Hate Camping? This Game-Changing Gear Might Convert You
This isn't just luxury camping gear, it's stuff that will turn you into a bonafide enthusiast.
I’m going to hit you with the truth: You would camp more frequently, and get better sleep while doing so, if you had better gear. It’s tough to stoke yourself on the idea of spending a night in the woods if you know you’ll wake up with a crick in the neck and a sore back. Still, camping remains as popular as ever – in 2023, over 87.99 million North Americans camped, according to data published by Camper Champ.
There’s something to the notion that it’s not camping itself that’s preventing you from getting sleep, it’s your crappy gear. In fact, multiple scientific studies indicate that camping, can help reset the circadian rhythm and promote earlier bedtimes – suggesting that camping actually can help sleep rather than prevent it. That’s due to a lack of artificial light and the soothing sounds of nature, among other things – stuff that can’t be replicated even by the most high-tech of Hatch Sleep gadgets.
To enjoy camping, you don’t need to suffer, nor do you need to bail. This is the year to finally invest in your camp setup with this luxury camping gear for a good evening’s relaxation followed by a good night’s sleep. Here’s what to get.
We hope you love the camping gear we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to make a purchase. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
Luxury camping gear to help you sleep better
The most common thing that goes wrong on a camping trip is a good night’s sleep gone bad. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the one that’s truly under your control is having a comfortable sleep setup. The best way to ensure yours is optimized for you is to build it as close to your home experience as possible. A firmer ground pad for those who prefer a firmer mattress, or a cooling sleeping bag for those who like a chilly bedroom, as a couple examples. Here we break down our editors’ current setups with comparisons to “at home” options.
Swiss company Exped has spent years researching how to make sleeping in nature more comfortable. I’ve come to trust the company’s sleep gear over the past five years or so because of its excellent insulation and plush comfort. New this year, the equipment recommended here is made from recycled fabric.
Exped DeepSleep mat – for those who prefer a firmer mattress
The DeepSleep is perfect for two. Photo: Exped
Home mattress equivalent: WinkBed firm version, Tempur-pedic TEMPER-Adapt Firm
The Sleep Better series exemplifies Exped’s R&D – multiple firmness and comfort options are available for different types of sleepers. Prefer a firm mattress? Opt for the DeepSleep pad, which inflates into a firmer, more resistance-bearing ground pad that fits inside a single-person tent or vehicle with ease. I brought mine to Moab a few weeks ago and appreciated its smooth surface – no ripples, no bumps, none of that weird contoured design that so many ground pads use. For more firmness, fill it up with more air, and for reduced firmness, let some air out – you can even adjust it on the fly. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor
Price: $169.95-$189.95
Exped MegaMat – for those who prefer a softer mattress
Home mattress equivalent: Helix Sunset / Helix MIdnight Luxe soft options, Tempur-Pedic TEMPER-Cloud soft
If softer is the name of the game for you, opt for the Exped MegaMat. The mat, with four inches of foam, is a single- or double-sleeper and molds to the imprint of your body more so than firmer mats do. The brand claims it’s built for both back and side sleepers, including couples, like myself and my wife, who have different sleep styles (I’m all over the place, she remains on her side most of the night). The mattress provides four inches of padding between you and the ground. It has a handle for easy carrying, easily adjustable firmness settings based on air intake, and two deflate valves. If you frequently camp with your partner, this is the pad for you. Options for singles are available, as well as a truck bed option that wraps behind the wheel wells.
The mat fills up in about a minute with the included automatic pump, which charges on a mini-USB outlet. Note that charging the pump can take a couple of hours, which I forgot to do – so I charged it for about 10 minutes in my truck at the campsite and it worked long enough to pump up multiple pieces of Exped gear for the crew. The mat deflates in under a minute and stores in its own rucksack case. -Tim Wenger, transactional content editor
Price: $239.95-$519.95
Exped MegaMat Max and LuxeMat – for frequent vagabonds
Exped Luxemat in action. Photo courtesy Exped
Home mattress equivalent: Stearns & Foster Reserve Hepburn Plush Pillow Top
Combining the versatility of the above pads and adding extra plush comfort, Exped’s MegaMat Max (also available as a single-person version) and LuxeMat with added comfort points designed to support the body and relieve pressure points. You’ll sleep on six inches of foam. The LuxeMat (also available in a single-person version) even adds an organic-cotton-and-wool-insulated cover. There are two primary use cases for these mattresses. The first is for campers who spend dozens of nights per year camping either in a tent or in their vehicle, and who need to have dependable sleep gear that can withstand heavy use. The second is for the tepid or resistant camper – if you have a friend/partner/kiddo who “just doesn’t get camping,” or who is otherwise resistant to sleeping outside the comforts of four walls, one of these mattresses is a good bait and hook.
