The Sweet Sixteen round of the Best Things Ever Tournament at Blazer’s Edge rounds the halfway mark today. By the end of tomorrow we’ll know our Elite Eight participants. Before then, we have two days of voting to engage in.
For those who haven’t kept up, we started with 64 pretty cool items from everyday life sorted into a March Madness bracket. Each day we offer two articles, each with a choice between two of those things. You vote for which one you think is best by any criteria you choose. The winner advances, the loser goes home.
While the other matchup today might be a foregone conclusion, this one is sure to stir up some controversy. The two items are related, but not interchangeable. They’re both enjoyed by many, but they’re optional pastimes with devoted followings. And most all of us have tried them at one point or another, if not fallen in love with their charms.
This head-to-head matchup asks you to choose between Camping and Beer.
Camping is tons of fun and fairly simple to do. Get a tent, a sleeping bag, and any additional gear you care to bring—anything from backpacks and fishing poles to boats or a whole RV. Reserve a spot (still fairly affordable compared to most travel expenses) and head out into the wilderness. A fire and a few S’Mores later…you and the family just had a surprising amount of fun! And a knot in your back from sleeping on a root.
Then there’s beer. Fermented grains, some yeast, some magic that only brewmasters understand, and you have a carbonated, flavorful way to spend time around friends. Like camping, it can go wrong. (Everybody’s had somebody’s “My first attempt at an IPA”. But when it goes right, it’s memorable and amazing.
It’s a tough matchup, but we have to choose. What will it be for you, camping or beer? Vote for one in the comments below and share your reasoning!