I’ve Been Camping for 10+ Years, and These Are the Upgrades I'm Grabbing This Season

I love to camp. There’s something about being outside that’s just, well, I don’t think any other getaway can top it. And while I love to hike, paddle, and swim, my favorite part about being in the great outdoors is hanging by the campsite, and cooking and eating.

Despite my decade of camping experience, I realized that I didn’t have everything I needed as I was getting ready for a recent trip. Thankfully, I came across some great sales on items like camp cookware and lanterns that will take my campsite from drab to life of the campground. Want to know what I’m grabbing? Keep reading, and I’m sure you’ll want to add a few of these items to your own cart. 

What I’m Buying for Camping Season

• Lighting Ever LE 1000LM Camping Lantern, $20 (originally $34) at amazon.com
• Hotdot Hand Warmer, 2 Pack, $14 (originally $25) at amazon.com
• Cliganic 10-Pack Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, $10 (originally $13) at amazon.com
• Stanley AeroLight 16-Ounce Water Bottle, $21 (originally $30) at rei.com
• Gsi Outdoors Bugaboo Camper Cookset, $97 (originally $130) at rei.com
• Zempire 2-Burner Deluxe Camping Stove, $150 (originally $279) at rei.com
• Gsi Basecamp Chef’s Toolkit, $37 (originally $50) at rei.com
• Nite Ize SpotLit LED Collar Light, $8 at amazon.com

Lighting Ever LE 1000LM Camping Lantern

It’s my opinion that you can never have too many lanterns when you’re camping. Sure, I have a headlamp and some string lights, but this lantern is going to take my campsite to the next level. It’s battery-powered, has four lighting modes, and it can last 12 hours even at the highest setting, according to the brand. Plus, thanks to a hangable hook and a removable cover, it’s rugged enough for even some off-the-grid adventures. 

Hotdot Hand Warmer, 2 Pack

Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I go camping (even in the summer) my hands are always freezing. These battery-powered hand warmers might just be the solution, with three settings to ensure my fingers aren’t frigid. According to the brand, these heat up to their maximum temperature in just one second, which is a game changer. After all, when your hands get cold, you need instant relief.  

Cliganic 10-Pack Mosquito Repellent Bracelets

No matter what I spray on myself, mosquitos swarm all over and eat me up. My mom says it’s because I’m sweet, but I don’t believe her. Look, I’m honestly not sure if these bracelets could solve this problem — it kind of seems like drawing a circle in sand that is “impenetrable to snakes” —  but over 12,900 shoppers swear by them, so I thought I’d give them a shot. For just $1 a bracelet, it’s worth a go, right? 

Stanley AeroLight 16-Ounce Water Bottle

Before Stanley was a viral sensation, it was a legacy brand with great camping equipment. I’m getting a new water bottle from the brand — and it’s not the straw one! This one has a leakproof lid, and so I’ll probably end up using it equally for coffee and for water. I love that it’s a smaller size, so it will be easier to throw in a day bag, too. 

Gsi Outdoors Bugaboo Camper Cookset

I actually don’t have any camping cookware specifically. I like to bring a Lodge cast iron pan, but I figured it was time to actually invest in a specific set, especially when I came across this discount. I love that it comes with four plates, bowls, mugs, and lids, as well as a 2-liter pot, a 3-liter pot, and a frying pan. There’s a stuff sack to keep everything nice and organized, and now, my friends and I don’t have to worry about bringing bowls or cookware along on our adventures.

Zempire 2-Burner Deluxe Camping Stove

I have been needing a new camping stove, and now that this one is 46% off, it’s the one I’m grabbing. It has an easy ignition, two burners so I can cook eggs and pancakes in the morning and a windshield, so I don’t have to worry too much about keeping it lit. Plus, it measures 18 by 11.8 by 6.7 inches and weighs only 13 pounds so it’ll be easy to bring along with me. 

Gsi Basecamp Chef’s Toolkit

I also do not have a set of tools specifically for camp cooking. I always end up bringing along my OXO fish spatula and tongs, and then by the time I get home, they’re ruined. That’s why I’m grabbing this GSI set, which has a genius space-saving design and is meant for the outdoors. It includes a spatula, a ladle, tongs, and a chain mail pot scrubber for cleaning my cast iron pan.

Nite Ize SpotLit LED Collar Light

Last but not least, I’m grabbing this light-up dog collar. My dog has been on most of our camping trips, and it’s always fun having her around. Not only is this disco-light just adorable, but it might just help light up the campsite a bit. At the very least, it will keep her from getting lost (she is always getting lost).