Family camping can become really overwhelming because your routine and everything you’re doing is completely different. So, when I take my family on camping trips, I like to take a few things with us to help us feel comfortable and at ease with the transition. 

Today, I’m going to share with you three of my favorite personal touches to bring on a camping trip that helps both me and my kids feel comfortable in the great outdoors. 

Pack Extra Socks and Underwear

Something I always pack when we go camping is extra clean socks and underwear. It’s funny how when you feel grimy and gritty from camping for five days, a clean pair of socks and underwear can make all the difference. 

If you’re planning on going camping for even just a day or two, then I highly recommend bringing socks and underwear because you’re going to get dirty and you’re going to get gritty.

For me, I know that when I climb into the sleeping bag, and I'm putting on a clean pair of socks, it feels great. So clean socks and underwear are definitely high on my priority list. 

Bring Something Personal 

Another thing that I think is crucial to help make camping comfortable for kids, especially, is to bring a personal touch on your camping trips. For example, that could be a toy that your little ones are used to playing with or holding. 

My daughter loves to bring one of her Barbies. So, if she’s having a meltdown or if she’s tired, there is something she can engage with that is normal and part of her everyday routine. 

Think about something your kids will latch onto and take it along with you. Often, I pack them, and they don’t even look at them. But it’s nice to know that if there are meltdowns, there is something to distract them and comfort them. 

Don’t Skimp On Your Morning Tea or Coffee

Camping comfort must haves number three for me is continuing to make my tea or coffee the same way I usually do. Don’t skimp out! 

I’ve tried the whole cowboy coffee method, and I didn’t appreciate it or even really like it. So, for me, when I wake up, and I’m kicking off my day, I find it's nice to sit down with my husband and actually enjoy the coffee we’re drinking. 

I personally like to add a splash of maple syrup and oat milk to my Earl Grey tea. So, no matter where I’m camping and no matter how long for, I try to bring lots of packets of maple syrup and a carton of oat milk so I can enjoy my tea just the way I like it. 

Family Camping Must Haves

So, those are my three things for adding personal touches to your camping trip. These three things—clean socks and underwear, a toy for the kids, and your usual morning tea or coffee—can make all the difference and really do shift the whole trip around. 

Follow our Adventures and Subscribe

Don’t forget to check out our YouTube channel, Great Family Adventure, and keep an eye out for more awesome videos we’ll be publishing shortly.

If you enjoyed this article and are hungry for more family adventure tips, tricks, reviews, and adventures, head on over to the Great Family Adventure YouTube channel and feel free to sign up for our Hazeadventure.com newsletter.

The post Family Camping and Camping Gear appeared first on Hazeadventure.

1. A Dromedary or Water Bags

This simple means of hauling water is well worth the modest investment. Most recently, I've been using the Sea to Summit Watercell X. For starters, I like how rugged it is. I can toss it around and never have to worry about it puncturing. Plus, there is a fine-tuned cap at the top, which makes it easy to pour small amounts into a cup or cookpot. Sometimes things like a Camelbak or Nalgene can splash out unwanted doses, thereby wasting your supply.

I also love that there is an extra nozzle that can attach to make a basic, slow-release showerhead. That's a rarity in the backcountry for hiking gear. In terms of space savings, the nice thing about a water bag is that when it's not full, it can collapse down. No matter how empty a water bottle or hard carry case might be, it will always take up the same volume in your pack. 

2. Compression Sacks

Anytime you can buy yourself some extra space in your pack, you're going to be a happier camper. Things like sleeping bags and clothes have a decent amount of poof to them. It's amazing how much more condensed you can make these things with a compression sack. I know certain purchases come with stuff sacks, but a compression sack has extra straps on the side that take packing hiking gear to the next level.

An additional advantage is that fancier compression sacks often have a good amount of water repellency, and are even sometimes waterproof. 

3. Trekking Poles

If you've been following my channel then you've seen my flip-flop on trekking poles recently. Now, a lot of people think these are lame. I should know, since I used to be one of them. However, I've come to appreciate their utility and I understand why many thru-hikers swear by them. Trekking poles can significantly reduce the impact on your body, especially if you're doing a trail with a lot of elevation gain/loss.

