Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets
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When it comes to camping, everyone has their preferred approach. Love the great outdoors and want to feel in tune with the natural world? You’re a tent camper. Enjoy a good campfire but don’t want to part with the bells and whistles of modern life? An RV is the way to go. If you fall somewhere in between – you like a bit of rugged adventure but prefer a solid roof over your head, maybe a creature comfort or two – then the camper van life might be for you. But before you hit the open road on the camper van adventure of the century, you may want to stock up on a few handy gadgets that will help make the experience that much more memorable.

By Jessica Keller

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Pop-Up Fire Pit – Look, there’s no shame in not being a Bear Grylls-level outdoorsperson who can start a fire with a rock, a few sticks and, presumably, some sort of deal with the devil. All you really need is the right gear, like this portable, pop-up fire pit. Consisting of just three lightweight, foldable pieces – a firesafe container, a grill rack and a 100% ferrocerium firestarter set – this genius kit from Wolf and Grizzly will have you cooking with fire in a matter of minutes. Science and research: almost as powerful as a pact with Satan, but with fewer unwanted side effects.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Helinox Chair One – Now that you’ve got a fire going, you’ll want to circle up and enjoy its warm glow. You’ll also want to be comfortable while doing so. The Chair One from innovative wilderness outfitters Helinox is widely considered the original versatile camping chair, combining featherweight lightness with durability and supreme comfort. The holy union of DAC aluminium alloy poles with high-strength nylon resin joints and soft, breathable 600-denier polyester weave results in a chair that weighs just 950 grams but can support up to 145 kilos, easily fit in a backpack, and provide hours of pure relaxation.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Hammock – Of course, you won’t be sitting around the fire all day long. You’ll also want to read, stargaze, perhaps doze a bit after an early morning hike – and connoisseurs of comfort know there’s only one place for such important activities: a hammock. Considering that you’re on the road, however, you’ll need a hammock that can easily be set up and taken down, and which doesn’t cost too much in terms of weight and space in your van. Look no further than the soft yet strong and sturdy hammocks by Wise Owl Outfitters, who are on a mission to make lazy camping catnaps more affordable for everyone. Made from supple 210T nylon fabric with triple interlocking stitching for extra support, their hammocks are quick-drying, machine washable and a cinch to hang – so you can spend even longer just hanging out.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Kindle – Hammock? Check. Late afternoon shade? Check. Plenty of time to do absolutely whatever you want because that’s what camping is all about? You better believe it. Now all that’s missing is some reading material. If you’re a true bibliophile whose greatest regret about camper van life is the lack of shelf space for books, it may be time to consider switching to ebooks – at least for as long as you’re on the road. We know, we know, nothing compares to the feel of a physical book in your hand, but there are certainly benefits to carrying a tiny portable library everywhere you go. A far cry from the glaring blue-light devices of yesteryear, today’s leading e-readers – like Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite – are light, slender, waterproof, vision-friendly and hold an impressive charge. Go ahead, make the switch. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Solar Shower – Van camping is the ultimate in road trip freedom, going where the wind blows you, stopping when you like a particular view – that is, unless you’re bound to campgrounds all the time for facilities like showers. Enter solar showers, a simple, clever solution to a gritty problem. There are several options on the market that all function the same way (fill with water, leave in direct sunlight on a warm day for two to four hours), but this Advanced Elements Summer Shower gets high marks for its robust construction, long shower time, good water pressure and easy-to-hang design.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Handheld Coffee Maker – For some people, all it takes to jumpstart the day is a bit of sunlight and a breath of fresh air. For the rest of us mere mortals, there’s caffeine. If you, like us, are a coffee fiend and you, also like us, only reach for the freeze-dried instant stuff in the most utterly desperate of times, then consider this handheld coffee maker your new best friend. Using soft coffee pads and plugging into your car’s 12V cigarette lighter, Handcoffee provides a fresh, satisfying brew to help you start your camping day on the right note.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Portable Gas Grill – Foodies take note: living the van life is no excuse for tossing your culinary aspirations by the wayside. You can upgrade your cooking set-up with space-saving gadgets like this gas grill from Cuisinart that manages to be both cute and compact, around the size of a handheld cooler. With grates made from porcelain-enamelled cast iron, the grill holds heat longer than a steel design, and the flip-out rack in the base ensures that your propane tank remains secure and upright. What’s more, the wooden lid can do double-duty as a cutting board – or a classy way to serve your cheese and charcuterie.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Collapsible Cookware – If a portable hob is part of your camper cooking outfit, but you’re tired of pots and pans hogging precious space in your mobile abode, consider investing in some collapsible cookware. That’s right: cookware that folds. UK-based gear gurus Kampa make a line of saucepans and frying pans with stainless steel cooking surfaces and food-grade silicone midsections that allow them to scrunch down to less than half their size. Equipped with a glass lid and compatible with gas, electric and halogen hobs, these will have you whipping up eggs in the morning before your campsite neighbours have even got their fire going.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Packing Cubes – As it turns out, the suitcase companion that every frequent flyer won’t shut up about also comes in very handy in a camper van. Packing cubes allow you to not only compress your clothing and accessories so that you can squeeze more style into your road trip wardrobe, they also help you stay organised. After all, a neat camper van makes for happy campers. We like these packing cubes in particular for their compression power, expandable laundry pocket and mesh sides that help you find what you’re looking for at a glance.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Personal Alarm – We know you’re a careful camper who takes all the right precautions, but we also believe that one can never be too safe. For a bit of extra security and peace of mind, consider carrying a personal pocket alarm. This one by Kosin Alarm can fit on a keychain, comes with an LED light, and can project its “ear-piercing alarm” up to 180 metres. (Their words, not ours.)

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Inflatable Lantern – Let there be (solar-powered) light! Lighting is a must for anyone who doesn’t want to hit the hay when the sun goes down, so why not at least make it portable and sustainable? Lightweight, waterproof and shatterproof, this LuminAID lantern is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, offering up to 11 square metres of illumination. Choose the lantern that fits your needs – bright white, warm light or multicoloured light – and use for up to 24 hours on a single charge. When you’re done, simply deflate the lantern, fold it flat and pack it away.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets.
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Bluetooth Speaker – Sometimes during your camping experience, all you want to do is sit and listen to the soundtrack of nature. Sometimes, however, you just need to jam. Well-made bluetooth speakers are a dime a dozen these days, but again, the camper van life calls for economy of space, so we recommend opting for something ultra-compact – like the JBL Clip 4. Delivering 10 hours of that coveted rich JBL Original Pro Sound in a pint-sized package, this speaker is made with an integrated carabiner for optimum portability and comes in a range of punchy colours to fit your camping aesthetic. The best part? It’s also waterproof and dust-resistant, making it perfect for all kinds of outdoor adventures.

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Campsite 101: Top Camper Van Gadgets

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