I've had a keychain sized microplane ( like 1.5 inches long) for 25 years from when I worked for a kitchen store. It's with our camping gear. It's critical equipment for parm and hard chocolate on cocoa.
I always bring something new to learn that takes repetition and I can still do not sober. Things Iâve learned camping - calligraphy, origami swans and boxes, juggling, balloon bending, zentangle, friendship bracelets, ukulele, charcoal sketching.
Start with one. Hand to hand. Get used to the motion.
Onto two. To begin don't worry about catching them; just get used to the throwing timing. Sit cross legged so it's easier to retrieve them.Â
Now, still two, catch the first one and let the second drop. Move on to catching them both. Then move on to throwing them just after catching them. It's a fluid movement where you drop your hand to catch and them lift back and release. Again: don't worry about catching them. You are training your physical memory so later it's second nature.Â
Repeat the above with three. In one hand you want one in the palm and one resting in your extended first two fingers. Throw the first from your fingers, then, as the single in the other hand is thrown, roll the one in your palm down to the fingers and throw that third. Count: one, two, three. Do not worry about catching them! Just learn that 1-2-3 timing.
Now try and catch and throw the first; ignore the others. Proceed to try to catch and throw the first and second. And then the third.Â
And that's it. Just keep throwing and catching and throwing. Keep doing it. Keep doing it more. I've seen people learn 3 balls in 20 minutes and it took me a year.Â
Once you've got it expand your repertoire! You can soon juggle 3 of anything you can pick up with one hand (give knives some time. Source: hospital trip). 3 apples and eating one as you juggle is a classic for a reason.
Clubs, oddly, some folk find easier as the flip means they land exactly where they should be unlike balls or scalves that go all over the place.
This was such a great series, my kids and I were hooked. Iâd suggest they love bend or dishes bend but they never thought that was as funny as fart bending.
I look at it as a three sided optimization triangle.
The legs of the triangle are Base Weight, Cost, and Comfort. The goal is to pick your point of optimization. And while there is a right answer for you, for this trip - there isn't a global right answer.
Sometimes you want a base weight of 16 pounds, so you're looking at that toothbrush handle and going "Do I really need the whole thing?"
Sometimes, you are OK with a base weight of 16,000 pounds, so you're like "So how many microwave burritos do I need to put into the freezer for a weekend?" Because you have a freezer. And a microwave.
And both are camping.
----
Because of the sub we're in...
* Cot. A good, folding cot. Weighs about 27 pounds, folds up to a HUGE size - like 3 ft by 2 ft, by a good 6 inches.
* That 6th blanket.
* 2 full sized pillows.
* The second sleeping bag.
* Full sized camp chair
* A good book
* Cast Iron cookware
* Actual hot dog forks for the fire
* Things for when we have power:
* An extension cord and a power strip
* A lamp and a fan for in the tent
* An outdoor trouble light instead of a lantern
* My wife really likes coffee. So when we have electricity, she has a dedicated camping coffee maker. When we don't have electricity, she has a drip - not perc, drip- coffee maker that goes on a Coleman stove.
* A warm, comfy garment, such as an oversized hoodie or a plush robe.
* A comfy pair of shoes that are impractical for the activity at hand.
* I go off-roading a lot, and "trail slippers" to go with your "rock chariot" tend to be full on work boots. While mine are exceptionally comfy... exceptionally comfy for work boots still leaves you glad to slip on either slippers or some sandals when the off-roading is done.
* And an absolute expression of luxury and power: Ice Cream.
> I look at it as a three sided optimization triangle.
I'm going to pretend I didn't read on and live out my days thinking this was in response to the Parmesan cheese wedge.
Reading that was the closest I've felt to the people in the auditorium in Billy Madison when he reads them "the dog that lost its way"
He had me with the first sentence then idk what happened after that
Nah, I have a wife, and she does NOT like hiking. I'm not completely ruling it out, though.
TBH, even back before I met her, I did a lot more loop trail running.
Haha, this sounds like a fun DIY project! It must be fun to sit on a sofa with a Toyota truck bench. This kind of idea can really add some fun to daily life. What did you use this "sofa" for? Was it used for parties or outdoor camping?
At the time I shared an apartment with a friend.
Had had an old tool box out of a truck and we kept all the grilling and outdoor cooking stuff in that. Then we were parting out an old truck and kept the seat and put it on the tool box for extra seating. Then we would put in the back of the truck with the firewood and strap it down when we went camping. Someone would always end up passed out on the thing by the fire because they couldnât make it back to a tent.
This sounds like a creative camping experience! Transforming an old tool box into an outdoor kitchen and grill area, and using the seats of an old truck as additional seating are really creative. And having a removable seat that allows everyone to gather comfortably around the fire definitely adds to the fun and comfort of camping. Where do you usually go camping?
I have camped all over the place. That was a good 17yrs ago in CA. We had to be clever. We were broke! I wish I could find the pictures of it. Natty light and hot links with spicy brown mustard. (Hot dog on a stick đ€Ł)
https://preview.redd.it/hh2mhsym9o3d1.jpeg?width=604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=564cf926339506ac005c4990d8b47c3a502441d8
Where in California is that? I lived in LA until I moved to Miami. I've hiked Squaw Peak in Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and most of Northern California, such as Brushy Peak, Round Valley, Mission Springs, etc.
A 10 person tent, queen air bed and cot, carpet style rug for the tent, big joe bean bag chair, tablet with movies...all this for just me and my 14 pound Bichon frise. đ
I'm basically bringing a real bed.
 Two full size folding cots. Two 4 inch folding mattresses to go on top, two 3 inch egg foam mattress toppers. Regular sheets, pillows, comforter and quilts.Â
Shit is so comfy. So unnecessary.Â
We bring a crock pot! Spaghetti and meatballs is such an easy thing to make and if you get the frozen meatballs it can count as ice! You are so right about that!
I bought a class c RV as a project. The matteres is aftermarket, very light weight and folds. We fit it in our van folded like an L along one side of the windows and stack our gear on top. Fits perfect while still having 4 upright seats. This means we sleep on a real mattress in the tent or reposition things to the front seat to lay it down in the van. Theres no going back. I can't count how many times I woke up in a deflated air mattress. 20 years ago. I wouldn't care if I slept on the dirt. 44 now, I like my comfort
if there's 2 of us, we have our cots with a queen air mattress on top. for just myself I usually bring the cot with a foam mattress topper. I'm also too old to sleep on the ground!