Price: $369.95-$519.95 – MegaMat Max, $319.95 – $549.95 – LuxeMat
MegaSleep Duo – the duvet of sleeping bags
Admittedly, I didn’t know what a duvet was until I met my now-wife at age 29. Until then, I’d slept using a ragged old comforter my mom gave me when I moved away to college at 18. The difference between what I had and what I gained was so profound that it has since served as the bracket by which I judge all things sleep – when looking at new gear for home or camping, I ask myself, “Is this the old me, or is this the new, classier me?” My wife gets all the credit for any semblance of class that I now exude, and I’m proud to report that she was as stoked as I was when I brought home the Exped MegaSleep Duo.
It’s much more than a fart sack. It sleeps our family of three (we now have a little girl) comfortably and warmly down to 25 degrees. When it’s cold, we sleep with the red side up, when it’s warmer, we sleep with the blue side up (which is comfortable down to 40 degrees). It unzips on the sides so we can vent overnight, and even comes apart into camp blankets that can move from the tent over to the campfire and back again. Aside from the pillows noted below, the MegaSleep Duo is the single most impactful piece of camp equipment we’ve added to our setup in recent years – no more bringing three sleeping bags on every camping trip. One rucksack will do. – Tim Wenger, transactional content editor
Price: $249.95
Exped Mega Pillow and/or Exped Down Pillow
Exped Mega Pillow (left) and Exped Down Pillow (right). Photo: Tim Wenger
Made with Responsible Down Standard down and carbon offset through MyClimate, the Exped Down Pillow is like having both your home pillow and a puffy jacket under your head. The pillow is available in two sizes, the Medium being 15 inches wide and the Large being 19 inches wide. Both inflate quickly via Exped’s pump and deflate just as fast to store in the included carrying bag. Like the mats discussed above, this pillow can be adjusted for firmness on the fly by adding or relieving air. I sleep so comfortably with this pillow and have relived myself of the neck pains that used to plague my post-camping days.
My wife isn’t much for down pillows so I got her the Exped Mega Pillow. She’s found it equally comfortable and at long last ditched the raggedy old (normal bed) pillow she’s kept in our camp setup for years. According to her experience, she appreciated the extra headroom in a pillow that, unlike most camp pillows, isn’t too firm and conforms to her head.
– Tim Wenger, transactional content editor
Price: $64.95
Luxury camping gear for cooking and lounging
MSR Switch Stove
Maybe it’s the chilly temperatures, or the sounds of nature beckoning you to a relaxing session in the camp chair. Whatever the reason, waiting for that first cup of coffee at the campsite seems to take forever. MSR cuts that back significantly with the release of its Switch Stove, which boils 14 liters of water in under two minutes. That means you can be enjoying a pour-over in about three. Its boil canister is rounded on the bottom, which more evenly distributes the heat across the pot, allowing the water to boil faster than flat-bottomed canisters.
In addition to its rapid boiling, the Switch Stove’s signature innovation is that it allows you to sauté, simmer, or cook with your own cookware, rather than a specific piece designed only for this stove. The stove, stand, and canister pack up nice and tight into the lid and base, so it won’t take up much room in your pack. I’ve never found a camp stove that is more efficient or easier to bring along on camping and easier backpacking trips. – Tim Wenger, transactional content editor
Price: $139.95
Crazy Creek AirLounger
Photo: Crazy Creek
Thinking back on all the backpacking trips I’ve taken where I ended up sitting on a fallen tree or a rock while eating and lounging makes me surprised it took me so long to get a backpacking chair. Though, since I waited, I went all in and got a Crazy Creek AirLounger and it’s been a game changer.
