Looking to gradually upgrade my camping equipment (tent, pads, chairs, table, shower)

[stioc]

I started with the basic Coleman/Walmart stuff and for the most part everything has served me well but I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing out on in terms of comfort, less weight, convenience. So I'll list out my camping equipment and see if you guys can see what I should upgrade first and to what?

1. Tent: Basic Coleman 4 person 2 pole tent. Biggest gripes: 3 season tent, no vestibule, and limited room for standing up. In my imagination I'd have like an REI base camp 4 or 6 (we're 2 adults, one kid and possibly one dog), maybe with a couple of lightweight cots inside but I also have limited room in my small SUV.

2. Sleeping pads: We have two Thermarests and one Alps self-inflating pad. Again, cots if they don't take up too much room and are fairly light?

3. Chairs: basic Walmart folding chairs that collapse and store in a long case. I like these because they're not too heavy, don't take up much room and have worked well. Except maybe our backs freeze when its cold out and you're sitting by the fire.

4. Table: we use a Roll-a-Table but would like something that deploys faster for those quick lunch stops?

5. Shower: I have a basic Coleman shower bag that's only been used for doing dishes and once shaving so far but I'm thinking the Nemo shower sounds better.

EDIT:

6. Coleman 5-day cooler: It's not a ARB/Engel/Edgestar fridge but does ok. Gripes: too big on the outside and too small on the inside. The workaround is to freeze the drinks (Gatorade etc) before leaving and use them instead of ice to keep other things chilled.

7. Coleman propane heater: Not sure whatelse is out there but this little heater helps to take the chill off when slipping into or out of the PJs. The cold-weather sleeping gripe I have is waking up at 2am feeling like my face is about to get a frost bite (I'm in SoCal but it does dip into the 20s in the desert)

I think that covers the basic equipment.

 

[Ramjet]

You actually have a brilliant little list there. To be completely honest. You really don't need to upgrade anything unless it is broken, leaks, or just doesn't fit what you really need to use it for. If you don't already have one, I would buy a fridge for my truck. It was the single biggest thing I have ever purchased for our trips. Hope this helps.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

If it works for you...you are good to go IMO
Big dollars spent does not always equal comfort

 

[stioc]

Thanks guys, I added a couple of other items to my list.

I have a $100 REI gift card and I see they have 20% off on several items...that's a free $120 burning a hole in my pocket.

 

[Honu]

a few thoughts we went through downsizing from a trailer to no trailer

and should say this is only if you want to downsize not just to do ! if pack space is limited small gear light gear is nicer I think

cots ! we love them but some are to big and heavy and bulky or some are so tiny and narrow
we ended up with the alps cots after trying a total of 3 cots they pack down super small and are still quick to put up and are 30 inches wide which I like so my arms do not fall off the sides !
keep the bars in the cot and you just roll up a long package then its just put the legs in at camp
this along with nemo cosmo pads over our older alps self inflating saved a ton of room the downside is a bit longer to setup ? but worth the space savings and way more comfy
we fit about 3 matts into the size of one self inflating with the cots we figure two cots and two nemo pads are still smaller than one self inflating and way way more comfy since the cot itself gets us off any rocks or roots or bumps

our sleeping bags we got some nice down bags saving size a luxury but space is critical but its a last step thing over the synthetics which also pack nice but the agnes bags also for the size pack down a touch smaller than others

those roll top tables are nice

tent wise ? I guess for us it was giving up canvas which is much nicer IMHO than synthetic materials but canvas is to heavy and bulky to carry at this point

the chairs I think we are going to get some kermit chairs with extensions ? this will give us a eating height and fire side height all in a small package for our family of 4 the standard camp chairs just take up so much room again most likely 1 regular camp chair is about the size of 4 kermits ?


heaters are a nice luxury we wont do without for the kids the wife and even me

we also now carry the little red can campfire over wood ? easier lighter in some ways and no burn ban issues

for us it comes down to every time we go we think about what is a PAIN to put away store etc.. and lay all your stuff out and think about what is big to pack

if we had a trailer its not a huge issue but family of 4 with a small/med dog in a FJC things are TIGHT

downside to all this downsizing is $$$$$ things that are smaller cots way more $$$ but its cheaper at this point than buying a larger vehicle and it is nice to be hauling less weight etc..

