1. An inflatable lounge chair that will make a sunny outdoor nap feel like the height of luxury. You inflate it just by whipping it in the wind, meaning no pesky hand pumps or electricity needed!

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "I'm not a small person, and I wasn't sure how it would hold me, but this chair is wonderful. I have used it all over! I took it camping, I took it to the beach, and I even sometimes blow it up and use it in my living room while watching TV. The hardest part is getting out of it gracefully!" —Limoncello

Price: $37.98+ (available in 20 colors and patterns)

2. A pack of Alpine Start, AKA the most delicious instant coffee in the land. I know what you're thinking, but believe me, it HITS. I tried it for backpacking trips and ended up loving it so much that I keep it on hand in my house all the time for mornings when I'm feeling lazy and need some java. Yes, that's every morning, get off my case.

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Promising review: "Great product! Had both hot and with slightly coolish water, and both times it tasted great. Having a cup of coffee on the summit of a mountain was great, and adding in coffee that tastes good is even better! Will buy for future backpacking trips for sure." —Kelley Hemminger

Price: $19.99

3. A 27-piece camping kitchen set so you're all set as far as cooking and eating utensils go. You may find yourself even more prepared in the woods than at home! 

Amazon

Promising review: "I solely relied on this set for all my cooking utensil needs in a camper, and it has ALL the essentials. I was pleasantly surprised at the knife, scissor, and can opener quality. Dare I say those items perform better than my at home set?! The only minor thing I would/will add is a slotted serving spoon and a small oven type mit. I highly recommend this set! It really is a great deal for the quality. Even the cutting board is nice (washes well and is a good size)." —Beast Tamer by Day

Price: $42.49 (available in four colors)

4. An over-the-fire camp grill for anyone who wants to cook a meal with the coals without having to wrap everything in tin foil.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "It's a fire grate — nothing fancy, but I've cooked many a meal on it, from grilling burgers and brats to using it to support my cast iron cookware for more complex meals. I can fit a 15-inch skillet and my Dutch oven, or the skillet and a griddle for cooking breakfast. It folds easy for packing and has held up through multiple uses now." —Carl Shipley

Price: $25.10

5. A 32-ounce lightweight Nalgene so you have a reusable option on hand that doesn't weigh you down. Metal and glass options are great, but I tend to prefer more durable, lighter, and quieter ones for the outdoors. Yes, it's plastic, but Nalgene bottles are made to last. I've had mine for five years and counting, and they're in perfect condition.

Amazon

Promising review: "Basic wide-mouth water bottle I take along on backpack hikes in the Sierras. Nothing fancy to it, so it will last longer than others. Can take a beating and does not leak. What more do you need in a water bottle?" —Teamleader100

Price: $13.06

6. A Sawyer Squeeze water filtration system that blows any other system out of the — say it with me — water. It's adaptable and easy to use in almost any situation, planned or not. I've encountered some pretty sad excuses for water sources and have still been able to get liquid into the bag to be filtered and safely consumed.

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Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed

The set comes with one squeeze screw-on water filter, two 32-ounce collapsible pouches, one replaceable pop-up drinking spout, and one syringe filter cleaner. It weighs three ounces. It removes bacteria such as salmonella, cholera, and E. coli, as well as protozoa such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

I adore this water filter for its ease of use, adaptability, small size, and zero wait time. Just fill the bag, screw on the filter, and roll the bag to squeeze the filtered water into your bottle. You don't need to wait for it to be done like with water treatment pills or gravity systems, and there's no funky taste — just fresh, clean, crisp water. If even the bag-filling situation sounds like it would take too much time, you can also screw the filter DIRECTLY ONTO A WATER BOTTLE and drink straight from it. Game-changing. Either way, it's a quick, lightweight system that I completely recommend.

Note: if you’re immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it’s safe for you.

Promising review: "This thing is awesome, we used it on our 3,500-mile trip, stopping at various hiking spots and trails and camping, and having clean drinking water you can trust when on a long trip is vital. This gave me peace of mind that no matter where we filled up, creek or random water spigot, we had clean drinking water. The cleansing tablets are a must for outdoor on-the-go water sources but with this system, you don't have to carry a lot of heavy water in your pack to slow you down. A friend of mine used this hiking on the entire Arizona Trail and some of the water he used in it I wouldn’t have let a dog drink but he did and this thing worked like a charm and cleaned the water for him to safely drink throughout the desert on his hike. From that point on, I was sold." —Combustion Works

Price: $45.95

7. A puffy Rumpl indoor/outdoor blanket to keep you warm and cozy all through the night — whether you grab it for some time around the bonfire or add it to your sleep setup. Its smooth surface is water- and dirt-resistant, so there are no worries about exposing it to the elements. Its 4.8-star overall rating backs me up here.

