Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries. Evenflo says the Pivot Xplore is good for kids up to 5 years old, but we found it works best for younger kids, between the ages of about 6 months and 4 years. Out of the box, the Pivot Xplore takes about 15 minutes to put together; it requires a few (included) tools to connect the long handle to the wheels.
One of our experts routinely uses it in her home, both for overnight guests and movie nights with her kids, and she notes that the mattress feels substantial and doesn’t sag under your weight. Several users were surprised that the bed conformed to their bodies for a more comfortable feel than most air mattresses they’ve tried. One online reviewer even said once he inflated it, he didn’t need ozark trail canopy to add more air for a solid two weeks, even though he slept on this mattress every night. For both comfort and convenience, you’ll an inflatable mattress that’s easy to set up, compact to carry and store and won’t leak air overnight while you’re using it. But that’s easier said than done; it can be difficult to tell exactly what’s comfortable without trying it out for a few nights yourself.
These inflatable beds can stand up to everyday use, camping trips and more. The King Koil has a fully-flocked top layer, so we found it soft and comfortable to lay on. We did note that the sides of the mattress weren’t as plush to the touch as expected, so the sheets were as snug around the mattress as they could have been. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
The bag may be geared more toward backpackers, due to its light weight and mummy-style design, but it’s also a comfy choice if you’re camping by car. Mummy bags like the Sawtooth 15 tend to be more conducive for backpackers trying to save weight, but a mummy bag might be more comfortable if you like to burrow in. The right air mattress is more important than you think, even if you’re only sleeping on it for a few days. We then literally (and carefully) leapt into each mattress and noticed how well it stayed put or if it felt unstable or scooted across the floor. The next day, we checked to see if they’d lost any support and remeasured their height to see how much they’d deflated.
If you’re planning to take it on an intense climbing trip, the safety quotient is well worth the higher cost. The one downside to a very lofty, down-filled bag is often packability, and this bag takes a little longer to pack up. Our top pick is the Marmot Sawtooth 15, which we found impressive for its versatility, comfort, and innovative design features. But there are a lot of factors to consider when selecting a sleeping bag, including the temperature range where you intend to use it and your sleeping style (side, back, starfish, restless).
Two small mesh pockets at the front can hold drinks or flip-flops, and we found that these pockets were better placed and more useful than similar pockets on other folding wagons. Although our testers narrowed down the 12 best sleeping bags for this list, there were two runner-up models that didn’t make the cut, due to a few flaws. Favor the right side on your tee shot as bunkers protect the left side of the fairway on this par 4.
This design does a better job shielding the tent from incoming—and sideways—wind and rain. The Tungsten’s two brow poles create an especially effective awning over the tent door, coleman lantern so very little water gets in when someone comes or goes. Underneath the fly, the Mineral King 3 has a full mesh dome with a waterproof, tape-seamed bathtub-style polyester floor. Grace Wu (she/her) is a product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she evaluates fabric-based products using specialized equipment and consumer tester data. Prior to starting at Good Housekeeping in 2022, she earned a master of engineering in materials science and engineering and a bachelor of science in fiber science from Cornell University. While earning her degrees, Grace worked in research laboratories for smart textiles and nanotechnology and held internships at Open Style Lab and Rent the Runway.
The first night out it was less than 14 degrees F, and I had at least 50 nights under 40 degrees F. I can’t say I was warm, but I wasn’t shivering, freezing, or cold either, although I did wear 2 layers of clothing. I won’t ever buy an expensive sleeping bag after carrying this cheapo, unless I can find a cheap bag that weighs a lot less. You should also consider your guests (and their heights) when purchasing an air mattress. If you’re buying for kids, the Hiccapop Inflatable Toddler Travel Bed (our best for kids pick) is a great choice. Or, a twin-sized option like Intex Dura-Beam (best twin pick) will also suffice.
We have a few issues with this wagon—the telescoping handle can feel flimsy, and it costs around $50 more than the standard Mac Sports wagon. But after previously recommending a cheaper, less-sturdy beach wagon—which broke after a year—we think the Mac Sports All Terrain’s overall durability and maneuverability on sand make it worth the increased cost. After researching 30 six-person tents and testing 15 side by side on a total of five trips, we chose the Kelty Wireless 6 as the best entry-level camping tent for most families. It’s spacious, easy to set up, has weather protection, and is durable, all at an affordable price.
What creates a higher cost is the materials, essentially, because they are going to be a lot more lightweight and durable for the backpacking ones versus the car camping ones. The bag feels much lighter, softer, and plushier than most others on the market. It was cozy even during a cold, windy night with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. Ideal for first-time campers, warm-weather campers, and those who tend to car-camp versus multi-day trekkers, the Kelty Catena is an affordable, roomy, and versatile choice. Speaking of blankets, this bag also unzips and can be used as a blanket, and you can zip two Kelty Catenas together to create a double-wide sleeping bag or comforter for two (or three, if you have a pup or small child). Hailed as durable and roomy enough for restless sleepers and boasting an anti-snag, anti-draft zipper, this is a great basic sleeping bag for leisurely or sporadic camping trips.