After falling in love with bike packing last year I decided to commit to getting a proper setup to take on those longer rides, obviously figuring out my food situation was top of the list. I got the MiniMo before a trip up to Orcas Island and I could not be more excited about it! This thing is really lightweight, easy to use, and even easier to pack away. It’s self-contained and doubles as a bowl so I don’t have to worry about bringing more stuff. Definitely recommend!

Most of my camping has been done with those red swivel-top coolers you get from the picnic section of the grocery store. The ones that only semi keep things cool then inevitably break at the end of the season before the cycle continues and I have to go buy another. It wasn’t until recently that I discovered the necessity of having a good cooler and how it leads to a richer camping/van-dwelling/outdoor experience. The Yeti Tundra line is a set of amazing coolers that are practical and durable and quite possibly the last cooler you’ll ever have to buy. They seal the cold in so your refreshments and food will always be ice-cold post surf or hike. I got the 35L and it's the perfect size to throw on the floorboards and still have space to camp in the car when the rain rolls through.

I own both this stove kit, and an MSR Windburner. While the latter gets top marks for its ease of use and efficient boil times, I often find myself reaching for my PocketRocket 2 Mini Stove Kit. Because all the parts nest neatly within the pot, I find it takes up much less space than an integrated stove, and at around 1/2 the weight (my current setup weighs in at 202g, vs 473 for my Windburner)! However, as a trade-off for the small size and low weight, the PocketRocket 2 does not come with a built in igniter and can struggle to boil water in moderate winds. Personally, I find performance is on par with other micro stoves, and the lack of Piezo igniter doesn't bother me, as I find them to be hit-or-miss (especially at altitude) so I typically use a lighter regardless. Even with its small list of shortcomings, the PocketRocket 2 Mini Stove Kit is priced much lower than some of the integrated stoves, making it a great value and an easy kit to recommend.

We upgraded our car camping setup with this rad table from Mountain Summit Gear and life could not be better! We no longer need to fret about where to put the stove and cooking gear when we’re somewhere without picnic tables and it packs down small enough to fit in the back of the car or a top box. Recently tested in high winds out in Vantage, Washington, it set up quickly, held up in strong gusts, and was a popular spot to gather among our friend group. Breaking it down in the morning was a breeze, and it cleaned up well with a quick wipe of the top. I anticipate us using this table for more than just car camping, too - already it’s been broken out for a bonfire and I’m sure it’ll make its way to the mountain for ski season as well!