By Jonah Domsky and Louis Levin
With gift-giving season kicking off, lots of parents ask us what camping gear we would recommend for holiday gifts for a future big (or cabin!) tripper. While our official packing list is available in the spring, you can view last year’s packing list here in our 2024 parent handbook to see what your camper might need next season. Please know that we receive no affiliate commission for any of these links, and Camp Nebagamon does not endorse any individual brand or retailer. Most links below are to REI, but in many cases it may make more sense to go shopping for things like boots or hiking backpacks at a local brick-and-mortar camping outfitter.
If you have questions about the gear your camper needs for the summer, reach out to use at [email protected], [email protected], or give us a ring at the office — 715-374-2275!
Hiking Boots
- Trip Director Jonah’s notes — “Well fitting hiking boots are a must, as campers wear them on hiking and canoeing trips. Boots need good ankle support and should sit above ankle height. Non-waterproof boots dry faster, but it’s hard to find good ones. Make sure campers break them in before arriving at camp!
- Merrell Moab 3 Mid Hiking Boots – Men’s
- Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots – Men’s
- Salomon Quest 4 GORE-TEX Hiking Boots – Men’s
Louis’s notes — Aim for a backpack that’s a little less 1960s
Hiking Backpacks
- Jonah’s notes — “Osprey is my go-to brand, but fit and comfort is the most important factor. 6th and 7th graders need backpacks with capacity between 65-75 liters, 8th and 9th graders with 75-100 liters. Go for a bigger pack if it fits, although the most common issue for fit is the hip belt being too big.
- Osprey Aether 65 Pack – Men’s
- Gregory Baltoro 65 Pack – Men’s
- Gregory Baltoro 75 Pack – Men’s
- Osprey Aether Plus 85 – Men’s
Sleeping Bags
- Jonah’s notes — “Aim for a synthetic sleeping bag rated to at least 30F. (Higher temperature ratings are less warm.) Make sure the bag packs down small, a compression stuff sack is a plus.”
- NEMO Tempo 20 Synthetic Sleeping Bag – Men’s
- Mountain Hardware Lamina 30 Sleeping Bag
- NEMO Forte 20 Endless Promise Sleeping Bag – Men’s
Sleeping Pads
- Jonah’s notes — “Inflatable or foam both work fine. Foam will be less comfortable, but is much cheaper and will last forever.”
- Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
- Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Sleeping Pad
Rain Jackets
- Jonah’s notes — “Necessary gear for a camping trip. You don’t need to go crazy, but you get what you pay for both in features, comfort, and most importantly, protection from rain.”
- REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Men’s
- Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket – Men’s
Rain Pants
- Jonah’s notes — “Don’t spend a lot of money on rain pants, they tend to wear out pretty quickly. Zippers or buttons at the cuffs are useful for getting pants on over boots.
- Columbia Hazy Trail Rain Pants – Men’s
- Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants – Men’s
- Patagonia Men’s Torrentshell 3L Rain Pants – Regular
Headlamps
Louis’s notes — Sheesh, even 1990s looks uncomfortable!
- Jonah’s notes — “There are no outlets in the boundary waters; go for normal batteries, not rechargeable. Waterproof is a plus but not necessary.”
- Petzl Tikkina Headlamp
- Black Diamond Storm 450 Headlamp
Canoeing Dry Bags
- Jonah’s notes — “You can’t go wrong with the classic and durable 30 liter SealLine. Lighter-weight dry bags (like Sea-to-Summit brand) tend to be not as durable at a similar price point. Go durable; dry bags take a beating on portages.”
- SealLine Discovery Dry Bag – 30 Liters
- SealLine Baja Dry Bag – 30 Liter