Campers Have Been Loading Up On Adventure Gear At This New Jersey Store Since 1978

What do you get when you mix a garage startup with decades of outdoor know-how? A New Jersey shop that has been keeping campers geared up since 1978.

Tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots, and all the little gadgets you never knew you needed for a night under the stars.

It started small, the kind of humble beginning that makes a place feel like it was built by people who actually love the outdoors.

Over the years, it has become a go-to for hikers and weekend adventurers who know exactly where to load up.

The staff actually knows their stuff, and the whole place hums with the energy of people planning their next escape.

You might walk in for one thing, but you will leave with a trunk full of gear and a new addiction to the wild. That is just how it works here.

A Mail Order Beginning That Grew Into a Landmark

Long before online shopping was a thing, this outfitter started as a mail order operation run out of a garage in Bogota, back in 1978. Catalogs did the heavy lifting then, arriving in mailboxes across the country and turning curious readers into campers.

That scrappy start still shows in the way the business runs today. It grew into a full brick and mortar shop in Paramus while keeping a busy catalog and online side going strong.

What I find interesting is how the two halves feed each other. Shoppers browse online, then drive over to touch the fabric, test a zipper, or actually lift a pack before committing.

Family owned since the beginning, the place has outlasted trends, big box competitors, and plenty of changes in how people shop. Loyal customers talk about coming here since childhood, which says more than any advertisement could.

It is a rare thing, a store with real history that still feels current every single season.

Over 12,000 Square Feet Of Pure Gear Territory

Space matters when you are shopping for gear, and there is plenty of it here. The Paramus location spreads across more than 12,000 square feet, holding thousands of products from hundreds of brands under one roof.

Aisles are organized by activity rather than thrown together, so hiking sits near backpacking, and camp kitchen gear has its own corner. That layout saves time when you know what you want.

Honestly though, most people wander. I watched shoppers drift from headlamps to trekking poles without any clear plan, picking things up just to feel the weight.

Comparing brands side by side is the real advantage. Two jackets that look identical online suddenly feel completely different when you can flip a hood or test a cuff with your own hands.

Come with a list if you want to stay focused. Come without one if you enjoy the treasure hunt, because this place rewards slow browsing more than quick errands.

Staff Who Actually Hike, Camp, And Climb

Ask a question here and you get a conversation, not a shrug. The people working the floor tend to be genuine outdoor enthusiasts, and it shows in how specific their answers get.

Shoppers regularly mention how helpful and knowledgeable the staff are, especially in departments like footwear and backpacking. Somebody will ask what kind of terrain you are heading into before pointing at anything.

There is no rush, and no push toward the priciest option either. Plenty of customers describe being steered toward gear that simply fit their needs and budget.

That patience makes a difference when you are new. Beginners can ask basic questions without feeling silly, and experienced hikers can get into the weeds about pack volume or boot lasts.

Boot fittings are a good example. Trying on several pairs, walking around, changing your mind twice, all of it is treated as normal rather than a hassle.

Good advice saves you money later, and that is worth the trip alone.

Tents, Sleeping Bags, And The Camp Setup Corner

Few things beat crawling into a tent before buying it. A dedicated tent display room lets shoppers step inside models and see how much headroom they really get.

Kids love it, obviously. Parents get to see whether a three person tent honestly fits three people or just three very friendly ones.

Sleeping bags line up nearby with temperature ratings on the tags, and staff can explain what those numbers actually mean in practice. A twenty degree bag behaves differently depending on the pad underneath it.

Sleeping pads, camp stoves, cookware, and freeze dried camp meals fill out the rest of the section. It is easy to build a complete overnight kit in one pass.

My favorite detail is how the gear is grouped by trip style. Car camping setups sit apart from ultralight backpacking options, which keeps you from accidentally buying something far heavier than you need.

Bring your packing list. You will still find something you forgot.

Boots And Footwear Built For Real Miles

Feet decide whether a hike is joyful or miserable, and the footwear department clearly knows it. Shelves hold hiking boots, trail runners, approach shoes, water shoes, and insulated winter options.

Fitting help is the real draw. Staff will pull multiple sizes, talk through sock thickness, and let you walk around until something feels right.

Brands stocked here cover well known trail names alongside options that big chains often skip. Having choices matters when your foot shape does not match the average last.

Longtime shoppers mention upgrading boots here across decades, from their first pair as a kid to serious mountain footwear later on. That kind of continuity is hard to find.

