Going outdoors for extended periods can provide a much-needed respite from the monotony of everyday life. We could all use more nature in our lives, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we need to throw all the comforts of modernity to the wayside. We put together a list of the camping gear you wish you already had because it will make the entire experience much more enjoyable. Go camping and enjoy all the fun stuff and reduce dealing with the lousy parts.
Camping Gear You Wish You Already Had
1. EcoFlow RIVER Portable Power Station
This portable power station is more than simply an extra phone battery pack. Plug in whatever you need to power up, from a movie projector to an electric blanket. Adding in a couple of niceties can bring the experience to a whole new level.
2. Portable Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Plan on swimming or kayaking? Bring along this waterproof speaker and jam out while you do so. For a small speaker, the JBL Charge 3 packs a big sound. If no one in your party is musically talented, this speaker can add a nice background track to those starry nights around the campfire.
3. Life Straw with Flex Bottle
Lugging tons of water into your campsite is exhausting and can be incredibly wasteful. If you’re camping near natural water, this bottle and water purifier are perfect additions. Whether you’re simply hanging around the campsite or on a morning hike, this water bottle can compress and go inside a backpack for easy storage. Leave the giant, metal, vacuum-insulated water bottles at home.
4. Folding Camp Chair
Sitting around the campfire telling stories and singing songs is tons of fun. However, are you still subjecting yourself to the same cheap, uncomfortable camp chairs you bought years ago? Save your back some trouble and check out this folding chair that is a dream come true. Don’t put it away until your next camping trip, though; bring it along to sporting events, BBQs, and more.
5. Portable Mosquito Shield
Kiss those cans of DEET goodbye! Keep your blood to yourself with this portable mosquito shield. This mosquito deterrent is heat-activated with no candle or open flame. The fuel cell lasts for 12 hours so that you can enjoy a bug-free zone all night or all day.
6. Insulated Growler
Half a gallon of your favorite craft beer just as cold as when you left home. This vacuum-insulated growler can keep liquids cold for 24+ hours. After a long hike or afternoon swimming, a delicious brew never tasted better.
7. Flask and Flashlight Kit
Of course, you’ll need a flashlight, but who said it couldn’t serve more than one purpose? This device is a flashlight and also the vessel for your drink of choice. These are the sort of innovations we need more of in the world.
8. Compact Cook Set
While most gear is camping-specific (you probably don’t use a sleeping bag at home), you’ll use the same cookware in the great outdoors as at home. However, hauling around oversized, heavy pots and pans is tiresome and overkill. This compact cook set has all the dishes you need to cook, eat, and drink in a handy, portable nesting setup.
9. Pop-Up Trash Can
Trash is not very exciting. But what’s worse than a white plastic trash bag hanging from a tree, taking away from the rest of the beautiful scenery? This pop-up trash can is simple, compact, and an easy solution to a problem you didn’t even know you had.
10. Telescoping Marshmallow Sticks
Roasting marshmallows is fun and easy for the whole family to get involved. However, dragging along those long, gangly skewers or trying to make your own out of found materials puts a damper on the experience. These simple, telescoping skewers are easy to hold and compact to put away when you’re done.
11. Portable Camping Dog Bowl
Bring your pup and let them roam around in the wild for a bit. When they start to get thirsty halfway through your hike, pull a portable bog bowl out of your pocket and put water in it. Your pooch can sip easy and get back to chasing down rabbits and other wildlife.
Camping Soon?
If you’re heading into the wilderness anytime soon, think about adding one of these pieces of camping gear to your pack. Let us know if you try any of these out and what you think.