If you’re out there camping this time of year, the Blackcan Heat Camping Mat is going to sound amazing. It’s a self-filling sleeping pad with an automatic hot water heating system. Using a butane camp fuel canister, it safely and automatically keeps you toasty warm while you sleep. A 230g canister will give you 10 hours of heat.
The compact Double Tent Cot from Kamp-Rite gets you & your tent-mate up off the ground away from things like snakes, puddles, and half-buried boulders you’d rather not sleep on. The exterior is made of weather-resistant heavy duty 210D nylon and includes a rain fly. It sets-up and breaks down in seconds with a versatile design that allows you to transform the tent into a lounge, a chair, and a flat cot as well.
The Ghillie camping kettle has a hollow core that holds a small fire of twigs, leaves & other natural biomass fuels as well as the water you need boiled. Fill it with water, then build your fire inside and in 3-5 minutes you’ll be boiling. Nicknamed a “volcano kettle” the Ghillie was designed in the UK and is available in 3 sizes: .5-liter, 1-liter, & 1.5- liter.
The Crua Modus system is a 6-in-1 camping kit that includes a tent, integrated quilt, insulated and self-inflating mattress, a hammock, a porch, a picnic blanket and more. And they all connect together. Use them together or on their own; all packed up the system weighs just 8.5 lbs. A funded Kickstarter.
Constructed of heavyweight 420gram ripstop canvas, the Goose is a camping system purpose-built for bike tours. The tent is fully waterproofed and equipped with zippable fly screen layers for breathability. The flooring is made of heavy duty pvc to keep moisture out & it has a canvas wing/awning that attaches to your motorcycle to create shelter for your riding accessories like helmet, boots, etc.
The all-in-one Mantis hammock tent from Kammok gives intrepid tree dwellers they need for camping up off the ground, all year round. This lightweight versatile hammock is equipped with customizable features for every season: an insect net, rainfly, and a winter barrier. Smaller than your sleeping bag and lighter than a 1-person tent, it is designed to keep things light & fast for those minimalist strike missions or longer backpacking trips when every ounce of weight makes the difference. Another funded Kickstarter.
Gear Aid, a go-to care and repair outdoor brand just released a new fixed blade knife optimized for camping and everyday action. The Buri features a full tang, 3-inch drop point blade with both straight and serrated edges made with 420 stainless. It’s equipped with a bottle opener for obvious reasons and comes in a MOLLE-compatible sheath that has multiple attachment points, so you can keep it handy. It weighs just 5.5 ounces and comes in high-visibility orange and black.
In addition to wide-ranging research, Author Dan White traveled across the nation experiencing camping in all sorts of settings to examine & animate the American evolution of outdoor recreation.
The teardrop camper design time-tested & proven but Oregon Trailer has created one made for legit off-road action. The built-to-order TerraDrop campers feature heavy duty off-road suspension & all-terrain tires with loads of options for customizing the kitchen, interior, cargo carriers, & extras like solar systems & roopftop tents.
If dealing with the tent is one of the reasons you don’t go camping, maybe this will be the game-changer. Decathlon’s 2-Second Easy Tent sounds pretty good right? You can pitch this weatherproof bad-boy almost instantly, just pull the 2 handles & boom, you’re done. Breaking it down is just as quick. It sleeps two and features a patented blackout fabric that keeps the tent cool and dark even in direct sun. Weight: 10-pounds.
For digging cat-holes while camping and other off-grid scooping jobs, the compact & ultralight Prairie Dog camp shovel is a rugged minimalist tool designed for backpackers. At .7 grams, it weighs the same as a Bic lighter & about 1/3 the weight of a standard plastic trowel. It is made of aerospace aluminum and features resealable nylon cable ties for attaching it to a stick or hiking pole to add leverage for digging your little poo pit.
Designed to make a comfy camp for all your off-road adventures, the compact MK5 camper from tvan has space to bring along all the toys. Inside, there’s plenty of headspace for stand-up comfort and the bed is queen size. An attached awning offers shade and the family friendly tent extension adds space for cooking, changing or waiting out the rain. Choose from multiple kitchen configurations and custom options.
The inflatable Shore Tent from Smithfly is more like a soft-sided camping cabin. The entire floor of the tent is a comfy 6-inch thick air mattress offering 8’ X 8’ of sleeping space. It also comes with a unique flat-pack inflatable deck that assembles quickly to get you up off the ground. Weatherproof construction, zippered mesh doors and windows for views and ventilation, plus no poles and annoying set-up; just pump it up.
The doublewide Sequoia XL hammock is wider and longer than most and includes two 6-foot tree straps & aluminum carabiners for quick set-up. 10 anchor points allow you control height & slack while giving you maximum space in the hammock. The whole system stuffs neatly into an attached compression sack for easy portability.
Designed to sleep two campers comfortably, the Vertex Double Person hammock from Clark Outdoor is built around a patented system that provides independent suspension for two beds in one enclosure. It features fully zippered no-see-um netting for easy entrance/exit from both sides, plus an insulating layer of breathable nylon for extra protection. A fully waterproof rain fly is sold separately.
Whether it’s a bear on a midnight stroll through the campsite or something scarier—if that’s even possible—the CampGuard Perimeter Security lantern will immediately light up & alert you. The built-in 360º motion detectors are set with the push of a button, and when they sense movement the 300-lumen LEDs are triggered. After 15 seconds with no movement, the lantern turns back off automatically. When not in security mode, it functions as a normal LED camp lantern.
Since 1961, Springbar has been keeping campers comfortable with their spacious, high-roof canvas tents. Made with premium materials like Hardyduck canvas, galvanized steel poles & heavy-duty waterproof laminated vinyl floors, they’re watertight, breathable, & durable. 2 models are offered, a 10’X10’ 6-person & a 10’X14’ 8-person model, both designed for dad-friendly 1-person set-up.
Designed to go anywhere & bring 300-lumens of bright, white LED light, the Cairn Rechargeable Lantern from Lander features a reflective nylon lanyard so you can hang it from anything. It has a IP65 waterproof rating, variable dimming mode, 40-hour battery life in low mode, and it recharges via USB.
California-based survival brand Tortoise Gear has created a crafty add-on implement for your Victorinox Swiss Army knife. The FireAnt twists onto the knife’s seldom-used corkscrew, adding the fire-starting capability of a ferro fire-steel plus waterproof, melt-proof waxed cotton Helix tinder. It adds no additional bulk to the knife and lights up like a charm in any weather. A funded Kickstarter.
When you’re ready to settle into a serious chill, the Kick Back Rocker from CGI Outdoor has your back. The lightweight, collapsible camp chair features a powder-coated metal frame with Spring Action Rocking Technology plus a beverage holder & a phone pocket. It holds up to 250 pounds & folds down to go easily over-your-shoulder to the next destination. Choose grey, black or green.
