Camping Gear
With Emphasis on What Works in Southern California
This is the gear I'm using to camp Southern California.
This area of the state owns a variety of camping environments, from lush, high deserts that get snow and rain in the colder seasons, to windy coastal beach camping right off the PCH, to mountain settings carved out of dense forests of pine, fir, and redwood. And from these, there's car camping and hike-in camping alike.
Each trip requires its own custom set of gear, based on the setting and season. I'll walk you through what I'm using, and when and where to use it in my articles...
Cooking Gear for Camping
Backpacking Stoves
Jetboil MiniMo
My Jetboil MiniMo series goes over everything you need to know about this stove. There you'll learn the basics, like how to unpack and pack the stove, how to light and cook with it, even with third party pots and pans. I further go over operation at camp, including answering fuel efficiency questions for different cooking styles, leave no trace cleaning, and when you can and can't remedy fuel line clogs. Finally I tackle both well known and lesser known accessories for the stove.
Other Jetboil articles I've written include, cleaning the stove's burner after tough to clean food dries on it, in the field, Jetboil Fuel (JetPower) frequently asked questions, and my scientific studies on the MiniMo's fuel efficiency. I've even tried a few recipe experiments; some which work, others not so much. Check out my latest articles below, or visit my Jetboil page for the complete article list.
GSI Outdoors Glacier Stove
The GSI Glacier Stove is certainly not as energy efficient as my MiniMo, as shown in my head to head study on the two in controlled windy conditions. But it has a wide burner and pot stand, making it great for more even heat distribution in backpacking pots and pans, so your pancakes are more likely to work out well for you!
The stove's more even heat distribution means you can even reheat cold solid food, like chunks of chicken in aluminum foil, in a backpacking pot, without burning the anodized aluminum off the bottom of it, like a Jetboil stove would.
Car Camping Stoves
Coleman 1 Burner Butane Stove
I've used this stove everywhere from Los Padres National Forest to the ultra-windy Gaviota State Park and Beach, to El Capitan State Beach, to Carpinteria. It works best in non-windy areas, but I've used it at Gaviota, in a wind storm inside the vestibule of a REI Basecamp 4 tent, and was able to pull off some chicken burritos. It's a great accessory for Prius Prime car camping, due to its small size.
This thing is just one chunk of metal, with no attached lid, so it can take some abuse. I've had it for years and it's never given me any trouble. I'm assuming the first thing that will go is the piezo igniter system, but even if that ever happens, you can still light it with a match.
The main thing to know about the Coleman is that a 10 inch frying pan is the appropriate size pan it works with. And thus next on my list is...
Pots and Pans
Lodge 10" Cast Iron Skillet
I got on the cast iron wagon, when I was looking for healthier cookware than my old, generic Teflon based 1990's pans. It turns out, however, these Lodge skillets are great for car camping also, as they work good with my butane stove, as well as the standard campfire rings in California's state and national parks.
The brilliant feature of these cast iron pans is that they don't need potentially environmentally unfriendly soap to clean up. It just takes water, a Lodge scraper, perhaps a paper towel, and a little bit of oil to keep them going at camp.
Latest Camping Cooking Gear Articles
What’s Up With the Jetboil MiniMo – Review
Calculated Jetboil Backpacking Stove Efficiency
Jetboil Fuel – Everything You Need To Know
How To Clean Your Jetboil Burner
Everything You Need To Know About The Jetboil MiniMo – Accessories
Everything You Need To Know About The Jetboil MiniMo – Field Operation
Food for Camping and Related Gear
Commercial Dehydrated Backpacking Food Bags
On the commercial side of backpacking meals, I usually stick with Mountain House, Good To Go, and Backpacker's Pantry. These are the 'big three' at my local REI.
Backpacker's Pantry and Good To Go tend to have a good selection of gluten free options. These kept my girlfriend, who had Celiac Disease, going on our hiking trips up in the Angeles National Forest.
Mountain House is good in that not only is it easy camp food to make, but depending on the meal, it can last up to 30 years. With this long shelf life it can double as a survival food if the big San Andres Fault Earthquake knocks out basic services around here!
Latest Food Related Camping Articles
Cheap and Fast Gluten Free Soup Recipe For the Jetboil MiniMo With Just 3 Simple Ingredients
How Long Does Dehydrated Backpacking Food Last?
Which Gluten Free Backpacking Hot Foods Are Good for Day Hiking?
Gear Hauls
Gear haul articles have tons of gear ideas packed into single themes.
I've written about glamping with the Prius Prime with a ton of gear from a Coleman canopy to a DIY waterproof solar battery bank in an ammo can. Conversely, I've written about minimalist camping with the Prime using mostly backpacking gear.