Amazon, Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed

The Rumpl blanket is also machine-washable and dryer-safe!

Promising review: "We took this king-size blanket with us on our camping trip to New Zealand. At first I thought it might have been too overkill since it took up a lot of space in my luggage and a duvet was included in our camper van rental. But we ended up using this every night, enjoying the warmth and breathable comfort even on fairly warm evenings. It was definitely large enough for two even with tossing and turning, we both had enough Rumpl to sleep well throughout the night. Great purchase, totally worth it." —becca606

Price: $69.97+ (available in two styles and 3 colors and designs)

Check out my full Rumpl blanket review for more deets on why I'm all-in on these insulated beauts.

8. A portable, hand-operated espresso machine that whips up the good stuff (yes, even the crema!) using just a little bit of boiling water and a pump mechanism — no electricity or stove top required. *Swoon*

Amazon

Promising review: "A lifesaver on chilly mornings when camping. Bought this for backpacking and lightweight camping, and I'm glad I did! Works great for one person, might want to consider the larger size for two people. It's light and compact, easy to rinse out with any remaining hot water you have." —Matt G.

Price: $54.90

9. A compressible camping pillow so you have the perfect place to lay your head as you dream of building the perfect campfire and toasting the most delicious marshmallow to ever exist.

Amazon

The pillow is machine-washable. 

Promising review: "The pillow packs down to a very small size, small enough to pack away for a weekend backpacking trip, and is more comfortable than any of the inflatable pillows that save space. Well worth the space used!" —Billy Wyrick

Price: $27.62+ (available in three sizes and nine colors/patterns)

10. A pair of binoculars for getting a closer look at the local flora and fauna. Is that a cardinal?! Oh, nope, just a weird red leaf.

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Promising review: "I use these for hiking, exploration, and just overall when I am camping or walking around somewhere and want to see things far away. I really think the compact size and the quality of the image are unparalleled. Definitely worth the price for me." —Kyle Giffin

Price: $29.99+ (available in four sizes)

11. A Goal Zero Flip Power Bank so you can charge your devices, no problem. From phones to navigation devices to headlamps, it'll be a relief to know you won't have any essential electronics poop out without a backup battery. I've had a Goal Zero for a few years and find the reliability well worth the price.

Amazon

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

Price: $29.95+ (available in two sizes and three colors)

12. A BioLite AlpenGlow Mini Lantern that packs a whole lotta light into a teeny-tiny package. With a diameter of just three inches, it's a breeze to pop into any bag, and an integrated bungee makes it easy to hang almost anywhere. It's USB rechargeable and can run for 40 hours on its lowest setting, though it'll be hard to resist playing with the "party" setting, which cycles through its multicolor modes. Fun!

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BioLite doesn't miss!!! There's no one I trust more with outdoorsy lighting than them, and this little guy is my new favorite gadget for keeping camp well-lit until it's time for some shut-eye. It has one easy-to-use button, the integrated bungee really does make it attachable to your tent or a nearby branch, and a long battery life is a must. It's a great personal lantern. 

Promising review: "I love it. It is bright, small enough to take on camping trip in your backpack, long lasting battery power, rechargeable, different color selection, etc.

I bought a few and my kids love them. We put them in our backyard when we have guest in the evening, or take them camping - each of us has one." —sigrid j.

Price: $45.95 (available in two colors)

13. A LifeStraw personal water filter over 119,000 raters have vouched for with an average of 4.8 stars if you need a little peace of mind for a "just in case" water filtration situation. This little device allows you to safely drink from any water source and is small enough to tote along anywhere.

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The straw's microfiltration membrane eliminates bacteria and parasites so you can safely drink from any available water source without worry.

Note: if you’re immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it’s safe for you.

