (optional): Helpful for organization, but not necessary.
Kitchen tools/utensils: Spatula, all-purpose knife, potholders, serving ladle, butter knife, tongs, long skewers for s’mores or meat-on-a-stick, and tin foil.

Try this kitchen packing hack: Store your kitchen tools and utensils in a toiletry bag or other small bag to keep them organized and clean between uses at a dusty campground. It will be easy to hang them from a tree branch for easy use when you’re at your site.

The Camp Sleeping Quarters

Everyone wants to be warm and cozy at night! Whether you’re camping in warm or colder climates, everyone in your family will need the essentials to ensure that they’re safe at night. Store tents and sleeping pads in a second large tote, making it easy to pack up the car and head to the campsite at any time.

Sleeping Packing List:

Tent(s): Opt for one large family tent or 2–3 smaller tents. Larger tents have the advantage of space, but small tents fit in cozier campsites.
Sleeping bags: Buy sleeping bags rated at 20 degrees F, unless you know you’ll be camping in colder climates. A 20–40 degrees F bag works for most camping experiences. Down or down-alternative bags pack down smaller and are lighter and warmer than cotton or nylon/polyester bags.
Sleeping pads: Opt for thick blow-up mattresses for car camping, or save space with backpacking pads that inflate with just a few breaths of air.
Ground tarp: Don’t skip the ground tarps. They protect your tent floor and keep the dew and cold at bay.
Towels and personal hygiene items: One per family member!
Flashlights or headlamps: One per family member. Everyone should have their own light source for safety and convenience.
Lantern: One per family will do. Ideally, your lantern can transition from kitchen area to tent and back.

Try this sleeping quarters hack: Buy a ground tarp one size larger than your tent, and use the overhanging space as a place to take off shoes and wipe off feet before entering the tent.

The Campfire Area

Camping just isn’t camping without a comforting campfire, right? The campfire area is important, but there’s good news: it’s easy to pack for!

Campfire area packing list:

Firewood: Buy on-site, or save money by buying it at a local grocery store.
Matches and fire starter: You’ll already have these in your camp kitchen supplies. The type of fire starter you use is up to you; we like fire disks or fire cubes.
Axe or hatchet: Useful for breaking down firewood. Store away from children.
Camp chairs: Some campsites include a bench around the fire ring, but for most, you’ll want collapsible camp chairs. To save space in the car, opt for the smaller, lighter versions sold in backpacking stores.
S’mores: Be sure to bring the ingredients for this tasty campfire treat!
Deck of cards or board game: Everyone enjoys playing a game around the fire.
Lantern: This item is already with your sleeping supplies!

Try this campfire area hack: Never bring firewood all the way from home. It takes up lots of room in your car or truck, which could otherwise be used for other items, and it could be banned from your campground if you’re driving any distance. Campgrounds often require local wood to be burned in an effort to reduce foreign insect species from invading new areas.

Miscellaneous Items Campers Love

Think you have everything you need? Probably not! Read the list of extras below and decide what you can’t live without!

Insect repellent or wristbands
Sunscreen
Toilet paper and shovel (if you don’t have a campground restroom)
Inflatable wading pool for small children to play in
Playpen for babies to stay off the dirt (sometimes)
Clothespins and a clothesline to hang wet clothing
Extra sheet or towel to hang in the tent to create “rooms”
Hammock
Baby wipes to clean hands and faces
Camera
Water/wading shoes
Small net and bucket to use in streams
Small toys for kids to use in camp
Bikes or scooters for larger campgrounds

Source: Fix.com Blog

New outdoor and camping gear for families

May 12, 2017 By Amy Hagstrom

Camping season is almost here, and it’s time to gear up! I spent a week last winter at Outdoor Retailer, becoming acquainted with new camping and outdoor gear from backpacks to tents to camp kitchens. Here’s what’s new this year, plus a few favorites that have stood the test of time.

