Coolest Camping & Other Gadgets (and some Gift Ideas)

[MagicMtnDan]

There are so many cool camping related products and other gadgets that can be used by expeditionary folks ("campers" too). Many new products are coming out thanks to Kickstarter and others supporting entrepreneurs.

This thread is a place to post and look at cool gadgets, equipment and products that can be used by outdoors folks like us. Feel free to post up products that are attractive to us but not necessarily camping/expedition related...

I'll start it off...

Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Premium
About $40
http://www.rei.com/product/866771/sea-to-summit-aeros-pillow-premium

Cobra Electronics CPP 7500 JumPack Portable Power Pack
Jump start your vehicle and charge up electronic devices
About $100
http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-CPP-7500-JumPack-Portable/dp/B00IZGWL1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415982925&sr=8-1&keywords=cobra+jump+pack

BioLite KettleCharge
Charge your electronics using heat from your stove, etc.
About $150

 

[workerdrone]

One of my all time favorites for super comfort even at backpacking weights - the slip on chair conversion kits that turn a foam pad or therm-a-rest style sleeping pad into a sit-on-the-ground chair with adjustable back support. Weighs almost nothing and you're already carrying the sleeping pad anyway. Good for stadiums too.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Blackfire Clamplight Lantern
The Blackfire Clamplight Lantern combines the grabbing grip of a clamp with the illumination of 2 CREE brilliant white LED lights for a flashlight/lantern that will squeeze onto all kinds of clampable surfaces: table, tent, car, you name it. The light head itself is adjustable for getting the light angled right where you want it. Powered by 3 AA batteries.
About $37.00

Hardcore Hardware Rhino
The Rhino blurs the line between tool and destruction device but then again, sometimes destruction is part of the job. It's made of D2 tool steel and designed for fun activities such as: prying, digging, chopping, hammering, cutting, smashing rock, lock removal, & smashing out windows.
About $275

Decked Truck Storage (somebody tell the truck storage thread!)
Handymen have been building their own truckbed storage systems forever but here's an easier option that requires no powertool skills. The Decked system is a versatile, HDPE plastic setup that gives you massive bed-length lockable storage drawers, each capable of holding 200-pounds while still giving you full-time use of the truck bed.
Around $1,000

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Having used and install several shower set ups the NEMO Helios Pressure Shower gets my vote for overall connivance, lightweight, and size.


With the addition of a JetBoil 100° showers are no problem

 

[SlowCarFast]

For me it would be ENO Double Nest hammock. Not exactly a new gadget but it always gets thrown in the truck or daypack anytime we're camping, hiking or doin any outdoor activities. The kids love it too!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Vertex Ultralight Backpacking Stove
The only thing lighter than the Vertex campstove is no campstove. It's made of tempered stainless steel, and packs down smaller than a trailmap, weighing only 1.8 ounces. You still need to bring the fuel, but it's versatile, using either superlight Esbit fuel tablets or the popular and also puny, Trangia alcohol burner.
About $45

Hydraulic Dry Bags
These dry bags are built for extreme conditions. With welded construction and a waterproof seam, they're made of abrasion-resistant 600D TPU laminated fabric, which is tough, plus it's also PVC free and UV resistant. Available in several sizes and colors.
$28 - $117

Kammok Thylacine Modular Sleeping Bag
Until now, year-round campers have had no choice but to buy multiple sleeping bags for keeping sufficiently warm or cool depending on the time of year. Now Kammok has come up with a solution to the multi-bag issue. Their new modular sleeping bag uses an interchangeable baffle system that lets you add or subtract fill to change the warmth rating.
$200 - $650

Tinder Hot Box Solar Fire Starter
Unless it happens to be a cloudy day or nighttime, the Tinder Hot Box solar fire starter could be a lifesaver. But when the sun is shining, this simple little device will start a fire in a matter of minutes with no moving parts, fuel, or batteries to worry about. The tinder box is also airtight and watertight so your firestarting materials will stay dry in any weather.
About $40

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Collapsible Camp Stove
Backpackers know that when it comes to gear, weight is everything. And for cooking up hot meals at camp it doesn't get much more minimalist than this collapsible camp stove from Littlbug. Made up of 4 pieces of Laser-cut stainless steel it quickly pops together & gives you the option of using natural biomass fuels or a trusty, old Sterno can.
About $59
http://c745.r45.cf2.rackcdn.com/img/2009/collapsible_camp_stove.jpg


BioLite KettlePot
The BioLite campstove is an award-winning design that burns biomass instead of gas to cook camp meals and charge electronics. By the looks of their latest add-on, the KettlePot, this ultra-efficient camp cooking system just keeps getting better. The kettle design makes boiling and pouring hot drinks fast & easy and also works as a thermos to keep them warm.
About $50

Road Shower
Sure, when you're filthy dirty on your roadtrip, you could just stop at a random motel and get a hot shower. But you might also get bedbug bites, lice and a case of athlete's foot in the bargain. Better to stay on the road and use this instead. The Road Shower mounts to your roofrack, is solar heated and holds 5 gallons of water that you pressurize with a little shot of CO2. Much cleaner.
About $210

FlameStower
The collapsible FlameStower captures the excess residual heat from your cookstove to charge USB powered devices. Phone, iPad, mini-RC helicopter, you know, all those things you need to get in touch with mother nature.
About $60

Acecamp Survival Shovel
In a really tough situation you could dig your own grave with this 11.4 oz. survival shovel but since it's also a multi-tool that packs other wilderness essentials like a hatchet, compass, saw blade, wrench, bottle opener, & more, you probably won't die out there.
About $20

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Ikea LED Strips (Maybe these could be used in our vehicles?)
From the darkest recesses of your toolbox to your lady's lingerie drawer, these AAA-battery powered LED strips will ensure that you never reach in & pull out the wrong whatever. A small infrared sensor turns the lights on when a drawer is opened & turns 'em off after it's closed.
About $15

Not sure about this one...