Promising review: "We recently went camping and decided to try this out. I took a small sample straight from the lake, and it tasted like lake water. Then I sampled it through the straw, and it tasted like it came straight from the filtered water from the refrigerator." —Terry Roberson

Price: $17.47 (available in three colors and in multipacks)

14. A pull-string fire starter because you're probably a little rusty on your Boy Scouts skills and no one in your camp crew is going to give you a badge anyway. Put the sticks down — this'll do all the hard work for you!

Amazon

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

Price: $17.99 for a three-pack

15. A cot and air mattress if sleeping on the hard ground is a hard no from you. Sleeping under the stars is rad, but sleeping in a BED under the stars? Unbeatable.

Amazon, amazon.com

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 grand-mammy'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

Price: $193.69+ (available in twin and queen sizes)

16. A Yeti Tundra 35 cooler because they really do make some seriously splurge-worthy coolers. This one has an impressive 4.8-star overall rating for its durability and, of course, ability to keep things cold for a wildly long time.

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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 multiple times and I love it!" —Gruber

Price: $220+ (available in eight colors)

17. And a cooler light so reaching for a can after the sun sets is never a shot in the dark. Sidebar: would watch a TV show about tricked-out coolers.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "This little device was surprisingly WONDERFUL! My hubby hesitated to put it on his 'precious' YETI cooler, but after putting it in, we both were astounded! We never thought about how much easier it would be on our tent camping trips to be able to easily see into the cooler after dark! This was a game changer for us! It works exactly as described. It comes on when opened and goes off when closed — just like your fridge!" —Suzyzzle

Price: $14.50

18. An Aeropress coffee and espresso maker with a stellar 4.7-star rating from over 20,800 reviewers that brews top-notch coffee anywhere boiling water is available. It's also small, durable, and easy to clean, so bringing it to the ends of the Earth with you is a no-brainer, especially when a hot bevy in the morning is considered essential.

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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 smarties 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

Price: $33.99 (available in seven colors)

19. Or a Stanley pour-over set that is so extra in its outdoorsiness it must be applauded. If you're in the center of the Venn diagram of people who love gear *and* the perfect artisanal pour-over, I can't think of a better splurge.

Amazon, amazon.com

The set includes the pour-over, a reusable metal filter, and a matching mug.

Promising review: "I make coffee in this at home or camping. Easy to wash. Keeps the liquid hot for a long time. I’d recommend 100%. I’d give as a gift for a camping friend who loves that hot cup in the morning but doesn’t want to make a full pot. 10/10." —sandawarrior

Price: $39.99+ (available in six colors)

20. A pop-up trash can that will help you keep any and all waste contained. Always remember to take out everything you brought into the site — especially trash!

Amazon

Promising review: "SERIOUSLY, leave no trace! This pop-up trash can is a lifesaver when camping or picnicking. It's large, so standard 13-gallon bags are useless; use at least a 30-gallon bag. This pop-up has two nylon straps at the bottom so you can stake it to the ground. When you're done and ready to leave, you can just tie your trash bag up in the can and zip it shut until you can get to a proper area to dispose of your trash." —Scott Troup

Price: $14.99 (available in six styles)

21. A pack of waterproof cards if you're worried about — *gasp* — getting bored. That's OK. You can't expect to be thrilled by watching trees move in the breeze after a few days. Now you and your friends can play rummy without worrying that your cards will basically melt in the rain.

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Promising review: "You are camping and backpacking in the forest for weeks. You and your campmates have nothing left to say. To save your smartphone battery, you don't dare turn it on. You're on your last milliliter of whiskey. What's a person to do? Play cards, of course! These cards worked amazingly well on my backpack/camping trip. These also do well as temporary coasters or when you need to keep something off the dirt. After a couple of days of rain and humid evenings, one expects a simple set of cards to perform, and these did indeed." —paititi

Price: $6.97

22. A simple Coleman lantern essential for keeping your path illuminated (and staying safe) as you traverse camp after dark.

Amazon

The lantern requires four D batteries. 

Promising review: "A convenient alternative to the old Coleman camping lanterns that used a fabric mantle and burned gasoline fuel. Hangs easily on a loop in a tent or on a stretched line. Provides plenty of light. Well-suited for camping and other outdoor uses, but too large for backpacking." —D E Conner

Price: $33.53

23. A pair of Smartwool Mountaineer Maximum Cushion crew socks so you have the perfect pair for day hikes out of camp *or* some snuggly sleep socks. I love my Smartwool socks and highly recommend getting a few pairs of outdoorsy socks for any major trips you have coming up.