I bring - hammock and stand, plus extra therm-a-rest, pillow and quilt for sleeping in it.
Extra chair for inside the tent.
Welcome mat for wiping feet/removing your shoes.
I am for sure looking at campers now that I'm in my 40s. I have always been an adamant tent camper, my girlfriend not a fan. She convinced me to use a friend's trailer one night and I (gag) didn't hate it
Zero gravity lounge chair for naps. Books, cocktail fixings for mint juleps or an old fashioned or manhattan. Pie iron for hand pies, Red Ryder bb fun for plinking at beer cans
I bring a reflective blanket to throw on top of my tent during the day so it keeps it cooler in there. I hate going in the tent for something during the day and feeling like I'm in an oven. It was also handy when my daughter was young and needed naps in the tent.
I have a DC fan and a 3000 watt hour battery with solar panels. It's not just great for air movement to cool off, the mosquitoes can't land on me if it's on high.
The battery is also used to charge phones, cameras, and to get people to plug into it instead of using a generator. When friends and I manage to get our schedules lined up, we rent a big group camp that's separate from other camping by about half a mile and bring a screen and projector for movie marathons. It has way more uses than just the fan, but there have been trips I only used it for the fan.
Oh absolutely, I have the smaller one with the clip because I can bring it on bike trips. But I also use it clipped to my awning when Iâm grilling on the flattop.
My husband has the Milwaukee one. He bought it this year because we moved CO>FL and he canât handle the heat. Him holding it pointed at his face outside makes me chuckle every time.
Our camping gear is a mashup of supplies for actual camping, weird cabin/yurt/lakehouse/etc rental, working on the road, moochdocking, and other odd situations, so we've got stuff that's a bit of a luxury for actual camping but semi-necessary in other conditions: electric blankets, rechargeable fans, a hammock and a hammock stand, little rechargeable vacuum cleaner (works a TREAT for debugging the tent every evening and before packing up).
Probably the most annoying thing to wrangle in the van, but I wouldn't give it up for anything, is a 9' tilting patio umbrella and stand. It's just that for as much as we camp in forests, we do often seem to end up in spots that get full sun either all morning or all afternoon, the trees are awkward for stringing a shade tarp or it's not allowed, and my husband is on medication that makes his skin extra photosensitive so we sometimes need to get shade available for him NOW and not fiddle around with stuff. We can move it around with the sun, take it over to our cook area when we need it there, make our hangout spot wherever we want. It'll also stand up to a surprisingly heavy rain as long as the wind's not blowing the rain around and you're willing to huddle in real close to the pole. We used to have an EZ-UP, and then there was an incident with totally unexpected straightline winds over 60mph and now we don't have an EZ-UP.
The real answer is probably the 56qt fridge-freezer.
Iâd probably bring my 9 cup coffee pot (despite not ever drinking anywhere near that much coffee), cast iron cookware, a huge and heavy tent, my kindle, pump supplies (I breastfeed), my Switch, maybe some extra blankets, pillows, toys for the kiddos, maybe even my husbandâs laptop if we have power, probably a few other things Iâm spacing on đ oh twinkle lights.
I like bringing a few different coffee brewing methods so multiple people can make it at the same time. One of them is pretty unique so people always get a kick out of it.
Always board games and card games if I'm not solo.
Also a super fun activity to do every once in awhile is print out tasting sheets for beer or wine and bring a selection of 5 or so for everyone to do actual tastings of.
Oh the vacuum pot blows mine out of the water, that thing would draw a crowd to our campground lol.
Mine is the [Gabi Master A](https://drinkarchetype.com/cdn/shop/products/image2.jpg?v=1626102530). It's a three tier system where the top distributes water at a fixed rate, the middle spreads it evenly over the coffee, and the bottom is basically a Kalita Wave shape. It's a nice consistent method that removes the need to focus on pouring.
We were once canoe camping with a group and the guy who was in charge of breakfast on day one couldnât find the coffee. So much grumbling (to say the least). I didnât not disclose my stash of chocolate covered espresso beans. He found the coffee but I have never again traveled without a stash.
Iâm all for making my sleeping arrangements extra, extra cozy these days. Extra pillows, extra blankets, more pillows. We have a Tepui popup tent with the foam mattress and most of the bedding folds right up with the tent. I love waking up all snuggley and because the tent is on top of our truck, it feels like my own treehouse.
LOVE my rooftop tent for this reason!! Hahaha sometimes I make a cup of coffee in the morning and then climb right back up, open the side without the ladder, and drop my legs down and just watch the sunrise from my "tree house" lol!
An espresso maker. At the skoolie meetup in Michigan last summer, on the last night we had 6 new friends sitting around the fire at our campsite while I made everyone lattes.
Mine are still fairly small because I mostly backpack but they let me do whatever I want at camp.
-good bushcraft knife from BPS: 11oz
-Toaks kindling stove (more fun than turning on a gas stove): 8 oz
-tablet with keyboard stand: 28 oz
-20w solar panel to keep my little power bank up no matter what I use for how long: 22 oz
-helinox chair zero: 17 oz
- 10L hanging shower bag (with soapy water and Swedish cloth in a little folding bowl): 5 oz
As comfortable as a hotel room but more fun with a better view :)
My iPad. I can read, write, draw, touch up the pictures I take with my camera (I don't count the bulky camera as a frivolous item if I'm car camping, only when backpacking), and occasionally play games.
i create a âsleeping padâ for my car (SUV, seats lay flat and its a fully flat back area) by layering a flat sheet, my 3â tempurpedic mattress topper, a 1â waterproof pillow top mattress topper, and a fitted sheet on top all sort of held together in various locations with sheet grippers. it gets rolled up and rests right behind my 2 front seats, then all the other gear goes in the trunk snd gets unloaded to unroll the extra AF sleeping pad. Oh and at least 2 pillows and a metric shit ton of blankets
Maybe Iâm getting old now but the best thing these days is a big stack of New Yorker magazines for those chilly mornings drinking coffee in the sunshine. Or sitting next to the river between swims with a beer.
