An Actual Camper's Top Tips for Backyard Camping

We’ve teamed up with the audio innovators at Sonos to bring the great outdoors to your home with a few essentials, like their portable, weather-resistant speakers. Fire up the grill, set up camp, cue up your favorite Sonos Radio station, and let nature (ahem, your backyard) do the rest.

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I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods, and I mean a lot. From Alaska to Maine, I’ve worked as a guide for backcountry skiing, ice climbing, and sea-kayaking, but these days, I find it pretty hard to disappear into nature for months at a time. That being said, there are still ways to enjoy a night under the stars without going full backwoods. Why not rough it a bit closer to home?

A backyard campsite requires virtually zero travel, and it’s a great place to throw a party, too—one where guests bring their own bedding and you get to practice using that gear you bought last summer. And if worse comes to worse weather-wise, dry shelter is a few steps away. Backyard camping is also great practice for those with little ones looking to get the kids excited about the outdoors; a chance to try something new in a familiar environment before going all in. For the ultimate backyard experience, I’m sharing some crucial gear tips, portable snacks, and the weather-proof speakers from Sonos that are ideal for the full campout experience.

1. Gather Your Gear

Before I take a trip, I lay out all of my equipment, especially if I haven’t used it in a while. Did I pack my tent well the last time I used it? Is my sleeping bag clean? Are my tent poles broken? The last thing you want to deal with after a long day of hiking (or a day-to-night backyard party) is figuring out how to set up your tent with subpar equipment. Also, make sure your tent has a footprint, a piece of material that separates your tent from the ground. The floors of most modern tents have been treated to be waterproof or water-repellent to a degree, but if you have a particularly wet day, the water can still soak through. If your tent doesn’t come with a footprint, there are aftermarket options; personally, I use a bit of house wrap under most of my tents. Otherwise, anything that’s waterproof and provides a protective layer (like that old tarp in your garage) will work just fine.

I strongly recommend packing a bag, even for a backyard shindig. Instead of making multiple trips in and out of the house, pretend you’re actually taking the trip. This is good practice for properly packing a bag and knowing what’s vital, and what can stay inside to grab later.

2. Plan For Rain

If you know that the weather may forecast rain, don’t cancel your backyard campout—weather is part of every outdoor excursion and the backyard is great for test runs. Make the most out of your gathering, rain or shine, by setting up an additional rain tarp high enough to fit your tent, a couple of chairs, and even a small fire. You may already have a rainfly for your tent, but this will add another layer of protection for your gear and allow you to keep the party going under your makeshift shelter. Just be sure that if you decide to build a fire that the tarp is high enough, and tightly secured so that it won’t collect water and sag.

Pro tip: If there’s a chance of lightning in the forecast, avoid pitching your tent near tree roots. Aside from being uncomfortable to sleep on, roots can carry an electric charge on the off chance that a tree in your backyard is struck (this is also a good habit to get into before camping in the woods). In the same vein of scouting the ground for roots, avoid depressions in the soil as water will pool in the low points of your campsite if it rains and you definitely don’t want to be in that pool.

3. Set Up the Entertainment

This is a great time to dust off those games you played at summer camp as a kid. Yard games like horseshoes and oversized tumbling timbers are easy to set up and they’re great for a tournament if you have a big group. Charades is a perfect late-night game because it requires just a few scraps of paper and zero hand-eye coordination. When things are winding down or folks are looking for a lower energy game, break out a deck of cards in the tent for a round of spoons: fast and always fun. And for when you just need a little ambiance, the Sonos Move is there for you. Capable of handling variable temperatures and levels of humidity, it's also water-resistant and shock absorbent, which means the Sonos Move is ready to handle any backyard excursion (for real camping trips, I suggest the ultra-portable Sonos Roam). Oh, and everyone should come prepared with a ghost story to tell—it’s a requirement.