Topanga State Park, near where I'm based, has one hike-in camping site, which I've thoroughly covered. Check out my gear haul article on pulling off backpacking camping at Topanga's Musch Trail camp, with high quality beginner gear, some of which I use.
Finally, I've got gear ideas regarding feeling safe at night, when camping in the woods or back country.
Check out the latest gear haul articles below:
11 Tips for Winter Backpacking
How To: Quick, Easy Car and Tent Camping With the Toyota Prius Prime
How To Feel Safe at Night When Camping
Guide to Easy and Cheap Camping at Topanga State Park
How To: Prius Prime Car Camping at Reserved Campgrounds
Camping Lighting and Power Gear
Headlamps
Headlamps are an invaluable piece lighting gear for camping or hiking, and are especially important to the hike-in camper and backpacker. Indeed they may be these latter groups' only light source in the back country.
However they are almost as precious to the car camper, especially the minimalist, as they can conveniently extend your cooking hours, let you survey your site at night to feel safe, and keep you from tripping, were you to wander to the restroom at 2am.
Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp
The Black Diamond is light enough for backpacking, owns 3 LEDs that perform their own functions, has customizable dimming for each, and also can perform strobe and SOS signals on each LED if needed. The LED set allows for spotlighting, as well as more proximal flood lighting, or low red lighting to preserve your night vision.
It has USB charging, rarely needs charged and can handle a multi-day backpacking trip, and is waterproof, with a rating for 30 minutes underwater, at 1 meter down.
Check out my review and instructions on how to use the headlamp. In the article, I also have video instruction on basic use, as well as video field testing at camp.
Camping Lanterns
UST 30-Day Duro Lantern
The 30-Day Duro lives up to its name: I rarely have to change its batteries, even though I often leave the lantern on all night, on low mode, as a nightlight, when car camping. I also use it for cooking and eating, as it works as an area light on high mode.
Now will it flood the campsite with high output luminosity, like the old 1980's Coleman gas powered, duel wick lanterns? No, but it does its duty, and is a lot easier to deal with than one of those. My review of the lantern, after several years of use is here.
Camping Power Sources
DIY Solar Powered Battery Bank for Car Camping
For my glamping adventures, I've built a solar battery bank that fits inside a waterproof ammo can. Unlike other similar DIY projects, my battery bank and components are fully housed inside this box, such that it can easily survive a heavy downpour.
I share with you how I made this battery bank, and solar extension cable to run it to my 100W panel, including detailed wiring diagrams, and links to parts I used, in my DIY Solar Battery Bank article.
Latest Lights and Power for Camping Articles
What’s Up With the Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp – Review
What’s Up With the 30 Day Duro Lantern for Camping – Review
DIY Solar Powered Battery Bank (Waterproof) for Camping
Camping Sleep Systems
Backpacking Sleeping Bags
REI Trailbreak 30 Sleeping Bag
The REI Trailbreak 30 Sleeping Bag is a compact, lightweight mummy style bag, with synthetic insulation, and an extremely low price point compared to its brand name competitors. Unfortunately REI has decided to discontinue this bag as of the 3rd quarter of 2022. It's a shame, as the next comparable bag is closer to $200, where as this bag was often found around $100 or so.
The Trailbreak 30's features are that it can pack small into a weekend-sized backpacking backpack, for hike-in camping, and that it's ISO rated for comfort at 38F°, with a lower limit of 29F°. It works great in my Gregory Paragon 58 pack!
Backpacking Sleeping Pads
Big Agnes Rapide SL Sleeping Pad
The Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad is an extremely comfortable pad, with enough thickness that side sleepers like I often am, can rest assured of a comfortable night outdoors. The pad's double intake/exhaust valve makes inflation and deflation quick and painless, and once inflated, it's quiet to sleep on, unlike some rivals that make a crinkle sound when you move on them. Further the Rapide SL is made of durable material and welds, found in critical application gear like life rafts.
As far as when to use it in So Cal, this pad has an ASTM R-value of 4.2, so it's pretty hot for summer camping, but works good in the spring and fall, when paired with my Trailbreak 30 bag. My full review, and provided info can be found in my Rapide SL article.
Klymit Static V Lux Sleeping Pad
The Klymit Static V Lux uninsulated sleeping pad is also a credibly comfortable pad. With its 3 inch thickness, there's enough cushioning that sleepers of all sides of their body are going to do well; or at least those of a slender, lighter body size. Heavier sleepers may need to stick with the Big Angnes Rapide SL wide pad, listed above.
