Brian Connelly

Backpacking doesn’t necessarily mean skimping on luxury. We’ve reviewed 6 of the best backpacking chairs to help you put your feet up at the end of a hard day.

Overall Winner “Best Backpacking Cot” YAHILL Ultralight Folding Camping Cot It is just as surprising to us that the YAHILL backpacking cot earned the top spot on our list, but it is hard to deny the value this model brings to the table– especially for extended hikes. Not only is this one of the lightest … Read more

Why Use A Hatchback Tent? The main benefit of using a tent attached to your vehicle is the safety and protection it offers. In case of dangerous weather or animals, you can retreat to your vehicle for protection. Additionally, minivan camping tents allow you to adapt the cargo space of your vehicle for additional sleeping … Read more

Purposes Of A Tent Fan At their core, tent fans create airflow in a camping tent, awning, or enclosed area to help promote cooling. This is the bare minimum requirement for adequate fans for camping. However, ideally camping fans do more than just cool you off. It can act as an emergency light and a … Read more

Choosing The Right Hammock Mosquito Net Materials Mesh Protection Arguably the most important part of the product is the level of bug protection you can derive from the mesh material. To get adequate protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects whilst hammock camping a typical standard for most bug netting is a denier 75D material. … Read more

Photo by Oisin Patenall / CC BY-SA 2.0 Further reading: Bought a hammock for camping trips & need a little advice? Considerations When Buying A Hammock Tarp Best Tarp Size To keep you warm and dry a good size tarp for hammock camping must firstly cover your whole hammock. In general, a tarp should overhang by at … Read more

The Benefits of Canvas Tents PROS Breathability – While not always as breathable as certain synthetic fibers, cotton is inherently breathable yet has additional benefits. Quiet – One area where canvas outshines almost every synthetic material is in how quiet it is – no annoying crinkling and rustling! Insulation – Other than for a couple … Read more

Pitching your tent on awkward terrain (hard ground, snow, sand) can be difficult if you don’t have the best tent stakes for the job – check out which brands do which best….

Types Of Survival Shelters & Tents Bivy Bivy sacks are some of the most durable and stable emergency shelters around, though they are only meant for temporary use. That said, there is no denying that a bivy sack’s enclosed space makes it far more comfortable when dealing with insects. On the other hand, bivy sacks … Read more

How To Choose Hammock Straps Why Do You Need Straps? We often get asked whether hammock straps are essential. Ultimately, they keep you suspended whilst maintaining the integrity of your support trees. The leave-no-trace quality of these technical systems makes them a far better choice than a cord or rope. Since they do not require … Read more

8 Tips for Hammock Camping with Dogs Preparation Starts at Home One of the first things you wanna do is take a trial test at home as this will be an excellent opportunity to know if sharing a hammock with your dog is a great idea or doomed to failure.  Getting to the campsite to … Read more

Best Air Lounger  Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch  The Chillbo Shwaggins Inflatable Couch is the premier product on our list with some of the best all-around specs to justify its cost. For example, this inflatable lounger may not, strictly speaking, be the largest entry on our list, but at 7’ x 3’ x 2’, it is … Read more

Taking good care of your hammock means give it the occasional clean – we take you how to wash a hammock 3 different ways.

Photo by Dan4th Nicholas / CC BY 2.0 Best Portable Folding Hammock Bliss Hammocks Portable Hammock with Stand The Bliss Hammocks Q-806BJR Stow EZ Portable Hammock takes the award for the overall best portable folding hammock. Its combination of comfort, options, and easy transport won out over several strong competitors. This model offers superior comfort. … Read more

Best Hydro Flask Alternative Klean Kanteen Classic 32oz Water Bottle The Klean Kanteen Classic water bottle does numerous things exceptionally well, but few meet the level of performance as its thermal insulation. While no specifics regarding its construction are given, this stainless steel water bottle offers superior thermal insulation than even the Hydro Flask. For … Read more

Best Double Camping Cot Ivation EZ Bed The Ivation EZ Bed double camping cot meets or exceeds most of the critical factors when choosing this kind of product. Easily one of the best qualities of this camping double cot is the included air mattress, which is exceptionally comfortable thanks to the inclusion of 48 inner … Read more