Trucker's Friend
We thought that Trucker's Friend were those little pills from the gas station that make it feel like your hair is growing. Apparently it's also a special kind of battle ax. This heavy-duty multi-tool works as an ax, hammer, nail puller, pry bar, tire chain hook, wire twist, and more. Throw it under the seat of your ride for easy access in dealing with roadside BS of all sorts.
About $50

Spyderco Dragonfly Orange
At less than 3-inches, it's a small one, but the index finger choil gives the stainless steel Dragonfly knife a big blade feel in the hand. And it's so light—just over an ounce—that you'll always bring it along. It features a locking blade and the bright orange handles are made of tough fiberglass reinforced nylon. If you can't stand orange, it's available in other colors, too.
About $85

Vipukirves Axes
Finnish people know how to keep warm. First they invented the sauna, now they've redesigned the axe to make splitting firewood a cinch. When you strike the log, the unique design of the axe head automatically detaches the chopped portion of wood. End result: you'll actually look like you've done this before.
About $250

 

[SDDiver5]

I don't have any input for this thread but great idea OP.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Kammok Glider (it's not the hammock in the pic)
Made of lightweight, waterproof Amphibiskin fabric and backed by adventurer Bear Grylls, the Glider is a tarp slash camping shelter that also happens to work as a drinking water retention system. It's the first shelter to offer you a drink; a design that integrates raingutters into the corners, allowing you to attach 4 water bottles at a time for collecting drinkable rainwater.
About $175

Portable Mosquito Repeller
One quick google search on the dangers of DEET and you'll see why this portable tabletop mosquito repeller is a much better option. The 6-inch tall, AA-battery powered unit emits a safe, floral scent of geranium, peppermint, & lemongrass, essential oils that naturally repel mosquitoes, gnats, & midges without the use of any toxins that can damage your nervous system.
About $15

Niteize Reflective Rope
Climbing out of the tent for your late-night leak is harsh enough as it is. Tripping and tearing down the tent or getting clotheslined by the clothesline makes it much worse. But those types of accidents are less likely if you use this reflective rope made specifically for such dark and dangerous outings.
About $12

Solar Kettle
It sounds almost too good to be true but this light & compact solar kettle will boil water, heat your soup or coffee, even desalinate ocean water for drinking in “just a while.” The length of that “while” of course, depends on how sunny it is but since it uses nothing but the energy of the sun, you can't find a cleaner, greener kettle for off-the-grid use.
About $65

Spot Global Phone
For adventure travel into the most remote zones on the planet: high alpine peaks, glaciers, jungles, and wide-open ocean, satellite phones are an essential. Spot's new Global Phone is the world's most compact & portable SAT phone yet. It also offers data connectivity & internet access as well as competitive airtime rates. A Lithium-Ion battery provides 4 hours of talk time and/or 36 hours standby.
About $500

 

[v_man]

Everyone needs a bottle opener !

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049NJD3E/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1416106617&sr=1&keywords=bottle+opener

 

[t42beal13t]

Great thread!

 

[pugslyyy]

Here's my top 3 - with these I can communicate and purify water pretty much indefinitely.

InReach Explorer

Navigate, create waypoints, log your trip and find your way back. Send and receive text messages. Trigger an interactive SOS. Plan, track and share your journey. You can do all of this from one rugged handheld device with 100% global coverage from Iridium. You can also pair it with your mobile device to access topographic maps and U.S. NOAA charts.

h2go purifier

This device weighs only 3.8 ounces (108 grams), fits in your pocket, and is very simple and easy to use. It will treat anywhere from 1 liter (1 quart) up to 20 liters (5 gallons) of water with just a couple button clicks and no pumping or stirring required. It keeps stored water safe to drink with a lifetime capacity of 60,000 to 124,000+ liters (24,000 to 32,000+ gallons), depending on the model selected. It is inexpensive to purchase and virtually free to operate, with no maintenance, no spare parts, and no consumables (other than common salt), making it truly sustainable.

GoalZero Guide 10 Plus Solar Kit

With the Guide 10 Plus Recharger and Nomad 7 Solar Panel you have a portable, rugged charging kit as adventurous as you are. Charge AAs from the sun or any USB port, then power your phone, MP3, GPS, or perk up your tablet in a pinch.

 

[jhill15]

Columbia River eat n tool and eat n tool xl. Very inexpensive and very cool.

eat n tool $7.99 http://www.crkt.com/EatN-Tool---Spo...erPry-Tip-Metric-Wrenches-Carabiner-Clam-Only

eat n tool xl $14.99 http://www.crkt.com/EatN-Tool-Spoon-Fork-Bottle-Opener-Eating-Utensil

 

[pyrate]

Headlamps

I'd have to say the biggest gadget that I use so often I'd consider it a necessity is a headlamp. I started using them when sailing and loved how it was hands free allowing me to work on things. I quickly started using it for backpacking, motorcycling etc. They are now in almost every bag and vehicle I use.

There a ton of models and design variables so choose one that fits your needs.