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The Best Camping Gear Stores

Where is the Best Place to Find Camping Gear?

Leaving your home to enjoy the great outdoors for a few days might mean leaving behind some of the conveniences of electricity, heating and A/C, plumbing, and other basic comforts. So, you'll need to find high-quality gear to keep you warm, make food, and stay sheltered on your camping trip. Whether it's a large tent or a camping stove, you'll want to get a few things before heading out.

Shopping online for all your camping gear needs is the best way to get your favorite brands, a good selection of products, and the top deals on everything. Rather than running from store to store trying to check off your list of camping essentials, kick back in the comfort of your home and browse retailers on the internet. As a perk, everything will get delivered straight to your door, so the only place you'll be heading is on your camping trip!

Saturday, September 30th

2023 Camping Gear Store Reviews

REI Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

REI

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

REI is one of the biggest outdoor gear suppliers online. They sell name-brand products in nearly every category of camping gear. REI has a generous return policy, high customer satisfaction, and offers unique adventures for their customers. Everything you'd hope for in a camping retailer can be found at REI, and we are confident that they will take care of all your outdoor needs.

Campman Review 4.5 Star Rating

Campman

4.5 Star Rating

Campman is an outdoor adventure store based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. They have a small niche of gear they sell that includes hiking, biking, climbing, fly fishing, and snow activities. Campman's inventory and business is smaller than of their competitors, but they have high customer satisfaction ratings and are frequently commended for their amazing customer service.

Bass Pro Shops Review 4.5 Star Rating

Bass Pro Shops

4.5 Star Rating

Bass Pro Shops has been a big player in the camping gear industry since 1971. They carry a long list of brands and plenty of products to choose from to satisfy all your outdoor needs. Bass Pro Shops has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and happy customers - as long as they actually receive their orders. The inventory reflected online may not always be accurate, so if you shop at Bass Pro Shops, be aware that they have had some hiccups with order fulfillment. This is the only reason they haven't earned a slightly higher rating from us.

Backcountry Review 4 Star Rating

Backcountry

4 Star Rating

Backcountry is a well-known outdoor company that carries not only a huge selection of camping equipment, but also gear for adventuring on land and water in all seasons. They are on the more expensive end of camping gear since they primarily carry name-brand products. You don't have to worry about the quality of items you receive here, but some customers have complained about shipping speeds and complicated return processes.

Wayfair Review 4 Star Rating

Wayfair

4 Star Rating

Wayfair is one of the largest home goods retailers online. They have hundreds of thousands of items to fit all your home and outdoor needs. One of the reasons this company is so popular is because of their discounted prices and free shipping over $35. The selection of camping gear at Wayfair includes name-brand and off-brand products that are sure to satisfy most of the needs you have before your next camping trip.

Bob Ward's Review 3.5 Star Rating

Bob Ward's

3.5 Star Rating

Bob Ward's is one of the oldest camping gear retailers in the industry. They started out as a family-owned business and have grown from selling watches to all outdoor sporting gear over the last 100 years. The website is less organized than other online retailers and they don't have as many name-brand items, but prices are decent and Bob Ward's seems to be an overall good company to work with.

CampSaver Review 2.5 Star Rating

CampSaver

2.5 Star Rating

CampSaver sells tens of thousands of products related to camping as well as nearly all other outdoor hobbies. They provide some major discounts on some of their items, but their website makes it hard to get an overall idea of what they have to offer since it is a bit messy and wordy. CampSaver's biggest downfall is the constant frustration customers have with their extremely slow delivery. This is definitely not the easiest or most reliable place to find camping gear.

Cabela's Review 2.5 Star Rating

Cabela's

2.5 Star Rating

Cabela's is one of the first companies many people think of when it comes to buying all things outdoor gear. From snowboarding to archery and rifles to camping, Cabela's has one of the biggest inventories of gear anywhere online. They were purchased in Bass Pro Shops in 2017 and have slowly moved into sharing an identity with them. Cabela's itself has an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau and doesn't seem to be having positive growth with customers. Unfortunately, they've fallen toward the bottom of the rankings for online camping gear stores.

