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 a camping chair that doubles up as a carrying tool – we’ve curated some fun and functional camping designs for you. Enjoy!
1. Emma
A camping trailer with a distinctive personality, Emma is designed to make those scenic rides in the city outskirts more exciting. The trailer is fashioned with a glass door on the passenger side. Kuckoo will give adventurers an option to customize the camper with a glass door on the driver’s side as well.
Why is it noteworthy?
Emma is the second desirable camper from Kuckoo. Bruno, the first variant, is a lovable option in the rugged camper market in Europe. Emma borrows the acceptable mechanics and layout of the Bruno and scales it down in size to make the micro camper easier to tow using a vehicle of choice.
What we like
- Easier to tow using a vehicle of choice
- The glass sides of the Emma along with the rear glass window and a skylight in the living area, make this camper a day rider’s delight
What we dislike
- It’s not yet on the market!
2. The Edison Light Stick
Inspired by the vintage lantern, the Edison Light Stick from Barebones is a multifunctional flashlight on Huckberry, that would be super helpful on all your outdoor adventures. It emits a warm glow that is great in emergencies and functions as a direct light for essential tasks like preparing food or fetching water.
Why is it noteworthy?
The lantern-inspired light glows warmly is multifunctional and can instantly uplift the mood in the camp or double as a reading light for those who still love catching on some good old reading during their camping trips. The glass tube body of the Edison Light Stick features brass and copper construction on top and bottom, while leather accents complete its handsome look.
What we like
- Equipped with seven different light modes so you can have your ideal ambiance anytime, anywhere!
- Exquisite brass and copper construction accentuated with leather accents
What we dislike
- The price tag is a little hefty compared to similar products on the market
3. 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
- It is a bit bulky to be carrying around in the outdoors
4. Supernova
GravaStar who’ve surprised geeks with mecha-inspired Bluetooth speakers in the recent past have added another sci-fi speaker cum LED lamp to their line-up. Dubbed Supernova, the accessory looks like a three-legged robot, something anyone would want to sport in their geeky den.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Bluetooth speaker besides looking really inviting to own, fairs well when it comes to the overall build quality, functionality, and hardware specifications. It is crafted out of a solid zinc alloy metallic body standing on GravaStar’s iconic tripod legs that we saw in their previous designs. The accessory with a 3-inch full-range speaker has 25 watts of power, 90db of output, and half-inch high-frequency tweeter for rich, crisp sound delivery.
What we like
- In the music-playing mode, this light can synch to the rhythm of the audio for partygoers
What we dislike
- Could get easily damaged in the outdoors
5. The Chair-A
The Chair – A can be “half folded” into a form that almost resembles a “jigae” or a traditional Korean carrying tool. It is practically a frame that lets you load more things on your back without having to cram them into your backpack or have them dangling precariously from bags.
Why is it noteworthy?
This kind of tool has been used to easily transport loads of firewood, and its design hasn’t really changed at all in the past centuries. This chair, however, applies an A-frame design that makes the carrier look a bit more aesthetic while also providing more stability.
What we like
- It folds completely flat so that it can be conveniently stored in cramped spaces
- The arms do help shift the weight a bit to prevent strain and injury
What we dislike
- Not very comfortable for prolonged use because of the fabric seat
- Absence of a backrest
6. The Mobile Universe
Called the Mobile Universe, this portable battery is super easy to carry along when you go camping. It has been amped with different inputs and outputs, allowing you to power up all the diverse devices that you require when you go camping. You have AC output, USB-A, USB-C, 12V for car sockets, and other things you may need.
Why is it noteworthy?
It can charge smartphones and even power a small coffeemaker. The device also has different wires and connectors, living up to its “universal” name. Campers and those that will be spending time in the great outdoors can definitely benefit from bringing a device like this if they don’t want to totally go off-grid and still have access to things like phones, tablets, and other electronic devices.
What we like
- Has some significant power to it, allowing it to charge all kinds of devices
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept, and we need more information on it
7. The EcoFlow River 2
As with any second-generation product, the EcoFlow River 2 has been able to learn from the lessons of its predecessors. Given the gap between the first and second EcoFlow Rivers, there has definitely been plenty of lessons to serve as the foundations of a better product. Fortunately, EcoFlow did seem to have benefited from hindsight, allowing it to turn the River 2 into a sleeker and more compact power station that no longer looks like a car battery.
Why is it noteworthy?
The biggest change you will notice comparing the two generations is that the River 2 has a more refined appearance thanks to its dual-tone color scheme and flat top. The large carrying handle no longer arcs over the top but instead juts out from the back. That makes it easier to stash the power station away in cramped spaces and put things on top of it. Having the handle extend to one side only also reduces the space it needs to occupy. This helps give the box a cleaner look, but relocating the carrying handle does have its share of consequences as well.
What we like
- It will take more than 3,000 charging cycles (zero to full) before it starts to lose its full capacity
What we dislike
- No wireless charging
- Carrying the EcoFlow River 2, however, might be difficult for some other purpose. With the carrying handle now at the back, the box’s center of gravity is changed when you lift it up
8. The Bag Sofa
Designed to be an excellent portable seating solution, this inflatable chair can be set up in any kind of outdoor environment, allowing you to simply sit back and chill. Called the Bag Sofa, the chair can be folded down to a really flat rectangular piece, that you can easily carry with you anywhere!
Why is it noteworthy?
Part of the bag is made of hard pieces that form the structure or frame of the sofa, while soft cloth-like parts serve as the connecting materials that allow the chair to fold. It’s almost like those fabric-covered foldable boxes, except it’s shaped to form the semblance of a chair when unfolded.
What we like
- Super portable design that can be carried anywhere
- Features a fabric material that protects the skin from sticking to the bag’s synthetic surface
What we dislike
- We’re not sure how comfortable the chair would be to sit on, especially for long durations
9. The Batch #003: PARTS Multipurpose Tool
The Leatherman knives have been widely loved by outdoorsmen for ages galore! The knives’ durability and ability to stay sharp for life make them an absolute fan favorite amongst adventure lovers. And their latest interesting launch is the Batch #003: PARTS multipurpose tool with its unique set of features. A folding knife at heart, the multitool ventures into the world of interchangeable blade options for an EDC.
Why is it noteworthy?
According to Leatherman, their motive is to create the best folding knife out there from the current inventory of products in-house. The result is a multipurpose tool crafted out of 26 parts. It gets an innovative interchangeable blade system to swap compatible blades for the needed task at hand. All this while being ergonomically comfortable and highly functional to the last bit. The EDC gets the G10 handle for a better grip.
What we like
- The knife can be swapped between the premium S30V stainless steel work blade for hardcore tasks or the 154CM blade tailored for normal household tasks
- Crafted from 26 parts
What we dislike
- Has a rather hefty price tag
10. The Tomori Lantern Kit
The Tomori Lantern Kit is really quite interesting because rather than providing us with a ready-made lantern, it functions as a kit that lets you create and set up your own lantern, and then swiftly put it aside when you’re done using it. Once the lantern collapses, it barely occupies any space, and you can fit a conventional flashlight inside it!
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
- Quite fun to put together and set up your own lantern
What we dislike
- Cannot withstand rain