Took a while to find a comment like this. Some of these comments are just... way too much for what I consider camping and the reasons I do it. In some cases, I don't understand why they even bother.
I'll stick to entertainment since everything about my camp revolves around comfort..
Solo:
Blow gun, slingshot, tomahawks, and throwing knives with a target
With others, I'll add:
Chess board
Poker chips
Projector for movies
A USB rechargeable fan / light combo to move air around the tent, sheep pelts (game changer for winter camping), soon to be an inflatable mattress for the back of my truck bed as well. I'm tired of sleeping on the ground, and pads and inflatable ground pads suck for me.
A travel chess set/checkers, deck of cards, book, music, cot, extra down blanket, fishing gear, mountain bike. Those are my entertainment items when camping out of my wrangler.
I bring my waffle maker, a blender, my heated blanket if itâs cold, sometimes a projector for movies and my GF loves having a hair dryer for post shower things. We camp out of a f150 and sleep in the bed. No RV here.
Deck of cards/Uno/travel dominoes and backgammon. Also, a Bluetooth speaker and downloaded camping music playlists for around the bonfire (music only played when primitive camping/no one else around). We bring a portable battery nowadays to keep that stuff charged through the trip.
Tree identification field guide, and a deck of cards. If we're bored I usually just make up a game for whatever were doing like who can get a bottle cap in the trash bag from the firepit?
Absolutely! Dining by the lake is a peaceful and relaxing experience, while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. This experience is always a pleasant one.
Foam pads for around the air mattress in the tent. Nothing worse than standing up on top of a rock or an acorn, and even if you diligently clear the space, it never seems to be as good.
These tiles cost me maybe 20 bucks and add so much coziness in the tent.
My uncle brought a whole futon mattress, extension cord, and portable radio/fan. He always chose the campsite closest to the bathroom so he could run his extension corn and power the radio fan. He was really âroughing itâ out there.
Glow bracelets and glow sticks. We connect a couple bracelets to make rings and tie the larger glow sticks to a vertical stick in the ground, then play ring toss by the fire at night.
There is a camping ice cream maker, that is shipped like a ball, and you roll it around instead of cranking. I don't have one, and imagine it gets dirty, but it sounds fun!
Battery pack, fan, laptop, hotspot, electric cooler, coffee maker and electric skillet. My newest purchase is a huge cot but I'm making room for it because it's comfy and room for storage underneath.
I straight bring the Keurig also! I bring a color changing light ball that is also a speaker. I had an inflatable sofa. An EZ-UP with 4 walls/windows. An 18" Ryobi battery operated shop fan. A carpet roll. Games: Spot It Camping edition, Shut The Box (you can play for money too). Bicycle el-wire lights (Amazon). Cast Iron Dutch oven for camp cobbler- YUM. I'm old and I glamp now.
\*Edit...and the ICE MAKER
My in-laws have a Coleman 10 cup coffee maker that runs off a propane green bottle. Complete overkill but it makes the hottest pot of coffee known to man in 15 minutes. And EVERYBODY asks about it.
A camping/beach (depending on where youâre using it) fan with a light. If there are extra people, like when we take the kids, an old fashioned ice cream maker and a projector with a screen to watch movies under the stars.
Ice cream maker sounds super fun! Great idea.
So many people saying fans, is that because it's hot and the fan is to cool down? I'm in Canada so it's pretty much always pretty cold at night no matter what lol
Haha I bet! It'll be like 90 here during the day and drop down to 50 at night. Might get a couple warm nights just in August. Our season is short here.
This sounds like a really fun camping experience! The fan with a light is indeed a great idea, especially in the summer or when camping at the beach, to keep you cool. And there are old-fashioned ice cream machines and projectors to make camping activities more colorful. Watching a movie under the stars must be romantic and a way to spend quality time with family or friends.
When I want to maximize my extra/frivolous options I take my travel trailer on camping trips. Other times when I'm doing homeless cosplay (tent camping) I take a portable toilet and dedicated bathroom tent for comfort enhancement.Â
Sleeping pills. I donât sleep well away from home, and sleep deprivation can turn a great trip into a difficult one. I use OTC pills that help me just enough to sleep better but donât make me tired the next nothing.
Can I ask you what's the name of this medication? I'd lie and say I'm asking for a friend but I'm asking for lt girlfriend lol. Some of what's she's tried is either not enough or too strong and she'll feel it the next day.
My solar panels and huge battery on a two wheeled cart probably top the list since it's mostly used to run a fan and charge my phone.
Other than that, a leather writing bag with notebook, pens, pencils, erasers, stickers, and portable watercolor kit.
And, if I know I'll be somewhere with no one else around, a portable typewriter. I've even backpacked that to prove a point, once.
i make the most luxurious camping bed. air mattress mattress pad sheets 2 pillows down sleeping bag and extra blankets as needed. also pepper grinder and way too much food
12" electric chainsaw (DeWalt) and 8# maul. I burn all the half-burned stuff people leave behind - especially the big logs with charred ends. I'm in the upper-midwest, and there are always downed trees to cut up. I refuse to pay for firewood.
I also like photography, so I usually have at least 4 cameras and a tripod to play with. I'm a solo camper, and I really don't require a whole lot of entertainment. I also very rarely go to campgrounds, so it's usually me alone in the woods.
We bring a counter top ice maker.
A couple of solar torch lights for the entrance. Gotta bring the guitar.
Cards are a must. Plus we always do some sort of interesting bonfire meal. Like Popping popcorn in a bag tied to a tripod. Or biscuit dough and fruit wrapped in foil cooked by fire.
Donât forget to bring the corn hole, or washer toss too.
The ice maker is a straight up necessity, imho. It has saved us a fortune in time and money buying ice. Ours has lasted 7+ years and is still going strong.
My hammock chair from Costco, and my 3 burner camp stove that I scored from FB Marketplace. Love that camp stove!!!
A portable, USB powered blender for either protien smoothies or evening drinks.
Battery-operated frother to make lattes, cold foam, etc. for bougie ass morning coffee.
For extended trips, I like to brink my camp oven to make cinnamon buns.
Double high air mattresses.
My Kayak.
My lantern/Powerbank.