Moosejaw Review 2 Star Rating

Moosejaw

2 Star Rating

Moosejaw is a rugged outdoor retailer with humorous marketing and poor customer service. Although they have a vast selection of camping gear, they don't seem to be any less expensive than competitors and their poor customer reviews don't give us any reason to be excited about their company. There are definitely better, more reliable places to purchase high-quality outdoor gear than Moosejaw.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

By being able to compare the price of different items between retailers, you can easily stay within a budget when shopping for sleeping bags, shoes, cookware, backpacks, food, and all the other necessities for outdoor survival. You can keep an eye out for sitewide sales and discount codes to get the best prices on name-brand items. It's easy to do a lot of research about what you're buying online, which is important since the camping gear you purchase will likely be used many times over.

Before choosing a store to buy camping gear from, we recommend you keep the following criteria in mind:

  • Price. Some retailers carry name brands that have high markups. Compare the costs among retailers to see who is offering the best deals. The cost of camping gear can add up quickly, so you'll want to buy from an online store that won't break the bank.
  • Selection. When it comes to camping, you don't want to skimp on gear that will keep you warm, full, and safe. Ideally a retailer will offer lots of products for your survival needs.
  • Reputation. Just because a camping gear store is well-known doesn't mean they are well-liked. What does the Better Business Bureau have to say about them? Do they have good customer service, convenient return policies, and high-quality products? Pay attention to what customers have to say about their experience with the company.

To help you identify the best camping gear retailers, TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked a variety of options. We hope this information helps you find all the outdoor gear you need for your next adventure.

The Best Camping Gear Stores Compare Camping Gear Stores Compare Camping Gear Store Reviews What are the best Camping Gear Stores Best Camping Gear Store Reviews

Camping Gear Store FAQ

It might help to search online for a simple camping gear checklist and start with that. It will likely include the basics like a tent, sleeping bag, flashlights, firewood, tool kits, warm clothes, hiking boots, water bottle, camping stove, utensils, food, water, and more. It takes a surprising amount of gear to spend a few nights outdoors!
The cost of camping gear could range anywhere from a $10 water bottle to a large $600 tent. If you're starting from scratch with what items you have, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars for everything you need. Realize that not everything that's considered "camping gear" is essential, so you could slowly acquire more things as you become more serious about outdoor adventuring.
It's hard to know just how good an item is until it's been tested, but it helps to read customer reviews and see how others like the product. Inspect items when they arrive to make sure there are no defects before taking it on your camping trip. If you've done both of those things and are still upset with how a product worked for you, refer to the company return policy (make sure to check this before buying products) and if they allow for refunds and returns on used items, you can send it back within the given return window.
You won't want to buy camping gear and then have to replace it after a few years. Even though it may cost extra, try to get the best quality of products - which may mean buying a name brand. Camping won't be enjoyable if you're cold, hungry, or wet, so buy the best protective items. For example, when you're in the mountains, it is often very cold, especially at night. Find a sleeping bag with a good temperature rating that will keep you warm even when temperatures drop to nearly 0 degrees. In addition to finding items that are appealing, check customer reviews and read product descriptions to make sure you're getting the best of the best.
People often go camping to get away from the demands of work, social media, and revitalize relationships with loved ones. Being outside is refreshing mentally and fresh air is good for your health. There are many activities you can enjoy while camping, but hammocking, playing games, hiking, napping, swimming, and stargazing are just a few popular pastimes of campers.
There are certain things that kids will need before going camping, like appropriate clothes, boots, a water bottle, and maybe a size-appropriate sleeping bag. However, the majority of things needed for camping like a tent, cookware, tools, camp chairs, and tables will work for everyone in a group regardless of their age. Once you establish a collection of high-quality camping gear, it can benefit the whole family.
Camping is safe as long as you follow a few basic rules. Check the weather before heading out to make sure you won't get caught in a storm, make sure someone who isn't going to be on the camping trip knows exactly where you're going and when, stay hydrated, use insect repellent, store food safely, watch out for wildlife, and stay alert. Camping is an enjoyable hobby that many people share and if you abide by basic safety rules, you can relax and have a refreshing getaway with Mother Nature!
Since there are so many things you need to bring when you head out on a camping trip, it's easy to leave some essentials behind. Some commonly forgotten items include firewood, a hatchet, utensils, bug spray, first aid kits, extra socks, and sun protectant. Make a thorough checklist before packing for a camping trip to help you avoid leaving important items at home.
The Best Reviews of Camping Gear Stores