The Gear We Love for Backyard Camping
MULTI-USE, PORTABLE, AND VERSATILE GEAR FOR BACKYARD OR BACKCOUNTRY
Washington State Parks Backyard Camp Out Event has us tune-in to hear live music and storytelling from the comfort of own backyard tents. Photo by Robert Curzon.
With the Stay at Home and Shelter in Place orders, outdoors folks are getting creative on how they can recreate their favorite places in their own backyard camping.
Whether you’re staying at home with family, looking for backyard fun with your housemates, or dreaming of the day when you can get back to camping solo, here’s what our writers are doing to stay a little more sane camping in their backyard.
Staying safer at home? For more of our favorite stories to read in a Time of Coronavirus stories, see our most popular Gear Guide stories:
Backyard Camping Checklist
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Backyard camping with the Washington State Parks Backyard Campout Program. Photo by Robert Curzon.
Backyard Camping Tent
When we’re missing the outdoors, we’ve found that simply sleeping outside or in a tent can make a surprising substitute for camping in nature. That’s why everyone from celebrities to hardcore backpackers are pitching tents in their living rooms and backyards.
When you backyard camp, you can sleep with your own full-sized pillow. Photo by Robert Curzon.
This pandemic has caused me to wish I my gear library had more camping items. If you’re like me and are the type of backpacker who doesn’t own a camping tent, you may find yourself lusting after a hotel-sized stand-up-size tent suitable for six people.
If you’re looking for a tent for pandemic-camping, we’d suggest something that doesn’t require pounding stakes into the carpet. We’ve found out the hard way that a freestanding tent is the way to go if you’re setting up indoors.
You may be thinking that all tents require stakes, but in reality, many freestanding tents give you the option to stake corners to prevent the tent from blowing away, but will stand-up just fine without the stakes. This is good news when you don’t have to worry about wind and the ground is unstake-able (like setting up inside).
We also find that camping tents (compared to backpacking tents) have a lot more room for sprawling out, watching movies, and playing games.
Since backyard camping and car camping are about having fun when you have access to some amenities, it doesn’t make sense to go small. We’ve watched movies, read books, and Zoom-ed with friends from our camping tents. Best yet, this time spent backyard camping has given us plenty of time to learn the quirks of our tents before we take them camping in the wild. -Liz Thomas
Related: The Best Camping Tents
Grilling kebabs over the Takibi Grill in the back of the house. Photo by Liz Thomas
Snow Peak Pack & Carry Takibi Portable Firepit
Missing campfires? Dreaming of grilling?
When I first tested the Snow Peak Takibi Firepit back in February, I thought it’d be an awesome way to have a Leave No Trace portable campfire when your backcountry car camping spot doesn’t have a fire ring.
But with quarantine regulations keeping my tent assembly to the backyard, I immediately thought of the Snow Peak Takibi firepit as the way I could in good conscious re-create that backcountry camp feeling.
Because the Takibi has you build a fire above ground, there’s no scorched earth (or lawn). Clean up is easy (just make sure the coals are cold). Best yet: I can fold it up and take it with me when I’m free to camp in the backcountry instead of the backyard.
I also like that the Takibi comes with everything you need: a baseplate to protect the ground, a grill so your campfire can be used as a BBQ, and a canvas carrying case. Often I find that portable gear is a pain to assemble with too many moving parts (some of which aren’t included), resembling IKEA furniture assembly more than backcountry fun. But I was shocked by how straightforward it is to get going. Everything is included (and it’s only 5 parts!). We had the Takibi figured out before we could even find the directions.
The Takibi folds down flat to a small apartment-friendly canvas bag like an origami stove (it actually reminds us of the foldable Oru Kayaks that we’ve tested and reviewed). The system is modular, so you can snap in the included grill, or extras like a half deep grill pan or a round-the-fire table.
While I had envisioned this packable campfire solution as a way to reduce illegal fire rings on public lands, now I’m thankful there’s a way we can enjoy campfires in the backyard during quarantine--without upsetting the landlord! -Liz Thomas
Related: The Best Stoves for Backpacking
VIEW THE SNOW PEAK TAKIBI GRILL
Grilling mango burgers from the patio. Photo by Naomi Hudetz.
Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-up Propane Grill
If there’s one thing we like at Treeline, it’s gear that can be used for more than one purpose. Enter the Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill. It’s portable, with quick-fold legs and two wheels for easy transportation. Why have one grill for home use and another grill for camping and tailgating, when one grill can do both? It’s small enough to fit in the trunk of a car, and the optional carrying case keeps grime from getting all over the interior of your car.