 

[bdr529]

I've had a lot of the same gear as you. The biggest improvement for me was the jump from a cooler to an ARB fridge. SO nice to not have to deal with ice and wet soggy food. I'm also currently using an REI Base Camp 6. Really nice tent, but does take up a fair bit of space in the rig. Cots are great, but are also big volume consumers. I have an Outfitter XL from Cabelas, but it's way too big to carry in the JKU. Really it's pretty personal decision of your priorities vs the size of your rig.

 

[Gear]

You might try and look at it from a different angle. Instead of trying to replace what seems like a majority of your gear, why not concentrate on one or two things in particular. For instance I have a ton of gear, but when I camp I find that I am very lazy and most products don't even make it out of the Jeep or trailer. I also have this nagging problem of always putting away stuff after I use it. So it always looks like I am ready to move on to the next camp site. With this in mind I have simple requirements but have complicated my own life by purchasing all of these cool/unnecessary gadgets. Most of which I never use out in the field(to time consuming). You see my #1 priority is to relax and take in the view. For instance I have a plethora of Snow Peak cooking gear(IGT this, IGT that), but rarely do I plan or bring the correct food to even consider using it as it should be used. Enough rambling, my point is to think about what it is that brings you into the outdoors and upgrade those components that will make your experience better. On my last trip I wanted to hangout and just talk with friends. The only think that made its way out of the trailer was the Snow Peak table and Chairs. I had a blast and they made the event more enjoyable for those hanging out.

Remember less is more. Ah Hell who am I kidding. I have to much stuff and want to carry less. My problem is I own it so I feel like I should bring it. I think it is time for me to cut the cord. My dilemma is having a family of four. Different trips bring different needs.

2013 Desert Rendezvous

If you plan on keeping your Nissan and have no intention of adding a trailer. I would seriously consider backpacking gear/size. No cots, bomber little 3 or 4 season tent, backpacking stove and then add a good quality full size chair(example: Kermit with leg extensions). On the other hand if you are a food person maybe your priorities would be better served with a full blown kitchen. Like I said above you really need to set your priorities. Then you can examine your needs versus wants.

Well after typing this all up I reread your post and I think the others(Ramjet, LandCruiserPhil) hit it on the head. You have the perfect setup. Replace things as they break or possible if you are trying to make something smaller or lighter.

 

[stioc]

Thanks for taking the time to shed some light on your setups and the pros/cons. The thing is everything I have works- I don't expect to have a hotel experience but a few small things can really help turn a so-so camping into something enjoyable especially for the better halves and kids. Sleeping on the ground is just that but maybe a few inches off the ground or for those who sleep on the sides and belly a bit of extra cushioning might turn an all night toss-n-turn game into a nice restful sleep. Or being able to stand rather than sit to change clothes may make things a bit easier.

Believe it or not I like the chairs just because I don't have to assemble them, I pull them out of their soft cases and they're ready to go, same thing when breaking camp which is always the harder and more laboring than setting up camp. I may give the Kermit chairs a try but so far chairs work well.

A fridge is something I've considered and I may get one afterall but again I find it easier/lighter to load up a few perishables in our 5-day cooler to use up the first or second night and then we eat Mountain House or Uncle Bens stuff I bought a lightweight Weber grill to bring camping (after seeing everyone grilling burgers on our Mojave trip) but I have yet to even take it out of its Amazon box (almost a year). I hate buying stuff that takes up room in the house and never get a chance to use it or its too bulky/cumbersome to bring. No more impulse purchases...yeah right.

Trailers- I've been tempted by all your setups but after having a 17ft trailer in the previous life (when my little one was a baby) I'm trying to keep my setup lightweight and simple. No plans to change the Nissan at this time, like my cheap camping gear it's nothing top class but it works well.

 

[4x4junkie]

I'll add another vote for a fridge. (I have an Edgestar 43)

Coolers are fine for maybe 1-2 day trips (infact I often still use a cooler for single-overnighters myself being that the automatic icemaker in the house fridge keeps enough ice available for that in it's ice bin). But for anything longer... you'll probably never go back to a cooler for those trips again. Like bdr529 said, not having to chase after ice for (and during) each trip and water-logged hamburger meat (among other things) in melting ice is what sealed it for me.

A fridge packed full of food is also not much heavier (if at all) than a cooler packed with the same food together with umpteen pounds of ice.

 

[mudbutt]

If you are looking to upgrade your chairs, I recommend the GCI Pico...

I have two now and will never go back to the disposable folding camp chairs.

