15 CAMPING GEAR ITEMS YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU NEEDED

Is your camping gear packed for your next camping trip? We have fifteen items you probably didn’t know you needed to pack. Check these out and get them packed.

1. ZipStitch Wound Care Kit

Knowing proper first aid is an essential outdoor skill. It would be best if you were able to clean and dress wounds and other injuries when medical attention can’t get to you, and in some cases, that could even require giving yourself stitches. A chore, which, to put it mildly, absolutely sucks. ZipStitch can make it easier.

According to ZipStitch, this is the only FDA-cleared, surgical-quality first aid, wound-closure tool you can get without a prescription. Essentially, instead of getting stitches, you use (after proper cleaning and disinfecting) two exceptionally-strong adhesives tightened and held together by tensioned zip ties, which close the gash tightly and stop the bleeding – just like stitches but far simpler, easier, and faster. You then use a regular large bandage to cover it for better protection and faster healing.

The adhesives are designed and proven to last at least 7 days, giving you plenty of time to heal or seek out professional medical care. It’s also been proven (in 12 different clinical studies) to be 8x stronger than stitches and promote even better healing. The entire package fits neatly in your first aid kit or pocket and can be taken virtually anywhere you might need it: hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, sports.

Is it as good as proper medical care? For serious cuts and gashes, of course not. But for moderate ones – as well as larger ones when you’re nowhere near a doctor – it’ll get the job done in the meantime. And while the $30 price tag for one might seem steep, it’s nothing compared to a trip to the doctor – or your overall wellbeing. Care must be taken to apply it properly, of course, or it will not work.

2. Valtcan Titanium Carabiner Multi-Tool

Have you ever thought about this? During the course of a day, how many different tools do you use in everyday activities? We are always prying, screwing, unscrewing, or “herding” tools…and looking for the tools to carry out those tasks. The Valtcan Titanium Carabiner Multi-Tool has just the right tools and features to make our lives more streamlined and convenient. No more, “Honey, where is my yada yada yada.”

So for a multi-tool to really be convenient, it has to be lightweight and compact. The Valtcan Titanium Carabiner Multi-Tool fits the bill. The overall size and weight makes it almost unrecognizable as you everyday carry.

Major Features

• It’s Titanium! This lightweight, four times the strength of steel, non-corrosive alloy is perfect for your EDC gear. At 17.8 grams (only 0.64 oz.), you will hardly feel it in your pocket or attached to your belt loop. With a size of 2.3 inches x 1.0 inch x 0.2 inches, attaching it in just about any location will hardly be noticeable.
• The larger carabiner feature allows you to attach a number of items, such as keys, grocery bags, or other carabiners. The heavy-duty clasp will hold your gear securely. On the opposite end is a smaller loop for additional attachments.
• The 2.3-inch multi-tool is uniquely designed to include both a Philips head and a flat-heat screw driver, a hex, and a bottle opener.
• The Glossy Stonewash feature adds a touch of class to this everyday carry item. The superior craftsmanship is immediately noticed.

3. GOAL ZERO Venture 35 Solar Recharger

Heading into the outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean you have to leave all your devices behind. In fact, there may be some pretty good reasons to bring them along. And if that’s the case, you’ll want to look into some kind of charging device to keep them up and running – like the Venture 35 Solar Recharger.

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The Venture 35 is a portable battery pack, pocket-sized by itself but  with an included Nomad 7 solar panel that uses the sun to recharge your devices – wherever you are. It is IPX6 rated, water-resistant and shock-proof, and thus great for recharging your phone, camera, tablet for photos, or plug in your headlamp for charging in the backcountry. It weighs 8 oz and fits conveniently in your pocket or backpack.

There is Intelligent USB charging built-in, which prevents anything from overcharging and damaging the battery. The Venture can hold up to 5 smartphone charges worth of power on a single charger, and 5-10 headlamp charges.  But throw in that solar panel, and you’ve got a nearly endless supply of juice – provided you are patient, as a single charge using the solar panel can take up to 16 hours.

