Gear List
I’ve always believed in finding a balance between investing in quality gear and choosing more affordable options that still get the job done. This list isn’t about the flashiest ultralight setup—it’s about practical, tested items that I use on real-life trips.
Many of the things I pack serve multiple purposes. That means you don’t always need to buy separate gear for car camping and backpacking—though in some cases, I’ll explain why having dedicated gear for each can make your trip a lot more comfortable.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to fine-tune your kit, I hope this list gives you a solid starting point for planning your next outdoor adventure.
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How to choose a tent?
Tents
Tents are important. Well, they are your shelter for the backcountry and if you’re like me and don’t own a sprinter van or an RV, you are most likely car camping with a tent. I’ve used a few tents over the past few years and I also work at REI, so I’ve learned a few things about tents - one of the important gears to have when you are just getting started.
It can be very overwhelming when you are purchasing your first tent because there are so many options out there. Whenever I start a conversation with a customer at REI, I always ask these questions:
1) How many people are going to sleep inside the tent?
2) Do you plan on doing mostly car camping or backpacking?
3) Are you an average, lightweight or ultralight backpacker?
4) How much are you willing to spend?
With these questions in mind, you can narrow down all the possibilities that are out there! I also like to point out that while most tents have a number attached to it (e.g. Marmot Tungsten 2P), it generally means how many people will be able to comfortable to fit in it. 2P simply means it is a 2-person tent. However, it will be tight and be prepared to get cozy with the person you are sharing the tent with! I generally recommend going up a number. For example, if you are planning to consistently share a tent with one other person, I would upgrade to a 3-person tent!
Another key spec that you will often find is the weight and it generally comes with two numbers. One is the weight and the other is often advertised as the minimum trail weight. So what does this mean? It simply means that if you don’t bring the bag that houses the tent and the stakes (or choose to carry less stakes), that’s when you can achieve the min. trail weight. This varies from tent to tent. Often times, people also swap out for lighter stakes or in some cases, heavier stakes. So the weight of the overall tent can vary!
Without further ado, let’s dive into some of the tents I am using and have used in the past.
It seems a little excessive that at some point in my life, I have owned about 5 different tents. However, I am the type of person that doesn’t necessarily ‘upgrade’ to a new piece of gear unless I feel like I absolutely have to.
Marmot Tungsten 2P: The first tent I ever purchased. The one shown above is the 2018 version and I do think this tent has come a long way in terms of design improvements. I am not super picky about a car camping tent because weight doesn’t matter as much but I do care how compact it packs down.
Packaged Weight: 5lbs 14oz / Min. Trail Weight: N/A
REI Half Dome 2+: I bought the REI Half Dome 2+ tent because I needed more space for myself and Tex when I got him in 2022. This tent has plenty of room. This became my go-to tent ever since and I really like the generous vestibule and how spacious the inside of the tent feels. I think it will be tight for two adults but with someone with a dog that weighs about 65lbs, this is the perfect size tent.
Packaged Weight: 6lbs 3oz / Min. Trail Weight: ~5lbs
Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P: This is my current backpacking tent. I really loved the Quarter Dome SL 2 I’ve been using for years but unfortunately, Tex freaked out so much on one camping trip that he decided to escape the tent, kool-aid man style.
Packaged Weight: 3lbs 2oz / Min. Trail Weight: 2lbs 10oz
REI Quarter Dome SL 2 (discontinued): I adored this tent and it’s been one of the favorite ones to use even when I’m not backpacking. It was definitely a solid contender for one of the best ultralight tents out there - comparable to the Big Agnes Copper Spur and the Nemo Hornet Lite.
Packaged Weight: 3lbs / Min. Trail Weight: 2lbs 8oz
REI Quarter Dome 1 (discontinued): I used this when I first started backpacking. It was small and fits one person perfectly and nothing else.
Starting from the top going clockwise: 1) Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P, 2) REI Half Dome 2+, 3) REI Quarter Dome 1, 4) REI Quarter Dome SL 2, 5) Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 2P and 6) REI Quarter Dome SL 2.
Sleeping Pads
I consider sleeping pads as the second most important things to own when you are just getting started. It’s like your mattress when you’re out camping. I have attempted to just sleep on the Nemo Switchback foam pad and that’s just not my thing. I personally prefer a little bit more support especially after a long day of hiking with a heavy pack. Choosing a sleeping pad is similar to choosing a tent.
How to choose a sleeping pad?
Consider the following questions plus do you plan on only heading out during warmer weather or would you like to also camp during the shoulder season?
1) Do you plan on doing mostly car camping or backpacking?
2) Are you an average, lightweight or ultralight backpacker?
3) How much are you willing to spend?
4) What seasons do you plan on camping in? 3 season or would you like to camp in the winter as well?
