c/camping-gear-reviews

Bought a $5 tarp from Walmart and it lasted one night in the rain

Last summer at a campsite in the Smokies, a guy told me 'spend the extra $15 on a tarp with taped seams or youll wake up wet,' and after that night I totally get it now, anyone else had a cheap tarp fail on them?

That $60 inflatable sleeping pad leaked on night one in the Smokies

Bought a budget pad off Amazon to save some cash before a 3 day trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. First night, I wake up at 2 AM flat on the ground. No patch kit included either. Spent the rest of the trip sleeping on pine needles. Has anyone found a cheap pad that actually holds air for more than one night?

I used the wrong sleeping bag liner for 5 years until a ranger called me out

I was camping at a spot near Lake Tahoe last October when a park ranger came over during my checkout. He saw me stuffing my mummy bag into its sack and asked what liner I used. I told him I just used a cheap cotton sheet I bought at a Walmart in Reno. He laughed and said that was probably why I was freezing every night below 40 degrees. He explained cotton absorbs moisture and kills insulation, so I had been fighting my own bag the whole time. I switched to a silk liner the next trip and woke up actually warm for the first time in years. It cost me like 35 bucks but made a bigger difference than upgrading my pad ever did. Has anyone else figured out a basic gear fail way later than they should have?

Tent pole snapped in a storm near Lake Almanor last month

I was camping up near Lake Almanor when a big wind gust came through around 2 AM. One of the aluminum poles on my REI Half Dome 2 just cracked right at the joint. I ended up using duct tape and a spare tent stake to splint it together, and it held for the rest of the trip. Has anyone had luck with replacement poles from REI or should I just order a generic set online?

Heads up about that campsite near Table Rock Lake

I was at the Big Creek campground last weekend and noticed a bunch of poison ivy right along the trail to the water spigot. Watch where you step, my hiking buddy got a rash on his ankle that swelled up bad. Has anyone else run into overgrown trails at that spot?

Vent: I finally stopped trying to save a buck on tent stakes

Bought a cheap $10 set of aluminum stakes from a big box store last spring. First trip to Lost Lake they bent like pretzels in the rocky ground. Watched my buddy's MSR stakes hold through a windstorm while mine got pulled out by breakfast. Took me three trips of cursing before I ponied up for the real ones. Anyone else learn the hard way that some gear just isn't worth skimping on?

Got yelled at by a ranger at Yellowstone for using a gas camp stove in a fire ring that was clearly marked no-stove

I was just trying to heat up my coffee before dawn and the guy came out of nowhere, said I could have burned down half the campsite because of the dry brush right underneath, and now I double-check every single sign and ground condition before I even unpack my stove canister - has anyone else had a ranger shut down your morning brew?

Vent: Found out my tent seam sealer expired 3 years ago

I was getting ready for a trip this weekend and dug out my old can of seam sealer. Checked the bottom and it had a manufacture date of 2021. Tried it on a scrap piece of fabric anyway and it just flaked off like dried glue. Had to run to REI and drop $18 on a new bottle I didn't plan on buying. Anyone else forget to check expiration dates on this stuff?

That $60 solar panel I bought off Amazon barely charges my phone

I figured a little 20 watt panel would be fine for weekend trips, took it out near Flagstaff last month. After three days it only gave me like 15% battery on my phone, even in full sun. The listing said it could handle a tablet no problem, but that was a lie. Has anyone actually found a portable solar setup that works for more than just keeping a headlamp alive?

That $15 Amazon tarp finally failed me after 2 seasons in the Poconos

Honestly, I had this cheap blue tarp from Amazon covering my firewood pile near Lake Wallenpaupack. Last month I went to grab some logs and the whole thing was shredded, like UV damage just ate through it. I'm thinking of spending $40 on a proper woven tarp from a hardware store this time. Anyone have a brand they trust for full sun exposure?

That cheap camp stove I bought in 2021 finally gave out last night in the rain

I was out at Big Sur trying to boil water for coffee and the regulator just stopped working, no warning. Has anyone else had those little propane stoves fail after a few years of regular use?

Warning: Check your stove fuel canisters before you leave home

I drove 3 hours to a site near Lake Almanor last month, set up camp at dusk, and found my propane canister was nearly empty - barely enough to boil one cup of water. Had to eat cold beans and share a buddy's fire for warmth that night. Has anyone else gotten burned by not checking fuel levels before a trip?

Friend told me to get a cheaper sleeping bag, I froze my butt off

My buddy Mark swore the $40 bag from Walmart would be fine for spring camping, so I got it. First night at Big Basin dropped to 38 degrees and I didn't sleep a wink shivering. Anyone else had a budget bag fail them like this?

