Best Outdoor Gear: Stuff You Need For Epic Adventures
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After years of camping and backpacking, I’ve tested and refined my gear to find the absolute best. I often get asked for recommendations, so I’ve put together this ultimate guide to the top outdoor gear I personally use and trust. Whether you’re planning a weekend hike or a multi-day adventure, this list will help you choose the best equipment for your next trip.
Outdoor Gear: My Backpacking System
Best backpacking shelter
For backpacking, my go-to tent is the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (Buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI). This ultralight tent is incredibly lightweight, and I love sleeping with the rainfly off in remote areas—there’s nothing better than stargazing as you drift off to sleep.
To protect my tent, I also use the matching footprint (buy at Amazon | Campsaver | REI), and I’ve never had any issues with durability. I highly recommend both.
For added convenience, I bring along the mtnGLO Lights (buy at Amazon | Campsaver | REI), which come in white, blue/green, or red—perfect for lighting up my campsite.
Important: If you’re purchasing this setup, check whether the tent was made before or after 2021, as it affects which footprint you need! The links below are for the 2021 model and its compatible footprint.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Tent
- DAC Featherlite single-pole system
- TipLok Tent Buckle™ design
- Solution-dyed fabric
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 Footprint
- Extend the lifetime of your tent floor
Big Agnes mtnGLO Tent and Camp Lights
- Two Modes: Full light or flicker
- Versatile Design: Place on surfaces or hang as a lantern
- Dual Power: USB or AAA battery compatible
Sleeping When Backpacking
My sleep setup is amongst my favorite outdoor gear choices.
Best Sleeping Pad(s)
Another part of my backpacking setup is this Nemo Tensor Insulated sleeping pad (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI). I purchased mine in 2020, so it’s the yellow version with an R-value of 4.2 and a 3-inch thickness, plenty of insulation and cushioning. Even when sleeping on my side, I never feel the ground. One of my favorite features is the included inflation bag, which makes setup effortless and hygienic. Plus, this sleeping pad is incredibly comfortable, I can’t recommend it enough! If you’re looking for a quality sleep system, you won’t be disappointed. Nemo has since upgraded their lineup, and the closest equivalent to my version is the Tensor Insulated All-Season. Read my review of the 2020 Nemo sleeping pad here.
I always lay it above this Z lite foam pad (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI) for protection and extra insulation. The foam pad also doubles up as an insulated seat cushion when you take a break, or if you’re at a developed campground the benches are cold.
Lastly, I prefer to use this inflatable travel pillow (buy at Amazon | Campsaver | REI). It fits perfectly inside the Nemo sleeping pad storage bag, and I find it more comfy than using my puffy or a ball of clothes as a pillow. I use my buff and a string from my backpack to tie it around the sleeping pad, and it doesn’t move all night that way!
Nemo Tensor Insulated Sleeping Pad
- Four-season warmth with 5.4 R-value insulation
- Durable & easy inflation with Vortex™ pump sack
- Quiet, stable comfort with Spaceframe™ baffles
Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
- Lightweight & durable closed-cell foam
- R-Value 2 with ThermaCapture™ tech for warmth
- Compact & foldable accordion design
Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow
- Easy inflation with adjustable valve
- Soft, contoured support
- Lightweight & durable
Best Sleeping Bag
The blue sleeping bag I’m sitting on in the photo above is my Feathered Friends Lark sleeping bag. It’s a men’s bag, and I’ll explain the reasons why in this Lark sleeping bag review. But in short, I bought it during COVID-19 when stocks were limited, and I decided to layer my sleep system to make it work for all seasons.
Outdoor Gear: My Car Camping System
Best Car Camping Shelter
For a more spacious home away from home, I bought this Mountain Hardwear Mineral King tent (buy at Amazon | Campsaver | REI) for when I can have my car nearby. This two-people tent is sturdy and less fragile than my backpacking tent. It also allows me to sleep with the rainfly off, and ventilation is excellent too because the whole inner canopy is made of mesh.
Review of The Mineral King Tent by Mountain Hardwear
When it comes to choosing a reliable tent for your outdoor adventures, quality is crucial. That’s why the Mineral […]…
But this tent is pretty large, so the mtnGLO string lights (buy at Amazon | Campsaver | REI) are not strong enough to light it up, and I ended up buying this tent lantern (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI).
