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Our Subaru Outback Car Camping Setup guide is built around the Outback’s long, forgiving cargo floor. The Forester and Crosstrek can car camp too, but the setup that works well in an Outback needs real adjustment in either of them — less about different gear, more about different discipline.
The Real Difference Isn’t Comfort, It’s Setup Discipline
An Outback’s length forgives packing mistakes — extra gear left in the wrong spot still leaves enough room to sleep. Neither the Forester nor the Crosstrek offers that margin. Both work fine for car camping, but only if the setup stays intentional: gear goes exactly where it’s supposed to, not wherever there’s room, because there usually isn’t extra room to spare.
Forester Camping: Trade Length for Height
The Forester’s extra headroom is a genuine advantage once you’re set up — sitting up to change clothes or dig through a bag is easier than in a lower vehicle. The tradeoff shows up at sleeping time: the shorter cargo floor usually means sleeping at a slight diagonal, or folding one seat instead of both to steal a few extra inches. A HEST Foamy pad or similar low-profile foam pad works better here than a thick air mattress, since a thinner pad leaves more flexibility for an imperfect sleeping angle.
Crosstrek Camping: Solo or Ultra-Light Only
Being direct about this one: the Crosstrek works for solo camping with minimal gear. It’s not a realistic two-person sleeping setup without real compromise on comfort or gear volume — there just isn’t enough length or width to do both well at once. If you’re regularly camping with a partner, the Outback or Forester will save real frustration; if it’s solo trips with a simple setup, the Crosstrek handles it fine.
Gear That Actually Helps in a Smaller Cargo Area
- A foam pad over an air mattress. Air mattresses need more consistent flat space to stay comfortable — a low-profile foam pad tolerates an imperfect surface better.
- Soft bags over hard bins. Compress into whatever space is actually left rather than claiming a fixed footprint neither of these two models can spare.
- Fewer, more purposeful items. The Outback’s forgiving length rewards bringing extra “just in case” gear; the Forester and Crosstrek punish it.
Common Mistakes
- Copying an Outback packing list exactly. The extra gear that fits fine in an Outback often doesn’t leave enough sleeping room in a Forester or Crosstrek.
- Planning a two-person Crosstrek sleeping setup. Technically possible, rarely comfortable — plan for solo use or bring a tent instead.
- Bringing a thick air mattress into a Forester. A low-profile foam pad handles the shorter floor’s diagonal sleeping angle better.
FAQs
Can you comfortably car camp in a Forester?
Yes, with a shorter, more deliberate setup than an Outback needs — the extra height helps, the shorter floor means planning around a diagonal sleeping position.
Can two people sleep in a Crosstrek?
Technically, but not comfortably for most people. It works well for solo trips with a simple setup.
Should I get a foam pad or an air mattress for a Forester or Crosstrek?
A foam pad, generally — it tolerates an imperfect or angled sleeping surface better than an air mattress needs.
Final Thoughts
The Forester and Crosstrek can both car camp well — they just reward a tighter, more intentional setup than the Outback needs. Match the gear and group size to what the vehicle actually offers, and both work fine for the right kind of trip.
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