The lack of face-to-face interaction during these unprecedented times is taking its toll on everyone.
There’s a whole list of things that I miss about life pre-COVID-19, and while real conversation is up there, I do miss some adventure in my life.
As the summer is officially underway, and the world looks like it’s starting to get back to some kind of normalcy, I decided to get out of the house and try out some of the best camping gear of 2020. Here are my top picks for your next adventure.
The Dirt Motel 4 designed by Kelty is one of the coolest tents around. Spacious and comfortable on the inside, the Dirt Motel also includes a few nice extras.
The tent has essentially two layers, the outside cover that provides privacy when needed and a second layer called the Stargazing Fly. The fly allowed us to (you guessed it) stargaze in peace from bugs and other creatures.
It truly is an amazing experience and a great addition to the classic tent design. The oversized door and the high ceiling makes base camp a more comfortable environment.
2. Thermarest NeoAir Sleeping Pad
In addition to a comfortable tent, a good sleeping pad is essential for any hiking trip.
To alleviate your achy knees and back, prepare them the right way and have a comfortable night sleep on the UberLite sleeping pad from Thermarest.
The Thermarest was a life saver for us. It’s small and compact when deflated, which made carrying it to our camping location very easy. The winglock valve saves time and energy when blowing up the pad, as the patented design doesn’t let any air out when you’re exhaling.
The valve also works well when deflating, simply twist the wings and your pad is deflated in seconds.
Whether you’re chilling in the backyard with a good book or hanging between two trees in the silence of the wilderness, the Eno Double Deluxe Hammock is the perfect size and space for you and your partner.
When you want to get away from your tent and get some fresh air, there’s nothing better than gently swinging in a hammock. The hammock can comfortably fit two people, and it’s spacious design will have you taking an afternoon nap very quickly.
The seams are triple-stitched for safety and the hammock can also be packed into a very small space for ease of carry during your hike.
4. Camp Chef Everest Two Burner Stove
Whether your feeding two or ten the Camp Chef Everest Two Burner Stove is the perfect cooker to fill everyone up. Small enough to take on a hike, the stove actually packs quite a punch.
Two high pressure burners (burning at 20,000 BTU) can cook meat eggs and others on the griddle, while you can boil pasta, rice or potatoes on the burner.
The griddle meant I could cook my sausages to perfection, and the Camp Chef’s three-sided windscreen was perfect to keep the smoke away from our tent while keeping the stoves burning without any issues.
5. GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Base Camper Set
The stainless steel cookware bundle from GSI was a perfect match for the Camp Chef stove I tested. GSI describes the bundle as “built to take it, and designed to make it” and it’s true.
The set comes with a frypan, 2L and 3L pots (it also comes with strainer lids), all compacted and well-designed to be able to fit inside each other and in my bag.
The steel pots are durable enough to be used even on an open flame or coal fire. We had a great meal using the pot and frypan on our Camp Chef stove, and clean-up was extremely quick and easy.
Last but not least, one of the most important items for a successful hike is the Osprey Archeon 25 backpack. It’s compact but still has enough space and versatility to hold all my essential gear.
The roll-top closure can increase the size of the bag if needed, whether you’re commuting to work on the bus or packing the essentials for a hiking weekend.
This versatile bag was crafted with durable recycled fabrics and comes with dual side pockets, a reservoir sleeve and even a removable raincover to help you battle even the toughest elements. The best feature about this bag however is the comfort.
The HDPE framesheet spreads the load evenly throughout the straps, making even the heaviest object feel light.
Stainless steel cookware is a great investment and can be an excellent way to get a great deal on some of your kitchen tools. If you make sure that you have a set that will last you quite a while, you will be able to enjoy many years of great use out of the pans.