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Best Camping Accessories
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
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The reasoning to why you came to this list could be different from someone else. Perhaps, you were looking to get a vague idea of the types of accessories that you need when you are camping. Or, you could have been seeking out specific accessories that you do not currently have. Either way, the types of accessories you need will all depend on you. There are a few items that everyone should have, such as a first aid kit and a flashlight, but you may already have high-quality versions of them. Then, there are other types of items that you may or may not need depending on what you already have or prefer.
For example, if you own a camper large enough for your party, a tent is not going to be high on your priority list. The same goes for a grill because if you prefer cooking over the open fire, you may not see the need to invest in one. In short, not every single person in the world is going to need the accessories that were documented for you. But, this still provides a strong indication of what you should be looking for.
Weather Resistance
Some people will book their camping reservations months before they actually camp. On the flipside, others will simply hop in their vehicles and “wing it” and hope they find a campsite with vacancies. The latter method is nice because you can properly plan for the weather. If it is going to be storming all weekend, you can simply opt for a different weekend. But, if you plan ahead, you may have no control over the weather. Either way, camping involves being outdoors and you must plan for the worst.
There are simple devices, such as GPS units and flashlights, where water-resistance is more of a bonus than a necessity. They could still suffice without water protection but with it, they become much more useful during emergencies. But, then there are accessories such as tents which absolutely require weather protection. No one wants to sleep in a tent that allows rain inside, clearly.
Accessories
Once you have actually established the types of accessories that you need, you need to analyze them based on their physical design. As important camping items can range from chairs to first aid kits, this is not going to be the same for each item. However, the best way to assess the design is to ask yourself this question. Is the accessory good at performing what it is supposed to? For instance, does the sleeping bag actually keep you warm at night and provide comfort to you? Or, does the GPS unit you have sport advanced technology so it can easily lock on to satellites in the sky no matter the tree coverage?
Once that has been assessed, you can then focus in on the durability and construction. No matter what type of product you are discussing, these two variables always come into play. Given the nature of camping, it is ideal for your accessories to be rugged enough to handle mild abuse from time to time. For instance, staying intact if you accidentally drop it or not ripping when it gets tugged on a branch would be nice.
Portability
This is completely paramount and it does not matter which accessory you are alluding to. Unless you are going camping in your backyard, which really contradicts the entire point of it, you will need to haul all of your belongings and equipment to your destination. Because of this, portability is key. No one wants to haul around extremely heavy and awkward equipment. Keeping the weight to a minimum is a huge part of it. But, factors such as the overall size, if it comes with a convenient storage bag, and how easy it is to carry also come into play.
Even if something weighs a lot, having a convenient means of traveling with it is important. For example, for a grill, this could be an integrated handle and also rugged wheels. Of course, a majority of your accessories should be able to fit inside a carrying bag. It is ideal when manufacturers supply them for you; that way, you know they will be the correct size. This becomes important for tents, sleeping bags, air mattresses, chairs, etc.
Top 10 Picks
1. Alps Kind Kong Chair
Camping is all about relaxation and after the adventures have been completed, it is ideal to come back to your site with an elite camping chair. That is precisely what you get with the King Kong Chair as it combines durability and comfort masterfully.
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Because ALPS Mountaineering provides a chair with the perfect combination of durability and comfort, you know that this chair can suit everyone in your family.
Weather Protection
About the only aspect of concern here is that the padding in the seat is not water-resistant. In fact, if left out during a rainstorm, it tends to hold water and it will then subsequently have to be dried thoroughly before use.
Physical Design
All throughout the body of this chair, 600D polyester fabric has been utilized. Not only this but a patented, steel frame provides the support for the chair. All in all, this allows the King Kong Chair to hold up to 800 pounds of girth.
Portability
Included with your investment is a shoulder carrying bag. When you want to pack up the chair, it conveniently folds down and fits inside of the sack.
Convenience
On both of the armrests, there are beverage holders and storage pockets that provide you with convenient access to your drinks and accessories. In addition, there is a mesh pocket located in the back that can be used for additional storage.
Overall
If a chair is dubbed a King Kong Chair, you would think it would be built like a beast. This assumption is spot-on in regards to this specific camping chair. If you could only choose one camping accessory, this could be the one.
2. Garmin GPSMap 64ST
Depending on the adventures of your camping trip, navigation could be paramount. What better device to take with you, to ensure you never got lost, than the Garmin GPSMAP 64st? When it comes to GPS devices, Garmin is the monarch.
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Not only does this have GPS technology but it also has a built-in GLONASS receiver for even further satellite coverage. As it is a high-sensitivity receiver, as well, you will be able to find your way anywhere; even under heavy tree cover.
Weather Protection
The GPSMAP 64st GPS unit is designed to withstand the worst Mother Nature can throw at it. This includes a rugged and waterproof exterior that can handle submersion.
Physical Design
An included microSD card stores 250,000 preloaded caches and the device itself has eight gigabytes of internal memory. In addition, via Bluetooth, you can receive smart notifications from your smart devices.
