It would be remiss of us to be insurance specialists for outdoor adventurers and not understand what comes with a 4X4 and touring lifestyle. As travel and off-road enthusiasts, we know that an adventure isn’t just defined by the destination or the journey to get there: it’s also a lot to do with the camping gear you bring with you. With the varying terrains in Australia, it’s no wonder our camping gear is subject to a torture test or three. So rather than send you out to the Simpson Desert or the Canning Stock Route to work it out for yourself, we’ve tested our camping gear in some of the roughest conditions Australia has to throw at its travellers.
That’s where this guide comes in. We’ve saved you the anguish of trialling and testing your gear (and blowing your hard earned dollars in the process) to give you our selection of the best camping gear so you’re not left wondering “what camping gear do I need?”.
Camping Gear Categories & Reviews
Shelter: Tents, Swags, Rooftop Tents
It goes without saying, in the hierarchy of camping gear when it comes to where you lay yourself down to rest at night and what protects you from the outside elements, shelter is pretty close to number one. Buying a flimsy tent or a leaking swag is a mistake you make only once!
When you’re setting up camp, shelter is the most important piece of gear. Whether you’re pitching a traditional tent or setting up a rooftop tent, your shelter needs to stand up to the elements and provide comfort during your off-road adventure.
- Best Camping Tent: Oztent RV-3. This is one of the best camping tents for couples or solo adventurers who want a quick setup (under 30 seconds) with weather-resistant materials that promise to keep you dry and protected when that random, unforecasted rain hits.
If you're looking for a tent and wondering what camping gear to buy for your next adventure, then this is easily one of the best camping tents you can buy. Bonus: it's got a unique SkyMesh skylight so you can stargaze on clear nights!
Shop the Oztent RV-3 - Best Rooftop Tent: Darche Ridgeback Highrize RTT 1250. We get it—, the ground’s not always comfy and sometimes the last thing you want to do is be on ground-level in torrential rain. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to choose the best rooftop tent to suit your travels, especially when the price point is a lot higher than a regular tent (think delivery, install costs, appropriate roof racks etc).
We think the Darche Ridgeback Highrize RTT 1250 is a great rooftop tent option, and provides comfort and convenience for campers with the assurance of an easy setup and durable construction. Its weather-resistant design coupled with its sturdy frame handles the tough terrains Aussie tracks throw at you with ease.
Shop the Darche Ridgeback Highrize Roof Top Tent 1250
Sleeping: Sleeping Bags, Camp Mattresses, Portable Bedding
A good night’s sleep is essential to rejuvenate after a day on the tracks and wake up ready for another day of adventure. So if you’re looking for the best camping mattress, best camping sleeping bag or best camping pillow then you’ve come to the right camping gear review.
- Best Sleeping Bag: Sea to Summit Trek Down impressed us with its versatility, as the free-flow zip system allows you to open it for ventilation as much as you need, even to the point of it opening flat.
Or if you’d rather wear it around camp to keep warm, you can secure the straps around your shoulders and open the footbox zipper. We love the fact that it doubles as a jacket—, talk about a two in one!, and we reckon that alone earns it the title of best sleeping bag. Choose your temperature rating and size when you buy.
Shop the Sea to Summit Trek Down Sleeping Bag - Best Camping Mattress: The Wanderer Extreme 4X4 Queen Mattress
This mattress is designed for rugged, off-road adventures with its thick foam construction ensuring a restful night. It’s quick to inflate, giving you more time to do the things you love on your trip, and includes a repair kit so you won’t need to turn around and head home if you receive a puncture. Sounds like the best camping mattress to us!
Shop the Wanderer Tourer Extreme 4X4 Queen Mattress
Cooking: Portable Stoves, Cookware, and Utensils
Cooking while travelling should be easy and convenient, and help you prepare and eat meals to keep you satisfied on the road. The right portable camping gear can help you prepare delicious feeds without the hassle.
