Solo Camper Shares Her Favorite REI Finds in Time for Camping Season

Solo camping isn't for everyone, least of all for the first-time camper. But if you're confident and well-versed in your camping skills and content to have only yourself as company, there's nothing to compare with the peace of having the great outdoors all to yourself.

Of course, if you're camping solo, that means you've gotta be doubly prepared for anything you might face out in the great wide open. Jacey West is one such solo camper who recently took herself on a long car camping trip, accompanied by a hatchback full of REI camping gear. Jacey shared a few of her faves from her solo camping trip, just in time for us folks at home to start planning for camping season. Time to take some notes:

If you're camping solo like @jaceywest , your camping gear needs to be lightweight and compact, yet durable enough to handle the elements. As always, REI has some great finds to fit that bill perfectly, making this gear great for any kind of camping trip, solo or otherwise!

Related: Couple's REI Tent Goes Airborne During Camping Trip and Video Goes Viral

Since Jacey went "car camping" on her road trip , she didn't have to worry about packing a pup tent, which made a little more room for her to pack up the makings of a cozy backseat camp bed, starting with...

The Exped Megamat Duo 10 Sleeping Pad

Whether you're sleeping in a tent or in a car, a nice air mattress is the foundation of any good camp bed. At only 4 inches thick, the Exped Megamat Duo 10 Sleeping Pad is designed with compact camping spaces in mind - there's even a vehicle fit guide to help you pick which size to buy for your car camping adventure. Insulated with polyurethane foam to keep it warm and cozy and equipped with a mini-pump for easy inflation, this sleeping pad is primo for solo camping convenience. Even at their smallest size (the 72"x41" medium double) the Duo 10 Sleeping Pad can fit up to two at a time - but Jacey was happy to have it all to herself).

REI Co-Op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag

To top off her car camping bed, Jacey brought out the REI Co-Op Magma 15 Sleeping Bag . At $429, it's an undeniably costly buy, but with that cost comes quality. The sleeping bag, made from recycled water-repellent nylon stuffed with goose down, is designed to keep its occupants snug and cozy in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit (though its tested lower limit is 9 degrees).

The Magma 15 Sleeping Bag has a lot of other great features, including interior stash pockets and an insulated yoke to fill the neck and shoulder gap to prevent heat loss in cold conditions. For a little more comfort and variety, Jacey topped off her car sleeping setup with a pair of puffy camping blankets from Rumpl.

Finishing off the Car Camping Kit

These core essentials made up Jacey's car bed and were arguably the most important part of her kit, keeping her comfortable on her long nights under the stars. To turn her car sleeping setup into a real campsite, she also brought some MPowered Solar String Lights for stylish illumination, an REI Co-Op Classic Lawn Chair to kick back in, and an REI Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler for stowing snacks and drinks without taking up too much space. Oh, and some Counter Assault Bear Spray , because you can never be too vigilant about bear safety , especially when you're camping solo.

Though these items were ideal for Jacey's car camping trip, these are all quality picks that would work just as well in any other camping context. No matter what kind of camping trip you've got planned, investing in comfort, durability, and safety with your gear is always a sound decision. I may not have any solo adventures planned anytime soon, but I'm determined to go camping this autumn, and I'm coming back to Jacey's list before my next REI trip!

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