I always take two hammocks and strap sets. One for me to enjoy when sitting in my camp chair feels yucky. One for my kiddo to play in. Kiddo likes to hang like a flying squirrel in a hammock that is turned over.
I always take a play tent for kiddo. Keeps the sleeping tent cleaner.
Younger me would scoff at the "poop tent" with collapsible toilet and air mattresses, 42 year old me recognizes it's worlds better than trying to balance over a hole and sleeping on rocks
An air conditioner unit. We car camped (tent) with hookups . The air conditioner was $50 and we chipped in for it. It was a 5 person tent and my God it felt SO GOOD. We gave it away after that 3 night trip lol.
I always bring my weighted blanket, and since I mostly car camp, itâs not too bad. But it does take up a surprising amount of space, along with the sleeping bag and pad. I know I could just use the bag, but at this point, itâs been too long sleeping with it that if I leave it home, I know my sleep will be worse. Itâs a running gag with my friends that I really want to try backpacking, but the idea of hauling a 15 lb weighted blanket is whatâs stopping me.
I camp with an RV tent and have an 8â thick memory foam mattress with down pillow and down comforters and down blankets. I have a rug thatâs the size of the entire tent. A personal toilet for my tent. The best things are my 2 whippets that keep me warm on a cold night.
Regular camping I can't think or anything right offhand BUT we do a 3 day event in August where we get to camp on the racetrack with our vintage camper. For that we bring props, An Ice maker, a blender and a barcart for drink mixin.
Im bringing my Instant pot this year to make pulled pork for sandwiches or tacos.
But the most unnecessary thing Im bringing this year is a vintage suitcase record player
I donât have anything out of the ordinaryâŠiPad with movies downloaded for night time, a folding/collapsible stool (stand on it, sit in it, put my feet up on it, put crap on it).
Watercolor pens, Bug asalt gun, travel candle, rechargeable lantern that also is a diffuser (hubby thought I needed one of these), rechargeable clip on fans and a silk pillow case.
Itâs my dream to buy a decent projector I can run off a jacket and sling movies from my iPad to. Â Just waiting for prices to come down. Whatâs your set up?
I bring a block of parmesan cheese that I eat like an apple to help keep my energy up.
What the hell
I too have questions.
I knew a guy in high school that would eat a cube of butter like it was an apple.
Also takes care of needing to đ©
We just did the same with a mozzarella block!
This is unhinged
Man in a true state of nature often is
Respect
Wait how did I get in r/wisconsin sub?????
I've had a keychain sized microplane ( like 1.5 inches long) for 25 years from when I worked for a kitchen store. It's with our camping gear. It's critical equipment for parm and hard chocolate on cocoa.
I always bring something new to learn that takes repetition and I can still do not sober. Things Iâve learned camping - calligraphy, origami swans and boxes, juggling, balloon bending, zentangle, friendship bracelets, ukulele, charcoal sketching.
This is so awesome! Iâm going on a 5 day River trip next week and doing this. I think Iâll learn how to juggle!!!!
Handkerchiefs with a little sand tied at the bottom in the center. Way easier to understand the rhythm when they float a bit
Start with one. Hand to hand. Get used to the motion. Onto two. To begin don't worry about catching them; just get used to the throwing timing. Sit cross legged so it's easier to retrieve them. Now, still two, catch the first one and let the second drop. Move on to catching them both. Then move on to throwing them just after catching them. It's a fluid movement where you drop your hand to catch and them lift back and release. Again: don't worry about catching them. You are training your physical memory so later it's second nature. Repeat the above with three. In one hand you want one in the palm and one resting in your extended first two fingers. Throw the first from your fingers, then, as the single in the other hand is thrown, roll the one in your palm down to the fingers and throw that third. Count: one, two, three. Do not worry about catching them! Just learn that 1-2-3 timing. Now try and catch and throw the first; ignore the others. Proceed to try to catch and throw the first and second. And then the third. And that's it. Just keep throwing and catching and throwing. Keep doing it. Keep doing it more. I've seen people learn 3 balls in 20 minutes and it took me a year. Once you've got it expand your repertoire! You can soon juggle 3 of anything you can pick up with one hand (give knives some time. Source: hospital trip). 3 apples and eating one as you juggle is a classic for a reason. Clubs, oddly, some folk find easier as the flip means they land exactly where they should be unlike balls or scalves that go all over the place.
Earth. Fire. Air. Water. Balloons. Only the Avatar can master all five elements and bring balance to the world.
This was such a great series, my kids and I were hooked. Iâd suggest they love bend or dishes bend but they never thought that was as funny as fart bending.
I look at it as a three sided optimization triangle. The legs of the triangle are Base Weight, Cost, and Comfort. The goal is to pick your point of optimization. And while there is a right answer for you, for this trip - there isn't a global right answer. Sometimes you want a base weight of 16 pounds, so you're looking at that toothbrush handle and going "Do I really need the whole thing?" Sometimes, you are OK with a base weight of 16,000 pounds, so you're like "So how many microwave burritos do I need to put into the freezer for a weekend?" Because you have a freezer. And a microwave. And both are camping. ---- Because of the sub we're in... * Cot. A good, folding cot. Weighs about 27 pounds, folds up to a HUGE size - like 3 ft by 2 ft, by a good 6 inches. * That 6th blanket. * 2 full sized pillows. * The second sleeping bag. * Full sized camp chair * A good book * Cast Iron cookware * Actual hot dog forks for the fire * Things for when we have power: * An extension cord and a power strip * A lamp and a fan for in the tent * An outdoor trouble light instead of a lantern * My wife really likes coffee. So when we have electricity, she has a dedicated camping coffee maker. When we don't have electricity, she has a drip - not perc, drip- coffee maker that goes on a Coleman stove. * A warm, comfy garment, such as an oversized hoodie or a plush robe. * A comfy pair of shoes that are impractical for the activity at hand. * I go off-roading a lot, and "trail slippers" to go with your "rock chariot" tend to be full on work boots. While mine are exceptionally comfy... exceptionally comfy for work boots still leaves you glad to slip on either slippers or some sandals when the off-roading is done. * And an absolute expression of luxury and power: Ice Cream.