Aside from all the storage they have on them (and they have a TON), aside from the coolness factor (people stare in awe the first time they see you deploy one), aside from the fact that they are very sturdy and well made (they'll hold 250 lbs), the thing I like the most is they are about the size of a large laptop when folded.

I can only find one drawback with their product. They come with a shoulder strap that works well for long hauls, but the outer case needs a grab handle on top. But it's a simple fix with some 1" wide strap and a sewing machine.

I got mine at REI during a sale with my dividend check, so I only ended up paying something like $70.00 each. Alas, I was just on their website and they didn't come up in the search.

There is a thread here about a camp chair debate if you have time to read it.

Here it is:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-Camp-Chair-Debate?highlight=great+camp+chair

 

[G0to60]

Great thread! I'm starting to get into this expedition style camping (ie using a car). I have backpacked for most of my life but my interest in cars and the fact that my wife doesn't like the long hiking of backpacking has drawn me to this. I have a bunch of camping gear but most of it is made with compromises due to having to carry it on your back. Over the coming months I'm going to be seeing what I can use of my current equipment and what I need/want to get to make camping more comfortable.

Thanks for all the good suggestions.

 

[raven1911]

I would suggest a full size stand up tent. I have a family of four and it made a huge difference to camp with two vestibules, tall enough to stand up, divider for privacy, and openings on both sides of the tent for middle of the night potty breaks. I have a Kingdom6 and was talked out of the Basecamp by an REI employee who owned both tents and said he liked the Kingdom way better. I ended up keeping it and have not regretted it. I put ground tarps under each vestibule and I bring a small broom to sweep away the dirt from each side of the tent. Works great and very clean.

I would suggest cots or air mattress for you and your wife. Just remember you have to insulate under the cot or under yourself or else you will have a cold backside. I use a simple foldable 4 foot table from Wally world that serves well for kitchen duties and setting things on.

I would suggest a luggable loo for bathroom breaks if you disperse camp. Just get the bags and deodorizer for it and you are good to go. Buy a small privacy shelter to either shower in or put the luggable loo in and you have an instant bathroom.

If you car camp a lot then invest in a 10 or 12 inch Dutch oven. You can make killer food for the whole family. I have two 10 inch ovens and can cook dinner and dessert or breads and they are very tasty. Crappy camp food will not make the better half and the kids want to keep camping. Dutch ovens are very easy to cook from and you can prepare the ingredients beforehand. I make a deal with my wife that I do all the camp cooking. She loves it and I love cooking with the Dutch ovens.

 

[G0to60]

If you car camp a lot then invest in a 10 or 12 inch Dutch oven. You can make killer food for the whole family. I have two 10 inch ovens and can cook dinner and dessert or breads and they are very tasty. Crappy camp food will not make the better half and the kids want to keep camping. Dutch ovens are very easy to cook from and you can prepare the ingredients beforehand. I make a deal with my wife that I do all the camp cooking. She loves it and I love cooking with the Dutch ovens.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I remember that my parents would cook in Dutch ovens while we were camping when I was little. Great stuff came out of there. I'll have to see if they still have one.

 

[Honu]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I remember that my parents would cook in Dutch ovens while we were camping when I was little. Great stuff came out of there. I'll have to see if they still have one.

that would be cool to be using the same one you used as a kid and then pass it down the line for generations

 

[nwoods]

I think the comment about sleeping pads and bags is probably where you can make the biggest space savings, and maybe cooking items as well. A good highly compressible down sleeping bag cannot be overemphasized. NEMO also makes a great matt that is very compact when stowed, and yes, the NEMO shower is one of my favorite camp equipment additions. It's tiny, and works great, and keeps the womenfolk happy. As for quick table, how about something you build as part of a storage system in the back of the rig? A nice slide out table (map table they are sometimes called) might work perfectly for you. Or follow Justin's example. I really liked his family sized Snowpeak table, but I don't know how big it is stowed or how manipulative it is to set up.

The Basecamp 4 would fit you guys well, but you can get more compact tents, such as Bibler or Nemo. Cooking is a space taker for sure, if you aren't using backpacking MSR Whisperlite stoves or things like it. The little Weber propane grille is pretty awesome to cook on, if you can fit it. Dutch Ovens are awesome, but heavy, dirty, and bulky. It's always a quandary. What are you using for pots and pans and your "kitchen box"? That is where you are likely to make a serious dent to your volume of space (and quantity of cash)