The Car Camping Essentials of 2015
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Pitching the ultimate base camp has never been easier.
—Sam Moulton
—Sam Moulton (Michael Karsh)
Primus FireHole 100 stove
There are no fancy features and few moving parts on the FireHole ($150)—and that’s precisely why we like it. The paint chipped a bit after a long summer of abuse, but the piezo igniter still fired up the 24,000-BTU burners every time. primuscamping.com
(Michael Karsh)
Tentsile Stingray tent
Think portable treehouse. The three-person Stingray ($675) is designed to be suspended between three trees by heavy-duty straps with ratcheting buckles. Setup is surprisingly quick and easy. Your kids will absolutely love it. tentsile.com
(Michael Karsh)
Zippo 4-in-1 Woodsman saw
The 4-in-1’s ax head ($80) is sturdy, and the bow saw makes quick work of (small) logs. You can also use it to pound in tent stakes, and there’s a metal loop for pulling them out. zippooutdoor.com
(Michael Karsh)
Miir Vacuum Insulated growler
This 64-ouncer ($59) keeps soup hot for hours or beer cold all night. miir.com
(Michael Karsh)
Fugoo Tough speaker
The Tough ($230) is water- and tumbleproof and pumps 360 degrees of impressive sound. fugoo.com
(Michael Karsh)
Yeti Rambler Colster thermos
According to our totally unscientific tests, the double-wall, stainless-steel Colster thermos ($30) kept adult beverages cold about a thousand times longer than a koozie. yeticoolers.com
(Michael Karsh)
REI Hang Time Low table
At 15 inches high, the bamboo-topped Hang Time Low ($65) is game for everything from an evening of high-stakes poker to a round of post-hike cocktails. rei.com
(Michael Karsh)
Brunton Revolt 4000 charger
With enough juice to charge your phone twice, the water- and shockproof Revolt 4000 ($50) is just the right size for weekend trips. brunton.com
(Michael Karsh)
Kelty Little Flower 20 sleeping bag
It may be sized down, but this synthetic bag ($75) is built to the same specs as the company’s grown-up ones, with a thick draft collar and full-length zipper. kelty.com
(Michael Karsh)
Disc-O-Bed Cam-O-Bunk cots
Steel frames and 600-denier polyester? Yes, these bunkable beds (from $299) are overbuilt—and awesome. Optional pockets ($29) keep stuff organized, and the whole thing converts to a bench. discobedshop.com
(Michael Karsh)