Best Beach Hammock Legit Camping – Double Hammock  The Legit’s hammock sits at or near the top of our list in so many different categories, the fact that you need to figure out how to support it is a mild inconvenience at best.  Once you do, you will be treated to the largest unfolded surface … Read more

Photo by chas B / CC BY 2.0 Our Favorite Hammock Explorer Deluxe XL Series  The Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe Zip XL is our best overall winner for a couple of reasons, but one of the main ones comes down to its size. The hammock fabric stretches out to 130” x 59” and is the … Read more

Best Portable Hammock Stand Kammok Swiftlet Hammock Stand The Kammok Swiftlet Hammock Stand does not top our list in any one category but consistently gets good marks pretty much across the board and offers features that the competition cannot match. By far, one of the best reasons to get this portable hammock stand comes down … Read more

Photo by Wendy Berry / CC BY 2.0 Best Camping Hammock with Mosquito Net ENO JungleNest Hammock If you want to guarantee yourself a good night’s sleep while also ditching the bugs, we’ve picked out the ideal hammock for you! The best hammock for a mosquito-free night in our opinion is the JungleNest Hammock from … Read more

Preventing water seep through your tent’s seams couldn’t be simpler with our pick for the Best Tent Seam Sealer – See who came out on top.

Best Tent Poles Green Elephant Telescoping Tent Poles  The Green Elephant Telescoping Tent Poles outperform the other entries on our list in many categories, with the most important being able to support up to 35 pounds per pole. A big part of this structural integrity comes from the use of anodized aluminum, which is not … Read more

Many camping tents weren’t made with tall folk in mind, so we’ve pulled together our list of the best tents for tall people so you’ll never have to stoop again.

Best Shower Tent Ozark Trail Instant 2-Room Shower Tent The Ozark Trail Instant 2-Room Shower Tent comes out on top as the best shower tent in our review thanks to its great balance between features, ease of use, and size. Where this portable shower tent really stands out is its two-room design and the solar-heated shower … Read more

Overall Winner “Best Teepee Tent” Winteral Teepee Tent It wasn’t easy, but we’re taking a stand and choosing the Winterial six-seven person Teepee as the best teepee for tent camping. With its weather-resistant rainfly, generous 8-foot interior height, and ample ventilation, we knew it had a place on our leader stage. However, the shelter’s 144 … Read more

Overview of the Bear Butt Double Parachute Camping Hammock The Bear Butt hammock is packed with features and benefits for you as serious outdoorsmen and women who demand durability and dependability in a portable and lightweight hammock that can hold 2 people and hold their weight comfortably.  It’s ideal for couples or singles, backpackers, campers, … Read more

Photo by Gronkca / CC BY 2.0 Eagle Nest Outfitters Housefly Overview If you’re a hammock enthusiast, you know the joy of sleeping beneath the stars and taking in the full view of mother nature and the vastness of the night sky. This is one of the most significant benefits of hammocking, but foul weather … Read more

Overall Winner “Best Wool Blanket for Camping” Woolrich Cavalry Blanket The Woolrich Cavalry blanket may seem a bit unassuming at first glance, but it pairs some of the best specs that we encountered together in a way that elevates it above all but the most expensive options. That last part is important, too, as this … Read more

Overall Winner: Best Hammock for Big Guys Eagles Nest Outfitters DoubleNest Our choice for the best overall hammock for big guys is the ENO DoubleNest Hammock. Eagles Nest Outfitters is a leader in the lightweight hammock industry, and they hit the mark with this durable heavy duty camping hammock that is rated for a weight … Read more

All-Around Best Sleeping Bag for Hammock Camping Outdoor Vitals Aerie In the debate between sleeping bags and top quilts, the Aerie manages to split the difference and incorporates the best of both designs. It has the shoulder room and can be tightly compacted like a quilt but can also be deployed as a sleeping bag … Read more

Serac Classic Hammock Overview If you’re looking for the best, Serac Hammocks come in at the top of the line in the category of affordable yet dependable day hammocks. The Serac Hammock delivers on its promise to provide you with a fast and comfortable sleeping space that goes up quickly and easily.  It comes with … Read more

