Camping is part of many people’s trail and travel plans and we’ve decided to list some of the basics needed for a riding and camping adventure. We always go for gear that is durable, compact, and easy to pack on an ATV or Side x Side. Here are our favorites:
Cabela's – Give me shelter
Save Victoria’s Secret, no other company inspires more guys to run to the mailbox in a quest for a catalog than Cabela’s. Curiously enough, both elicit considerable drooling. The Cabela’s catalog is packed with every type of outdoor gear you can think of, and a visit to any one of their stores is like a trip to a museum, sporting goods store, and outdoor outfitter, with a healthy dose of “I’m going to the carnival” giddiness thrown in.
Any overnight camping expedition requires a good tent and sleeping bag, and we can recommend these two from Cabela’s.
Cabela's West Wind Dome Tent
We prefer a tent that is roomy, is easy to set up, doesn’t take up much room on our ATV, and is made of quality materials with rugged, long lasting zippers and seams. The Cabela’s West Wind dome tent meets those requirements and more, and offers the following features:
- Constructed of rugged nylon taffeta material
- Waterproof taped seams
- Five, shock-corded fiberglass poles with quick clips for fast, easy setup
- Can be guyed for stability in high winds
- Compacts into a handy, small carrying bag
Sturgis Octane +35°F Sleeping Bag
It’s never fun to shiver all night in the wrong sleeping bag, and once again Cabela’s had just what we wanted for most riding adventures. The Octane +35F Sleeping bag met our requirements for light weight, it can be compressed for easy packing, and it offers a nice, cozy liner. Most importantly, it retains heat when you zip yourself inside. Key features are:
- Plush and gentle Softech II pongee liner
- Filled with Hibernate Extreme micro-denier material
- Tough, durable shell of Micro Cube 300T ripstop fabric
Unless you’re making an assault on the summit, the Octane +35F Sleeping bag will get the job done. Consider Cabela’s your personal Dream Angels outfitter.
Camp Chef – The Fire Keepers
Chef Gordon Ramsey would probably be a lot more easy-going if he spent a couple days trail riding and camping out, especially if he had some Camp Chef cooking gear to work with on the trail. EVERYTHING tastes better outside, and we’ve never seen any outdoor cooking gear better than the equipment from Camp Chef. This stuff is cool!
For solo or small outings, Camp Chef offers an awesome, single burner gem called the Butane 1 Burner Stove. The advantages are it is extremely portable and can easily be packed on an ATV even with limited space, yet it delivers 8,000 BTU’s of cooking power. That’s more than enough to get the job done, even in cold temperatures. The matchless ignition system means no fumbling for a light, and butane cartridges easily slip into a compartment under a panel. We even love the carrying case which is just like a cordless drill in durability and size. It’s perfect, and the price can’t be beat at $29.16.
Butane 1 Burner stove key features:
- 8,000 BTU burner with matchless ignition
- Fully adjustable heat-control dial
- Porcelain drip tray for easy clean-up
- Includes handy storage case
- Butane powered
The gem of the Camp Chef cooking lineup is the Outdoor Camp Oven and Grill which is an awesome piece of cooking gear equipped with not only two top burners but an oven as well. Its cooking capabilities almost certainly surpass your own, and the whole unit is powered by a 1lb. disposable propane cylinder, or it can be powered by a larger propane tank as well. The Outdoor Camp Oven and Grill is built to last also, and it comes with a sturdy, insulated steel case, a tough powder coated finish, a non-stick coating, a removable wire rack burner, and even a built in thermometer! It has everything you could need for outdoor cooking, but our favorite feature is that it looks just like our tool box!
Outdoor Camp Oven and Grill key features:
- Insulated, heat-efficient oven box with glass door – 3000 btu/hr – 400F
- Two top burners - Range Burner: 5,100 BTU/hr - Grill Burner: 9,300 BTU/hr
- Non-stick grill included, non-stick enamel cooking surface
- Built in oven temperature gauge
- Two removable oven racks
- Fully adjustable heat-control dials with matchless ignition
- Powered by a disposable 1 lb. propane tank
- Steel Construction with folding lid
- MSRP - $322.92
Coleman – Coolers & First Aid Kit
If there is one company that is synonymous with camping, it is Coleman. Everybody has at least one Coleman cooler, but we found a handy Coleman product we didn’t even know they made. The Coleman Expedition First Aid kit may not keep the mayonnaise cold, but with almost 200 pieces of medical bandages, ointments, and other paraphernalia, it might save your life or at least make it a little less painful.
Coleman Expedition First Aid Kit
- EZ find system organizes components into 6 categories: clean, treat, protect, specialty care, medications, essential tools and other first aid items
- 15 antiseptic towelettes, 5 antibiotic ointments, 6 sting-relief wipes
- Large assortment of bandages
- Medications include 8 ibuprofen tablets and 6 antihistamine tablets
- Essential tools include 4 safety pins, 1 tweezer, 2 finger splints and 1 pair of scissors
- Other first aid items include 2 rubber gloves, a cold pack and a safety light
- Kit features a durable zippered case to protect contents
Other Essentials
Besides your tent, sleeping bag, and cooking gear, there are several other things you’ll need to pack on your Side x Side, or on the racks and in an accessory box on your ATV. Here is the short list:
- Cooler with Food
- Flashlight with Batteries
- Fuel for stoves and lanterns
- Fire starters
- Saw, hatchet, or ax
- Possible tarp
- Rope
- Personal items
The key to any trail and travel adventure is being prepared. Plan ahead, carry the right gear and we promise you’ll have an experience to remember for a lifetime.