New camping gear for families:

New camping gear and outdoor gear divided into several categories below:

Day packs and bladders:

Camelbak Crux bladder: I know everyone is already familiar with hydration packs and reservoirs, but the new Camelbak Crux lumbar bladder is different. It sits on your lower back, horizontally, instead of upright along your spine. The result is less sloshing around, a more comfortable fit for your pack, and easier water access (I found less folding over of the hose, for a better flow). Pick up the Crux lumbar bladder for $35…it will fit in any standard day pack!

Cotopaxi Luzon: Want the kids to carry their own snack and water bottle on your next camping day hike? Buy the Luzon, which is a lightweight 18 liter pack that’s made from bright pieces of fabric. Mine was taken from me by the kids within about 15 minutes of our first hike. Pick up the Luzon for $35. Need something bigger and sturdier? Opt for my absolute, hands-down, favorite day pack, the Cotopaxi Cusco.

Dueter Fox 30 pack: No matter how many new packs we try, we always return to Dueter’s Fox 30 for kids who backpack. It’s the perfect size for kids about 6-10 years old, with all the bells and whistles of mom and dad’s pack, for a solid price of $99.

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Camp kitchen items:

GSI Outdoors Fairshare Mug II: You all know how I love multi-purpose items! The Fairshare mug is a measuring cup with a secure lid for camping meal prep and leftover storage, but also can be used as a personal mug or bowl. Did you know that when you ask for seconds with a bigger-than-average sized bowl, you get served a bigger portion? It’s true!

GSI Outdoors Macro Table: This table, along with its little sister, the Micro Table, is brand new this season and I love it! How many times while camping do I wish I had another clean surface on which to prep meals? The Macro Table is perfect for this, and stores small, too. The Micro Table is ideal for road trips, when you want to set up a snack or meal at a pit stop.

Primus camping fire pit and cook set: You know how sometimes, your campsite doesn’t have an established fire ring or cooking grill? Bring your own! Primus now makes a collapsible, portable campfire pit in two sizes. The Kamoto Fire Pit will be available this spring for $149, which is the one we recommend for families. Pair it with a Primus campfire cook set, designed specifically for the campfire.

Kelty Lowdown chair: Want to pamper yourself with a camp chair that’s actually comfortable? Invest in the Lowdown chair, which, at least in our household, has done double-duty as a sports viewing chair on the sidelines of kids’ games, too. The Lowdown is around $50, but worth the investment if you camp regularly.

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Tents, pads, and miscellaneous items:

Toad and Co de-bug ground cover: Do you camp in areas with mosquitos or other pesky insects? How about picnic? We love this new ground cover, which is treated with Toad & Co’s insect shield technology, guaranteed for 70 washes. This blanket goes in the back of our car for every camping trip!

Sea to Summit self inflating pads: This one is really cool. We checked out the Comfort Light SI Comfort Light SI (self inflating) pad, which packs down to less than a pound and a half of carry weight, but once inflated, rises two inches off the ground…downright indulgent for a backpacker! The pad self inflates, as the name suggests. The way the core is designed, you get extra warmth and depth without extra weight.

To accompany Sea to Summit pads, check out the new Air Stream pump sack. The Air Stream is essentially a dry sack with an added valve plug and foot loop. The 20 liter Air Stream can be inflated with a single breath, and two to three cycles from the Air Stream are enough to fill Sea to Summit sleeping mats. Use it as a pump, a stuff sack, or both!

Sierra Design Divine tent: Looking for the latest in lightweight backpacking tents? The Divine comes in a one-person or two-person option, and is trekking pole compatible (which means you don’t have to carry tent poles!). It comes with Sierra Design’s night glow feature, too. Pick one up for under $400, a solid price for a lightweight, quality backpacking tent.

Kelty Camp Cabin: Is it a tent or is it a cabin? It’s a tent with the headroom of a cabin! If you’re car camping and like to have plenty of room, this is the new tent for you! The Camp Cabin is under $250, making it a solid investment for family camping trips!

