Weighing in at seven pounds, the Basecamp comes sheathed in a rain cover and is slim as a tripod. Remove it from the cover and depress the top with both of your hands, however, and it quickly extends, umbrella-style via the help of its pneumatic hub, into a 56-inch wide, 35-inch tall play yard. Made from a flexible fiberglass shell and wrapped in a water-resistant polyester, the enclosed Basecamp has mesh walls that offer complete visibility and a one-zipper front door that grants easy access. The Basecamp defends from both sun (there’s a removable UPF 50 Sun/Rain cover that offers shade but still helps ventilate on hot day) and insects (the mesh is made to ward of winged things). There’s also two interior on-wall mesh pockets for storage and a specially coated bottom that doesn’t get soggy. The Basecamp is also designed to keep its diminutive inhabitants safe: the JPMA approved shelter has no hard surfaces that kids can knock their heads against and features, among other design niceties, pinch-proof hinges to protect tiny fingers. The Basecamp is designed brilliantly. As it’s so light and slim, the Basecamp is easy to toss in the back of a car or even into the bottom basket of a large stroller when you’re heading to the beach or the woods. As set up only takes a few seconds (there are also some sandbags included to weigh the base down), there’s no need to wrestle with connectors or curse the lack of missing parts. The Basecamp’s been a part of our travel gear for the past two months and it will remain there for the foreseeable future. It’s excellent. Buy Now $179
