J’adore – Beach Camping Essentials

Basic camping equipment isn't hard to figure out, but once you've got that, the gear you take wholly depends on the environment you are going to be in. I am all about minimalism, but when it comes to camping, I do need a certain level of comfort, and that means gadgets and equipment!

We all know that beach camping is a lot of fun. You get to enjoy the great outdoors, but also have access to the ocean! If you are going on a beach camping trip for the first time, you may not be sure what gear you need. In this blog post, I am sharing some essential equipment for beach camping that you should consider bringing along on your next adventure.

Of course, all these products are awesome for all kinds of camping, not just beach camping, but since beach camping is the type of camping we have been doing as of late, including most recently at Cape Lookout, I have bucketed them as beach camping must-haves!

Before we start, these items have been gifted (all opinions still remain my own and not everything gifted made the cut). 

SPARTER Portable Soft Cooler

When it comes to beach camping, the SPARTER Portable Soft Cooler is a must-have addition to your gear lineup. Its innovative design keeps contents cold for an impressive 4-7 days, making it ideal for extended stays by the shore. It comfortably holds up to 12 cans alongside 17 pounds of ice, ensuring you have refreshing drinks at hand throughout your beachside adventures.

The cooler's zipper guarantees 100% leak-proof performance, ideal for preventing any messes in sandy environments. Built tough with high-density fabric, it's puncture and abrasion-resistant, capable of withstanding the rigors of outdoor use.

For beach campers looking to keep beverages chilled and ready without compromise, the SPARTER Soft Cooler is the reliable companion you need. We use ours all the time and love it!

Where to Buy: Available on the Level8 site or on Amazon.

Coalatree’s Kachula Adventure Blanket

This is the ONLY blanket you will ever need for camping, beach, or otherwise! The Kachula is not only perfect for any camping trip, but take it to a festival or concert, on a picnic, family road trip or adventure, international vacation (trust me, it is light enough for a suitcase), and more. It stuffs into itself making a great pillow. There is a snap-on hood that you can use to make it a wearable poncho. It is spill-resistant too!

Best part? It is Eco-friendly, made of nylon flannel (top) and ripstop nylon (bottom), both made from 100% recycled materials!

Where to Buy: Available in the Coalatree store on Amazon or on the Coalatree site.

Mosi Tea Infuser

[Gifted] Beverages are a huge part of our camping adventures. The right tea or coffee and make the trip and the container it goes into is just as important! We just got an awesome tea infuser and cold brew infuser from Mosi, a local company in the Raleigh-Durham area (woot), and cannot wait to take them out for a ride.

Sierra Design's Deluxe Collapsible Wagon

[We have our Tepui tent on top of our truck so you may wonder why the heck we would want a wagon for… Well, there are lots of times, often driven by Mr. Misadventures photographic activities where I find myself hauling more than what I can carry on my back. Like on a recent camping trip at Cape Lookout where we did a sunset shoot at the lighthouse a mile away from our campsite. We had to walk up the main road which is all sand and besides photo equipment, I also brought a chair and a few other items that I carried there and back. It would have been so much easier to pull the wagon. 

When we don't camp directly on the beach, we camp at beach campsites that are on one side of the dunes. To access the beach you have to walk over the dunes with all the stuff you want for the beach in which case the Deluxe Collapsible Wagon from Sierra Designs is a godsend!

Where to Buy: Available at Target, not yet on Amazon in the Sierra Design store, but I am sure it will show up there soon enough!

AlpenGlow Lantern from BioLite

Having good lighting is important when camping. Mr. Misadventures and I always have a variety of lightning in the form of headlamps, lanterns, etc. We aren't that into the traditional flashlight (you need your hands!) and prefer these other types of lighting devices. We camp at the beach because we love the dark skies that really make you feel like you are far away.

That means creating our own light for the atmosphere and for utility. I was really lucky to get my hands on an AlpenGlow 500 re-chargeable lantern before they are publicly available. This 500 Lumen (a lumen is a measurement for the total amount of visible light from a light source) multicolor USB lantern is amazing!