Portability
As this is a handheld device, portability is certainly not going to be a concern. In fact, it clocks in at a minuscule 9.3 ounces (which is about half-a-pound).
Convenience
Garmin designed this GPS unit with a dual-battery system. What this means is on top of the rechargeable NiMH battery pack, two AA batteries can also power it. As such, you can swap in AA batteries when the unit dies.
Overall
If you are a safe camper that never goes on an adventure, perhaps you will not see the need for a GPS unit. However, if you are the exact opposite then this GPS device is one of the most efficient ways to have navigation at your fingertips at all times.
3. Megalite Sleeping Bag
In your internal checklist of accessories, a sleeping bag is arguably one of the first ones that you will think of. It is an essential component of any outdoor trip, really. Thanks to the 850-fill goose down insulation of the MegaLite Sleeping Bag, this is as good as it gets.
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Unless you are only camping for the day, a sleeping bag is practically a necessity for any camping trip. This one, in particular, delivers plenty of room with its wide shoulder and waist circumferences.
Weather Protection
To protect the down insulation from condensation and potential frost, it has been protected with a water-resistant coating.
Physical Design
Thanks to the lightweight 850-fill goose down insulation, this is suitable for both winter and summer uses. When the temperature does get low outside, though, the continuous baffle system prevents cold spots.
Portability
If anyone has ever rolled up a sleeping bag, you know it can be a pain. While this version is not immune to that, a stuff sack and a larger sack are included for your convenience.
Convenience
An underrated aspect of this sleeping bag is its full-length, #5 YKK zipper that will handle years of use. But, you are also given the option of selecting which side (right or left) this zipper is located on.
Overall
Instead of hauling your blankets from home, why not go with the more convenient option: a sleeping bag? The MegaLite Sleeping Bag is not exactly cheap but with this much quality, it is worth every penny.
4. Therm-A-Rest Self Inflating
It is easy to see why this self-inflating foam air mattress is so well-received. Whether because of its insane comfort or portability, this is a highly-raved about the accessory. However, one unfortunate mistake is present and as several users have pointed out, it is a hassle to deflate.
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Besides the fact that this pad provides you with an optimal means of sleeping, it self-inflates which eliminates the need for a pump. Overall, it is quite large and features four inches of thickness for maximum comfort.
Weather Protection
It is best if you keep this mattress out of the rain. Permanent repercussions may not ensue but you will be forced to dry it out.
Physical Design
With its dual valve system, the urethane foam is allowed to both expand and inflate when it is unpacked. Also, with just a few breaths, you can manually adjust the firmness.
Portability
Once again, included with your purchase is a stuff sack that can be used to transport this mattress back and forth. When you finally get it rolled up and stuffed inside, the sack will weigh just less than seven pounds.
Convenience
If you wanted to invest in two of these pads, they are designed in a way that makes them fit perfectly alongside each other. However, in terms of convenience, several people have taken issue with how difficult it is to deflate this mattress.
Overall
Regular air mattresses can be a pain for obvious reasons and because the MondoKing Air Mattress is self-inflating and designed with urethane foam, it may be a better choice. If only the deflating process was not such a nuisance, this could be perfect.
5. in-1 First Aid Kit
Whatever you do, do not overlook one of the most important components of any extended adventure: a first aid kit. If man could predict the future, there would be no need for precautions. As everyone knows, this is a false reality and disaster can strike, at any time.
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For obvious reasons, a first aid kit is going to be a valuable asset to you. Even if you never had to use it, having over 120 medical items at your fingertips at the time of an emergency could be a lifesaver, literally.
Weather Protection
When all the items are encapsulated inside the bag, its water-resistant nylon fabric should protect them from water. However, it is not 100 percent waterproof.
Physical Design
As this is FDA approved, you can rest assured that the medical items found in this kit can be trusted. Among the components inside are survival tools, ice packs, shears, gauze, Band-Aids, alcohol pads, among others.
Portability
As this is designed to be as compact as possible, it should take up little to no room. In fact, it could essentially fit inside of a purse, backpack, or handbag with ease.
Convenience
This is not a one-trick pony type of a case, which is for sure. It can not only be used for camping but also any other activity on the face of the planet. Or, it can simply be a nice addition to your home for safety.
Overall
Ever since grade school, you have been taught the importance of first-aid kits. As you grow older, the importance does not fade and you never know when a catastrophe will strike; even when you are camping.
6. Sundome Tent
If you have yet to upgrade to a camper or an RV, then you still need to rely on a tent, which is certainly not a bad thing. Especially, when the tent you can get your hands on is the 6-Person model from Sundome.
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With a massive interior that measures 10-foot by 10-foot, this can properly fit six people with headroom to spare. While it may be excessively large for a couple, it is great for the whole family.
Weather Protection
To help keep water out when it begins to rain outdoors, Sundome designed their floor with patented corner welds and inverted seams. Additionally, a hooded rainfly is included.
Physical Design
As many people know, when the sun beams down on tents in the middle of the day, they can become unbearably hot and stuffy. Thanks to two large windows and a ground vent, you can properly circulate air to prevent this.
