The KEY To Ultimate Camp Comfort
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*Gear in this video:* Nemo Aurora Tent: geni.us/yGKXza Exped MegaMat: geni.us/JokTPb Yakima SkyBox 18: geni.us/yGTVBg GCI Rocker Chairs: geni.us/rIs5P Moosejaw Cooler: geni.us/SFBvJzB GSI Pinnacle Pro Stove: geni.us/JXaj4AQ GSI Pinnacle Pro Cook set: geni.us/dk5A GSI Pinnacle Pro Dish Set: geni.us/cwvBe GSI Combo Set: geni.us/p6daso Full Windsor Cutlery: geni.us/581mA Full Windsor Mag Set Cutlery: geni.us/qdJOGh SKOTTI Grill: geni.us/ADRGhrf *Get 10% off SKOTTI Grill when you use the code MYLIFEOUTDOORS10* Storage Boxes: geni.us/S7nIL Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links where I'll earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
I would LOVE to see more car camping videos. Your review videos are super helpful and I wish you had more for those of us that Camp but don't backpack
Car camping is the only way I'll get my wife to go, so please do more.
Ditto
Me three.... But the hubby😊
Me 4, more please!
Plenty of "overlanding" channels out there.
My wife was a diamond hard NO to any of this BS - absolutely terrified by bears. And then I took her to the top of Kearsarge pass in the sierra. She only went because I said I would never ask again if she went once. She walks right through that fear now. Its just too wonderful to miss. she's a junky now like me.
I'd love to see more on car camping. It has its own set of challenges. Weight is not an issue, but reducing volume is critical!
I agree with the volume. It's amazing looking back at what I would bring when I first started car camping to what I have now. That stove was so thin I now want one!
I bought a three burner camp chef stove from Costco and then realized that I wouldn’t be able to fit all of the camping equipment I wanted to bring. So I returned it and got the two burner. I also was not able to fit a massive ten person tent and I haven’t bought a replacement for car camping. Currently we just use our backpacking tents. It really is difficult trying to figure out ways to get everything necessary to fit into a normal size vehicle. I grew up camping with my uncle (an almond farmer) who drives a super duty truck with a fifth wheel and a boat or quads he tows behind that. The kind of equipment he has the room to bring isn’t practical for me. So I originally bought the kinds of things I saw when I camped as a kid. I now realize how important the size of things are.
Yes! We've upgraded to the Exped beds but I had to rent a cargo box the other weekend! Gotta balance space and comfort
It's insane to think people are packing more gear than their car can hold lmao
So true! My car is a convertible (so extra storage box on the roof not an option) with a tiny booth - I can take only a little more volume car camping with two people than hiking with two people with traditional backpacks. Still looking for the perfect two-person car camping tent that has enough room to sit in the vestibule or under an awning that packs small... Bike camping gear tends to work well for us 😊
Loved it - please do another showing how you organize/pack everything. Storage is always at a premium!
Agreed. I want to see how those sweet nesting boxes work. Looks like an enviably efficient system.
Yes, I want to see how you organize your boxes.
Car camping videos are appreciated by many in the hiking community. Keep them coming.
I've been watching these videos for a few months and they really got my trail fever going, but I am a father of two and plenty of car camping is on the horizon, so I look forward to more car camping content.
I LOVE all the positive comments. So many guys so excited to share their passion with their kids. You could really make a difference here
Tip for your ice chest: cut a piece of reflectix to the size of your cooler opening and insert on the top opening inside and it helps conserve your ice a bit longer.
Awesome tip
Loved it! I also have a family of five and am dreaming of the days when the little ones will be big enough to enjoy backpacking. So validating to see some of our choices align, like the Exped mats and the GSI cookware.
thats a real compliment to your researching skills my friend
This is the best outdoor channel at youtube. I always find some valuable and worthy information by watching the videos here. This is my independent personal view. Not trying to promote or anything. This man is soooo smart!
Car camping is 100% of my family camping trips, I’d love you to do more. I’ve debated for years doing my own channel for car camping, but honestly you are the best in this niche! Keep up the good work!
