Cooler weather is rapidly approaching, and staying warm and cozy is key to enjoying a fall camping trip. This fall camping gear guide contains Matador’s Outdoor editors’ recommendations for the products they trust for use in the field, whether on single-night car camping expeditions or longer jaunts into the wilderness.
We hope you love the fall camping gear we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you make a purchase. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.
FEIDEER Men’s Women’s Hiking Walking Socks
Photo courtesy of Feideer
Foot comfort is essential, whether you’re on a backpacking trip and will be moving camp each night, or just heading from the campsite to a day hike. The Feideer wool socks fit men and women and keep your feet warm and dry without smothering them or negatively impacting blood circulation. The socks are designed to keep you blister-free and are moisture wicking and ventilated. Should snowshoeing be on the docket this winter, call upon these same socks. With five pairs in a pack, you won’t find a better price on hiking shorts.
Price: $21.99 for five pairs
RUMPL Original Puffy Recycled Blanket
Photo: REI
Like the original but better — because this RUMPL puffy blanket is made from recycled plastic. You’ll keep yourself warm and cozy at camp while putting your money towards a sustainable cause. This blanket packs up tight and in a true demonstration of its versatility, can also be used as a picnic blanket or pillow on the go.
Price: $99
YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle with MagSlider Lid
Photo: YETI
Nothing pairs better with fall camping gear than a warm drink. It doesn’t even have to be pumpkin spice. Whatever your fall beverage of choice, the YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle is the ideal vessel to keep it hot and tasty for hours on end. The stainless steel design makes it easy to clean, so if you happen to spike that evening hot chocolate, the bottle won’t smell like Schnapps for all eternity.
Price: $30
JetBoil Flash Cooking System
Photo: REI
Hot food and hot coffee are essential when fall camping. Do it right with the JetBoil Flash Cooking System, which heats water and gourmet meals in just a few minutes. This burner is great for solo and even group camping due to its rapid warming speed — so you won’t have to keep people waiting for an hour just to get their morning Joe fix.
Price: $86.15 for REI Labor Day Sale
BioLite Campstove 2 Wood Burning Electricity Generating & USB Charging Camp Stove
Photo courtesy of BioLite
BioLite created the perfect camping cookstove — that also charges your electronic devices at the same time. The BioLite Campstove 2 burns wood rather than gas, so its far more sustainable and keeps you from having to lug a propane tank or gas canisters with you to the campsite. The stove lights easier than a campfire and uses the heat from the fire to generate electricity that you can harness with a USB cable. Plus, it cooks perfect grilled meals and is easy to clean and pack. The stove is also great at boiling water (in 4.5 minutes!) and comes with a jug.
Price: $189.95
Buy Now
Jackery solar-powered generator
Photo: Jackery Power Outdoors
Car camping is more fun when you have music. Vanlife is more fun when you have power, no matter how far off-grid you are. Jackery solves that problem with the most reliable solar-powered generator on the market. The Explorer Portable Power Station can be charged to 80 percent in about 2.5 hours. It’s available in wattages ranging from 160 to 2,000, enough to power a heater for your vehicle or even the entire campsite while simultaneously charging your phone. Add two of Jackery’s portable solar panels to your order and you’re set to ride far on the power of the sun.
Price: $1,599 for 1,500 watts
Osprey Ariel and Aether 60 backpacking packs
Photo: REI
Osprey went back to the drawing board to craft the 2021 release of the Ariel and Aether backpacks. Both with 60 liters of carrying capacity (larger sizes are available as well), these packs feature a top-notch hip belt and shoulder strap that is as comfortable as each is functional. The great thing about this pack is that it can carry all of your fall camping gear even if only on a one-night car camp, and then be the perfect companion for a hike (or an impromptu second night in the woods). The packs’ injection-molded, die-cut foam back-panel is built to mold to your back, not push against it.
Price: $340
VOORMI Access NXT Pullover
Photo: Voormi
Honing in on that fine line of warmth and comfort is the key to a successful fall camping trip. You don’t want to be too hot, because you’re outdoors and likely to be active. So you need something that is able to fend off the advance of a brisk evening without inhibiting your ability to move your body in a variety of directions. Enter the Access NXT Pullover from Voormi, available in men’s and women’s options. Its thermal wool keeps you warm while the water repellant finish keeps you dry. This thing is built to stretch and contort. This mid-layer option even has thumbholes and a chest pocket with an earphone slot. You’ll be so at ease that your crew will whisper behind your back about how well-prepared you were for the camping trip.
Price: $199
Roam Adventure Co. rooftop awning
Photo: Roam Adventure Co.
Again with the whole weather unpredictability thing, this rooftop awning from Roam Adventure Co. keeps you dry at the campsite. The brand also offers a tented version, in case the bugs are still hanging around or the monsoon waters really start coming down. The awnings pack down and away into your vehicle without taking up much space, so if you have a truck or other vehicle that you always take camping you can just leave it in the back and pull it out when needed. On that note, these awnings also make a great group gift for the person in your crew who does most of the driving. A tricked-out ride makes for a happy glide.
Price: From $279
NRS H2Core Silkweight Hoodie
Photo: NRS
Fall camping is here, yes, but the sun still shines bright — especially at altitude. Protect your skin with the NRS H2Core Silkweight Hoodie. This long-sleeve sun shirt, available in men’s and women’s options, offers UPF 50+ advanced sun protection along with wicking ability to keep you dry and well-ventilated on a hike or sitting around camp. Unlike many pieces of sun protection clothing, this shirt also looks super cool, so you won’t lose any style points either.
Price: $59.95
Cotopaxi Fuego down hooded jacket — men’s and women’s
Photo courtesy of Cotopaxi
Nothing is more fashionable in the high country than a down jacket — it’s even cooler than wearing Abercrombie in the suburbs during the late ’90s. Cotopaxi makes the best down jackets on the market, the Fuego, with 800-fill responsibly sourced goose down that fights mountain chill and cold nights to keep you toasty no matter what you’re up to around the campfire. Men’s and women’s options are available with several styles to choose from. The scuba hood helps keep your head and ears warm, and doesn’t bunch up behind your neck when not in use, so you’ll look good either way.
Price: $250-$275
Buy Now – Women’s
Buy Now – Men’s