Camping

After sleeping in 25 tents, we think the Kelty Grand Mesa 4 is the best tent for two people and the Eureka Copper Canyon LX 6 is best for most families.

This winter, a wearable sleeping bag will keep you cozy during your socially distant outdoor hangouts with friends.

After wrapping ourselves in thirteen different puffy blankets, we found the Rumpl Down Puffy is the best insulated blanket to take outside.

The latest version of Black Diamond’s Spot—the bright and reliable Spot 350—is still the headlamp we use to light our way.

Whether we’re making a morning cup of coffee or grilling up burgers, the Coleman Classic Propane Stove is our choice for campfire cookouts.

We slept on 15 sleeping pads on five camping trips and found the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite to be the best for backpackers; the Therm-a-Rest LuxuryMap is tops for car campers.

A good tent is one of the most important pieces of camping equipment you’ll buy. Here’s how to make it last for years.

After using 34 sleeping bags in the Western wild, we think the REI Co-op Siesta 25 is the best for basic camping—and we have backpacking and couples’ picks too.

Create a bug-free bubble outdoors with these spatial insect repellents.

After doing 24 hours of research and testing seven options, our favorite solar shower is the Advanced Elements 5-Gallon Summer Shower.

We took a total of 15 kids on two weekend camping trips and found that the REI Kindercone 25 is the best sleeping bag for most little campers.

We took 16 fold-up chairs on three weekend camping trips and used them in the backyard for six months to find some standout ways to sit down in the outdoors.

Although national parks are reopening, not all the services you’d expect will be available. Here’s what to pack for your next visit to help fill in the gaps.

Car camping can be challenging for wheelchair users, but with the right gear and information, anyone can feel confident spending a night in the great outdoors.

After evaluating a dozen popular packs, we chose six and kid-tested them in the wilds of suburban Los Angeles (and the surrounding hills and trails). We picked two that will work for most families, both from REI: the Tarn 12 for little kids and the Tarn 18 for bigger kids.

Whether your sleeping bag is filled with down or down alternative, here’s how to clean it.

Ride out a power outage or elevate a camping trip with a portable inverter generator. The Honda EU2200i is our favorite.

Investing in some high-quality basics can get kids excited about camping out—and help you avoid a mid-trip detour to the nearest big-box store.

The easy-to-set-up REI Co-op Screen House Shelter is our canopy tent pick, with good sun and insect protection and a bright, roomy feel. We researched 14 canopy tents and tested eight top contenders before deciding.

We spent 35 hours testing 10 packable camping hammocks on hikes and in the park, and found that ENO’s SingleNest Hammock is the best choice for most people.

We spent 60 hours testing packable towels and are convinced the odor-controlled PackTowl Personal microfiber towel is the best option for drying off just about anywhere.

A trip to Yellowstone or Yosemite may not yet be in the cards, but we’ve come up with some ideas, plus the gear, to make camping out in the backyard fun too.

After 14 hours of research and tests of 12 wilderness first aid kits, we think Adventure Medical’s Mountain Backpacker Kit is best for most weekend warriors.

When the Wirecutter outdoor team goes car camping—as opposed to backpacking and carrying gear into the wilderness—this is the gear they bring.

Here’s how the Wirecutter crew gets creative with fireside cooking when we’re car camping, from tools we use to our favorite recipes.