I also decided to use the original stakes alongside these MSR tent stakes (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI) because they glow in the dark, so it’s easier to avoid stepping on them and stabbing my foot.
Mountain Hardwear Mineral King 2 Tent
MSR Mini Ground Hog Stake
- Perfect for backpacking
- 6 inches
- 0.35 ounces
- Aluminum Easton
Black Diamond Moji Lantern
Sleeping for car camping
I use a Decathlon Quecha air mattress instead of the Nemo pad if I’m not backpacking! It’s 7in deep, has a velvet feel, and sleeping on it feels just like a real bed. It’s now out of stock though, and a new model is in design.
Also pictured (in orange) is my summer sleeping bag (bought at Amazon), which doubles up as a sleeping bag liner. As in the picture below, I use it on its own for summer nights in the desert, and inside my FF sleeping bag in winter for added warmth.
And in winter, I also use this insulated tent comforter (buy at Amazon | Campsaver). It can be used as a carpet on the tent floor to add insulation and soft comfort, but I often use it on top of my sleeping bag to feel even more toasty and cozy.
Lastly, I won this Quechua camping tent last year from Decathlon on Instagram!!! The Quechua tent is perfect for car camping in windy conditions because there is less mesh fabric to it compared to the Mineral King tent, so I don’t wake up covered in sand or dust as much as with my other tents!
Big Agnes Tent Comforter
Flame 55 Sleeping Bag
Outdoor Gear: My Favorite Backpacks
Osprey 58L Backpack
Osprey 11L daypack
Ditch 32L backpack
I have used this Osprey 58L backpack (buy at Amazon | Osprey | REI | Backcountry) for backpacking adventures. It is very comfortable with padded straps and sits on my hips perfectly, so I don’t feel the weight at all, I love it!
This Osprey 11L daypack (buy at Amazon | Osprey | REI | Backcountry) is what I’ve been using for day hikes for several years. Osprey’s quality is remarkable, and both packs are super comfortable.
In 2023, I purchased this Big Agnes backpack (buy at Amazon), which I love for day hikes and summer backpacking trips in the desert. It’s the perfect mid-size pack for me.
Outdoor Gear: My Outdoor Kitchen
Meal prep
Whether I backpack miles away or camp near my car, I use this MSR stove kit (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI). The only difference is the fuel canister I take with me. The 4oz fuel canister fits perfectly inside the pot, so it’s perfect for backpacking. But I’ll use a larger canister if I don’t need to carry it far!
Although I read several negative reviews about it, the MSR igniter (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI) works fine for me if I stay below 10,000ft, but I bring a classic lighter for higher elevation adventures.
MSR Igniter
This spork (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI) is a spoon and a fork, as the name suggests, and it’s the only utensil I bring (besides this pocket knife (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | REI). I eat out of the pot that came in my stove kit.
I love using this collapsible mug for tea when I backpack. But if weight is not a concern, I use a 16oz tumbler, which keeps my hot drinks hot longer and is the exact size I need to mix the electrolytes with!
I stay healthy by meal prepping and dehydrating my food with this dehydrator overnight when I’m home. Read my guide on how to dehydrate your food at home here!
How To Dehydrate Food At Home For Backpacking
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If I’m in bear country, I store my food and smelly goods in a bear canister (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI), which also serves as a seat!
I also recently purchased this rodent-proof food bag, which is helpful if you go to places such as Havasupai!
I clean up my dishes with this wilderness soap (a little goes a long way!) and this outdoor camp dishcloth, which scrubs well.
Hydration
Water filtering system for Backpacking
For my water supply, I use the Sawyer Mini Water Filter (buy at Amazon | REI) if I have to source water, and I use two Smart water bottles with it (one to fill up the water directly from the source and drink with the Sawyer, and the other to fill with clean, filtered water).
Hiking & car camping
However, if I’m hiking or will have my car nearby which I often use as a water cache, I use my Osprey water bladders, which I own in 2.5 liters and 3 liters. Both these bladders fit in the backpacks listed above.
I also keep two 64oz flasks in my car at all times. These ombre flasks are so pretty and work just as well as the hydro flasks. As a bonus, these 64oz flasks can double up as weight to hold down the tent if it’s super windy and you don’t have rocks nearby!
Electrolytes
I drink these electrolytes to stay hydrated. If you’re not sure what flavor to choose, citrus salt is my favorite when I’m out and about, and I love to drink the chocolate salt flavor when I’m home mixed with hot chocolate or chai tea.