There’s plenty of room for a lot of burgers on the 285 square inches of grill space. Photo by Naomi Hudetz
It’s powerful, with cooking power up to 20,000 BTUs. We’re impressed with the power - we’ve always gotten the perfect char on burgers, steaks, and veggies. It also has three temperature-adjustable burners, so your vegetables don’t get overdone.
Finally, it’s big enough for most people. If you regularly cook for large groups, it may not work for you, but with 285 square inches of grill space, it’s the perfect size for your backyard campout! -Naomi Hudetz
Related: The Best Camp Chairs
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Hammocks are fun for kids and adults. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd.
eno double nest Backyard Hammock
Here at Treeline, we love gear that can do double duty on the trail and at home. Enter the ENO Double Nest hammock. As a lightweight backpacking enthusiast who prefers to sleep on the ground, I didn’t use to own a camping hammock. All that changed when I became a parent.
While I still appreciate lightweight gear, my goals have gone from crushing big miles to making sure backpacking is enjoyable for my child so she will continue doing it when she’s older. That’s why I now bring a parachute nylon hammock like the ENO Double Nest when we go backpacking or camping.
Hammocks can provide plenty of fun for kids and adults alike. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd.
Everyone loves a hammock. But kids ESPECIALLY love hammocks. At $69.95, it might sound costly for a piece of leisure gear, but you will almost certainly get your money out of the ENO Double Nest. Lighter than most camp chairs, they keep you (and more importantly, your kid) up and out of the dirt.
In fact, I’ve done the following in a hammock: napped, eaten meals, changed diapers, changed my kid’s clothes, read her books, let her play with toys, and let her play with her friends.
One thing to know is that the ENO hammocks do not come with hanging straps. This is common with most brands and allows the user to get the suspension system that best works for their needs.
Hammocks are a happy place in the outdoors. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd.
ENO straps come in different styles and lengths. The most common suspension system is the Atlas. It comes with two 9’ long webbing straps with sewn-in daisy chain loops. This makes set-up incredibly easy. Find two medium-sized trees about 10-14 feet apart, wrap your hammock straps around them, and clip into one of the daisy chain loops to achieve your desired tautness. If all you have is small trees, wrap the straps around a few times before clipping in.
Now, I know there’s an obvious question people may be asking. I have some cord at home. Can’t I just make my own straps and save some money? Yes and no.
You can definitely make your own straps, but it is not a good idea to use something with a small diameter like p-cord. Doing this will effectively strangle the tree by reducing the flow of nutrients and water. Ideally, you will use some sort of webbing. Tubular webbing can be split open, allowing you to feed the cord through it. Then you can tie loops into the cord for clipping your load-bearing carabiner. At that point, though, you’ve usually spent enough time and money to make the kit a more economical choice. At Treeline, we support ingenuity and a DIY attitude--as long as you protect the trees and have a system that is structurally sound for everyone who is using the hammocks.
At home, you don’t even need to have trees to set up a hammock. Hang it between two posts on your porch. Our editor hangs her hammock from a tree and a fence post. Inside set up works too (just make sure you have a good stud finder). No good infrastructure at home? ENO has a variety of hammock stands, including one that uses your car as part of its structure. Want to take your hammock to the local park? Many parks ask you use hammock stands instead of webbing to protect the trees.
If you want to take the deep dive into hammock camping, ENO has all the accessories you need like bug nets, underquilts, and tarps, all with the same quality and ease of use as the hammocks themselves.
At home, we have two hammocks set up in our yard. One is pitched high and tight, for ultimate adult lounging. The other is low and loose, making a perfect play structure for the kids. Our quarantine family includes our next-door neighbors. Our kids were born two weeks apart, and at 2 ½ are already climbing the fence to play with each other. The hammock is one of the highlights of their day (along with the zipline, see story below). When they are playing “night night” (a game in which they climb into the hammock) and “go to sleep” (wake up by falling out), we parents actually get a break. When they played this game the other day, I lounged in a patio chair, momentarily free from my duties of breaking up fights and stopping them from drinking out of the birdbath.
