Big Agnes - Echo Park 0°

I highly recommend a big agnes echo park(synthetic) or diamond park(down). They are extremely roomy and comfortable. My husband and I both love them.

I just think $400 per item is a solid budget for really nice, comfy, quality stuff and people are recommending you essentially raid the camping aisle at Walmart. I’d check out Big Agnes Spicer 4 or 6 for a tent. I love the 6 but it can be a little large depending on where you’re putting it. I’d check out Hest for sleeping pads. That’s what I’d have if they were in my budget. So comfortable! I also love the Nemo roamer XL and some exped pads too. I’d stay away from air mattresses (cold, bulky, less comfortable) and backpacking pads (thinner, sometimes noisier, less comfy) too. For sleeping bags I’d consider going back to big Agnes. I don’t think you need to spend the $400 per item here since it’s just car camping but I honestly love my big Agnes echo park sleeping bag and use it a ton car camping. I can’t stand mummy bags so that’s a backpacking only thing for me. North face makes some other good options and so does Kelty in terms of car camping. I’d probably recommend a cotton liner so it’s really easy to take out and wash. These can be bought seperate from the sleeping bag. If I had a $400 budget to cook I’d totally get some sort of nice flat grill, probably a blackstone. Something that disassembles well and fits in the car would be sweet. I’ve also seen a couple of recommendations for jackery and that’s another good example of a budget brand where you probably don’t need to be buying the budget brand. Anker is far superior in quality and there are plenty of batter options in your budget. I’ve had TONS of camp chairs and really can’t find a better chair than the Kelty lowdown. Kelty isn’t necessarily known for their quality but they’ve got chairs figured out. I’ve had good luck with quite a few lanterns so it might be worth shopping around for features you like, but I liked the black diamond Apollo probably the best of any I’ve had.

Huge fan of the Big Agnes "park" series, Diamond Park is the down version, Echo Park is the Synthetic one. They are quilt like systems that attach to a warm pad with a thin "sheet" on the bottom that has the hood attached to it and nice fluffy top with a foot box. The whole system is great for tall broad men and women. that want to be able to move around a little. It's awesome. It will convert to a bag with a special zipper in material sold separatelyx but really the key thing is the top quilt to bottom pad combo check it out, they sell them at REI.

I use the Big Agnes Echo Park bags as a side sleeper. They are probably what you're looking for. Lots of room to move around, switch sides, etc.; you can even unzip the top off and use it as a quilt. I also agree that side sleeping is rough just on pads. I try to sleep on my back when camping but just end up sore and tossing around from side to side. A nice cot may be what you need. 

Buy a thick 30” wide mattress, and a big Agnes echo park bag to attach it to. It’s very comfortable and not tight fitting like a mummy bag. Pick the temperature you want and supplement with blankets as needed. Can put the whole setup on a nice cot if needed. Bonus points for putting some memory foam in between the mat and bag.

you're the perfect candidate for a sleep system. changed my life in the back country. I have a Big Agnes bag with a full length pad sleeve. find a pad that fits the sleeve and be amazed. the only downside is these bags don't have any insulation on the bottom, but not a big deal. I just unzip the bag and use it as a blanket when I don't need the full setup.

We have Teton cots + Teton pads. Total game changer for me. Backpacking I use an insulated inflatable Big Agnes pad. Their Park series bags are square and very roomy.