Venture 35 Solar Recharger Features

• Recharging phones, cameras, tablets, flashlights on the go
• Nomad 7 solar panel
• Intelligent charging for USB devices prevents overcharging or discharging
• Battery Capacity: 30Wh, 9600mAh (3.6V)
• Power Output: USB (2x)
• Recharge by: USB & Solar
• Built-in 50-Lumen LED light
• 3-5 smartphone chargers per battery charge
• Waterproof to IPX-6: Dunk it, spray it, use it in the rain. Power that handles whatever Mother Nature can throw at you. No rubber plugs needed.
• 10.1 oz.
• 4.41 x 2.68 x 1.1 inches

4. Survival Laces 2.0

What if it got down to it and a simple set of shoelaces saved your life? That isn’t an unrealistic expectation. When preparing, everything on you and in your bug-out bag should be considered as life-saving. Survival Laces 2.0 should be a part of your preparedness.

Shoe/Boot laces can be used to start a fire, bind a wound, catch a fish, set a trap, repair your gear, build a shelter, and more. However, not just any shoelace will have that ability. Survival Laces 2.0 are made of military-grade 550 paracord with a core of seven nylon strands. We won’t go far as to state a set weight the 550 paracord can handle, but it is significant considering the size of a shoelace. We are talking several hundred pounds in a stress test.

Also included within the set of laces are a 1-inch ferro rod, tinder stretching the full length of the lace, and fishing line. To start a fire, just remove the tinder, fry it with your knife or sharp edge, and use the ferro rod to light the tinder.

Necessity is the mother of invention. I’m sure you will find other ways to use your laces in an emergency situation.

Whether it is a high-quality flashlight or a set of simple laces, preparedness should be part of our daily life.

5. Urban Operators Titanium Banded Toothpick

This is truly a functional toothpick. Sure, a toothpick can be used for those “tooth” needs; however, this one can other uses. Think of all the possibilities of the Urban Operators Titanium Banded Toothpick: object that needs puncturing, fruit pick, punch, pick to reset those hard-to-reach buttons, etc. This is a perfect EDC product that will fit nicely into your wallet.

Features of the Urban Operators Titanium Banded Toothpick

• Titanium Alloy Grade 5: Lightweight, high-quality, antibacterial, non-toxic, high hardness value, healthier, and reusable. Think of those wooden toothpicks…a breeding ground for bacteria. With titanium materials, you can easily reuse with confidence after throughly cleaning. Titanium is rustproof and will not interact with medicines.
• Banded End: Need to grip and pull something? The banded end is grooved to allow the wrapping of string or cloth. Banding also provides a secure grip when held during tasks.
• Compact Size: 65mm x 3mm and only 0.8 grams so it fits easily into your wallet or bug out bag.

5. Para-Claw Paracord Bracelet

I know. You are asking, “Another paracord bracelet?” The Para-Claw Paracord Bracelet takes on a new twist with it’s durable, hidden claw blade. The Para-Claw equips you with not only the handy paracord but also a knife that can stand up to the task. This knife isn’t the small, cheaply made mini-blade you find in most paracord bracelets.

 Featured is a 1.5” hawkbill blade ground from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a stealthy BlackStone^TM finish. That ain’t going to break! The blade is integrally molded to a glass/nylon guard that ties into the bracelet. Handle grooves and jimping on the thumb ramp ensure a positive grip at all times. The patent pending sheath system locks the knife securely for immediate deployment in any situation.

Once deployed, the paracord bracelet forms the knife handle. The bracelet is hand-tied from 550 paracord and is available in three sizes and colors, each with an adjustable loop to fine tune the fit plus a steel T-post for easy attachment. The medium and large Para-Claw^TM are offered in both black and woodland camo. Medium fits a wrist circumference of 6.25” to 7” and Large fits a 7” wrist and larger. The Small sized Para-Claw is available in purple/black two tone and fits a wrist size of 5.75” to 6.5”.

