What to Pack for a Camping Trip

Being out in the wild doesn’t mean putting up with lousy coffee. Kuju’s Basecamp Blend is organic, small-batch roasted coffee packed into a filter so tiny that you can pack a week’s worth into a backpack without taking up a ton of space. This simple anchor system lets you filter the coffee pourover style, which brings out the Basecamp Blend’s more delicate flavors of honey, chocolate and oak.

Boiling water is an essential skill in the outdoors, and MSR’s Windburner stove is one of the fastest ways to get your water from zero to boiling. The internal pressure regulator and enclosed design makes the stove totally windproof and allowed our testers to get their water boiling and coffee started in minutes. Bonus: The boiling pot doubles as a mug, and with the right accessories, a French press.

Alite rides the fine line between comfort and portability with the Mayfly Chair. The supportive, low-slung camp chair weighs less than two pounds and barely takes up more space than a Nalgene bottle when packed down. It’s no lightweight, though—it can hold up to 250 pounds and is the perfect way to kick your feet up after a long hike.

Thanks to some great design features, NEMO’s Galaxi two-person tent feels much more spacious on the inside than it looks on the outside. Huge vestibules let you store your gear outside without it getting soaked in a rainstorm, and near-vertical walls give the interior a roomy feel. Bonus:Magnetic tiebacks make it easy to roll your door up and out of the way.

Down is a near-perfect insulator—warm, lightweight, and amazingly compressible, its only downfall is that it won't keep you warm if it gets wet. The Crosho has all the benefits, minus the downside: it’s 850-fill down is treated with DownTek (a hydrophobic down), so it’ll keep its loft and warmth, even if the bag gets wet.

What’s the only thing better than sleeping in the great outdoors? Sleeping next to your significant other in the great outdoors. Klymit’s Double V is a double-wide version of its lightweight, supportive Static V pad. The v-shaped baffles adjust to your movements while you sleep, and the 47-inch width lets you and another camper huddle for warmth. Bonus:Save your breath—the included air pump/stuff sack will inflate in just 10 pumps.

One of the most popular boots in Vasque’s lineup, the Breeze III is a perfect blend of comfort and support: pliable enough to use as a heavy-duty day hiker, yet firm enough for weeks on the trail with a heavy pack. The Gore-Tex lining keeps feet dry during creek crossings, while heel and toe vest let excess heat and moisture escape the interior.

The right pair of socks is your first defense against getting blisters on the trail, and Injinji’s toe socks are the best ones we’ve tested: the mesh top lock vents heat, while the polyester/nylon/lycra blend wicks away sweat. But what really makes them stand out (in more ways than one) are the individual toe sleeves, which are by far the most effective way to prevent those painful between-the-toe blisters.

Thule may be known for their roof rack and accessories, but their packs are gaining a faithful following as well, thanks to their well-organized interiors, streamlined, durable exteriors, and soft, cushy shoulder and waist straps. Thoughtful details like the waterproof roll top on the hip belt (perfect for storing electronics) and the top lid that turns into a small summit pack round out the Versant as an excellent all-around pack.

When it comes to keeping your drinks hot or cold regardless of the weather, you have to go with a double-wall vacuum-sealed stainless steel bottle. Hydro Flask makes some of the best in the industry: we’ve had ice cubes last from morning until night in hundred-degree weather, while hot soups stayed hot during sub-freezing hikes. Pro tip:The wide mouth bottle makes it easy to pack full of ice cubes and easier to clean when you use it to transport chili or soup.