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. 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
2. 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 because of the fabric seat
- Absence of a backrest
3. The Lava Box
The Lava Box is a concept for a portable stove that looks minimalist, classy, and not at all like the usual that you see being carried around in campsites and beaches. In fact, you might think it’s a vinyl player or a projector, or a luxury box. They’re actually some of the design inspirations for this stove or rather the mood board used in coming up with the final look. What you get is a box with a cover and when you open it, that’s where the stove shows itself.
Why is it noteworthy?
It’s a single burner with a refillable butane gas container fitting right under it. There’s a wooden know on the right that lets you adjust the flame level for things like when you’re heating water, frying something, or grilling pieces of meat. There are also wooden handles on the side for when you need to move the stove when it’s in use or has recently been used and you don’t want to burn your fingers.
What we like
- Small enough to carry with you on your outdoor trip
- Inspired by a vinyl player
What we dislike
- It’s still a concept!
4. 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
5. The Batch #003: PARTS multipurpose tool
Outdoorsy enthusiasts swear by the Leatherman knifes for their durability and the ability to stay sharp for a lifetime. Their latest experimental creation 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
What we dislike
- Hefty price tag
6. 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.
Why is it noteworthy?
It has an airframe with a TPU pipe with a diameter of 120mm, and 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
7. 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
- Cannot withstand rain
8. 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!
9. 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!
10. 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
- Seems more decorative than functional
