One of my favorite things to do, whether with family and friends or by myself, is to go camping. I especially love to camp during the fall. Being able to get outdoors and enjoy nature is great. But when you're always busy and constantly working on a project, camping is a way to force yourself not to work and to simply relax.

What my campsite looks like has changed over the years. From primitive camping in my younger days to pulling a self-built camper trailer now, the ethos remains to relax and enjoy the outdoors. I've been fortunate to test out a lot of great gear over the years. Some tools have become a staple in my setup, while others haven't.

Here are the five pieces of camping gear that have made it into my 2024 loadout, some necessary for survival and others for added convenience.

1. A power source

For my non-primitive camping, a power source, or more appropriately power sources, are vital. If I were only tent camping, I’d probably only bring a battery pack for my phone, like the Anker PowerCore III 10K or the BioLite Solar Panel 10+, since it is a solar panel with a 3,200mAh battery charger built-in.

But for longer camps or ones where I’m not “roughing” it, I like to bring along a portable power station. I really like the Anker Solix C800 Plus for its compact size, good power options and the two camping lights that are stored in the lid. If I think I’ll need even more power than the 1200W available in the C800 Plus, then I’ll take my Bluetti AC240P for the 3,600W of output. Plus, it is IP65 dust and water-resistant.

I haul batteries to use around the campsite and also to power my camper. My current setup uses the EcoFlow PowerKit with 15kWh power. Aside from the massive amount of available power, this system's overall capabilities are truly impressive. Everything in the system runs through a central hub that connects to a smart breaker panel, along with the available AC and DC circuits in the Smart Panel.

I have about 900W of solar panels on top of my camper to keep my system charged, but it can handle up to 4,800W from the sun, 1,000W from your vehicle's alternator and 3,000W of shore power. With this system, I can run my air conditioner, refrigerator, lights, TV, microwave, coffee pot or whatever else I may need.

2. A place to relax

After I get to the campsite and set up the necessities, it’s time to relax. When it comes to sitting around the campfire or sitting at all, I pull up my GCI Freestyle Rocker Chair. While the chair is quite a bit more expensive at $70 than your typical bag chair, it will last much longer. Aside from being durable, it is very comfortable and the rocking feature is excellent for relaxation.

When I really want to relax or sleep under the stars, I’ll quickly set up the Anymaka Portable Hammock. When I say quickly, I mean I can go from storage bag to sleeping in under three minutes. It has a very sturdy stand and supports up to 550 pounds. Accessories include a cup holder, a canopy for shade and a mosquito net for those stargazing evenings.

3. A prep station

If you are lucky enough to find a camping spot with a picnic table, you’re good to go for a spot to prep meals and put your stuff on. But if you’re like me and prefer to camp where it’s a bit farther from civilization, you’ll likely not have a table to use. This is why a table is a must-have in my camping gear loadout.

My table of choice is from the same company that makes my preferred chair -- the GCI Slim Fold Table. While there are many options for camping tables, I love this one because it is lightweight at only 26 pounds and sturdy with the ability to support up to 125 pounds. The table folds up nice and flat to a relatively compact 3.5" x 24.2" x 27.2", so it doesn’t take up much space, and the slatted design makes for easy cleanup.

4. Ambiance and cooking source

If there is one thing that is truly iconic to camping, it’s fire. It’s important to use something to contain your fire when camping to avoid embers accidentally igniting nature. While there are some great fire pits made for camping, such as the Solo Stove Mesa, they are more for warmth and ambiance and less for cooking. 

For a more compact option, you could go with a handy portable grill like the Burch Barrel Flat Packer.

However, I’ve been going with something that lets me have a place to cook and get ambiance: the BioLite FirePit+. What has made this become my go-to camping stove is the versatility in what it can do and the fuel. It can be used with either charcoal or firewood. There is a sliding grill grate for cooking on, and the mesh sides allow for excellent airflow for the fire. But if the mesh sides aren’t enough, then the battery pack on the end can power a fan to force air through tubes with holes to help fuel the fire. 

5. Something to light the way

When you are out in nature, it can get pretty dark out at night even with a full moon. This is why it’s important to have good light sources available. While I have light sources available in the Anker Solix C800 Plus, I always remember to keep some alternatives accessible. 

There are some great flashlights options out there, and it’s important to find one that serves your specific needs. I really like the Olight Baton3 Pro for the variety of light options, the 1,500 lumens of brightness, durability and the magnetic end. That end is great for attaching to objects to hold it in place, but when there’s nothing magnetic around the extra-long clip is great to have. 

I also try to have some sort of area light in my loadout. Lately, I’ve been taking the BioLite Alpenglow Lantern for this purpose. While it does have RGB lights and offers some fun effects, I like the long battery life with 200 hours of runtime on low and the dimmable and tunable white light. It’s great to have sitting on the table when eating or just providing some ambient light around the campsite. It also has a hook on the end to hang it up with.

These are the five pieces of camping gear I take with me on every trip. Your five may look different, and that’s what's so great about camping. You can customize your experience by where you go and what you take with you. This ever-evolving list will grow as new technology emerges and new equipment comes out. 

Many of CNET’s top-rated pieces of hiking gear are just as applicable to camping, so be sure to check out this list of the top hiking gadgets for 2024.