Level Up Your Camping Game
By: Active Gear Review
June 22nd, 2021
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Level Up Your Camping Game
Part of the fun of camping is needing very little gear to stay outdoors. But it’s also nice to have a comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable campsite. Whether you are a beginner or a more experienced camper, you may find that you want to upgrade your camping kit beyond the basics. Which is why we have rounded up a number of items that can take your camping game to the next level.
GoSun Solar Assisted Flashlight
Keep the GoSun Solar Assisted Flashlight close to you whenever you’re camping because it will come in handy at night. The GoSun Flashlight packs an impressive 280 lumens of on demand light into a compact design. The rugged aluminum body withstands accidental drops, as well as light passing showers and splashes without compromising performance. The ultra-bright LEDs maximize light penetration when you’re walking through camp and the lantern mode will brighten up night cooking, dinner, books, and card games, while the magnetic back allows for hands free use. It has an integrated solar panel that permits slow charging using solar energy alone, but can also be recharged quickly with the included USB cord. MSRP $39 gosun.co
Lander Boulder Lantern
Keep your devices charged and the campsite well lit with the all in one smart Boulder Lantern from Lander. This lantern holds 300 hours of run time and emits a whopping 350 lumens of LED light to help you brighten your camp site for late night games. Built to work where you want it, Boulder has a compact design for premium portability, while its waterproof and dustproof construction provide protection for a long life of use. The built in charging hub lets you charge up to four devices at once and with app enabled light controls, dimming, color, and sleep timer, it’s power when you need it. The Boulder lantern also features proximity lighting, which adjusts light intensity based on your distance from the lantern. The further you move away, the brighter it gets. So whatever lighting situation you find yourself in, you can be sure that the Boulder will adapt to it. MSRP $99.95 lander.com
Raptic Titan Air Portable Powerbank
Take your camping to the next level of convenience with the Raptic Titan Air Portable Powerbank on your site. This bank features up to 91 watt hours to ensure you can charge a fleet of devices, including everything from small lights and cell phones to cameras and laptops. The Titan Air comes equipped with two USB ports, one USB-C port, and an AC wall outlet, so you will be ready to charge whatever you brought on the trip. A 120VAC (100W sustained, 91Wh capacity) outlet and USB output options enable you to charge just about anything making the Titan Air a versatile tool worth well more than its weight at a mere 1.67 pounds. Small, portable and convenient, the Titan Air easily fits into a camp bag and gives the portable power you need on any camping trip. MSRP $99.99 rapticstrong.com
Goal Zero Nomad 5 + Flip 12 + Chroma Kit
If your camping plans involve a long trip into the backcountry and you want to keep your small electronics charged and campsite lit, look no further than the Goal Zero Nomad 5 + Flip 12 + Chroma Kit. The power bank provides a 1A output to charge a smartphone one time, while the Nomad has a 5 watt solar panel that can fully charge the Flip and Chorma lantern in as little as 4 hours. The Flip 12 power bank plugs into an integrated Flip dock on the Nomad 5 and delivers a seamless solar charging experience. This kit combines Goal Zero’s smallest solar panel with its smallest power bank and a small collapsible solar powered lantern enabling you stay charged and bring it on any camping trip without taking up a lot of space or weighing you down. MSRP $104.85 goalzero.com
Nakie Recycled Hammock with Straps
With room for two, the Nakie Recycled Hammock is a portable luxury lounger for backcountry camping. The highly packable design stuffs down to the size of a softball, and the soft lightweight, breathable recycled material supports up to 500 pounds. Tough carabiner attachments let you clip on to the included straps or an anchor point of choice, for comfortable relaxation, an afternoon nap or for spending the night suspended. Nakie excels at creating this hammock responsibly as each one is created from 37 post consumer plastic bottles pulled from a landfill. Crafted with triple stitching and uniquely designed polyester end straps for increased strength and durability a Nakie hammock is built to last a lifetime. Thanks to the multiple adjustment points and length of the included tree straps, setup is quick and easy with no knots allowing for a cozy and restful night of sleep. MSRP $109 nakie.us