EasyCamp Tornado 400 inflatable tent: You read that right…this car camping tent has inflatable tubes rather than poles. We set it up in under five minutes on our first try, and got it down to about three minutes after that. At first, I was skeptical whether an inflatable tent solved any existing problem in tent set-up and function, but now I’m sold on this tent for families with young kids. Here’s why: not only is it easy to set up (tip: stake it first, then inflate the tubes), it sleeps four with two spaces separated by a removable tent divider, and twin mesh doors. There’s a generous organizer built in for smaller items, and best of all, the vestibule in front is very large. It even features a detachable toggle-up ‘bathtub’ groundsheet with a tall lip to keep water out of the tent. Comes with an air pump.

Now that you’re geared up, check out Pit Stops for Kids’ campground listings and camping tips, as well as this guide to family camping!

Travel Gear We Use: family tents for camping

July 29, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

This week in our Travel Gear We Use series, we’re talking about best family tents for camping. There are a mind-boggling array of family camping tents on the market, in a very wide price range. What’s best for your family will depend on where you’re camping, how often you camp, and the size of your family.

Best family tents for minimalists or backpackers:

All purpose: We love, love, love Kelty’s Trail Ridge tent.The Trail Ridge 4 is affordable yet high quality, making it a great double-duty tent: it can be used backpacking or car camping. It falls in the middle weight range for family backpacking–not the lightest tent you’ll find, but also not the most cumbersome-and it’s beautifully affordable at only $279. It technically sleeps 4, which to us, means it sleeps 3 (we always reduce the sleep number by 1 to be comfortable). Another solid option is the REI Half Dome tent, which is one of the easiest to set up of any we’ve tried.

Ultralight: Want to carry as little tent weight as possible? Camping with just one kid or as a couple? Try the Nemo Meta. The Meta is our go-to tent for these situations. It weights just two pounds, but is roomy for a two-person tent, with respectable height too. The catch: you set up the Meta with trekking poles (it does not come with tent poles at all). Set up takes some getting used to, but once you learn how to do it, it only takes about five minutes. You need to stake the tent every night, in order to keep it upright, and of course, you need to be hiking with trekking poles, which we do.

Only need a single person tent? Sometimes you have one extra person or are planning a solo adventure. Our teen checked out the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 during his PCT hike, and loved it so much, he uses it all the time now. Like the Meta, it’s just over 2 pounds, but on the Fly Creek, this includes the tent poles. If you want to get really posh, get the Fly Creek with Big Agnes’ light system, Mtn Glo. This LED light system illuminates the interior of the tent, freeing you up to go without a headlamp or flashlight inside. We’re spoiled now!

Best backpacking and small family tents at a glance:

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Best family tents for car camping or large families:

Best big tent: As our family grows (in height and age, not number!) we’ve found the need for a larger, less portable tent for family car camping adventures in campgrounds and state or national parks. Enter the Slumberjack Grand Lodge 8-Person Tent. Sounds pretty fancy, doesn’t it? And to our minimalist standards, it feels pretty fancy, too: the Slumberjack has room dividers, multiple entrances and windows, and great ventilation. We can even stand up inside it! The Grand Lodge comes in an 8-person or a mind-boggling 12-person. Even for the 8-person, you’ll want to make sure your tent space is large in your campsite! The downside of such a large tent is the set up time: it takes considerably longer to set up the Slumberjack than the Kelty, and it’s definitely not pack-ready. However, it does get easier with experience, and does pack down into its own (large) duffel for car or garage storage.

Six person or less: Don’t need the 8-person capacity of the Slumberjack? Try the Coleman Carlsbad. This six-person tent includes a screen room attached, PLUS has ‘dark room’ technology, which is designed to help kids fall asleep when it’s still light out (does the sun EVER set in summer?). We’ve found our kids, naturally early risers, also sleep in with this tent. It does feel dark when you’re inside, however, so this isn’t the tent to hang out in during the daytime. It also comes in a 4-person size.

