Best buys · 4 picks

The campsite and the trail

Kit for a weekend away from the car and the outlet. None of it is cheap; all of it is the kind you still own in ten years. The cooler and the headlamp live on their own shelves.

The camp stove

Jetboil Flash

Boils water for coffee or a freeze-dried meal in a couple of minutes, and the burner packs inside its own cup. The fastest way from sleeping bag to hot drink.

Buy it for
Backpacking, fishing trips, the tailgate.
Skip it if
You cook real meals for a group. Get a two-burner camp stove.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →
The camp chair

Helinox Chair One

Packs to the size of a water bottle, weighs about two pounds, and is more comfortable than chairs twice its size. The chair that ends up in the car permanently.

Buy it for
Hiking, festivals, kids' soccer on the sideline.
Skip it if
You want a cup holder and a recline. A heavier camp chair does that.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →
The power station

Jackery Explorer power station

A big battery with real outlets: it runs a camping fridge, charges phones and cameras, and comes back into the house for a power cut. Recharges from the wall, the car or solar panels.

Buy it for
Car camping, van trips, blackouts.
Skip it if
You only charge phones. A power bank costs a fraction as much.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →
The satellite messenger

Garmin inReach Mini

Sends texts and an SOS by satellite where phones have no signal, and lets the people at home follow your track. It needs a subscription, and it is the one thing here that can get you rescued.

Buy it for
Backcountry trips, solo hikes, hunting, sailing.
Skip it if
You never leave cell coverage, or your phone's satellite SOS covers what you need.
What to look for, the cheaper option and the step up →