Expert’s Top Recommended Camping Gear
Looking for new camping gear? Find out what our experts recommend.
ExpertVoice members — from retail associates to outdoor guides — log hours of first-hand, real-world experience with the products they’re recommending. They’re voices you can trust when it comes to all things camping gear, and we want to share their top picks with you.
Check out the products and brands our experts most frequently recommend, including Big Agnes tents, Goal Zero lanterns, Hydro Flask water bottles, Pelican coolers and many more campsite essentials.
Let’s start with the basics.
Sleep and Shelter
Why experts love it: This ultralight tent is a great choice for both backpacking and car camping, and it gets bonus points thanks to its vertical walls for extra head room.
Rob Schilke
Verified Product Owner
Top 10% Expert - Hike
Perfect backpacking tent
I took this tent on a 38 mile backpacking trip in the Olympic National Forest and was delighted with how light the tent was considering the total volume the tent provided. Two adult males with one at 6'2" fit well inside the two-person tent without any issues. Set up of the tent was fast and the color coordinated tabs and poles was helpful for initial set up.
Why experts love it: Comfortable, lightweight and easy to inflate — the perfect trifecta, and a reason this sleeping pad scores so high with experts.
Why experts love it: An anatomic construction and lightweight goose down insulation give this Valandre bag a unique, “off-the-body” feel that provides both warmth and flexibility in the backcountry.
Why experts love it: This two-person hammock gets high praise for its roomy design and easy-to-pack, easy-to-set-up design.
There’s nothing like a hot meal or an ice-cold drink when you’re out exploring.
Camp Cooking
Why experts love it: Breakfast, lunch or dinner, Mountain House is revered for its delicious, just-add-water backpacking meals.
Maren Korpela
Verified Product Owner
Industry Insider
BISCUITS AND GRAVY
This is a slam-dunk winner for trail food. The biscuits kept their shape and crunch, while the gravy was thick and peppery. Excellent combination of flavors and textures and a good, hearty meal that sticks with throughout the day. If you are a B&G fan, this should be in your pack on every trip!
Why experts love it: Experts give the Sawyer Squeeze high marks for its filtering quality and packability, especially for backpacking and emergency use.
Colin Hofman
Verified Product Owner
Great for backpacking
I used this filter most recently for a backpacking trip in central OR. It worked just as expected and kept a group of 5 of us hydrated. I would recommend buying a set of the larger size bags for it as the 32oz bags are more difficult to fill, unless you have a steady flow from your water source. The filter itself works pretty quickly – I filled a 48oz nalgene in just a few minutes. I mostly bought it for how small and lightweight it is – even with the two larger (64oz?) bags I got, it rolls up and fits in any small pocket on your pack.
Don’t forget the campsite essentials.
Fireside Lounging
Why experts love it: Not only does the Lighthouse 400 have an ultra-bright light (a feature our experts love), it’s also able to charge a phone and features a built-in hand crank for manual charging in a pinch.
Jack Lyle
BSA Volunteer
Lighthouse 400
I have two of the Lighthouse 400 lanterns and they far exceed my expectations. I’m seeing 2.5 hours of light on the high setting when fully charged. Theses lanterns are well designed with folding legs, a carrying handle, built in USB recharging cable and even feature a flashing red light for emergencies. This lantern would be good for power outages at home or work, camping, hunting and anywhere else bright white light is needed.You can buy this lantern with confidence that it will provide light comparable to that of liquid-fueled lanterns.
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