Five Essential Campsite Accessories
Upgrade your camp kit with rugged, reliable gear built to handle summer’s long days and cool nights.
Every experienced campmaker has a system: a checklist of trusted gear, a special way of packing the vehicle, a time-tested method for erecting the sturdiest woodland encampment. And while we’re all for relying on experience, sometimes the old mesh chair frays beyond belief. And the trusty lantern needs a few more lumens. Sometimes, really, the whole camp kit could use a little refresh. Here, we look at five items that could change the game for any camper this summer—products so solid they might be in your gearbox for decades to come.
NEMO Double Haul Convertible Duffle and Tote
Anytime you head to the campsite, there’s a lot of stuff involved—flashlights, water bottles, batteries, sunscreen, you name it. Making sure all those items reach camp is one challenge. Keeping track of them is another. Enter the Double Haul by Nemo Equipment, a two-in-one storage solution designed for summer adventure. A waterproof, 55-liter duffel, it can transport a bevy of gear to the campsite, and once you’re there it converts to a tote bag with 75 liters of capacity—enough space to ensure all necessities go back where they belong after a long day in the woods. $169.95
GCI Comfort Pro Rocker XL Camp Chair
Camp chairs are not what they used to be, and perhaps no brand makes that point more directly than CGI Outdoor. Its Comfort Pro series incorporates proprietary spring-action rocking technology, a feature that makes sitting around a fire akin to reclining in the living room. Plus, with tall backrests built at an angle, campers aren’t hunched forward as they are in other folding chairs—something that makes unwinding after a long day that much easier. $100
Equal parts quilt, poncho, and sleeping bag, the Mountain Blanket from Kammok is among the most versatile campsite additions you can find. WIth a fleece interior and nylon exterior, it keeps campers warm as the temperatures plunge and has waterproofing that can take anything life on the road throws at it. A snap system allows the blanket to transform in seconds, so whether you want to wear it or lay atop it, the Mountain Blanket can adapt to fit your needs. $149.95
For most applications, a headlamp is an ideal light source—one allowing campers hands-free illumination once the sun goes down. But not all lamps are created equal. Black Diamond has long been a leader in the space, and its Storm headlamp is a staple of backcountry kits for good reason. While it can run off AAA batteries, it also has rechargeable USB capability. Moreover, it’s waterproof, it offers 450 lumens with a half-dozen settings, and has a lockout setting to prevent accidental use when it’s in storage. $48.71
Coolers with extreme insulation capabilities have had a moment in recent years. But transporting most models around a campsite is a pain. The 45-Quart Towable from Xspec is built with 3-inch thick 8-inch tall wheels, allowing campers to drag it across roots, rocks, and sand with relative ease. Plus, because it’s constructed with several inches of commercial grade insulation, campers can keep ice and other perishables frozen for days at a time.
Summer 2025 Digital Issue: Camping Gear
Summer’s here and adventure is calling. For the Summer 2025 digital issue of Wildsam Magazine, we rounded up all the right gear you'll need for ambles through America while soaking up the sun.