10 Couple Gear Ideas for a Romantic Camping Weekend This Valentine’s Day

Take your relationship to new heights — and campsites — with this selection of outdoor gear for camping couples.

Camping has the potential to be one of the most romantic trips you can do as a couple. After all, we’ve all heard the joke, sex while camping can be f’ing in-tents…

While the outdoors can be an excellent testing ground for new couples, and a retreat from the rhythms of daily life for those who’ve been together for years, there’s more to couple’s camping than dividing up who carries the stove and who brings the tent pegs. 

Here are some specific outdoor items to transform your hardcore weekend hike into an awesome outdoor date or bona fide romantic getaway.

Photo by Chagi Weerasena

1. Double Sleeping Bag

What could be better than keeping cosy in a sleeping bag big enough to fit you and your love?

A few years back, Kate and her partner Josh took the Sea to Summit Amplitude double sleeping bag out for a night in the mountains, and Kate’s review on the bag the article quickly turned into a love letter.

‘It’s a game changer for all couples or even cold sleepers willing to share a sleeping bag with friends’, Kate said.

@katealiice

2. Zip Coupling Sleeping Bag

If a double sleeping bag seems too big of a step, or you expect to sleep out solo on occasion and don’t want to lug around the extra weight, then you may prefer a single bag from Sea to Summit that comes with ‘zip coupling’ capabilities.

These are regular sleeping bags that are designed to zip together into a double sleeping bag. As Kate mentioned in her review, ‘the downside for couples is these zips are only 165cm long, so you have a separate footbox meaning no footsies during the night’.

3. Double Sleeping Mat

Naturally, the next step after a two man sleeping bag, is a double sleeping mat.

Perfect for those who hate having multiple sleeping mats sliding around in the tent, these will solve the dual annoyance of a big trench between you and your partner, and differing sleeping mat thickness or height.

Luxe out in complete comfort with Sea to Summit’s new Double Comfort Deluxe Self-Inflating Mat (in a stunning shade of ‘Rainforest’) or keep it lighter with Klymit’s V Double Sleeping Pad, weighing in at 1.134kg.

Room for two?

4. Sleeping Mat Strap

If you both already own sleeping mats that you love, the easiest way to bring them together is with a set of Sea to Summit’s Coupler Loops.

Weighing just 17g, this set of two loops lets you join two mats together and cinch them together so neither one of you can slip away in the night (further down the tent I mean).

5. Earplugs

While on the topic of sleep, earplugs popped up in our list of Gear Our Users Can’t Go Without.

Perfect for drowning out snoring partners, there’s nothing more romantic than a good night’s sleep.

@thetantrap

6. Deluxe Double Swag

You don’t have to be a single, jolly swagman with a penchant for jumbucks to enjoy this time tested form of outdoor accommodation. 

This swag can be a two person paradise and now comes in purple!

7. String Lights or Lanterns

If a bajillion stars aren’t bringing enough ambience to your overnighter, I recommend getting yourself a set of Luci Solar Powered String Lights.

Alternatively, for a single source of light, the Luci Outdoor 2.0 Inflatable Solar Lantern has a whopping 38 five-star reviews on Wild Earth, so we’re not the only fans. It collapses down to just a few centimetres in height, so it’s ultra-packable and lightweight.

8. Double Camp Chair

While you’re getting cosy around the campfire, there’s nothing worse the the uncomfy arms and backrest of cheap camp chairs getting in the way.

Remove the barriers and get closer with a double camp chair from OzTrail. This one has built in wine glass holders so you don’t have to go anywhere!

9. Matching Customised Drinkware

And while you’re drinking that wine, surely it’s not really Valentine’s Day unless you’re both sipping out of matching customised Yeti mugs?

Yeti offers customised engraving of its drinkware and has an array of love-themed insignia to choose from! You get the cowboy boot-que and I’ll get the ‘ride or die’ horse.

10. Picnic Rug & Blanket

Camping is really just a glorified picnic right? A picnic rug is my pick for turning your outdoor camp dining into a legitimate date.

A lightweight blanket, like a Puffy Blanket can also be a great addition to your gear closet for cold mornings and a complement those evening picnics.

Wherever (and with whomever!) you spend your Valentine’s Day weekend don’t forget to pack the love!

Feature photo by @ben.savage