Camp stoves, coolers, cooking gear, meal ideas, and the perfect camp coffee.
Yes, you can get 30–40 grams of protein per meal on a vegetarian camping trip without hauling heavy cans or relying on meat. The counter-intuitive trick most guides skip: textured vegetable protein (TVP) —12 grams of protein per ounce dry, rehydrates in five minutes, and weighs almost nothing. Canned beans work, but TVP, powdered peanut…
You don’t need a mechanic to keep your camp stove running strong. Most issues—weak flame, clogged jets, finicky igniters—can be fixed in ten minutes with basic tools. The rule: clean after every trip, inspect before every trip, and know when a repair is worth it versus time to replace. Routine Cleaning: What to Do After…
Safe camping stove use comes down to three things: picking a spot that won’t catch fire, checking for fuel leaks before you strike a match, and keeping the stove clean so it burns predictably. The most common failure mode is a flare-up caused by a loose connection or a clogged burner port—both are easy to…
Most people need a cooler between 20 and 60 quarts. For a weekend trip with two adults, a 30‑quart cooler usually works. For a week‑long family camping trip, plan on at least 60 quarts. If you’re only packing lunch for the day, a 16‑quart cooler like the Igloo 12-16 Qt Profile Hardsided Insulated Lunch Cooler,…
The single most effective way to keep ice longer is to pre-chill both your cooler and your contents, then use the largest ice blocks you can. But even with that, small mistakes like leaving air gaps or opening the lid too often can cut your ice life in half. Here’s how to optimize every step….
Plan meals by day, prep as much as possible at home, and you can skip the cooler entirely for a weekend trip. The real trick most guides skip: pack your cooler and dry bags in the order you’ll eat, not by food category. That one shift cuts rummaging time in half and keeps cold food…
Hard-sided bear canisters are the only gear that carries official IGBC certification and is accepted without question in most national parks. Soft-sided bear-resistant bags (like URSACK) weigh less and pack smaller, but they are not approved in many backcountry zones and independent field tests show that determined bears can eventually tear through them. For the…
You can camp without a cooler if every food item you bring stays safe and edible at ambient temperature for the duration of your trip. The rule: if a food requires refrigeration below 40°F or says “refrigerate after opening,” leave it at home. For weekend trips with temps under 80°F, a cooler-free menu is straightforward….
A 10‑pound block of dry ice in a well‑insulated roto‑molded cooler lasts about 18–24 hours in 90°F weather. In a standard plastic cooler at the same temperature, expect 10–14 hours. If you need frozen food to stay solid through a long weekend, dry ice is your best option—but only if you understand the limits and…
The most reliable way to keep animals out of your camp food is to store it in a hard-sided bear canister or a properly hung bear bag at least 12 feet off the ground and 6 feet away from any tree trunk or branch. Most campers fail because they hang food too low, leave wrappers…
