Perfect Kit for Camp Organization

Squish sleeping bags, store kitchen supplies or arrange smaller gear cubes into one of these soft-sided mega bins. Available in 140-, 100- and 60-liter options, these supersized stuff haulers from REI Co-op feature structured foam panels that add stability to the fabric walls for simplified loading and unloading. Made of recycled polyester with a heavy-duty recycled nylon bottom, the bins hold up even when loads get heavy, and top and side handles make it a cinch to maneuver out of your car to your campsite. Rain’s no issue thanks to a water-resistant durable water repellent (DWR) finish made without PFAS. Back home, collapse the bin flat for streamlined storage. 

Don’t let cooking utensils, power banks and first-aid supplies shake, rattle and roll around in the back seat. Instead, organize these smaller necessities in a convenient packing cube like the Trailgate from REI Co-op. Its durable polyester fabric and sturdy mesh lid withstand wear and tear while still allowing you a view inside. A DWR finish (made without PFAS) sheds light moisture and deters stains. Cubes come in 25-, 15- and 10-liter options, all designed for compatibility with the REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin (not included).

The 4-foot-long gear line from Nite Ize is the organization gadget you didn’t know your tent (or garage, shed or basement) needed. Simply attach either end of the woven fabric to hooks, knobs or tree branches using the two included Gear Tie reusable twist ties. Then hang wet or sweaty layers for air-drying, or keep necessary equipment—like headlamps, helmets or hats—handy and off the ground. Ten individual, S-shaped carabiners (five are 2 inches long and five are 4 inches long) open easily and close securely. Hang the whole kit vertically when space or attachment points are limited.

Most tents today feature at least an interior pocket or two, but if you need a bit more space for items like playing cards or sunglasses, string up this hanging tent organizer from Marmot. The compressible, mesh caddy weighs a scant 2.2 ounces and, at 6.5 by 13 inches expanded, takes up about the space of a birdhouse. Two open-mouthed compartments fit your smartphone and flashlight and an additional slip pocket on the bottom perfectly stores a phone or journal.

Separate your dusty, damp or smelly clothes from fresh ones using a thoughtfully designed packing cube from Thule. This dual-use go-bag has a grab (or hang) handle plus an odor-limiting, moisture-deterring TPU divider to sort pristine from dirty. And that easy-to-clean fabric divider has enough give to allow you to customize compartment size: You can add more room as your soiled pile grows. Semitransparent, moderately durable, bluesign®-approved ripstop nylon material repels water. Premium YKK zippers open wide for packing and hold strong when overpacking.

Stowing leftovers, homemade trail mix or a packed lunch is convenient with this food storage container from YETI. The BPA-free receptacle is airtight and leakproof to keep your food fresh and the inside of your cooler clean. In charge of camp snacks? Pack several vessels with pre-sliced veggies, fruit, dip and other finger foods. Simply pop the lids off once you’re at camp and dig in. For bigger portions, consider the medium or large size.

Single-use plastic bags make food storage easy, but they’re unfortunately—and unnecessarily—hard on the environment. Enter this 32-ounce reusable (and microwave-safe!) wonder from OXO. Just a bit smaller than a tissue box, the silicone bag stands upright for easy access and seals tightly to lock contents in and keep dust out. It’s made from a flexible material that folds flat when storing. This 32-ounce version is enough to fit a Nalgene worth of dried pasta or party-size amount of candy-coated chocolates, but there are 12-ounce, sandwich-sized 28-ounce, and 64-ounce options too.

Variety is the spice of life, so if you’re shaking up your scenery spending a night in the wild, don’t resign yourself to a bland meal. With this stackable set from the kitchen geniuses at OXO, you can pack your preferred collection of curry, cumin and other seasonings in one of the four 3.2-ounce spice shakers. Need barbecue sauce and honey mustard for your flame-grilled burgers? Pack condiments in the two 3-ounce, leakproof squeeze bottles. Another 6-ounce, leakproof squeeze bottle is ready for olive oil. All seven dishwasher-safe containers have slow- and quick-pour openings to ensure just-right flavoring.