GCI Outdoor Brute Force Chair
Settle in to the GCI Outdoor Brute Force Chair for a late night marshmallow toasting or an after the hike rest and enjoy this totable chair’s sturdy comfort. The Brute Force is NOT one of those flimsy folding chairs that crumples under the heft of a solidly built person. This one’s built to stand strong, with a heavy duty frame that’ll easily support up to 400 lbs. The mesh backrest panel keeps cool air circulating, while the ergonomic armrests let you lounge in total comfort. A phone pocket and a beverage holster keeps the essentials at the ready. And the heavy duty frame and durable nylon will keep this seat by your side for many years to come. MSRP $110 gcioutdoor.com
GSI Outdoors Rakau Knife Set
Camp side cooking doesn’t delineate that all cutting be done with your pocket knife, instead enjoy the sharp blades and robust feel of GSI Outdoors Rakau Knife Set. The 3 piece wood handled knife kit comes ready to go with a compact bamboo cutting board with a juice gutter, a recycled microfiber towel and a set of three masterfully crafted stainless steel chef worthy blades with waterproof wood laminate handles. The set is contained in a convenient recycled cloth case with integrated knife sheaths to protect and safely store the blades, making it the only camp cutting kit you’ll need on all your future camping trips. MSRP $69.95 gsioutdoors.com
Victorinox Ranger Grip 74
Don’t forget to slip Victorinox Ranger Grip 74 into your camp kit the next time you head into the backcountry. This compact multitool knife provides a plethora of uses for making fires, preparing food, repairing gear, and more. With 14 functions, including needle-nose pliers and a locking blade, it’s the perfect companion for camp site problem solving. Loaded with ingenious features and the nonslip ergonomic scales that will always keep you in control, the Ranger Grip serves more purposes than one could count and adds value to anyone’s camping gear cache. MSRP $107 swissarmy.com
Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter
From way off the grid camping trips to quick weekenders, the Sawyer Micro Squeeze Filter System provides compact water purification, allowing you to drink directly from streams and lakes. With a total field weight of 2 ounces, the Micro Squeeze easily fits in your pack or pocket without the bulk or weight of traditional water filters. This versatile option for wilderness water treatment enables you to filter water directly from the included Squeeze Bag into your preferred water bottle, drink directly from the Squeeze Bag or connect the filter directly to most any threaded water bottle, including standard pop bottles. The ultracompact, lightweight, reusable Sawyer Micro Squeeze Water Filtration System is a quick and easy way to enjoy clean and safe drinking water wherever you go camping. MSRP $28.95 sawyer.com
MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier
If you are group camping out in the wilderness bring along the MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier to ensure you have safe drinking water for the whole crew. The Guardian Gravity Purifier leverages gravity to offer pump free water filtration. It includes a 10L dirty reservoir with an easy to fill top opening that can be suspended from a tree branch using the clip webbing, and allow gravity to filter the water into any container or use the included water bottle adaptor for simple bottle refilling. The high flow system filters up to 1 liter in 2 minutes for the quick quench and provides 10 liters of drinkable water in just about 20 minutes. The MSR Guardian Gravity Water Purifier will keep the whole camp band safely hydrated in the backcountry and packs down small into the included zip sack when it is time to head home. MSRP $249.95 msrgear.com
Pull Start Fire
Forget about gathering kindling and go straight to the big logs with Pull Start Fire. It is the fastest way to get any campfire going, with just a pull of the string you can create a wood burning fire in seconds. And best of all it’s incredibly reliable, even lighting instantly in the wind and rain. Pull Start Fire is food safe and burns for a full 30 minutes. It is so simple and easy that you will never want to start a fire any other way. 3-Pack – MSRP $19.99 pullstartfire.com
Ranger Ready Repellents
