Getting excited for fall isn’t all too hard if you’re a fan of long-sleeves, longer nights and pumpkin spice lattes. We embrace two of the three, which makes the idea of leaving the city (and the lattes) for the less traveled paths incredibly enticing. The sun may set a little earlier, but all that means is that we have more hours to burn the campfire, and the late night oil, with good friends.
Leave the apartment (but take your raw denim jeans, like those by Ball & Buck) as you get a little reprieve from the bright city lights in the great outdoors. Being a master-camper isn’t the goal. It’s more about having the smart necessities, and looking like you’ve been doing this for years.
It’s dark, you need light: get it with the Sparkr Flashlight & Lighter by Power Practical. It will not only light your campsite, it will also light your fire. Talk about convenience.
While you might have previously needed to rely on the smoke from that fire to mitigate mosquitos, in a world where Zika exists, you need something more advanced. The Halo Repeller by Thermacell provides odorless, invisible and continuous protection from mosquitos. Just don’t put the cooler too far away.
And since this is quite the cozy environment you’ve established in the great outdoors, and one that you may not want to leave even after the vacation days are done, you might as well stay respectively connected with a good podcast or some NPR. Stream your favorite listening content on rugged, pint-sized, waterproof, high frequency speaker. Sounds good.
Wherever you’re headed, be it one of the great national parks or the campground you hung out at during youth (and you’re ready for some nostalgia 20 years later), get it together with the right gear, cheap beer and we wholly recommend disconnecting, if only for a night.
Camp City | Diversify Your Landscape
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Sparkr Flashlight & Lighter by Power Practical
The Sparkr Flashlight & Lighter by Power Practical, $59.99, is a two-faced fighter. One side of this highly portable tool is an electric, windproof lighter, while the other one is an LED flashlight/lantern.
Photo: Power Practical
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Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill by Cuisinart
The Chef's Style Stainless Tabletop Grill by Cuisinart, $199, is highly portable and convenient. Plus it has super easy set up right out of the box.
Photo: Cuisinart
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Halo Repeller by Thermacell
The Halo Repeller by Thermacell, $39.99, provides odorless, invisible, and continuous protection from mosquitoes.
Photo: Thermacell
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Venture 45 Cooler by Otterbox
The Venture 45 Cooler by Otterbox, $349.99, is a 45-quart cooler is impressively designed to keep ice frozen for up to 14 days.
Photo: Otterbox
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VG1 by Soundcast
The VG1 by Soundcast, from $150, is the premiere traveling speaker. Handheld, rugged and stylishly sleek, this is your new go-to for the campfire or the trail.
Photo: Soundcast
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The 8 Point Selvage Denim by Ball & Buck
The 8 Point Selvage Denim by Ball & Buck, $218, are made in the USA with denim from North Carolina's Cone Mills. These jeans feature camo-lined pockets, and special fabric in the seat to prevent blow-outs. (If you've had one, you understand the need.)
Photo: Ball & Buck
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Makoa WP by Olukai
The Makoa WP, $150, by Olukai, are made with lightweight, quick-drying, durable materials, making them perfect for the campsite, but also stylish enough for the dive bar after you get home. With dual-density PU footbeds, it will feel like you're walking there on feathers.
Photo: Olukai
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Dry Wax Anorak by Wilson & Willy's
The Dry Wax Anorak by Wilson & Willy's, $288, is constructed in the USA with British 8 oz. dry wax canvas.
Photo: Wilson & Willy's
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Ultimate No-Ride-Up Underwear & Tee by Bensly
Essential camp-wear includes the standard jeans and t-shirt that also works at just about every social gathering you may attend. Invest in a good one, like the Ultimate No-Ride-Up Underwear & Tee, by the now fully funded Kickstarter-started Bensly.
Photo: Bensly
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Thor 2P 4-Season Tent by Marmot
The Thor 2P 4-Season Tent by Marmot, about $650, is made with fabric to withstand harsh winds, plus vents to allow air flow. Find your way home in the woods with the light-reflective points.
Photo: Marmot