In the Bag:
Camping Essentials

The North Face’s Minibus 23

Chances are pitching a tent isn’t your favorite part of the camping trip. In fact, I can recall many a quarrel with the ex over which pole goes where while we’re supposed to be relaxing in the wilderness. Leave it to The North Face to make things stylishly simple: The Minibus 23 is a tent for two with a color coded pole system and two zippered exits on each side of the tent – it’s quite a luxury when you don’t have to stumble over your significant other for a midnight bathroom break. For camping pros, the pluses of a Jake’s foot pole holder and DAC ball cap poles won’t be underappreciated when it comes to ease of setup. Plus, it’s super lightweight and pretty darn portable. Retail for this tent is suggested at $359. http://www.thenorthface.com

REI Halo +40 Sleeping Bag

At home, you entrust your beauty sleep to high thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. Why should you sacrifice a little luxury when it comes to camping? Check out REI’s Halo +40 sleeping bag. It may not be from the Nile, but the silk-like polyester and high quality goose down with spoil you while you’re sticking it out in the woods. A cool bonus: there’s a chest pocket that stores all the stuff you need handy. For example, a compact mirror and some make-up so you can look as polished in the morning wilderness as you do stepping from your well stocked vanity. Up the comfort factor even more by boosting the cushioning with REI’s self inflating pad – a simple twist of two valves and the thing inflates itself, no pumping or blowing required. Sleeping bags run about $199, a 3.5 inch inflatable pad will cost you about $109. http://www.rei.com

Tasty Bite

Hot dogs? Hamburgers? Chili? If your stomach churns just thinking about traditional camp food, we’d like to introduce you to Tasty Bite. These ready to eat, shelf stable meal makers come in tantalizing, Indian inspired flavors, like Channa Masala, slow cooked chickpeas with tomatoes, onions, and spices, or Vegetable Korma, veggies in a curry sauce. Heat up each package, pour over rice and voila! Gourmet for your “glamping” expedition. From $2.99. http://www.tastybite.com