Overview
Summer is here, which means that it's time to leave the den that we've crafted for ourselves for our winter hibernation. We need to go outside, Kiwi's love it, and there's no better way to get into the 'outside' than by roughing it under a canvas sheet with fire and nature.
But camping doesn’t have to be all about being at one with nature; it can be about surviving in the coolest way possible. With this level of bad-assery in mind, here are the top ten gadgets you need to make camping an excellent trip to the great outdoors instead of a terrible trip to the hospital with hypothermia.
TENTSILE STINGRAY TREEHOUSE TENT
First on your pyramid of camping needs is shelter, and this is the coolest shelter around. The Stingray hangs from the trees, keeping you safe from bugs, animals and all those things that go bump in the night. Going for about $920 NZD, this genius tent is 4.6 metres square and can hold a whopping 400kg.
US$749 from tentsile.com
MUSUCBAG LITE
Despite having a potential gross-out for a name, this is the 'handiest' sleeping bag you'll ever see. Because it has hands. And feet. Ever get sick of having to get up out of your sleeping bag to get some water or a snack? Fear not, the MusucBag has you covered. Now you can sit around drinking with friends without having to leave the comfort of your bedding. It's like the Snuggie of the camping world.
The 'classic' is 119 euros from musucbag.com.
TRANSPARENT CANOE
For the more sporty of us, summer camping trips are all about getting in or on the water, whether it's the beach or a not-at-all scary lake. For these grand occasions, there's Hammacher's Transparent Canoe. Can't decide between snorkelling or kayaking? Fine, because now you can row your heart out and check out the depths beneath you, all at the same time.
US$1900 from the Hammacher online store.
BIOLITE CAMPSTOVE
Possibly the coolest innovation in heat since the discovery of fire, the BioLite CampStove takes the heat from an internal fire to create electricity that charges phones, tablets, lights and anything else with a power cord. One chamber holds a fire made from twigs that’s suitable for cooking, which fuels a generator in another chamber. It’s about the size of a drink bottle, affordable and eliminates the need for lighting a giant fire every time you want a cup of tea. The BioLite CampStove is simply one of the coolest inventions in town.
US$129.95 from the BioLite online store.
KANZ FIELD KITCHEN
Camping can seem somewhat less appealing when you think about the fact that it means eating a whole load of tinned spaghetti — it's hard to lug around the gear necessary to cook a decent meal. Instead, why not pack up the portable and awesomely nifty Field Kitchen? It houses a two-burner stove top, cabinets and a prep area, all in less than a metre cubed.
Get the fully pimped propane version for US$1640 from the Kanz online store.
LIFESTRAW
Not only is it important to be comfortable and have your phone charged whilst camping, it’s also important to have clean water, which is where the life straw comes in. The straw looks like a little water bottle, and can filter 1000L of filthy, stagnant water into the purest elixir you’ve ever had. Handy for when you just can’t boil up some river water and wait for it to cool.
US$19.95 from the Lifestraw store. Plus, for every straw you buy, part of the funds go towards distributing LifeStraw Community institutional water purifiers to schools in Africa.
BEAR GRYLLS SCOUT ESSENTIALS KIT
Whether or not Bear Grylls really does do all the wicked stuff he appears to on television, there’s no doubt that he’s the ultimate survival guy, and this kit is all the basics he deems necessary to live outside. There’s a scout knife, a first aid kit, a compass and an LED light, just for starters, and it’s all packaged up polypropylene case.
£35.99 at the Bear Grylls website.
VICTORINOX TINKER DELUXE SWISS ARMY KNIFE
This isn’t just a camping essential; this is a life essential. Everyone needs a Swiss Army Knife because they can do just about anything. Victorinox are always coming up with innovations that already improve on the perfect design, and the Tinker Deluxe is one of the best examples. With a knife, a can opener, scissors, pliers, screwdriver and the always handy bottle opener, this camping/life essential is well worth the $80 it costs to have one.
YETI TUNDRA 65 WHITE COOLER
The Tundra 65 isn’t the cheapest cooler in town, but it sure is the best. It holds 60L, which is about 39 cans of beer. Which is a lot. Plus, the walls are super thick, so it keeps these cans of beer cooler for much longer than your regular old cooler. It may cost a pretty penny, but what a price to pay for beer that’s still cold until you’ve finished the case, which is what camping is all about, isn’t it?
US$399.99 from Yeti,
FESTIVE BRAZIL HAMMOCK
Finally, it’s essential to touch on the more comfortable side of sleeping outdoors — glamping, if you will. For those of us who really don’t like getting dirty or sleeping on a thin mat, glamping is an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and beautiful views outdoors in comfort. And for that, there’s the Festive Brazil Artisan Crafted Hammock. Not only is it big enough for two, it's all done up in pretty rainbow colours, and is finished with crocheted draping, hand crafted by Brazilian artisans. At $160, it's the perfect excuse to skip the hike.
US$159.99 from Novica.