How to choose a campsite that doesn't suck
Shade, spacing, wind, bathrooms, ground, noise, and the real payoff. Pick the spot that still works after the tent, table, chairs, and kitchen are out.
I build things that work - in the shop, on the screen, and out in the field.
I'm Chris Follin. I build practical fabrication, web, and camp systems, then document the gear, trips, and tools that hold up in real use.
Metal Fab & Welding
CAD & 3D Modeling
Web Design
Coding
Camping & Outdoors
Built work
Projects
Start with the work that made it out of the idea stage: fabrication builds, websites, event systems, camp setups, and shop problems that had to perform for real people.
Services live inside Projects now, right next to the proof-of-work.
Service
Custom fabrication through Empire
Professional metalwork, custom parts, racks, brackets, panels, and shop-built pieces routed through Empire Metal Products.
Service
Websites and small tools
Practical sites, forms, payment flows, calculators, and lightweight tools built around how the work actually happens.
Service
Project management and coordination
Help getting the scope, sequence, vendors, details, and next steps organized before a project turns into noise.
Service
Practical consulting
Sort the messy idea, compare options, clarify constraints, plan setups, and decide the next practical move.
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Get Outside
Camp
A running log of places I've camped and would go back to. Real conditions, honest notes, and the details that actually matter once you get there - wind, shade, bathrooms, spacing, and whether it's worth the trip.
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ARTICLE
Best camping near Phoenix in summer
Higher elevation, shade, water, and cooler nights for summer camping near Phoenix.
ARTICLE
Best beginner campgrounds in Arizona
Low-drama Arizona campgrounds for first-time campers who need the trip to feel worth repeating.
ARTICLE
Best places for people who hate camping
The comfort-first camps I would use before trying to sell anyone on roughing it.
ROUNDUP
Best campsites in Arizona
The short list I would actually send someone to first.
REGION
Best camping near Payson and the Mogollon Rim
High-country lake, creek, and pine camps near Payson and the Mogollon Rim.
REGION
Best camping near Flagstaff, Arizona
Lake campgrounds, pine forests, dispersed sites, and high-country weekends near Flagstaff.
REGION
Prescott camping
A shorter-drive mix of pines, lakes, developed sites, and shoulder-season trips.
REGION
White Mountains camping
Cooler eastern Arizona lake camps and longer-weekend escapes.
REGION
Southern California beach camping
Coastal campgrounds where ocean access, wind, and reservations drive the plan.
REGION
Hawaii camping
Beach parks, forest camps, permits, weather, and lighter island setups.
ROUNDUP
Best lake camping in Arizona
Arizona lake campgrounds where the water is part of the trip, not just the map pin.
ROUNDUP
Easiest weekend camps from Phoenix
The realistic options when you want a good weekend, not a logistics marathon.
ROUNDUP
Best cool-weather camps
Where I would go first when the point is better air, layers, and sleeping well.
ROUNDUP
Best campgrounds with showers
The developed campground picks where a real shower changes the whole trip.
GUIDE
Best easy camps for new campers
Easy beginner-friendly camps where the first trip can feel manageable and worth repeating.
ROUNDUP
Best beach camping
The shoreline camps that still feel worth it once the wind, sand, and setup reality show up.
ROUNDUP
Best quiet camps
The picks where calmer sites and less noise actually change the whole mood of the trip.
ROUNDUP
Best camps for summer escape
Cooler-air camps I'd actually drive to once the valley heat stops being funny.
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Camp Map
See where the camps are laid out before you start digging through cards.
Field guides
How-To
Practical guides for camp skills, field fixes, shop basics, measuring, setup, weather, and the small things that make real work go smoother.
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How to set up camp fast
A cleaner order of operations for arrival, shelter, kitchen, and comfort so camp comes together before everyone is tired, hungry, and digging through bins.
How to sleep better in a tent
Better sleep starts with the ground, pad, pillow, airflow, and nighttime layout. Fix the small problems before they turn into a long night.
How to pack for a car camping weekend
Pack by camp zone and setup order so the vehicle does not become a problem. The goal is fewer mystery bags and less unloading twice.
How to keep camp organized
Use simple zones for kitchen, sleep, trash, dirty gear, and teardown so camp stays usable after the first meal, first rain, or first late night.
How to camp when the weather turns
Rain, wind, cold, dust, dry gear, shelter angles, and when to bail. A little prep keeps weather from taking over the whole trip.
How to start a campfire
Build a small, legal, controllable fire with tinder, kindling, fuel wood, water, and a clean ring before anyone starts improvising.
How to sharpen a knife
Refresh a working edge with a repeatable angle, light pressure, a clean burr, and no fancy ritual beyond paying attention.
How to read a tape measure
Read inches, halves, quarters, eighths, and sixteenths without guessing at the tiny marks or cutting twice.
What earns its place
Camp Gear
The gear that actually earns its place in the pack. I've tried ultralight, overbuilt, and everything in between. These are the pieces I'd buy again because they work, not because they photograph well.
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EDITORIAL
Gear I actually use
The pieces that keep making the trip because they keep solving the same problems.
EDITORIAL
What I'd buy again
The shortlist of items I would replace without much debate.
GUIDE
Beginner camp gear
A simple starting point for useful camp gear without drowning in over-optimization.
GUIDE
Best gear for car camping
The comfort-heavy picks that make drive-in camp feel easier and more settled.
GUIDE
The first five things I'd buy
The fastest way to build a useful kit without wasting money on filler.
EDITORIAL
Cold-weather camp gear
The gear that matters more once the forecast gets sharp and the ground gets cold.
GUIDE
Gear that makes camp easier after dark
The pieces that keep camp usable once the light drops and the easy mistakes start showing up.
GUIDE
Best camp kitchen gear
The kitchen lane that keeps camp meals simple instead of scattered and half-functional.
GUIDE
Best camp comfort gear
The pieces that make the campsite feel worth staying in once the basics are already handled.
GUIDE
Camp tools that earn pack space
Repair, shelter, wood, tire, and recovery tools chosen by the job they need to do.
GUIDE
Vehicle recovery kit
The tire, traction, compressor, jump-start, and communication pieces that keep camp-road problems smaller.
GUIDE
Vehicle power gear
Batteries, charging, fridges, fans, inverters, and wiring choices for a vehicle camp setup that works.
MEDIA KIT
Camera gear for camp and travel
A small photo and video kit that improves trip documentation without turning the trip into production work.
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Field-ready tools
Tools & Resources
Field-tested references and quick calculators I actually use. These are here to save time, reduce mistakes, and make the next step easier - whether that's in the shop or getting ready for a trip.
SHOP & POWER
Shop math and references
A few fast tools I actually reach for before cutting, quoting, or ordering material.
Cut List CalculatorPlan cuts, kerf, and scrap before you start.
Panel Layout CalculatorLay parts onto sheet stock and see material use.
Angle / Miter CalculatorConvert corner angles and miter settings before you cut.
Sheet Metal Gauge ReferenceQuick gauge and thickness lookup for steel, stainless, and aluminum.
Pipe Schedule TableOD, wall, ID, and weight reference without digging through charts.
CAMP PREP
Checklists, food, and maps
The planning tools that save the most friction before you leave.
Camp MatchGet a ranked shortlist based on drive time, trip style, and the stuff you actually care about.
Car Camping ChecklistDrive-in shelter, kitchen, lighting, and safety list.
Campground & Dispersed FinderMap-based camping finder and planning help.
Backpacking ChecklistFocused overnight and weekend trail checklist.
Camp CookbookCamp meals and ingredient lists that travel well.
FIELD REFERENCES
Stuff worth knowing out there
Fast field references for the problems that can turn a trip sideways.
Small batch
Store
When they're gone, they're gone.
Limited runs of things I actually wanted to make. No filler, no mass-produced junk.
Ships from Phoenix. Packed by hand.
Featured
Black Flexfit Hat
$30.00 - Clean Flexfit hat with a solid feel and an easy everyday fit. Built to look good without trying too hard.
New
Van Logo Sticker
$5.00 - Matte die-cut vinyl of the Follincraft van. Clean, bold, and built to hold up on coolers, bins, trucks, and whatever else earns it.