Overview of the ENO Doublenest Hammock Review Backpackers understand the problem of fitting everything into a pack for a trip that runs past more than a couple of days. As a result, hammock camping has become increasingly popular amongst backpackers due to the small packed size and lower weight of a hammock versus a tent. … Read more

Overall Winner “Best Tent for Hot Weather” REI Co-op Kingdom 6 Tent The REI Co-op Kingdom 6 tent tops our list thanks primarily to its unique design that provides many benefits beyond the obvious. The use of a tunnel-like structure creates a wind channel of sorts that facilitates the natural flow of air ventilation to … Read more

Photo by Gronkca / CC BY 2.0 Overall Winner Best Hammock Underquilt ENO Vulcan Hammock Underquilt To make sure you do not have to worry about the cold, the ENO Vulcan hammock underquilt stuffs the product with PrimaLoft Synergy fill that is good down to 30-degrees. This hammock underquilt can take a beating thanks to … Read more

Whether you’re an avid backpacker, enjoy hammock camping, or a back yard hammock enthusiast, it’s essential to know the differences in hammocks that make one a better choice over the other. We’re conducting a full comparison of the Grand Trunk Double vs. the Eno Doublenest to determine which is the superior product. Are you looking … Read more

There are times when it’s not possible to find two trees or posts that are perfectly spaced to suspend your hammock. This has been an ongoing problem for most of us hammock enthusiasts. It’s frustrating when you have to make do with a less than ideal situation.  The ENO SoloPod Hammock Stand eliminates the problem … Read more

The Equip Portable Hammock is ideal for travelers, campers, and hikers who are looking for a fast, affordable, and comfortable place to nap and relax whenever the occasion calls for it. This is a single person hammock that is easy to set up and to take down and pack away for another day of traveling.  … Read more

Overall Winner: Best Sleeping Pad for Hammock Klymit Hammock V Sleeping Pad If you want a hammock sleeping pad that provides comfort from every perspective, the Klymit Hammock V is an excellent option as it is large and warm. In terms of its size, this is the widest sleeping pad on our list at 47” … Read more

The ENO Singlenest is one of the best-known models of hammocks in the outdoors world. The company, started in 1999, has built a reputation for producing lightweight, hard-wearing and comfortable hammocks that are as much at home in the forests of the Appalachian Trail, as they are in your backyard at home. Weighing in at … Read more

Our Pick – Best 8 Person Tent NTK Laredo GT 8 to 9-Person Tent During our research, we came across some great tents, but the Laredo GT Tent was the obvious best choice out of them all. It’s sturdy but lightweight at only 23.5 pounds and is a champ at keeping you and your group … Read more

Overall Winner ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 5-Person Tent The ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 5 person tent checks pretty much every box that the overwhelming majority of people have for this class of tent. By far, one of its most impressive qualities is the waterproofing, which comes with the highest hydrostatic rating on our list at 1500 mm. … Read more

The Chillax Double Travel Hammock Reviewed The Chillax Travel Hammock stands out because it’s made from lightweight, breathable parachute silk that is also water-resistant. This is a great product to take with you camping as the material is showerproof and will help keep you cool in warm climates.  It comes with an integrated suspension system … Read more

OVERALL WINNER: Best 10 Person Tent Columbia Mammoth Creek 10-Person Cabin Tent This large family tent truly has it all. Style, quality, functionality, and practicality are all qualities of the Columbia Mammoth 10-Person Large Family Cabin Tent. The crisp blue on white makes this tent stand out among a sea of earth-tone tents. The quality … Read more

Overall Winner: Best 12 Person Tent NTK Super Arizona GT 12 Person Tent The NTK Super Arizona GT tops our list thanks to a combination of excellent waterproofing and solid materials. That said, we feel the waterproofing is the most important thing to look at, and this 12 person tent tops our list with a … Read more

Mountainsmith Cottonwood 6 Person Best 6 Person Tent The Mountainsmith Cottonwood shares plenty of the top traits with a couple of its competitors, but one area where it shines all on its own is in the stability department. This is because the Mountainsmith Cottonwood is the only tent that we reviewed, which uses 7000-series aluminum … Read more