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. And with the summer season setting in, I’m definitely in the mood to soak up some sun; and, camping could be a great outdoor activity. 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 a portable power station to this pop-up tent that attaches to your car in only 5 minutes– we’ve curated some fun and functional camping designs for you. Enjoy!
1. The LIPOWER Mars-2000
Meet the LIPOWER Mars-2000, a beer-cooler-sized power station that gives you up to 2000W of power no matter where you are. Whether you’re camping outdoors, spending a cool evening at the beach, going on a road trip, or even taking your camera and drone on a day-long expedition for work or casual photoshoots, the LIPOWER Mars-2000 is a pretty capable portable power source that’s equipped with EV-grade LFP batteries for sustained power no matter what your requirement.
Why is it noteworthy?
The 1460Wh power station weighs 35.5 lbs (16.1 kilograms) and comes with built-in handles that let you load it on the back of a car and carry it pretty much anywhere you want. The LIPOWER Mars-2000 offers 10 different ports to charge/power a whole slew of devices, including 3 110V AC ports, 3 12V DC ports (including one car outlet), 3 USB-A ports (including one USB3.0 port for fast charging), and one USB-C port that outputs 60W, making it perfect for phones, tablets, and even laptops.
What we like
- There’s also an input for plugging solar panels into the LIPOWER Mars-2000, charging it via solar energy up to 80% in 5 hours, according to its makers, LIPOWER
What we dislike
- No complaints!
2. CARSULE
MOGICS is a Nevada-based company that deals with convenience. Portability, functionality, and usability remain the foundational pillars for MOGICS, producing specialty items like universal adapters and wireless light spheres. CARSULE, a pop-up cabin for your car, is one of the latest specialty items to come from the company. Your next best travel companion, CARSULE can attach to a variety of car models to provide a comfortable, spacious tent on camping trips that take you as far as the road goes.
Why is it noteworthy?
Constructed from UV-resistant and waterproof materials, when fully assembled, CARSULE provides up to 2 meters worth of headroom. Unlike most tents, CARSULE is designed to provide space for more than just sleeping. Large enough to function as a sleeping area and a lounge space, the designers behind CARSULE describe, “Unlike most tents that are only meant for sleeping, CARSULE provides you with a living room in the outdoors and offers mobility since the simple installation makes the movement possible and easy.”
What we like
- Provides space for more than just sleeping
- CARSULE can fit a variety of different vehicles with trunks that swing upward
What we dislike
- Rates low on aesthetics
- Unsuitable for extreme weather conditions
3. Air Architecture’s tent
This inflatable tent is designed after a “classic” house, meaning those that you drew on paper whenever you’re asked to draw a house. The simple design with the triangular roof and the rectangular body matches the white color of the structure and it can fit anywhere you want to bring a house to.
Why is it noteworthy?
It has an airframe with a TPU pipe with a diameter of 120mm, a thickness of 0.3mm, and is covered with 210D Oxford polyester. Because it has a polyurethane coating on the fabric and seams, this can be used during any weather conditions including rainy weather. The polyester fabric also makes this fire-resistant, waterproof, and more importantly, maintains the sharp form needed to keep it up.
What we like
- When you open the windows, you get to be one with nature, whether you’re in a forest, at the beach, or wherever you’re setting it up for your camping trip
What we dislike
- Unsure whether it can withstand extreme weather conditions
4. The Tomori Lantern Kit
Designer Yuji Yanagisawa envisioned the Tomori Lantern Kit. Rather than providing a ready-made lantern, Tomori is actually a kit that lets you quickly set up a lantern and then quickly put it away when you no longer need it. The best parts about this lantern kit are that it takes up almost no space when collapsed and can also use any conventional flashlight that can fit inside its clamps.
Why is it noteworthy?
The base of the kit is a foldable cardboard piece that serves as the flashlight holder and stable structure of the lamp. The kit comes with a rather nondescript LED flashlight that you can use on its own when not docked inside the lantern. In fact, the cardboard base can hold any cylindrical flashlight that is less than 30mm in diameter and 160mm in length. This means that you can use the same flashlight for the lantern as well as for typical uses, or you can have a set of backup flashlights when one’s battery goes empty.
What we like
- The entire kit, excluding the flashlight, folds down to a flat A4-sized package, perfect for stashing in bags or drawers, ready for use in an emergency
What we dislike
- No complaints!
5. The Invictus Bali-Ti
The fully-functional Invictus Bali-Ti is a knife that deserves to be a part of your EDC arsenal! What makes this knife distinctive are its Terrain 365 branding and of course its construction. The sleek pocket knife features 6AL-4V titanium handles & a pocket clip and has a blade made from rustproof Terravantium. The Invictus Bali-Ti is a beautifully crafted and high-performance tool, built to last in the wilderness!
