1. A portable privacy tent and toilet so you can maintain some dignity while pooping in the woods. The tent comes with a little bucket with a toilet lid, 12 toilet bags, and 12 packs of liquid waste gel.
The only downside is that you'll have to be your own cleaning service. It also comes with a storage bag, towel hook, and toilet paper holder to really sell the "I'm in a bathroom" feeling. The portable toilet can hold up to 400 pounds, and the liquid waste gel packets solidify waste in 2-3 minutes.
Fun Essentials is a small business that sells portable toilets. Promising review: "Every year, for five years now, I've wanted to buy a camping toilet for our annual family campout. I've always been skeptical because the toilets look so flimsy and are quite pricey.
This year, I was like, "Ehh, let's finally just get it and give it a try!" IT IS VERY STURDY. I sat on the toilet, and I stood on it. Both were fine.
A heavier family member sat on it, fine! So happy to have bought it. Now, let's talk privacy tent. Three people can fit inside standing up.
There is plenty of room. My only complaint is that the convenient Velcro handle for the toilet paper is a little thin, and the stitching to the wall isn't great." — Andria Cooney Get it from Amazon for $69.
99 . 2. A camping organizer you can use as a proto-dresser to make your tent feel more room-like.
Personally, I've never used the dressers at hotels, but you will definitely want to use this! You can store shoes, books, and other items that are better stored in shelving instead of squished in your backpack. If you lack the space in your tent, the organizer can be zipped shut and left outside. It comes with nine shelves and stakes to help secure it into the ground.
Promising review: "I bought the tent as storage to keep our camping tent organized. It was easy to put together, but, like with any tent poles, be gentle. I was surprised it held a decent amount of weight, too.
Had no need to zip it because I used it in my tent, but it could be used to store shoes or other items. Overall a really good purchase, and I'm very happy with it." — Anne1999 Get it from Amazon for $54.
97 . 3. Or a hanging gear organization system that will keep your essentials dangling above your head and easy to grab.
I consider this to be the equivalent of *the top* of a hotel dresser. The hanger can connect to virtually anything, thanks to its rubber twist tie ends. It comes with five large and five small S-biner clips for your stuff.
Promising review: "Perfect for camping. I’ve been looking for some sort of organization for my tent, and this is it. It hangs perfectly inside my tent, well made, and holds my hats, keys, phone, towels, sweatshirt, flashlight, and other frequently lost items.
I’m going to get another one for outside my camp kitchen. Greatest thing ever." — Lindy Get it from Amazon for $17.
99 . 4. A classic Coleman camp stove ready to help you whip up elaborate meals in the middle of the woods.
It boasts two burners and heat control, sooo I'm thinking bacon and eggs for breakfast. Who needs room service? Promising review: "Lightweight and easy to set up and use. Sturdy, even temperature, roomy surface.
Love everything about it. Easy to clean, too." — LJM Get it from Amazon for $139.
95+ (available in two colors). 5. And a picnic table organizer to keep all your chef tools ready to go as you whip up a five-star meal for your fellow campers.
Is this a continental breakfast at the Marriott? NO! It's a picnic bench at a camping ground, and if we're being honest, the food is much better. The organizer is machine washable and heat resistant. Get it from PicniKit on Etsy for $39.
99 (available in two colors). 6. AND if you want to up the ante and enter glamping territory — a propane camp stove/oven range so you can enjoy freshly baked cookies, calzones, roasted chicken, and whatever else you feel like putting on the menu.
Your little outdoor operation is destined for a Michelin star. Promising review: "This thing is the BEST! Maybe the greatest camping purchase ever. I bought it and immediately brought it to a campground/festival we were at for eight days of no-hookup camping in Maine, and it was the bomb.
I made three fruit pies using the Pillsbury refrigerator crust, puff pastry topped with Newfoundland snow crab, two batches of biscuits, baked haddock, countless pots of pour-over coffee, a giant pot of steamers, reheated clam chowder, popcorn, cookies, you get the idea. We went through 4-5 pounds of propane. Overall, if you're on the fence — just get it.
You won't be sorry!" — Buddy Get it on Amazon for $289.99 . 7.
A portable shower that holds up to five gallons of water. If you find yourself missing the joy of a hotel shower with hot water, you can set the bag out in the warm sun to heat it up to 110 degrees. Reviewers say the water pressure is surprisingly adequate, making this invention a reasonable replacement for indoor plumbing.
Promising review: "Absolutely perfect for car camping. Just find a remote place off of a nature trail, hang the bag, and have the most satisfying shower of your life. It's made with high-quality material, and I have had no problems with leaking.
