Top camping accessories 2012
Eureka Warrior 230 IR Lantern ($60)
Go ahead, hoist this 230-lumen lantern high overhead—when you want to adjust the brightness, just press the included remote control from as far as 20 feet away. When it’s time for lights out, the remote’s own LEDs are bright enough to show the way back to the tent. Three D batteries in the lamp last up to 50 hours.
NEMO Helio Pressure Shower ($110)
Fill this 11-litre cylindrical dry bag with water, step on the foot-pump to pressurize the system, and then spray out wetsuits, wash the dishes or just have a shower under the nozzle. Once it’s pressurized, you won’t have to pump again, and the whole system packs up to the size of a small pot.
Princeton Tec Bot Headlamp ($20)
Sick of Junior stealing your headlamp? Here’s one built just for kids, with 15 lumens of light that shine for nine hours on two AAA batteries stowed in a childproof compartment. With fun colours, an easy-push “on” button and a swivelling housing, we can hear the tables turn: “Hey Dad, that’s my headlamp!”
GSI Kung Foon ($10)
Call it a foon or call it a spork, but the fork-spoon hybrid just got an upgrade with a pair of removable chopsticks fitted into the handle. Leave them in place for use as a bottom-of-the-pot stir stick, or slide them out to gobble noodles with the chopsticks while cleaning up the broth with the foon. A true quiver of one!
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Jembe Seat Kit ($40)
The traditional camp chair is in for some competition from the Jembe, which is basically a compression sack designed to clamp down on a rolled-up air mattress to create a stool in seconds. Most air mats will work, though rectangular ones work best. At 100 grams, the Jembe is lighter than packable chairs, gets your butt off the ground, and is surprisingly comfortable.
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Folding Bucket ($30)
Cut down on trips to the watering hole with this collapsible fabric tote. Though tiny when packed up, it unfolds to a 10-litre capacity—enough for a two-pot dinner and washing up. With taped seams, the Cordura Ultra-Sil fabric is tough and totally waterproof. After you’re done, just fold it back into the carrying case.
Klean Kanteen Steel Pint Glass ($12)
Goodbye, plastic cups. We think these food-grade, dishwasher-safe, stainless-steel, pint-sized (16-ounce) glasses will go everywhere with us this summer—canoe tripping, car camping, even beach days or music festivals. Four per pack.
Jetboil SUMO Stove ($130)
We cooked meals faster with this integrated stove and pot than in our kitchen at home: Soup was warm in 30 seconds, and a litre of water boiled in three minutes flat. The secret is the metal FluxRing, which surrounds the burner to trap and transfer more heat. The integrated pot is also insulated, so you can hold it in your hand even after boiling. And at 1.8 litres, the SUMO is big enough to feed parties of three.
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Folding Bucket ($30)
Cut down on trips to the watering hole with this collapsible fabric tote. Though tiny when packed up, it unfolds to a 10-litre capacity—enough for a two-pot dinner and washing up. With taped seams, the Cordura Ultra-Sil fabric is tough and totally waterproof. After you’re done, just fold it back into the carrying case.
Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Pad ($120)
This synthetic-insulation air mattress promises to do for camping pads what independent coil springs did for mattresses. A quilted pattern of air chambers on top of the 3.5-inch pad support body weight more evenly. Result? A pad comfy enough that you might finally sleep through the night.
