We think there’s no better way to reconnect with Mother Nature than a nice camping excursion. Take advantage of the nice summer weather and hit your favorite trails and camp grounds for some R&R and fresh air. But before you do, we’ve rounded up a couple of our must-have camping gear to make your outing that much more enjoyable.

1. Big Agnes Lost Ranger Long sleeping bag: On chilly nights, this super-light mummy sleeping bag protects you against drafts while keeping you as snug as a bug.

2. Black Diamond Vista double-wall tent: This durable three-person tent stays put even in high winds.

3. Kelty Luma Camp Lantern: This weather-resistant battery-powered lantern is a versatile must-have for all your camping trips.

4. Kelty Lowdown folding chair: Not just for tailgating, this durable and comfy chair is great for kicking back in the great outdoors.

5.   Gregory Baltoro 65 backpack: A comfy and spacious hiking pack with tons of storage space and a water-resistant bottom.

6. Adventure Medical Kits First Aid 2.0: It’s always a good idea to have a first aid kit handy for unexpected scrapes, pains and allergic reactions. This one is perfectly portable for camping and hiking.

7. Big Agnes Clearview Air Pad: This adds extra cushioning inside your tent for a great night’s sleep.

Father’s Day is only a few days away, so we thought we’d dedicate a few posts this week to dear ol’ dad.

Today’s handy gift guide is for the outdoorsy dad. You know the type; he’d rather spend the day hiking and fishing than being in the office. If he sounds familiar to you, then we’ve got a few gift ideas that will surely make him smile.

Thank your outdoorsy dad for all the camping and fishing trips he took you on with these giftable outdoor essentials (Clockwise from left):

The North Face Millennial Ribbed Track Jacket: This classic lightweight jacket is perfect for his early morning jogs or errand runs.

Keen Newport H2 sandals: This Keen classic will be his new best friend out on the great outdoors. Its durable, quick-drying materials ensure that he’ll stay comfortable even when the terrain gets wet and slippery.

The North Face Heckler backpack: This durable pack keeps all his hiking and climbing gear organized, and the sleek, fuss-free design is right up his alley.

Columbia Bonehead™ Short Sleeve Shirt: He’ll love those fishing trips with the boys even more with this Omni-Shade® UPF 30 fishing shirt on his back!

Merrell Moab Mid Waterproof: No matter what terrain dad decides to venture out to, this tough and rugged hiking boot will keep him comfortable and revved up for all those summer hikes.

Check out the Zappos Outdoor shop for more outdoor gear for dad!

Planning a camping excursion? Enjoying the great outdoors requires a bit of know-how, and Yhaira and Tom are here to show you the proper way to pitch a tent for your next camping trip.They go over picking the best spot to set up your tent as well as a step-by-step guide on pitching the tent.

For the best in camping gear, including tents, check out the the Zappos Outdoor page.

Petzl has been developing innovative tools and techniques used by those seeking excitement in entering the vertical world for over 50 years. Petzl is closely associated with adventure, exploration, rescue and many notable exploits in the worlds of rock climbing and alpinism. Each Petzl product is designed to meet an exact and precise need with all possible uses and associated risks analyzed. One obvious need when it comes to headlamps is rechargeability. The new rechargeable CORE battery is designed to be a USB-chargeable battery that reduces the impact of traditional disposable batteries. The Petzl Tikka XP 2 headlamp integrates two light sources as well as a wide-angle lens with a simple open-close feature, allowing the user to choose between a long distance focalized beam and flood beam proximity lighting. These headlamps will last up to 160 hours at an economic level! Check out the video below about the technology behind Petzl’s CORE technology:

There is no better way to enjoy the outdoors than a fun camping trip. Preparing for an excursion can be difficult and that’s where the team at Leatherman comes in. The Leatherman Juice XE6 is the camping woman’s best friend. Saw away some branches to set up the perfect picnic spot, tighten up those picnic chair bolts, bring out the vino, and slice up some cheese and crackers. The Leatherman Juice XE6 - is there anything it can't do? 