Why is it noteworthy?
A Balisong aka a butterfly knife is a type of folding knife that originated in the Philippines. It has now penetrated deep into other markets, including the US, where Terrain 365 is perfecting its design for everyday use. The Balisong has the potential to be used as a threatening weapon, which means its use is illegal in certain countries. Thankfully, there is nothing so illegal about the Invictus Bali-Ti, which draws its design cues from the Invictus folder. It measures 8.125-inches when fully deployed and folds down to roughly half that size to 4.125-inches when closed.
What we like
- Made from rustproof terravantium blade
What we dislike
- Hefty price tag
6. The Jurassic Croc
A reptile-inspired EDC? Hell yeah! Called, the Jurassic Croc, this badass EDC is equipped with 8 tools and performs flawlessly in the indoors and the outdoors. It has been designed to look like a crocodile head and comes in the option of two materials – stainless steel or titanium. It’s been power-packed with a Phillips head screw-bit, two hex bits, a flathead screwdriver, a prybar, tape-cutter, two O-rings, and a unique bottle opener integrated into the croc’s toothy jaw.
Why is it noteworthy?
Each Jurassic Croc is small enough to fit in your palm, weighing a mere couple of grams and measuring 3.2 inches x 1.5 inches in size. The croc comes outfitted with a DeWalt America #2 Phillips head bit located in its ‘cheek’, held in place by 2 O rings that can be removed and used too. You can slide the croc right into your pants, or secure it around your bag or belt using the lanyard provided. Each croc is rated TSA-safe, and is designed to last a lifetime… like those fossils from millions of years ago!
What we like
- Designed to last a lifetime
- Creative form as compared to the usual EDCs
What we dislike
- No complaints!
7. SHARGE
Portable power generators have become en vogue because of that new outdoor lifestyle, but if you need something more portable and more stylish, this SHARGE concept is something you’d wish was an actual product already.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you’re a camping fan, for example, you might want something that doesn’t exactly look like rugged tanks but at least has ties to your favorite hobby. It’s not by coincidence, then, that the SHARGE was designed to mimic the ridges you’d find on camping boxes. While the design is already visually appealing in itself, the structure also helps diffuse the force of impact, giving it a bit of ruggedness as well.
What we like
- MagSafe-compatible
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept.
8. The Suitcase
Presenting a definite alternative – which is both portable and trendy – Korean designer Hyeonseok Kang has conceptualized ‘The Suitcase’; a TV in a suitcase, that simple!
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s not a TV packed into a suitcase, in fact, it is a flexible display that can fold back into a suitcase for carrying in the boot of your car. It is not like the traditional camping TV with a portable stand, The Suitcase is a display with a combined stand and TV.
What we like
- The flexible display has a two-axis hinge running in the middle, which allows the TV screen to be freely adjusted at any angle and be folded and unfolded easily
- The TV is packed with a USB Type-C, 3 USB A, and a pair of HDMI ports to ensure unhindered amusement while camping
What we dislike
- No complaints!
9. The Viuu Bottle Opener
Bottle openers are probably the only EDCs to have undergone the least amount of innovation – a handle and a head are what you usually get. But YUUE Design Studio decided to revamp the age-old bottle opener. This one looks almost like a decorative piece, but without compromising on any of the functionality. You can now get your drinks ready in a really unique + effective manner with the Viuu Bottle Opener.
Why is it noteworthy?
The design is inspired by window grill patterns, specifically those from classic Chinese architecture. There are three shapes featured: one hexagonal, one rectangular, and one with a semi-circular design. All of them have these patterns that may remind you of windows in old houses if you live in such a place influenced by this kind of architecture. While there are no handles to grip while opening a bottle, the grill design can help you with the grip problem.
What we like
- Inspired by classic Chinese architecture
What we dislike
- No complaints!
10. Pinchy
With the classy appeal of a switchblade (although much safer) Pinchy is an outdoor cutlery set where the protective case turns into the cutlery’s ergonomic grip. Just pinch and flip and the case opens, with a metal spoon, fork, or knife popping out. Once the case locks back in place, you’ve got a perfectly useful, kid-friendly cutlery set that’s practically built for the outdoors.
Why is it noteworthy?
Shaped to be compact and easy to grip, the case is hollow and holds the metallic half of the spoon/fork/knife inside. Pinch it open and flip the metal end out, and the case goes from being an outer cover to an ergonomic grip that’s easy to hold and maneuver. When you’re done, just flip the cutlery back in and they go right back in their protective little shell.
What we like
- The Pinchy’s design is intuitive to use
- It is disability-friendly
What we dislike
- No complaints!
