GOODS

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Car camping with the family is a chance to escape the daily grind—but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on comfort. These key gear items will keep the whole crew happy in the great outdoors.

BY DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

ACLIM8 COMBAR FOLDAXE PRO

Nemo

Aurora Highrise With plenty of standing room, Nemo’s new family camping tent impressed us with its Tardis-like power of being much bigger on the inside than we thought possible, thanks to steep sidewalls that don’t sacrifice stability. That’s clutch when everyone is scrambling for gear when getting ready for bed or waking up in the morning. Easy to set up, it’s available in four- and six-person models.

$400 (four-person), $500 (six-person); nemoequipment. com

Aclim8

Combar FoldaXe Pro You’ll want to keep it away from the little kids, but this gadget for grownups packs a lot of potentially dangerous but useful tools in one compact package. Light and sleek, it morphs from a safe carry position to ax to hammer for use around camp. But wait. There’s more. Stored inside the shaft, you’ll find a fixedblade survival knife and saw to complete the package. $349;

aclim8.com

PACT

Kit Pooping requires some forethought when you don’t have plumbing. Dispose of your waste wrong and you degrade the environment and the experience for everyone. This clever, all-in-one kit gives you all you need to relieve and clean up after yourself responsibly outside—including a shovel that can dig into tough soils, hand sanitizer, and mycelium tablets that help break down your waste. $50;

pactoutdoors.com

GERBER DEVOUR TI

HAPPY EXPLORER FIRST AID KIT

PRIMUS ALIKA

Yeti

Rambler One Gallon Jug Sure, it seems boring—it’s a big metal jug—but this onegallon, stainless steel beast has become one of the most important pieces in our carcamping gear stash. It keeps water colder and safer than bigger plastic containers and pours easier in camp. Plus, the near-indestructible urn keeps soup hot for an instant warm meal when you roll into camp at a late hour. $130; yeti.com

Primus

Alika Swedish brand Primus won a coveted Scandinavian Outdoor Award for this double burner with a removable lid that allows access from all sides for easier cooking with a busy group. It’s easy to transport, easy to clean, and provides the space and power to cook big meals for hungry families. $300; primus.us

DECATHLON QUECHUA PORTABLE FOLDING KITCHEN UNIT

PACT KIT

YETI RAMBLER ONE GALLON JUG

NEMO AURORA HIGHRISE

having a kitchen unit makes life simpler, cleaner, and more organized when you are settled into that perfect camp spot. Sturdy and simple to set up, this model offers counter space for stove and food preparation as well as plenty of storage space for crockery and supplies (just be aware of food storage regulations). When you are done, it packs away into its own carrying case. $119;

decathlon.com

Be Smart Get Prepared

Happy Explorer First Aid Kit Stocked with 256 items, this all-encompassing kit, which comes in a sturdy plastic carrying case, is mandatory for any trip into the woods. It includes treatment for everything from bee stings to burns and includes Silvex Wound Gel to prevent infections. Best of all, it’s intuitively organized and easy to find what you need in the middle of a crisis. $25;

firstaidplusmore.com

Gerber

Devour Ti This trusty (and recently upgraded) titanium utensil is far more than a spork. It includes a can opener, bottle opener, two screwdrivers, and more, making it mandatory gear whether you are car camping or backpacking. $25;

gerbergear.com

We are hikers on remote trails. We are alpinists navigating rock and snow. We are pioneers on hostile summits. We span seven continents and a thousand landscapes but our intent is the same. For every trail, for every mountain, for every moment. We are Explorers.

TRAIL TIME

As spring blooms, it's time to shake off the winter blues and cover some serious miles. For overnight wilderness trips, we’ve found the best new backpacking gear to keep you moving fast and well prepared out there.

