In this edition of The Recommendation, our tech editor and self-proclaimed novice camper dishes on the outdoor gear that made the biggest difference for her. Plus: a great raincoat, the best hiking boots, and some excellent binoculars.
I have never been what anyone would call outdoorsy. I didn’t grow up biking or fishing with relatives, as many of my friends did. My stint as a Girl Scout was short-lived. And while I took up hiking during the pandemic, the only outdoor “gear” I owned was a pair of running shoes.
Forget camping. Friends and family used to joke about how miserable I would be sleeping outside without creature comforts like steaming hot showers and soft mattresses. But then I started dating my now-partner, a former park ranger who’s happiest in the woods. I quickly realized I would have to accept the outdoors into my life eventually, and when he gently suggested that we give camping a try, I said yes (with some trepidation).
A one-night trial run in a nearby state park revealed that our bare-bones setup needed a few upgrades to make us (read: me) a little more comfortable. One upgrade, in particular, was the biggest game changer for me: a deluxe sleeping pad, which came highly recommended by Wirecutter outdoor editor Ria Misra.
It was a splurge, to be sure, but one that has made sleeping outside an almost-luxurious experience for me. We just returned from an early May weekend in Yosemite National Park, where we slept comfortably beneath towering pines and hiked along awe-inspiring granite cliffs. The sound of thundering waterfalls could be heard throughout the valley, and the sun peeked out occasionally between soft, late spring showers.
We have a lot more gear now than when we started dating (this camping tent, for one, was an instant improvement over my partner’s teensy backpacking tent. It’s ridiculously easy to set up and more than spacious enough for two). And I have been struck by how easy it was to gain a little bit of outdoorsy confidence with one or two well-vetted upgrades.
My advice? Pick one thing you’re nervous about, then find a solution. I was anxious about sudden storms, so I bought a hardy-yet-stylish raincoat — which I now reach for even when I’m not hiking. I also hate sleeping on freezing cold ground, so I splurged on that cozy sleeping pad (which my veteran camping partner begrudgingly admits is awesome). And don’t forget the little conveniences, too: This cleverly designed pour-over coffee setup has been a game changer — for both expert and newbie alike.