The product works well heating up in the sun, but feel free to leave it on the heated seat of your car with the black side down for a warm shower in a pinch. The 2 1/2 gallons was perfect for a five-minute shower. The nozzle opens and closes easily, and the carrying and hanging strap works great!" — henry Get it from Amazon for $23.
98+ (available in three sizes and with a privacy tent). 8. Tide sink packets with just enough detergent for a sink or bucket wash to help freshen up your hiking clothes.
The great outdoors may not offer laundry service, but that doesn't mean you can't get clean duds! Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag. Promising review : "Perfect for travel.
Take a few in a large Ziplock bag. Add water and Tide to the bag with dirty clothes and seal the bag. Squeeze the bag to clean clothes (in shower for camping, etc).
Rinse the same way. Very convenient for travel or in a diaper bag for accidents. Would recommend.
" — Flipper99 Get packs of three, six, or nine from Amazon for $4.95+ (available in two scents). 9.
A pop-up trash can that'll be a huge upgrade on the limp plastic bag. It comes with a zippable lid to keep out pests, and the upright shape will let everyone work on their free throw with balled-up trash. Who knew trash cans were actually an amazing hotel amenity? Promising review: "Absolutely love! We bought this for our camping trips and I can't express how much this pop-up trash can made a difference.
It has clips in the inside to hold open the trash bag, it zips to keep the bugs and critters out, super easy setup and takedown, and it stakes to the ground to keep from blowing away! Best camping purchase ever!" — Ariel Butler Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in five styles). 10.
A Yeti Tundra 35 cooler beloved by campers everywhere (check out the 4.7-star rating on Amazon). Thanks to its sturdy construction and ability to keep drinks super cold, it'll be an awesome stand-in for a mini fridge.
Promising review: "This is the best cooler I have ever owned! It's quite expensive but well worth the price. I have used it for beach days and camping several times and I love it!" — Gruber Get it from Amazon for $275 (available in 10 colors). 11.
And since every good mini fridge has light: a cooler light so you can see what you're grabbing once the sun has set. No one wants to go for a can of Coke and end up with a Diet Mountain Dew. The rechargeable LED light stick provides up to 55 hours of white light and 30 hours of red light.
It boasts a IP68 waterproof rating, meaning it's fine to hang out in your melting ice all day. Promising review: "Amazing. Works perfectly.
Never knew how much I needed it, and so far three of my friends have also purchased the same ones. Opening the cooler at night makes it appear like a cartoonish treasure chest of adult beverages." — josh b.
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 . 12.
A mosquito repeller that works in 15 minutes to scare away buzzing pests in a 10- to 15-foot radius. It releases an odorless repellent into the air that's people- and pet-friendly. Just think: no sprays, no stinky bracelets, no gross candles — just like being safe indoors.
Promising review: "New Orleans is apparently in the top 10 of cities with biting bugs/insects, however you wouldn't notice if you bought this Thermacell. Give it a good 15 minutes to start up, then hang out outside, and give it a try. In the past month (summertime), I've seen one mosquito, and it quickly flew away.
That's it. It claims a 15-foot area of protection, but I think that might be a bit optimistic. I set it between my family on our back porch and we're protected, but if any of us veer much beyond about 10 feet, the bugs will find you.
It's still a testament to Thermacell's effectiveness. It works." — X8842 Get it from Amazon for $19.
99+ (available in 12 colors). 13. A Coleman cot and air mattress if you're decidedly against sleeping on the cold, hard ground.
This elevated sleeping arrangement will feel like you actually booked this experience on Expedia. Promising review: "This is the most AMAZING camping bed I've ever used, and I've camped my entire life. Not only is it up off of the ground, so my 36-year-old disabled ass doesn't have to cry every time I get in and out of my sleeping bag, my suitcase FITS UNDERNEATH THE BED.
Then, there's the cot itself. Mmm..
.comfy. There's an included air mattress! But won't that just fall off of the cot? That's where the genius of Coleman comes in, kids.
They added a pocket made out of super soft microfiber material that feels like your favorite grandmammy's sheets and zippers open to slide the PREMIUM COLEMAN AIR MATTRESS WITH DOUBLE AIRLOCK MAGICALNESS inside, and then you ZIPPER IT SHUT AGAIN. But wait. There's more.
HOW CAN THERE POSSIBLY BE MORE?! YOU'VE ALREADY GIVEN US SO MUCH, COLEMAN! Mother-loving side tables, Batman. They snap on right where you want them. With holes for all of your beverage-holding needs.