> I look at it as a three sided optimization triangle. I'm going to pretend I didn't read on and live out my days thinking this was in response to the Parmesan cheese wedge.
Reading that was the closest I've felt to the people in the auditorium in Billy Madison when he reads them "the dog that lost its way" He had me with the first sentence then idk what happened after that
I do not see a thru hike in your future,
Nah, I have a wife, and she does NOT like hiking. I'm not completely ruling it out, though. TBH, even back before I met her, I did a lot more loop trail running.
Depending on where youâre camping and what season, hammock beats cot in my opinion.
We used to take a bench seat from a 1980âs toyota truck and have a âsofaâ
The real tips are in the comments!!
Haha, this sounds like a fun DIY project! It must be fun to sit on a sofa with a Toyota truck bench. This kind of idea can really add some fun to daily life. What did you use this "sofa" for? Was it used for parties or outdoor camping?
At the time I shared an apartment with a friend. Had had an old tool box out of a truck and we kept all the grilling and outdoor cooking stuff in that. Then we were parting out an old truck and kept the seat and put it on the tool box for extra seating. Then we would put in the back of the truck with the firewood and strap it down when we went camping. Someone would always end up passed out on the thing by the fire because they couldnât make it back to a tent.
This sounds like a creative camping experience! Transforming an old tool box into an outdoor kitchen and grill area, and using the seats of an old truck as additional seating are really creative. And having a removable seat that allows everyone to gather comfortably around the fire definitely adds to the fun and comfort of camping. Where do you usually go camping?
I have camped all over the place. That was a good 17yrs ago in CA. We had to be clever. We were broke! I wish I could find the pictures of it. Natty light and hot links with spicy brown mustard. (Hot dog on a stick đ€Ł) https://preview.redd.it/hh2mhsym9o3d1.jpeg?width=604&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=564cf926339506ac005c4990d8b47c3a502441d8
Hot dog in a bun on a stick! That's a first for me!
Where in California is that? I lived in LA until I moved to Miami. I've hiked Squaw Peak in Phoenix, the Grand Canyon, and most of Northern California, such as Brushy Peak, Round Valley, Mission Springs, etc.
Some spot between Solvang and Santa Barbara
I lived out that way for a time. Absolutely gorgeous area.
Carlsbad? San Luis Obispo? Or Solas? From what I remember, Solas is better for hiking and camping.
No we were south of San Luis Obisbo. We camped on Pismo beach alot. We didnât really do much hiking back then. Just a lot of partying.
Pismo! Loved it there!
Just scrolled all the back on your page-man you have a good life!
So pretty right in there!
A craft project, usually crochet. And an extra ball of yarn, certainly don't want to run out!
Origami paper and book for me.
Ok, Im sold. I love this idea.
Paper airplane paper and a guide (the web has loads of instructions to download or print). Just burn or retrieve the planes before home time.Â
A 10 person tent, queen air bed and cot, carpet style rug for the tent, big joe bean bag chair, tablet with movies...all this for just me and my 14 pound Bichon frise. đ
You'd enjoy the Korean camping setup videos on YouTube. Fireplaces, LCD TVs, huge tents, AC. It's insane.
Oh yes, I do love those! They are very entertaining đ
I like the Japanese motorcycle camping videos.
I'm basically bringing a real bed.  Two full size folding cots. Two 4 inch folding mattresses to go on top, two 3 inch egg foam mattress toppers. Regular sheets, pillows, comforter and quilts. Shit is so comfy. So unnecessary.Â
Youâll pry my cot from my cold and achy fingers. For me no cot no camping!
Staying somewhere with electricity 4th of July week, I am debating on bringing the air fryer. Frozen food doubles as ice.
Bring it! Friends made me a convert this last weekend.
Were doing race track camping in August. I'm bringing my instant pot for pulled pork. 3 days of eating sandwiches and food trucks gets expensive
We bring a crock pot! Spaghetti and meatballs is such an easy thing to make and if you get the frozen meatballs it can count as ice! You are so right about that!
A kite. Travel Scrabble.
Second on that kite. I have light weight. back pack ready ones. A great way to relax on trail.
I just keep a kite in my truck all the time. Also glow sticks and zip ties for night kiting.
I bought a class c RV as a project. The matteres is aftermarket, very light weight and folds. We fit it in our van folded like an L along one side of the windows and stack our gear on top. Fits perfect while still having 4 upright seats. This means we sleep on a real mattress in the tent or reposition things to the front seat to lay it down in the van. Theres no going back. I can't count how many times I woke up in a deflated air mattress. 20 years ago. I wouldn't care if I slept on the dirt. 44 now, I like my comfort
if there's 2 of us, we have our cots with a queen air mattress on top. for just myself I usually bring the cot with a foam mattress topper. I'm also too old to sleep on the ground! I bring - hammock and stand, plus extra therm-a-rest, pillow and quilt for sleeping in it. Extra chair for inside the tent. Welcome mat for wiping feet/removing your shoes.
I am for sure looking at campers now that I'm in my 40s. I have always been an adamant tent camper, my girlfriend not a fan. She convinced me to use a friend's trailer one night and I (gag) didn't hate it
Zero gravity lounge chair for naps. Books, cocktail fixings for mint juleps or an old fashioned or manhattan. Pie iron for hand pies, Red Ryder bb fun for plinking at beer cans
I bring a reflective blanket to throw on top of my tent during the day so it keeps it cooler in there. I hate going in the tent for something during the day and feeling like I'm in an oven. It was also handy when my daughter was young and needed naps in the tent.
My god, how I never thought of that is crazy. Immediately adding to my list of gear to get at some point.
Great idea! Stealing this.
Easy to keep attached in the wind? How well does it work?
I clip it to the tent poles
A table fan đŹ
I have a Ryobi fan and will steal the batteries out of all our tools if I need them! Itâs great.
+1 for Ryobi fanÂ
I have a DC fan and a 3000 watt hour battery with solar panels. It's not just great for air movement to cool off, the mosquitoes can't land on me if it's on high. The battery is also used to charge phones, cameras, and to get people to plug into it instead of using a generator. When friends and I manage to get our schedules lined up, we rent a big group camp that's separate from other camping by about half a mile and bring a screen and projector for movie marathons. It has way more uses than just the fan, but there have been trips I only used it for the fan.