They not only bring your arms into the mix while grunting uphill, but they add excellent stability/security while trying to navigate those steep downhills on legs that are still recovering from the climb. They also come in handy for river crossings, or any other unstable sections, since they again add those extra points of contact into the mix.  

How do I choose a trekking pole? 

I look for poles that have a latch-lock, rather than the ones that twist into place. I've found that over time the latter style tends to fail more easily. If you're using your poles to their full extent, then you will likely be adjusting them on the fly reasonably often. It's therefore better to go with something that can handle the repeated stress. I also like the poles that can detach into three parts.

Poles are great when the terrain calls for it, but it's also nice to be able to stash them away for periods of time. The ones that can condense down are much easier to manage on the outside of your pack. Finally, if your budget allows for it, there are some fancy carbon fiber poles that really shed those extra ounces. But that's just a bonus; anything with the first two features will have you well on your way to easier and healthier hiking. 

4. Pack Organizers

Since I'm often documenting my adventures, I've found the waterproof Hillsound PackStack Pro to be an excellent replacement for my usual, clunky camera case. It packs down much better, I don't have to worry about my camera getting soaked, and if I toss a jacket in there, that adds sufficient padding to keep everything protected when rolling about in my backpack with other hiking gear.

Non-videographers will get just as much utility out of one of these. The strategically designed shape of my PackStack Pro contours perfectly to the inside of my trekking bag, which helps reduce wasted space that comes from haphazard packing. I'm as guilty as anyone of stuffing things in without rhyme or reason. As the name suggests, these inexpensive accessories help keep everything organized. I have seen the light and I'll never again go back to my sloppy packing ways. 

5. Camping Pillows

A camping pillow makes a huge difference in my sleep quality and it barely adds any weight or volume to my pack, especially the inflatable kind, which is what I've gravitated to lately. Gone are the days of balling up some dirty shirts to get me through the night. An actual pillow is so much more comfortable.

I've found that any piece of hiking gear that improves your sleep in the backcountry is the way to go. Waking up rested produces a much better hike the following day, not just for your body, but your overall mood as well. 

6. High Quality Headlamps

I can't tell you how many people I see around campsites with headlamps that barely illuminate their shoes, let alone anything worth seeing in front of them. You might be on a streak of turning in early and not needing to leave the tent at night, but if you ever get in a situation where you do need to navigate in the dark, that dinky light isn't going to cut it. Personally, I like having a high-quality torch that can focus the light into a tight beam for seeing across larger distances.

Likewise, being able to set a wide spectrum is super helpful for just illuminating the campsite. I often reserve the headlamp's (lately I've been all about Ledlenser) full luminosity only for necessary occasions. If I'm just casually going about my business, then I find the battery-saving medium settings work plenty well. And if I'm just chilling in my tent, say reading a book before bed, then I particularly like the red-light setting, which maintains your night vision in case you feel like doing some stargazing before bed, or if you just don't want to blast your corneas before dozing off. 

7. Wind Screens

These lightweight, flexible, simple sheets of aluminum wrap around any stove and greatly increase its efficiency by blocking out the wind. This will conserve fuel and reduce cooking time (which will also combat the dreaded campsite hanger). Building a little makeshift chimney is particularly important for stoves that don't have their own built-in protection (e.g. a PocketRocket vs a JetBoil.

I promise you, invest in this cheap little gizmo and you will thank me for recommending this piece of hiking gear (perhaps down in the comment section would be nice, wink wink). 

8. Hiking Socks

You better believe it. A good pair of hiking socks, or multiple pairs, ideally, will become your best friends in the backcountry. I can't tell you how many people I see hitting the trails in whatever socks they normally wear. The problem with basic cotton socks, or cute little gym socks, is that they likely lack any or all of the necessary characteristics, such as: moisture wicking, padding, ample ankle coverage (to clear your boots), warmth, etc.