And just enough room for a Kindle, a phone, and an adult beverage." — dammit Liesl Get it from Amazon for $189.99+ (available in twin and queen sizes).
14. Or a Big Agnes Rapide sleeping pad as a more lightweight option for people trying to pack light. You can opt to add more or less air to the pad to ensure you create the perfect firmness.
Let's see a hotel bed offer that level of customization. This sleeping pad has an R-value of 4.2, meaning it's rated to keep you warm for three-season camping and backpacking.
Promising review: "It is the most comfortable sleeping pad I have ever tried. It is easy to sleep on my side with this thing. I don't feel it getting cold at night; it properly reflects the heat off my body.
It has both a two-way valve and a one-way valve. The one-way valve makes it so you can blow up the thing all the way without needing an air pump. My only complaint is that it is not a camouflage color such as beige.
It packs down way smaller than I expected it to. I have room to put it on the inside of my backpack. It's fairly easy to fit it in its sack when rolled up.
The sack isn't too tight." — John Morris Beck Get it from Amazon for $149.98+ (available in 14 sizes).
15. A Kelty Lowdown Couch that seats three so everyone can cuddle up while roasting marshmallows and singing songs around the campfire. And, unlike at fancy hotels, dogs are allowed on the furniture.
The folding couch is made with 600D puppy-proof fabric and can hold up to 600 pounds. Promising review: "I give this chair a 6 out of 5 stars. Absolutely sturdy and comfortable.
Impressive craftsmanship for the price. We’ll be buying another." — Kim Get it from Amazon for $189.
95 (available in two colors). 16. A Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil roll-top dry sack to keep your camp clothes and electronics safe and dry, because I'm pretty sure that "nothing gets drenched in the rain" is a pretty critical expectation at all hotels.
This lightweight sack rolls closed and can be hung from a tree if you want to keep it away from bears (yet another hotel expectation: no animals eating your stuff). BuzzFeed Shopping writer Rachel Dunkel has this and says: "On my camping trips, I always bring two of these bags that each work double time. One serves as my clothes bag, which doubles as a pillow at night when covered by my Buff .
The other is my food bag since it's easy to hang as a bear bag as well. Sometimes I bring another for my electronics, but sometimes they just go in with my clothes. But enough of my packing specifics — the point is, they're incredibly reliable, actually waterproof, and being able to pack them down nice and small as you take things out of them is *chef's kiss*.
" Promising review: "I used the 20 L as a bear bag, and it worked great! Strong enough to hold several pounds of food and kept everything dry. My friend had the heavier version of this bag, but IMO this lighter version was sufficient (unless you’re boating)." — Becca C Get it from Amazon for $11.
96+ (available in six sizes and four colors). 17. A hanging LED lantern and fan hybrid you can hook to the top of your tent, because who said you can't take a ceiling fan on a camping trip? The fan has two settings and provides up to 10 mph wind speeds, so try not to be blown away by this amazing invention.
Batteries are not included, so pick some up here . Promising review: "I went camping this week, and I just hate when it's sooooo darn hot in the tent, and of course, there's no place to put a fan AND a light. This one worked perfectly.
It hung by its built-in hook to the top of the tent, the light was just right, and the fan was quiet and effective for a two-person tent. Happy I bought it." — Kevin Gaither Get it from Amazon for $15.
99 18. A Goal Zero Flip USB Power Bank so you can charge your devices as easily as if there were an outlet available in every tree trunk. Backpackers love this option because it's simple, slim, reliable, and has a 10,050 milliamp hours battery capacity.
In layman's terms, you'll have enough power to charge three phones or one tablet. If you're looking for USB-C, consider this option . Promising review: "I bought this power bank for overnight and multi-day backpacking trips.
Works just as I had hoped — charges my iPhone quickly and doesn't add a ton of weight to my pack. Great product!" — MarketAce Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in three colors).
19. Bendable Luminoodle LED lights offering cozy ambience that'll make your campsite feel magical, and even resort-like. They have magnets built in, so they can attach to metal surfaces like your car hood or RV canopy.
Promising review: "These lights provide a ton of light for nighttime camping. I strung them outside of our tent, and they provided plenty of light for several hours, for two nights, without needing to be recharged. They may last longer; I just didn't need to use them another night.
If you keep them rolled up in the bag, they work as a bright lantern. The bulbs are in a thick plastic tube, so you don't have to worry about breaking them as easily as regular small bulbs would break. I've bought three of them because they work great.
" — Reg Get it from Amazon for $35.99+ (available in two sizes, in color, and with or without a battery pack). 20.
