Camping Gear Buyer's Guide: Light, Shelter and Camp Comfort

Most camp trips go wrong in small ways: a dead headlamp, a cold night in the wrong bag, nowhere to change out of wet clothes. This guide walks through the gear that fixes those problems and the specs worth checking before you buy. Every item is in the Wellslate catalog and ships from a US warehouse; check each product page for the current price.

Light: rechargeable beats batteries

Look for a built-in battery with a stated capacity in mAh, a red or low mode that keeps your night vision, and a water-resistance rating if you camp in the rain.

• USB-C Rechargeable Zoom Headlamp, 2-Pack. Two headlamps, each with a 2000 mAh battery that charges over USB-C in about 3 to 5 hours. The main beam zooms from flood to throw, there is a wave-on sensor mode for hands-free use, and they are rated IPX4 water resistant. One for you and one for a camp partner.
• Rechargeable LED Flashlight with COB Side Light. A pocket light with a 1200 mAh battery and four modes, including a COB side panel that lights up a tent or a work area. It charges by Micro USB, not USB-C, so pack the right cable.
• Magnetic Folding COB Work Light, 2-Pack. Two slim work lights with a magnetic base, a hook and a pocket clip, and a red mode. Stick one to a truck fender or tailgate. They are splash resistant only; do not submerge them.
• Rechargeable Tent Fan with LED Light, Remote and Tripod. A fan and light in one with a 7200 mAh battery, 4 fan speeds and a timer. It runs about 6 to 8 hours on low and about 2 hours on high, so it suits warm-weather camping. It is not waterproof; keep it inside the tent.

Sleep and shelter

Match a sleeping bag's temperature range to the nights you actually camp, and expect to be cool near the low end of any rating.

• Lightweight Envelope Sleeping Bag, 42 to 68 °F. A roomy envelope bag of about 2.1 lb with a water-resistant 190T polyester shell. It is built for mild nights in summer, early fall or early-season deer camp, not for freezing weather. It is machine washable.
• Pop-Up Privacy Tent, Army Green. A stand-up shelter of about 120 x 120 x 190 cm (6.2 ft tall) that pops open and folds into a round bag, about 3.6 lb with 4 stakes. Use it for changing out of waders, a camp shower or a portable toilet. It has no floor.

Camp comfort and the trail

• Folding Camp Chair, Oxford Cloth and Steel. An Oxford cloth seat on an iron frame, rated to 220 lb, with a seat height of about 38.5 cm and a weight of about 4.4 lb. It is a simple chair for the campfire, the bank or the tailgate.
• Folding Aluminum Hiking Stick with T-Handle. A four-section aluminum stick that folds to about 10.4 in and adjusts from about 33.5 to 37.4 in, with a T grip, a wrist strap and a rubber tip. The adjustment range suits average height; taller hikers should check it against their own measurements.
• 3-in-1 Fleece Balaclava, Black. Polar fleece that wears as a balaclava, a beanie or a neck gaiter. Wear it for cold mornings around camp, then fold it down when the sun comes up. It is hand washable.

Quick picks

• First camp light: the 2-pack zoom headlamps.
• Truck and tailgate camping: the magnetic work lights and the camp chair.
• Summer camping: the tent fan and the 42 to 68 °F sleeping bag.
• Group or family camp: the privacy tent.
• Cold mornings: the fleece balaclava.

Shipping

Wellslate ships to US addresses only. Standard shipping takes 5 to 14 business days, plus 1 to 2 business days to process the order. Delivery times are estimates, not guarantees. Orders of $50 or more ship free; below that it is a flat $9.99. See the shipping page, and for a holiday gift, count back about three weeks from the day you need it.