Elevate Your Next Camping Trip with These Essential Pieces of Outdoor Gear

Whether snuggled in a sleeping bag or in the comfort of a canvas tent, it's hard for even the most adventure-averse to deny the crisp, quieting energy you get while spending a night outdoors. And camping is a great activity to do with your family or quarantine pod during the Coronavirus pandemic. "It's the best sleep you can get," says Terra Glamping founder Rebecca Martin, whose experiences bridge the gap between classic camping and a luxury hotel stay. "You're getting that nice, cool air around you and there's something about it that's just hypnotic. It puts you straight to sleep," she explains.

By day, camping is all about unplugging from the every day and connecting with nature—at Terra's East Hampton location, that includes activities like paddle boarding and kayaking—and both glampers and camping purists can agree that there are a few essential creature-comforts you'll want to bring along to do it.

For Martin, a large, round multi-purpose towel is an absolutely must-have. It can do double-duty as either a ground covering or a cozy wrap after a dip in the lake. Shatter-proof wine glasses, a portable speaker with Bluetooth connectivity, and broad-spectrum sunscreen are also crucial. (S'mores ingredients go without saying.) "You want to do a take in and take out [policy] if you're really truly camping," she adds, offering a reminder about minimizing waste, setting up your site in the most sustainable way possible, and leaving the grounds the way it was before campers arrived.

Read on for more of Martin's camping—or glamping—essentials, plus some of our favorite items to pack when heading into the great outdoors.