4. Make A Meal Plan

There are a lot of ways to eat when camping, but it’s always best to plan ahead of time. Whether it’s this great and super portable tabouli, this killer homemade hummus, a vegetarian-friendly main like these grilled portabello mushrooms, or these marinated short ribs to throw on the grill (pull the meat from the bone and serve in tacos with a quick slaw for Korean BBQ-inspired tacos), your backyard campout will go a lot smoother if you get the meal planning and prep done ahead of time.

Take advantage of the luxuries in your home, like the refrigerator, and store prepared dishes inside rather than lugging a huge cooler outside. If you like to make your meals fireside like I do, set up your camping kitchen with a flat, sturdy surface for any last-minute chopping; this also makes a great landing place for any finished products coming off the fire. And be sure to move the logs around to give yourself options in terms of grilling temperatures when it’s time to cook. If you prepped well, you shouldn’t have to worry about bringing a bunch of little extras for finishing your food—I like to stick to salt, fat, and acid in the form of kosher salt, a bit of olive oil, and a couple of lemons. In terms of cooking tools, I recommend a chef’s knife, a long pair of tongs, and a couple of dish towels (bring multiple in case one gets wet and whatever you do, never grab a hot pan with a wet cloth).

Since we’re talking campfire, it’s inevitable that the evening will eventually end with s’mores, and rightly so. S’mores are delicious, fun, and 100 percent nostalgic. When I want to switch it up, I make my go-to summer camping treat: fire-baked fruit crumbles. This one is fun, easy, and it’s a major crowd-pleaser. Something like this recipe for a Hasselback Apple Crumble is a great foundation for a fire-baked version, with a couple of modifications: I recommend prepping the fruit (I love using apples like the recipe suggests, but if you have seasonal peaches, nectarines, or plums, absolutely use them!) and streusel first, then wrapping everything in foil and nestling them into the coals of the fire. The cooking time will depend on the type of fruit you choose and the state of the fire. Plan to turn your foil packets after 5 minutes, then after about 10 minutes you’ll want to carefully peek inside and poke ‘em with a fork or knife to see how soft the fruit is. It’s up to your preference of how soft you want your crumble, and when it’s time to serve, all you have to do is open them up, and enjoy. Oh, and if you happen to have some ice cream in your freezer, go ahead and grab it from your kitchen so you can throw a scoop on top! That’s the beauty of backyard camping.

5. Don’t Forget The Drinks

When it comes to drinking and camping, keep it simple, even if your bar cart is within walking distance. Pack a couple of coolers with a few bottles of wine, a variety of beers, a couple of fun vermouths to go with a bit of soda water (a great low-ABV option), and a bottle of something to sip neat around the campfire. It’s also always a good idea to provide some non-alcoholic options as well, especially if this is an all-day affair. A great backyard party idea that’s quick, easy, and a huge crowd-pleaser is to make a few different simple syrups or shrubs for folks to mix their own soda. One of my favorites is a sparkling smoked lemonade—grill halved lemons over the fire, then make lemonade as you normally would. For an added twist, sweeten with homemade rosemary simple syrup. For a grab-and-go option, I enjoy the non-alcoholic beers brewed by Athletic Brewing Co.

If cocktails are more your vibe, batch them so you don’t have to carry a bunch of bottles outside. Batch a classic like a Negroni, an Old Fashioned, a Manhattan, or a Margarita, then tell everyone to help themselves. For a slightly lower ABV option, batch the Negroni without the gin, then top your drink with sparkling wine for a Negroni Sbagliato. Be warned though: Evenings around a campfire can lead to impromptu covers of “Wonderwall.” In these situations, bust out your Sonos Move to save the night. With over 11 hours of continuous-play battery life, it’s in it for the long haul until the fire burns all the way down, and you’ll save yourself (and your guests) from an impromptu performance.

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What are your must-haves for backyard camping?

Our friends at Sonos help listeners feel more with their immersive, easy-to-use speakers. From the Ray, a sleek new soundbar designed for the ultimate home movie viewing experience, to the Roam, a totally portable, outdoor-friendly option made for music on the go—Sonos has a sound solution for every occasion. To transform your listening experience and find the right speaker for your space, check out the full Sonos lineup here.