Camping is a great way to get away from it all for a few days of relaxation. But what happens when “getting away from it all” involves getting into weather or situations you weren’t prepared for? No weather forecast is perfect, and Murphy’s Law applies to camping as well: Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Stoves won’t light. Pots in which to boil water will be forgotten. These things happen, but they don’t mean your trip has to be ruined. Here’s some gear that will ensure things run smoothly (provided you don’t forget these items as well).
SteriPEN Ultra
($99.99)You’re out on a hike, about a mile in, and you realize you left your water bottle back at the campsite. Or, you’re on a backpacking trip and the unseasonable heat has led to you being out of water faster than you anticipated. That’s when a SteriPEN comes in handy. SteriPENs, and similar products, use UV light to filter stream or river water, making it safe for human consumption in about two minutes. The Ultra model is USB rechargeable, so there isn’t any worry about forgetting batteries.
SteriPENPowermonkey Extreme 12v
(£120, or roughly $179)The worst thing that can happen on a camping trip is getting injured without any way of calling for help. Even if you’re in cell service or you have a GPS, if they run out of battery power, you could be faced with a dire situation. The Powermonkey Extreme is a solar-powered charger that can restore power to smartphones, handheld cameras, action cameras like GoPros and GPS and sat nav devices. The Extreme can be charged beforehand, or charged while you’re out using the solar panels on the 1-pound device.
Powermonkey ExtremeHelio Pressure Shower
($99.99)The Helio Pressure Shower won’t end up potentially saving your life like some other products might, but it will save you from being unbearably stinky after a camp outing. The Helio doesn’t hang up like gravity dependant showers do. Instead, it rests on the ground after being filled with water, and you create water pressure by stepping on a pump. It’s got a near-3-gallon capacity, and the nozzle is versatile enough to make it useful for cleaning dishes, your hair or your bike. Leave it out in the sun to get a warm bathing experience. Who’s ever heard of a warm shower while camping?
Helio Pressure ShowerSawyer Squeeze Water Filter System
($59.99)If $100 is a little steep to you for a glorified light bulb, or if you prefer a hands-on approach to things, check out Sawyer’s innovative water filtration system. The filter attaches to one of three different sizes of pouches, from 16 ounces up through 64 ounces. Fill the pouch up with water, squeeze it out through the filter and you have drinkable, potable water. Perfect for backpackers, the Sawyer filter only has a total field weight of 3 ounces and rolls up easily to fit in any pack.
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter System