Gear Gadget

Couples Camping Gear List

Two is the cheapest way to camp: you share the expensive things and only double the cheap ones. Here is the kit.

The kit for two: 9 items, ~$931

Midsize SUV or wagon, warm weather, cooking. Essential tier, Amazon prices, checked daily. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.

Tent

Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent

Fits:
3 person
Rating:
3-season+

~$299

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Sleeping Bag (x2)

Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag

Comfort to:
40°F
Fill:
Synthetic

~$80 each (x2)

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Sleeping Pad (x2)

Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

Warmth:
Cool nights (R 4.4)
Type:
Inflatable

~$73 each (x2)

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Cooler

Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler

Holds:
52 qt
Keeps ice:
3 days

~$55

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Camp Chair (x2)

Coleman Cooler Quad Chair

Packs:
Standard quad
Supports:
325 lbs
Seat:
Padded

~$35 each (x2) last checked Jan 30

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Camp Lighting

Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)

Brightness:
1000 lumens

~$43

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Headlamp

Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp

Brightness:
300 lumens
Power:
Rechargeable

~$10

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Camp Stove

Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove

Burners:
2
Fuel:
Propane

~$84

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Cook Set

Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set

Pieces:
12
Surface:
Steel

~$65

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Add all 9 to Amazon cart

One press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.

Open this kit in the builder - or the same kit as Starter (~$308) or Premium (~$1,527) .

What you share, what you each need

Buy one

  • Tent (3-person)
  • Cooler
  • Lantern
  • Stove and cookware

Buy two

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping pad
  • Camp chair
  • Headlamp

Four things couples get wrong

  • Get zip-together sleeping bags

    One left-zip and one right-zip of the same rectangular bag: together a double, apart they still work on warm nights.

  • A 3-person tent, not a 2-person

    A 2-person tent fits two people and nothing else - no bags, no shoes, no turning over. The 3-person costs $10-20 more.

  • Settle the stove before buying

    If one of you wants hot meals and the other is fine with sandwiches, decide first. A single burner is $25-50 and trunk space.

  • Match bags to sleepers, not to each other

    A cold sleeper and a warm sleeper want different bags - a 20°F and a 40°F, say. Nobody should sweat or freeze to match their partner.

Common questions

What size tent do two people need?
A 3-person tent. A 2-person fits two adults and nothing else; the 3-person gives you room for bags and shoes without being oversized.
Do we need two sleeping bags or can we share one?
One each. Many rectangular bags zip together into a double, so buy two compatible bags if you want that option on cold nights.
How much does a couples camping setup cost?
About $258 at Starter, $782 at Essential and $1,249 at Premium at today's Amazon prices. Two is the cheapest group size: you share the tent, cooler, lighting and stove and only double the bags, pads and chairs.
Can two people camp out of one small car?
Yes. With compact picks, a couple's kit fits a sedan trunk with room to spare.
What size cooler for two people?
It depends on the car more than the couple. 28-35 quarts handles a weekend for two and fits a sedan trunk. With an SUV, wagon or truck, 45-52 quarts: the same food with room for ice to last. Bigger than 52 is overkill for two.

Not a midsize SUV, or not warm weather?

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