Sizing advice tends to be practical rather than technical. Expect questions about downhill toe room, blister history, and how far you usually walk in a day.

Take your own hiking socks along. Trying boots with the socks you actually wear gives you a far more honest fit.

Roof Racks, Cargo Boxes, And Rooftop Tents

Gear only helps if you can haul it, which is where the vehicle side of this shop gets fun. Roof racks, crossbars, cargo boxes, and rooftop tents are sold and installed right on site.

Installation is a genuine service, not an afterthought. Customers describe having crossbars and cargo boxes fitted the same day, then getting a walkthrough on locking, removing, and maintaining everything.

Fit kits matter enormously with racks, since the right hardware depends on your exact vehicle. Staff track down the correct pieces rather than guessing.

Rooftop tent setups also get attention here, including full demonstrations of how they open and close. Learning that in a parking lot beats figuring it out at a dark campsite.

Some travelers drive in from well beyond the state just for this service, which tells you something about how rare it is.

Call ahead if you want an install. Scheduling saves you a long wait and makes the whole visit smoother.

Layers, Jackets, And Cold Weather Comfort

Winter shopping here feels almost cozy. Racks fill with insulated jackets, fleece midlayers, base layers, shells, hats, gloves, and mittens, all sorted so you can build a layering system instead of grabbing one random coat.

Warmth is a puzzle, not a single purchase. Staff often explain how a thin base layer plus an insulating middle plus a windproof outer beats one bulky jacket.

Glove selection deserves its own mention. Shoppers frequently come in looking for the warmest possible combination, sometimes buying liners and outer shells to wear together.

Summer and shoulder season clothing shares the floor too, with quick dry shirts, sun hoodies, rain shells, and hiking pants that pack down small.

Trying things on with your normal layers underneath makes a huge difference in sizing. A puffy that fits over a t shirt might feel tight over a fleece.

Snowshoes and winter traction gear round out the cold weather selection nicely.

Backpacks Sized And Fitted For Your Trip

Backpacking gear comes up constantly among regulars here, and the pack wall explains why. Daypacks, overnight packs, and multi day haulers hang in rows sorted by capacity.

Torso length matters more than most beginners realize. Getting measured and adjusted properly turns an uncomfortable pack into one you barely notice.

Staff will often load a pack with weight so you can feel how it carries. Empty packs lie to you.

Alongside the packs sit rain covers, hydration reservoirs, dry bags, and compression sacks, all the small pieces that make a loaded pack work better. Trekking poles usually live nearby.

Families gearing up together can find kid sized options as well, which makes group trips far easier to organize.

Something I appreciate is the honesty about size. Bigger is not automatically better, and a smaller pack often forces smarter packing.

Spend the extra fifteen minutes on adjustments. Your shoulders will thank you somewhere around mile seven.

Compasses, Knives, And Small Essentials Worth Browsing

Half the fun happens in the small stuff aisles. Compasses, pocket knives, multi tools, headlamps, lanterns, binoculars, and compact survival items fill shelves and cases toward the middle of the store.

These are the items people forget until they need them. A reliable headlamp changes a campsite evening completely.

Navigation gear still gets real shelf space here, which feels reassuring in a phone dominated world. Maps and compasses do not run out of battery.

Water filters, first aid supplies, repair kits, and fire starters sit in the same general zone, making it simple to restock a safety kit in one loop.

Climbing hardware and kayak related gear also appear for those chasing steeper or wetter adventures.

One shopper favorite detail is that first compass memory, the sort of purchase that starts a lifelong habit. Small items often carry the biggest sentimental weight.

Give yourself time in these aisles. They are quietly the most interesting part of the store.

Planning Your Visit Along Route 17

Timing helps here, since the shop keeps limited days. Campmor sits at 810 NJ-17 in Paramus, New Jersey, with parking right out front and easy access from the highway.

Doors open at 10 AM Tuesday through Saturday, with Thursday running later until 7 PM. The store stays closed Sunday and Monday.

Route 17 traffic can be heavy, so a weekday morning visit tends to feel calmest.

Give yourself more time than you think you need. Between the tent room, the boot benches, and the accessory aisles, a quick errand rarely stays quick.

Membership perks exist for regular shoppers, which loyal customers often mention as a nice bonus. Ask at the register if you visit often.

Northern New Jersey hikers treat Campmor as a starting line before heading toward the ridges and reservoirs farther north.

Whether you are packing for a first overnight or replacing gear that finally wore out, this longtime outdoor shop makes an easy place to get ready before the next trip.