The stainless steel body and handles with anodized aluminum scales houses the following 18 useful tools:

• 420HC Clip Point Knife.
• 420HC Sheep's Foot Serrated Knife.
• Needlenose Pliers.
• Regular Pliers.
• Wire Cutters.
• Hard Wire Cutters.
• Extra Small Screwdriver.
• Small Screwdriver.
• Medium/Large Screwdriver.
• Phillips Screwdriver.
• Scissors.
• Wood/Metal File.
• Diamond-coated File.
• Saw.
• Bottle Opener.
• Can Opener.
• Awl.
• Corkscrew with Assist. 

Leatherman is a company of campers, hunters, fishing fanatics, spelunkers, mountain bikers, boaters, skiers, snow shoers, and participants in pretty much anything that's fun to do outside. And, in keeping with their individualistic spirit, they're also avid do-it-yourselfers. Out there, Leatherman does it all. And they make tools to help you do it all, too. So be sure to check out our vast selection of Leatherman products and see what you can do with the right multi-tool.

Kelty gear promises the same dedication to innovation and getting outdoors that Dick Kelty had forty-eight years ago. Kelty started as a company making it easier for friends to enjoy the wilderness, and that's what Kelty still does. Kelty just has a few more friends. You can enter to win a sweet Kelty hiking pack on the Zappos.com Facebook Page (enter HERE). Check out the video below showing Kelty's amazing Mockingbird bag, the top prize for the sweepstakes:

Jetboil cooking systems are manufactured in the shadow of New Hampshire’s White Mountains, home of the most extreme weather in the world. Jetboil is proud of their work and is dedicated to simplifying and personalizing the field of mobile cooking. It started with a simple but powerful idea. Frustrated with heavy vacuum bottles and clunky stoves, Jetboil founders Dwight Aspinwall and Perry Dowst set out to make outdoor cooking easier and more efficient.

The Jetboil Flash™ CrunchIt is changing the mobile cooking game for the greener. Enjoy butane canister convenience without creating landfill waste, thanks to Jetboil's CrunchIt™ Butane Canister Recycling Tool. Safe, fool-proof, and compliant with recycling standards, CrunchIt™ punctures Jetboil Jetpower (and certain other) butane fuel canisters, rendering them recycling bin ready and headed for re-melt and reformation. Check out the video below on how it works and make sure you stop by the Outdoor Shop on Zappos.com before your next excursion:

As sweltering summer temperatures make an exit, it’s time to go camping! Be sure to check out the Outdoor Shop on Zappos.com for everything you’ll need to brave the elements or just kick back fireside. Here are a couple of our picks for must-have items on your next excursion:

1. Therm-A-Rest® NeoAir ™ - The Therm-A-Rest® NeoAir ™ mattress makes comfort one less thing you'll need to compromise when traveling fast and light. Therm-A-Rest®'s patent-pending reflective barrier returns warmth to your body and reduces heat loss to the ground, keeping you three times warmer than any other uninsulated air mattress. And the best part, this mattress folds down to the size of a 1-liter bottle to save you room in your daypack.

2. Marmot Down Yurt – Sleep easy knowing that this versatile Down Yurt sleeping bag from Marmot™ is equally at home for car camping or just lazing around the house. The Down Yurt opens to a 600+ fill power goose down Queen-sized comforter and has a temperature rating of 40° F / 4.4° C. This DriClime comforter comes packaged in a convenient duffle bag of its own for easy storage.

3. Jetboil Backcountry Gourmet Set - The Backcountry Gourmet Cooking Set offers all the tools you need to whip up a feast at your next campsite. This kit includes the award-winning Personal Cooking System (PCS), the FluxRing® Fry Pan, Pot Support and Stabilizer, and Jetset Utensils. The Jetset utensils are specially designed to compliment Jetboil cooking vessels, with long, telescoping handles and tips shaped to scour curved surfaces. The kit weighs only 26.3 oz so you can take it anywhere.

4. Victorinox SwissChamp - Handle anything and everything with the ever-versatile and always-handy SwissChamp from Victorinox™. This all-in-one space saver has 33 useful tools including a fish scaler for your creek-side adventures, can opener, corkscrew, magnifying glass and much more.