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Costco’s camping section doesn’t exactly advertise its best finds. You have to know what you’re looking for — and be willing to dig through the warehouse’s ever-changing inventory. Lately, though, that legwork has been paying off.
Hidden among the usual seasonal assortment are products from some of the outdoor industry’s most respected brands, often at prices well below what you’d pay elsewhere. We’ve done the searching for you and rounded up the Costco camping upgrades actually worth bringing on your next trip.
Availability varies by warehouse, and many of these seasonal finds can disappear as quickly as they arrive, so don’t be surprised if your local Costco carries a slightly different selection. You’ll also need an active Costco membership to take advantage of these prices, but if you’re already a member, these are some of the best car camping upgrades currently worth seeking out.
Car Camping Picks Worth Considering
Costco
Traeger Trailhead Portable Pellet Grill
Built for adventurers who refuse to sacrifice flavor off the grid, the Traeger Trailhead packs 176 sq. in. of cooking space into a compact, carry-bag-friendly frame. Its Digital Arc controller holds temps from 215°F to 450°F with precise, set-and-forget control, while a built-in temperature probe takes the guesswork out of doneness. An included power inverter lets you run it straight from your vehicle — making it equally at home at a tailgate, campsite or riverside setup.
Jackery Explorer 1500 V2 Solar Generator with Solar Panel 100Air
Jackery’s Explorer 1500 V2 bundles a 1536Wh LiFePO4 power station with the lightweight SolarSaga 100Air panel for a capable off-grid or emergency-backup setup. Its 2000W rated AC output — with a 4000W surge peak — handles refrigerators, power tools and medical equipment without hesitation. At 38.3 lb, it’s 22 percent smaller than comparable units in its class, and a 10ms UPS with 3kV surge protection keeps critical devices running through outages. AC fast-charging refills it in just 80 minutes.
The RinseKit Pro 2.0 is a battery-powered portable shower built for surfers, campers, hikers and anyone who needs pressurized water off the grid. Its 4-gallon transparent tank delivers up to 50 PSI of spray pressure — no hand pumping or hose hookup required — and a 5-setting nozzle handles everything from a light mist to a hard jet. Four built-in LED lights extend usability after dark, while heavy-duty tie-down rings and a compact 12.5 x 12.5 x 13.8-inch footprint make it easy to secure in a truck bed or trunk.
Designed by grizzly bear attack survivor Mark Matheny, UDAP’s Pepper Power bear spray packs the maximum legal concentration — 2.0% major capsaicinoids — into a 7.9oz canister that reaches up to 40 feet. The dense fog pattern covers a wide area fast, improving accuracy on charging animals. Each can ships with a patented Griz Guard holster featuring a belt clip for instant access. EPA-registered against bears, mountain lions, coyotes, moose and dogs, this two-pack is built for backcountry hikers, hunters and campers who won’t cut corners on wildlife safety.
Dometic’s CFF50 packs a full 50L of independent fridge and freezer storage into a low-profile compressor cooler built for overlanders, road trippers and van-lifers. Two separately controlled compartments dial in temperatures from 0°F to 50°F via a digital control panel, and the unit runs on AC, 12V/24V DC or solar power — no ice required. It holds up to 64 cans, weighs 45 lbs and fits under vehicle trays where taller fridges won’t.
Lodge’s 17 x 12-inch reversible cast iron cooker delivers two surfaces in one: a ridged grill side for sear marks on steaks and chicken, and a flat griddle side built for smashburgers, pancakes and eggs. A built-in grease trap on the griddle surface promotes full-contact searing for a better crust. Pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil and made without PFAS, it spans two stovetop burners and works equally well on a campfire, oven or outdoor grill — a no-fuss workhorse built to last generations.
KingCamp’s bamboo folding table ditches the usual plastic in favor of a thick, water-resistant bamboo top that wipes clean and holds up to UV exposure. A quick 2-fold design gets it table ready in seconds, while three adjustable height settings and individually tunable feet keep it level on uneven terrain — useful for car campgrounds and lumpy lawns alike. A corrosion-resistant aluminum frame and reinforced hinges handle up to 176 lbs, making it a solid pick for car campers and tailgaters who want an upgrade from flimsy folding tables.
Alpine Mountain Gear 5-Piece Stainless Steel Coffee Set
Alpine Mountain Gear’s 5-piece set pairs a 9-cup stainless steel percolator with four carabiner-handled mugs built for life away from the grid. The time-tested percolator works over a campfire or on a stovetop and ships complete with tube, glass top, basket and spreader — plus a bonus replacement glass knob. Weather-resistant stainless steel keeps the whole kit durable through back-to-back trips, and the carabiner handles let each mug clip straight to a pack.
KingCamp’s high-back camp chair is built for sitters who refuse to compromise on comfort outdoors. Its hollowed-cotton padding delivers cloud-like softness, while an ergonomic inclined backrest provides full-body support and comfort. A heavy-duty steel frame handles up to 300 lbs, large non-slip foot covers keep it planted on any surface, and a removable, machine-washable cover makes cleanup effortless — a rare touch at this price point.
Fussing with crumpled newspaper and stubborn kindling is a thing of the past. Smart Lite Fire’s Easy Light Kindling sticks are made from non-toxic paraffin and woodchips, ignite immediately and burn up to 30 minutes — producing a 6 – 8″ flame strong enough to catch logs or charcoal. The 50-count pack suits campers, grill enthusiasts and fireplace regulars alike, and works across wood stoves, fire pits and emergency kits without mess or chemical odor.
Blackstone 22″ Griddle with Hard Cover and Carry Bag Bundle
Built for cooks who refuse to stay home, Blackstone’s 22″ tabletop griddle delivers 362 square inches of flat-top cooking surface featuring Omnivore Blackout Griddle Plate technology for quicker preheat and recovery times, even heat distribution and better fuel efficiency. Two independently controlled heat zones let you run different temperatures simultaneously, while integrated wind guards and a rear grease management system keep sessions clean and consistent. The bundle includes a hard cover with interior hooks and a weather-resistant carry bag — making it a complete kit for camping, tailgating or the backyard.
The Chair One put Helinox on the map — and for good reason. Its DAC TH72M aluminum alloy frame and shock-corded poles snap together in seconds, while the whole package collapses to 14 x 4.5 x 4.5 inches and weighs under 2 lbs per chair. A 320-lb weight rating and UV-resistant 600D polyester seat mean it handles real-world abuse, not just fair-weather outings. Ideal for backpackers, festival-goers and car campers who refuse to sit on the ground.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 mtnGLO Tent with Integrated Lighting
The Copper Spur HV UL2 is one of the most respected backpacking tents on the market, and this mtnGLO version adds integrated LED lighting — a genuine camp-life upgrade. The 3-season, 2-person shelter packs Big Agnes’s proprietary HyperBead® fabric, which is ultralight and free of intentionally added PFAS, with a high-volume freestanding architecture, dual doors, dual vestibules and reflective guylines. It suits weekend backpackers and ounce-counters who refuse to sacrifice livable space for a low packweight.
The LifeStraw 3-in-1 Variety Pack bundles the brand’s three most popular portable water filters into a single Costco-exclusive package priced at $59.99. The set includes the original LifeStraw Personal, the LifeStraw Go bottle with a built-in filter, and the LifeStraw Universal, a cap-mounted adapter that fits standard water bottles. Each filter removes bacteria and parasites and lasts up to 1,000 liters, making the trio a practical option for hikers, travelers, and anyone building out an emergency preparedness kit.
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