Best Camping Gear for 2024

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Chris Wedel Home Tech Editor

Chris Wedel is a fan of all things tech and gadgets. Living in rural Kansas with his wife and two young boys makes finding ways to stay online tricky — not to mention making my homestead smarter. However, by utilizing his years of experience in the tech and mobile communications industries, success is assured. When not conquering the outdoors and testing new gadgets, Chris enjoys cruising a gravel road in his UTV with some good tunes, camping, and hanging out with his family.

Thanks to Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, chargers have been getting more powerful while shrinking at the same time. The latest example of that trend is Anker's new line of GaNPrime chargers with next-generation GaN 3 technology that the company says is even more energy-efficient. The Anker Power Bank 733, which combines a 65W charger with a 10K mAh portable battery, is part of the new GaNPrime line. It's pretty compact and offers two fast-charging USB-C ports and one fast-charging USB-A port. You can charge up to three devices at once, but note that to get a full 65W charge for a laptop, you'll have to plug in just the laptop. 

If you do a lot of camping or any amount of travel, you know how important it is to pack your car properly. Tetris-like skill is needed to fit everything you need. The Flat Packer from Burch Barrel makes the packing a little easier by being under an inch thick when folded away. It can fit easily down the side of your luggage or even flat with bags on top. When you get to where you are going, slide the four pieces together and boom, instant fire pit with a grill top for burgers.

Solo Stove, which makes some of the best smokeless fire pits, released its second-generation Ranger 2.0 (small), Bonfire 2.0 (medium) and Yukon 2.0 (large) fire pits in August 2022. Now it's gone extra small for its new Mesa fire pit. 

As its name implies, the Mesa is designed to sit on a tabletop and is small enough to slip into a backpack for mobility. Naturally, you could also set it on the ground, but when you put it on a table, it's at a good height for comfortably roasting marshmallows. It has the same 360-degree Signature Airflow system as Solo Stove's larger fire pits and is the spiritual successor to the Solo Stove Lite, a mini camp stove (whether we'll see some camping accessories for the Mesa is unclear at this point). It's an excellent mini fire pit.   

When you need a bit more than a power bank for your phone but don't have a lot of space, the Anker Solix C800 Plus is an excellent choice for your camping gear. Anker makes loads of different mobile battery banks, so it's no surprise to see one on this list. The Solix C800 Plus's size, weight and versatility make it a great portable camping power station.

For starters, you get 768Wh of battery capacity, cranking out up to 1200W of power output and 1600W of surge power. All of this is accessible from the two USB-C, two USB-A, five AC outlets and one 12V car socket. When it's time to recharge the power station, it can handle up to 1400W of input from AC power or 300W of solar.

But what really makes the Solix C800 Plus great for camping is the door on top of the unit. Inside are two multifunctional lights that are recharged when stored in the lid's compartment. The lights have adjustable brightness and three different modes -- Candle, Floodlight and Flashlight. There is also an expandable stand that threads directly onto the C800 Plus and has a magnetic ball mount on the end to attach the light to. Because the light's base is magnetic, you can also attach it to other metal objects or use the hook to hang the light.

Bluetti is a brand that specializes in portable power stations, and I've used many of its products in various situations. But the Bluetti AC240P stands out as an excellent choice for your camping gear list and outdoor people because it is IP65 water- and dust-resistant. While I don't recommend leaving your power station out in a rainstorm, when you're camping things happen, and sometimes things get left outside. Even if it doesn't rain, dust and overnight moisture can be an issue for other power stations.

The Bluetti AC240P is by no means light at 72 pounds, so it is one that you'll want to place in a central location at the campsite. But when you know you need power or simply want up to 3,600W of power for things like a coffeemaker or even a microwave, a big power station is needed. To access that power, you can use either of the two AC outlets or the 30A NEMA TT-30 RV plug, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports or the single 12V car socket. Recharging is done via AC power at up to 2,200W, up to 1,200W of solar,or even via 12V or 24V car socket.

When you want something more than a small camp stove like this one from Odoland, this sleek portable gas grill from Weber is superior in almost every category and was a fairly clear winner as the best portable grill overall. It's easy to assemble with just a few parts and feels solid and sturdy, even when given a few vigorous shakes. The igniter works well and once lit, the grill got hot, reaching its advertised 500 degrees Fahrenheit after just 15 minutes with the lid closed. The flame is easy to control and keeps a consistent temperature throughout cooking, even when grilling with the flame turned low. 

With 189 square inches of cooking surface, this grill was not the biggest on the list, but it's plenty big enough to cook burgers, chicken, fish and veggies for a group of six hungry people. It's also nice-looking with flare-out trays to hold your plates and grilling tools, plus an ergonomic design. It comes in a bunch of fun colors or jet black if you prefer. Despite its sturdy build, the Q-1200 is still light enough to take on a camping trip or for one person to carry with relative ease. This grill can use any small propane tank sold at most camping or hardware stores.

The one thing there never seems to be enough of when camping is a flat surface to set stuff on. Lugging around folding tables is no fun, but this GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Table has changed the camping game for me. Even if a table might not be considered a camping gadget, I love how light the table is, but it is still very sturdy and able to support up to 125 pounds. The aluminum table is durable but lightweight at only 14.5 pounds, so it's easy to move around. There is more than enough space to gather around the 24.2” D x 54.3” W x 26.8" H table, and the slatted design makes it easy to clean.

Not the most affordable camping chair, but the GCI Freestyle Camping Chair is one that you can buy and never have to replace, which is what made it part of my essential camping gear. My family has been using the same chairs for over three years and they have been taken to sporting events, camping trips, the beach and more. The durable construction means it can not only hold up to where you use it, but also being tossed around in the back of a truck.

The iconic spring-loaded shocks let you rock and sit comfortably in any position. The seat has plenty of space not to feel cramped, and the mesh back helps keep you cool. You also get a drink holder to keep your beverage handy. Then, when it's time to pack up, the chair folds flat for easy storage.

A hammock is a wonderful way to relax outdoors. But you either need two trees near each other that are strong enough to hold you and your hammock or a stand to attach your hammock to. Trees aren't always exactly where you want them to be, and not all stands are easy to set up or durable enough to withstand being moved around. The Anymaka Portable Hammock Stand solves all of that.

The stand itself is extremely well-made and easy to set up. Anymaka advertises that it takes three seconds to have it up and ready. I have to say that after a few tries, maybe it can be done in 3 seconds, but realistically, it will be a full 5 seconds to be set and adjusted. Attaching the hammock and cup holder takes an additional 20 seconds, and if you decide to put up the sunshade, you're looking at another 15 seconds. I was able to go from unpacking to napping in under a minute.

Not only is the process quick and easy, but the Anymaka hammock and stand are rated to withstand up to 550 lbs, so they're durable, too. Carrying the entire pack with you isn't going to ruin the relaxation you just experienced. After spending a whole 2 minutes taking the setup down and packing it into the carrying case, you're looking at just over 26 pounds to haul with you for your next adventure.