Add some luxury items to your camping kit to take your outdoor adventures to a new level of fun.
This year, add a little “glamp” to your camping adventures.
If you’re an old pro, packing some luxury items may make you fall in love with the experience in a whole new way. And if you’ve been holding out on the outdoors, glamping can be a good step toward immersing yourself in nature.
Here are some picks for gear and clothing with style and substance.
CAMPSITE
Hot morning coffee in the cool forest is one of life’s little pleasures, and it will be even more delightful with the One Canoe Two Campfire Mugs ($20 at Annie’s Art & Frame, Ballard), made from metal and enamel with hip prints and sweet sentiments.
You probably don’t want to use the Areaware Fish Pocket Knife ($25 at areaware.com) to gut your catch, but it will come in handy for everything from cutting rope to popping open a beer.
With any luck, we’ll be able to have campfires this summer. If so, try out the Filson Miti Camp Stove ($85 at Filson, Sodo) for a new cooking experience. The stainless steel stovetop hammers into a quartered log, which burns from the inside log enough to cook a complete meal. (And if you’re not into quartering logs, you can pick up a Light ’n’ Go Bonfire Log at Fred Meyer for $15.)
The Yeti Hopper ($300–$400 at yeticoolers.com) will make you rethink your cooler game. The leak-proof, soft-sided bags have handles and a long strap to make moving them oh-so much easier. There are three sizes available.
Provide a post-hike crash pad with the Fatboy Lamzac Hangout ($79 at shop.fatboyusa.com). Wave it around to fill it with air, secure the ends, and you have a comfy lounger or two-person sofa in seconds. Get on the waitlist now for summer delivery.
When the sun goes down, use the UCO Leschi Lantern ($15 at REI; get 20 percent off with your member coupon through Monday) anywhere you need some extra light. The LED lantern-flashlight combo is water-resistant, and its bungee cord can be attached to a branch, tent pole or strap for easy access.
PERSONAL GEAR
The Deuter Gröden 32 ($129 at deuter.com) has retro-cool looks packed with modern features, such as padded hip fins and soft-edged shoulder straps. The best part, though, is the ventilation system that uses mesh and a spring frame to keep the pack away from your back for more air circulation and less sweat.
Create a bed for two — or an awesome space for one — with the REI Kingdom Sleep System (on sale for $175 through Monday at REI), which includes a queen-sized sleep set complete with an inflatable mattress and headboard, sheet set, insulated top quilt and hand pump.
If you’re looking for individual comfort with style, check out the Therm-A-Rest + Poler Camp Head Compressible Pillow ($30) and Zonker Camp Mattress ($100, both at polerstuff.com). Poler’s fun floral print punches up local company Therm-A-Rest’s classic, packable pieces.
Journal or sketch, even in the rain, with the Rite in the Rain Field-Flex Bound Book ($14 at riteintherain.com), made in Tacoma. The booklets are made of a paper product that doesn’t turn to mush when it gets wet. Use a pencil or the company’s special pen on wet paper, or a regular ballpoint when dry.
The best of Denver and Seattle style come together in the Topo x MiiR Water Bottle ($25 at topodesigns.com), a stainless steel bottle with a clever top that slides over your fingers and is easy to slip onto a carabiner. And Seattle’s MiiR makes a donation to clean-water projects with each bottle sold.
CLOTHING
On cool mornings or evenings, bundle up while sporting your Northwest pride with the unisex Wish You Were Northwest NRTHWST Sweatshirt ($58 at wishyouwerenorthwest.com). Designed in Seattle, it has a perfectly simple, sporty style. More sizes are coming soon.
The Parks Project Trail Topo Camp Hat ($34 at parksproject.us) is so much fun, with the print of a topographic map and a contrasting brown bill. The L.A. company donates time and money to National Parks projects with every sale.
Show off your love of camping with the just-released The Great PNW Campfire Tee ($28 at thegreatpnw.com). The Spokane company’s tee is graphically bold, and cool and wicking in a cotton-poly blend.
Hey, you’re glamping. You might as well dress for it in Kavu’s Jocelyn Dress ($60 at Kavu, Ballard), a flowy, printed piece from the Ballard-based company. Sporty styling details and quick-dry fabric keep it outdoors-appropriate, but you’ll still be super cute popping into town or heading back on the ferry.