The DeepSleep is perfect for two. Photo: Exped<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Home mattress equivalent: WinkBed firm version, Tempur-pedic TEMPER-Adapt Firm<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Sleep Better series exemplifies Exped\u2019s R&D \u2013 multiple firmness and comfort options are available for different types of sleepers. Prefer a firm mattress? Opt for the DeepSleep pad, which inflates into a firmer, more resistance-bearing ground pad that fits inside a single-person tent or vehicle with ease. I brought mine to Moab a few weeks ago and appreciated its smooth surface \u2013 no ripples, no bumps, none of that weird contoured design that so many ground pads use. For more firmness, fill it up with more air, and for reduced firmness, let some air out \u2013 you can even adjust it on the fly.\u00a0\u2013 Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $169.95-$189.95<\/em><\/p>\nShop Exped DeepSleep pads<\/p>\n
Exped MegaMat \u2013 for those who prefer a softer mattress<\/h3>\n\n
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Here’s how the Exped MegaMat arrived. Scroll to next photo to see it in use. Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Exped MegaMat underneath the Exped MegaSleep. Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nHome mattress equivalent: Helix Sunset \/ Helix MIdnight Luxe soft options, Tempur-Pedic TEMPER-Cloud soft<\/strong><\/p>\nIf softer is the name of the game for you, opt for the Exped MegaMat. The mat, with four inches of foam, is a single- or double-sleeper and molds to the imprint of your body more so than firmer mats do. The brand claims it\u2019s built for both back and side sleepers, including couples, like myself and my wife, who have different sleep styles (I\u2019m all over the place, she remains on her side most of the night). The mattress provides four inches of padding between you and the ground. It has a handle for easy carrying, easily adjustable firmness settings based on air intake, and two deflate valves. If you frequently camp with your partner, this is the pad for you. Options for singles are available, as well as a truck bed option that wraps behind the wheel wells.<\/p>\n
The mat fills up in about a minute with the included automatic pump, which charges on a mini-USB outlet. Note that charging the pump can take a couple of hours, which I forgot to do \u2013 so I charged it for about 10 minutes in my truck at the campsite and it worked long enough to pump up multiple pieces of Exped gear for the crew. The mat deflates in under a minute and stores in its own rucksack case. -Tim Wenger, Transactional content editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $239.95-$519.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now \u2013 Single<\/p>\n
Buy Now \u2013 Double<\/p>\n
Buy Now \u2013 Truck Bed Version<\/p>\n
Exped MegaMat Max and LuxeMat \u2013 for frequent vagabonds<\/h3>\nExped Luxemat in action. Photo courtesy Exped<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Home mattress equivalent: Stearns & Foster Reserve Hepburn Plush Pillow Top<\/strong><\/p>\nCombining the versatility of the above pads and adding extra plush comfort, Exped\u2019s MegaMat Max (also available as a single-person version) and LuxeMat with added comfort points designed to support the body and relieve pressure points. You\u2019ll sleep on six inches of foam. The LuxeMat (also available in a single-person version) even adds an organic-cotton-and-wool-insulated cover. There are two primary use cases for these mattresses. The first is for campers who spend dozens of nights per year camping either in a tent or in their vehicle, and who need to have dependable sleep gear that can withstand heavy use. The second is for the tepid or resistant camper \u2013 if you have a friend\/partner\/kiddo who \u201cjust doesn\u2019t get camping,\u201d or who is otherwise resistant to sleeping outside the comforts of four walls, one of these mattresses is a good bait and hook.<\/p>\n
Price: $369.95-$519.95 \u2013 MegaMat Max, $319.95 \u2013 $549.95 \u2013 LuxeMat<\/em><\/p>\nShop MegaMat Max single<\/p>\n
Shop MegaMat Max double<\/p>\n
Shop LuxeMat single<\/p>\n
Shop LuxeMat double<\/p>\n
MegaSleep Duo \u2013 the duvet of sleeping bags<\/h3>\n\n
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This is how the Exped MegaSleep arrived — and it gets back to this state with a quick stuff into the rucksack. Scroll to the next photo to see it in use. Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