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Promising review: "My feet get really cold in the winter and these socks, worn with my great Keen boots, keep them pretty warm. If you need extra winter warmth, these are for you. Not cheap, but well worth it to keep your feet comfy." —D. R. M.

Price: $27 for women's (available in sizes S–L and in two colors) and $27 for men's (available in sizes S–XL and in two colors)

24. A set of marshmallow (or hot dog!) roasting sticks that telescope all the way out to 34 inches for campfire time. Goodbye, singed knuckle hair! But don't worry, they collapse back to 10 inches for easy storage. 

Amazon, www.amazon.com

Each one has a different color at its base, so you always know whose stick is whose. And because it has two prongs, marshmallows don't spin on the stick when they get extra gooey, making it easier to get that perfectly even caramelized crunchy layer.

Promising review: "These lightweight roasting sticks are a lifesaver! I enjoy being able to turn them effortlessly so the entire marshmallow gets that nice crust from the flame. The colors helped us from using someone else’s stick haha! Must-haves for any bonfire! They roast hot dogs well, too." —PAJ

Price: $14.97+ (available in a six-pack, eight-pack, or 10-pack)

25. A four-pack of lightweight collapsible silicone mugs with lids so you don't have to drag around an awkwardly shaped mug around if you're trying to pack nice and light or are headed out backpacking.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "We bought these a year ago to bring on backpacking and camping/hiking trips and they have worked perfectly for when we want to drink something other than the water in our Nalgenes (Tang, hot chocolate, or coffee). Very lightweight, helpful measurement lines, attached cover to keep it clean when hanging on the outside of your backpack, durable, and easy to clean. Love them!" —M. R. S.

Price: $14.99 for a four-pack (available in five color combinations)

26. A timeless cast-iron pan that will honestly outlive you. Cooking all sorts of meat and veggies over the fire will be easy as can be and, not for nothing, quite picturesque.

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Promising review: "Take good care of it and this cast-iron pan is indestructible. I use this on the glass and gas stove, in the oven, on the grill, camp stove, camp fire, and in an Ooni oven. Clean with steel wool or a salt scrub as needed, stable oil rub regularly between uses, and re-season as needed. As good as day 1 if not better with years of use." —NN

Price: $19.90 for a 10.25-inch pan (also available in six other sizes)

27. Or a pre-seasoned six-piece cast-iron campfire cooking kit that comes with a pan, pot, and Dutch oven. Ambitious camp cooks rejoice — the opportunity to cook a scrumptious three-course meal using only coals has finally arrived. 

Amazon

The set also comes with a lid for the pot (which is listed as a "chicken fryer," a lid lifter, and a hot handle holder. 

Promising review: "My boyfriend and I were looking for a cast-iron cooking set for our camping trip to cook with over the fire. While shopping online and in stores, they were usually sold separately and pretty expensive. Then I came across this set and at a great price. With such an affordable price, you'd think they were low quality and surprisingly, they weren't. We used this set twice already and we are very happy with the quality of the pot and pan. I also love the little handle glove and the lid lifter to keep from burning yourself. I'm very happy with mine. A definite buy for all campers or anyone looking for a cast-iron set." —AntiSocialSusie

Price: $50.86

28. A pack of two LED headlamps so you (and a friend!) can always ensure the path ahead is illuminated. Whether it's just in case for a late-night hike, finding your way to the bathroom at 2 a.m., or reading in your tent, it's always a good idea to have one of these bad boys nearby. 

www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com

It operates using three AAA batteries.

Promising review: "These headlamps are excellent. I’ve been working on my roof at night, and they are a lifesaver. They work really well." —Brendan Hughes

Price: $19.99 for a two-pack

29. A CamelBak Horizon camp mug whose double-wall vacuum-insulated construction has a single-minded focus on keeping your hot beverages hot. I have this mug and can confirm that the slider lid is ACTUALLY leak-proof. Backcountry coffee just got even better.

Amazon

Promising review: "These are great and keep our coffee warm. Love the color selection. A little heavy for a backpacking trip, fine for car camping." —vielleicht

Price: $21+ (available in eight colors)

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.