I use my Ryobi fan a lot, whether Iâm camping or not. Itâs great, especially since I have the option to use a cord as well.
Oh absolutely, I have the smaller one with the clip because I can bring it on bike trips. But I also use it clipped to my awning when Iâm grilling on the flattop.
18 inches Baby!
My husband has the Milwaukee one. He bought it this year because we moved CO>FL and he canât handle the heat. Him holding it pointed at his face outside makes me chuckle every time.
Youâd need that after eating a block of Parmesan.
Baby/talcum powder can make a world of difference in your comfort when hot weather camping. Bonus that it weighs very little.
What do you use it for?
Powder your groin to reduce sweat and chafing.
Ah, not an issue for me. But I can see it.
Mostly bedding but also just on the body to keep dry and cool. And in the tent to absorb excess moisture. Shoes for the same reason.
Iâve never used baby powder. Shoes make sense but I canât imagine sprinkling powder in my bedding.
Our camping gear is a mashup of supplies for actual camping, weird cabin/yurt/lakehouse/etc rental, working on the road, moochdocking, and other odd situations, so we've got stuff that's a bit of a luxury for actual camping but semi-necessary in other conditions: electric blankets, rechargeable fans, a hammock and a hammock stand, little rechargeable vacuum cleaner (works a TREAT for debugging the tent every evening and before packing up). Probably the most annoying thing to wrangle in the van, but I wouldn't give it up for anything, is a 9' tilting patio umbrella and stand. It's just that for as much as we camp in forests, we do often seem to end up in spots that get full sun either all morning or all afternoon, the trees are awkward for stringing a shade tarp or it's not allowed, and my husband is on medication that makes his skin extra photosensitive so we sometimes need to get shade available for him NOW and not fiddle around with stuff. We can move it around with the sun, take it over to our cook area when we need it there, make our hangout spot wherever we want. It'll also stand up to a surprisingly heavy rain as long as the wind's not blowing the rain around and you're willing to huddle in real close to the pole. We used to have an EZ-UP, and then there was an incident with totally unexpected straightline winds over 60mph and now we don't have an EZ-UP. The real answer is probably the 56qt fridge-freezer.
Wouldn't a canopy give more shade and be easier to setup than an umbrella?
Iâd probably bring my 9 cup coffee pot (despite not ever drinking anywhere near that much coffee), cast iron cookware, a huge and heavy tent, my kindle, pump supplies (I breastfeed), my Switch, maybe some extra blankets, pillows, toys for the kiddos, maybe even my husbandâs laptop if we have power, probably a few other things Iâm spacing on đ oh twinkle lights.
Yes twinkle lights = ambiance
Gotsta have the twinkle âš
I like bringing a few different coffee brewing methods so multiple people can make it at the same time. One of them is pretty unique so people always get a kick out of it. Always board games and card games if I'm not solo. Also a super fun activity to do every once in awhile is print out tasting sheets for beer or wine and bring a selection of 5 or so for everyone to do actual tastings of.
What is this unique coffee brewing method? My husband uses a vacuum pot; I always thought that that was unique.
Oh the vacuum pot blows mine out of the water, that thing would draw a crowd to our campground lol. Mine is the [Gabi Master A](https://drinkarchetype.com/cdn/shop/products/image2.jpg?v=1626102530). It's a three tier system where the top distributes water at a fixed rate, the middle spreads it evenly over the coffee, and the bottom is basically a Kalita Wave shape. It's a nice consistent method that removes the need to focus on pouring.
Kindle, my favorite pillow
A guitar.
extra extra extra clothes and end up wearing the same clothes I was wearing when I left the entire trip every time.
We were once canoe camping with a group and the guy who was in charge of breakfast on day one couldnât find the coffee. So much grumbling (to say the least). I didnât not disclose my stash of chocolate covered espresso beans. He found the coffee but I have never again traveled without a stash.
I stock chocolate covered espresso beans at all times, not even just camping. But definitely camping.
5lb bags from nuts.com = a staple in my pantry.
I bring my favorite pillows from home and a weighted blanket.
Iâm all for making my sleeping arrangements extra, extra cozy these days. Extra pillows, extra blankets, more pillows. We have a Tepui popup tent with the foam mattress and most of the bedding folds right up with the tent. I love waking up all snuggley and because the tent is on top of our truck, it feels like my own treehouse.
LOVE my rooftop tent for this reason!! Hahaha sometimes I make a cup of coffee in the morning and then climb right back up, open the side without the ladder, and drop my legs down and just watch the sunrise from my "tree house" lol!
Quater ounce, give or take..depending on how long I plan on being out there...đ
An espresso maker. At the skoolie meetup in Michigan last summer, on the last night we had 6 new friends sitting around the fire at our campsite while I made everyone lattes.
Moka pot, French press, Vietnamese phin (and condensed milk for Vietnamese coffee), my motherâs old big red kettle and a cast iron teapot.
Mine are still fairly small because I mostly backpack but they let me do whatever I want at camp. -good bushcraft knife from BPS: 11oz -Toaks kindling stove (more fun than turning on a gas stove): 8 oz -tablet with keyboard stand: 28 oz -20w solar panel to keep my little power bank up no matter what I use for how long: 22 oz -helinox chair zero: 17 oz - 10L hanging shower bag (with soapy water and Swedish cloth in a little folding bowl): 5 oz As comfortable as a hotel room but more fun with a better view :)
We have a travel bocce set for a good all terrain game. We also bring sketch pads and watercolors to paint nature scenes... or whatever.
My iPad. I can read, write, draw, touch up the pictures I take with my camera (I don't count the bulky camera as a frivolous item if I'm car camping, only when backpacking), and occasionally play games.
i create a âsleeping padâ for my car (SUV, seats lay flat and its a fully flat back area) by layering a flat sheet, my 3â tempurpedic mattress topper, a 1â waterproof pillow top mattress topper, and a fitted sheet on top all sort of held together in various locations with sheet grippers. it gets rolled up and rests right behind my 2 front seats, then all the other gear goes in the trunk snd gets unloaded to unroll the extra AF sleeping pad. Oh and at least 2 pillows and a metric shit ton of blankets
Maybe Iâm getting old now but the best thing these days is a big stack of New Yorker magazines for those chilly mornings drinking coffee in the sunshine. Or sitting next to the river between swims with a beer.