Yes, please more car camping videos.😅 This is the way I camp and I really enjoy seeing how others get on in this camp style.
I only do car camping so i love this. You have access to a much more varied range of equipment in America than we have here. That low profile stove was a fantastic space saver! The plastic cases have made a huge difference to your packing & access. It’s more relaxing when you can put your hand on the thing you’re looking for, then even better when you can put it back!
Nicely done. Short, sweet and to the point…..Please continue the car camping series.
I love how you always do those videos. A gear video like this in roughly 5 minutes. If I'd do something like this it would be like 30 Minutes
Love NEMO products! As we aged we gradually decreased backpacking and increased car camping. Now our equipment has changed with an emphasis on comfort not weight. We love the luxury of walking instead of crawling into the oversized aurora cabin tent! Thanks for your diverse camping advice!
i'm noticing a definite difference lately in the ability to comfortably enter/exit my backpacking tents - mid 40s and those knees and back really get creaky!
@@jlt131 I have the Nemo Highrise 4P and you certainly don't have that issue with this tent. At 5'11" I can stand up with extra head room, and the doors are huge.
Same for me. I have the Nemo highrise 4p for just me I love standing up in the tent.
We added the overland gazelle 4 person and my 80 yr old Dad called it “the Palace.” We fit his cot & Costco mattress 4”, a chair, a bucket potty, and table for his carry on. He didn’t have to bend for anything. He loved the set up. Key for safety is potty option for night time.
Of course when you cross the Sahara in the mid 70’s and spend camp trips on the East African coast keeping canvas tent corners dry 🤣😅 any current equipment feels like a massive improvement.
Also, when prepping/packing food, do as much of the prep/portioning/etc ahead of time as possible. Fewer steps, less mess, and fewer tools needed. Met up with some friends who don’t do much camping while they were car camping last summer and was shocked that they’re over there trying to press burgers, and wash/chop onions/lettuce/tomatoes out camping. They were amazed when I let them know they were doing it the hard way. Spend an hour or so before you leave doing all that at home where you have all your equipment and running water so you can just slap the patties on the grill and pull the prepped toppings out of the cooler when they’re done. Same goes for premixing the dry ingredients for things like pancakes or cobbler, scrubbing/peeling potatoes/carrots (just remember to rinse the potatoes in salt water and seal them tightly so they don’t brown), trimming meat, premixing marinades/spice rubs, etc. Do as much of the prep work as possible ahead and life outdoors will me MUCH easier.
Car camping, back packing, ultra lighting, all a content green light for me! 🥾⛰️🇨🇦❤️
This is awesome! We love backpacking but my partner's little one isn't as keen on backcountry stuff so more gear for this kind of trip would be lovely!
Yes! Please do more videos on car camping! After a bad spiral fracture in my leg im unable to carry alot of gear and hike long distances without alot of pain. My family of 3 loves being outdoors but finding convenient car camping gear we will actually use has been a transition ive struggled with. Id love to know more about the front runner boxes youre using for organizing too- those are EXACTLY what ive been scouring the internet for! Love your videos!
I feel blessed to have a small and reliable hatchback to get me out into nature, and space is always a challenge. Seeing new solutions to saving space without sacrificing quality is much appreciated
Love the straight to the point approach you take in your videos 👍
Definitely love the car camping tips! I'm a big backpacker, but my ole lady is not so much. So anything to help her be comfortable is much appreciated!
Yes, more car camping but also family camping videos would be great too- kid gear, activities you do to keep them occupied, etc.