We slept like babies, with the Exped MegaMat underneath. Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nAdmittedly, I didn\u2019t know what a duvet was until I met my now-wife at age 29. Until then, I\u2019d slept using a ragged old comforter my mom gave me when I moved away to college at 18. The difference between what I had and what I gained was so profound that it has since served as the bracket by which I judge all things sleep \u2013 when looking at new gear for home or camping, I ask myself, \u201cIs this the old me, or is this the new, classier me?\u201d My wife gets all the credit for any semblance of class that I now exude, and I\u2019m proud to report that she was as stoked as I was when I brought home the Exped MegaSleep Duo.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s much more than a fart sack. It sleeps our family of three (we now have a little girl) comfortably and warmly down to 25 degrees. When it\u2019s cold, we sleep with the red side up, when it\u2019s warmer, we sleep with the blue side up (which is comfortable down to 40 degrees). It unzips on the sides so we can vent overnight, and even comes apart into camp blankets that can move from the tent over to the campfire and back again. Aside from the pillows noted below, the MegaSleep Duo is the single most impactful piece of camp equipment we\u2019ve added to our setup in recent years \u2013 no more bringing three sleeping bags on every camping trip. One rucksack will do. \u2013 Tim Wenger, Transactional content editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $249.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
Exped Mega Pillow and\/or Exped Down Pillow<\/h3>\nExped Mega Pillow (left) and Exped Down Pillow (right). Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Made with Responsible Down Standard down and carbon offset through MyClimate, the Exped Down Pillow is like having both your home pillow and a puffy jacket under your head. The pillow is available in two sizes, the Medium being 15 inches wide and the Large being 19 inches wide. Both inflate quickly via Exped\u2019s pump and deflate just as fast to store in the included carrying bag. Like the mats discussed above, this pillow can be adjusted for firmness on the fly by adding or relieving air. I sleep so comfortably with this pillow and have relived myself of the neck pains that used to plague my post-camping days.<\/p>\n
My wife isn\u2019t much for down pillows so I got her the Exped Mega Pillow. She\u2019s found it equally comfortable and at long last ditched the raggedy old (normal bed) pillow she\u2019s kept in our camp setup for years. According to her experience, she appreciated the extra headroom in a pillow that, unlike most camp pillows, isn\u2019t too firm and conforms to her head.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Tim Wenger, Transactional content editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $64.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now \u2013 Exped Down Pillow<\/p>\n
Buy Now \u2013 Exped Mega Pillow<\/p>\n
Luxury camping gear for cooking and lounging<\/h2>\nSatechi 2 in 1 charger<\/h3>\nPhoto: Katie Gavin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever find a dual charger that was actually worth hauling along on camping trips, but the Satechi OntheGo 2-in-1 has made me rethink what counts as essential gear. It folds down into a tidy little square you can slide into a pocket or stash in a side pouch, and when you open it up, there\u2019s a dedicated spot for both your phone and your Apple Watch. What I like most is how it keeps everything in one place overnight: I\u2019m not fumbling around for a separate watch cable or waking up to a dead battery. The build feels sturdy, with a soft finish that doesn\u2019t scratch your devices and a hinge that holds its position without feeling flimsy. If you\u2019ve ever unplugged your watch by accident in the middle of the night (or lost a cable in your sleeping bag), this is an easy upgrade that makes camping a lot more organized \u2014 and a little more civilized. Katie Gavin \u2013 Editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $79.99<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
ESPRO Ultralight Travel Coffee Press<\/h3>\nPhoto: Katie Gavin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
After a decent night\u2019s sleep, I need an equally decent coffee. I don\u2019t mess around here \u2014 this is not something I\u2019m willing to budge an inch on \u2014 and you don\u2019t need to. If coffee is important to you, there\u2019s a ton of excellent travel coffee makers out there, from espresso makers to single-cup drippers. For a travel French press, I look to ESPRO. The brand\u2019s Ultralight Travel Press packs a surprising amount of performance into something you can throw in a side pocket of your pack. It has a double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel body that keeps your coffee hot for hours, plus two micro-filters that lock together to pretty much eliminate the sludge you get from a typical press. Once you plunge, extraction stops completely, so you\u2019re not left with that over-steeped bitterness later on. I also love that it doubles as a mug, and as a loose leaf tea drinker, I\u2019m stoked it can brew that just as easily as coffee. It\u2019s impressively compact and light, and tough enough to survive countless camping trips.<\/p>\n