While hammocks are practical and fun, they are also relaxing. When it’s just my daughter and me, we meditate in the hammock. For a toddler, this just means we lay back and look at the trees. We notice what we can see, hear, feel, or smell. Not only are we creating tender moments that we will cherish forever, but we are also helping foster in her an appreciation of nature beyond the thrill-seeking what-can-it-do-for-me attitude. Hopefully, this means we are on our way to our goal of creating an adult who loves the outdoors. Thank you, hammocks! -Tiffany Searsdodd
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Camp chairs and a slackline are what is keeping us sane when public lands are closed. Photo courtesy Josette Deschambeault.
Camping Chairs
Not that we haven’t discussed the Best Camp Chairs of 2020 ad nauseam, but we can’t stress this enough — camp chairs have made our quarantine. From making the front porch infinitely better for morning coffee sippin’, or drinking a sparkling water in the local park (with a 6-foot perimeter around us, of course), to dropping down in a folding settee after a stress-relieving mountain bike spree, there are a couple of camp chair picks that have made our lockdown time that much better.
If your camp chairs are broken, and you don’t want to spend that whole stimulus check on a new set up, stick to your budget without sacrificing comfort. (Or drink space.) The Coleman Quad has a built-in cooler, so once you’re settled in, you don’t have to get up for that refill. All afternoon. How great is that?! -Josette Deschambeault
The Kelty Loveseat Low has enough room for dog and human. Photo courtesy Josette Deschambeault.
Kelty Discovery Low Loveseat
The Kelty Discovery Low Loveseat has been my household’s end-all-be-all of chairs. While it’s usually stationed on the front porch (and occupied by a dog), it’s carrying case makes it super easy to throw over a shoulder and walk up the street to the park to watch others slackline. We’ve even used it as additional seating at the dinner table! And while we can’t wait to set it up at our next campsite, for now, having our beers around a firepit in the backyard will definitely suffice.
Coleman Stadium Seat
We actually didn’t make the Coleman Stadium Seat one of our picks in our full Best Camping Chairs story (shh, don’t tell anyone), but this little buddy has made our pillow forts and evening hikes that much sweeter. We pulled out the Coleman version of a Crazy Creek camp chair from our garage and instantly sat out on the lawn. Then we found out that they’re on sale for $15. And we immediately ordered one for all of our friends. One day, we’ll all sit in a circle and enjoy — but for now, we know that our buddies are also experiencing that slice of sunshine while we stay safe at home.
Related: The Best Camping Tents
view our favorite camp chairs
coleman portable quad chair
kelty discovery low loveseat
coleman stadium seat chair
Writer Stasia Stockwell drinks from her Hydroflask Mug while looking at the Colorado mountains. Photo courtesy Stasia Stockwell
Hydro Flask 12 oz. Coffee Mug
Whether you’re car camping, road tripping, or simply hanging out in your backyard as most of us are these days, having a set of stainless steel insulated mugs and other drinkware kicks the experience up a notch. It keeps whatever you’re sipping on at the preferred temperature (piping hot coffee or an icy cocktail), and you don’t have to worry about anything breaking.
I’m not just a coffee addict—I’m a coffee mug addict, too. Sipping a freshly brewed cup in the morning is like a ritual to me, and that ritual loses its sweetness with the wrong mug.
With a handle and soft rubberized material (read: not cold stainless on your hands) on the outside, the Hydroflask 12 oz coffee mug feels like your favorite breakable ceramic mug, but it’s nearly indestructible, and it keeps your coffee piping hot. Thanks to all that, you can extend the ritual of morning coffee as long as you like—especially since so many of us have nowhere to be these days. Bonus: The mug is also about the perfect size for a makeshift rocks glass, so you can transition seamlessly from sipping morning joe to imbibing in an evening old fashioned.
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Many breweries are still serving beer to-go making growler-fills an economic way of supporting local businesses during the pandemic. Photo courtesy Stasia Stockwell
Hydro Flask 64 oz. Growler
Summer weather is approaching, and it makes me want to throw on a backpack, head out for a grueling trail run or backpacking trip, then kick back and recover with a cold pint of hoppy beer at my favorite brewery.
But, our current state not only has me inclined to keep my adventures mellow (and many trailheads and backcountry areas are still closed to the public). That means I’ll be drinking beer in my yard instead of on a brewery’s patio. Thankfully, where I live in the mountains of Colorado, many of my go-to breweries are still serving beer to-go, including growler fills.
I love the Hydro Flask Growler for keeping my beer cold and bubbly without the need for a refrigerator. The cap seals tight to maintain carbonation. There’s even a handle on the neck that makes for convenient carrying and pouring. Plus, it’s durable.
“Many breweries are still serving beer to-go making growler-fills an economic way of supporting local businesses during the pandemic.”
