While the hardcore among us won’t hesitate to set up camp at any time of the year and in any type of weather, for the most part, camping still remains a mild-season and summer, activity. The kids are out of school, fish are biting and vacations are calling. The piece and quiet of the woods are a natural destination. In fact, with the current economic woes besetting our country, observers have noted that camping, or more specifically family camping, seems to be enjoying a kind of resurgence of late.
Whether you make annual pilgrimages to the wilderness or a new member of this camping renaissance, the following items are ones that will make your days away from home, well, every bit as comfortable and convenient as being at home—without all the chores of course!
Kelty Binto Bar
Billed as the “ultimate camp kitchen organizer,” Kelty’s Binto Bar boasts 6,450 cubic inches of space and contains three separate soft-sided storage bins, a food prep surface, a windscreen and enough pockets to keep your utensils clean and handy. The Binto Bar measures 27 x 21.5 x 15.5 inches and weighs just under seven pounds empty. It is made of 210D polyester Oxford and 150D polyester Mini-Ripstop for durability, and includes side handles and an over-the-shoulder strap for easy portage. ($125, kelty.com)
Coleman Quad Lantern
Projecting a solid 190 lumens of light and boasting a run time of 75 hours on eight D-cell batteries, the Quad Lantern is an ultra-efficient lighting solution for camp. The battery-powered lantern contains four detachable panels that house six LEDs each. Even cooler, each panel has its own on/off switch allowing light to be cast however the user prefers, or turn them all on with a single master switch. ($70, coleman.com)
ThermaCell Camping Lantern
Unlike a lantern that lights up camp, ThermaCell’s lantern-design bug repellant system effectively blocks the biting critters from homing in on human targets. Butane-powered, the ThermaCell warms a repellant laden pad to create a 15 x 15 foot mosquito-free zone that will repel 98-percent of all biting insects from the area. Now you and your family can enjoy a meal outdoors without being the meal. The unit cuts off automatically if tipped over. ($28, thermacell.com)
Brunton Solarport 4.4
Let’s face, most of us are addicted to our electronics, even when trying to escape to the outdoors for a little R-and-R. With the Brunton Solarport 4.4, backcountry visitors no longer have to worry about losing the charge in their cell phones, cameras or, most importantly, GPS units as they can simply charge them through their USB port. Charge up to three items at once with the cable-free 12-volt connection in the hinge of the unit. ($187, brunton.com)
DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-40
The people that have brought us some of the most up-to-date, detailed maps for years have also created one powerful little GPS unit in which to keep that data at your fingertips and always know where you are. The PN-40 operates using a super fast 32-channel STMicroelectronics Cartesio chipset and a dual-core processor for instant map and satellite imagery redraws. The unit comes with DeLorme’s detailed street and topographic maps of the entire U.S.A. It also delivers a 360-degree rastor rotation so that maps or aerial images are presented in the same direction you are looking or walking at any given time. It’s accurate to within three meters. ($400, delorme.com)
MSR PocketRocket
Packing light doesn’t always mean you have to eat light with MSR’s compact PocketRocket backpacking stove. An 8-ounce canister feeds the 3-ounce, 4 x 4 x 2 inch stove. MSR’s Wind Clip wind shield boosts efficiency in breezy conditions. Precise flame adjustment with glove-friendly controls will create boiling water in under 3.5 minutes. ($40, msrcorp.com)
Leatherman Charge ALX
With the constant need for various tools setting up camp involves, a good multi-tool is a must—if only because toting around a full tool set of instruments is impractical. Leatherman is synonymous with multi-tools and the ALX boasts 16 tools including a stainless steel clip point knife, serrated knife with cutting hook, needlenose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers and crimpers, two bit drivers and a small bit driver, a couple of files, a saw, the all-important bottle opener, a can opener and more. It includes bits for Phillips head, a flat tip screwdriver, torx head, hex head and a square bit. ($110, leatherman.com)
Brunton FireStore
A mere 1.6 ounces, Brunton’s FireStore packs a whole load of flame. Good for 30,000 ignitions, the waterproof, butane-powered FireStore can light up and withstand winds of up to 80 mph. There’s no need to go without a flame ever again. ($50, brunton.com)
Marmot Arroyo
Looking for a lightweight summer bag that packs tight and doesn’t add to your weight? The Arroyo is the ticket. Weighing just 1 pound, 11 ounces with 11 ounces of fill, the bag will keep you comfortable down into the 30s and alive below the teens. It’s so light, it packs into a virtual wad compared to other heavier bags. ($250, marmot.com)
