Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Upgrade Your Gear with Innovative Camping Essentials that Go Beyond the Basics

camping coffee tent
Julian Bialowas / Unsplash

If you enjoy camping, you probably have at least one friend who shows up to a weekend in the woods with nothing but a flint, a sleeping bag, and an aluminum mug. You’re probably also familiar with the guy who arrives with a SkyMall catalog’s worth of clever outdoor gadgets and gear (and is still setting them all up when everybody else is finishing their s’mores). One is admirable for his hardihood, the other for his resourcefulness. But do you really want to be either of them?

The general rule of camping defines success by an inverse ratio of baggage brought to comfort enjoyed. Whatever you bring beyond the bare essentials needs to really prove its worth through versatility, clever design, and rugged performance.

But the rarest find of all is an essential item that goes beyond what you expect of it.

As it happens, some of our favorite outdoor gear brands have raised the bar on their camping basics. Whether it’s an ingenious design tweak or a barely noticeable addition that takes the experience to a new level, these improved camping essentials are guaranteed to up the ante on your outdoor adventures.

Light: Uco Magnetic Lanterns

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Uco Gear has made outdoor lighting more intuitive than ever with the Hang-Out lantern collection. The compact Rhody+ and tabletop Madrona+ feature magnetic lanyards that make them super easy to attach to tent poles, guy lines, tree branches, or any other surface. The lanterns feature “infinity dials” that let you fine-tune your lighting up to 130 lumens, along with a blue Moonlight mode. Just in case that’s not enough for you, these little beauties feature rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, USB outputs, and wood-grain bases that help them blend in with the surroundings.

Sleep: Rumpl Stuffable Fleece Pillowcase

Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’ve long been in love with the Rumpl puffy blanket, which provides the perfect lightweight warmth for outdoor nights. However, the new Rumpl Stuffable Fleece Pillowcase really caught us off-guard with its ingenious practicality. Built with tough ripstop nylon on one side and soft moleskin fleece on the other, plus insulation on both sides, all the case needs is a puffy jacket, a hoodie, or a few T-shirts to become the customized pillow of your dreams. Never again will you have to go backpacking without a place to lay your weary head.

Cooking Gear: Bison Rolling Grill

Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’ve seen camping grills that were impressively lightweight and even packed down pretty small, but we’ve never seen anything like the Bison Rolling Grill . Built from a series of hollow Teflon-coated aluminum rods strung in a chain, you simply unroll the grill, attach the guards on either side, add the adjustable-height stake stands to prop it over the fire, and voila! Your kitchen is ready … and weighs barely over a pound.

Energy: Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Panel

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The only thing more obnoxious than being the guy who constantly checks his phone is the guy who brings a giant charging station for the purpose. The new Goal Zero Nomad 5 Solar Panel lets you charge your phone, headlamp, or outdoor speaker anywhere the sun shines. The 12.05-ounce, 5-watt panel clips onto your backpack or positions anywhere with the help of a built-in kickstand. You can even plug in a Goal Zero Flip 12 power bank to store up charge for later.

Tent: Qube Tent

Qube Tent - Connect Anytime Anywhere with the Quick Pitching Connectable Tent

This quirky British import stole our hearts as soon as we saw it on Kickstarter. Not only do these pole-less modular tents pop up (or pack down) in seconds, but they can also be connected through a series of zippered openings at their angles. Simply zip on the Qube’s Tunnel connector and you’ve turned two separate tents into adjoining rooms of an outdoor party pad. The Qube Tent comes in two- and four-person sizes, all of which can be connected with the same size Tunnel, which means you can build a veritable Downtown Abbey of outdoor adventure. You can pre-order your tents now for August delivery.

Editors' Recommendations

Chelsea Batten
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chelsea Batten is a writer, photographer, and Kerouac groupie. One of the original digital nomads, she was seduced from life…
Turn Your Pickup Into a Go-Anywhere RV with Scout’s Olympic Truck Camper
Scout Olympic

Many of us are figuring out creative new ways to do the things we enjoy doing safely. Long-distance travel, in general, isn’t an option for some right now, and won’t be for the foreseeable future. All of which is why 2020 is becoming the year for road tripping and RV travel. If you’ve toyed with either and happen to own a pickup truck, this versatile, state-of-the-art camper truck camper just might give you the final push to hit the open road. 

The all-new Olympic camper from Scout is a next-generation truck camper. It boasts the same portability and versatility of its predecessors, but with all the high-tech gadgetry and conveniences that today’s adventure-seekers demand. At a base weight of just over 1,100 pounds, the shell is designed to fit neatly in the bed of most full-sized pickup trucks. The durable design features a gel-coated fiberglass exterior and roof, aluminum exoskeleton framing, and solid, wood-free construction. The composite structural panels guarantee year-round, all-season use without having to worry about rot or water damage.

Read more
Roofnest’s Sparrow XL Rooftop Tent Is a Go-Anywhere, Jumbo-Sized Camp Bed
roofnest sparrow xl rooftop tent

Gone are the days when car camping required cramming into the back of a stuffy SUV or wagon. These days, rooftop tents and travel trailers are all the rage. With recent advances in tent technology, rooftop tents are now more spacious, durable, and convenient than their ground-based counterparts. With the debut of one of its largest-ever hard-shell tents, Roofnest is proving that rooftop camping can be every bit as comfortable as sleeping in your plush, queen-sized bed at home.

Last month, Roofnest expanded its lineup of premium rooftop tents with the addition of the Sparrow XL. This flagship version of the company’s Sparrow tent is designed for couples who frequently camp with a pet or a child, or for solo campers who like plenty of room to spread out. The Sparrow XL adds eight inches to the mid-level Sparrow’s overall width, plus four more inches of headroom. That translates to a spacious sleep space measuring 6-feet 10-inches long by 4-feet 6-inches wide.

Read more
REI’s Gear Rental Program Will Change How You Experience the Outdoors
rei rentals gear tent

Back when I lived in Seattle, my favorite way to spend a rained-out weekend was to visit the
REI
flagship store. With its lofty ceiling and echoing vastness, it was truly a cathedral to adventure in the great outdoors. Everywhere you turned, a new opportunity presented itself. I inevitably left with at least one or two new things to speed me on my next expedition, and a covetous knot in my stomach over other products I'd seen. I spent the rest of the day thinking about the awesome kayak, the ultra-light tent, or the ingenious camp stove that I didn't pick up.

Alas, I wasn’t well-versed enough in the REI brand to know that I could have experienced all this awesome outdoor gear any time, without dropping a ton of money on it, thanks to
REI’s outdoor gear rental program.

Read more