There’s something truly special about extending a beautiful Southern California hike into an overnight camping trip, or even just making those well-deserved trail breaks a bit more comfortable and enjoyable. While minimalist hiking has its place, adding a few key pieces of gear focused on meals, drinks, a good night’s sleep, and general campsite convenience can elevate your outdoor experience from simply enduring to thoroughly enjoying.
We’ve gathered a list of items that have become staples for us when we’re looking to add that extra touch of comfort to our SoCal adventures, whether it’s a hot drink on a chilly morning or a cozy setup under the stars.
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Trailside & Campside Brews & Bites: Easy Meal Prep
A warm drink or a simple hot meal can be incredibly satisfying after a few hours on the trail or when setting up camp.
- Our Go-To Stove System: We use our Jetboil (1.4-Litre) Backpacking Camping Stove absolutely everywhere. This portable cooking system with its Piezo ignition is fantastic for quickly boiling water. Whether it’s for our morning chicory, a dehydrated meal, or just some hot water to warm up, it’s a reliable and efficient piece of kit for hiking, fishing, and any outdoor cooking need.
- Our Favorite Trail Brew: Speaking of chicory, if you’re looking for a coffee alternative, we’re fans of this chicory from India. It’s easy to prepare with the Jetboil and makes for a comforting, warm beverage.
- Campsite Can Opener: While we keep this in our car kit (as mentioned in our “Beyond the Trailhead” post), the Beneno Can Opener is so useful for campsite meal prep that it’s worth mentioning here too. Its manual side-safe cut and comfortable grip mean you can forget about those frustrating classic can openers when preparing canned goods for your camp meals.
Hydration Solutions: Keeping Drinks Hot or Cold
Having the right vessels for your drinks, whether you’re craving an icy cold sip on a scorching desert trail or a warming brew on a chilly mountain morning, is absolutely key to staying hydrated and comfortable. But honestly, we found it surprisingly complicated to find reliable thermoses that don’t cost a fortune! We’ve tested so many relatively inexpensive options over the years – regardless of how aggressively they were advertised, the fancy technology they claimed, or their sleek designs, almost all of them ended up being returned. All, that is, except for these two keepers:
For Hot Beverages (and Shorter Hikes): This 15oz Insulated Water Bottle/Stainless Steel Vacuum Coffee Cup has become our trusty companion and is often perfectly sufficient for less intense hikes or when we just need a few good cups of something warm. We especially love that it has a cap you can drink directly from, which is incredibly convenient for hot beverages like our chicory or tea. In our experience, it keeps the brew scalding hot for a solid 4-6 hours, and it’s still pleasantly warm (though not piping hot anymore, to be fair) even after sitting overnight. Durability-wise, this little thermos has impressed us – it even survived an accidental (of course!) tumble onto hard stones, and only very recently, after lots of use, has a tiny leak appeared between the thermos body and the internal screw. For the price and performance, it’s been a winner.
For All-Day Hydration (Hot or Cold): When we need to carry more cold water for a long day out, or if we want to bring along a larger quantity of hot water (perhaps to dilute concentrated coffee, tea, or chicory from the smaller thermos), the Trebo 32oz Insulated Water Bottle is our go-to. Now, I wouldn’t say it’s the thermos of my absolute dreams, no, but it has some very practical advantages that have earned it a permanent spot in our gear. Critically for us, it actually fits in our car’s cup holder despite its generous size! Plus, it comes with a paracord handle that isn’t just sturdy but also simply beautiful. Performance-wise, it reliably keeps drinks cold for up to a day and hot for up to 8 hours, which is pretty decent for most of our needs.
Evening Ambiance & Warmth (Responsibly!)
Enjoying the evening at a campsite often means creating a bit of warmth and light, especially keeping SoCal’s fire regulations in mind.
- Portable Outdoor Fire Pit: This is a must-have in many SoCal parks where on-land campfires are strictly prohibited by law. The Lineslife 17in Portable Outdoor Fire Pit is, in our experience, the most portable of all other models. It can be a little tricky to combine the pieces at first, but it’s definitely doable, and its heavy-duty stainless steel construction means you can enjoy a wood-burning fire responsibly where permitted.
- The Versatile Wool Blanket: We can’t say enough good things about the Arcturus Military Wool Blanket. Maybe it’s not made of 100% whole-hair wool, but it’s incredibly cheap, heavy, sturdy, and importantly, non-flammable, so you can sit close to the campfire (or your portable fire pit!) without worry. It’s huge (64in x 88in), so if you fold it in half, it’s very warm. And despite what a few online reviews might say, the ones we’ve had do not smell awful at all! It’s great for general warmth, as a ground cover, or an extra layer in your tent.
A Comfier Night’s Sleep (and More!)
Protecting your gear and getting a decent night’s sleep can make all the difference on an overnight trip.
- Foam Sleeping Pad/Ground Cover: The ground in SoCal, especially in desert and rocky areas, is always harsh and ruthless for a tent bottom. We always put this WOLF WALKER Moisture-Proof Foldable Double Closed Cell Foam Sleeping Pad under our tent to prevent it from fast wear-and-tear. It’s lightweight, designed for two people (or one with extra space), and we’ve found it’s also extremely useful to prop up as a windbreak to hide the Jetboil from gusts while cooking!
Freshening Up on the Go: Camp Hygiene Helpers
Staying relatively clean and comfortable, even on rustic trips, is achievable with a few smart items.
- Compressed Towel Tablets: These Premium Compressed Towel Tablets are a good thing to have always available. They expand into large bath-sized towels (55.1 in x 27.5 in) with a bit of water and are reusable. Perfect for travel, camping, sports, or any situation where a quick towel is needed.
- Water-Activated Bathing Cloths: For those times when a full wash isn’t possible, The Pharma-C Company Water-Activated Bathing Cloths are great for emergency cases at camping or just freshening up.
Investing in a few key items to enhance your comfort around the campsite or during your trail breaks can transform your SoCal outdoor adventures. It’s not about luxury, but about smart, practical choices that help you relax, refuel, and rest well, so you’re ready for whatever the next day’s trail brings.
Enjoy those cozy campfire evenings and well-earned trailside brews!