Grabbed a cheap 40 dollar tent off Amazon instead of spending 200 on a big brand

I needed a new 2-person tent quick for a trip to the Smokies last month. Was looking at a North Face model for 200 bucks, but my friend said just grab the Amazon basics one for 40. Figured I'd try it and return it if it leaked. Three nights of heavy rain and it held up fine, no wet floor or anything. Has anyone else had luck with the cheap no-name stuff or did I just get lucky?

Used to pitch my tent like a klutz for 20 minutes, now I do it in under 5 after watching a 12 year old scout

Warning: My tent nearly flooded after a DIY seam seal job

I was camped at Lake Tahoe last June and a heavy rain hit around 2 AM. I had resealed the seams on my tent the day before with some cheap silicone I found at a hardware store. The sealant didn't cure right because it was too humid, and water started dripping through the stitches onto my sleeping bag. I had to grab my tarp and rig it up inside the tent real quick to stay dry. Has anyone else had a seam seal failure like this and found a better product that actually works?

That $200 bug shelter was a total waste of money last summer

I bought this big bug shelter from a well known brand back in June. Thought it would be great for keeping mosquitoes off during dinner at the campsite. First trip out to Lake Tahoe and the zipper broke on day two. Then I noticed the mesh had these tiny holes in the corners after just three uses. The poles started bending too, like the whole thing was made for a gentle breeze only. Spent more time patching it up than actually enjoying it. Ended up just buying a $40 mesh canopy from a hardware store that worked way better. Anyone else have a product that looked good but fell apart fast?

Finally spent $90 on a better sleeping pad and my back actually thanked me

I was using a $30 foam pad for years on my weekend trips up near Payson and waking up stiff as a board every morning. Switched to a self-inflating pad with decent R-value last month and I actually slept through the night for the first time in forever. Anyone else hold onto cheap gear way too long before upgrading?

Lucky streak at Lost Lake campground last weekend

I brought my new sleeping pad to Lost Lake for a 3 day trip and not a single mosquito bothered me the whole time. Even my friend Jen who uses the fancy bug spray got bit 10 times while I sat there reading. Has anyone else had a piece of gear just randomly work perfectly for no obvious reason?

Vent: Took me 6 trips to figure out my tent stakes were the problem

I spent two years fighting with my tent every time I camped at Lake Tahoe. Wind would snap my cheap plastic stakes or they'd just bend in the rocky soil. Last month a guy at the campsite walked over and handed me a set of heavy duty aluminum ones, said try these. First night with them, tent held solid in 30 mph gusts. Made me realize I was buying the wrong gear for the terrain the whole time. Anyone else have that moment where a stranger's gear tip saved your trip?

Pro tip: My buddy laughed at my $10 camp pillow until he tried it

Last month on a trip to the Blue Ridge, a guy named Dave told me those cheap inflatable pillows are worthless and to just use a stuff sack with clothes. I borrowed his setup for one night and woke up with a crick in my neck so bad I couldn't pack my tent - I'm sticking with my $10 pillow forever, anyone else had a random stranger's advice completely backfire?

That one September weekend in the Smokies where everything went wrong

I planned a 3 day trip to the Smokies back in 2016, right around when the leaves start turning. First night, my old tent zipper completely gave out around 2 AM, and I woke up with a dozen mosquitoes inside. Then my camp stove wouldn't light because the fuel canister was almost empty, I forgot to check it before leaving home. I ended up eating cold canned beans for breakfast, which is fine but not what you want at 6,000 feet. The worst part was the rain, it started Saturday afternoon and didn't stop until I packed up Sunday morning. Everything in my pack got damp, and my sleeping bag felt like a wet towel. I swore I'd never cheap out on gear again after that trip. Has anyone else had a trip where the weather just wrecked all your plans?

Stumbled on a campsite in Shenandoah where someone left a full propane tank sitting on the fire pit

I was hiking near Big Meadows last weekend and walked past this site that looked totally normal until I saw a green 16 oz propane canister just chillin right on the coals. Like, someone actually packed it out but then thought that was a good spot to leave it? I grabbed some sticks and knocked it off before anything popped, but seriously people. You think rangers check those things or are we just lucky nobody got hurt?

Spent $80 on a camping pillow that was basically a balloon with a squeak

Picked up one of those fancy inflatable pillows from an outdoor store in Denver before a 4 day trip. First night my head kept slipping off it like a greased watermelon. Second night I blew it up a bit more and my ear was pressed against the valve. Every time I shifted it made a high pitched squeak like a dog toy. 4 nights of terrible sleep and I'm back to using my rolled up hoodie. Anyone else fall for the 'luxury camping pillow' scam?

Hot take: I just found out my tent's rainfly has a way lower hydrostatic head rating than I thought

Was looking up specs for my 3-year-old Kelty tent last night before a trip to the Smokies and saw the rainfly is only rated for 1200mm. That's actually really low for a 3-season tent, especially after some use. How much does that rating drop after a few seasons of wear and tear anyway?