Picture this: it’s 9pm at the campsite, the kids are finally asleep in the camper, the fire is going, and your friends or partner are all gathered around it. But you’re stuck inside listening for the baby – again – because your regular monitor doesn’t reach and the child unit has to stay plugged in.
That was us for years. And it’s exactly the problem the Roar Outdoor Baby Monitor was built to solve.
After 7 years of wrestling with corded monitors and dead batteries on camping trips, I was sent the Roar to review – and I genuinely haven’t looked back. This is the only truly wireless, rechargeable, rugged baby monitor built specifically for outdoor families. Here’s everything you need to know.
I was provided the monitors in exchange for a review – I hope you find it honest, helpful, and unbiased. This post contains affiliate links.
Why Regular Baby Monitors Don’t Work for Camping
Standard baby monitors are designed for houses – which means they assume you have a power outlet within reach of the child unit. When you’re camping, that’s just not reality. Here’s what outdoor families run into with regular monitors:
- The child unit needs to be plugged in – useless at a tent site, and limited at a campsite with hookups if the outlet is far from where baby sleeps
- Battery-operated versions drain fast – my old one lasted maybe 3 hours, meaning constant battery swaps on every trip
- WiFi or phone-dependent monitors – great at home, completely useless in the backcountry or anywhere with poor signal
- Short range – campfire rings are often 50-100 feet from where kids sleep, and most budget monitors struggle at that distance
- Not built for drops, dirt, or moisture – camping is rough on gear, and most monitors aren’t designed with that in mind
The result? One parent stuck near the tent all night while everyone else is at the campfire. We’ve all been there – and it’s exactly the kind of thing that makes families start saying “let’s wait until the kids are older” to go camping.
→ See the Roar Outdoor Baby Monitor on Amazon
What Makes the Roar Different
The Roar is the only truly wireless baby monitor I’ve found – meaning neither the parent unit nor the child unit ever needs to be plugged in to work. That one difference changes everything for outdoor families. Here’s what sets it apart:
- Both units are fully rechargeable – 20 hours of battery life – charge them at home before you leave and forget about it. My old battery-operated monitor lasted maybe 3 hours. This one lasts the whole trip.
- No WiFi or phone signal needed – works anywhere, including remote campsites with zero cell service
- 1,000 foot range – more than enough to go from your tent to the campfire and back
- Two-way audio (walkie-talkie style) – you can talk back through the monitor. I’ve told my kids to go back to sleep from my camp chair without getting up once
- Water resistant with covered ports – it fell in the snow and on gravel on our trips and kept working perfectly
- Metal belt clip + lanyard on both units – clip the child unit to a belt loop or small pack. Clip the parent unit to your camp chair. Done.
- Dual-tip charging cord included – charges both units at once so you never have to remember to swap
Real World Testing – How It Held Up
After 7 years of dragging corded monitors on camping trips, I was genuinely skeptical anything could replace what I was used to. Here’s what actually happened when we tested the Roar:
We took it on a trip 14 hours from home in below-zero temperatures – the monitors had been sitting in the car for days with no charging and they still had plenty of battery when we arrived. That alone was impressive.
The child unit dropped in snow and on gravel – the rubber port covers did their job and nothing got in. The metal belt clip held up on both units through the whole trip without bending or loosening.
The two-way function is the feature I use the most – and I don’t even need it just for babies anymore. I now clip it to my oldest when he goes outside to play so I can hear him from inside the house. The “baby” monitor has genuinely become a family outdoor tool that we use constantly.
How It Compares to Other Baby Monitors for Camping
When you search “wireless baby monitor” on Amazon you’ll find hundreds of options – but almost none of them are truly wireless for both units. Here’s an honest comparison:
🏆 Roar Outdoor Monitor – Best for Camping
- Both units wire free – yes! Neither needs to be plugged in
- Battery life – 20 hours (rechargeable)
- Range – 1,000 ft
- Two-way audio – yes
- WiFi needed – no
- Water resistant – yes, covered ports
- Check price on Amazon
VTech DM111 – Budget Option
- Both units wire free – no, child unit must stay plugged in
- Battery life – 8 hours parent unit only
- Range – 1,000 ft
- Two-way audio – no
- WiFi needed – no
- Water resistant – no, exposed ports
- Check price on Amazon
VTech DM221 – Budget Option with 2 Parent Units
- Both units wire free – no, child unit must stay plugged in
- Battery life – 3 hours on AA batteries
- Range – 250 ft
- Two-way audio – no
- WiFi needed – no
- Water resistant – no, exposed ports
- Check price on Amazon
The bottom line on price: yes, the Roar costs more upfront. But most outdoor families spend $20-50 on a monitor that doesn’t actually work for camping – and then either suffer through the limitations or buy something better anyway. The Roar is the something better, and it keeps working long past the baby years.
Who Should Buy the Roar Monitor
The Roar is the right buy if:
- You camp or spend time outdoors more than once or twice a year
- You want to sit around the campfire after the kids go to bed without being tethered to the tent
- You camp in areas with no reliable cell signal where WiFi monitors won’t work
- You’re tired of buying batteries or forgetting to pack them
- You want something that will last years and grow with your kids – not just a baby phase purchase
It’s probably not the right fit if you only do one or two outdoor trips a year and have easy power access – in that case a basic VTech would do the job for less money.
→ Check the Roar Monitor on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best baby monitor for camping?
The Roar Outdoor Baby Monitor is the best option for camping families because it’s the only truly wireless monitor where neither the parent unit nor the child unit needs to be plugged in. It runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts 20 hours, works without WiFi or cell signal, and has a 1,000 foot range – more than enough to cover most campsites.
Do baby monitors work while camping?
Regular baby monitors struggle while camping because the child unit usually needs to be plugged into power, and WiFi-based monitors don’t work without signal. The Roar is specifically designed for this problem – no power outlet needed, no WiFi required, and the 1,000 foot range handles the distance between a tent and campfire easily.
How long does the Roar baby monitor battery last?
Both the parent and child units last 20 hours on a full charge. The monitor comes with a dual-tip charging cord so you can charge both at the same time. Charge them at home before a trip and you won’t need to think about it again for the whole weekend.
Can you use the Roar monitor without WiFi?
Yes – the Roar doesn’t use WiFi or your phone at all. It works on its own radio frequency, which means it functions anywhere regardless of cell service. This makes it ideal for remote camping spots, national parks, and anywhere you’d otherwise have no signal.
Is the Roar baby monitor worth the price?
If you camp or spend time outdoors regularly, yes. Most families go through several cheap monitors that don’t work well outdoors, spending $20-50 each time. The Roar costs more upfront but lasts years and works well past the baby stage – we still use ours with older kids for outdoor play. For a family who values their time outdoors, it pays for itself quickly.
After years of missing campfire time because of monitor limitations, the Roar genuinely changed how we camp with kids. If getting outside is important to your family – both now during the baby years and long after – it’s the monitor I’d recommend without hesitation.
→ See the Roar Outdoor Baby Monitor on Amazon
More baby and toddler camping gear you’ll love:
- 11 Must-Have Items for Taking Baby Camping
- Baby Camping Checklist (Free Printable!)
- Best Baby Sleeping Bag for Camping
- How Cold Is Too Cold to Camp with a Baby?
- The Ultimate Guide to Camping with Toddlers
