Tiffani and Deke are avid campers and good friends of Campendium. Tiffani contributed reviews and photos over a year before the website went live and before there were actual pages to see the campground listings. The two continue to be the first in line when we ask for help, and today we’re introducing a new series on the Campendium Blog where members of the community share their favorite camping gear.
Everything in their favorites list can be found on Amazon, which also happens to host Campendium. We thought it would be a cool way for people to share what they love and help support the site. The links below are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase on Amazon after clicking the link, Campendium will receive a small percentage of the sale which will help pay the hosting bills!
And now, we’ll pass it over to Tiffani, who has turned us on to so much good gear that hanging out with her can sure add up, but she’s never steered us wrong:
Klymet Double Sleeping Pad
We needed something more than our 3″ foam mattress to sleep on, but didn’t want to have anything custom made because of cost. I found the Klymet Double Pad online and the reviews were positive enough to make us order one. Its easy to inflate and has been incredibly comfortable to sleep on!
Yeti Cooler
The refrigerator in our van pulled too much power, was incredibly small and smelled funny. We decided to rip it out and put in a Yeti cooler and haven’t had any regrets. Our food stays cold for days, it fits perfectly in the space and the blue matches the interior.
Snow Peak Fire Pit
We love campfires, but don’t have room for a large, round fire pit. Snow Peak offers this one in a few sizes and it folds up flat for easy storage. Plus, it has a tray on the bottom to catch ashes which parks love!
Lucas Papaw Ointment
This is my go-to item in the medicine cabinet. Made from fermented papaya, this can be used on scrapes, burns, chapped lips, rashes, insect bites… you name it. It’s the best!
Miir Growler
We have a 7 gallon water container in the back of the van, but needed something small to keep in the kitchen area, and I didnt want a flimsy plastic bottle. I saw Miir products on Instagram and I loved their look, the story of the company and the community work they do (especially for the CA wildfire relief efforts). The water stays cold all day and is easy to fill.
Eno Double Hammock
We’ve had this hammock for at least 6 years and its still in great condition and awesome to hang out in. Because its a double, if you’re in it alone, it almost covers you up — no sunburn if you fall asleep!
Mighty Bright 47017 Recharge Book Light
I can’t fall asleep without reading, and since there are no lights in the pop-top of the van, I really needed a small, rechargeable, bright book light. I wanted it to be flexible and lightweight too! I read about the Mighty Bright and it sounded perfect — it’s not too expensive and is rechargeable through our USB port. The surface is rubberized, and it has a flat on/off button that’s flush with the base — its super minimal in look and can bend and fold how I need it. I’m seriously thinking of ordering another so we both have one.
Uniqlo Down Jacket
With closet space almost nothing in the van, this jacket has been a lifesaver. It’s very warm and packs up to the size of a Starbucks Vente! Uniqlo is a huge hit in our house and this product is a major winner for fall and winter van camping.
Pico Folding Outdoor Chairs
Friends of ours had these chairs on their boat, and after sitting on them for a few weeks, we knew they were comfortable enough to get, and the fact that they fold up to the size of a briefcase is a huge bonus for the van! We’ve had them for years and they’re still holding up great!
Nite Ize PetLit LED Collar Light
After a few times camping with the dog, we realized Rafi is much better behaved off-leash, but we wanted to keep an eye on him in those twilight hours, especially in places where he blends in with the surrounding desert, so I got this LED light for his collar and it does exactly what we need it to do. I did buy a backup set of batteries because they aren’t a typical size I was able to easily find, but the cost for both was still under $10. It’s bright, waterproof and twists on/off easily.
Tiff & Deke’s Favorite Gear Recap
- Klymet Double Sleeping Pad
- Yeti Cooler
- Snow Peak Fire Pit
- Lucas Papaw Ointment
- Miir Growler
- Eno Double Hammock
- Mighty Bright 47017 Recharge Book Light
- Pico Folding Outdoor Chairs
- Nite Ize PetLit LED Collar Light
Follow Tiff & Deke
Instagram: @tiff_waters & @dekew
Campendium: Deke and Tiffani
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We’d love to make *Favorite Camping Gear* a regular feature on the Campendium blog. It’s a great way to help the site earn affiliate revenue while helping your fellow campers learn about great gear. If you’d like to contribute, please email photos with links to the product details on Amazon, along with a couple sentences about each item to: leigh at campendium dot com. Please include your blog or social media accounts that we can link to. Thanks in advance!