Are you itching for an excellent camping adventure? Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie, having the right gear and knowing how to organize camping gear can make all the difference. This blog is your ultimate guide to the best camping gear for all your upcoming camping trips. We asked our team of outdoor experts what they would recommend. So Grace, Taylor, Ron, Julia, and Carole weighed in on this matter! Here are our tips and recommendations to help you prepare for everything you could need to get outside!
Preparing For Your Adventure
This tip may seem obvious, but it’s also a game-changer. You need to do some recon before driving into the mountains, or you might find yourself in an unexpected July thunderstorm without a rainfly. Make sure to check the weather in advance, but pack like anything could happen. It’s better to have a raincoat you never end up using than to be cold and wet in your tent for your whole trip.
You should also consider the actual location of your camping adventure—are you heading to the woods? The mountains? A lake? This will dictate your gear list and help you plan appropriately.
It’s also nice to think about your itinerary. What do you want to accomplish? What sites do you want to hit? Are there specific hikes or bike rides you want to fit in? That way, you can make sure you plan your time or download any maps you might need (or do it the old-fashioned way with a real paper map!) before you go. That way, you can enjoy your time rather than scrambling the day of.
Grace, an Owenhouse team member and outdoor enthusiast, wants you to think about what kind of adventure you’re planning: “[Another thing to consider is] the kind of gear you need will look very different if you are backpacking compared to car camping.” Backpacking gear will be more compact and lightweight, whereas car camping supplies can take up more space.
Proper planning not only ensures a smooth trip but also helps you pack efficiently, making sure you have all the essentials without overloading your pack.
Must-Have Camping Essentials
Having the right gear is crucial for a successful camping trip. From shelter to cooking equipment, these essentials will keep you comfortable and prepared for any situation. That being said, the type of adventure you’re looking for might change what you can actually bring, so plan accordingly!
Camp Furniture
From hammocks to the best camping chairs, having comfortable and durable camp furniture can significantly enhance your camping experience.
Grace loves her Eno Hammock (available in single and doublenest). “Eno hammocks are great for the backpacker or camper trying to travel light on a short trip. On nights with nice weather, you can forego the tent and sleep in your hammock instead.”
Pro tip from Grace: “Make sure to put your sleeping pad in the hammock as well as your sleeping bag. The pad will provide much-needed insulation underneath you, keeping you warm and cozy all night. You can also add the Eno Rain Tarp (for added security against unexpected mountain thunderstorms).
Having a place to sit down is so luxurious when you’re camping. We carry a wide variety and some of the best camping chairs to suit any budget at Owenhouse! From basic folding chairs to the Eno Lounger DL Chair, any options at Owenhouse will make your camping experience more comfortable since there’s nothing worse than sitting on a stump around the campfire all night!
Taylor recommends a good camping table. They’re great for prepping food, eating meals, and playing cards. Taylor’s favorite to take camping is this UST Pack-A-Long Camp Table. You can find UST camping gear at Owenhouse!
Your Camp Furniture List
- Eno Hammock (Get them at Owenhouse!)
- Camp chair
- UST Pack-A-Long Camp Table (Get it at Owenhouse!)
Cooking Gear
Cooking in the great outdoors can be a delightful experience with the right tools. Lodge cast-iron skillets are great over bonfires, coolers are a MUST-have for food preservation and safety, and high-quality knives go a long way.
Ron swears by his Blackstone grill for its versatility, and Julia found the Blackstone On The Go Outdoor Griddle a game changer on her last trip. What’s better than a top-notch grilled meal in the backcountry? Another option for cooking is a Coleman Propane Camp Stove. “This tried and true stove has found its home in many people’s camp set-ups,” Grace says. We carry fuel for just about every stove style, from white gas to propane to butane at Owenhouse Ace!
Some of our team members are currently testing the Alpine Series Cookware from Le Creuset, which is known for its durability and performance. “I really appreciate the thought that went into designing these skillets for cooking over open flame,” says Grace.
