It’s time to head out on that big fall road trip you have been yearning for all summer. Here’s the gear you’ll need no matter if you are in transit or settled into camp.
1. Cusa Coffee
Variety Pack
Gas station coffee stinks. Cusa Coffee does not. These quality instant coffee packets can get you through a long drive far better than roadside sludge. Simply mix one small packet with 8 to 10 ounces of hot or cold (mmm cold brew!) water, and you are driving in your own mobile café. Bonus: They are perfect for camp and backpacking, too. $25; drinkcusa.com
2. CamelBak ChillBak Pack 30 Soft Cooler and Hydration Center
Far easier to pack away and transport than a big hard cooler, this handy backpack cooler can hold two six packs of your favorite beverages or a full picnic for you and your crew. Best of all, it’s also a hydration pack, able to hold 6 liters of water distributed through an external spigot. $300; camelbak.com
3. Titus Adventure Co.
Ready for that big road trip but don’t have the big rig of your dreams? Don’t throw down thousands of dollars to buy something new. Rent one. Based in Denver, Titus has a fleet of vehicles ranging from a Tofino camper van with a pop top that sleeps four to an offroad-ready LandCruiser with a topper tent. Titus even provides you with all the camp gear you need—from bedding and stove to a gas-powered fire pit and chairs. Not sure where to go? Titus will create an itinerary for you and suggest spots to camp with sweeping views and no crowds. tacrentals.com
4. Leki CrossTrail FX Superlite
Essential gear that’s simple to stash in your vehicle, these poles combine the durability of a hiking stick with the light performance of trail running gear. That makes them ideal for any condition you may encounter as you explore out there on the roads and trails.. They weigh in at just 203 grams per pole and adjust between 110 and 130 cm. Best of all, the hand grip system gives plenty to keep you attached without too much bulk. $250; leki.com
5. Salewa Wildfire 2
Choose that one shoe wisely for your big road trip; It needs to be able to take on a wide rage of conditions but still feel comfy in car or café. These babies answer the call with the DNA to scramble peaks thanks to a grippy sole and secure climbing lacing as well as the looks to just chill at a roadside dive. $140; salewa.com
6. Nemo Jazz Synthetic Sleeping Bag
Why mummy yourself up in a sleeping bag intended for backpacking when you can haul something more comfy in your vehicle. Consider the Jazz, which feels more like a bed than a bag, complete with a removable sheet and a heavenly quilted layer on top. It’s easy to regulate for the temperature outside and to snuggle in with someone special via mating zipper attachments or a full double model. $300 single, $3435 double; nemoequipment.com
7. Dometic GO Compact Camp Chair
One simple road trip joy is the ability to find that perfect dispersed camp spot off the grid and plop down in front of the fire, read a good book, gab, or just be at ease in the wild. Dometic’s comfy camp seat is soft on your tush and damn good looking. Plus, it folds down compactly and easily to stash in the back of even the smallest of cars. $150; dometic.com
8. Big Agnes Hinman 50″x79″x2.5″
The biggest version of Big Agnes’s plush car camping pad makes for a fine mattress for two in your tent (or one who rolls around a lot in their sleep)—but we love it as a crash-out-in-the-open option. Pull over, inflate, and splay out under the stars. $200; bigagnes.com
9. Solo Stove Pi
Pizza Oven
More compact than other portable pizza ovens, this cooker runs on both propane and wood for those pie connoisseurs who love the taste of smoke. The oven comes complete with a wood-burning assembly and a stone, but the best thing about it for the car-camping foodies among us is that the circular design allows for perfect cooking—keep a careful eye on your pizza and rotate it via a built-in turning device. $625; solostove.com
10. Bliss Hammocks Fabric Double Hammock & Stand
Not all campgrounds allow you to string that faithful hammock up between their oft-abused trees. The 9-foot stand in this double hammock means you can laze away the day anywhere you want without harming the forest. Bonus: It works just as well on your deck at home. $200; snowjoe.com
11. Wagan Tech Lithium Cube 1200
Sure, you want to get away from work and all those devices, but often it’s not possible to go on a road trip without powering up, checking in, and perhaps slipping in a Zoom meeting in the wild. Or maybe those power-needy devices are essential parts of your camp setup. Either way, this sturdy, powerful charging unit with a 1000W inverter and 1166Wh lithium-ion battery can run your laptop or a small fridge, and you can charge it via a solar panel. $1,099, $1,349 with 100W solar panel; wagan.com
12. Glade Townie
Never hit the road without a trusty pair of shades. These sleek, simple performers from Breckenridge-based brand Glade offer polarized lenses and a nice grip. They look sharp whether you are heading into town or kicking it back in camp. $99; shopglade.com
13. JBL Boombox 2
Waterproof and able to pump up the party no matter where you set up camp, this portable Bluetooth speaker includes a power station so you can charge your phone as you spin that Spotify playlist. But the sound is the big selling point: The treble rings clear, and the bass resonates in your booty. Just be respectful of any neighbors camping nearby. $450; jbl.com
14. Luno Car Window Screens
You love camping in the back of your vehicle. You love that fresh, cool night air. You hate the bugs. Here’s your simple, effective solution. This set of two screens fits on your back window and gives you peace. $50, set of two; lunolife.com
15. Oru Kayak Bay ST
A boat is a great toy to bring on a big road trip, but it’s a pain in the butt to pack and haul along. This closed cockpit “origami” kayak folds up into a suitcase, but don’t think it’s a slouch on the water. The versatile boat can navigate rapids or slice through flat water and even has the space to haul essential gear in the hull. $1,499; orukayak.com
16. Rossmönster Lagom Series
Ready to make a serious commitment to your camping lifestyle without buying a full rig? This beautifully designed truck topper not only provides sleeping space with 360-degree views, it also allows for access to your truck bed. That’s a huge advantage for those of us who like to haul a lot of gear on road trips and don’t appreciate the limited storage space of the usual camper top. Inside, it’s a dream, with the option to add dimmable LED lighting and Goal Zero power. $14,000 base package; rossmonsteroverland.com
17. Zempire Pronto
10 V2
Big enough to hold the whole clan (it sleeps 10) but packable enough that you don’t need an entire truck bed to haul it, this inflatable (aka easy-to-set-up) tent is the perfect shelter for life on the road. There’s plenty of airflow via two big screened windows, and a spacious open vestibule allows space to keep gear out of the rain or set up a chair to escape the midday sun. $1,199; zempirecamping.com
18. Ötzi Gear Flame
With increased fire danger across the West, a portable camp grill is the best way to keep everyone safe and set up that primal camp centerpiece when you are on the road (it’s also a great Leave No Trace option, since it doesn’t scar the surroundings like a campfire). Ötzi’s biggest hybrid-alloy grill gives the space to cook for four to six people, packs down flat and sleek, and offers several adjustable levels to ready your grub at the perfect temperature. $350; otzigear.com
