As the summer begins to cool and fall approaches spitting distance, the time is ripe to head out for family fun. Keeping your camping adventure fun and safe relies heavily on having the right equipment. There are thousands of camping products available, which could take days to rummage through to find what you need. GeekDad collaborated with Rayovac to bring you our 11 must-have products for your camping gear kit. From lighting to emergency preparedness, we’ve got you covered.
1: Rayovac’s Indestructible Lantern
Without a reliable light source, darkness overtakes the camp in its sinister way, turning even well-maintained campsites into obstacle courses designed to cause injury.
For reliable, clear light, we recommend Rayovac’s Indestructible Lantern. Drop-tested up to 15 feet, this 530-Lumen lantern can take a rugged beating and still shine bright. Weighing a whopping 2.7 pounds, the solid base guarantees that there’s no worry of this lantern falling over at an inopportune moment. It features a handle on the top, and a hook on the bottom, allowing it to be hung from a number of make-shift mounts. Just make sure you don’t run out of juice!
2: Doleesune Outdoor Hiking Daypack
To get your gear to the camp, you’ll need a quality pack. This Doleesune backpack packs a lot of punch, despite being under 2 pounds. It comes in three colors (green, blue, purple), and is extremely adjustable to fit many body types. The Daypack’s material is highly reflective, making it hard to miss, no matter what lighting conditions you’re working with. With a 35-liter capacity, cram everything in, and head out.
3: ALPS Mountaineering Meramac 2 Tent
Everyone needs a place to rest, store their goods, and provide a home-away-from-home. This ALPS tent houses two, great for parent get-aways. It also makes a great storage area for under-the-stars camping. If you’re looking for something bigger, there are many to be found. The ALPS Maramac 2, though, has a reputation for being waterproof, easy to assemble, and durable against all types of weather. Most notably, there’s plenty of room to house an injured or sick companion, protected from pests and weather.
No matter the terrain, everyone needs a bed to sleep in. The Abco sleeping bag folds up into a tiny package, and is very portable. It makes for a great bedroll, and is easy to store when not in use.
Drinking water may be the single most important part of a camping experience, but few people decide to carry pounds and pounds of water with them. To make sure no one becomes ill from springs or rivers, Aqua Tablets neutralize contaminants, providing clean water in a hurry. They are simply not an option, they are an essential part of your gear.
6: Forfar Outdoor Camping Cookware
Okay, now you’ve got light, shelter, a bed, and drinking water, and you’ve set up camp. What’s next? Food, of course! Cooking food well is critical part of camping safety, especially if you fish, hunt, or snare your dinner. Freshly prepared meats from wild animals can contain parasites and carry illness, but these dangers are countered when the meat is well-cooked. Forfar’s cookware folds up, and provides an invaluable tool for food safety.
If, like many modern humans, you’re not used to hunting and fishing for your dinner, pre-made camp food can be a healthy substitute. Mountain House produces a range of flavors, at affordable prices. These are a great addition to your camping gear, even if you’re an experienced hunter, because prey isn’t guaranteed in any environment.
8: Nite Ize Reflective Nylon Cord
The first rule of camping is to keep your campsite clear of critters. The biggest draw for bears, wild cats, and other scary beasts is your dinner. Always remember to hang your food from a tree just outside your camp. When the intruder learns that there’s no food, they are quick to move on. Having a durable rope is critical for this purpose, but also provides other services. A good rope can help climb a treacherous slope, serve as a clothesline, and (worst-case scenario), act as a tourniquet if needed.
On grid or off, a battery pack can make a huge difference. If your cell is needed in an emergency, you want to make sure you’ll have enough power. Also, the world of USB-powered devices is only growing, so consider a battery pack for the many uses it can be put to.
10: Tesla Coil Lighter
What’s a camping trip without fire? Unfortunately, lighters and matches remain a fire-risk when not in use. But how to reduce flammable materials without losing the delight of an easily assembled campfire? That can be a real challenge! The solution is a geek’s delight, however. The Tesla Coil Lighter is a rechargeable lightning generator, with no fuel or chemicals. It can even be recharged by a battery pack, so you won’t run out of “fuel” in a pinch. Do remember, however, that as an electric device, the Tesla lighter shouldn’t be used in wet environments.
11: Titan Blanket
No matter how prepared you might be, disaster can strike even the most experienced outdoors-man. To protect an injured companion from exposure and body heat loss, an emergency blanket is a must. The Titan blanket serves this role well, being light and durable. It fits in your camp gear with ease, and can be put to use in moments. If you are ever in the position of waiting for emergency services of some kind, a safety blanket can mean the difference between life and death. There really is no excuse for skipping this part of your kit. In an emergency, the blanket also serves as a mirrored surface to improve visibility for searching emergency services.
12: Rayovac Headlamp
Camping means adventure, amirite? The simple joys of exploration make memories that last for a lifetime. To stay safe at night, equip Rayovac’s Indestructible Headlamp. Whether you’re gigging frogs, perusing tide pools, or searching for nocturnal friends in the woods, visibility is a critical part of safety. Even if you prefer to leave the lights off while you explore, a headlamp can be a critical tool if someone is lost or too hurt to find help on their own.
I hope you found some great tips for your camping safety needs. Go forth into the wilderness, and enjoy the rest of the sunny season, before we all return to our dens for the winter, and play Skyrim 8 hours a day to feel like we actually left the house. Or is that just me?
Disclaimer: Rayovac sponsored this post, but the opinions and specific products were chosen by the author.
No LifeStraw??
The Tesla coil lighter looks neat, but I think I’ll stick with a waterproof matches in a sealed container or a trusty Zippo lighter along with a magnesium striker kit as a back up (I still have my striker kit from Boy Scouts).