41 Cool Camping Gadgets for Your Escape Into Nature

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Listen, you don't have to be that guy to enjoy a weekend in the woods. You don't have to take the most epic hikes, do the fastest trail runs, or pack the lightest gear on earth. You can just chill outdoors for a weekend. Let's all tone it down. It's OK to enjoy being outdoorsman who likes a nice cup of coffee while protected from the elements. It's OK to listen to some tunes while you kick back by the fire.

But how do you actually take it easy in the backcountry? With the best gadgets and gear, of course. If you have the right gear, everything else will be easier and infinitely more enjoyable. So as a service to the world, we're leaning on our outdoor experts, calling them in from their sabbaticals upstate or out West. We got them to tell us what gear they use the most (or what they would like to own). And we've turned it into this list of the 41 best camping gadgets you can buy today. Get something for yourself or as a gift for the outdoorsperson in your life. Anyone will get great use out of these.

inReach Mini 2

If you're going way off the grid, where you're guaranteed not to have cell service, a satellite communicator is a necessity. Garmin's InReach Mini offers simple SOS, as well as more complex two-way messaging, location sharing, and weather updates.

HD Tarp Hexa Evo Pro

There's nothing as infuriating as setting up a tarp. Maybe it's because of my low IQ, but I've never had a good time doing it.

Once I got this Snow Peak tarp, that all changed. First, it's huge, big enough to fit a full family dinner table. Second, it's the easiest thing I've ever had to set up. There's only six tie-offs, and the two pole system lets you set it up completely solo. On my own, I can have this thing up in a matter of minutes.

Campfire Gear Kit

An ultralight camp stove that comes with pots and a tripod to hang them over it. Boiling water and making a camp stew or pasta has never been easier. Plus! No smoke.

Takibi Fire & Grill

Sure, some campsites might have fire pits where you can roast hotdogs on a stick or toss something on the coals. But, this packable Takibi grill is a campsite centerpiece. Everyone gathers around it, the cook throws meat and veg straight on the grill. It's a real luxury.

TX80 Adventure Case

Pelican cases are notoriously rugged. When wildlife photographers take $20,000 worth of camera into the middle of nowhere, they use Pelican cases. The new Pelican Adventure Cases are specially designed for storing gear and tying off to your car when you're on the go. They're convenient, rugged, and will last a lifetime.

ALPHA 31 Pack

This is a waterproof backpack that looks as good on the trail or on train. It's lightweight, and the roll-top design lets you pack a lot more gear than a regular pack. Sure, the price tag is steep, but this is a do-it-all pack. It'll replace three other bags. For that, it's worth the price.

Mountaineer

Need a reliable camp stove that'll last a lifetime? Camp Chef's Mountaineer is trusted by guides and casual campers the world over. Simple, no frills, but it's the best damn camp stove on the planet.

Rakau Knife Set

I always had issues with packing cooking knives. So much so, that I'd normally just make do with a pocket knife and cutting board instead. But now, you can pack this GSI knife set into it's little carry bag and toss it in with the rest of your kitchen gear. It's, weirdly, the greatest backcountry luxury.

No. 10 Corkscrew Folding Knife

If you prefer one do-it-all knife to a packed knife set, this is that knife. Opinel's No. 10 is big enough to deal with bread, meat, and veg, and with the corkscrew-bottle opener combo, it'll deal with whatever you pair dinner with,

Stargazing Kit

Tap into millennia of human knowledge and start stargazing for yourself. I mean, there's nothing else to do when you don't have cell phone service and it's dark outside.

C.1 - 8x42 Binoculars

Maven is the top name in glass for the outdoors, and the brand makes something for everyone. If you're trekking across the Western states hunting elk, you use a spotting scope. If you're carrying an optic with you everywhere, you use a monocular. If you're sitting around bird-watching, you use these C.1 binoculars.

Portable Aluminum Picnic Table

My family has an ancient Coleman packable table that's still functional. This Oniva model is as close as you'll get to that in 2024. It should still be working in 2054

Shackleton 2.0 Duffel 105L

Sometimes a big hard-sided case is overkill. Sometimes you're going on a days-long rafting trip. For those instances, replace a camp case with a big waterproof bag. At 105 L, barely over $200, and made by the brand commercial fishermen trust, the Grundéns Shackleton is one of the best deals on the market.

AutoFlow XL Gravity Filter - 10 L

Personal filters are convenient, but sometimes you need water filter that can keep a camp hydrated. This filter does that, with enough volume for two campers' daily water.

Folding Torch

Sometimes lighting a fire is a pain in the ass. Sometimes you want to flambe a crust onto your dutch oven cobbler. An on-the-go blowtorch fixes both issues.

Camping Fan

Ever wake up in your tent, drenched in sweat, and beg the universe to send you a breeze? This portable fan is for those of us that know that pain.

NanoLoft Puffy Blanket

Rumpl’s signature design is this outdoor blanket, which makes the quality of camp life much better, primarily by keeping you warm without weighing you down. Aside from that, corner loops let you secure the blanket to the ground—a small feature that fixes one of camping's most annoying problems. And there's a cape clip, so you can wear the blanket around hands-free. Rumpl stuff is made out of outside-friendly materials that are durable as all holy hell.

