Take A Hike! 6 Cool Camping Picks You Need Now

We don’t know about you guys, but we’ve certainly caught the camping bug — we blame Moonrise Kingdom to some degree, actually. And although we were so sure that the great outdoors could never be as dreamy as Wes Anderson’s vision, a little Mission-based shop called Alite Designs has uprooted that theory and made us think otherwise. Whimsical (but still practical) outdoor gear is its specialty, making open-air activities even more appealing.

With cool, innovative products like the Twig Pod and the S.H. Sleeping Bag (it stands for "sexy hotness"...seriously), you’ll definitely reconsider using the phrase “roughing it.” And for all you nature newbies out there (i.e. us), the good people at Alite Designs offer The Ranger Station — a complimentary box full of all your camping essentials from lanterns and squishy bowls to utensils and tents. Yes, complimentary!

Wondering why the peeps at Alite Designs are so generous? “We’re inspired by the idea that everyone should get outside. Whether that means hanging in the park, riding a bike, or camping in the woods,” explains staffer Paige Russell. “We design products that make getting out there affordable and fun. We make outside simple!” On that note, check out our top picks and go take a hike…quite literally.

Alite Designs, 2505 Mariposa Street (between York and Hampshire streets); 415-626-1526.