Some other considerations would be whether you’re looking for a self-inflating pad or an air pad. The former tends to pack up a lot larger if you are looking for a certain thickness. Air pads generally pack down a lot smaller and tend to be a little bit lighter. Another thing to consider would be the R-value. The higher the R-value is, the warmer the pad is going to be, taking into consideration what tent, sleeping bag, and what layers you are wearing. You can also stack R-Values, meaning if you have a foam pad in addition to your sleeping pad, you will generally be warmer.
Here’s a great article from Switchback Travel explaining R-value, give it a read!
Nemo Tensor All-Season Insulated: I have the older version of this pad and it used to just be marketed as an insulated sleeping pad which has the same R-Value as the one shown here. This is an air pad - it comes with an inflation sack but I have since been using a Kokopelli Feather Pump to inflate my pad only because I sometimes do take my packraft backpacking. I am a huge fan of this pad and find it to be pretty comfortable for a side sleeper like myself. I have the Regular Wide.
Weight: 1 lb 3oz (19oz) - Regular Wide
Thickness: 3.5 inches
R-Value: 4.2
Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Si - Women’s: I haven’t really used this pad too much because it developed a pinhole leak early on. I was able to patch it up but quickly decided to upgrade to an inflatable air pad instead. This one was comfortable but it was extremely bulky.
Weight: 2lbs 0.4oz (32.4 oz) - Regular
Thickness: 3.1 inches
R-Value: 5.1
Nemo Switchback: As mentioned, I have tried to only sleep on this pad and it was one of the most uncomfortable night of sleep I have ever gotten. At the time, I was trying to fly with as little gear as possible since I was flying to Los Angeles for a camping trip. I still use this pad when I am camping in colder temperatures. I cut the pad in half so Tex uses the other half of it. It is also perfect for extra insulation when you are camping on snow. It also acts as a great ‘camping mat’ where you can lay down and spread out at camp - it’s a win for me in those aspects.
Weight: 14.5 oz - Regular
Thickness: 0.9 inches
R-Value: 2.0
Exped Deepsleep Mat: This was definitely a luxury buy but I wanted something more comfortable for car camping. Weight and size generally don’t matter too much because I am carrying all my gear in the car. I like this pad and Exped makes even thicker pads. It is a self-inflating pad but I still use my feather pump to expedite the inflation process and it works wonders! Bonus: it also helps deflate it quickly.
Weight: 4lbs 8oz (72 oz)
Thickness: 3 inches
R-Value: 9.0
Sleeping Bags
You guessed it! Sleeping bags are what I consider to be the third most important thing and it is part of the Big 3 System - Tent, Sleeping Pad and Sleeping Bag.
How to choose a sleeping bag?
I think sleeping bags are generally based on general preference. But if there’s something I learned, I never trust the temperature rating on the bags! Not only because they are inaccurate but when they do the tests, there are a lot of controlled variables that companies don’t exactly advertise unless you dive deep into it. I personally only use one bag for all seasons now - from hot summer days to cold nights in the mountains.
1) Are you looking for a down or synthetic bag?
2) What is the temperature rating you are seeking? What seasons are you camping in?
3) Are you a side sleeper?
This article from REI actually gives you a really good rundown on how to choose the appropriate sleeping bag for your needs. You can read about how they come up with temperature ratings here, also a solid read from REI.
Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15 - Women’s: I have the older version of this pad but I don’t think much as changed. I’ve used the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 for years before I decided to upgrade to the Bishop Pass. It’s not the lightest bag out there but compresses relatively well, down to about 10oz in a compression sack. It is also 650 down so again, not the fanciest bag you can get but with a lot of the trips I do in all 4 seasons, I felt like it was sufficient. I always use a sleeping bag liner when I do camp in temperatures that are lower than 30 degrees.
Kelty Cosmic Down 20 - Women’s: This is generally the bag I recommend to folks that are just getting started with camping (backpacking or regular car camping). This Kelty is a down bag and also filled with 650 down so it is definitely comparable to the Bishop Pass 15 I currently use. But! I thought it was time to upgrade to a bag since I was getting a little bit more serious with backpacking. I wanted a bag that compresses a little smaller than the Cosmic Down.
Camp Kitchen
Everyone's camp kitchen tells a unique story, and mine? It's basically my home kitchen gone rogue! Here's my philosophy: why drop serious cash on fancy "camping-specific" gear when your everyday kitchen tools work just as well? I'd much rather invest that money in epic adventures or better sleeping pads. Don't get me wrong—if specialized camping cookware lights your fire, go for it! But hauling my trusty home gear into the wilderness? That's what works for me, and it hasn't let me down yet.
