July is here and we’re officially getting the summer weather. You have a couple camp trips under your belt and you are still sorting out best practices and defining the “essentials” for this season. Don’t be too hard on yourself, I’ve never met anyone that defined the perfect gear list and stuck with it for life. Sometimes our tastes change, our preferences lean more toward comfort, or we have a sudden panache for reaching beyond hotdogs and buns for dinner.
Start simple; your chair. By the time we are thirty, the three stick saddle seat or sitting on a log just doesn’t cut it anymore. Not because we aren’t tough, but uncomfortable seating has a way of exacerbating poor posture and hyperextending joints that are already sore from the activities of the day. Whether backpacking or RV camping, size matters when storing the chair. Make sure no solid bars cross under where your legs rest and can limit circulation. Your hips also require proper support and alignment of the spine can give your body a true rest. These qualifications are all found in the CLIQ line of chairs https://basetenshop.com/collections/camp-accessories and won’t break the bank, starting at $109.99 for the CLIQ classic up to the EpiQ lounge chair for some serious support.
The best camp kitchens are the ones that are user friendly. If you are lucky enough to have a Bronco, the Bronco Kitchen is the best option for organization, accessibility, and convenience https://basetenshop.com/products/bronco-camp-kitchen. A 12 volt fridge and power supply must be considered in tandem, as a fridge running on the engine battery all night is a recipe for a problem in the morning. If your fridge is under 60 quarts, I find the BLUETTI B80P Battery expansion pack is ideal for the situation https://basetenshop.com/products/b80p-bluetti-battery-expansion-pack. It has no inverter for running AC power, just clean stable 12 volt power of 806 Wh which can be charged from any 12 volt power outlet in the vehicle while the fridge is plugged into it. It’s a simple elegant way to ensure the fridge has all the power it needs and you still have USB and USB-C power to charge your electronics from flashlights to tablets. The PV120 portable solar panel is a great addition B80P, charging on solar in the sun while the car is parked in the shade https://basetenshop.com/products/pv120-bluetti-portable-solar-pannel.
The final component is lighting. While getting there with adequate light is important, we can’t forget camp lighting. Baja designs has you covered there too. My preference is the S2 Sport Baja lights to light up the camp area while you set up https://basetenshop.com/products/led-work-light-clear-lens-work-scene-pattern-pair-s2-sport-baja-designs?_pos=1&_psq=scene&_ss=e&_v=1.0 . If you don’t have a roof rack or awning to mount them to, I suggest the Universal Rock light kit https://basetenshop.com/products/universal-rock-light-kit-white-baja-designs?_pos=1&_sid=2ccefa931&_ss=r . These guys are bright enough to light up a broad area if positioned well. It may take some additional planning, but wiring these with an alternate power source like the BLUETTI just makes sense if they are needed for extended use, though I may suggest combining the B80P with the AC60P for additional power, ports, and functionality.
In any case, continue refining your preferences, and new comforts and adventures await you in the months ahead!