Any chef who preaches mise en place is sure to appreciate this 10-pocket galley to go from Kelty. Roughly the size of a daypack when closed, the hangable, water-resistant kitchen organizer uses a U-zip opening for easy access, enhanced structure and depth. Inside, three zippered compartments sewn into the lid can house sheathed knives, spatulas and tongs, as well as small spice containers or cutlery. Stash a cutting board and camp plates into the two interior slip pockets, extra-long utensils into the four side pockets (two inside and two outside) and anything else (a YETI Rambler Cocktail Shaker, perhaps?) in the gear hauler’s gaping maw. A cord strung across the bottom is designed to hold paper towels but doubles as a dishcloth drying line. 

You might not be able to bring everything on your next camping trip, but you will have the kitchen sink if you bring this four-piece set from OXO. Two bins—one 5.6 inches deep for soaking and sudsing, the second slightly shallower for rinsing—have handles for easy transport and silicone stoppers for draining water (just make sure to follow Leave No Trace principles). Removable filters keep larger food particles in the bin so you can dispose of them separately. You can dry dishware in the rack, which is grooved to increase airflow, and store cutlery in the attachable utensil holder. For transport, nest all four dishwasher-safe elements and secure them together using the locking handles.

Watertight seal thanks to a silicone lid gasket? Check. Modular, stacking storage that slips into your pack’s water bottle pocket or hangs from a secure handle? Yep. BPA-free materials that are FDA-approved for food storage? Definitely. This quartet of small (or medium) yet mighty containers from humangear is ready to transport precut onions, homemade sauces, candy bites and more with twist-to-open tops—no wrenching or struggling necessary, even with frozen fingers. Plus, the cylindrical silhouette means zero hard-to-clean sharp angles.

From travel and camping gear innovator Matador comes a new take on the standard toiletry bottle. Designed to pack flat (as the name implies), this 3-ounce container trio uses a leakproof, welded nylon construction to securely tote shampoo, face wash and other liquids, gels or pastes. Translation: You can remove “scoop goop out of backpack” from your post-camping checklist. Each bottle in a pack is a different color, but you can still denote their contents using the included labels to avoid shampooing your face.

Carry your daily medications, supplements or a few just-in-case doses of Vitamin I in this splashproof, reliably built aluminum pill canister from Matador. Roughly the length of a paring knife, the BPA-free, food-safe container opens with a gentle pull from the top or a push from either top or bottom. Inside, seven numbered compartments organize pills by type or day of the week.

A camping trip is no excuse for giving dental hygiene a day off. Instead, count this lightweight, hideaway toothbrush from Adventure Ready among your toiletries. The brush head stows inside an aluminum tube large enough to fit both the brush and a travel-size toothpaste (sold separately). Unscrew the top to reveal an attached brush head, then reattach from the other end to create a full-size, easy-grip toothbrush. A second, smaller compartment at the base of the brush head is large enough to hold medication, toothpaste tablets or, for a gold star from your dentist, a bundle of floss.

Keep your teeth and the earth a little cleaner by reducing single-use plastic in your hygiene routine. This two-pack of Matador reusable toothpaste tubes comes in TSA-approved sizes: a 0.74 ounce for weeklong trips and a 1.18 ounce for two-week excursions. Each has a vapor barrier and multilayer construction that prevents contents from drying out. Cleaning is as easy as tossing the tubes in the dishwasher.

Take your bathroom must-haves camping with this burrito-size shower roll from REI Co-op. The entire abrasion-resistant, water-repellent package hangs by the same webbing used to wrap it. Its trifecta of zippered pockets includes one mesh pouch great for air-drying small bottles bound to get wet (think shampoo and shower gel containers); one solid pocket for organizing personal items; and a removable, see-through section for quick-grab essentials. A small mirror attaches to the hook-and-loop panel near the shower roll’s top and hides away in a minimal slip pocket.