I've camped since 1969. I was taught the important things were to stay dry, stay fed, stay warm, stay hydrated. Comfort was tertiary to A) safety, B) adventure. I've solo winter camped with just a blanket, lighter, knife, food, tooth brush, string and one extra set of clothes. I've heard a bear pull food for three days for two people down from a tree and branches burst from internal ice. I've seem a meteor fireball,. I've had animals such as deer, porcupine, fox and moose pass through. Camped and fly fished on a river that took a two hour drive on gravel roads then an hour canoe across a lake to get to the stream. I've camped on sand dunes and in pine woods where the pine needles where so thick they were like a mattress. I've car camped through Hurricane Bertha on Cape Cod, at a small church music festival, with groups and solo. I got to be known as being the guy with the tools and the big tarp and rope setup. Gear is nice, but don't wait to get started because you don't have all the best. Even sleeping on the ground can be fun. Leave electronic entertainment at home, be ready to sing around the campfire, bring a musical instrument, even if it is just a kazoo.
We're a family of 5 that car camps. I love your backpacking videos for the "living vicarious through Steven" aspect, but car camping videos would be really valuable to me since we do that 4-5 times per year.
Absolutely YES for more videos on car camping.
I love car camping, almost as much as backpacking! More, please!
Really nice setup you have. Like all of your videos, but it would be cool to see more like this. As a car camper lifer, always good to see new/different products and fresh ideas. Thanks again and you all enjoy your month long adventure🙏🏻👍🏻
This is great! More car camping would help keep things fresh for the channel too and would appreciate seeing other ideas / gear that’s out there - like your car setup, that looks neat! I also feel that if you go backpacking, you’re likely to do a bit of car camping too - so it’s not too much of a stretch to link the two!
Thank you and yes please to more car camping videos. As a father of a couple of young kids, they are too young to go backpacking, but I do want to expose them to the outdoors so that they will enjoy it and hopeful grow into backpacking and be more self sufficient.
YES! PLEASE DO MORE CAR CAMPING VIDEOS! Backpacking with young kids isn't in the cards but i love watching your videos. Please more car camping.
Same here, car camping makes my friends and family want to join me outdoors. So thank you, love also the car content!
Great video, some very nice items like grill, stove and cook/flatware. I'd appreciate videos with family camping ideas, gear, what works what doesn't. Especially what can fit in an SUV or Van. A great video as always, thanks
I can certainly vouch for the GSI cook sets. My wife and I bought our Bugaboo set in 2011. Except fr the "basin" that finally wore out, it is all still in great condition and we use it every campout. I have been very satisfied with all the GSI gear we have.
We got the same one around the same time and it has served our family very well, including just last week. Well worth it!
Tips on keeping camping comfortable for non camping family are always helpful
Car camping is what I mainly do. So these videos are great. I second your love for those Expeds.
I think car camping is the best way to introduce someone to camping. This is the way we start cub scout families and give people the chance to see if they want to get into backpacking or other specific forms of camping. PLEASE do more of this content. I already use about half of this gear.... :-) and am looking at the other half.
Love this perspective. I'm a bushcraft and backpacker too. With a family of 5. All of my camping gear is designed for single person use. When it comes to family camping videos on YT they are all for beginners. I'm not a begginner I just need to know what is best to scale up. Thank you for doing this. I hope it does well. Can't wait to see a few more
The labelled crates...we're reaching levels of Dad that shouldn't even be possible. Great video mate. I aspire to be like you one day.
Yep, I love car camping… mountain biking gets me into the back country. Nice to come back to comfort.
Shopping for camping gear makes me finnicky and stressed because just about everything looks good. Your channel has helped me narrow down my selections! Thank you.
Any video you make about anything camping or hiking is always appreciated...by me anyway.
I'm happy to see more car camping! With a family, I don't have the time to backpack anymore, but we car camp as a family. Those are nice products, but my favorite part of car camping is being able to use what you already have or buying used stuff like pots and pans from thrift store.
Yes, more please. I am a backpacker, but as i get older, moving more toward car camping and comfort....so yes, please.
I'm 60 now and thinking more about car cabin. This is great to see!
Wow! Unexpected video from you, but it was great! Maybe a video on your car camping philosophy or process. How long you stay at each campsite, how you pack and unpack the car efficiently, camp duties for the kids, camp rules for the kids etc…
Those would be great.