Coffee is essential, so you need something to keep it hot while you’re camping. Grace recommends the Yeti Lowball Tumbler for your next camping adventure. “This is one of my camp essentials. They are the perfect size for a camp cocktail around the fire in the evening and to sip your coffee from when you get up in the morning. Mine comes with me every time we camp, whether it’s out of a backpack or the truck.”
Pro Tip: “When packing my kitchen box to cook a couple of camp meals, I always reach for a good all-purpose seasoning blend that works for everything,” Grace says. “Alpine Touch and Livia’s Seasoning Salt are my favorites.”
Your Outdoor Cooking Gear Essentials:
- Lodge cast iron skillet
- Blackstone On The Go Outdoor Griddle
- Coleman Propane Camp Stove
- Le Creuset Almine Series
- Yeti Lowball Tumbler
- Cooler
- Knives
- Pots and pans
- Spatula
- Soap / hand sanitizer
- Spices and seasonings
Lighting Solutions
Good lighting is essential for safety, convenience, and ambiance. Depending on your needs, we have different lighting solutions at Owenhouse, from LED options to traditional gas lanterns. It’s nice to have lanterns around camp so you don’t stumble around at night or cut off a thumb while cooking dinner in the evening.
Headlamps are a must for personal use while camping. A favorite among our team members is the Coast Headlamp, perfect for both backpacking and car camping due to its compact size and bright light. Another recommendation from Taylor is the NEBO headlamp. Get them both at Owenhouse! Don’t forget to pack extra batteries.
Your Outdoor Lighting Essentials:
Weather Protection
Staying dry and warm is critical when camping because it can be difficult to warm back up if you’re too wet. Besides, who wants to be miserable while camping? It should be fun! A Rumpl blanket, ponchos, and tarps are excellent for weather protection and getting cozy on cool nights.
Lightweight tarps are essential for camping and so versatile! Whether you’re setting up a shade structure or a rain block, you need a good tarp in your camping arsenal! They’re also great for putting under your tent when you set up camp.
Another great tool is weather shield spray. Grace and Taylor bring it with them camping, just in case! “It’s a great add-on item for keeping your camp furniture in shape,” Grace says. “We carry a variety of products from brands like Gear Aid and Kiwi that work great on everything from tents to rain flys to hiking boots.”
Taylor uses Scotchgard Heavy Duty Water Shield —the perfect solution for adding extra water repellency to your kids’ coats and patio furniture, ensuring everything stays drier for longer. Simply spray it on coats, boots, or furniture to keep it a little extra weatherproof.
Your Essential Weather Protection List:
- Foremost Dry Top Reversible Tarp
- Projex Light Duty Polyethylene Tarp Blue
- Poncho
- Scotchgard Heavy Duty Water Shield
- Rumpl blanket
Staying Safe in the Wild
Safety should always be a priority when heading into the great outdoors. “I am big on safety in the woods,” Carole says. That’s why she recommends bringing a Four Function Whistle when you head outdoors. “This Four Function tool is lightweight and worth it in so many ways. Three blasts mean you are in danger and need help. One blast is, ‘Hey, I am over here.’ A whistle’s sound travels ten times farther than your voice and uses a tenth of the energy.”
Bear spray is probably obvious to our fellow Bozemanites. (we carry UDAP Bear Spray at Owenhouse, among other brands). “Bear spray is probably our most requested outdoor item in the summer here,” Grace says. “It is an essential when hiking or camping in bear country.”
Notes on bear safety from Grace:
“Grizzly bears pose a much larger threat to humans than black bears, but it is generally a good idea to carry bear spray and make plenty of noise when hiking anywhere either species of bear could be. Bears are most dangerous when you surprise them, and they don’t hear any better than humans.
Making lots of noise is the best way to avoid an encounter on the trail. Relying on bear bells alone is often not enough. Talk loudly, sing a song, or simply yell “Hey Bear!” whenever you can’t see very far ahead on the trail. Know how to use your bear spray as well.
They all come with a safety mechanism on top of the trigger. Be sure you can access the spray easily in an emergency and know how to disengage the safety.
