Finding the right camping gear can make or break a trip, especially when you’re camping with kids. At Mom Goes Camping, gear reviews come from real use in the field, not just spec sheets. From the mountains of Serbia to trails across the Balkans and beyond, every product recommendation on this site has been tested in actual camping conditions with children in tow.
This category covers everything you need to camp comfortably and safely as a family: tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, camp kitchens, lighting, backpacks, child carriers, and more. You’ll find honest comparisons, budget-friendly picks, and ultralight options for families who want to move fast on the trail without sacrificing comfort at camp.
Whether you’re outfitting your first camping trip or upgrading gear you’ve had for years, the reviews here are written to help you spend your money wisely. No sponsored fluff, no gear you don’t actually need. Just honest recommendations from a mom who has been camping with her kids for over a decade.
When it first came out in 2009, the Big Agnes Fly Creek was the lightest double-wall two-person backpacking tent on the market. Over a decade later, it is still one of the lightest semi-freestanding tents available. However, the tent is far from perfect. The Fly Creek is notoriously cramped, has sagging walls, and only has […]
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 Alternatives Read More »
A hatchet can be incredibly useful to have while camping. But, honestly, most camping hatchets are gimmicky and are used more like toys than tools. Before you get a hatchet for camping, please consider whether you really need a hatchet and understand how to use it without being a jerk. This guide will go over
Best Camping Hatchets (And How Not to Be a Jerk When Using One) Read More »
One of my big pet peeves when camping is watching people take out all of their “toys.” Don’t get me wrong – I can understand the appeal of cool camping gadgets like solar showers, coffee makers, and solar panels. But a camping saw isn’t just unnecessary (even for firewood!), it’s often incredibly stupid to bring
9 Reasons You DON’T Need a Camping Saw Read More »
My husband is a photographer and I’m a lightweight backpacker, which are two things that don’t go well together. When we started going on backpacking trips together, we’d inevitably get into arguments about packing: “You’re really packing a 5lb tripod and all that other gear!?” Meanwhile, I was dehydrating toothpaste to shed weight from my
Best Lightweight Tripods for Backpacking Read More »
Trying to cut weight from your pack so you can enjoy longer backpacking trips? Aside from food and water, your shelter is usually the heaviest thing in your pack. You can save a lot of weight by upgrading to a lightweight tent. But what qualifies as lightweight?
Tent Weight: What is Considered Lightweight? Read More »
As backpacking and camping have become more popular, it’s created a serious problem for bears: food conditioning. This is what happens when bears learn to seek out humans for their food. The solution – and required in many parks – is to use an IGBC-certified bear-resistant container. The options are bear canisters or Ursack. Here’s
Bear Canister vs. Ursack for Backpacking Read More »