I have always been one for outdoor activities. Several years ago, my friends and I started an annual camping trip that was initially for my birthday, and over time became an annual camping trip just for fun, for no particular reason. The first few years we started camping, we started sleeping in one big 12 person tent with all stakes and props, took a bunch to put it up and spent about 20-30 minutes on it. We’d only go to a couple of different spots and the level of preparation we were on was about a 2 out of 10. In recent years we’ve been to a music festival which is Coachella and to say the least, we’ve been blown away by how great our friend’s settings are.
It wasn’t until we were introduced to the idea of ”glamping” that we decided to step up our camping game. While the gear we were using improved slightly, the way we were going about the layout fell behind for some upgrades. We were totally pampered while camping at Coachella. While we were there squeezing 4 people into a small tent, all of our friends had these large pop up tents with inflatable air mattresses, memory foam padding, a night stand and even area rugs.
Lately, we’ve been camping pretty much every month this year. We like to explore and head north towards the Sequoias and occasionally around Orange County. It was a bit difficult to drive after work to our campsite and struggle to pitch our tent in the dark. Nowadays, Costco along with many sporting goods stores have affordable tents that take less than a minute to set up. These tents were worth every dollar that many of my friends and I have spent, and the best part is that they are so well built and so comfortable that one person can easily set them up under minimal light. (An added bonus is buying from Costco, as they have an insanely good return policy – they take back practically anything purchased from them) These pop up tents are very affordable and when compared to the old style poles and tents, this is a great way to go. What could be more convenient than a moderately priced tent that goes from stowed to fully set up in a matter of seconds? Handheld shower head.
You’ve never shied if you weren’t able to take a nice refreshing shower from an actual handheld shower. This handheld shower head has provided us with a lot of convenience for the small price. You can buy it from Amazon or many other online retail stores. It comes battery operated and has a filter at the pump end to prevent the shower head from pumping out dirt or other unwanted things or getting clogged. The water pressure comes out just like a normal home water line and during times when it’s very hot this easily becomes the main attraction. The only extras you’ll need aside from batteries can be purchased for a few bucks at places like Home Depot. The 5-gallon buckets work perfectly and you’ll be surprised how long this bucket of water lasts when you do without a battery-operated shower head.
After cooling off under the shower, we just want to stretch out and bask in the sun (or not if it’s too hot!) The most comfortable chairs we found are the Zero Gravity Chairs with small fold-out tables attached. These can recline so that you lie flat and boy is he comfortable. Sure, the typical folding camp chairs are pretty nice but they can’t recline or adjust like zero gravity ones. If that chair still isn’t comfortable enough and you want to take a quick nap, why not lie down on the ultra-comfortable air mattress?
Now, you might be thinking… why do we have an air mattress? Why not use a good old sleeping bag? Have you ever had to sleep on a regular sleeping bag with almost no pillow underneath? This has to be one of the most uncomfortable things you can do and in the morning you wake up with aches and pains…not a fun time. Using an inflatable mattress has to be the biggest change to camping we’ve done but for the better.
These are the few pieces of gear that I would suggest to step up your camping game. Not only can you buy all of these items relatively cheaply, but you can find most if not all of these items online, from the comfort of your own home. Whether you’re a minimalist or a wizard, this gear can completely change the way you camp. The convenience offered by these items can help you get the blissful rest and relaxation that should always be associated with a successful camping trip.