Portability
It would have been nice if Sundome made their storage bag a little bigger. But, with some work, the tent will fit inside for transport.
Convenience
Despite its massive size, the setup process remains quite simple. Due to the dome design and the snag-free and continuous pole sleeves, setup can be done in as little as 10 minutes.
Overall
Old-fashioned campers will always be looking for an improved tent. Well, this tent from Sundome may be what you are after. Its convenient design, with proper circulation, and a massive interior to boot, is hard to pass up.
7. GSI Cook Set
Packing your cookware and dishes from home can be a pain and that is not even considering if they are not portable. Cut the hassle out and opt for GSI Outdoors Cook Set, instead. It includes the basic essentials you need to prepare and eat a plethora of meals.
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With camping comes along with it cooking. It is hard to do so without the proper equipment and this kit provides the essential cookware and dishes you need.
Weather Protection
While you probably should not leave the contents exposed to the elements for too long, they are dishes so clearly, rain and dirt will not be an issue.
Physical Design
Both the pot and the frying pan that come included in this kit are coated with Teflon Classic. Also, the accompanying nylon strainer lid is crushproof and heat-resistant.
Portability
Typically, a pile of dishes would be cumbersome to transport around. However, GSI Outdoors has designed their kit specifically for travelers and all the components nest into the included stuff sack.
Convenience
The aforementioned stuff sack also doubles as a sink for washing. This makes the cleanup process significantly easier.
Overall
Without a doubt, cookware is one of the hardest aspects to account for when you are camping. Unless you have a camper, there is no logical place to store your camping cookware. But, let GSI Outdoors fix that problem for you.
8. Thrunite Flashlight
A flashlight may not be the first accessory you think of on your checklist, but it may be one you need to ponder in your mind. On the top of your head, you should be able to come up with several reasons why having a high-quality flashlight available would be useful.
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This flashlight, with 500 lumens of light, can become useful for you in a wide amount of scenarios. It could be as something as simple as playing flashlight tag or it could be necessary during an emergency.
Weather Protection
Wow, that is all that needs to be said here. Not only is this flashlight O-ring sealed to keep it waterproof, it is also constructed of aerospace aluminum and has a hard-anodized finish.
Physical Design
There are five different brightness settings for you to adjust from and you use a convenient two-button system to do so. But, some reviewers have claimed the performance is spotty.
Portability
Given this is a flashlight, it is not wrong in automatically assuming it is compact and portable. Just as you would expect, its slim body shape makes it incredibly easy to carry.
Convenience
When you turn the flashlight on again, it has a built-in memory system that remembers the mode it was on when you turned it off. In addition, there is a momentary-on function.
Overall
This is another accessory that you may not utilize often but when you need it, it is convenient to have it. As it is very compact, it will take up practically no room and you will hardly know it is there.
9. Coolest Cooler
Some feel that the Coolest Cooler is an overpriced and overhyped piece of equipment. While the components included, separately, will not blow you away, the point is grading this as an entire product. It has more gadgets and technology than any other cooler in the world, bar none.
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Besides holding 55 quarts of content and being insulated for days, there are gadgets all over the place on this cooler. Truly, this cooler will be the life of the party.
Weather Protection
There is a Bluetooth speaker included with this cooler and while it is covered in rubber for splash-resistance, it is not waterproof.
Physical Design
The Coolest Cooler is rated to keep ice frozen for up to four to five days. But, besides the Bluetooth speaker, a built-in USB charger and LED lid light have also been integrated.
Portability
Due to the built-in wheels that will handle most terrains and the adjustable handle, you will only have to physically lift this cooler once in a while.
Convenience
This cooler is the personification of convenience with all the aforementioned technology gadgets. However, you can add onto that a built-in blender that can conveniently crush your ice.
Overall
Some users will not see a need for all these silly integrations and that is completely fair. Let’s face it, this is not your daddy’s cooler and if you are looking for something standard, this is not it.
10. Coleman Roadtrip Grill
Wrapping up this list of accessories is the one piece of equipment that you need to actually cook your food, a grill. Sure, there are other options but nothing beats the taste of fresh meats off the grill. Thankfully, the RoadTrip grill from Coleman has a portable design and is made for campers.
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Because this grill combines a portable design with loads of convenient features, it is ideal for cooking up your favorite meats anywhere you can think of.
Weather Protection
Even when the weather gets cold outside, this has the burners, at 20,000 BTU, to pack a powerful enough punch.
Physical Design
Inside of the grill, Coleman designed 285-square inch cast iron grill plates that have been porcelain-coated. Past this, there is a built-in thermometer and dual-stainless steel side tables.
Portability
Typically, a grill would be the farthest thing from portable. However, Coleman integrated a collapsible stand and wheels so when the time calls, the grill can be folded.
Convenience
To start up this grill, you simply need to press the Instastart push-button ignition and dial in your heat. Plus, you can buy interchangeable grill grates with this model.
Overall
Eating well-cooked meals is one of the many elements that make camping so amazing. To do so, one of the best ways is via a grill; and due to its portability, the RoadTrip from Coleman is a logical choice.
Sources
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