Backpacking Essentials
3. Generic Lighter
4. Camp Mug
9. Isobutane Canister
11. Bear Canister
12. BeFree Water Filter (1 Liter)
13. Puffy Drink Sleeve (definitely optional)
Car Camping Essentials
3. Generic Lighter
4. Camp Mug
5. GSI Outdoor Kitchen Knife Set
6. Coleman Triton 2-Burner Stove
10. Propane Canister
14. Towel
Backpacking Meals
When I'm deep in the backcountry, freeze-dried and dehydrated meals are my go-to fuel. The truth? I'm not a fan of scrubbing dishes in the wild while trying to honor Leave No Trace principles—it's just not my jam. Sure, I know I should work toward creating less waste (it's on my list!), but for now, these convenient meals keep me moving and exploring without the hassle. My entire kitchen fits in my pack: a Jetboil Zip, a trusty spork, isobutane fuel, and a lighter—and boom, dinner is served! That said, I'm on a mission to level up my backcountry cuisine. One day, I'll crack the code on the perfect trail pho recipe. Mark my words!
Essential Backcountry Tips
If you're team freeze-dried like me, here's your PSA: never forget your water filter! Those crystal-clear streams and pristine lakes might look Instagram-perfect, but they can harbor some nasty bacteria. Remember, you're sharing that water source with all kinds of wildlife friends. And speaking of critters—check your destination's requirements! Some areas mandate bear canisters, while others are cool with an Ursack or animal-proof stuff sack for storing your food and scented items. Better safe than sorry when it comes to protecting both your snacks and the local wildlife!
Furniture & Lighting
I am a pretty basic girly when it comes to car camping furniture. I haven’t gone out to do a ton of dispersed camping yet and figured I would need at least a table in order to have a more comfortable experience cooking and eating outside. However, these items have worked for me for when I am car camping at an established campsite, most likely with a picnic table and a fire pit as well.
Furniture
Camp Lighting
I’ve included illumination here because I really don’t have too much to share in terms of furniture. Why do I have 4 different types of lanterns? I’m not sure either but I can tell you the MPOWERED Solar String Lights have been amazing. When I feel like doing it (it’s a little bit of work), I like to wrap the string lights around the tent poles so that the inside of my tent can light up. I’ve camped in pretty remote and dark places so having ample lighting makes me feel more safe. A power bank is a must if you’re going to spend several days out there! I would love to have a battery pack with a larger charge capacity in the future but that’s on my wish list.
I didn’t think I needed the side table until I started using it. It’s great having a low table near the fire pit to set your drinks and food on. I also bring the Flexlite with me backpacking but possibly looking to downsize to a sit pad instead. I realized how useful it is when it comes to snow camping.
Backpacking Gear
Packing for a backpacking trip goes way beyond the holy trinity of tent, sleeping bag, and food. After years of trial, error, and plenty of "why did I bring this?" moments, I've crafted a gear system that flexes seamlessly between quick overnighters and grueling multi-day expeditions.
Gear Mentioned
The Osprey Aura AG 50
Since 2018, my Osprey Aura AG 50 has been my adventure companion through countless 1-2 night trips. This pack truly proved its mettle when I pushed it to the absolute limit on a demanding 4-day, 3-night mountaineering mission up Mount Baker. Was it tight? Definitely. Did I start dreaming about a bigger pack after that? Absolutely! But here's the thing—this trusty 50-liter workhorse continues to be my ride-or-die for most adventures. Sometimes the gear that challenges you a little makes you pack smarter!
Garmin InReach Mini
My Garmin InReach Mini does require a subscription service (yes, another monthly bill), but it's non-negotiable for my peace of mind. Whether I'm tackling solo adventures in the backcountry or embarking on epic road trips through dead zones with zero cell service, knowing I can ping for help or check in with loved ones? Priceless.
Game-Changing Gear I Never Leave Behind
Kula Cloth – This reusable pee cloth is a wilderness bathroom game-changer! It dramatically reduces my reliance on toilet paper (though I still pack a backup stash for, you know, the other business).
Hydration System – Call me team bladder! While some purists swear by water bottles, I'm obsessed with my hydration reservoir. Being able to sip water continuously without breaking stride or wrestling my pack off? Pure magic.
Side Pocket Strategy – Real talk: the Aura's side pockets aren't exactly water-bottle-friendly. But I've flipped the script and use them to stash my tent poles and camp chair instead—problem solved! This also helps saves space inside your pack because tent poles are not as flexible as other softer items.
Kokopelli Hornet Lite - This is the packraft you see across a few blog posts I’ve written. I started backpacking with my packraft alpine lakes because it is a great way to be away from the crowds and gives you an activity to do while you are camping out in the backpacking. If you’re interested in packrafting, read this post I wrote here.
