The sun is shining in Seattle today, so what better way to spend it than typing out a blog post on the computer about camping. Here’s a quick list of some things I like for this upcoming camping season–and I hope it’s a great one at that.

A. Brunton Echo Zoom Scope

This super light monocular scope can zoom up to 7x, making it the ideal tool for bird watching or people spying. Tuck it easily into a shirt pocket, bag or your glove compartment. It has such a simple, great design, complete with a rubberized finish. Also, you can’t beat the lifetime warranty.

B. Eureka! Timberline 4 Person Tent

Simple is always better, and that truly resonates with me, especially in tent design. So many tent companies out there have over-complicated systems, which makes it easy to get lost quick. That’s why I love this classic solution from Eureka!. It also features a genius wrap-up bathtub floor, which minimizes exposure to ground-level water.

C. How to Stay Alive in the Woods

I bought this book for my father on Father’s Day a while back and it’s such a wonderful book, filled with great ideas on how to stay alive in the woods when things go wrong. It’s also filled with other miscellaneous tips that are perfect for everyday use as well. I like how vintage the book cover looks and the tactile feel of the raised dot pattern.

D. Seal Line Baja Bag

As we all know in the Pacific Northwest, it can and will rain at any given moment. That’s why I’m loving this dry bag from Seal Line. It’s been proven on rivers, lakes and oceans around the world. It can withstand just about anything that Mother nature can throw at it. I love the bright yellow the most, but they also come in many other colors in case you’re not quite that bold.

E. Stanley Flask

This should be the only mandatory item on this list. This rugged flask from Stanley is great for bringing along your favorite beverage–whisky, or juice. The design is very effective, with a screw top–so it never gets lost, and wide mouthed opening–so you can easily fill it up without using a funnel.

F. Adventure Matches

You have to love this matchbox. It comes with valuable tips on how to tie knots, star navigation, conversion charts and a ruler. Oh yeah, it also comes with 45 wooden matches.