This is a sponsored post brought to you by REI.
tTrek is a hiking website, but that doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate the pleasure of a really well-done car camping trip. Car camping is a great way to unplug and enjoy a few restful days outdoors without the initial logistical hurdle that a backpacking trip would present.
As with backcountry camping, having the right gear is essential for a comfortable and fun car camping experience. Fortunately, putting together a functional team setup doesn’t have to be difficult. In this post, we’ll cover some of the best car camping gear you can find at REI, focusing on the essential pieces for your sleep system (think tent, sleeping bag, etc.).
Our Favorite Car Camping Gear from REI: Sleeping Systems
REI Co-op Westward 4 Tent
- Recommended RRP: $449
- Ground surface: 68 square feet
With 68 square feet of interior space and just under 6 feet of headroom overhead, the Westward 4 is a palace that can easily accommodate your family (or tram). Windows, front and rear doors, a charging port (for running cables from outside the tent), and a spacious vestibule make this shelter ready for comfortable camping living in any climate.
Rumple Wrap-around sleeping bag
- Recommended RRP: $249.95
- Insulation type: Synthetic
Rumpl’s Wrap Sack takes a unique approach to camping bedding. We all know the feeling of being trapped all night in a sleeping bag that is uncomfortably hot or not warm enough.
Rumpl solves this problem with a three-way wrap design: unwrap it until you’re covered by a single layer on warmer nights when you don’t need much insulation, or bundle up with two layers of insulation to stay comfortable on cooler nights. Thanks to this design, you get 20 degrees and 30 degrees in one.
REI Co-op Westward Dreamer Self-Inflating Bed
- Recommended RRP: $199-219
- R value: 6.7
This 4-inch thick pad comes in two width options: 25 inches and 30 inches, both of which are generous by camping standards. The pad inflates almost on its own and only needs a few pumps from the included pump bag to fill it to the firmness you prefer.
The bottom and side walls are made from highly durable 75-denier polyester, so you can rest easy even if your camp isn’t perfectly smooth, and the top is a soft polyester stretch fabric for next-to-skin comfort.
HORSE camp pillow
- Recommended RRP: $79-129
- Pillow filling: Memory foam, polyester.
Don’t fall into the trap of focusing so much on your tent and sleeping bag that you neglect a much more humble, but no less important, component of your sleep system: your camping pillow.
With a curved design and a blend of shredded memory foam and polyester fill, this offering from HEST promises as much support as your pillow at home.
REI Cooperative Siesta sleeping bag with hood 20
- Recommended RRP: $149-159
- Insulation type: Synthetic
After a long day outdoors, every camper looks forward to curling up in a warm, soft bed at night. This rectangular hooded bag is perfect for three-season travel: it’s warm, but not also warm and the generous cut will not leave you constricted.
The bag has an internal pocket to store small items (think headlamp, phone, contact case, etc.) and the full-length two-way zipper has an anti-snag strip to prevent it from snagging on the material.
Zempire Monstabed single air bed
- Recommended RRP: $250
- R value: 10.5
Why skimp when you don’t have to carry all your camping gear on your back all day? If you’re looking to have some fun on your next camping (or glamping) trip, the aptly named Zempire Monstabed deserves a place in your kit.
The product photo says it all, really. This luxury air mattress is 16.5 inches thick and has a generous enough R-value to keep you comfortable even on really cold nights. The upper section is self-inflating, while the lower section can be inflated with an air pump.
It’s designed specifically for camping, but it’s luxurious enough that you can even use it as an air mattress for guests at home.
Thermal-rest Compressible pillow webbing
- Recommended RRP: $34.95-49.95
- Pillow filling: Synthetic
Lightweight, soft, and oh-so-cute, this is the ideal travel pillow for outdoor adventurers. The design is simple: simply use the cinch cord on the back to adjust the firmness.
The pillow is filled with compressible foam left over from Therm-a-Rest’s sleeping pad production process, meaning it’s super soft and an environmentally responsible choice.
REI Cooperative Wonderland Comfort Crib
- Recommended RRP: $249/95
- Unfolded dimensions (length x width x height): 82 x 31.5 x 14 inches
Who said that to camp you have to sleep on the ground? This crib folds up small enough to easily carry and store in the back of your car for transportation, but when unfolded, it provides a luxurious, sturdy bed platform elevated 14 inches off the ground. It is stable, even when placed on uneven ground, and can support up to 300 pounds.
The luxurious, slightly concave surface will help you feel secure; Although the crib’s generous 31.5-inch width is already generous on its own, the raised sides will give you added peace of mind that it won’t fall out in the middle of the night.
Don’t forget to check out REI’s complete (and extensive) camp collection before your next summer adventure.
Cover image: Graphic design by Mackenzie Fisher.
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