The Happy Camper: Top 5 New Pieces of Camp Gear
I’ve been out a lot this season and had great opportunities to try out some new camp gear for 2024.
Here’s my top five camp gear picks:
Men’s Wanoga Lightweight Pants
I am a regular user of Columbia clothing. I’ve worn the new Wanoga pants on a trip now for a couple of weeks and they are awesome. They’re supremely lightweight and comfortable, especially on those humid, buggy kind of days where you need to wear pants rather than shorts to block out the mosquitoes and ticks. The pant gives you Omni-Shade™ UPF 50 sun protection and Omni-Shield™ advanced repellency. I really like the adjustable waist and cuffs, multiple handy pockets (including a reinforced knife clip pocket) and roll-up hems. They are also extremely fast-drying.
Chair Zero High-back
The only issue I’ve had so far with my new camp chair is that everyone at camp wants to sit in it. The Chair Zero is definitely the legend of all ultralight camp chairs, weighing in at a mere 672 grams (1.5 pounds). The Chair Zero, without the high back, is a little lighter, but the extra comfort of being able to lean back while you stare at the campfire or watch the setting sun is incredibly awesome—especially for an old guy like me. It also has added back and shoulder support. The poles are durable aluminum alloy frames that snap nicely together, and the fabric is a reinforced 100-denier polyester Kevlar. It’s also darn easy to pack up and compacts easily inside its cinch bag. Assembly is darn easy as well, and the weight capacity is up to 120 kilograms (265 pounds). Mind you, a larger person may find it a little tight fitting where your hips settle in.
Light My Fire GrandPa’s Firegrill
I got this mini camp grill to specifically cook up fresh fish caught during my canoe trips. So far, I’ve tried lake trout and bass. I just placed the fillets between the folding two grills, tossed a bit of seasoning on both sides and attached a sturdy stick to the end of it. I’ve now gone beyond just fish. I’ve cooked fresh peppers, sausages and even morning toast. The best part about packing it is that there’s no need to bring a big camp grill when it’s just me on a solo trip.
MPowered Luci String-Lights
This 18-foot (5.5-metre) long set of 100 lumen string lights (10 nodes) brought a gentle glow inside my bug shelter each evening while I cozied up to read a book before bed. They’re fully waterproof and give you 20 hours of light when charged fully with a solid day of sun (or a six-hour USB charge).
Exped Widget Pump
I’ve tried out a few different versions of an air mat pump. Why not? It sure beats all the other options we have out there. It’s quicker and more convenient. But I find Exped’s version has more to offer than all the others. Yes, it blows air into your mat—moisture-free—and inflates it pretty darn quick (the box contains various adapters for all kinds of air mats, not just Exped). And it has a “quiet mode” that blows slower but won’t blur out the bird songs around your campsite or disturb your campmates and neighbours. But the Widget also acts as a bright camping lamp with three light levels. You can even hang it inside the tent from a built-in handle—great for reading before bed. Fully charged, it illuminates for up to 72 hours. It also can be used to charge your devices. As a 3,600 mAh power bank, the Widget has enough stored power to fully charge two cell phones when fully charged itself. Cool!