Osprey 2.5L Water Bladder
Osprey 3L Water Bladder
Cleaning water bottles and water bladders
If you’re new at this, I wrote this step-by-step guide on how to clean a water bladder to help! But essentially, these cleaning tablets work great to clean your water bottles and reservoirs, and I also use the reservoir cleaning kit to wash and hang them to dry.
Safety First!
Satellite Communicator
With the spirit of safety in mind, I keep a satellite phone whenever I am adventuring. I previously owned the Garmin Inreach Explorer+ but it was unfortunately stolen, and I switched to the Garmin GPSMAP 67i (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI).
Garmin Inreach products are perfect on trails and in the wilderness. It also helps me feel safer driving long distances through the desert and other areas without cell service. And that peace of mind is simply priceless.
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Healthcare
I also carry a medical kit (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | REI) and a “backcountry poopy kit” with this trowel (buy at Amazon | REI), some hand sanitizer (Amazon | REI), a bandana (I love these cute ombre bandanas!), and even doggy bags in it for worst-case scenarios and emergencies! I recently got this pee rag (Amazon | REI), it’s better than a bandana at keeping odors at bay, but a tad heavier if you’re conscious of weight.
Leukotape sports tape is another item I always take, and I wrap it around my trekking poles. It’s great at many things, including blister prevention and taping a popped blister (use cotton wool or tissue in between the tape and the broken skin), patching broken gear, etc… it’s essentially a sporty version of duct tape!
I also use Repair Tape (buy at Amazon | REI) to patch gear like my tent rainfly, sleeping pad, and puffy jacket. Repair Tape comes in multiple colors to match your gear’s color. I bought the clear tape because I find the color more versatile for many colorful outdoor gear.
Altitude Sickness Prevention
My Favorite Outdoor Clothing, Footwear & Accessories
Outdoor gear: Clothing
Winter outdoor gear
My favorite piece of kit for fall and winter is this Outdoor Research pullover (buy at Amazon | Backcountry), so much so that I own it in five colors (sand [pictured above underneath my Cotopaxi jacket], purple, black, cinnamon, and galaxy blue!!). It keeps my neck warm, and it has a kangaroo-style pocket with a hidden key pocket inside and thumb holes.
The color I own it in isn’t available anymore, but this Cotopaxi hooded jacket (buy at Amazon | Backcountry | REI) keeps me super warm.
I purchased these North Face snow pants (buy at Amazon) | to keep me warm in the snow. And they also serve me well when I camp in the desert in winter because it gets so cold as soon as the sun sets.
Summer outdoor gear
My favorite summer outfit includes these shorts from Free People’s activewear collection, Free Movement. They are shorts, but look like a flowy mini skirt, and have 2 large pockets to store your phone and snacks when adventuring! And you guessed it, I own them in multiple colors too!
Outdoor gear: Footwear
Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect Hiking Shoes
Choosing the right hiking shoes is key to comfort, performance, and safety. The right footwear prevents discomfort on rugged […]…
I used to wear these hiking boots, and here they are pictured below with the Kahtoola Microspikes (buy these microspikes at Amazon | Backcountry | Campsaver | REI). That combination is perfect for hiking in winter conditions! I have been using my Altra Lone Peak 7 trail running shoes. You can read my review of the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 7 here!
And I recently purchased the Altra Lone Peak 8 trail running shoes! Of course, I also wrote this review of the Women’s Altra Lone Peak 8 here!
For winter and cooler trips, I purchased these North Face Thermoball booties, and let me tell you these are fabulous camp shoes!! They keep my feet warm and are super comfortable after a hike!
However for warmer trips, I use these Merrel sandals for my camp shoes; I can wear them with socks and I can also hike in them, which I often do in higher temperatures in the desert.
Final thoughts on my favorite outdoor gear
I hope beginners find this post useful with valuable insights into the essential outdoor gear needed to get started with their camping and backpacking adventures. Building a suitable setup can be overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and guidance, it becomes an exciting journey of exploration.
If you focus on quality and pick the right outdoor gear, that initial investment will pay off and the gear will serve you for years to come. However, head over to this blog post about backpacking gear if you are seeking similar gear for less.
And remember: Adventure awaits those who dare to seek it!
Happy trails!
Post originally published on March 21, 2023, and last updated on February 26, 2025.
