Photo by Şahin Yeşilyaprak via Unsplash
It’s an unfortunate reality that not everyone’s dad was as cool as mine when it came to camping credentials. We camped enough to make our Neanderthal ancestors jealous—or at least any local Scoutmaster.
What was our secret? The devil is in the details, and the glamor was in the gear. If you plan on getting your camping feet wet (but not the rest of you when it pours on your tent), you need to be a true American and burn through some cash. With the right tools, your camp can be a home away from home—anywhere in the world.*
LifeStraw
Germophobes rejoice! The LifeStraw
Pop Up Tent

Quechua Pop Up Tent
For your next summer backpacking trip, consider this portable delight: the Quechua Pop Up Camping Tent
Fire Starter
You don’t want to look like a dingus in front of your in-laws when you light up the campfire, so get the Survival Spark Magnesium Survival Fire Starter with Compass and Whistle
Shower Attachment
If you want something daintier for a shower than a vat of water dunked over you like you just won the big sports game, try the Simple Shower Portable Camping Shower

Backroadz Tent
Truck Bed Tent
Most campers have a story of a trip that went so badly they ended up sleeping in the car. Skip the drama and plan to sleep in your car to begin with—well, on your car. The Backroadz 2 Person Tent
—Rochelle Burnside*Stowaway Magazine is not sponsored by the creators of any of the following products.