Love it! I use a combo of light weight backpacking / gear with a few bigger items for my car camping setup. I’m not… totally… buying twice but have the luxury of size and comfort. I do recommend the Front Runner chair as it compacts even smaller but is so so comfy for far less than other chairs. Gazelle is also a good option, but dang Nemo is such a good brand! Finally any of the air pads shown on this video would also do fine. Big Agnes I think has the best weight to size to R value. The newer Rapide comes in small to double size… sizes. Last I would say is a way to easily use water. Any type of water container works. But a way to get water with ease and no hassle, the Dometic magnetic water spigot/faucet is fantastic.
I agree with the other comments. I love seeing a mix of backpacking and car camping videos as I do one by myself and one with my family.
LOVE seeing stuff on car camping .... PLEASE SHARE MORE
My wife and I love backcountry hiking. Doing 45 miles of Pictured Rocks Lakeshore next month for our anniversary. With that said, car camping rocks as well. It’s just different. Thanks for your insights.
Great video! We’re a family of 6 and all the kids are getting bigger. I’d love to see a car camping video where you outfit a big crew on a budget. I have my favorites but I’d love to see your take. Keep up the great content!
Good work Steven, I love it. I've been watching all your videos and it was nice to hear that you also have a family of five, some of whom don't like backpacking (or tramping as we call it in NZ). I purchased a Go Camper from the US a year or so ago and car camping is a great way to introduce the family to the outdoors - especially the members of the family that can't understand why you'd want to leave a perfectly warm and comfortable house with wifi and the X-Box for the weekend. Keep making these videos please.
The Aurora high rise is the best! Very very similar to my family setup.
Bring on more car camping videos!!! It’s the only way I can get the whole family out 🏕️ camping!
I love backpacking, but it is not my wife's cup of tea. So if I want to enjoy the outdoors with her, then we go car camping. This video gave me some good ideas for improving our setup. I have a pretty small car so space saving is critical. Thanks for the helpful video!
Car camping is the only way I can get my family to go camping at all. I'd love to see more!
Thanks! Yes, show us more on car camping. Not every trip can be the great 4-day wilderness hikes. It's good to have the gear packed and ready to throw into the car for a 1 or 2-night trip to a nearby park or lake. Any tips on how to stay organized in a way that doesn't require spending a day packing just to get to camp for a night......? It's that pulling everything together and packing each time that really pulls away from the fun.
Car camping is another favorite. Keep up the good work.
This video is short and densely packed with information. Thanks!
Yes please more car camping videos! I discovered your channel earlier this year getting ready for a multi-day float trip. I really like your videos, but most of the camping my family and I do is car camping. I just haven't found a good channel that I like yet that talks about it. Please do more!
Yes, more on car camping, please! I have more limited mobility due to multiple injuries, and while I’d love to backpack, it’s not possible. Over the years we have taught our 2 kids to love camping (and how to help set up the tent, etc.) Since adding a dog (and it’s gear) to the family, space is at even more of a premium, and we currently cannot afford roof cross bars and a cargo box. We’re trying to find ways to pack more compactly/effectively. Tips and tricks are appreciated!
Oh, and that stove and grill look awesome!
Backpacking will always be my true camping love, but as an expectant father I foresee a fair bit of car camping in my immediate future, so the content would be appreciated. A look at canoe/kayak camping could also be interesting as that represents something of a middle ground with regards to gear weight and volume budgets.
I would definitely love more car camping videos. I'm definitely interested in responsible cleanup after grilling and cooking.
I to.
big fan of this style of video and always appreciate the sheer variety of shots and angles you work in! very engaging to watch.
Really appreciate the car camping video. Definitely would love to see additional videos.
Love this! Great to see these car camping reviews from a trusted source.
I run an ARB 50 fridge in the back of my 4Runner. Once you go the fridge route you'll never look back. I don't have any crazy overland setup, but the fridge is definitely nice to have. I also use the same Pinnacle Pro cook set. I'm excited for our next camping adventure. 😊
Car camping is how I can get my friends to join me outdoors. Backpacking, I'm on my own :') So yes! More car camping videos!