BY DOUG SCHNITZSPAHN

LifeStraw

Peak Series 3L Gravity Water Filter System Your water filtration system can be your best friend (or biggest nemesis) out in the wild, so you need a kit that won’t let you down. LifeStraw’s new Peak series includes its classic minimalist straw ($20) and squeeze bottles ($33–$38) for solo hikers, but we recommend this bigger 3-liter system if you are traveling in a group. The revamped filter is easy to use, with a harder top than previous versions. Plus, the brand, which is a B Corp and climate neutral, provides clean water to one child for one year through your purchase. $60; lifestraw.com

Salewa

Women’s MTN Trainer Lite Mid GTX The perfect backpacking shoe combines the three superpowers of being lightweight, stable, and waterproof. Sale’s MTN Trainer scores across the board, weighing in at just over one pound but delivering the support of a heavier boot with a rubber toe cap and heel stabilizer. On soggy Appalachian trails, Gore-Tex keeps out the wet and, bonus, the laces stay secure thanks to a climbing lacing system. Also available in men’s sizes.$200; salewa.com

Exped

Ultra 3R Weighing in at 16.4 ounces, this sleeping pad is a backpacker’s dream. It provides plenty of insulation thanks to head-totoe air chambers that keep you warm and supported at night. Bonus points: The brand is certified carbon neutral, meaning you can sleep a bit easier. $150; expedusa.com

EXPED ULTRA 3R

SALEWA WOMEN’S MTN TRAINER LITE MID GTX

LIFESTRAW PEAK SERIES 3L GRAVITY WATER FILTER SYSTEM

Maryland Coast Bike Festival

SATURDAY, MAY 7TH, 2022

Start, fi nish and celebrate at the waterfront festival in Ocean City’s famous harbor. Three enhanced routes this year with Assateague Island vistas! Robust beach-themed rest stops.

Join us on one of the three amazing routes exploring Maryland’s scenic coastal region. The event also o ers the opportunity to preserve this pristine coastal environment.

marylandcoastbikefestival.com

Women’s UNLTD Antigravity 64 Osprey continues to set the standard for women’s packs with a fit that makes this hauler feel like a part of your torso. The adjust-on-the-fly straps help dial in that fit on the trail, and the unique clamshell compression system means the weight of the pack stays balanced. Add in a top compartment that transforms into a day pack and you have a big-ticket item that will be worth the price tag on big adventures when your gear makes all the difference.

$700; osprey.com

Big Agnes

Copper Spur HV UL5 Family backpacking can be a pain when you have to haul in one big heavy tent or multiple two-person options. This big, lightweight (6 pounds, 14 ounces) shelter keeps everyone together and cuts down on what the group has to carry. Crafted from ultralight ripstop nylon, the tent—which sleeps a family of five—provides impressive protection from the elements for its weight and it breathes on those hot humid days.

$799; bigagnes.com

Mountain Hardwear

PCT 55L Backpack This unisex backpack is ready for action for anyting from weekend jaunts to commited peakbaggginig missions. Tipping the scales at approximately 4 pounds, 2 ounces, the trusty hauler can swallow up plenty of gear while withstanding the abuse of bushwhacking thanks to study recycled 210-denier ripstop nylon construction. It’s an ideal choice for a first pack, as well as a versatile option for experienced trekkers. $280;

mountainhardwear.com

Outdoor Vitals

Stormloft Down Topquilt 15 Degree If you are like our editors, you rarely zip up your sleeping

Step into Spring!

100% Recycled, Sustainable Apparel.

bag on summer trips—so why bother with all the extra weight and bulk? This cozy topsheet provides all the warmth you need (rated down to 15 degrees), thanks to DWR treated 800+ fill power HyperDry down (which insulates even when damp) and a design that ensures the quilt folds in snug around you when you are tucked in.

$245; outdoorvitals.com

OSPREY WOMEN’S UNLTD ANTIGRAVITY 64 MOUNTAIN HARDWEAR PCT 55L BACKPACK

BIG AGNES COPPER SPUR HV UL5

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