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 picks · ~$965

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

Different car or group? Adjust this kit →

Tent

Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent

Fits:
3 person
Rating:
3-season+

~$299

Check price on Amazon

Sleeping Bag (x2)

Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag

Rated to:
40°F
Fill:
Synthetic

~$73 each

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Sleeping Pad (x2)

Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad

Warmth:
Three seasons (R 4.4)
Type:
Inflatable

~$83 each

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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

~$40 each

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Camp Lighting

Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)

Brightness:
1000 lumens

~$50

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Headlamp (x2)

Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp

Brightness:
300 lumens
Power:
Rechargeable

~$10 each

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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 (~$414) or Premium (~$1,948) .

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 same tent one size up is $15 to $21 more today.

  • Settle the cooking before buying

    If one of you wants hot meals and the other is fine with sandwiches, decide first: cooking adds a stove and a cook set, $149 of this kit today.

  • 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?
The kit above, with cooking: about $414 at Starter, $965 at Essential and $1,948 at Premium using listed Amazon prices. You share the tent, cooler, lighting and stove, while each person needs a bag, pad and chair.
Can two people camp out of one small car?
Yes, with compact gear packed carefully. Check the trunk and packed item dimensions before buying.
What size cooler for two people?
It depends on the car more than the couple. In a sedan trunk the kit packs a 25-quart: 35 quarts or less fits beside the rest of the gear and handles a weekend for two. In an SUV, wagon or truck it packs a 52-quart, the same food with room for ice to last. Bigger than 52 is overkill for two.

Not a midsize SUV, or not warm weather?

Your group is filled in. Adjust the car, season and quality tier.

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