You need a Nemo stargaze chair! Every chair enthusiast should have one!😂
Thanks for all your videos! We have two young kids and car camping is pretty much our only option. Please do more videos like this.
never leave in my camping van without my Skotti grill. It's truly awesome!
Love the vid, your knowledge on car camping is some of the best that I've seen!
For storage system, I’ve been finding HUGE success with the Milwaukee packout system. My dad and I do a lot of cart in camping since due to age/health reasons he can’t do a pure backpacking trip (we bring a cot for him). The Milwaukee packout roller box, cooler, and toolbox are a godsend for keeping everything easily transportable for the quick ~1mile hike to most cart in sites. Plus they’re super durable. I’ve got at least 50miles on my rolled box. I’m a Makita guy (teal team op 👊), but I can’t deny Milwaukee tools makes some good boxes.
Absolutely, please do more car camping videos! My family of four is getting all our camping gear and this is a huge help!
I love car camping. This video was great for me. Definitely bring on the car camping vids. Thanks!
thank you for making this! its a nice change of pace for camping stuff
Going to need more of these videos. I need all the tips I can get for family camping
Great to see the little ones getting time in the outdoors!
This is awesome! Both my and my wife’s family have grown up camping and we are always looking for more compact or better items!! Love this video!
Yes! Would be happy to see more car camping!
Love the car camping video! I do now camping than hiking so these types of videos are more relevant for me!
Love the car camping content! Please share more about helping kids stay comfortable and happy while camping.
Awesome video plz do more. Me and the wife loved it great ideas for family camping
Nice to see space considered for car camping . It's easy to say just get stuff that's big and roomy ,but the car space becomes a factor quick . Thanks for showing this side of camping . The grill looks cool going to have to check that out
I am on the extreme end of outdoors and backpacking unlike the rest of my friends. This video was super helpful to see how things could be more comfy!
Loved it! It's great to see the other end of the camping spectrum
This was a great look at how you approach car camping with the family. Even though we are focused on backpacking on our family vacations and big road trips we car camp almost the entire way. Our little one will soon be 3 so I would be interested to see more videos like this mixed in. Thanks for sharing.
Quick tip for packing up air mattresses / mats: connect your air pump in reverse to suck all the air out of them, then quickly put the cap on to seal them. This gets them super flat so they are easy to fold or roll up tight. No more need to use your body weight to hog wrestle all the air out. I have been using a cheap $20 pump from Amazon for this for a few years now
I liked this one. I have two small girls. They like camping but not far from the car. It’s cool to see the new packable gear that’s out as we are limited on room as well.
A good option for large, inflatable mattresses are cots. Very cheap (especially in surplus stores) and most of them are comfortable. You will need to find a way to insulate the bottom which neither is it hard to do nor expensive. A heavy blanket is usually good enough to keep the cold out for a cot.
Dang that grill looks really neat. What a great find!
I love this video. A huge thing for me is I want to really get into hiking and camping but it is still extremely intimidating. One way I've found a happy middle ground is by going car camping. Lots of convenience and plenty of opportunity to go day hiking. I can go 11 miles and still get back to camp for a little bit more pleasure and comfort. I would love to see more videos along this line, as a day hike pack is SOOO much lighter and I want your opinion on how to make a car camp set up / routine work so I can get things ready in the morning and then hit the open trail or how to prepare camp after i get back / what to prep before i leave to make the return more relaxing.
Great gear tips. My husband and I have a 19’ (hitch to bumper) molded fiber glass travel trailer. With limited space and the desire to dry camp, I see lots of overlap with your car camping comfort gear. It’s a fun game of Tetris. More please.
I love car camping on long road trips, thanks for the tips!
I like your content for backpacking stuff, and used to turn my nose up at car camping. I've since reformed, but your gear choice is pretty excellent. Love the rocking chairs especially.
Yes. More car camping videos! It’s how we do!
More of these would be awesome Thanks for sharing.
Would love to see more car camping vids! Love your editing.
Yes, do more car camping videos. My bride has interest in it, so I am interested. I know very little about car camping and would love to learn so I can take her outdoors.