All the bells and whistles: Want lots of storage space and technology in your tent? Try the Eureka Jade Canyon. This six-person tent has 10 x 10 feet of space, with lots of built in pockets and sleeves. It even has a media pocket, where you can prop up your iPad in a transparent pocket to view movies or TV. It also features E!Luminate, which is Eureka’s technology that enhances light. You simply place the provided panels on your ceiling of the Jade Canyon, and your headlamp or lantern light will shine brighter. It really does work.

Best large family tents at a glance:

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Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

Coleman camping gear and #FindYourPark

May 11, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

It’s camping season in most of the US and Canada, and I’m excited to spend time in the outdoors for the next few months. Most of us are now familiar with our National Park system’s #FindYourPark initiative, which is helping more families than ever discover outdoor recreation in state and national parks.

Most families are also familiar with Coleman, an outdoor gear brand with a long tradition of creating family-friendly camping equipment. We’ve been using Coleman gear since I was a kid. Right now, Coleman is partnering with #FindYourPark. Through 2017, Coleman will host a variety of outdoor experiences that will enable America’s youth and their families to connect with our national parks in unique ways.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

To round out this partnership, Coleman will also offer a limited edition line of products including grills, stoves, lanterns and coolers that commemorate our national parks to ensure Americans are well equipped to head out to the parks. To kick off the camping season, we wanted to share reviews of some of our favorites, and let you know how to get them.

Coleman camping gear we’re using this summer:

Carlsbad Fast-Pitch tent:

The Carlsbad tent sleeps six and includes two living spaces: a 10 x 9 ft. tented space and a 10 x 5 ft. screen room. It’s roomy vertically too, with a ceiling of 5 ft. 8 in. Families can easily spread out, with extra sleeping space in the screen room if the weather is dry, or you can use that space for a few chairs, a game of Uno, or everyone’s shoes and gear.

A few features we love: The Carlsbad features Coleman’s ‘Dark Room Technology’, which means it stays darker inside than the average tent. When you have kids with an earlier bedtime or hope that you’ll all sleep in a bit, this is golden. You also get window awnings, which is more than just a cute feature: they allow you to keep windows zippered down, even in rain, which reduces condensation in the tent. Lastly, the Carlsbad is one of Coleman’s ‘Fast Pitch’ tents, which means that for its size, it’s very easy to set up. Forget the heavy, awkward set up stage: some of the poles are pre-inserted, and it really only takes five minutes to be up and running. Buy on sale for $169 on Amazon, or grab a 4-person model for only $134.

Big N Tall cot:

We’ve really fallen in love with cot sleeping when we’re car camping. To be honest, we sleep outside on cots much of the summer. Cots are more comfortable than air mattresses for us, and sleeping off the ground simply feels like a luxury when we’re camping. The Coleman Big N Tall cot is part of their Big N Tall line, which, in our opinion, isn’t just for bigger people. The oversized cot is simply more stable and wider, which is good news for anyone. It’s designed in a military style with an X frame, and is quick to set up.

A few features we love: The design on the Big N Tall cot is a manly yet understated topography map design in sand tones. I realize a cot’s selling feature isn’t its looks, but it’s always nice to have something nice looking in your campsite! It comes in a rolling carrying case, with is really good, since this baby is heavy! Pick up the Big N Tall for $135. You can also find standard-sized Coleman cots for $79 and under.

Mountain View Screen Dome Shelter:

Coleman’s 12×12 screen dome shelter went up in our yard in May and won’t come down until August, except to go camping! We use it daily for bug-free outdoor space and outside sleeping space throughout the summer months, and it’s a wonderful addition to car camping sites when you need a bug-free zone. It has an open bottom/floor, which means you can set it up around fixed picnic tables at campsites for mosquito-free eating or card games during the twilight hour. I won’t lie: set up takes longer than for your average tent (it took us about 15 minutes) and the poles are bulky and heavy.

