It’s time to pack up the metallic pea truckster and hit the road to go camping with the family. Does that prospect scare you? No worries. We have the right gear to make it all work.
SylvanSport
Vast
SylvanSport’s überlight Go trailer has long impressed us with its clever design and ability to pack down small and haul gear on top. The new Vast hard trailer supersizes that performance in a camper that provides plenty of space to haul bikes, boats, and a summer’s worth of gear alongside living space that includes a kitchen that can slide outside the trailer for cooking in the fresh air. Two stacked queen beds keep everyone happy when it’s time to tuck in. $70,000; sylvansport.com
Osprey
Poco Plus
When it’s time to set out from camp with the toddler you want to be sure you both will be comfy on the hike. This 26-liter kid carrier gives parents Osprey’s plush, adjustable, and stable AirSpeed suspension system to make hauling offspring easy on your back. And the little one is secure in a harness that includes removable foot stirrups and a washable drool pad. Pop up the sunshine to protect your darling’s sensitive skin. $395; osprey.com
Cascade Mountain Tech
Monahan Rechargeable Retro Lantern
Safe and easy to turn up to its full 450 lumens or down to a chill glow, this lantern will become a fam favorite simply because it’s so easy to use. Plus, it will charge up phones and other electronics in camp. $30; cascademountaintech.com
Nemo
Aurora Highrise 6P
The perfect family camp tent needs to be roomy enough to house the whole crew but not so big that you can’t fit it in the allotted space at the campground. This beauty not only serves up 62.5 square feet of space, it also sets up tall enough for standing inside. That means you can get dressed easily while others sleep and there’s enough room to romp in bad weather. Plus two doors and two vestibules give you plenty of space for staging and storage. $500; nemoequipment.com
Yeti
Roadie 24 Canopy Collection
Yeti’s Roadie 24 cooler is small enough to keep close during the drive or on the picnic table in camp to dispense snacks and cold drinks. And the kids will love the limited edition green Canopy Collection version, inspired by the vibrant color of jungle foliage. $250; yeti.com
Mölkky
Far safer than lawn darts, Mölkky is the outdoor game you’ve never heard of—unless you live in Europe where the Finnish pastime rates big time with families and (no joke) serious international competitions. The game itself is a sort of cross between outdoor bowling and cornhole. Just don’t be a mölkkääjä, aka “a disruptive player.” $45; molkky.world/molkky-game
Mountain Hardwear
Youth Bozeman Adjustable Sleeping Bag
One of the most frustrating aspects of buying gear for kids is they keep growing out of it. No worries with this clever and cozy synthetic sleeping bag that can be adjusted for size as your kids grow via a simple but effective drawcord system. It’s a solution that saves complaining and cash. $70; mountainhardwear.com
Eureka!
Ignite Plus Camp Stove
Reliable and sensibly priced, this family camp stove offers up a feature we wish we saw more often: The 10,000 BTU burners can actually be turned down for effective simmering control. Otherwise, it’s easy to light, store, and clean. $160; eurekacamping.johnsonoutdoors.com
