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Before I had ever camped, I imagined how uncomfortable I would be whenever I thought about camping. Look, I’m not saying I’m high maintenance or anything, but getting a good night’s sleep and being comfortable all day (and all night) is high on my priorities list. Glamping, on the other hand, isn’t for me either—that’s a little too luxe for my liking. That’s why I’ve taken to car camping so quickly—it strikes the perfect balance between glamping and good old-fashioned camping.
With car camping, you still get all the benefits of being outdoors, enjoying nature, and sleeping under the stars, but you don’t have to worry about packing light to hike to a camp spot. You just pull in and you’re good to go. I’ve been car camping a few times now, and while I’m far from an expert, I’ve invested in a few more extra things to improve my car camping experience, and I suggest you do the same. Scroll through below to check out my top car camping products.
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Yes, you could go for a lightweight, small tent for backpacking, but why not give yourself some room to breathe when you’re not? This option is easy to set up, has a full mesh roof (that’s easily covered with the included rain fly), and mesh windows that can be sealed from the inside to protect you from any bad weather.
I love a good sleeping pad to keep you from laying on rocks/roots/bugs but this is car camping! You can get luxurious! This bouncy, supportive air mattress will make it feel like you’re at home, rather than the middle of the woods. It has a built-in AC electric pump, so all you’ll need to do is find an outlet or use a car adapter.
While a sleeping bag is necessary, adding a blanket can really make your whole experience that much better. This puffy blanket is the perfect thing to crawl under if the temps dip below 60 or to curl up with next to a fire. It’s made with ripstop nylon fabric and has a DWR coating to keep you dry.
This retro cooler isn’t just all beauty and no brains. Its 54-quart capacity can keep up to 85 cans cold for up to four days, even if things get toasty outside. It features rust-resistant stainless steel hardware, so you won’t have to worry about it falling apart after every use.
I have two friends that both have this stove and it’s become such a lifesaver on car camping trips. It packs down small, so it won’t take up any space in your vehicle or storing it when you get home. You get up to 20,000 BTUs, with two dials to control the temperature and an hour of runtime on a small propane tank.
MORE FROM SCOUTED:
- Our Favorite Affordable Picks for a Great Camp-Out Adventure
- You’ll Buy This Blanket for Camping—and End Up Using It Every Night on the Couch
- This Headlamp From Black Diamond Has Made Flashlights and Most of My Lamps Obsolete
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