A mini kitchen tool set complete with a grater, bottle opener, pizza cutter, swivel peeler, and grinder. The tools are designed to be stackable and easy to store, so you can feel like you have access to a full kitchen, even in the middle of the woods. Promising review: "I got this for the camper and it is great.
They all are attached and fit together, so they take up less room than buying them separately in parleyed sizes." — Jennifer Chambers Get it from Amazon for $18.99 .
21. And since you want this food to actually taste good, a lightweight spice kit with refillable tubes. You can opt to buy these pre-filled with standard spices like garlic salt and lemon pepper or fill them yourself with spices from home.
Either way, it'll beat bringing your whole kitchen drawer with you. The spices are: lemon pepper, garlic salt, seasoned salt, cracked pepper and herb, barbecue, onion salt, and two empties. You can also get the tubes customized with whatever spice names you'd like.
Pugtail Originals is a small business run by Sherri Stauth in Oregon. Get it from Pugtail Originals on Etsy for $20+ (available in three colors). 22.
An Aeropress coffee and espresso maker capable of brewing barista-level coffee anywhere boiling water is available. It's small, durable, and easy to clean, meaning you can enjoy a wonderfully brewed cup of coffee even in areas too remote for a Starbucks. The set comes with the chamber, plunger, seal, filter cap, funnel, filter holder, scoop, and stirrer.
Here's a super informative video on how to use the Aeropress (while camping, even!) made by the coffee experts at Stumptown. Promising review: "This might make some of the best, fastest coffee I have ever had. I visited my cousin in Alaska and she used one EVERY day for her coffee.
I forgot completely about it until it was time to take this camping trip, and I randomly found it on Amazon while searching for camping kettles — I am so glad I did. It is super compact, durable, and easy to use. You can have a real quick cup in 30 seconds, or you can wait a couple of minutes and let the flavors meld; the choice is yours.
" — Gordon Leonard Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in two sizes). 23.
And a CamelBak Horizon mug with a well-sealed lid and double-wall vacuum-insulated construction to keep your fresh coffee hot. If you could, you'd give this camping experience five stars on TripAdvisor. Promising review: "This mug is the perfect travel mug for me.
It has a rubberized bottom so it won’t slip on a table, and if your car can accommodate cups with handles, then this will work well. Use it daily for work and back." — oceanic_ Get it from Amazon for $19.
69+ (available in five colors). 24. An inflatable toddler travel bed with bumpers to keep your kiddo so secure and comfortable, they might forget they're sleeping on the ground instead of a hotel cot.
Promising review: "Used this for my 2.5-year-old's first camping trip. She loved sleeping in it and it made bedtime much easier than I thought in a new place .
It's large, but glad it will last a while." — Alicia Archer Get it from Amazon for $84.92 (available in three colors).
25. A folding picnic table complete with wineglass and bottle holders, plus plenty of room for cheese, of course. You'll feel like you're staying at an upscale vineyard while you snack away and listen to the sounds of nature.
The bamboo table comes with a magnetic strip to hold silverware and a travel bag. Golden Creazione is a small business based in Texas. Get it from Golden Creazione on Etsy for $61.
83 . 26. A Kelty three-season mummy sleeping bag offering a level of warmth and snuggliness normally only seen in fully-made-up beds.
The down is 550-fill and is rated to 20 degrees, making it a three-season bag that rivals the comfort of a Four Seasons. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Rachel Dunkel has this and says: "An earlier model of this bag was my first actual backpacking sleeping bag, and I've been thrilled with it. I'm still using it three years later! It fits perfectly into the bottom section of my pack and isn't *too* difficult to get back in its stuff sack.
I'd call it an entry-level bag for backpacking since there are lighter-weight (and, ahem, much more expensive) options, but for a casual camper or backpacker, it does the trick." Promising review: "When planning a backpacking trip, I needed something more compact. My previous mummy bag was synthetic, 30-degree rated, and took up too much room in my pack.
Did some research, and this was smaller, lighter, rated 10 degrees warmer, and fit my budget. I've come to find that down packs incredibly easy, so packing it away is so much easier than synthetics. The bag itself is very comfortable.
I appreciate the two-way zipper with the option of opening from the bottom. This bag kept me warm (granted, it was only low 40s on my first use). The built-in hood was also very warm and comfy, actually made my inflatable pillow more bearable, too.
Recommended product." — Armen Get it from Amazon for $124.46+ (available in four styles).
27. A Hornet Elite OSMO Ultralight backpacking tent designed for backpackers who want the lightest possible tent with the most important features. When BuzzFeed Shopping writer Rachel Dunkel first used it, she said: "I swear I heard angels sing.
