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.
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 »
I’m a petite woman who is barely above 5 feet tall and my torso length is just 14 inches. This makes it incredibly difficult for me to find backpacks which fit me. It’s even harder to find UL or large-capacity backpacks for short women.
Best Hiking Backpacks for Short, Petite Women (Torso Length Under 15″) Read More »
Figuring out which water filter or purifier to take backpacking is a confusing task. On one hand, you’ve got people who say they drink directly from mountain streams and are “fine.” On the other, there’s the risk of getting gut-wrenching diarrhea in the middle of your trip.
Best Backpacking Water Filters and Purifiers Read More »
Whether backpacking in the wilderness or in developing countries, a good water purifier is one of the best gear to bring. Having a water purifier means that you don’t ever have to buy bottled water (and contribute to plastic waste). Nor do you have to worry about lugging heavy bottles of water up mountains when
Ultimate SteriPEN Review: Options, Instructions, and How It Compares to Other Purifiers Read More »
Let me be clear: a tent heat is NOT a replacement for cold-weather camping gear. You are much better off investing in a good winter sleeping bag, a pad with a high R-value and quality base layers. If your tent heater doesn’t work for some reason, this is the gear which will keep you alive.
The Best Tent Heaters (And How to Use them Safely) Read More »