Para-Claw Paracord Bracelet Features

• Blade: 1.5”/3.8cm
• Steel: 8Cr13MoV Stainless
• Rockwell-C hardness: 57-58
• Handle: 550 Paracord

You don’t have to be in the outback to wear this stylish bracelet. You will be surprised all the uses you find for it in your everyday life.

6. The Primus FireStick

Primus, a Swedish company, is one of the outdoor world’s oldest outfitters. They’ve been around since 1892, creating top-quality and reliable stoves and other mountaineering gear that has been taken to some of the world’s most extreme places; Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay were carrying a Primus when they first scaled Mt. Everest. This legendary gearmaker has just unveiled their newest camping stove – the FireStick – and we think it’s going to shake up the outdoor stove scene in a big way.

The Primus FireStick is a cylinder stove, a mere 4” long and weighing just 4 ounces. It comes in two models – Steel and Titanium. They cost $90 and $120 respectively. It’s sleek and compact…popping open to reveal a modern take on the classic cylinder stove, with a windscreen that doubles as pot support and a shell to protect the burner when packed away. The burner is even recessed to protect the flame from wind.

Compact and stylish, the FireStick is still powerful – pumping out 8530 BTU from a “narrow flame” that’s designed to hold up well to high winds. That’s enough to create any number of hot, steamy meals out in the backcountry.

7. SAM XT EXTREMITY TOURNIQUET

Tourniquets have evolved! The plan is always to survive. The SAM SX Extremity Tourniquet has increased survival in extreme injuries.  We all hope to never need a tourniquet; however, if if one is ever needed, the SAM SX is what you want available. The SAM XT was designed, engineered, and built by SAM Medical. It uses an innovative design with a metal windlass rod, a slackless TRUFORCE buckle, targeted pressure TRUFLEX plate, time band and nylon precision strap.

The best description of the SAM XT tourniquet is the simple ratchet we all know about. This medical ratchet is built with high-quality, durable and weather-resistant materials to MIL-STD 810G specs.

How to Operate the SAM XT Tourniquet

Pull the strap around the area, click it into place, twist the windlass rod and secure it in place with the Time Band. The SAM XT comes in a black on black Military version or an orange on black Civilian version.

8. LifeStraw Flex

The LifeStraw is already well-known for being one of the best portable water filters you can, neatly fitting into your bag without taking up any space, and letting you drink directly from any suitable stream. So needless to say, we’re excited for the new LifeStraw Flex. The Flex is a lighter, more flexible version of the LifeStraw, that attaches super easily to hydration pack bladders and gravity filters, and can screw on to the top of your disposable water bottle.

The Flex comes with a 2-stage filter: an advanced hollow fiber membrane filter removes up to 99.999999% of bacteria, parasites and other contaminants, down to .2 microns. That exceeds EPA drinking water standard, and will last up to 2,000 liters. The replaceable carbon capsule helps reduce chlorine, lead and other heavy metals and chemicals that may be in your water. And for added convenience, the LifeStraw Flex comes with a flexible water bottle, and is completely recyclable when you’re ready for a new one.

Carrying water just a got lot easier; you can cut down on the amount of weight you have to carry with you, jam this bad boy into any spot it will fit in your bag, and head off, making ultralight backpacking and camping even lighter. It’s great for traveling the world, too.

9. CHOWPAL

A solid pair of camping utensils can usually be found in every backpacker or hiker’s kit, providing a durable way to chow down on the trail that beats using a plastic fork, or even a spork. But you’ve probably never seen a utensil set like the Chowpal before. This utensil set-multitool-hybrid is able to pack everything you need into a single, small package – in addition to the usual fork, spoon and knife, it includes such useful tools as a:

•  can opener for opening that canned tuna and soup you brought
•  a bottle opener – because who doesn’t like beer on the trail.
• A flathead screwdriver, for those random jobs that tend to pop up
• A graduated/English wrench, because again, everyone needs a wrench at some point.

The spoon/knife comb is unlike other utensil sets in that the single-bevel knife blade – sharp enough for more than just eating – folds down into the handle with a framelock, just like any other EDC pocket knife.

