Camping in the fall is its own reward; the bugs and crowds are long gone and the beauty of the fall colours is inspirational. Cool nights make for great campfires and as long as you’re warm, you’ll have some of the deepest sleeps of the year. But being uncomfortable during any of this is a drag. Here are some items that will keep you happy while out in the wilderness.
Outdoors
9 products that will make fall camping more enjoyable
Thermarest BaseCamp Mattress
Again, a comfortable sleep is everything when camping, and an appropriate mattress makes all the difference. Sure you’re tempted by the king-sized air mattress from Canadian Tire, and sure, they’re comfortable, but they won’t keep you warm. Thermarest mattresses heat up from your body temperature ensuring the cold from the ground doesn’t penetrate your sleeping bag. More info: www.cascadedesigns.com
MEC Transparent Drybag
Depending on the kind of camping you’re doing, a drybag can be the difference between a good trip and a terrible one. My main rule for camping is to ensure you have dry stuff to sleep in and a drybag is just the item you need. Throw your sleeping bag, mattress, and some pyjamas in here and you can rest easy knowing everything is going to be dry. Plus the transparency of the bag makes it a cinch to find everything. More info: www.mec.ca
Handpresso
On a cold, misty morning it’s sometimes hard to drag yourself out of your sleeping bag. The Handpresso is serious motivation. Simply heat up some water, pour it and some coffee grounds into your Handpresso, pump the thing up and let it percolate out into a perfect cup of espresso. These things make a perfect cup of joe every time. More info: www.handpresso.com
Flask
Nothing will keep you warm quite like some hard alcohol. Fill this with your favourite 40-proof beverage and everyone will be singing Kum Ba Ya around the campfire. More info: www.store.flask.com
MEC Mirage Sleeping Bag
Rated good to minus 5 degrees Celsius, this sleeping bag is guaranteed to keep you warm. And staying warm at night is one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not camping is a fun experience. This bag is a traditional shape (not a restrictive mummy bag) so it’s easy to get cosy in here. With glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls, it seems the people at MEC have thought of everything with this one. And at $135 the price is right, too. More info: www.mec.ca
Merino Baselayer
A merino baselayer is the perfect fall camping companion. It’ll keep you warm no matter what. And it dries quickly, wicks sweat and somehow doesn’t get stinky like synthetic baselayers tend to. Which means you could throw on this baselayer at the beginning of your trip and not take it off again until you’re home. More info: www.patagonia.com
Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon
Yeah, you brought coffee to convince you to get out of your sleeping bag in the morning, but it might not be enough incentive. This bacon will fix that problem. The only dilemma is, it’ll also rouse everyone else in camp. More info: www.kraftbrands.com
Darn tough socks
Warm feet equals happy camper—there’s no arguing that point. And Darn Tough out of Vermont makes some of the best socks out there. Made with Merino wool with padding in all the right places, these socks will make your fall camping extravaganza totally awesome. More info: www.darntough.com
Bogs
You won’t win any fashion blogger awards while wearing these, but you know what? You’ll be warm, dry, and happy. 100% waterproof, these rugged boots are easy to putt on and pull off and during the potentially very wet days of fall, dry, warm feet are the perfect first step to ensuring your camping experience is all good. More info:www.bogsfootwear.ca
