There I was. Standing in the garage, as one does, sipping coffee and looking at all my gear. It was mid-spring and a mess—the camping crates from last season, the recently unboxed new items to test and photograph. Then I looked down at the forecast on my phone screen. Then up at the pile of gear. Afternoon thunderstorms had just started up again, but they pass quickly and I think we’d thread the needle. We could do this. We’d head to Cherry Creek State Park, under 30 minutes from downtown Denver, and snag a tent site on the Cottonwood Loop.
I texted my teen daughter upstairs and told her to call her friend and prepare the hound (7-lb. chiweenie with attachment issues). We were going camping tonight! Next thing I knew, highways and skyscrapers were replaced with rows of campers and tents and fire rings; we rolled into our site just as our neighbors were putting away banjos and guitars from an afternoon session. I told the girls to figure out their tent (3P NEMO Dragonfly, pictured above) while I set up the kitchen and sliced some peaches.
If you want Dad to be prepared for a spontaneous camp move (or last-minute hike or SUP sesh), here are a few items to help him out.
At Camp
NEMO Dragonfly OSMO Tent 1P, 2P, 3P ($499–$619.95): Here’s a gift for the dad who has been backpacking for years on a hand-me-down tent that weighs more than his aging back should be carrying. The Dragonfly OSMO 3P is only 3 lbs. 6 oz. and packs down to a reasonable size (see above)—that’s the whole tent, poles and all. I’m testing the 3P because I like room to move and keep my full pack at night, and because it’s the right size for a daddy-dog-daughter backpacking trip. On our Cherry Creek shakedown I handed it to two teenagers and watched them figure it out in about four minutes. NEMO’s OSMO fabric combines recycled nylon and polyester in a way, they claim, that’s stronger, less stretchy when wet, and more waterproof than standard tent materials—all that without PFAS treatments. That was the first test: fast setup, roomy ceiling, and a fly that leaves no gap with the ground; looks like it’d do well in a storm. We’ll see what we get in the backcountry.
Victorinox Hunter Pro Folding Knife ($100): I still own a 12-tool gadget knife somewhere, and it still serves many purposes, but I wanted to try something simpler this year. Your dad may appreciate this too: The Hunter Pro is your everyday carry when you just need a blade that opens one-handed, holds an edge, and fits your grip. At 5.4 inches and 5.7 oz., the Hunter has just enough weight in your hand to make it feel substantial and possibly require the nylon belt pouch it comes with—also good for quick-draw cutting. Made in Switzerland, backed by a lifetime warranty, comes in orange. I used mine at Cherry Creek to cut a peach, shave kindling off a log, open a bag of marshmallows, and butcher and elk. JK, just wanted to see if you were paying attention; although the Hunter actually is made for dressing big game, with its drop-point blade shape that’s optimized for making clean cuts without puncturing organs underneath.
5.11 Stryke Pant ($95): These pants are so tough, handy, and well fitting, one of the astronauts on the Artemis II mission to the moon wore them on the trip. For dad’s car camping trip, the bar is lower, but he’ll still love the stretchy fabric, 12 pockets (possibly overkill), and gusseted design to give him full range of motion—even when leaping over a boulder to save his kid from the charging elk in the knife description above. The DWR finish (Durable Water Repellent) sheds dirt and moisture like they’re nothing. Space-rated, tactical pants for less than $100—and they come in 14 colors.
EXO OpenRange Deluxe Camp Kitchen Bundle($1,199): This is for the dad who has always wanted to turn his truck or SUV into an overlanding rig. Here’s the new kitchen. The OpenRange is an 85-liter rotomolded box that organizes your entire cooking setup—door folds into a prep surface, internal shelf and organization for cookware. The Deluxe bundle listed here adds a wood side table with cutting board, metal side table, collapsible wash basin, and a leg kit. Yakima designed it to click into their EXO vehicle rack system for transport, but it also serves as a freestanding unit, to place next to your tailgate or campsite picnic table. I’m thinking it may also be great for my kids’ sidewalk lemonade stands this summer.
HEST Foamy Seat Cushion ($89): One for dad’s buns. This seemingly simple item has taken my favorite camp chair (and desk chair, and driver’s seat) to another level—literally. I’m thinking about those cold metal bleacher seats, watching soccer games in October, or even for a picnic table or the ground. The HEST Foamy Seat Cushion has two layers of memory foam that rolls up into a compact cylinder with a carry handle. It has a waterproof bottom for damp cooler lids and wet grass, and a removable washable cover. Temperature-resilient foam means it doesn’t turn into a brick in cold weather. First it goes in the driver’s seat for that a long drive to the campground, then the picnic table bench and camp chair next to the firepit.
On the Trail
Gossamer Gear FT3 Folding Trekking Poles($245/pair): Sticking with the ultralight splurge theme, Gossamer has been making backpacking gear for decades but these are their first folding poles. I use sticks for every hike these days; they’ve saved me from falling on downhills, provide extra support on uphills, and I generally love having more contact with the ground. At 6.2 oz. each, theyse poles are as light as any I’ve ever tried; carbon fiber shaft to carbide tip, and they collapse to 15 inches when the trail flattens out or you’re passing through airport security. They’re designed so that you can open or stash them with one motion, pretty slick when you get the hang of it. The grip is EVA foam that looks like bamboo but is soft, and just a little squishy in the hand, very satisfying. Adjustable 115–130cm, and they double as shelter poles for Gossamer Gear’s One and Two tents, or my trusty MSR Front Range pyramid tent, if strapped together.