Price: $39.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System<\/h3>\nPhoto: Jetboil<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
No term is more over-used in outdoor gear tech (or any form of tech, really) than \u201cinnovation.\u201d Now and then, though, a product comes along that actually earns such a slogan. The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System is the product that deserves it this year. The system is a two-burner stove that collapses and packs into a case the size of a one-burner stove, yet also manages to include a 5-liter Jetboil FluxPot for cooking soups or stews, or boiling water in three minutes, and a 10-inch ceramic-coated nonstick fry pan. I brought the setup with me on a recent camping trip to Moab and both dinners and breakfasts were flawless. The pan makes flipping eggs easy. The pot can melt snow for water in winter, meaning you could bring this system with you to a cabin and melt snow in 15 minutes for water rather than having to wait hours for the crusted pot on top of the wood-burning stove to melt the snow.<\/p>\n
The stove burners are remarkebly versatile, with full-on heat for boiling and low-head for simmering. It\u2019s easy to move between temperatures without burning the pan. Once it\u2019s all packed back up in the carrying case, the Genesis system stores in my camping gear bin or on a shelf in my shed without taking up nearly as much space as standard two-burner camp stoves. Off to thrift store with the old Coleman, finally.<\/p>\n
Price: 449.99<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
MSR Switch Stove<\/h3>\n\n
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Photo: Tim Wenger<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Photo: MSR<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\nMaybe it\u2019s the chilly temperatures, or the sounds of nature beckoning you to a relaxing session in the camp chair. Whatever the reason, waiting for that first cup of coffee at the campsite seems to take forever. MSR cuts that back significantly with the release of its Switch Stove, which boils 14 liters of water in under two minutes. That means you can be enjoying a pour-over in about three. Its boil canister is rounded on the bottom, which more evenly distributes the heat across the pot, allowing the water to boil faster than flat-bottomed canisters.<\/p>\n
In addition to its rapid boiling, the Switch Stove\u2019s signature innovation is that it allows you to saut\u00e9, simmer, or cook with your own cookware, rather than a specific piece designed only for this stove. The stove, stand, and canister pack up nice and tight into the lid and base, so it won\u2019t take up much room in your pack. I\u2019ve never found a camp stove that is more efficient or easier to bring along on camping and easier backpacking trips. \u2013 TW<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $139.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
Crazy Creek AirLounger<\/h3>\nPhoto: Crazy Creek<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Thinking back on all the backpacking trips I\u2019ve taken where I ended up sitting on a fallen tree or a rock while eating and lounging makes me surprised it took me so long to get a backpacking chair. Though, since I waited, I went all in and got a Crazy Creek AirLounger and it\u2019s been a game changer.<\/p>\n
The chair arrived at my house rolled up in a four-inch diameter, I actually mistook it for a mat and thought the brand had shipped me the wrong product \u2014 it packs up much more compact than I\u2019d thought. After unrolling it (and realizing that it was me that was mistaken), it took me about 20 seconds to set the chair up. It\u2019s super comfy and easy to set anywhere. It inflates promptly, the straps on the sides fasten in place and can be tightened or loosened depending on whether you want a reclined or upright sit.<\/p>\n
The chair is made of 8mm high-density cored closed-cell foam and covered with 210D C-Zero DWR coated ripstop nylon to keep it dry on damp ground. The Hex 2.0 chair is also great for outdoor events like live music or picnicking by a river. I\u2019m not much of an angler, but can envision it being great for fishing as well. Here\u2019s a handy hack \u2014 store it in an unused cup holder on the site of your pack and hook it to the pack by attaching a carabiner to the pack and the chair\u2019s straps. That way, you can carry it without putting it in your pack while not having to worry about it falling from its perch. \u2013 Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $124.95<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
