Camping shouldn’t feel like work. You go to sit in a hammock. Or paddleboard. Or read a book. The last thing you want is to stress about ice melting or struggling with tent poles. Gear is supposed to disappear into the background.
REI seems to get this. Their 2026 lineup isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but it polishes it. I tested most of this new stuff for months. Some of it just works better than the rest.
A Tent That Actually Fits The Family
The Westward 6 takes up space. It sleeps two adults, three kids and one dog. Six adults would fit, but it’d be a crush. Not fun.
It has a cross-pole system. Color-coded. You figure it out once. Then it’s done in ten minutes.
Don’t skip the guylines though. If it looks like rain, stake everything down. It’s extra steps, yes. But then you’re done.
Inside, you stand up straight. Seven feet of headroom does a number for your spine. There’s a massive vestibule at the front, perfect for shedding muddy shoes before they contaminate the living zone. It keeps the chaos out.
The color? Light blue. Keeps things cooler under direct sun. Plus, mesh on every surface. Air flows. It doesn’t turn into an oven. There is even a center clip for a lantern, which sounds minor until you realize it stops your light source from sliding around while you eat.
There’s a smaller Westward 4 for fewer humans. Same design, less room.
Cheap Luxury Bed
The REI Westward Dreamer is a steal. It used to be the Camp Dreamer XL, but that’s old news.
I love my Therm-a-Rest MondoKing. It holds heat better—R-value 7 versus the Dreamer’s 6.7. But if you are camping in July, the MondoKing is overkill. The Dreamer is cheaper. By sixty dollars.
This version has a better valve system. Easier to fine-tune firmness. Here’s a tip: Do not overinflate it. These pads need a little squish to be comfy. It comes in a duffel sack. Carrying it feels less like dragging a log. You use a pump sack to fill it, which is tedious at first, but standard for self-inflating mats of this size. Four puffs to get close. Let air out until it feels right.
The Sleeping Bag For Non-Crawlers
I hate mummy bags. They feel like being swaddled.
The Siesta Hooded 2 is different. It is rectangular. You can stretch. It rates for 20 degrees.
It has a double zipper system. Zip one side, you have airflow. Zip both, or unzip the full length, it becomes a quilt. Warm nights don’t require a sweatfest. It even has a hood, rare for this cut, which helps when the wind picks up.
Made of recycled polyester. Filled with polyester too. It shouldn’t be soft. But it is. Soft lining is nice. Skip the restrictive gear unless you’re freezing to death in the mountains.
Light And Small
July heat? The Campwell 3.0 handles it. It costs next to nothing and does the job.
REI’s Campwell line proves you do not need a mortgage payment to go outside. Just dryness. Just warmth. This bag unzips into a quilt, just like the Siesta. Packs smaller too. Trunk space is precious. Take what fits.
Wheels Change Everything
Yeti. Everyone wants a Yeti. The Tundra line is the standard. But listen, the Roadie with wheels? That’s the actual winner.
The Roadie 6 weighs 68 pounds empty. Add ice. Add food. Try pushing that over sand. It hurts your back.
Wolves of the trail love wheels. These ones roll over bumps. Smooth. It gets cold, and stays cold. Beach. Camping. Summer road trip. All good. The basket inside separates dry goods from the melting ice. Smart design. If the 6 is too big for your trunk, get the 3 or the 2. Same mechanics, smaller footprint.
Hoods Beat Lotion
I refuse to use sunscreen. It gets messy. It burns eyes.
So I wear a hood. REI’s Sahara Shade hoodie is light. Stretchy. UPF50. My daughter stole mine, so I bought two. She wears it sailing now, because boats have no shade.
The fabric moves with you. Thumb holes stop sleeves from riding up. No exposed skin. This year’s update is better. The thumb holes are redesigned. There’s even a ponytail hole. Small things. Big wins.
Power On The Road
Overlanding means keeping devices alive. Phone. Fridge. Water pump. Starlink.
Goal Zero updated their Yeti 1.5. It packs 0 watts in. Lithium iron phosphate battery lasts for cycles—400, to 0%.
It handles vibration. Bad roads don’t kill it. It switches to shore power if you plug in, then back when you disconnect. Automated. Solid build. If you live in a van, this is probably necessary now.
A Kid’s First Real Bike
I have three kids. I have bought eight bikes. Most were trash.
The Rev 2.0 is the first good one. It has 4-inch wheels but 6-inch tires. I was skeptical. Big tires on small wheels? It works. The wide tread lets him roll over gravel and roots he would normally trip on.
It has Shimano shifters. Tektro brakes. Looks sharp. Fits kids roughly 2 inches tall up to 0 inches. It gave him confidence. On rough trails, he doesn’t flinch. Just rides.
Maybe that’s all we need. Confidence. Cold drinks. A tent that doesn’t leak. The rest is noise.