This can increase the likelihood of blisters and decrease your likelihood of fun. There are some slick synthetic blends out there, but personally, I like a good old-fashioned pair of wool socks. They're much less itchy these days and many styles are geared towards performance for hiking and even trail running. I also like to have one pair designated for day-use, and one clean(ish) pair reserved for the night. It really makes a difference for comfort while hiking and coziness while sleeping. 

So that's my list of simple but overlooked backpacking goodies. If you haven't already, try giving some of these a shot. I think they'll take your game to the next level. I'd also love to hear from you. Is there anything I missed that is relatively cheap and not immediately obvious? Let us in on your secret down below. 

Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed this article. For more tips, gear reviews, and general awesome adventuring, subscribe to our newsletter.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links in which Eric Hanson makes a small commission at no additional cost to you, but it is a great way to show your support. Thanks!

The post Backpacking Equipment: Inexpensive Hiking Gear That Makes a Difference appeared first on Hazeadventure.

Relax! You're two tents! 

Now that everyone's in the spirit, let's talk shop. Sea to Summit's new lineup of lightweight backpacking tents made waves last year for backpackers everywhere. The Telos TR2 and Alto TR2 tents share many overlapping features while still presenting some key differences that keep backcountry folks debating around the fire (and in the YouTube comments section). For this rundown, I recruited Dan Becker, who has implemented the Alto TR2 tent for most of the last year. Since I am a proud owner of the Telos TR2 tent, we can both speak to the specs and from personal experiences in the wild. 

ROUND 1 – THE SEA TO SUMMIT TELOS TR2 TENT

Details:

Price: $559 (USD)

Capacity: 2 Person

Design Type: Freestanding

Season Rating: 3 Season

Dimensions: 84.5 x 53 x 43 in.

Height: 43.5 in.

Floor Area: 28 sq ft.

Packed Weight: 3 lbs 10 oz.

The Sea to Summit Telos TR2 Tent Review | Eric's Breakdown

The first thing worth pointing out is the high-tension ridge, which created some high-tensions in the comment section of my stand-alone review. I think it's a great design because it makes the walls of the Telos much more vertical, which expands the headroom throughout. A common concern that people had in regards to this feature was that the vertical stature might make it vulnerable to heavy wind.

I got to test this out firsthand while holed up in my Telos through a night of 20-30mph winds, with gusts upwards of 45-50mph. Despite the considerable force, the tent didn't budge, nor was its structure compromised. The walls naturally gave a bit, pushing inwards against my body, but nothing beyond what I would've expected in those conditions. Though winds can still blow much harder than that, I didn't actually have my guy lines set up on that night, so those would combat the gusts even more if necessary. After my experiences, I'm not personally concerned about the integrity of the Telos tent.

Telos TR2 Tent Top Ventilation

Another hot-button issue online was in regards to the top ventilation point. The idea is that the heat and condensation wants to escape from the apex of the tent, and therefore a zippered window was put in at the ridge to act as a chimney. Some people worried that water would leak in through this vent from the outside. I can confidently vouch for this not being an issue. If you take the time to set up your Telos, with all the proper tension and angles, then this should not present a problem. I appreciate the apex ventilation because it really does reduce the trapped condensation that tends to bead all over the ceiling of many tents. 

Storage Space for the Telos TR2 Tent

Storage space is another strong selling point of the Telos. There are two corner pouches and mesh envelope sides that are great for stowing phones, keys, books, and all the loose gear that needs a home at the end of the day. The Telos is a good choice for people who like to be organized.  

Potential nifty tent feature?

A potentially nifty feature (in theory) is the Lightbar. The sleeve that the tent poles come in is actually designed to double as an overhead light fixture. It has a piece of white plastic that lines the sleeve and reflects the light of a  head lamp, which can be inserted after the tent is set up. The problem with my Telos was that both the Lightbar and the ceiling had female clips, and so there was no way to attach this dual-function accessory. This could be an early-issue defect, but I would recommend scouting this out before purchase. 

