We've got the tips and tricks thread, but that doesn't cover your favorite gadgets that you love. What do you not go camping without?

I have entire threads dedicated to my hammock, so not saying that.

Love my esbit stove. If for nothing else than getting a pot of coffee going while I'm making breakfast on the larger stove.



Love my water filters... both my in bottle filters and my gravity fed. Yay I don't have to carry water! Huzzah!




2nd pic isn't my filter, but I don't have one of mine. Its so incredibly useful when you're making supper to have clean, filtered water right there whenever you need it.

So, what's your favorite dohickeys that you can't imagine camping without?

love the Coleman lantern
the noise & smell add to the whole ambiance

+1

My folding shovel has dispatched critters, dug a crapper, opened a real coconut, opened a real car window, and is always handy when putting out a campfire/making a safe place to build one.


My Jeep TJ has been pretty handy too, its my generator/winch/air compressor/hunting blind/winter-tent, and emergency motel room when the weather gets outta hand.

I have a crapper seat that fits a five gallon bucket too...Its payed off big in recent years(Im now a daily coffee drinker), just dont forget trash bags. Washing the poo-bucket at the end of a three day trip is the responsibility of the guy who forgot the bags...period. Baby wipes and trashbags...no acceptable substitute(IMO).

Has to be my Leatherman. Use it several times while camping.

One of my favorites is a Brinkman smoker Put some meat on Throw a few chunks of wood in plug it in and forget it, Go out and burn some boat fuel while it is cooking Come back grab a nice long shower and chow down. Another gadget that is always in the camp is a big bug zapper light We ain't gonna come close to getting them all but the entertainment of the sizzeling bugs is priceless. Im sure there is more as the basement storage is loaded with stuff but these came to mind.

One large whiskey flask (full) keeps you from having to carry a bunch of beer and ice, saving time and space.

yep

My Nam Vet brother had a Swedish made folding shovel that was a real weapon for dispatching whatever threat. He sharpened the edges with a fine file. I saws him throw ans stick it in a stump from 30' out. Comes in handy when no weapons are allowed where you are camping.

I have everything a body would need to go camping but just don't go. Have a Coleman lantern, 2 burner stove, grill, 2 or 3 sleeping bags, brand new tent that sets up in the bed of the pick up, 4" thick foam pad to sleep on, more coolers than I got a use for. Getting a little airish to go this time of year. Hoping to get the boat up and running and visit some state parks this spring. Just need to go do it.

Bumper Dumper

LOL!

One of my most treasured camping gadgets is my Kershaw knife. It comes with three separate blades that you can change out. A filet knife blade,a hunting/all purpose blade,and a saw blade.They all fit in a nice tight holder that can be worn on your belt. Won't go without mine.

this thing

I'm gonna get one of those this year!

I'm gonna try one of these this weekend. I'll let you know how it goes.
GSI java pro drip coffee

That interest me Roadtrip--

Well, here's my review of the GSI collapsible java drip:
It's a short review because it is a really simple to use product. It's a collapsible cone that fits onto a round disk with a small hole in the bottom of the cone/center of the disk. You uncollapse the cone, set the cone/disk assembly on top of a coffee cup or thermos or whatever, put in a #4 paper filter, your coffee, then slowly pour boiling water over the coffee and in a few minutes you have a delicious hot cup of coffee. It took a long time the first day because I hadn't used it before, but by the second day I managed to get a cup done plenty quick.
Two suggestions: Make a big batch at a time so you don't have to make one cup at a time. Take along a thermos or big insulated mug. And when your water starts to boil and you're pouring it into the filter, leave your stove on a low flame to rest the pan on while the water filters thru the coffee. Otherwise your coffee will cool off some while it's making. I give it a thumbs up.

My favorite camper gear includes a bucket light. Which is only a white bucket with a clamp light put in it and hung up in a tree. Lights up the whole camp.
I also like my 1945 Coleman lantern still works great.
And then my favorite cooking tool. My Cabelas 20" cast iron skillet on top of my fish cooker.

Can you tell me more about the bucket light?
Sounds interesting--

I tend to camp via the canoe usually. I carry a basketball net for one. You can stop anyway along the river and fill it up with rocks and tie it off with your rope so you can make an anchor and dont have to worry about paddling around with the weight when you don't want it. Also, breakfast-in-a-bag. Make whatever breakfast you like before you leave. A couple of raw broken eggs with a slice or two of cooked bacon or sausage, maybe some cheese, maybe some jalapenos and store them in individual zip locks. In the morning when you're out on the river just boil some river water, thus reducing the amount of water you have to carry, and drop the bag unopened into the boiling water. It cooks in about 2 minutes. Fish it out and dump the contents in a pita and there you go. Plus, you'll have warm water then to wash up with. The only trash is 1 zip lock person. I do the same with cornbread. If a package says put x amount of milk in I pour the amount of powdered milk in and then use a sharpie to mark the line in the ziplock that will be good for both the powdered milk as well as the corn bread mix plus my water. Close it up and cut the tip off and much like a piping bag you can then squirt out individual hoe-cakes. The trash? Again, just the bag. No matter how light I travel or how hard I'm planning on roughing it, I carry a full size pillow and I sleep on a full length therm-a-rest. I also use a hell of a lot of hand-sanitizer, unless it's cold. When it's cold the alcohol tends to ruin my hands.

Steveiam- the bucket light is a basically a cheap clamp light that is put in a white 5gal bucket. You can get the clamp light from walmart for around $5. Plug the light into a ext. Cord then tie a rope around the bucket handle and throw the rope around a tree limb in camp. Plug it in and the whole camp will light up. But it's not to bright so that it blinds you. When i get home tonite I will get mine out and take some pics.

Here is a couple pics of the bucket light. Last pic is in the shed without any lights on.

I like that KRAPPIE KAT!

Thanks!

Great idea! I wonder a yellow bucket would keep the bugs away? :-)

Divot- I have seen other colors at some camps. They don't put out as much light. If you put that bucket up 8-9' hanging on a limb the bugs will go to it and for the most part leave you alone. At the end of the weekend you will be surprised how many bugs you will dump out.

Here are some camping gadgets...Camping Knives and Axes, Trekking and Walking Poles, hiking gear, Camping Binoculars, Camping Towel and Camping Lightsticks.

Don't ever pass up SKI POLES at a garage sale! They make excellent walking sticks, geocaching sticks, safety sticks for poking and prodding in animal dens, camera mono pods, etc.

I put VELCRO strip on top of the pole and a strip on the BOTTOM of my point and shoot camera. Makes taking you-in-the-pics pictures real easy if you are anywhere except concrete!

.....and if you sharpen the end of them, they're good for stabbin' up aluminum cans laying around the trailer park.

the basketball net is a good idea

Yes it is a good idea, but don't compliment Sancho, it puffs up his ego.

I think these are kinda cool.

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/horizon.html

They even have them for the DIY crowd.

http://www.compactcampingconcepts.com/index.htm

Used my Katadyn microfilter on the Kiamichi a couple of weeks ago. Ran about 3 gallons through there. Tasted great and I didn't get sick so I give it 2 thumbs up so far.