Campers Share Their Favorite Luxury Gear And Gadgets For Outdoor Adventures

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Embarking on a camping trip is all about allowing yourself the opportunity to unplug and connect with nature, but you don't have to rough it in order to have a rewarding experience. If you're someone who loves spending time outdoors, but you don't necessarily enjoy sacrificing all of your creature comforts, you're certainly not alone. Even the most avid outdoor adventurers can admit that sleeping on the ground isn't always the most enjoyable experience. There's a reason why glamping trips have become one of the top travel trends in recent years, but there's no need to break the bank by booking a luxury yurt. The right gear can easily transform your basic campsite into a luxury glamping experience.

Reddit is a popular social platform where users discuss everything under the sun. You can find forums on lifehacks, travel tips, and product reviews. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts love to use Reddit for advice on where to camp and which gear to purchase. In the r/camping subreddit, a user who goes by u/JurneeMaddock asked fellow Redditors about their favorite luxury camping gear.

"I'm looking to grow my collection of camping equipment and need ideas. You never know what's convenient to have until you have it (or someone else has it and tells you it's convenient). What's your favorite piece of luxury camping equipment?" they wrote. Their question garnered over 100 comments and some excellent advice for campers who want to enjoy spending some stress-free time in nature while remaining cozy and comfortable.

If you aren't used to spending the night outside, a dark night in the woods can be a little disconcerting. Lots of Redditors posted that their favorite luxury camping items are lights. "Luci solar powered lanterns and string lights. Light enough to bring backpacking, solar-powered and a great way to add some ambiance to your campsite," u/RamShakleton wrote. "I use cheap solar landscape lights and strings around my cabin. Plus a string of fairy lights I use in the tear drop for a nightlight as I pee 3 times a night. No blinding overheads or fumbling with headlamps," u/Shilo788 agreed.

Other campers love having a little bit of power at their campsites. Sure it's great to unplug, but there's a certain amount of comfort that comes with being able to charge your devices if you need them. Solar powered generators were recommended by a few commenters, such as u/Housefire21 who recommended the Jackery battery and a solar charger that they used along with an electric blanket. They said it was a game-changer during a cold weather camping trip.

Many campers struggle to get comfortable when sleeping on the ground. There's nothing worse than setting up camp after a long day of adventuring outside, only to realize that there's some indiscernible lump underneath your back — with nothing but a few thin layers of fabric to cushion you. Perhaps that's why so many people commented on the r/camping subreddit thread that their favorite pieces of luxury camping gear are part of their sleep system. One user recommended the 4" Big Agnes Hinman Sleeping Pad. According to the Big Agnes website, it's crafted from high density foam and self inflates. Its thickness makes it a great choice for cold weather camping and it costs about $140.

Another camper, u/Hurricaneshand suggested their favorite Thermarest Trail Scout Pro Pad. "It's definitely larger compared to many pads but it's worth it to me," they wrote. The Exped MegaMat was a popular choice mentioned by multiple campers in both the r/camping and r/CampingGear subreddits. "I don't car camp without that thing. Bougie maybe but a luxury and I love it," u/moosedogmonkey12 wrote. Another Redditor, u/potatoedaze agreed that "it was worth every penny!" The MegaMat sleeping pad retails for about $240, but at the time of writing it was on sale for $180 at REI.

Other Reddit users mentioned that they love to pack some cozy blankets and extra luxurious sleeping bags. According to u/Shilo788, who calls themself "a princess," they love camping with a comforter that is "beautiful brocade with down" from Germany. Another Redditor, u/Jazzlike_Cold_417 loves their silk sleeping bag liner, which they said is a "gamechanger so you don't sweat in your sleeping bag and can also keep you warmer if it's cold out."

Food just seems to taste better when camping. Even the simplest meal will make your mouth water when it's prepared next to a crackling campfire. While it may seem simpler to pack a bunch of snacks or MRE's for your camping adventure, a carefully prepared hot meal is a total game changer. A cooking gear upgrade might be exactly what your camping setup has been missing. Lots of people who commented on the r/camping subreddit raved about the right cooking gear for a luxurious camp setup. "Nothing ruins camping more than rain, but with a good dining fly setup, you have a nice space to cook and hang out without giving up or spending your trip in your tent the whole time," u/GoPadge wrote.

Redditor u/MsDJMA loves their 22" Blackstone griddle — and they aren't alone. "You can cook huge batches of everything here, from french toast to fajitas," they wrote. They also love having a set of nesting tubs for washing dishes, and a portable propane firepit. "In the last two years, fires have not been allowed at campsites here July-Sept due to fire danger, but we can use the propane firepit" they wrote.

Another user, u/Jallen256 loves their Svea 123R white gas stove, writing, "Nothing warms the heart like boiling water for morning coffee on a Svea. Sounds roughly like a Pratt & Whitney JT8D engine on a 727 take off." Once you brew a delicious cup of coffee on your next camping excursion, you'll never want to go without a proper cooking gear again.

Comfortable camp chairs are a must-have according to Reddit users. You may wonder if they're really necessary since they take up so much space and some camp chairs are heavy, bulky, and uncomfortable to carry. It might seem easier to simply take a seat on a log, or perch yourself on a nice rock near the campfire, but you'll regret not packing a camp chair after a few hours of shifting around in search of a comfortable position. Reddit users suggest investing in something that is comfortable and compact.

One Redditor called u/DingleMcCringle44 recommended Cliq lounge chairs, which they called "crazy expensive" but easy to set up and break down. They also said the chairs are super comfortable. The normal price for Cliq lounge chairs is $349, but at the time of writing they are on sale for $279 on Amazon.

Another Reddit user called u/roscoetgoodtyme recommended the Nemo Stargazer chairs — a suggestion that was echoed by multiple other Reddit users on the thread. The Nemo Stargazer is a lightweight and packable option that feels like a cozy recliner. If you are someone who enjoys admiring incredible views of star-lit skies on your camping trips they're a good investment. The Nemo Stargazer chairs cost about $180 on REI's website.

When you're setting up camp for more than a single night, it really helps to bring along a few of your favorite comforts from home — especially if you're camping with kids. Something familiar like a favorite stuffed animal or blanket can make all the difference when the post-sunset jitters arise.

One Reddit user shared a helpful packing list with items like tablecloths, votive candles, jars with wildflower bouquets, incense, remote controlled paper lanterns, an oven, a dutch oven for baking bread, pie irons, carpets made for outside, a portable bathroom, and a pop-up gazebo."I've brought a tortilla press camping before," they wrote. Honestly, if you're car camping and you have the space — bring whatever you want! Just remember that you're going to have to pack it all up and carry it to and from your vehicle.

Another user also mentioned that table cloths are one of their favorite camping luxuries. "The tablecloths from Luxury In The Outdoors that cover those big dirty camping tables with cute patterns are a godsend!" u/After_Designer_421 wrote. They cost $79 on the company's website. Some Reddit users suggested that a great car camping set up or a small camper is the ultimate luxury camping gear — and they're probably right. Tents are amazing, but there's a reason why some people are making the switch to full-time vanlife. 

We sifted through dozens of comments on Reddit in search of common recommendations. We noted when specific products were mentioned multiple times, and then dug deeper to discover what made those products special. We researched the prices of each item mentioned, and read reviews on retailer websites. We pulled suggestions from a few different Reddit forums in order to bring you the best luxury camping gear so that you can enjoy the great outdoors comfortably.