Gear & Packing
Camp Chairs for a Kid Who Outgrew Kid Chairs
September 9, 2026Maya's folding chair with the cartoon cup holder finally gave out. What we looked at for a ten-year-old, what we bought and what it cost.
Pop-Up Canvas After a Florida Summer: Mildew, Seams and a Cover
August 5, 2026A summer of humidity left spots on the bed-end canvas. How we cleaned it, resealed the seams and why we finally bought a $149 cover.
Leveling Blocks, Chocks and the Other Camper Bits Nobody Mentions
May 12, 2026The small stuff no checklist warned us about: blocks, chocks, a water pressure regulator and a power adapter. What we bought and what it cost.
Our Pop-Up Packing System: Bins, Labels and a List on the Door
March 17, 2026The camper stays half-packed between trips now. The bins that live inside it, the ones that ride in the Pilot and the list taped to the door.
Making a 2009 Pop-Up Road-Ready: Tires, Bearings and a Hitch
February 9, 2026New tires, a battery, an expired propane tank and Dana's dad repacking the bearings in his driveway. Every pre-trip fix and its cost.
Shopping for a Used Pop-Up: What We Checked on Six Campers
January 27, 2026Soft floors, torn canvas and a lift system that groaned. The checklist we used while looking at six used pop-ups around Miami-Dade.
Running Fans and Phones Off a Small Power Station
December 9, 2025A Black Friday deal on a 300-watt-hour power station. What it runs in a tent, how long it lasts and what it won't do for us.
Mosquitoes Won Until We Bought a Screen Shelter
October 21, 2025Bug spray, coils and a Thermacell only went so far. Why we paid $239 for a pop-up screen shelter and how it changed evenings at camp.
Battery Fans, Ranked After a Summer of Sweaty Nights
September 10, 2025We ran three different battery fans in the tent this summer. Runtime, noise, prices and the one we'd buy again tomorrow.