When venturing into the wilderness, minimal is the way to go. That said, there are a few products that will make your life a bit easier and your camping experience that much more enjoyable.
For your next camping trip, think light-weight, compactable and function-first. The last thing you want is to be lugging around and sorting through a bunch of unnecessary items.
1. With the Camper Cookset from REI, all of your kitchenware fits into a 3 liter pot. Bowls, mugs, pots and pans — everything you need for four people is included.
2. Rolla Roastas are one of my favorite tools for the campfire. The little dial allows you to spin the rod, getting the perfect golden brown on all sides of your marshmallow. Each rod shrinks down to only a few inches.
3. The Jetboil is the way to go if you're looking for a compact, light-weight burner. It only weighs 10.5 ounces! There are a range of other attachments that work with the system, including a frypan and coffee press.
4. Don't leave home without a headlamp. A hands free light source is money when camping. And I wouldn't be surprised if you found other uses for the headlamp in your day to day life.
5. Hot water (and showering) is a luxury while camping. With the solar shower you simply fill it up in the morning and leave out in the sun. During the day, it heats up so you have hot water to bathe with in the evening.
6. The ipetal is a solar powered charging station for your phone. This is great if you're going to be using your phone as a navigation tool or in case of an emergency.
7. The Doublenest Hammock is durable, super light and fits neatly into a grapefruit sized pack. It's also wide enough for two to cuddle up together.
8. This LED lantern can hang from a tree or sit on the ground. It has a dimming switch and folds into a neat little unit.
(Images: As credited above.)
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Is the ipetal for sale anywhere?
Another cool little stove is the Biolite http://biolitestove.com/ Burns tiny bits of wood and produces electricity to run its own fan and recharge some USB devices. They use sales of the camping model to help produce a home model for safer, more efficient wood fuel cooking in some parts of the world.
The Biolite stove is also a must have! We've got a friend with one and it's fantastic. Our next camping purchase: http://biolitestove.com/
Hmm, my comment seems to have disappeared, possibly because of a link I added? Anyway, check out the Biolite Stove, burns small pieces of wood and generates electricity to run its own fan and charge small USB devices. Also has a home version for use in countries where burning wood for cooking causes a lot of health and environmental problems.
My husband left this morning for a camping trip, and one thing he *always* makes sure to pack is the headlamp. It's far more useful than a flashlight, especially when getting to a campsite after dark. Plus, in the winter I use it when I walk the dog - it makes picking up after him much easier when it gets dark by 5:00 pm!
Jet boil=rad. headlight=key. I am seriously considering either firing up one of my old cell phones or getting a pre-paid to use while camping. I love my smartphone, but the daily charging is a major irrritation. Bringing along a charger just fuels my rage. I just saw...but haven't yet tried a Lawson Blue Ridge camping hammock...it works as a bivvy tent or hammock...could be a game changer for me--as I am ready to break-up with my traditional tent! Anyone used one of these?
@Barbieq: The hammock looks interesting, but with the rope/spreaders at the ends, is it prone to being tippy or flipping? One thing I looked at recently is the Hennessy Hammock (asymmetrical) - I haven't taken it camping yet, but hope to later this year. It's much more comfortable to lie on an angle in a hammock, hence the Hennessey's asymmetrical cut. Their web site has good video, and there are many reviews on the web.
Totally worth shlepping if you don't have a tent.
The jet boil and the camper cook set is perfect together. I have both items and we just used it over the weekend. The jet boil comes in different models and brands, and sometimes cheaper if purchase the items separately, fuel and burner stem piece. You can store a lot of kitchen items in the camper cook set when you are backpacking. One other thing i would add to this list is a ceramic water filter.
I have a number of these things (including the very luxurious and campfire-coveted rotating marshmallow roasters), but have been in search of a good camping chow set. Has anyone seen #1 in stainless? I'd rather not buy more plastic if necessary.
The jet boil and the headlamps are also KEY when you are snowed in for days at a time with no power. The coffee attachment for the jetboil basically kept me sane last October when we lost power for 6 days. The headlamps are also great for reading in the car at night, I wish they had been around when I was a kid, reading in the backseat by the headlights of the cars behind us.
I love my Doublenest Hammock! I;ve never had any issues with tipping or flipping, it's always been super stable, but I don't sleep in it. The double is nice and wide so you can lay just about any which way you want, thought the max weight limit is kind of low (so my husband can't join me since he's kind of a big guy).
You have to be careful about hammock usage. Some places do not allow you to hang anything (even a clothesline) onto existing trees. When you see how scarred some trees are from hammocks and such, you understand the rule. Just check before you buy.
You had me at the iPhone charger...
As an outdoor lover with a few of these gadgets, my mind has been blown by the bio stove.... that thing is amazing and genius. A fuel efficient camp stove from what you can find, and it produces electricity. That is incredible. And the reviews are over the top.
Onto the other things:
The ENO hammock is great! packs down to a grapefruit size and is really study (parachute material) the Hennessy hammock is good too; hammock, mosquito net, and rain fly all in one
My highest recommendation goes to the GSI pinnacle soloist. Add a Snowpeak gigapower stove. The soloist is perfect for two people. bowl/mug, nonstick pot, spork, sipping/straining lid camp sink all in one. Plus the stove, fuel, salt/pepper all fit within itself. http://www.rei.com/product/784114/gsi-outdoors-pinnacle-soloist-cookset
Great feedback on the hammocks. Agree that the Blue Ridge might be tippy--would need to anchor...dang. I am really digging the side entry--that is the PITA about all other mesh/rain fly ones (including a Hennessy scout type one) I have tried--everything slips to the bottom, where you are trying to exit/enter. The ENO/open Hennessy ones for general great weather lounging and car camping...but I need some level of bug defense overnight! Will investigate the Hennessy line further.
You may want to credit the cookset from GSI Outdoors as for this product REI is just the distributor.
I require none of these things when camping.
@KESS I didn't link directly to GSI because they no longer make it, but it still can be bought at distribution outlets.
@arpark Here you go: http://www.gsioutdoors.com/products/pdp/pinnacle_camper_2011/integrated_systems/ (GSI doesn't sell directly to customers)
@brislink: Good point about lines/ropes damaging trees. As part of my kit, I purchased 2 straps made from 2" wide nylon webbing; each strap has a loop to which I tie off my hammock. I haven't seen any tree damage from this yet, and continue to watch for such damage.