Coming back from our sunset shoot at the Cape Lookout lighthouse, we had our headlamps for the journey, but once we got back to camp and realized that we needed to take down our shade tent for the night, we needed extra light to make that happen. AlpenGlow to the rescue.

We always hang a lantern from the top of our tent until we are ready to go to sleep as well. Also, living on the East Coast power grid has been an adjustment with frequent power outages, we have been using the AlpenGlow to light up any room that we are sitting in while we wait for the lights to come back on!

Some of its features:

• 8 Light Modes including party mode, candle flicker mode, and fireworks mode
• Accelerometer – changes speeds and light modes with a shake of the unit
• A runtime of 200 hours on Low and 5 hours on High
• It charges your cell phone and small electronic devices
• Burntime: 200 hours on Low, 5 hours on High
• I have the AlpenGlow 500 but it also comes in a smaller version, the AlpenGlow 250

Where to Buy: Available on the Bio Lite Energy site (pre-order)  coming to REI and Amazon towards the end of July.

Flatpack Grill and Fire Pit

I LOVE this product so much!  I wish we had this when we were RVing. We opted not to have a fire pit because of weight limitations, but this Flatpack Grill and Fire Pit from UCO Gear is tiny! Who knew you could have a fold-up grill??!! This baby fits in its own canvas case and practically disappears, yet it is durable enough to hold your firewood and food if you cook on it. No bonfires allowed on the beach? No problem with this gadget! 

Where to Buy: Available on the UCO Gear website or Amazon.

Eldris LightDuty Blade

Mr. Misadventures is the go-to guy when it comes to the outdoors. He packs our stuff, loads our car, and makes sure we have everything we need. I am in charge of myself. This means packing my trusty Osprey backpack with my own essentials. One thing I have been missing for the longest time is a small knife that I can have on hand for “small jobs.” I am scared to death of blades that flip open, being as clumsy as I am, slicing off a finger is one misadventure I want to avoid.

This is why I am in love with my new Eldris LightDuty from Morakniv! I got the blue one, isn't it pretty! Now I can slice and dice while camping. I can safely add the cover and it fits into my gear that I pack into my backpack!

Where to Buy: The Morakniv website or Amazon.

UCO 6 Piece Mess Kit

Mr. Misadventures and I prefer to use reusable dishware. We use glass containers for our food and mess kits like the UCO 6 Piece Mess Kit to eat on rather than paper plates, etc. The kit is designed to make your camp life a little bit easier. It includes 6 pieces, including the spork and collapsible cup so you can enjoy any meal on-the-go (also great for the office!).

This dishwasher-safe, microwave-friendly kit is leakproof and lightweight. The kit also comes in different colors that are perfect for anyone who wants their gear to reflect their personality. I have always been “team spork” now I got the whole kit!

Bonus…When it comes time for your meal to end, collapse down the Camp Cup inside of both plates then tether everything together using their shock cord which is also perfect for longer journeys outdoors without having any worries about losing anything along the way.

Where to Buy: Available on the UCO Gear website, the REI website, or Amazon.

Cooling Cuffs

Hear me out on this one! A new discovery and I am using them in all kinds of ways, including camping! My new addiction? Cooling Cuffs! Picture this. Coming back from a hike, a photoshoot hauling equipment, a walk on the beach and you are hot, yuck! Open up your cooler and grab them, throw them on your wrist, and voilà instant cool down! Cooling Cuffs are designed to keep your body cool and comfortable. They're perfect for outdoor activities or just staying cool all summer long.

I'm telling you, there is nothing better to cool after setting up camp than to grab one of these babies and relax! Now all I need is a mini cooler where I can stock a pair of these to wear mid-hike! Also helpful on days when you don't want to crank the AC but need some chill!

Where to Buy: Available on Amazon.

Cape Lookout Dog Leash + Collar

Don't forget the leash to secure your dog while camping. Your pup can run wild on most beaches but will need to be attached at the campsite and at night. Why not extend the nautical theme with this lighthouse-inspired collection: leash and collar?

That's it! My new favorite beach camping essentials are my current must-haves when we pack up all the camping equipment and head to the shore!

And if you are camping with your dog, here is a planner to help you stay organized for your 4-legged friend ($2.99)

What about you? Got something to add to my beach gear list? Do share!

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