Telos TR2 Size and Dimensions

Here's a little note on dimensions for those looking to utilize the 2-person designation. Because of the 10-inch taper towards the foot of the tent, sleeping pads must be strategically selected in order to share the space. I use a 25-inch-wide sleeping pad for my solo adventures, which could not be doubled up in this tent. That being said, I'm in love with the headroom in my Telos. 

A critique of mine comes in regard to the anchor clip for the tent door flap. In my opinion, it's positioned too low, which makes the door sag in an annoying way when resting open. 

The Telos did see a marked price jump recently, but I still think that it's a worthwhile purchase for experienced backpackers looking for a luxurious shelter. 

ROUND 2 – THE SEA TO SUMMIT ALTOS TR2 TENT

Details:

Price: $499 (USD)

Capacity: 2 Person

Design Type: Semi-Freestanding

Season Rating: 3 Season

Floor Dimensions: 84.5 x 53 x 38 in.

Height: 42.5 in.

Floor Area: 27 sq. ft.

Packed Weight: 2 lbs 15 oz.

The Sea to Summit Altos TR2 Tent Review | Dan's Breakdown

Since the Alto TR2 is a semi-freestanding tent, it does require 2 stakes to properly set up. The pole structure of the Telos makes this an optional step. Interesting to note, the head of the Alto requires staking, which is counter to many other semi-freestanding tents that I'm familiar with. I believe this helps contribute to the weight savings. This is an obvious advantage from a spec comparison as the Alto is about 11-ounces lighter than the Telos. Sneaking in under 3-pounds is a nice barrier to beat. 

In terms of the door flap, the Alto seems to anchor much cleaner. There was no extra slack to manage. It rolled up like a tight backcountry doobie. 

Altos TR2 Headroom

Similar to the Telos, the headroom in the Alto stands out. One of my true measures of a two-person tent is if the occupants can sit comfortably, maybe playing cards while waiting out a storm, and not just have to lie down, packed like sardines. The headroom holds well as you transition from the head of the tent to the foot. This owes to the creative, upward-bow design of the Tension Ridge (same design as the Telos). 

Nifty tent feature confirmed

The Lightbar did attach in the Alto (as it certainly should have in the Telos), which highlighted the utility of this feature. 

Altos TR2 Tent Top Ventilation

In terms of ventilation, I've used the Alto in a range of conditions (i.e. warm, freezing, deep snow) and in all cases there was zero condensation inside the tent. This has been mind-boggling for me, so definitely props to the Sea to Summit ventilation system in these tents. 

Packing the Altos TR2 Tent

In terms of storage, there are also attachments for the stuff sack bags, which can then double as junk-drawer-like compartments, and the envelope pockets are still present. Plus, it provides loads of interior hooks to hang stuff from. The weight savings do not come at the expense of storage. 

A notable trade-off for the Alto is the extra tapering of the tent floor. This will limit the sleeping pad options even more if 2 people are camping for the night. Prospective Alto owners might want to look at tapered sleeping pads to boot. 

Who are the Sea to Summit Alto and Telos Tents for?

Overall, the Alto TR2 offers almost the exact same features as the Telos TR2, with the main points of differentiation being the structure design and the extra taper of the footprint. These alterations contribute to the weight savings, which can be the deciding factor for some hikers. If you don't mind the trade-offs, or if you're on a tighter budget, this might be your winner.

The main argument for the Telos is that it's more suitable for rocky terrain or any other conditions in which it's difficult to get stakes in the ground. The freestanding design allows for more flexibility and less fortification of the tent's base. The vertical structure definitely also boosts the overall comfort for the shared camping experience.  

No matter what the final decision, both the Telos and the Alto tents are luxurious options that have garnered Sea to Summit a lot of well-earned attention. Because of the price points and extra finesse required for setup, these tents would be better suited to passionate backpackers, rather than budding vagabonds. If you pass this basic sniff-test then there are some minor comparisons to weigh (literally), but both versions will provide a premium, reliable, feature-rich, lightweight shelter option. 

I hope you enjoyed this article. For more information, check out all my gear reviews and tips on BackpackingTV. 

The post Sea to Summit Tent Comparison: Telos vs Alto appeared first on Hazeadventure.