We Asked an Overlanding Expert About Essential Car Camping Gear—These Are His Top 6 Must-Haves
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When you point your wheels off the pavement and head into the wilderness, you’re putting a lot of trust in your outdoor gear. Your vehicle has to take you where you want to go, of course, but you also need camping equipment and tools that’ll keep you safe, comfortable, and help you out of a jam. Choosing the right car camping gear often feels like a best-guess scenario: If you haven’t used it before, how do you know it’ll work when you need it?
That’s when it pays to talk to an expert. Men's Journal spoke to Bryce Drobny, a Southern California-based cinematographer who built out his 1993 Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser into a go-anywhere adventure rig, to get his take on the best car camping gear.
Drobny has explored all over the Western U.S. in his truck, documenting his experience on social media platforms like Instagram, and he’s learned some valuable lessons about gear along the way. We asked him about the essentials—tested gear he recommends for any car camping setup. No matter what you drive or where you’re headed, according to Drobny, these picks will serve you well.
Wera Tool-Check Plus 2, $149 on Amazon
It doesn’t matter if you’re venturing far into BLM land or just cruising the interstate: “Every car should have a tool set in it,” Drobny says. This is his favorite set. It features both a ¼-inch ratchet and a handheld bit driver along with a set of color-coded sockets and a wide array of color-coded bits—perfect for handling most wrenching tasks that might pop up while on the road. Everything slots together into a secure case, and at just 7.5 inches long when packed up, it’s easy to fit inside a trunk or cargo area.
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Pact Outdoors Outdoor Bathroom Kit, $50 at REI
Amid all the shiny overlanding gear on the market these days, a well-thought-out bathroom setup can easily get overlooked. But don’t skimp on these essentials, Drobny says. He particularly likes this all-in-one option from Pact Outdoors.
“This is an awesome kit to keep in the car that has some extra goodies to make sure people aren’t leaving a lasting mark on the environment,” he explains.
The kit includes basics like a shovel for digging a hole and hand sanitizer for cleanup, but it also includes some really smart additions, like dehydrated toilet paper pellets (a splash of water turns each one into a usable wipe) and mycelium tabs that break down waste faster once it’s in the ground.
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Rhino USA Folding Survival Shovel w/Pick, $29 on Amazon
Amazon’s No. 1 bestselling camping shovel is also Drobny’s pick for his rig. Out in the backcountry, a shovel has all kinds of uses, from properly smothering a campfire with dirt to getting a vehicle unstuck from mud or snow, Drobny says. Made from burly carbon steel, this shovel offers exceptional strength in a compact package—it folds up for storage and weighs just 2 pounds. Better yet, the D-handle makes it comfortable to grip, the blade includes a serrated edge for sawing, and you can set the blade at a 90-degree angle and use it like a hoe for leveling dirt.
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Nocs Standard Issue 8 x 25 Waterproof Binoculars, $100 at REI
Think binoculars are just for birders? Once you bring a pair on your next camping trip, you’ll never leave home without ‘em. “They come in handy way more than you’d think,” Drobny notes—you can use them to scout rough sections of road up ahead, look for campsites, and get a closer look at plants and wildlife. He keeps a pair of these Nocs 8x25 binos in his truck, and they’re great for camping. They’re waterproof, feature a durable and grippy rubber exterior, and the fully multicoated, nitrogen-filled optics offer a crisp, fog-free view.
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Wolfbox Jump Starter and Air Compressor Bundle, $150 (was $230) on Amazon
Getting stranded with a flat tire or a dead battery is always a hassle, but when you’re off the grid, an inconvenience like that can quickly become dangerous. That’s why Drobny travels with this jump starter/air compressor combo. With its powerful 24000mAh battery, it can jump-start gas engines up to 10 liters of displacement, and it also includes a built-in flashlight for illuminating your work area. Got a flat tire or need to air up your tires once you hit the pavement? Put it in air compressor mode, and the digital readout makes it easy to get the tire pressure you need.
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Oyster Tempo Cooler Bundle, $495 at REI
Is it spendy? Yes. But in Drobny’s view, there’s no better cooler: “It really works as well as a fridge and will keep things cold for days.” Men’s Journal Gear Editor Adam Bible agreed in his review. The Tempo is unlike any other cooler you’ve used. Instead of molded plastic stuffed with bulky insulation, it’s made from double-walled aluminum with a vacuum in between. Not only is it lighter than traditional coolers, but it also cools down faster and maintains its temperature longer. While it might not be as durable as a rotomolded option, it’s an all-around better way to keep your food and drinks fresh.
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