15 camping gadgets you must bring along on your next outdoor adventure
There’s nothing like a weekend camping trip with a few good friends and a little campfire bonding. City folks. in particular, who are bound to their 9-to-5 will find the couple of days in the wild outdoors a refreshing breakaway from the usual mundane routine.
Thankfully, camping has evolved over the years to accommodate campers at various skill levels, making the whole excitement accessible to everyone. Even those who are daunted at being at the mercy of mother nature will be relieved that most campsites these days will have proper toilets, so there’s no need for the classic dig-a-hole.
Nevertheless, a casual camping trip still calls for plenty of preparation – so we’re here to help on the tech side of things.
Here are the 15 camping gadgets you should consider bringing along on your next trip
1) Power Station
Although a tad bit bulky, a power station is one of the more handy things you can bring on your camping trip.
This mega-sized powerbank will help you power up anything from an electric kettle to a microwave if getting a fire going is taking too long. But on the more practical side, a power station can mean the difference in survival should anything unforeseen happens and you find yourself needing extra juice to get your phones or rechargeable torchlights going.
We recommend power stations with solar charging, such as the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Power Station Portable.
2) Camping lanterns / Tent lights
If your trip coincides with the new moon (the first lunar phase, meaning there will be no moon in the night sky), then it’s high chances your campsite is going to be pretty dark.
Regardless of the moon phase, the last thing you’d want is to underestimate the dangers of pitch blackness – especially if you’re constantly wandering about. As such, bringing along a few camping lanterns to illuminate the campsite is a good way to set up borders so that no one loses their bearings and go astray.
3) Solar-powered torchlight
When you’re out camping, packing a torchlight wherever you go is a good habit to instill – regardless of the time of day. Those 15-minute trek to the waterfall may seem harmless, but a rainy storm on the way or back can muddy the trails and make you lose your bearings.
Flashlights are crucial in these circumstances, so it’s best practice to bring a flashlight when you head out. Where possible, bring along a solar-powered flashlight so you have an alternative if ever your battery-operated flashlight runs out.
4) High-capacity power bank
We know you went on this camping trip to earn a break from screen time. Still, we recommend bringing along a power bank just in case you need to contact someone from home.
How long a power bank can last also depends on your phone’s battery capacity. Preferably, you’d want something that can last you for several charges, which is about 20,000mAh to 30,000mAh capacity.
5) Portable gas stove
Since scrambled eggs will most likely be on the morning menu, you’d want something that can get the job done fast. If you’re lucky enough to still have a fire going then by all means use the fire. If not, just fire up a portable gas stove and you’ll have breakfast ready in no time.
You can easily get a portable stove under RM50, such as this Pensonic Portable Gas Stove (PPG-2003N) from Lotus’s official Shopee store.
6) Walkie Talkie
Every young boy would have once play-acted a role that involved an imaginary walkie talkie and static voice effects. Most don’t get to live out their dreams…until they decide to camp!
Of course, walkie talkies in this situations aren’t just a toy. If ever your activities require splitting into groups, then having an instant two-way communication is vital to ensure everyone is accounted for.
7) Mosquito repellent
No matter how much you try to cover up with long sleeves and track bottoms, mosquitos always find a way. And unless you want to return home with innumerable scratch marks, it’s best you bring along some repellent.
Mosquito coils will do the trick, though it can take quite some time to set them up around base. Plus, you will need to constantly re-light or replace them.
An alternative is getting a rechargeable repellent, like Flextail’s Max Repel S 2-in1 Rechargeable Mosquito Repellent. This device alone can cover a 30-foot zone for 12 hours. It also doubles as a power bank when needed.
8) Portable mini fan
Not entirely necessary, seeing that you’ll probably be shaded under vast canopy of trees. Still, sometimes the weather can get humid in the tropics, so a mini fan may just come in useful.
You’ll find plenty of choices on Shopee and Lazada. We’d recommend something from notable brands such as Gaabor’s mini portable fan or something from fan specialists such as JISULIFE.
9) Portable Coffee Machine
Again, not super necessary unless you’re a caffeine-infused millennial or Gen-Z.
The quick way to whip up a cup of joe is to just throw in some instant powdered coffee. But if you’re adamant on brewing up your own concoction with all the rigmarole, then a portable coffee machine will do the trick.
These can get a little pricey though. If you’ve got the budget, a portable coffee machine from HiBREW can go upwards of RM400. For something more affordable, you should consider the Wacaco pipamoka for RM219.
10) Thermos
A thermos will come in handy especially on rainy days when it’s difficult to get the campfire going. Keep a full flask of hot water by your side, and when you’re in the mood for a cup of tea, simply whip out your thermos.
You can easily find loads of insulated flasks around, but the first that comes to mind is the ever reliable Thermos brand.
11) Travel Shaver
An item that probably leans towards men, especially those who sprout thickets of facial hair at a wicked rate. In this scenario, there’s a choice of the classic razer blades, or an electronic portable shever.
For the latter, you’d want something lightweight and cordless, such as Philips’ Electric Shaver PQ206/18 or the Remington Travel Shaver R95.
Of course, no one is stopping you from letting em’ loose like a true woodsmen.
12) Portable Fridge / Freezer
Here’s part 1 of where the luxury of city life seeps in into the wilderness. No, you don’t need a refrigerator. But if you can, why not? After all, a few can of cold drinks, fresh slices of watermelon, and maybe even a stick of ice-cream will only lead to good times.
Remember, you’re looking for a refrigerator, not an ice box. We’ve got one to recommend, and that is the EcoFlow GLACIER which is both a fridge AND a freezer.
13) Portable Air-condition
And for part 2, here’s a portable air-conditioner. On the days where the blistering heat is searing through the covers of the tent, counter it by turning on the air-conditioner.
You can’t find many of these out there, so we’re going to recommend one more EcoFlow, which is the WAVE 2. You can charge it in 4 ways, via the typical AC plug, a power station (see #1), solar panels, or even your car.
14) LifeStraw Water Filter
This is still a rather niche item in the camping world, but a crucial one no doubt. LifeStraw allows you to consume water safely from all sources through a filter in the straw.
We don’t expect you to be carelessly drinking from every river or waterfall you come across, but in an environment where anything can happen, a LifeStraw in your backpack is a solid contingency to have.
You can get a LifeStraw as just a straw, or purchase it with a tumbler.
15) Satellite Communicators
Here’s one for the active, super-pro campers who’s out charting trails on the road less travelled. A satellite communicator will keep you connected to home if ever an emergency comes up.
Features will depend on the brand you purchase from, but to be on the safe side, we’re recommending something from the experts of adventuring – the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
With the inReach, you’ll have global satellite coverage, TracBack routing, and location sharing in the most crucial moments.
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