- Best Camping Stove: The Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System. If space is a one of your concerns, look no further than the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System, featuring just two burners that provide a whole lot of cooking power. Its fuel efficiency, fast boiling time and easy setup are three reasons it’s one of the best camping stoves.
Shop the Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System - Best Camping Cookware: GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro Cook Set. Another great space saver is the lightweight and compact GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro Cook Set. Not only does it survive heavy use on multiple adventures, but it’s easy to clean, allowing you to conserve water when travelling. An essential piece of camping gear for your next remote trip!
Shop the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Pro Cook Set
Real-World Experience: R&D Insights
Club4X4 Insurance is by 4WDers, for 4WDers… So we get it!
At Club 4X4, our insurance was built by 4WDers, for 4WDers, which means we're reviewing the products and camping gear we use on our own adventures.
Our team is full of adventurers who love the rugged outback, the stunning red dirt deserts and the crystal clear turquoise beaches along our large coastline. We know your camping gear needs to survive sun, torrential rain, and extreme cold so you can enjoy all that the land down under has to offer. Why stick to the sealed road when adventure is calling just around the corner?
And while we think this is a pretty solid list of camping gear, we know it adds up and is part of what makes your camping set up unique to you, and how you like to travel. We know that 4WDs carry all sorts of gear to make the trip more memorable & we can cover the bits that aren’t bolted down under our Australia-wide personal effects cover.
Every 4X4 policy comes with $2,000 of personal effects cover for things like a basic recovery kit & camping essentials, and for those who like to be prepared with the right gear, the limit for personal effects cover can be lifted to $5,000 or $10,000.
Tips for Choosing the Right Camping Gear
Know your adventure style before choosing your camping gear
We believe that no two adventures in Australia re identical, because everyone has their own adventure style. Discovering yours comes down to a few factors, whether you’re a family unit, a couple or a solo traveller, whether you prefer coastal adventures or remote expeditions, whether you’re more of an off-road enthusiast and enjoy the journey or prefer to get to your destination as quickly as possible. And so on and so forth! Before you embark on deciding what camping gear to buy, you first need to assess the adventures you wish to take.
For a basic and rough guide:
If you’re heading on a family trip: You’ll want to ensure you have more spacious tents and/or sleeping arrangements that will allow everyone to be comfortably accommodated. There’s no point heading to a serene spot on your trip if you’re sleeping with your child's feet in your face or the body heat coming off your significant other sends you bonkers all night!.
If you love a challenge and prefer a hardcore adventure: Choose gear that’s both lightweight and durable. No glass, fragile items or anything you’ll be upset to find scratched, dented or worse for wear. The gear needs to withstand harsh conditions, extreme weather and corrugations, so it may not be too pretty afterward. Weight considerations are important as we always want to ensure we aren’t adding too much weight to our vehicles. Think compact items!
Now it’s time to protect that gear
Choosing camping gear that can meet the demands of the Australian conditions is a challenge, but who wants an easy adventure anyway? When you head off on your travels with the right gear in tow, you can guarantee your trip will be enhanced with elements such as durability, weight and comfort being top of mind. If your budget restricts you or you have other key items in mind that aren’t listed in this camping gear review, ensure you too do your due diligence and read reviews from other travellers as well as ask the right questions during the buying process.
Once you’ve got your camping gear sorted, the last step is to make sure you protect it with Club 4X4 insurance. Our comprehensive insurance is designed with Australian adventurers in mind to ensure they can focus on the adventure and journey ahead, without having to worry about things going wrong.
Whether you’re taking a dip in the warm waters of the Ningaloo Coast, traversing a rugged, remote desert or simply enjoying little outback towns along the way, as long as you're legally allowed to be there, Club 4X4 have you and your 4WD covered.
The best bits of Australia are rarely on the main road, so take the scenic route and make sure you tag us on social media so we can live vicariously through you and your adventures!
If 4X4s can legally go there, our cover can too.
Before you book your next adventure, take a look at our comprehensive insurance