The Best Family Camping Gear Kit

Just pack up your kids and go camping. It’ll get easier—and more fun—with practice.
Louisa AlbaneseJul 31, 2019.

Getting out the door is the hardest part, and a little organization goes a long way. We store our gear in clear, plastic tubs ($9; 2 lbs.) that are labeled and arranged on storage shelves—grab and go. For apparel, we each get our own color-coded compartment of the Mountainsmith Zip Top Hauler ($60; 2 lbs.) and Basic Cube ($28; 15 oz.). What makes the cut? The Reima Narvik Baselayers ($43) and the Helly Hansen Jr. Barrier Down Insulator ($85) for warmth, Sunday Afternoons Trucker Hat ($16; 2 oz.) for camp hair, and Babiators (Starting at $20) for sun protection. The BOGS Baby B-MOC ($65; 1 lb. 2 oz.) is the ultimate camp shoe in every season. Once we’re on the trail, it’s all about making camping fun, so we prioritize creature comforts. We love the NEMO Wagontop 6 ($650; 28 lbs.) for car camping because, well, it’s huge (two rooms), has supertall ceilings, and is bombproof. The YETI Rambler Colster ($25; 9 oz.) and Hydro Flask 12-oz. Wide Mouth Kids Bottle ($30; 10 oz.) ensure our beverages stay cold (or warm). We ditch plastic bags in favor of Beeswrap ($11; 1 oz.) for foodstuffs, and cook our homestyle meals using the Primus Tupike Stove ($230; 9 lbs.). To light up the night, we use the MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights ($40), and when it’s time for s’mores, we break out the Firebuggz Fishing Pole Campfire Roaster ($23; 11 oz.), which boosts the fun.