Boots, tent, mosquito spray, etc.

As a detective solving the mystery of the crossword clue ‘Boots, tent, mosquito spray, etc.’, my first thought was to consider what all of these things have in common. They all seem to be items that one would bring on a camping or outdoor adventure. So, I began thinking about other similar items that one might pack for such a trip – flashlight, sleeping bag, cooler, and so on. Eventually, I landed on the word ‘gear‘. It’s a broad term that encompassed various instruments or tools, especially those used for a particular purpose or activity. It perfectly fits the context of the clue and encompasses all the items mentioned. It was a satisfying feeling to solve the mystery of the crossword clue, and I can imagine the puzzlers feeling similarly as they filled out this answer.