The chair arrived at my house rolled up in a four-inch diameter, I actually mistook it for a mat and thought the brand had shipped me the wrong product — it packs up much more compact than I’d thought. After unrolling it (and realizing that it was me that was mistaken), it took me about 20 seconds to set the chair up. It’s super comfy and easy to set anywhere. It inflates promptly, the straps on the sides fasten in place and can be tightened or loosened depending on whether you want a reclined or upright sit.
The chair is made of 8mm high-density cored closed-cell foam and covered with 210D C-Zero DWR coated ripstop nylon to keep it dry on damp ground. The Hex 2.0 chair is also great for outdoor events like live music or picnicking by a river. I’m not much of an angler, but can envision it being great for fishing as well. Here’s a handy hack — store it in an unused cup holder on the site of your pack and hook it to the pack by attaching a carabiner to the pack and the chair’s straps. That way, you can carry it without putting it in your pack while not having to worry about it falling from its perch. – Tim Wenger, Transactional Content Editor
Price: $124.95
Satechi Qi2 Wireless Car Charger
Photo: Katie Gavin
When you live out of a camper van for weeks at a time, small tech upgrades can completely change your experience. I’ve gone through a couple of cheap wireless chargers over the years, but they either lost grip over time or only charged if you angled the phone just right.
I picked up the Satechi Qi2 after testing the brand’s passport cover with Find My integration (read my full review here). Installing it in the van was straightforward—just clipped it into the dash vent, plugged it in, and that was it. It instantly delivered MagSafe charging that held firm, even on bumpy forest roads. It charges faster than anything else I’ve tried, and it actually looks good while doing it.
If you’ve cycled through a couple of underperforming chargers, like I have, this one’s worth the upgrade. Especially if you’re not traveling with a backup power bank (or have multiple devices to charge), having something that works reliably while you’re driving means you’ll actually arrive with a full battery. It’s one less thing to think about when you’re setting up camp or packing out. And it stays put—even when you’re crawling down uneven terrain—so you’re not constantly fishing your phone off the floor when you go off road. Katie Gavin – Editor
Price: $59.99
Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro Portable Outdoor Movie Projector
Photo: James Gavin
I’ll be honest—when my husband and I first started looking into portable projectors, it felt a little indulgent. Like, do we really need a big-screen setup when we’re camping in the van? Turns out, this projector is now our favorite bit of kit.
We used to balance a laptop on a duffel bag or squint at a shared phone screen from across the van, which worked okay, but it wasn’t exactly relaxing. Projecting onto the inside of the van with the Xgimi MoGo 3 Pro changed everything. It’s like watching a 65-inch TV at home. It connects to Wi-Fi or your phone’s hotspot which worked fine even with weak signal.
The best thing about it is that you don’t need a screen—just a blank surface like the side of your tent or van. The auto-focus and screen alignment features mean you don’t have to mess around trying to get a level image, even when projecting onto a textured backdrop. It’s also weather resistant, with a design that protects the lens and internal components from light drizzel and dust. It’s true luxury camping gear that can go anywhere.
The built-in Google TV interface makes it easy to stream from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and pretty much any other app you’d want on the road. We watched the new season of The Last of Us last weekend in the woods, which—note to self—maybe wasn’t the best choice given the setting. But dang, it looked good. Crisp HD and surprisingly bright even when the ambient light wasn’t totally gone yet.
The audio is exceptional for something this compact. We didn’t need an external speaker and felt totally immersed just using the built-in sound. It also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker and has ambient lighting, which adds a nice vibe when you’re winding down for the night. You can also pair it with wireless headphones, which is great if, like us, one goes to sleep early and the other stays up late watching anime.
If you’re thinking about it and will use it camping, definitely go for the projector and power base combo ($479.75). If you can shell out $450, it’s not that much more expensive. With the base, we got just over two hours of battery life —enough for a full-length movie without needing to plug in. If you want to charge, you’ll need a bank capable of at least 65W, such as the Bluetti AC180, which would power the projector through a serious binge session (as well as charging your other devices).
I wouldn’t have guessed that a projector would end up on our essentials list, but here we are. If you’ve got kids, it’s a guaranteed hit. If you are the kid, it makes even a modest camp setup feel like an outdoor theater. Just don’t forget to pack the popcorn. Katie Gavin – Editor 
Price: $449.99-$499.99