All three sections slide and lock together, just like your usual camping utensils, and the stow away neatly in your backpack. Everything is made of easy-to-clean, corrosion-resistant 420J2 stainless steel and the set weighs only 2.4 ounces.

So is the Chowpal the Ultimate Camping Utensil Set? Try it yourself and find out.

10. Fiskars X11 Splitting Axe

When splitting wood and tackling other tough jobs around the farm, you need the toughest and most reliable hatchet you can get. The Fiskars X11 is the one you really want. This sturdy hatchet is built in Finland, with blade-making heritage going back more than three centuries and meant to give you the cleanest cuts possible with one hand. It’s made of a hardened forged steel blade for the hardest, sharpest edge, and they use their own special blade-grinding technique to get the sharpest, smoothest, friction-free cuts. The wedge-shaped head is particularly useful for splitting wood, as it pushes the wood apart and away from the blade by virtue of its unique shape. The head is also formed using inseparable insert-molded heads, which prevents anything from coming apart and flying off.

Inside the handle is shock-absorbing FiberComp, which keeps the weight down while allowing it to be even stronger than steel. The textured grip keeps things tight in your hand, and the balance and weight guarantees forceful swings with less effort.

All-in-all, not too much to be said about this axe. It’s well-built and solid, ready to split wood easily and be sharpened to a razor-sharp edge. You can get it in 17”, 23.5”, 28”, and 36” lengths, though the longer it gets, the more you’ll need to use two hands. A sheath is included for storage and transport. When you need something sturdy and reliable for splitting wood, this is what you’re looking for.

11. Fenix LR35R Rechargeable Flashlight

A high-quality rechargeable flashlight used to be a rarity; however, today the flashlight market has seen an abundance of them. What isn’t common is what you get in the new Fenix LR35R Rechargeable LED Flashlight!

Back in grandpappy’s day, you were lucky to find a 100-Lumen flashlight; when you did, it was 12 inches long and operated with 3 D-cell batteries. Talk about heavy! So what sets the new Fenix LR35R apart from other rechargeable flashlights on the market?

Major Specifications

• A maximum of 10,000 Lumens: The wide beam makes it a powerful search light
• A maximum 1640-foot beam distance
• Compact 5.51 inches in length with a comfortable ergonomic handle for long-lasting carry during search
• Operates using two high-powered, cold-resistant 21700 rechargeable batteries.
• Fast-charging USB Type-C charging port built into the flashlight body. No need for an external charger
• Battery-level indicator to show battery status
• IP68 rated: dustproof and submersible to 6 feet for 30 minutes
• Light weight A6061-T6 aluminum alloy body with a stainless steel strike bezel

Fenix is a world leader in the flashlight market. Why purchase those low-cost flashlights that are at the checkout counter at big-box stores? Yes, they are cost effective; however, you will be replacing them often. When you are in a position to need lighting, you need one you can count on to deliver. Fenix’s 5-year warranty is an indication of what you can expect. In that emergency situation, Fenix will be there.

12. EcoFlow River Portable Power Station

Sometimes, you just need plenty of power – even when you’re off the grid. Maybe for charging up that tablet or phone, recharging headlamps, or powering utilities around the base camp. But you don’t need the full-throttled power of a generator. That’s where the EcoFlow River comes in.

The River is the all-in-one portable power station that allows you to charge or power up to 11 devices at once – from phones to laptops to lights. Pick from 2 USB-C ports, 2 AC outputs, 2 DC outputs and 4 fast-charge outputs (both Type-C, and 2 USB QC 2.0), or a 12v car port. With a 114,000 mAh / 412 Wh Lithium ion battery, it can charge your phone 30 times, your drone 4-8 times, or even power your camp lighting system for over 100 hours. Got a mini fridge or electric cooler? That should run for 10+ hours.

Since it’s more of a long-term battery than generator, and doesn’t run on gas, EcoFlow’s power station is whisper-quiet. It’s also compact and light (tipping the scale at 11 pounds – as opposed to a generators like 50+ pounds). It holds a charge for up to a year, and is a much easier, cleaner alternative to carrying that large generator around when you’re heading off the grid.