I’ve done such crazy things as: brought my growler car camping, “let” it fall out of the back of my truck, and even taken it backpacking (I know: I’m not a light packer!). Despite everything, it’s come out with hardly a scratch. So, I’d say it’s perfect for grabbing a fill from a local brewery and kicking back at home with a fresh draft pint. -Stasia Stockwell
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Hot tub time during Work from Home lunch break! Photo courtesy Whitney LaRuffa
Inflatable Hot Tub & pool
As the reality set in that we would be homebound for some time a few months ago, I started to think to myself, how could I make this more bearable? My wife and I are big fans of hot springs. In fact, wherever we travel in the world, we go out of our way to spend a day soaking in hot water. We have enjoyed hot springs ranging from remote wild hot springs in the desert to high-end resorts in foreign countries and everything in between. You might say that nothing makes us happier than a nice long soak.
For years we had wanted to put a hot tub in our yard. The one major problem has always been the cost. It involves installing a concrete pad and having an electrician wire a dedicated 220V outlet and breaker. Plus, a traditional hot tub costs upwards of $5K. We often found we just didn’t have an extra $10K kicking around. So when Covid hit Oregon, I started to research inflatable hot tubs as an alternative.
Starting around $400, these easy plug and play hot tubs seemed like a great option. However, I was hesitant that it wouldn’t actually work as well as they claim. After days of product reviews and research, we settled on the Intex Purespa Bubble Massage 4-Person hot tub. We have owned a few Intex pools over the past ten years and I have always been impressed with the quality they provide at such an affordable price. When the hot tub arrived, it was very easy to set up, fill, and get it to temperature.
After reading reviews, I knew that one area of heat loss was through ground contact. Intex does provide a bubble pad, but we decided to get two pieces of 1 ¾” 4x8 foam board from the local hardware store to make a level and insulated pad for the tub. With the quick air fill adapter, I was able to fill the tub in minutes with air.
An inflate-able hot tub can make stay at home a lot more fun. Photo by Whitney LaRuffa
I was impressed by the durable walls on the Intek hot tub. It’s made from the same type of reinforced PVC fabric as my Aire kayak. All 220 pounds of me can even kneel on the edge of the hot tub without it collapsing. We filled the tub in under two hours with water, and 24 hours later, we were enjoying our first hot soak in it.
Maintaining the tub has been easy. I highly recommend using a bromine maintenance kit to keep the water clean. The Qualco Pool Care kit will give you everything you need to keep the water fresh for three months. Once a week, we clean and inspect the filters and so far have done well keeping the water nice and clean. I also recommend getting the additional Energy Efficient Cover (bonus: it comes with headrests). Besides fitting nice and snug to keep debris out of the tub, this padded cover also helps reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.
Now each night after a long day working from home and dealing with the stress of the news cycle, I can escape to my own oasis. For 20 minutes a night, we turn on the massaging bubbles, look up at the night sky, and escape to our own private backyard hot spring. -Whitney LaRuffa
VIEW THE INTEK INFLATEABLE HOT TUB
VIEW THE INTEK INFLATABLE HEADRESTS AND COVER
Kids and adults can use the backyard zipline system. Photo courtesy Tiffany Searsdodd.
backyard Zipline
Last summer, one of the families from our kid’s daycare hosted a BBQ. As my husband, daughter, and I explored their large backyard, we discovered they had a zipline. It was clearly meant for kids, as the seat only hung a few feet above the ground. Intrigued, we put our adventure baby on it, stood about 10 feet apart, and helped her zip back and forth between us. We felt self-conscious at first: were we trying to get our kid to do something that at not even two years old she wasn’t ready for? We needn’t have worried; she LOVED it. We looked at each other and knew we wanted her to be that stoked in our own backyard. So that’s how we ended up getting our daughter a zipline for her 2nd birthday. Disclaimer: most 2-year-olds are not ready for a zipline!
The Zipline Kit our friend had for their kids was a inexpensive one found on Amazon for around $100. We at Treeline believe in buying gear that lasts. We also knew that with our extremely active, fearless, acrobatic toddler, things need to be durable.
We opted for the Chetco Zipline Kit from Zipline Gear. At a base cost of $250, it wasn’t cheap, but there were several factors we took into consideration in our research. As mentioned before, durability was a must. The cheap options have lower weight limits, while we wanted one which would allow parents to ride as well. The Chetco Zipline has a 350lb max weight limit, which meant parent and child could ride together.