Satechi Qi2 Wireless Car Charger<\/h3>\nPhoto: Katie Gavin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
When you live out of a camper van for weeks at a time, small tech upgrades can completely change your experience. I\u2019ve gone through a couple of cheap wireless chargers over the years, but they either lost grip over time or only charged if you angled the phone just right.<\/p>\n
I picked up the Satechi Qi2 after testing the brand\u2019s passport cover with Find My integration (read my full review here). Installing it in the van was straightforward\u2014just clipped it into the dash vent, plugged it in, and that was it. It instantly delivered MagSafe charging that held firm, even on bumpy forest roads. It charges faster than anything else I\u2019ve tried, and it actually looks good while doing it.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve cycled through a couple of underperforming chargers, like I have, this one\u2019s worth the upgrade. Especially if you\u2019re not traveling with a backup power bank (or have multiple devices to charge), having something that works reliably while you\u2019re driving means you\u2019ll actually arrive with a full battery. It\u2019s one less thing to think about when you\u2019re setting up camp or packing out. And it stays put\u2014even when you\u2019re crawling down uneven terrain\u2014so you\u2019re not constantly fishing your phone off the floor when you go off road. Katie Gavin \u2013 Editor<\/em><\/p>\nPrice: $59.99<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now<\/p>\n
Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro Portable Outdoor Movie Projector<\/h3>\nPhoto: James Gavin<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
I\u2019ll be honest \u2014 when my husband and I first started looking into portable projectors, it felt a little indulgent. Like, do we really need a big-screen setup when we\u2019re camping in the van? Turns out, this projector is now our favorite bit of kit.<\/p>\n
We used to balance a laptop on a duffel bag or squint at a shared phone screen from across the van, which worked okay, but it wasn\u2019t exactly relaxing. Projecting onto the inside of the van with the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro changed everything. It\u2019s like watching a 65-inch TV at home. It connects to Wi-Fi or your phone\u2019s hotspot which worked fine even with weak signal.<\/p>\n
The best thing about it is that you don\u2019t need a screen \u2014 just a blank surface like the side of your tent or van. The auto-focus and screen alignment features mean you don\u2019t have to mess around trying to get a level image, even when projecting onto a textured backdrop. It\u2019s also weather resistant, with a design that protects the lens and internal components from light drizzel and dust. It\u2019s true luxury camping gear that can go anywhere.<\/p>\n
The built-in Google TV interface makes it easy to stream from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and pretty much any other app you\u2019d want on the road. We watched the new season of The Last of Us<\/em> last weekend in the woods, which\u2014note to self\u2014maybe wasn\u2019t the best choice given the setting. But dang, it looked good. Crisp HD and surprisingly bright even when the ambient light wasn\u2019t totally gone yet.<\/p>\nThe audio is exceptional for something this compact. We didn\u2019t need an external speaker and felt totally immersed just using the built-in sound. It also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and has ambient lighting, which adds a nice vibe when you\u2019re winding down for the night. You can also pair it with wireless headphones, which is great if, like us, one goes to sleep early and the other stays up late watching anime.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re thinking about it and will use it camping, definitely go for the projector and power base combo ($479.75). If you can shell out $450, it\u2019s not that much more expensive. With the base, we got just over two hours of battery life \u2014enough for a full-length movie without needing to plug in. If you want to charge, you\u2019ll need a bank capable of at least 65W, such as the Bluetti AC180, which would power the projector through a serious binge session (as well as charging your other devices).<\/p>\n
I wouldn\u2019t have guessed that a projector would end up on our essentials list, but here we are. If you\u2019ve got kids, it\u2019s a guaranteed hit. If you are<\/em> the kid, it makes even a modest camp setup feel like an outdoor theater. Just don\u2019t forget to pack the popcorn. Katie Gavin \u2013 Editor<\/em> Price: $449.99-$499.99<\/em><\/p>\nBuy Now \u2013 Projector<\/p>\n
Buy Now \u2013 Projector and Power Base Combo<\/p>\n
Buy Now \u2013 Generator<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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