Car Camping

A portable fridge plus a power bank is a killer combination for car camping. You get fresh food without worrying about ice (or the resulting mess). Check out the list of power banks, and I'd recommend at least a 1000 wHr bank for a weekend of car camping with a fridge.

Yeah, I know everyone uses propane these days. Perhaps it's the nostalgia of hearing the hiss of a Coleman stove or the sound of the pump, or the environmental benefit of not using disposable gas canisters, but I love the liquid fuel Colemans. This model also burns gasoline, so you can still cook your pancakes when the zombies disrupt the propane supply.

Yup, it's significantly more expensive than the typical off-brand cookset, but this is something that will not only last a lifetime, but will make camp cooking much more fun. This set nests together so all your stuff stays organized and together in storage and in camp. Definitely a 'buy once, cry once' purchase.

Pancakes. Eggs. Bacon. Warm this guy up a bit on your Coleman (just make sure you get the right size for your stove) and you're cooking breakfast like a champ, with much more space to work than using pans.

Dutch ovens are a ton of fun in camp, whether you're making a batch of brownies for desert, or a breakfast caserole. They take some practice but half the point of car camping is slowing down and eating ridiculous meals. This aluminum version is a bit lighter than the typical cast iron, but has similar performance.

High quality 'mess kit' with everything you need but the silverware.

I love these since you can stick everyone's flatware together and not spend half of every meal searching for that missing spoon or what not. This also makes it easy to be sure you're brining everyone's utensils since they're all stuck together in one 'glob' versus scattered all over the place.

Good, sharp knives, a functional cutting board, and a place to keep it all together? Yes, please.

There's something magical about the sound of a coffee percolator and the smell of joe as you wake up to the chirping birds and rising sun. This percolator is well-made, and makes enough coffee for 2-4 adults.

If you really want to level up your camp kitchen game, this is a great option. There's a place for everything, nice counter space, and easy storage. It folds down nicely and while not light, it's a truly luxe option for car camping.

Even if you have a spigot in your campsite, having a Jerry can right next to your cooking and eating area is hugely beneficial for everything from washing up to filling water bottles. This is the classic, military issue.

A sleeping bag liner does a couple good things for you. First, it adds a bit of extra warmth on a cool night, or alternatively serves as a 'sleeping bag' of sorts on a hot and humid evening. It also protects your sleeping bag from sweat and odors, and is much easier to wash than your entire bag. Silk is the premium option, or you can go synthetic or just sew an old sheet into a bag liner.

I've tried a bunch, and this is my favorite camp (and power outage) lantern. It's well-built and robust, dimmable, long-lasting, and can even charge your phone in a pinch. It uses standard 18650 batteries that can be replaced if needed, and can also be customized if you want to unravel the long manual and various button sequences required to do so.

Mrs. Bigheavy advocated for these and I rolled my eyes, but they're great and I have one for each tent. Having a place to wipe your feet before going into your tent greatly reduces the sand, pine needles, and other crud from accumulating in your tent.