A few features we love: You get 50+ UPF, and the roof is waterproof (we’ve tested it extensively). You get some side-panel ‘walls’ you can drape on one or more sides if you desire, which is helpful for keeping out sun on one side, privacy, or during rain storms. If you don’t need the shelter to be screened to keep out bugs, you can zip away the attached screens to use the shelter as just a sun dome (great for sporting events). The inside height is over 7 feet, so you won’t need to duck. Pick it up for $181 on Amazon.

Conquer 200L LED Headlamp:

Sorry, flashlights, but we’ve switched entirely over to headlamps for our illumination needs while camping. We love the hands-free convenience, and the way headlamps easily convert from pathway illumination to reading lights to lanterns (just wrap one around a large plastic bottle of water). The Conquer headlamp is bulkier than we’d like for backpacking, but ideal for car camping and for kids to take to camp. It’s rugged exterior can take a beating, and the headband can be adjusted to fit just about everyone.

A few features we love: The Conquer features BatteryLock, which stops battery drain. Believe it or not, you won’t be changing out the batteries constantly! It has five modes, including high spot, high flood, low spot, low flood, and red, and lumens ranging from 200 (high spot), 150 (high flood), 70 (low spot), and 20 (low flood). You need three AAA batteries, but the LEDs never need replacing. Pick it up for just $25. There are stronger, brighter models available as well, going up to about $45, but honestly, this is all you need.

GetOutfitted camping gear review

July 31, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Remember our #1 ski tip from last winter? We described how to use GetOutfitted to outfit yourself, or supplement your outfit, for winter sports. We used GetOutfitted to ‘rent’ a pair of ski pants for my husband, who didn’t want to invest in a new pair mid-way through the ski season. Now, GetOutfitted is also renting camping gear.

I am in love with this idea. Even though we personally own all our own camping gear, we know many families who do not, and I have seen how it limits their ability to explore the outdoors. After all, who wants to buy the entire collection of gear needed to go camping when they’re still trying it out? With GetOutfitted, families can rent a ready-made camping package that includes a tent, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, or rent things a la carte, like lights, stoves, backpacks, and trekking poles. Backpacking packages are also available (they include the same basic items as in the camping package, plus a backpack).

Kelty quality:

One potential problem of a system like GetOutfitted is that families new to camping may not know if the gear they’re renting is quality stuff. Thanks to my job as an outdoor gear reviewer and decades of outdoor experience, I can tell you GetOutfitted is using good gear. Their tents and bags are new Kelty models; in fact, the Trail Ridge tents and PDa pads are the exact items we have at home. They trade out their gear regularly, upgrading just as they do their ski gear.

Cost:

Packages vary, obviously, but a basic camping package for a family of four comes to $159 for a three-day rental. Should a family buy each item, the cost would be well over $1000. If you decide to camp regularly, I’d recommend buying your own equipment, of course, but if you just camp once a year, GetOutfitted is the way to go. Plus, if you rent, you don’t have to store all this stuff in your garage or basement all year!

How it works:

Even though we have gear, we wanted to try GetOutfitted’s summer stuff before recommending it. Last week, my oldest son and I hiked 65 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, and we decided to supplement our gear with an item I’ve been wanting for a while, but haven’t bought: trekking poles. We rented trekking poles from GetOutfitted, which are only $9 for a three-day rental. After ordering online, I got a tracking code immediately, and they arrived in just a few days. There’s free shipping both ways, and when we returned, we simply put the poles back in the supplied packaging and sent them back.

It was a great way to try out trekking poles and decide if they’d be worth the investment. Our verdict: my son and I both loved them and will plan on buying pair of our own. The best part: at the end of each season, renters have the option of buying the gear they used. We bought our trekking poles at a discount off the retail price.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

Disclosure: We were invited to try GetOutfitted’s summer camping line free of charge, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.