Consider having your kid wear a helmet before hopping on the zipline. Photo by Adam Leckie.
There are tons of ways to customize your zipline kit as well, based on the age of kids, desired experience, and personal handiness. The basic kit comes with a trolley with handlebars that can be used on its own to zip down the line. Zipline Gear sells several seat options. We opted to add on the Drifter Zipline Seat for another $60. All seats attach easily by clipping into the trolley. We were also given a bucket seat (like the kind found on a small child’s swing set), which can be modified for the zipline. This is a great option for younger kids.
We opted out of the Tree Saver Block Kit for another $60 and instead made our own tree savers out of 2x4 offcuts. This is a crucial add-on or DIY, as putting the zipline cable around the tree with no barrier essentially strangles the tree by not allowing nutrients and water to flow through the cambium layer. Don’t accidentally kill your trees!
One thing that is hard with any zipline is proper setup. Warning: set up requires math! If you’re like me and your eyes begin to glaze over when you get further than basic multiplication and division, read the instructions carefully, or trick a smart friend into helping you with setup by promising them unlimited zipline rides. Better yet, just give Zipline Gear a call, and they will be happy to talk you through any aspect of set up you wish.
If you decide it’s not worth it after all, Zipline Gear has a generous return policy. They’ll give you a full refund, for any reason, in any condition, within one year of purchase. This is definitely one of those situations where use depends on your kids’ personalities. Most of our daughter’s similarly-aged friends are not interested in using the zipline. That return policy could come in handy if your kid isn’t into it.
Fast forward to the COVID pandemic of 2020. Although we are privileged to have a huge city park within walking distance where we take our bicycles every morning, there are only so many hours a day that you can spend at the park with your kid. And you still have to fill ALL those other hours between breakfast and bedtime. With kids, the best activities are ones that get them outdoors, moving around, and keep them occupied for longer than 5 minutes. Enter the zipline.
Our kid is now 2 ½ years old, so she still needs a lot of supervision. We strap on her bike helmet, she hops on, and we pull her to the high end. When she says she’s ready (this is a great learning opportunity for how to communicate clearly), we give her a big shove, and she’s off, laughing and whooping. Because it’s so low to the ground, she can also use the zipline without our help. She just grabs the rope, pulls her feet up, and goes. Over. And Over. And Over. Which is exactly what parents need, now more than ever. -Tiffany Searsdodd
Related: The Best Climbing Harnesses
backyard zipline
A Do-It-Yourself backyard fort on the balcony is fun to make and even more fun to hang out in afterwards. Photo by Josette Deschambeault.
Do-it-yourself pillow fort
If you’re like me, by now you’ve fantasized about waking up somewhere remote to a mountain sunrise, the sound of a rushing river, or basically anything other than your same bedroom walls. In these times of “Groundhog Day” caliber repetition, a little creativity can transform your backyard, a balcony or deck, or even just your living room into your next pristine campsite.
At-home camping doesn’t have to be limited to those who already have the “proper gear”! Take it back to the playground days: build a pillow fort. Break out the old quilt, sheets, and rectangular Coleman sleeping bag. Set it up in your living room, your deck, or in the garage! A little nostalgia mixed in can take your happy, cozy experience to the next level.
Weather considerations become a bigger priority if you’re planning on building your shelter outside or on a balcony — don’t worry, we thought of that, too. Not ready to risk the pillow fort? Try a tarp tent! Bring it back to the Boy Scout days and pitch it with two sticks and some ground ties. If your balcony or deck is small enough, tie it to the railings and make a cabin. There’s a reason guides use tarps in emergencies - they might not be as tight-sealed as a tent, but they’re certainly cheaper!
Even the dogs love time in the fort. Photo by Josette Deschambeault.
This time at home can also be a great chance to try new things. Have you been wondering what it would be like to go ultra-light and bivouac? Try it! What better time to test a new sleeping system than now? Worse comes to worst, all the comforts of home are a few steps (rather than miles) away.
While we’re all looking for a little slice of the backcountry, don’t forget that you can be as primitive or as posh as you want for your at-home adventures. You want to go bare-bones? Do it! You want to line your pillow fort with throw blankets, have a computer with Netflix, a string of electric lights, a speaker playing an endless loop of nature sounds, and the contents of your liquor cabinet? (21+, of course.) We may currently be sheltered in place, but we can still have some fun with our choice of shelters!
Be safe, be creative, and stay home… for now. -Aaron Friedland
