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Create a cozy camp for quality fall desert adventures
Car camping offers the perfect blend of adventure and comfort, allowing you to immerse yourself in nature without sacrificing the conveniences of modern life. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a newbie, car camping in style can enhance your outdoor experience.
The fall desert season is not far away, and now is the time to start hunting for the right gear to dial in your camp. Here's a guide to help you elevate your car camping game.
Opt for a vehicle with ample space and versatility, such as an SUV, van, or a wagon. These vehicles provide enough room to store gear, sleep comfortably, and move around without feeling cramped.
Consider adding roof racks for extra storage, or a rooftop tent to free up interior space. Investing in a comfortable mattress or sleeping pad designed to fit your vehicle's dimensions can significantly enhance your sleeping experience. When it comes to choosing a tent, keep in mind that the desert floor might be rock-hard come October, meaning pounding those stakes in may require extra effort.
A good night’s sleep is crucial. Equip your vehicle or your tent with a high-quality, inflatable mattress or a memory foam mattress topper. Add soft, warm bedding such as a down comforter and plush pillows.
Bring along a portable stove or a compact grill. Upgrade your culinary game with a cooler that can keep perishables fresh for days, and pack ingredients for gourmet meals. Don’t forget the French press for your morning brew.
Invest in LED string lights, lanterns, and headlamps to create a cozy and functional lighting setup. Solar-powered options are great for sustainability and convenience.
Use storage bins, organizers, and cargo nets to keep your gear tidy and accessible. Designate specific areas for cooking supplies, clothes, sleeping gear, and recreational items. This organization not only looks good but also saves time and stress.
Opt for gear that serves multiple purposes, such as a folding table that doubles as a storage unit or chairs that can convert into loungers. This minimizes clutter and maximizes space.
Set up a comfortable outdoor living area with foldable chairs, a portable table, and a pop-up canopy or tarp for shade and rain protection. Rugs and floor mats can add a touch of homey comfort.
Decorate your space with personal touches like throw blankets, cushions, and even a few potted plants. These elements make your campsite feel more inviting and stylish.
Keep a few things in mind when setting up your living space:
Bring along a portable speaker for music, a tablet or e-reader for movies and books, and a power bank or solar charger to keep your devices powered.
Pack items for outdoor activities: Hiking, mountain biking, Frisbee, Uno, and more. Having a variety of activities planned ensures you can make the most of your time outdoors.
Keep a portable shower and a privacy tent for personal hygiene. Biodegradable soap and a set of quick-dry towels are must-haves. Use collapsible sinks or buckets for washing dishes, and pack plenty of trash bags to keep your campsite clean. Simplify your water game by investing in a large plastic water container with a built-in spout.
Practice Leave No Trace principles by minimizing waste and disposing of trash responsibly. Use eco-friendly products to reduce your environmental impact.
Research your destination thoroughly and make any necessary reservations in advance. Check the weather forecast and prepare accordingly. Having a detailed plan ensures a smooth and enjoyable camping trip. Heading into the backcountry? Make sure your vehicle is equipped for the drive, and remember to fill up your gas tank (and water bottles) before you leave civilization behind.
Bring a well-stocked first aid kit, a reliable navigation system, and inform someone about your travel plans. Being prepared for emergencies ensures peace of mind.
Car camping in style is all about combining comfort, convenience, and a touch of luxury with the freedom of the great outdoors. With the right vehicle, gear, organization, and planning, you can create a memorable and enjoyable camping experience that feels both adventurous and cozy. So pack your bags, hit the road, and embrace the beauty of nature in style!
Durango Outdoor Exchange is your destination for car camping supplies. We’ve got everything you need for a weekend (or longer) of car camping, from bike racks and stoves to tents, books, booties, headlamps, and coffee makers. Stop by, get our expert opinions, and make sure you are ready to car camp in style.
Questions: Call us at 970-259-0171.
When spending one night (or many) in the backcountry, a warm dinner at night and hot beverage in the morning can make the difference. That invariably involves using a stove of some sort–but which one?
Stove technology has been around for decades, but new tech is making them lighter, more efficient, and more dependable than ever before. Here’s a rundown of the different kinds of backpacking stoves:
If you are camping in bear country, or in any place where food storage is a concern, you should strongly consider using a bear canister–a storage system that is built to keep bears out of your food. And in some places, particularly parks in California, Montana, Colorado, and Washington,backcountry campers are required to have and use bear canisters.
While you may get lucky by hanging your food in a sack from a tree, this is not permitted in many areas and virtually impractical in many alpine anddesert backpacking zones. Bear canisters are the preferred method for storing food and other smelly items, but there are many kinds to be aware of. Let’s look at them in more detail.
For many hikers, summiting one of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks is a lifetime achievement. Others make it their entire personality, working for years and even decades to climb all of them. Some make a goal of climbing them all in a single season while others try to ski them all.
The problem with climbing 14ers for many people is that they are difficult–and we’re not just talking about the thin air. Of the 58 in Colorado, about one-third entrail considerable exposure and require skilled route-finding and ascent/descent skills. About half have either moderate or considerable challenges. Just eight are considered “easy.”
Hikers looking to summit a 14er near Durango will find four that rank generally as easy or the easy end of moderate. They are all in the same two canyons and can be climbed by someone with decent fitness, good shoes, and a penchant for waking up early. The roads to access all these peaks are part of the Alpine Loop and can be driven from Silverton in a four-wheel drive such as a Tacoma, but are generally not in all-wheel drives like Subarus.
Ready? Here goes!