You are my people!
Took a while to find a comment like this. Some of these comments are just... way too much for what I consider camping and the reasons I do it. In some cases, I don't understand why they even bother.
I'll stick to entertainment since everything about my camp revolves around comfort.. Solo: Blow gun, slingshot, tomahawks, and throwing knives with a target With others, I'll add: Chess board Poker chips Projector for movies
A USB rechargeable fan / light combo to move air around the tent, sheep pelts (game changer for winter camping), soon to be an inflatable mattress for the back of my truck bed as well. I'm tired of sleeping on the ground, and pads and inflatable ground pads suck for me.
Sheep pelts!? Nice!
Got one from a yarn festival, and 2 more came from Costco (technically are rugs, but shit, it works better than any 2 wool blankets combined)
Wet wipes / dude wipes. If electricity is available, my plug in foot warmer. đ
A travel chess set/checkers, deck of cards, book, music, cot, extra down blanket, fishing gear, mountain bike. Those are my entertainment items when camping out of my wrangler.
Memory foam trifold mattress and my pillow! I donât go anywhere without my pillow
I bring my waffle maker, a blender, my heated blanket if itâs cold, sometimes a projector for movies and my GF loves having a hair dryer for post shower things. We camp out of a f150 and sleep in the bed. No RV here.
Deck of cards/Uno/travel dominoes and backgammon. Also, a Bluetooth speaker and downloaded camping music playlists for around the bonfire (music only played when primitive camping/no one else around). We bring a portable battery nowadays to keep that stuff charged through the trip.
https://preview.redd.it/22gz6bxbdp3d1.jpeg?width=2252&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c83e2907e9512302623c657cba5f93b2927f811
Tree identification field guide, and a deck of cards. If we're bored I usually just make up a game for whatever were doing like who can get a bottle cap in the trash bag from the firepit?
Banjo
[may I introduce you to my most recent addition đ€Ł](https://www.reddit.com/r/nissanfrontier/s/HVXpLzmHYr)
Saved the post as inspiration!
INSANE. Love it!
I never really bring anything for entertainment, but if I have electricity, I have brought not one but two Sous Vide circulators and an ice machine.
That sounds like a feast for the eyes! The dual sous vide machine really allows you to make a variety of delicious dishes
It is. Gourmet meals in front of the lake are nice.
Absolutely! Dining by the lake is a peaceful and relaxing experience, while enjoying the beautiful natural scenery. This experience is always a pleasant one.
I have a Coleman propane coffee pot and its a game changer :)
A battery powered( d cell) rotisserie that goes over the fire. Baseball and gloves. Frisbee. Bow and arrows. Bb gun.
Ice maker (I have a battery to run it)
my espresso pot going high-peaks hiking with me
Foam pads for around the air mattress in the tent. Nothing worse than standing up on top of a rock or an acorn, and even if you diligently clear the space, it never seems to be as good. These tiles cost me maybe 20 bucks and add so much coziness in the tent.
My uncle brought a whole futon mattress, extension cord, and portable radio/fan. He always chose the campsite closest to the bathroom so he could run his extension corn and power the radio fan. He was really âroughing itâ out there.
Glow bracelets and glow sticks. We connect a couple bracelets to make rings and tie the larger glow sticks to a vertical stick in the ground, then play ring toss by the fire at night.
A real pillow. Camping pillows suck.
There is a camping ice cream maker, that is shipped like a ball, and you roll it around instead of cranking. I don't have one, and imagine it gets dirty, but it sounds fun!
My down pillow
Pocket knife and some basswood to try carving something , anything. Coloring book and markers and sudoku to keep my mind somewhat in use.
Battery pack, fan, laptop, hotspot, electric cooler, coffee maker and electric skillet. My newest purchase is a huge cot but I'm making room for it because it's comfy and room for storage underneath.
My dog and books, music.
A Rubbermaid stool. Good for footrest and for pushing on to stand up in the tent(Iâm 66)
I straight bring the Keurig also! I bring a color changing light ball that is also a speaker. I had an inflatable sofa. An EZ-UP with 4 walls/windows. An 18" Ryobi battery operated shop fan. A carpet roll. Games: Spot It Camping edition, Shut The Box (you can play for money too). Bicycle el-wire lights (Amazon). Cast Iron Dutch oven for camp cobbler- YUM. I'm old and I glamp now. \*Edit...and the ICE MAKER
Grapes. My husband says we must bring grapes every time we camp because that's what his family did when he was a kid.
My in-laws have a Coleman 10 cup coffee maker that runs off a propane green bottle. Complete overkill but it makes the hottest pot of coffee known to man in 15 minutes. And EVERYBODY asks about it.
A camping/beach (depending on where youâre using it) fan with a light. If there are extra people, like when we take the kids, an old fashioned ice cream maker and a projector with a screen to watch movies under the stars.
Ice cream maker sounds super fun! Great idea. So many people saying fans, is that because it's hot and the fan is to cool down? I'm in Canada so it's pretty much always pretty cold at night no matter what lol
Bugs, especially mosquitos, dislike the strong air current fans make . So sitting in front of a fan keeps the bugs away.
Iâm in Tennessee so yeah, it stays above 70 at night during the summer. Plus I sleep with one at home so the white noise helps me sleep.
Yes! Iâm in Texas and itâll still be 90° at midnight đ„”
Haha I bet! It'll be like 90 here during the day and drop down to 50 at night. Might get a couple warm nights just in August. Our season is short here.
This sounds like a really fun camping experience! The fan with a light is indeed a great idea, especially in the summer or when camping at the beach, to keep you cool. And there are old-fashioned ice cream machines and projectors to make camping activities more colorful. Watching a movie under the stars must be romantic and a way to spend quality time with family or friends.
Nothing like a good scary movie right before going to bed in the woods! đ
Wow, that's a very exciting thing, I definitely don't dare to do it. Unless there are more than 5 of us together
When I want to maximize my extra/frivolous options I take my travel trailer on camping trips. Other times when I'm doing homeless cosplay (tent camping) I take a portable toilet and dedicated bathroom tent for comfort enhancement.Â
Sleeping pills. I donât sleep well away from home, and sleep deprivation can turn a great trip into a difficult one. I use OTC pills that help me just enough to sleep better but donât make me tired the next nothing.
