After a tiring week at work, with the weekend joyfully looming ahead of me, I often find myself fantasizing about a short sweet getaway! Just a few days away from my hectic life, and this hectic world, in a bubble of my own, where all my worries are nowhere to be seen. The pandemic may restrict my actual traveling plans, but it definitely cannot restrict my daydreams about vacations! Jetsetting on a flight may not be a practical option right now, but I do think Camping is a plausible plan. Although camping does have a few downsides too! I mean, you have to get down and dirty, live life on the road and tackle the moodiness of the elements. In such a scenario, having a set of trustworthy and handy camping products can make a world of difference! Having the right products by your side can make your life much easier during those crucial moments. From an indestructible limited-edition survival kit with 72 EDC camping essentials to an ingenious bike that holds a fold-out chair + day bed, we’ve curated some fun and functional camping product designs for you. Enjoy!
With so many people camping nowadays, designers at PDF Haus have conceptualized a minimal camp grill called Shelf, a portable gas grill with folding shelves and a table. Developed in the design language of DHL, PDF Haus aimed to give Shelf a simple box silhouette with a freewheeling attitude, taking inspiration from the color scheme, materials and finishes often chosen by DHL for their vehicles and brand aesthetic. The grill even comes with DHL decals and tags that can be adhered to the metallic grill’s front case that turns into its table extension. While most gas stoves come with a separate carrying case, the Shelf’s entire grill has been turned into one that can be consolidated and carried away. Shaped and carried like a slim briefcase, two metal clasps open and slide out to reveal the Shelf’s grill and supplementary table space.
The limited-edition Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit from VSSL features 72 EDC camping essentials that range from a set of navigational tools to a mini first aid kit, so you’ll always be prepared to rough it in the woods. Made from waterproof, military-grade aluminum, the Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit stores all the tools and starter kits you need in an indestructible vessel. Consolidated into canisters the size of hockey pucks, the Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit comes loaded with more than ten mini survival packs that carry everything from navigational tools to fishing supplies. Portable by design, VSSL’s Supplies Kit comes with a lid that doubles as a Suunto Compass, which is also considered one of the most trusted navigational tools on the market and carries the rest of the supply kits inside.
The Forge 15 grill boasts a fold-out prep table for easy stowing, an easy-to-read temperature gauge, a big steel handle, a removable grease tray, a built-in bottle opener, and a weatherproof cover. While tucked in the vehicle’s tailgate while traveling, the pivoting swingarm moves the grill away from the car for cooking when it’s time to set up camp. The swivel grill can also be detached for tabletop grilling when required. Also, there is a strong maple cutting board to increase the prep surface – and it can be removed to carry meals to the table. Forge has a 355 square inch cooking surface, enough for cooking for 10 people, and you don’t have to carry around bulky propane tanks since it works perfectly fine with 16-oz propane bottles.
Everglow Light Tube by Klymit stands out from the rest of the portable lights for a design that’s both functional and highly useful in a number of situations. Klymit being an outdoor gear company very obviously has tailored this inflatable light for camping and adventure enthusiasts, but I can think of dozen other uses as well! The inflatable function, you can literally expand the light like a balloon, solves two inherent purposes – diffusing the light so that it doesn’t hurt the eyes and spread easily, and the other is of course the portability aspect. A pocketable design that is ideal for any adventure, or even at home for emergency use. The flexibility of the form factor permits it to be used as a hanging LED light – stick it to your base camp ceiling to use as a lantern, or attach like a hanging light to the awning.
This coffee kit has a full range of accessories and looks like it is ready to be air-dropped into a war zone and I just know it will survive with the 29-L Zarges case that protects it. The brewing range comes in a sturdy, custom foam-cushioned lightweight German aluminum box which is popular for overlanding and can be neatly stacked over other similar-sized Zarges boxes or strapped to the outside of a vehicle if needed. It is designed to keep dust and moisture out, and it is also IGBC-certified bear-resistant according to Zarges USA – so no aggressive grizzlies will be stealing your coffee although, before coffee, some of us might be like angry bears ourselves! The kit includes a large 32-oz (946-ml) BruTrek French press with a more group-friendly option featuring a handle and a spout.
A gas stove designed with motifs of a cart has been conceptualized by a Seoul-based designer to that accord. Dubbed “HAUL”, the minimalist gas stove is perceived in an inviting color combination, has a brilliant overall design, which relies on the convenience of portability and eliminates the metal mesh from the heating surface. The highlight of the HAUL, as the designer mentions is its neat design. The stove is redesigned sans “protruding wire mesh,” which is a disadvantage with conventional gas stoves. In addition, the compact heater is designed to be lightweight and has an integrated stable stand and a carry handle. The interesting red and white gas stove has a rotating knob on the top for temperature control and ignites the stove or turns it off when not required.
Meet the Wooly Eco-Friendly Cooler, an outdoor cooler that uses eco-friendly wool (as opposed to chemical insulants) to keep your cool drinks cool… and as an added bonus, it comes with a lid that doubles up as a charcuterie board so you can pair your wine with a few cold cuts of meat and some eclectic cheeses, or your beers with some chips and dip and a couple of cocktail nuts too! The Wooly is touted to be one of the only recyclable coolers available today, made from an outer casing of aluminum and stainless steel instead of plastic. It’s also the first consumer-grade cooler to use wool as an insulating material, instead of synthetic foam.
Taking the design language of Volkswagen and applying it to his own interpretation of the camper, design studio Ozan Kayicki visualized the Volkswagen Joy Camper. Ozan Kayicki designed the Joy Camper to be the quintessential camping vehicle for all future trips. Rendered in either pine green or multi-patterned collage, Joy Camper is like the cube-shaped cousin to the VW Bus. The camper’s glossy painted exterior opens up to the van’s mostly wooden interior– a nod to the 1960s era of infinite wood panels. Each internal component is lined in wood, except for the driver’s seat, sink, and countertop, offering warmth in compliment to the van’s cool exterior. In addition to the van’s expansive, glazing windows that line the sides of Joy Camper, a pop-top roof raises the van’s headroom and allows additional sunlight to pour in through the roof’s skylights. Then, an additional extension protrudes from one side of the cabin, appearing as washing or changing areas for guests.
Built to be compatible with the new Bluetooth 5.2 standard, Beosound Explore’s 2,400 mAh battery offers a lot of playback with power efficiency in mind, receiving audio from external devices at lightning speed. In addition to its impressively long-lasting battery life, the Beosound Explore speaker was built to be weatherproof, further enhancing its durability and shelflife. Coated in a dust and waterproof shell, the Beosound Explore can be taken anywhere, including underwater. Finished with an IP67 water resistance level, Beosound Explore is entirely protected against immersion for up to one meter for thirty minutes and can be tossed around on sandy beaches, ensuring the grains won’t affect the speaker’s quality or shelf life.
The Cercle’s frame is designed to perform everything from sitting, cooking, working, resting, or even sleeping. So, this two-wheeled paradise is all you need to be classified as a crazy 21st-century nomad who’s leaving virtually no carbon footprint during their solo exploration. If you notice closely, the circular frame of the bicycle holds the foldable day bed stands in the middle. The frame can be oriented for multiple functionalities – for example, for sleeping in the nighttime or as a chair for a comfortable working position or lounger in a picturesque location. Consequently, when it is time to hit the road, the lounge stand folds up to become a part of the bicycle frame for hassle-free pedaling. Best of all, you can pitch a one-person tent around the bicycle frame for protection against the elements and nighttime cold weather.
