Camp Like You Mean It

Buckle up, woodland wanderer—this isn’t your average trail tale:

As a former professional event planner, it will come as absolutely zero surprise that even camping doesn’t escape my need for borderline obsessive planning. Yes, I am the person who brings packing lists and a pop-up “vibe tent” complete with string lights and curated playlists called *S’more Beats. The forest may be wild—but my itinerary isn’t.

Let me reveal my list of curated camping containers—a collection so lovingly selected, REI’s staff offered me honorary tenure. Got a camping must have, then refer my way.

CGear Sand Free Mat

Say goodbye to the relentless tyranny of clingy sand. This Sand Free Mat elevates your camping or beach setup from "mildly sandy struggle" to "outdoor oasis with VIP flooring." lay it outside your tent or under your camp chairs, it’s like rolling out the welcome mat for comfort. Available in a variety of sizes, engineered with well-made sorcery, and yes, it comes with a storage bag that doesn’t play hide-and-seek when you need it. You can find it on CGear Store on Amazon.

Shade Shelter Sides

Forget a Swiss Army knife, our pop-up shade shelter is the real hero of every one of our campsite sagas and deserves a moniker. Now you'd think we would’ve learned our lesson from our 2024 Lake Glendo’s scorched-earth curriculum in Desert Survival 101 and invested in proper shade sides. But nope, we chose blind optimism over blistered wisdom, faithfully believing the Utah weather gods would dial down the sun just for us on our recent Flaming Gorge foray - Spoiler: They did not.

Instead, we once again channeled full MacGyver to jury-rig side panels with chip bag clips in hand and red-checked plastic tablecloths with the grace of overcaffeinated raccoons on a mission. Once home, still slightly singed, the ever-intrepid planner snapped into full mission-mode to procure side panels so glorious, so structurally sound, they’d make architectural critics weep. Think luxury cabana meets tactical gear.

Words like “wind resistant,” “bug force critical,” and “shade density rating” were casually slipped into search bars, as if I’d always known the difference between mosquito mesh strength tiers. I went full “REI noir” and leaned into the investigative thriller vibes: One woman. One tarp. Zero tolerance for misleading shade shelter ratings. So here are the deets and yes, already backyard battled-tested under conditions that included rogue sprinklers and one suspicious squirrel. Made with silver coated oxford cloth that sound like the British Army technical team consulted, these 10x10 sides by MQoutdoor Store are the perfect answer from another successful Amazon search adventure.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink or Maybe Not!

Farewell, flimsy paper plates, your soggy reign is over! These 100% unbreakable bowls and plates are the unsung heroes of sustainable camping, ready to survive everything from chili spills to campfire chaos. Sturdy, stylish, and practically immortal. Found this gem on Amazon, and it's officially earned a spot in my Amazon "why didn't I buy this sooner?" hall of fame.

Next up - skip the scavenger hunt through kitchen drawers and the existential crisis over whether you packed the tongs. This drawstring bag of cooking wizardry has everything but the campfire itself. It's like a Swiss Army knife had a baby with a sous chef. And yes, it's another Amazon find, sorry not sorry! Side note: these bad boys are about as fire-friendly as a marshmallow in a microwave. So unless you want melted dreams and a utensil funeral, pack your trusty metal tongs, they're the real MVPs of flame-side finesse.

Even the humble trash can gets a glow-up moment. This Amazon gem folds flatter than your last pancake attempt, then springs to life like, "Ta-da!" Say goodbye to tying trash bags to picnic tables like a sad campsite scarecrow. This pop-up wonder comes with a lid that seals tighter than your secrets. Sorry racoons, this snack vault is closed. Bears, however......still not invited.

Amazon haters rejoice; you're getting your break. These eating utensils are your official diploma from Cave Person University, and they've graduated with honors in Not Snapping Mid-Bite. Sturdy enough to tackle steak, sweet potatoes, or whatever gourmet glory you are whipping up fireside. No more snapping that sad plastic knife on a rogue lettuce leaf or pretending your spork is up to the task. These tools say, "I camp, but I do it with dignity." And now? You are finally stepping into a live Cabela's store like it's a pilgrimage, eyes wide, heart full, ready to touch the gear in its natural habitat. May your cart be full and your campfire meals legendary.

From Sauna to Siesta: One Fan to Rule the Heat

If your tent is auditioning for the role of 'Hot Yoga Studio in the Wild', this breezy sidekick shuts it down. Small but mighty, it turns muggy misery into a cool whisper of sanity. USB-charged and marathon ready, this little fan doesn't quit until you do. It's like having a personal wind spirit tucked into your sleeping bag, minus the haunting. Plotting a rig that delivers consistent cheek-chilling airflow without the fan doing interpretative dance across my sleeping bag is next on the list. Otherwise, it's so perfect, you are considering a joint checking account and matching camp chairs. Still deep in the fan research rabbit hole with neck coolers and a fan that hangs like a chandelier, blows like a champ, and won't pull a disappearing act after a weekend in the wild. Must hold a charge and a grudge against heat. Hand Fan Store

The Royal Rump Rester

Our usually trusty Murdochs chair picks flopped harder than a soggy s'more, enter these fabulous thrones, now two tent seasons deep and still serving campsite

royalty. Living XL Store

Got a camping table you love that doesn't act like a diva demanding its own trailer and a personal assistant named 'Mesh Storage'? Send your recommendations my way.

Jetboil: Flame on Fancy Pants

We adore this pint-sized flame wizard. When your camp crew goes feral and drains the gas like its party punch, the Jetboil swoops in like a caped superhero, hot, fast, and ready to rescue breakfast from the ashes of poor planning. Fire ban? No problemo!

Car packed tighter than a burrito? This little legend is so compact, it's like sneaking snacks past airline security. Currently researching the Jetboil Genesis like it's a forbidden love. It's got the flame, the flair, the cookware, but that price tag keeps playing hard to get. Pic of it above.

Next up: travel and camping hacks I either discovered in a moment of genius or shamelessly swiped from a friend's gear bin.