Siesta Folding Reclining Camping Chair

Camping chairs are inherently uncomfortable, except for this guy. Sure, it's not a La-Z-Boy, but it's about as close as you'll get to it in the wilderness. The Siesta is padded in just the right places and can even recline, it has a 300-lb. weight limit, and it is light as all hell. Get this: It even has a cupholder. What more could you really want in the great outdoors?

Living Lodge M

The Ritz Carlton of tents. Really, all of Snow Peak's tents are backcountry luxury, but this wall tent is basically a mini house. It offers a living, dining, and sleeping areas. Bring that "Hemingway on a Safari," type of luxury to your next group camping trip.

Power Bank and Wireless Charger

No outlets at the campsite, no problem. Get a little solar power bank, and you'll always have a charge.

Yeti 1500X + (4) Boulder 100 Solar Generator

If you're a #VanLife digital nomad type, you need full power, like enough to cook and do your remote work. $3,000 is a steep investment, but since it's solar, it's a one-time thing. No gas, no carbon footprint.

Personal Water Filter

Find the dirtiest, most stagnant little puddle on the trail and you can drink straight out of it. That's how well this LifeStraw works.

Collapsible Water Filter System

LifeStraw became popular for that straw, but the fully collapsible bladder is a better investment. It's got that same easy filtration, one liter at a time.

Grill & Smoker

Unless you have a ton of car space, packing in a grill is a pain in the ass. NOMAD's suitcase grill is the exception. Easy to pack, easy to use, easy to clean, and surprisingly spacious.

The Reversible Napsack

This sleeping bag-jacket-camp blanket is just what you need for transitional weather, or anytime you don't wanna be excessively warm. It's great for lounging around the campfire, but it's really made for bringing your temp back up after exercise in the cold. Great for the skiers and surfers of the world.

VE 25 Tent

This is one for the nerds. Geodesic tents are the pinnacle of outdoor design—ideal for temperature regulation, perfect for wind resistance. Every tent on Everest looks very similar to this one. If you're gonna splurge, this is where to do it.

Rugged Twill Log Carrier

The simplest gadget that will change your life. No more carrying logs in your arms like a loser.

Snow Peak Titanium Flask

So light, there's no reason not to toss it in the pack.

Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler

Nothing less glamorous than lugging a cooler somewhere. Get one with big off-road wheels and spare yourself the embarrassment of having to stop and take a break every 30 feet.

Low Loveseat

Miss your comfy couch? Kelty's loveseat with cupholders beats the hell out of sitting on a log.

Fuel Gauge

You fire up that camp stove, and as your water is about to boil... dead. Spare propane tank? Nope, you've "only used this one once."

This little fuel gauge will make sure you never leave the house with too little fuel.

Beacon Rechargeable Camping Lantern

Sure, fire light is nice, but you'll need something machine-made, too. Barebones has a ton of lanterns, but two really stick out: the Beacon hanging lamp and the larger Forest lantern. While the Beacon's carabiner clip makes it more portable, the Forest gives more coverage. Both have incredible (and rechargeable) battery life and dimmer settings, and both are the rough and tough quality you need for camping.

Wood-Burning Campstove 2

Sure, you're trying to turn your phone off and get away, but if you're on an extended trip, it's nice to be reachable. Keep your phone juiced no matter how primitive your campsite is with this smokeless, wood burning stove and phone charger.

Rechargeable LED Lantern

On a light-er note, Balmuda's lantern is more about setting the mood than showing the way—though it accomplishes the latter too, stylishly. It's not going to be the main source of light you'd hang from a tent strap, but should you find yourself heading out at night or just looking for some extra vibes, it's got you covered.

Ultra-Light Acoustic Travel Guitar

The easiest it's ever been for Acoustic Guitar Guys to take their acoustic guitars camping. Anyway, here's Wonderwall.

Rechargeable HeadLamp 330

Goofy looking, but so, so necessary. This BioLite headlamp has a great fit (no bulky battery pack) and stays powered up to 40 hours, depending on the setting. It's also very affordable. You will use it for every trip to the latrines and every post-hike, late-night scramble to build the fire in pitch blackness.

Move Smart Speaker

No other portable Bluetooth speaker gets to wear the "loud, outdoor speaker"badge quite like Move. Sonos, the mod king of sound, dove into the wireless world and did it right with this compact yet sturdy speaker with a massive amount of sound. Best part is that it's smart, too, equipped with the fancy Automatic Trueplay tuning that'll adapt its audio to the environment and content being played.

Grand Mesa 2-Person Tent

Just a reliable tent at a great price. Perfect for the beginner outdoorsman, or anyone that needs an affordable tent.

64oz Bottle Rambler

Staying hydrated while camping is important, but staying tipsy is arguably more important. This Yeti rambler, albeit not growler, works for both. It has a slim and lightweight design, with stainless steel walls and airtight seals to keep drinks cold.

ArmorATD All-Terrain Portable External Hard Drive

Planning to really go remote for work? Then you gotta have the ArmorATD. It’s a near indestructible SSD that can withstand any of your camping journeys and will certainly outlive your laptop. Take it from me: If you are working while camping, keep a perpetual backup going on one of these, even if just for peace of mind.

Stealth Snow Shovel

Shovels: You never know you need one until you do. The DMOS Stealth shovel is about as cool as anything on this list gets. It's completely collapsible and lightweight, making it no problem for packing and an absolute lifesaver for fire pits. Or snow. Or... ahem... catholes.

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