Camping

A lighter for computer geeks – Pilot Slider USB Rechargeable Lighter

31qGSV6PKIL

So you’re out in the wilderness, Les Stroud style, and you need a fire.  Stat.  You would have bought a lighter but they didn”t allow them on the plane.  Fortunately, you remembered to pack your Pilot Slider USB Rechargeable Lighter!  Available for $19.99 at ThinkGeek, $11.99 at Amazon and reportedly (from reviews) for less than […]

A lighter for computer geeks – Pilot Slider USB Rechargeable Lighter Read More

These camping cots let you “rack ’em and stack ’em”

two person camping bed 2

This looks dangerous, but I suppose having stacking cots could save room inside a cramped tent.  The Two Person Portable Camping Bunk Bed has “sturdy steel construction bars” and a sleeping surface, made of heavy-duty, washable, mildew-resistant 600D polyester, that’s wider than most camping cots.  It says it sleeps two adults, with a weight limit of

These camping cots let you “rack ’em and stack ’em” Read More

The comforts of home – without breaking your back

coleman fold n go stove

If you like camping without roughing it too much, you probably like a stove to cook your meals.  You probably don’t want anything too heavy, because you have to carry it to the camp site.  The Coleman PerfectFlow InstaStart Fold N Go 2-Burner Stove gives you a spacious cooking surface in a package that folds up smaller

The comforts of home – without breaking your back Read More

Big Bang Tents will protect you from nature while you sleep and charge your gadgets

bigbangtents

The next time you decide to go camping, consider a tent from UK based Big Bang Tents. Not only are these tents available in a variety of colorful patterns that are perfect for festivals, they also feature a 5w solar panel, lithium solar storage bank and mobile phone/USB charging adaptors for charging many of your

Big Bang Tents will protect you from nature while you sleep and charge your gadgets Read More

Folding Firebox Nano is a camping stove small enough to fit in your shirt pocket

fb nano

The Folding Firebox Nano is a 3″ stainless steel camp stove that when folded, will fit in your pocket. It weighs in at less than 6 ounces (170 grams) and is about .25 inches thick when collapsed. It doesn’t requires any assembly or tools to set it up. Just unfold, add sticks, twigs or a

Folding Firebox Nano is a camping stove small enough to fit in your shirt pocket Read More

A compact, multi-purpose cooking pot and kettle from the makers of the BioLite CampStove

biolite kettlepot

BioLite, the same company that brought us the CampStove, is now offering an accessory that serves two functions.  The KettlePot is made of thin stainless steel, so it’s more durable than aluminum pots and easier to clean without worrying about scrubbing off the coating.  It comes with a BPA-free plastic kettle top with a silicone

A compact, multi-purpose cooking pot and kettle from the makers of the BioLite CampStove Read More

Carry an ultralight camping stove in your backpack

ultralight backpacking camp stove

If open fires aren’t allowed where you camp, you’ll need some sort of stove to prepare your food.  The Ultralight Backpacking Canister Camp Stove with Piezo Ignition, plus a canister of gas, is all you’ll need for cooking.  The stove itself folds up into a small package, as seen in the upper left and right images.

Carry an ultralight camping stove in your backpack Read More

Skip the Plastic Forks and Carry a Sigg Outdoor Cutlery Knife Instead

sigg outdoor cutlery

The Sigg Outdoor Cutlery Knife is a stainless steel pocket knife style tool that features 3 eating utensils: a fork, a knife and a spoon. Protected by a nylon pouch with a handy belt loop, this multi-tool makes sure that you always have the right gear at hand for outdoor chow sessions and office lunches.

Skip the Plastic Forks and Carry a Sigg Outdoor Cutlery Knife Instead Read More

Cook Your Food and Charge Your Gadgets with BioLite CampStove

biolite camp stove charger

Using only twigs, you can cook your food with this quick-lighting little camp stove.  The CampStove from BioLite is only 8.25″  x  5″, weighs 2 pounds, and folds up for easy packing.  When you get to the campsite, it burns twigs, pine cones, pellets, and other biomass, so you don’t have to carry heavy fuel

Cook Your Food and Charge Your Gadgets with BioLite CampStove Read More

You Can’t Start a Fire Without a Spark – Sparxgear Fire Piston

sparxgear fire piston

Sparxgear has designed a Fire Piston, and they are using Kickstarter for funding.  Never heard of a fire piston?  Before the days of matches, fires were often started with a fire piston.  A combustible material – cloth, wood, even milkweed down, etc. – is inserted on the end of  the fire piston.  Quick compression of

You Can’t Start a Fire Without a Spark – Sparxgear Fire Piston Read More

Easy to use compass that you’ll never break

magnet compass

This little compass will always show you which way is North. Just remove it from the included waterproof aluminum capsule, set it on a flat surface and it will swivel around to point North/South. A Red dot marks the North end of this powerful rare earth magnet that is pretty much unbreakable. Even better is

Easy to use compass that you’ll never break Read More

Coleman 10-Cup Portable Propane Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe

coleman propane coffee maker

For campers who like to rough it without giving up their coffee, Coleman offers the 10-Cup Portable Propane Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe.  The coffee maker uses a 16.4 oz propane cylinder;  you’ll get about 4.4 hours of brewing time from each cylinder.  It has an InstaStart auto-ignition button so you don’t have to

Coleman 10-Cup Portable Propane Coffee Maker with Stainless Steel Carafe Read More

Bored with your spork? Get a foon instead.

gsi foon

Spice up your next camping trip with the GSI Outdoors telescoping ultralight foon. It’s a combination spoon and fork made of Lexan polycarbonate resin that goes from 5.75 inches to 4 inches long with a flick of the thumb. It’s available in several colors and can be found for $1.75 at Sierra Trading Post.

Bored with your spork? Get a foon instead. Read More

Sleepwalk at camp in toasty mobility with Selk’bag

selkbag

Ever thought of sleeping bags as too restrictive?  Have a look at the Selk’bag Sleepware System (click here for US and here for UK).  Designed and tested in the Chilean Andes and redesigned for its 3rd-gen release, the Selk’bag features baffled construction; soft but durable ripstop, water-resistant nylon shell; leg vents; reinforced nylon soles with

Sleepwalk at camp in toasty mobility with Selk’bag Read More

Flashlight or lantern? Bring both in one

UCO compactlanternandtorch

‘Round these parts, with summer comes camping, and with camping comes gadgets.  And one gadget no camper should be with out is the flashlight…or is it the lantern?  With the UCO MightyMight Compact Lantern and Torch by Industrial Revolution, you get both in one device.  With an LED bulb and aluminum body, it’s durable, long-lasting

Flashlight or lantern? Bring both in one Read More

EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER and MATCHCAP Firestarter Review

exotac

Our family does a fair amount of camping during the year, nothing steep and deep, but out in the sticks none the less. Camping,  my Air Force survival training, being a diehard MythBuster fan, etc., I try to be prepared for nearly any circumstance. That being said, EXOTAC has several products that not only adds

EXOTAC nanoSTRIKER and MATCHCAP Firestarter Review Read More