But the main reason I use this pad is that it comes in an uninsulated version, with an ASTM R-value rating of 1.3. That keeps me cool enough in the hot So Cal summertime where night time temps can range from 60 to 80°F+.
The pad's 75 denier material with durable, patented weld design, allows for years of casual use on the trail. It's extra wide design - about 5 inches wider than the average 'wide' sleeping pad - and v-shaped cushion design, allows for luxurious backpacking sleeping, where your arms actually rest on the pad all night, no matter how much you toss and turn!
However, be careful with this extra wide pad: it will only fit in a 2 person tent with a companion, if your companion only has a 20 inch wide pad. If both sleepers want a Static V Luxe or if the second person also wants a wide pad, you're going to need a 3-person backpacking tent to make it happen.
Check out my Klymit Static V Lux review, based on my recent summertime use of the pad, up at Big Bear Lake, CA.
Latest Camping Sleep System Articles
What’s Up With The Klymit Static V Luxe – Review
What’s Up With The Big Agnes Rapide SL – Review
Showers for Camping
Sea To Summit Pocket Shower
The Sea To Summit Pocket Shower has been a reliable and welcome addition to my camping/backpacking gear. After coming back to camp from hiking all day, it's nice to get my hair cleaned, and sweat washed off, for a more comfortable sleep, and time around the campground. That fresh feeling really boosts my moral, and affords me a better relationship with the California outdoors.
Sunscreen for Camping
Environmental Working Group Sunscreen
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) publishes a list of sunscreens that are they consider the safest on the market, both in terms of health, and environmental impact. They assign a score to each product, based on their safety scores for every ingredient in such. This allows consumers to make better sunscreen choices, as they can see how their product of interest stacks up against all its competitors.
I've gone through the list of the EWG's highest scoring sunscreens on their webpage, and found which ones you can actually buy on Amazon. This cuts down hours of searching online to find where to buy these products. Click through to my articles on these sunscreens and you'll be able to find appropriate links to everything.
EWG Best Sunscreens That Can Be Bought Online
EWG Best Facial Sunscreens That Can Be Bought Online
My best face sunscreens article goes through the top ten EWG products, that are safe and effective when used on your face. Some of them are one tier down from the highest scoring products, as they use active ingredients other than zinc oxide, since it can cause the undesirable white cast, and facial dryness.
The article explains the different scores for the face sunscreens, then also breaks down the products into different categories: those okay for sensitive skin, those that won't clog pores, and those that are fragrance free.
Latest Sunscreen Articles
EWG Best Face Sunscreens That Can Be Purchased on Amazon
EWG Best Sunscreens for 2023 That Can Be Bought on Amazon
Camping Tents
Car Camping Tents
REI Base Camp 4 Tent
The REI Base Camp 4 tent is an excellent 3 to 4 season, car camping tent. It can handle heavy wind loads, even when not guyed out, as well as heavy snow, rain, whatever. I've used it everywhere from Big Bear Lake, to Gaviota State Park and Beach, to El Capitán State Beach, to Los Padres National Forest.
Even when its cold outside, there is a notable increase in warmth when hanging out inside, and sleeping in the tent. And it has plenty of space for a queen sized mattress, and gear storage on either side of the bed. Heck there's even room left over for a poodle to sleep on one side of the bed.
The tent's vestibule is large enough to keep a large plastic storage bin, and my DIY solar battery bank under it, with room to spare for getting in and out. I've even cooked with my Coleman stove and iron skillet inside the vestibule during a wind storm.
I'd say this is more of a Spring, Fall and Winter tent, as it can get hot in the summer time, when the rainfly is on. Or if there's no danger of rain, where you can get away with no fly, go ahead and do some summer trips with it as well; I have before.
Backpacking Tents
Featherstone 2 Person UL Peridot Backpacking Tent
The Featherstone 2P UL Peridot tent is competent hike-in camping tent for So Cal. I prefer it for solo trips since it's pretty easy and quick to set up and break down. It does have just enough space for two wide sleeping pads, but I like it for just me + gear.
It's most notable feature is the high hydrostatic head rating for its rainfly and bathtub, at 5000mm. This level of waterproofing is generally not found on a $120 tent. I was able to get it up and running, guy it out, and throw all my gear in it, in Joshua Tree, in a matter of minutes when I felt a few drops of rain starting. And it kept me dry during that moderately intense thunderstorm we had directly afterward.
Check out my full review of the Featherstone Peridot. It's taken my camping to the next level, with it's ease of use.
Latest Camping Tent Articles
How to Choose a Winter Backpacking Tent
What’s Up With the Featherstone Peridot 2 Person Backpacking Tent – Review
