Adding a piece or two of the latest small camping gear to your hiking pack can enhance, rather than detract from, your hiking and camping experience. A big part of camping’s appeal is its minimalism. But something with a few compact comforts is a far cry from glamping. Don’t feel guilty.
Some of the products we recommend, such as the LifeSaver Wayfarer water filter, are very essential to us on our backcountry adventures. Another example is a camp stove. They offer must-have high functionality and easy execution that makes them an absolute pleasure to use.
On the other hand, it also includes products that are definitely considered luxuries, such as the AeroPress Original Coffee Maker and the Alpkit Soundbite. It’s not an essential item by any stretch of the imagination, but it definitely makes us smile at the end of a long day.
Our shortlist:
AeroPress original coffee maker – best portable coffee maker
SOTO Windmaster Portable Stove – Best lightweight camping stove
Ragged.power brick – Best power bank for hiking
Sea To Summit Clothesline – The best way to dry clothes
Having used and tested countless camping and hiking gear over the years, we have a keen sense of what works and what doesn’t. So, below is a shortlist of must-have, non-essential, but highly effective camping gadgets.
Learn more about the best camping gear
A dead sheep or a fellow wild camper thoughtlessly going to the toilet upstream.
Strong Points
- highly effective water filtration
- Easy operation
Cons
- Other filters are lighter and more compact
best food containers for camping
Avoid single-use plastic containers like road trip meal pouches and supermarket pasta pots
Strong Points
- There are 3 books
- For both hot and cold food
- Reliable leak protection
Cons
- May be a little heavy for ultralight hiking
best portable coffee maker
Just because you’re sleeping in a tent doesn’t mean you have to put up with bad coffee.aero press
Strong Points
- No batteries or electricity required
- portable
- Much better than instant coffee
To save on carrying (and washing up) kitchen supplies, camping meals are typically eaten directly from the campsite.
best lightweight camping stove
Strong Points
- Withstands strong winds
- 4 support arms
- 4.5cm wide burner
Cons
- slightly heavier than others
Firepot expedition food is just as good as camping food, and now it’s even better.
Strong Points
- compostable packaging
- Very delicious camping food
Cons
- A little expensive compared to other retort food
best solar panels for hiking
Suggested retail price: £99.99
price: £92.99
Goal Zero doesn’t just provide great power solutions, it’s a great company in its own right.
Strong Points
- built-in kickstand
- lightweight design
- durable
Cons
- Charging is slower than mobile batteries
Suggested retail price: £99.99
price: £92.99
With this Alpkit Soundbite rechargeable lantern, you’ll not only get 120 lumens of light for 5 hours;
Strong Points
- great value
- IP64 rating
- magnet clip
Cons
- Not the brightest lantern
best power bank for hiking
You may want to disconnect mid-hike, and that’s perfectly understandable. But similarly, you can
Strong Points
- strict
- built-in light
- compact
Cons
- Others have larger battery capacities.
What3words is one of the most powerful safety tools you can access, and it’s free. The app has
Strong Points
- Easily move to the exact location
- Voice recognition can be used
Cons
- All features will not work without phone signal
Hanging wet clothes or travel towels over the tent is not an effective means of drying clothes.
Strong Points
- Light and compact
- length 3.5 meters
- reflective decal
Although it’s entirely possible to make a satisfying pillow using a dry bag and a spare pillow,
Cons
- There are also lighter options
It may be difficult to load all the necessary camping equipment into your car, but if you plan to stay for a while,
Strong Points
- incredibly impressive design
- very lightweight and compact
Cons
- Still a bit bulky for lightweight hiking trips
A Gerber folding shovel is a great tool to have on hand when camping to start a fire.
Strong Points
- easy to use
- Compact size perfect for camping
Cons
- No overly sharp edges
Some solar showers are fine, but this one is better and even less complicated.it is essentially
Strong Points
- compact
- 6m cord
- Can also be used as a dry bag
Cons
- Some other portable showers offer better pressure
Instead of running back and forth to the faucet at your campsite, now you have tap water.
Strong Points
- There are 3 books
- food safety
Best first aid kit for camping
Accidental burns from stoves and boiling water are common in camp kitchens, so be prepared with first aid.
Strong Points
- A collection of great content
- Compact enough for hikers…
Cons
- But you can get more compact first aid kits
The ground is damp and cold, so sit without protection and you can carry a big ol’ picnic
Strong Points
- Tarpaulin for 2 to 4 adults
- 3 colors to choose from
best lightweight camping chair
Usually, when hiking, the role of a chair is left to a log or dry grass.Chair
Strong Points
- quick setup
- Super compact packaging size for a chair
- very well made
The best insect repellent for campsites
MR300 uses no flames or harmful chemicals and effectively repels flying insects such as:
Strong Points
- large protection area
- 2 colors to choose from
- Unscented
If you have a Petzl head torch, Noctilight is for you.
head torch, headband,
Strong Points
- bright light
- Easy to carry and compact
Cons
- Batteries can get quite hot
The old-fashioned hand torch remains an important tool for convenience and safety.this
Strong Points
- 4 lighting modes
- removable strap
- IP67 grade
Types of camping equipment
Since there are exactly 6,326,849 types of camping equipment, we roughly categorize them into two groups: essential and non-essential.
Essential camping equipment tends to be related to food, hygiene, and shelter. This obviously includes items such as stoves, but also items such as tent pegs and cutlery. Don’t forget your sleeping mat. These are all items that we consider to be extremely important for basic comfort and well-being when camping.
For us, non-essential camping gear includes purely luxury items. Examples include camping chairs and portable showers. You’ll probably need to use a little common sense here, as people with stiff joints might consider a camp chair to be a must-have. It’s quite subjective.
What not to bring to camp
Stores, especially online stores, are full of useless, low-quality gimmicks that claim to be amazing or innovative. These include beanies with built-in headlamps and inexpensive multi-tools. Use your common sense to separate the good from the bad and the useful from the gimmicky.
Another important consideration is to avoid heavy or bulky items. While it may be useful at a campsite, it can be a pain to carry around. Is that luxury worth the extra extra in your pack?
Choose the camping equipment that suits you
Let’s go back to the word “subjective” again. Your budget and camping preferences will affect what you bring. Once you’ve learned the basics and avoided the gimmicks, it’s up to you what you choose.
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