Protect yourself and others at camp from biting insects, ticks, and insect transmitted diseases with Ranger Ready Repellents. This DEET-free repellent fends off insects with a 20% concentration of Picaridin for their body worn repellent and 0.5% for clothing worn repellent, combing them together provides the ultimate two layer protection against biting insects and insect transmitted diseases. Ranger Ready Repellents provides long lasting protection and offers much better protection than DEET with none of the unpleasant side effects. Compared to DEET based products, Ranger Ready is safer on gear, smells better, and doesn’t contain any neurotoxins. They do not use aerosol cans like most other products, making these some of the most sustainable and effective insect repellents on the market. If you want to keep biting critters from teeing off on you, but aren’t interested in dousing yourself in DEET, you need to pickup a bottle or two of the Ranger Ready Repellents. MSRP Starting at $9 rangerready.com
MiiR 64 oz Growler
Not much tastes worse than warm beer, except maybe coffee that has turned cold. And you can eliminate both letdowns with the MiiR 64 oz Growler. The Thermo 3D® double wall vacuum insulation construction keeps brews cold for about 24 hours and java hot from morning till afternoon. So when you are on your way to camp, stop by a brewery and fill the MiiR 64 oz Growler with your favorite on tap beer and it will be crisp and refreshing after you finish setting up camp. Its Hardshell™ powder coat finish offers plenty of durability for the roots and rocks it might tumble on, while the thread-less leakproof lid with pressure locking clasp seals in carbonation for freshness and will ensure that no spilling occurs when you’re driving down dirt roads on your way to the campground. MSRP $54.95 miir.com
Fire Dept. Coffee Vanilla Bean Bourbon
Waking up in the backcountry with incredible views is what everyone needs from time to time. But let’s be honest, there are very few people that can navigate the morning without coffee and Fire Dept. Coffee makes a great blend that can be enjoyed outdoors, and the Vanilla Bean Bourbon does not disappoint. Notes of rich vanilla bean and premium bourbon bring a smooth, subtle taste to those who enjoy a good medium roast. The Fire Dept Vanilla Bean Bourbon Coffee brings a touch of sweetness that plays well with fresh air and sunrises. If vanilla beans and bourbon are not your thing, Fire Dept. Coffee also offers plenty of other great blends that will help to get your day at camp going. MSRP $19.99 firedeptcoffee.com
Potter’s Craft Cocktails Peach Tea & Huckleberry Lemonade
When it is time to sit back and relax around the campfire with a refreshing cocktail, Ogden’s Own Porter’s Peach Tea and Porter’s Huckleberry Lemonade are an excellent flavor packed libation. Porter’s Peach Tea is a blend of Porter’s Peach whiskey liqueur and unsweetened tea that offers a twist on a familiar, fan favorite summertime sipper. The unsweetened tea reaches a perfect sweetness when blended with the ripe peach flavor of Porter’s, making for a campfire treat that is balanced to perfection. The Porter’s Huckleberry Lemonade is a blend of Porter’s Huckleberry whiskey liqueur and lightly carbonated lemonade, expertly crafted to deliver a refreshing and flavorful sipping experience. The expression is carried by flavors of Northwest huckleberries which blend harmoniously with naturally brewed lemonade, delivering fruit-forward flavor that perfectly balances tartness and sweetness. ogdensown.com
10 Barrel Brewing Nature Calls and Hazy Trail
If IPA’s are more of your campfire drink, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. offers two tasty outdoor options, appropriately named Nature Calls and Hazy Trail. Nature Calls is a ‘Mountain IPA’ that is a merger of two prominent IPA styles: West Coast IPA and East Coast Hazy IPA. It delivers a smooth profile that consists of mango, tangerine, and grapefruit. The brewers mixed the tropical fruitiness of their hazy with the piney juicy citrus of a traditional IPA, yielding 6.5% ABV and 55 IBUs for a delicious smooth refreshment that goes down easy. Hazy Trail inspirations came from the brewer’s trip to the Northeast where they went on a deep dive into the haze craze. Hazy Trail was the result and is a beer with a soft malt backbone and tropical hop profile, this beer will satisfy your cravings with juicy, tropical flavors that one expects in a Hazy IPA but without any grainy flavor. Hazy Trail IPA hits at 6.2% ABV with 50 IBUs. 10 Barrel Brewing is deeply imbedded in the Outdoors and is easy to support because they donate a portion of their proceeds to protect and preserve important outdoor initiatives. If IPA’s are your camping refreshment go to, be sure to check out the selection at 10 Barrel Brewing Co. 10barrel.com