Additionally – the River is smart. It can detect what device you’re charging and will automatically adjust output to match.

The EcoFlow River certainly is not cheap – so you better take your off-grid and overlanding adventures seriously if you decide to drop the cash. But it is a sleek, quiet, portable and super-easy way to always have power at your fingertips.

13. iFreezer Go20 is a High-End Refrigerated Cooler Plus Freezer

IceCo calls their new iFreezer Go20 the “Future Car Cooler.” It’s not the first smart cooler out there, but if you can afford the hefty asking price, is one of the “coolest”.

It certainly ain’t your regular Yeti cooler. The iFreezer is a fully-electric, battery powered cooler + freezer that can chill down to a (literally freezing) 32F in less than 15 minutes and keep it there for a full 5 hours.

(After that, you’re running off the cooler’s insulation which, stocked with ice, should work as well as any other high-end cooler. Or so we hope, considering how much they are asking).

If you’re tired of just loading up a cooler with ice and hoping it keeps your food cold, you’ll love the temperature control the iFreezer comes with. You can set it anywhere between 50F and -1F using the touch buttons on the top of the cooler. Or it the iFreezer app, which connects with Bluetooth – because why not?

And, if you want to freeze some food (like ice cream) without turning your delicious beer into a popsicle, use the included partition to divide the 20L interior into a refrigerated zone (12l) and a freezer zone (7.5L).

Further features include an Eco mode for conserving energy, compatibility with an external battery for longer cooling, and anti-electromagnetic interference functions like auto-battery protection and anti-shocking for when you’re running it in the car. And, it will last 5 hours on a single charge. IceCo also includes a 1-year warranty and return policy.

14. STOCK UP ON ALPINE START: INSTANT COFFEE

Need we preach anymore about the necessity of a warm cup of coffee to start the day? The luxury of a hot cup on a cold morning on the trail? We didn’t think so; our love for coffee is already pretty well established, and we’re constantly on the lookout for new ones to add to our collection. The latest one worth trying out: Alpine Start Instant Coffee.

If you don’t like instant coffee, you are definitely not alone. How often is actually good? Not very – but Alpine Start actually is. It starts with hand selecting the finest Arabica beans from Colombia (where they grow the world’s best coffee), roasting them to perfection, and brewing them into a smooth, delicious cup of coffee. They then dehydrate it and package it into nifty and convenient little tear-off packets that fit into your pack and are ready for days on the trail.

No need to carry a French press and grinder with you everywhere; Alpine Start can shave a lot of weight and trouble off your pack. We’d miss the morning ritual but can’t deny the convenience. And it tastes pretty good, too. They even make Coconut Creamer and Chai Latte instant mixes to pair with.

15. MUNCHER MULTITOOL UTENSIL

If you haven’t yet upgraded from your regular camping utensils to an all-in-one spork or something similar, what are you waiting for? Having everything you need to eat in one tool saves a good amount of room and weight in your pack and can make your life on the trail just a little bit easier. If you’re looking to take things a step further, grab a multitool utensil like the Muncher and throw it in your bag.

Muncher looks like any old spork or camping utensil but features 10 different useful tools that you’ll commonly find yourself needing on the trail: a spork, serrated knife, fire starter, peeler, can opener, bottle opener, pry bar, box cutter, cord cutter and flathead screwdriver. You can slice your food, eat it, pop open that beer bottle, strike a flame or even turn some screws, all with the same tool. (To use the fire starter, you’ll need a ferro strike starter).

It’s made from aerospace-grade titanium, which is lighter yet stronger than stainless steel (with twice the strength-to-weight ratio, to be exact), corrosion resistant, and polished to a smooth, easy-to-clean and shiny finish. The middle of the tool has been sand blasted, to create an anti-slip grip texture. A Hypalon storage pouch is included, protecting it from the elements. And at less than one ounce, it weighs little enough to go practically unnoticed. It’s 6.5” long, and only 1.5mm thick.

At less than $50, it’s a convenient, durable, tool that will make your kit just a bit lighter while increasing functionality quite a bit.