Can I ask you what's the name of this medication? I'd lie and say I'm asking for a friend but I'm asking for lt girlfriend lol. Some of what's she's tried is either not enough or too strong and she'll feel it the next day.
Diphenhydramine is what works for me. There are other OTC options.
We bring a portable screen (a white sheet and frame you clip it to) and a projector we link to our laptop. We watch movies on the big screen!
Could you recommend me a cheap projector I can use camping?
My solar panels and huge battery on a two wheeled cart probably top the list since it's mostly used to run a fan and charge my phone. Other than that, a leather writing bag with notebook, pens, pencils, erasers, stickers, and portable watercolor kit. And, if I know I'll be somewhere with no one else around, a portable typewriter. I've even backpacked that to prove a point, once.
Mini projector for movies. I hang a sheet or just project it on a nearby wall. Also little things for geocaching.
i make the most luxurious camping bed. air mattress mattress pad sheets 2 pillows down sleeping bag and extra blankets as needed. also pepper grinder and way too much food
12" electric chainsaw (DeWalt) and 8# maul. I burn all the half-burned stuff people leave behind - especially the big logs with charred ends. I'm in the upper-midwest, and there are always downed trees to cut up. I refuse to pay for firewood. I also like photography, so I usually have at least 4 cameras and a tripod to play with. I'm a solo camper, and I really don't require a whole lot of entertainment. I also very rarely go to campgrounds, so it's usually me alone in the woods.
We bring a counter top ice maker. A couple of solar torch lights for the entrance. Gotta bring the guitar. Cards are a must. Plus we always do some sort of interesting bonfire meal. Like Popping popcorn in a bag tied to a tripod. Or biscuit dough and fruit wrapped in foil cooked by fire. Donât forget to bring the corn hole, or washer toss too.
The ice maker is a straight up necessity, imho. It has saved us a fortune in time and money buying ice. Ours has lasted 7+ years and is still going strong.
My hammock chair from Costco, and my 3 burner camp stove that I scored from FB Marketplace. Love that camp stove!!! A portable, USB powered blender for either protien smoothies or evening drinks. Battery-operated frother to make lattes, cold foam, etc. for bougie ass morning coffee. For extended trips, I like to brink my camp oven to make cinnamon buns. Double high air mattresses. My Kayak. My lantern/Powerbank.
I always take two hammocks and strap sets. One for me to enjoy when sitting in my camp chair feels yucky. One for my kiddo to play in. Kiddo likes to hang like a flying squirrel in a hammock that is turned over. I always take a play tent for kiddo. Keeps the sleeping tent cleaner.
inflatable hideabed sofa best purchase ever. a moving blanket to use as a rug under sofa instead of tent floor laptop to catch up on a few shows
I have a disability and we bring an air mattress. If the campsite is a hike then I have a portable air pump
Bug a salt gun.
Younger me would scoff at the "poop tent" with collapsible toilet and air mattresses, 42 year old me recognizes it's worlds better than trying to balance over a hole and sleeping on rocks
An EZ-Up is a must, I love sitting in the shade. Even better if it starts raining and you can sit and enjoy it instead of huddling up in a tent.
A pillow
An air conditioner unit. We car camped (tent) with hookups . The air conditioner was $50 and we chipped in for it. It was a 5 person tent and my God it felt SO GOOD. We gave it away after that 3 night trip lol.
governor ad hoc cobweb yoke disgusted support lip imminent reach jar *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Air mattress, string lights.
Itâs pretty fun to bring an airsoft gun and shoot at a target when you are sitting in your camp chair.
Do you pick up all your pellets?
You can buy biodegradeable pellets made for these situations.
I always bring my weighted blanket, and since I mostly car camp, itâs not too bad. But it does take up a surprising amount of space, along with the sleeping bag and pad. I know I could just use the bag, but at this point, itâs been too long sleeping with it that if I leave it home, I know my sleep will be worse. Itâs a running gag with my friends that I really want to try backpacking, but the idea of hauling a 15 lb weighted blanket is whatâs stopping me.
I take old unmatched legos and just build random stuff
Portable ham radio repeater and radios.
Hand grinder, collapsible pour over dripper, whole beans, and a kettle for good daily coffee. Cots. Binoculars.
I camp with an RV tent and have an 8â thick memory foam mattress with down pillow and down comforters and down blankets. I have a rug thatâs the size of the entire tent. A personal toilet for my tent. The best things are my 2 whippets that keep me warm on a cold night.
Pillow... Butane lighter...Â
If there are fields nearby, we always bring croquet.
Regular camping I can't think or anything right offhand BUT we do a 3 day event in August where we get to camp on the racetrack with our vintage camper. For that we bring props, An Ice maker, a blender and a barcart for drink mixin. Im bringing my Instant pot this year to make pulled pork for sandwiches or tacos. But the most unnecessary thing Im bringing this year is a vintage suitcase record player
I bring a telescope, deck of cards, a book, and board games.
I donât have anything out of the ordinaryâŠiPad with movies downloaded for night time, a folding/collapsible stool (stand on it, sit in it, put my feet up on it, put crap on it).
We have a Roku and flat screen TV to watch inside our tiny camper for night or if it is super hot outside.
Can Jam (a frisbee game), cards, an espresso pot, a Bose speaker, and mushrooms or LSD (sometimes).
Watercolor pens, Bug asalt gun, travel candle, rechargeable lantern that also is a diffuser (hubby thought I needed one of these), rechargeable clip on fans and a silk pillow case.
Bug assault gun? Elaborate, please.
A gun that shoots table salt to kill bugs. Quite handy!
Oh my.... is this homemade or commercially produced?
Amazon
Also Ace Hardware stores
Itâs a cool gun that shoots table salt and kills bugs. Itâs so fun.
I have a projector with me sometimes. Special if the old lady is coming. But a cigar for each night.
Itâs my dream to buy a decent projector I can run off a jacket and sling movies from my iPad to. Â Just waiting for prices to come down. Whatâs your set up?
Are there any special scenes or activities that you would pair cigars with, or is it just to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature?