I’ve been camping since I was very little and have really dialed in my top Colorado camping essentials over the years! These are great items for anyone – whether this is your 1st time camping in Colorado or your 1ooth time! These items are versatile and perfect for short trips or even long trips where you travel and camp in various locations!
Well, it has been awhile since I’ve posted on here! Nathan and I haven’t traveled much due to the circumstances plus, we got a brand new puppy! She’s totally adorable but also an INSANE amount of work. But, just look at that face! Her name is Myra, named after a beautiful mountain in Telluride called “Palmyra”!
Now that things have settled down a bit, we’re finally starting to get back outside for some camping. We’ve been camping in Colorado together for the past few years, so we really have our gear dialed in! We enjoy camping in high mountain areas on the Western Slope (such as Rabbit Ears near Steamboat Springs, Grand Mesa near Grand Junction and many more beautiful places!), and these gear recommendations are perfect for those types of conditions! Check it out below!
My Top Colorado Camping Essentials
Tent – Big Agnes Bunk House 6
We recently purchased this 6 person Big Agnes tent so that we will have enough room for us, plus our puppy! It has so many neat features like various awning options to store gear outside of your tent and room to stand up when changing! This is definitely great if you like to have extra room and comfort when camping.
Sleeping Bags/Pads/Air Mattress
It really pays to have a quality sleeping bag when you are camping! It will keep you warmer, drier, and you won’t have to bring extra blankets! We recently got this Big Agnes Dream Island sleeping bag and tried it out in some pretty chilly weather. It kept us warm all night!
We have been sleeping on a cheap Walmart air mattress which has worked great for tent camping! But now we have upgraded to these Thermarest pads to streamline setup. Whether you choose an air mattress or sleeping pads, it is nice to have something to keep you up off of the ground! It keeps you warmer and is much more comfortable.
Daypack
I recently found this Osprey day pack for a great price! It is an all around quality day pack that can hold lots of snacks and layers for hiking in the high country!
Cooler
I know that Yeti coolers are very popular (and rightfully so. They are great quality!) but we got a killer deal on this Otterbox cooler and I think it might just top the Yeti ones. It keeps food cool for days, has a variety of add on accessories (like a cutting board, table, dry storage tray, dividers, beer bottle opener, locks, and so much more!). We have tried it a couple of times and absolutely love it.
Cast Iron Cookware
We’ve used cast iron cookware for our camping cooking for a long time now and we love it! You can cook so many different things plus, they are easy to clean up. You simply just need to wipe them out, rinse with water and make sure they are dry so they don’t rust. They are perfect for camping where you don’t have an easy way to wash dishes!
REI Camp Blanket
This might not be considered an “essential” for most, but for me it is! I like wrapping this around me when it gets chilly outside. The hood is a nice added feature and there are two buttons to close the blanket to keep the warmth in!
Organizing Bins
I’d recommend getting some kind of storage bins to keep all of your camping stuff organized. We really like to use bins because they are easy to grab and go! Plus, it keeps you things neat and tidy. Be sure to get some heavy duty bins to keep dirt and critters out.
Grayl Water Bottle
This water bottle filters water instantly and works just like a french press! This is great for emergencies or on hikes if you are by a water source. We also had someone recommend this for people who travel a lot – you can filter hotel water from the sink for better tasting H2O!
Chairs
We have this Kelty love seat chair that we love for sitting around camp! But recently, we purchased these Big Agnes backpacking chairs and really love them! They are lightweight, so you can easily hike with them and use them when you get to your destination. These have replaced our normal folding chairs because they are so versatile!
Kelty Love Seat
Big Agnes Skyline Chair
Camp Stove
Lastly, you will want some kind of camp stove if you aren’t planning on cooking over the fire (or for emergencies or if there is a fire ban). We have two types of grills. The propane grill is super convenient but we also purchased this Wolf and Grizzly grill that allows you to have a campfire anywhere! You can easily take it hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, or really anywhere! It’s so fun to set up a small campfire wherever you are.
Propane Camp Stove
Wolf and Grizzly Stove
There are so many other small things that you can take camping, but these are my top Colorado camping essentials for a comfy and fun camping trip in Colorado! Do you have anything else that you absolutely can’t live without when you are camping? Let me know in the comments below!
