There are two seasons in Florida - the pleasant one and the extreme heat that feels deadly. I go camping monthly regardless, but half the year I stay at sites with power to use AC. Otherwise, it is off the grid. Florida offers several free car camping spots without hookups if you know the locations. Similar resources exist for finding such sites across the country.

By car camping I mean both sleeping inside a vehicle and pitching a tent at a drive-up spot. The gear overlaps when operating without electrical or water connections. My own setup uses a 23-year-old Dodge Ram 1500 fitted with a topper. The bed holds a raised platform, rug, toilet, cabinet, and television.

The rig runs independently in the woods. Stored power covers everything except an air conditioner. I also pack reliable sleeping bags, full cooking tools, safety items, and spare tents. Space remains for ample water and food supplies.

My power bank

I rely on the Oupes Mega 1 power station to supply electricity during cooler months. This 2000W, 1024Wh unit lasts a couple of days. I keep it charged with 300W of foldable solar panels. It easily runs a laptop, fans, phones, and a television. It cannot handle nonstop air conditioning, which is why I choose powered sites in summer. One day I will try camping somewhere cooler than Florida, such as the surface of the sun.

The unit has survived heat, rough handling, and occasional drops yet continues to work. My only complaint is that add-on batteries cost more than the base unit. I rate the Oupes Mega 1 an 8 out of 10.

My sleeping bag, and why everyone should have a good one

A quality sleeping bag is the best way to stay warm at night and is essential for off-grid use. Some rely on portable heaters, but that carries risk in a confined space. A bag rated for the expected low temperature is safer and equally effective.

I use a Bigfoot Outdoor Lumberjack bag rated to 43 degrees Fahrenheit and give it a perfect 10. Northerners may laugh at that rating, yet even on colder Florida nights the bag keeps me warm except for my head. If layered clothing works during the day where you camp, try an appropriately rated bag before buying a heater. Bigfoot Outdoor Products may no longer operate, but the advice remains: choose a good sleeping bag.

Food prep utensils

Cooking outdoors can feel like work or part of the experience. I treat it as a chore yet enjoy good meals too much to live on packaged food. The right tools help.

I value my Wesqunie Camping Cookware Utensils Set highly. It includes a corkscrew, can opener, knives, tongs, ladle, spatula, whisk, brush, scissors, grater, peeler, salt and pepper shakers, silverware, roasting sticks, barbecue tools, and a cutting board. Everything packs into one compact bag. I award it a 10 out of 10 and suggest it before buying items separately.

I also carry a pot, pan, collapsible basin, and the Pacilack single-burner butane stove. The stove has only two settings and its case smelled of chemicals for weeks. I rate it 4 out of 10.

My most important piece of camping gear - my toilet

Anyone who can skip bathroom visits for days has an easy plan: step outside. The rest of us must dig a hole or bring a toilet.

Some accept a bucket with a liner. Others choose composting units that occupy space and attract insects. I avoid both. Instead I use the Phabules Portable Camping Toilet. It features separate tanks for flush water and waste. After the trip the lower tank empties at a dump station. I consider this my top piece of gear and rate it 10 out of 10. Pair it with Walex Bio-Pak or Porta-Pak treatments for odor control, also rated 10.

Tents

I recently added a UNP Outdoor 6-person SUV tent that attaches to the rear of an open vehicle. It fits my truck bed and topper well and sets up without much trouble. The rainfly covers only the roof, so open windows during storms lead to wet floors. I rate it 7 out of 10. Roof-top tents look appealing yet cost far more than ground tents, offer less room, and require climbing. I also keep a FLEXTAILGEAR pop-up privacy tent for showering or changing. It deploys quickly but lacks ventilation, so bring a fan in warm weather. Similar models remain available elsewhere.

Fans

I run a pair of fans in the truck bed while camping. The coldSky model features a rechargeable battery that lasts days and can charge phones. It oscillates, moves ample air, and includes a multi-mode light that doubles as a ceiling lamp. I rate it 9 out of 10. Power-tool brands sell comparable fans that use their cordless batteries, yet those units often exceed one hundred dollars. I would consider one only if I already owned matching batteries.

What are your favorite camping items? Let us know in the comments.