" Here is more from Dunkel on her experience: "When looking for your first ultralight backpacking tent, it's hard to know what features you'll be OK with giving up. With the Nemo Hornet Elite, I still have all the comforts of most car camping tents — an upper pocket, some freestanding poles, a rainfly, and a vestibule — just made of lightweight materials. It is semi-freestanding, meaning you need to stake some parts of it out to get it fully set up, but it's easy to do and a small trade-off for how well it packs down and how easy it is to carry.
It's a happy medium between weightier freestanding tents and tents set up only with trekking poles. I opted for the one-person size, which is *very* much the size of one camper, but to my delight, at 5'6", there's room at my feet to store my backpack if I want to. That, or the vestibule under the rainfly, also fits it perfectly.
I've had zero problems with condensation or rain getting in (though I've gotten lucky and have only endured some sprinkles on trips in this tent). It doesn't come with a footprint, but honestly, I just cut a blue tarp to size to use, and it worked perfectly (though you can get the official footprint here ). And while this is for sure a backpacking tent, I love it so much that as long as I'm camping alone, it will be the tent I bring on car camping trips, too.
Next up, Joshua Tree!" Get it from Nemo for $549.95+ (available in one- or two-person versions). 28.
Or if you're more in glamping, a luxurious tent with sides you can roll up for a nice 360-degree view. This will be a fun option for festivals, backyard camping, and nights when you want to pretend you're a celebrity staying in a fancy yurt, just trying to get away from it all. Promising review: "This tent is amazing.
We went camping with it for the first time this fall, so it was a little chilly. The tent kept the heat in beautifully. Calling it a tent is almost an insult.
I would have been comfortable camping in it for a month or more. We discovered that it had a stove pipe vent on it and plan to take it out a little later in the year. It took about 30 minutes to set up the first time but was fairly easy.
Canvas seems to be thick and durable. When it rained, tent didn’t leak at all. We love this tent and will use it as long as we can.
I would highly recommend 💕." — Laurel Get it from Amazon for $389+ (available in three sizes). 29.
A portable solar generator so you can bring all of your favorite electronics and feel like you're still a little bit on the grid. Plug in your TV, gaming console, and laptop, and pretend like you're staying at a particularly rustic inn. This device is equipped with a 240Wh lithium-ion battery pack, weighing only 6.
6 pounds! The power station can be recharged by the solar panel or through a wall outlet or car charger. Promising review: "My wife and I do a lot of remote car camping and lug a multitude of electronics, including several GoPro’s, cell phones, rechargeable batteries, a laptop, and our portable air compressor pump/tire inflator. To keep all these devices running, we use the Jackery 240 because it has a large capacity and can also be recharged or topped off from the vehicle’s cigarette lighter port while driving.
It can also be recharged from an outlet when you have access to power. The unit has two USB ports, but you can add a USB hub if you need to plug in more than two USB devices. The Jackery 240 supports a maximum continuous load of 200W, so you need to be mindful of the types of items you plug in.
The illuminated display will inform you of the total watts being used. The Jackery is also useful to have around the house in the event of a power failure." — Rick_C Get it from Amazon for $219.
99 . 30. A Holey Hiker cap to turn almost any bottle of water into a portable bidet.
The four-hole cap will give you a bathroom refresh you'd otherwise have to travel to Europe to find. American hotels — where are your bidets? Holey Hiker Bidets is a small business based in Connecticut that works with a family-owned business to make these plastic (not 3D-printed) attachments. Watch a video on how this works here .
Get it from Holey Hiker Bidets on Etsy for $13.75 . 31.
A pull-string fire starter in case your scout training is a little rusty. These require no matches, lighters, or flames — just pull the cord, and you'll have a roaring fire that feels like a hotel staff member prepared just for you. Promising review: "Genius! Lit immediately and our wood was soaking wet! It’s a must-have for all camping/fire-pit events! No more newspapers, boxes, or lighter fluid!" — Mcee Get a pack of three from Amazon for $18.
99 (also available in larger packs). 32. Or a pack of wax-based fire starters with built-in flowers, cinnamon, and pine needles that'll make you feel like you're actually staying at an upscale resort, relaxing by the firepit.
Duck Island Designs is a small business based in Westbrook, Connecticut that sells hand-poured soy candles made in small batches. Promising review: "Works well for outdoor fire! They are very pretty, so feels special and relaxing to use them for family firepit night. Works well if you start your fire with smaller kindling.
A nice treat!" — Amelia Bowen Get a pack of five from Duck Island Designs on Etsy for $12 . Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity..