Finally, check the expiration date on your can, and don’t leave it in your car during warmer weather.
Another important spray to bring camping is bug spray. “Nothing will ruin a good outing faster than a cloud of mosquitoes, horseflies, and no-see-ums,” Carole says. She uses Repel insect repellent on her outdoor adventures. “This product is applied to your clothing prior to wearing. Its effects will last up to two weeks per application. Shoes and hats can have an application, too.
Access to safe, clean drinking water is important when you’re outside. Carole brings her trusty LifeStraw when she goes camping. “The LifeStraw is a game changer. It will filter up to 1,000 gallons of water, depending on the silt level, [and keeps out] 99.9999% of protozoa, such as Giardia, to keep your backpacking trip going. I love it for fly fishing when I can just bend over with my straw and have crisp, cold water to soothe my thirst.”
Finally, you need a First Aid Kit! No matter how big or small your outing is, it never hurts to tuck one in your bag. “A larger kit is necessary for overnight camping or backpacking trips. Speaking from personal experience, this is something that you would rather have and not need than need and not have,” Grace says. We have a great variety of First Aid Kits at Ownenhouse Ace, but you can also pop next door to Owenhouse Cycling if you’re downtown for a great selection of compact first aid and trauma kits by My Medic.
Pro tip: Set up a hand washing station for food safety! Something you may not immediately think of as “safety” is washing your grubby hands! Washing your hands while camping is a critical practice for maintaining health and hygiene in the great outdoors. From handling food to treating minor cuts and scrapes, clean hands help prevent the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can cause illness. If you’re car camping, check out this DIY hand wash station!
Your Outdoor Safety Essentials
Bonus Products Our Team Loves
Carole loves bringing Paracord on camping trips. “Awww, Paracord, how can you not have it? So many uses! Just Google it. Everything from making a snare, shoe laces, belts, or throwing your bagged food and clothing over a tall branch to keep from bears at night. The possibilities are endless.”
She also brings a flint and magnesium striker to make starting a fire as easy as can be. “A spark created from your strike is around 2,000 degrees. So much better than matches, even in the wind. One set of these is good for 4,000 strikes.”
Grace wanted to shout out some bonus products from Owenhouse Cycling, like the Garmin InReach Mini. “This compact emergency satellite communication device is one of the best I have used. Its size makes it easy to clip anywhere on your pack, and Garmin’s messaging support service is fantastic. An emergency communication device like this is absolutely necessary if you intend on spending multiple days in the backcountry with no service.”
She also likes to have Mag Grab Mini by Cling Fishing Product for fishing trips. “This $20 magnetic fly patch is a handy gadget for every type of fisherman. The stainless steel backing plate allows you to pin it to any layer you’re wearing, your hat, or even the outside of a pack. Heading up to a lake for a quick camping and fishing trip? Throw a handful of flies or tackle on your Mag Grab and skip the bulky boxes taking up space in your gear bag.”
Mag Grab products are all made here in Bozeman and come in a variety of colors and designs. Find them at the Owenhouse Downtown location!
Taylor recommends bringing Aquaseal FD wader repair sealant on your next camping trip in Montana.
Team Favorites for Camping Essentials:
Paracord
Garmin InReach Mini
Mag Grab Mini by Cling Fishing Product
Leave No Trace Principles
Adhering to Leave No Trace principles (LNT) is essential for preserving the natural beauty of our outdoor spaces. The principles emphasize respect for wildlife, minimizing impact, and ensuring future generations can enjoy the great outdoors.
At Owenhouse Ace, one of our core values is doing the right thing. This extends to how we navigate outdoor spaces.
Learn more about the LNT principles on their website!
Let’s Get Outside, Bozeman!
With this guide to the best camping gear and some bonus outdoor tips from our team, you’re all set for an incredible adventure. But if you have questions about camping gear, outdoor essentials, or just want to learn more about our favorite things to do outside, just ask! We’re always happy to help.
Let’s get outside, Bozeman!!