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L (regularly $329.95, on sale for $197.97 at time of publication; check Peak Design’s site for current pricing)
Peak Design earned a reputation for making rugged, tight camera bags for photographers hauling expensive gear into the field, and this pack reflects that, but is designed for broader use. The 45L is their largest daypack (also comes in 18L and 25L), but I’ve been eyeing it as a one-night ultralight backpack—the kind of challenge that will force me to think hard about what I’m bringing instead of just stuffing everything in, including extras of everything for the kids. The fit is the first thing I noticed: form-fitting against the back, and the straps comfortably hug these broad shoulders. It’s a top-loader, which I’m usually not crazy about, but Peak Design’s roll-top closure works like a dry bag—waterproof with an easy-to-use, newfangled drawcord. If dad is hauling a laptop or camera kit into the field, this is what it’s made for and will be a real treat.
Showers Pass Syncline CC Rain Shell ($175): A reliable, breathable shell is essential against the wind, rain, and hail, especially one that pops on and off and stashes in a pocket so easily. The Cross-Core vents are angled to pull air across your chest even when you’re wearing a loaded pack. My first field test was at my daughter’s outdoor high school graduation ceremony; me and the chiweenie sheltering inside the jacket had to stand in the rain for over an hour but we were totally fine. PFAS-free, recycled fabrics, and should be as clutch in the wilds as it was in the school parking lot.
On the Lake
KETL Nofry Sun Hoodie ($69): This hoodie weighs less than your tube of sunscreen and, with its built-in UPF 30+ protection, does just as much work. The featherweight fabric, all 118 grams (just over four ounces) of it breathes well, is stretchy (the hood can fit around big brims and helmets), plus it has a rare four-snap front for ventilation, thumb holes to keep sleeves in place, and is treated with HeiQ Mint for odor resistance. I wore mine paddleboarding this morning and was happy for the protection and pleased with the coverage. It dried almost instantly in the 90-degree sun after a splashy fall. It comes in nine colors and KETL backs it with free lifetime repairs—I guess if a button falls off. Oh yeah, you can dance in it.
Tifosi Sylo Sunglasses ($39.95): Tifosi has been making sport sunglasses since 2003 and managing to keep them affordable. I love sunglasses that don’t sting when they slide off the kayak deck, or fall off the cliff face, so let’s start with that under-$40 price point. These are also prescription-ready, which makes this the obvious gift for the dad who’s been squinting on every trail since 2018. The Sylo frame is built from plant-based material, lightweight and durable, with a hydrophilic nose pieces that is made to grip harder when you sweat—the opposite of how most cheap sunglasses behave. Shatterproof polycarbonate lenses, 100% UVA/UVB protection, and at 27 grams, you’ll forget they’re on your head (although that may be more than just the weight at play).
Ibex Indie Hoodie ($175) + Naturalist Short Sleeve Crew ($90): Merino wool remains one of the best materials out there for all temps and climates. These two items cover the full range of many a Colorado day—cool morning at camp (and hopefully during a sunrise paddle on the water), hot afternoon on the trail, breezy evenings…. The Indie Hoodie goes on early and stays on all day (I’m wearing it now in the morning chill of my outdoor office); quarter-zip vents for when you’re working and flatlock stitching for no chafing. The Naturalist Tee, like the hoodie, is also 100% merino and UPF 30+, and handles moisture and odor well.
BOGS Rockaway Seamless Low ($120) After the worst snowpack year in recorded Colorado history, reservoirs are low, leaving wide rings of exposed, boot-sucking mud around many shorelines. At Union Reservoir the other day, people were sinking knee-deep if they didn’t know where to step. I did not sink. The slip-on Rockaway is built for this—same seamless rubber construction as the BOGS Classic (no seams to crack or leak), but in a low-cut profile that slides on and off without unlacing anything. BioBased Rebound insole, waterproof till you go too deep. Good in the garden too.
Peak Design Everyday Billfold Wallet ($69.95): Alright fine, here’s a traditional Father’s Day gift that works year-round, for any of the above activities. I’ve been carrying this one a few weeks now. It has a slim profile, stretchy card pockets, and the magnetic closure is oh so satisfying. Holds up to 12 cards and cash. Find it fast when it falls under the car seat or you accidentally fold it up with the tent—with the Peak Design Beacon Finder Card ($39.95)—a 1.8mm thin, credit-card sized, IP68 water and dust rated beacon that is compatible with Apple Find My. Rechargeable battery lasts up to five months per charge and powers up wirelessly on any MagSafe or Qi charger.
Outtake:
—Joshua Berman is the author of Moon Colorado Hiking. He lives in Longmont and is currently updating the seventh edition of his book, Moon Colorado Camping.
