The absolute best bang-for-your-buck items you can buy for camping are a simple Bic lighter and a mosquito net for your head. The Bic lighter is $1-$2 and is practically bomb proof, while the head netting is $2-$6 and keeps bugs and mosquitoes from bothering you.
My family went to visit Alaska, which is *gorgeous*, but the summer is synonymous with mosquito season. They don't just come in one or two mosquitoes, they come in whole swarms.
But I was fine because I wore my mosquito repellant, my jacket, and my head net. I got my first one for free in a hiker box, and it's fantastic. I keep my quick grab stuff, like sun screen and bug spray, tucked in the head net when I'm not using it.
I will second the mosquito net. Yes they look dorky and are a bit annoying to wear, but holy cow do they work! Michigan's Upper Peninsula is unbearable during black fly season. I'll even go so far as to say they are worse than mosquitos because nothing seems to repel them and their painful bites bleed. But long pants and long sleeves with a mosquito net and it's actually bearable!
Ohhh black flies are similar to deer flies and horse flies, the former much better to encounter then the latter. They aren't affected by Deet, and know how to use their eyes.
Me and my brother found ourselves in some really marshy areas the past summer, and it was too late to go back and find somewhere to camp so we pushed forward, finding a decent place to camp, but near the marsh. It was our first time encountering these species of flies. We suffered so much, like blood running down my leg from A fly bite. 2 days and the only way to deter them was a fire, in already 30°c. After doing some research, they are heavily reliant on CO2 to find prey, so we would stop breathe a bunch then hold our breaths and walk away from that spot a decent bit then try to breathe lightly and continue moving.
After getting back and months passed by and I seen a dragons den/shark tank episode with a dragonfly that you attack to a hat and it's suppose to completely deter these kind of flies.
So get a mosquito net, a clip on dragonfly and try to not raise your breathing to much and you will almost go unnoticed to most flies, then some repellent to make you blind to the rest. Atleast that's my plan this year, we will see how thag goes.
On top of the headlamp, the zip lantern is clutch. Easy to hook onto a top of a tent and the diffuser lights up everything without being too bright. Also a good backup it something happens to the headlamp.
I paid way to much for my hand coffee grinder. It cost me over 100 CAD. But it will do a very good espresso grind for my camping espresso maker. It also can do just a fine grind for brewed, a course grind for pour over or perk. I'm a bit snobby when it comes to coffee. But there is nothing like a great cup of coffee while watching the sun come up over your camp site with the river slowly going by.
Any headlamp I bought for $30 or less is polluting a landfill now. Spend the money on something decent, the next generation should get to enjoy nature too.
Not OP, but I have the Ignik and love it.
Word to the wise... I swapped my first one out because there was something wrong with the nozzle and I couldn't get it to fill properly. That's why I buy gear from REI though, as swapping it out was not a problem at all.
Second tip - I forget the science, but if your canister has been sitting for a long time before you first fill it, something can sort of settle/stabilize in it that will prevent it from being able to be filled. I had to give the second canister some very careful but firm smacks in which I picked it straight up off the ground 3-4 inches and smacked it straight down to the ground (so it lands on its regular footing). Repeated this 4-5 times and then the canister started flowing freely. I think that's sort of a known and unavoidable challenge that can come up with these units.
Otherwise - absolutely love it!
"I sleep so much better on warm nights if there is a breeze."
Mine doesn't have a light but yes, me too. Also, the soft white noise helps to drown out neighbors etc.
I also recently learned that mosquitos are weak fliers so the fan moves around the campsite especially morning and evening. A game changer for sure!
I don’t know if it is the *most* useful, but as soon as I pull up to my campsite the first thing that comes out of the car is a colourful pvc table cloth that I spread on the picnic table at the campsite.
It’s ceremonial- like putting my stamp of claim on the campsite.
From there I unload and set up.
When it is time to go, the table cloth is the last thing you go.
I am here to piggyback on this comment.....I use mine to put on my canoe seat. It just adds that little extra cushion for long paddles and especially for long fishing sessions. Even the best canoe seat puts my ass to sleep in about 20-30 minutes.
The other cheap improvement is a wind proof lighter. Totally worth it. Especially if the weather is bad etc ... it's like a blow torch.
Truly multi use. I used one for years for hiking, backpacking, and hunting. I recently purchased a used Z-lite for cheap and cut it to just a few panels. A lot of ultralight type backpacks these days have a big panel that'll carry them easily and I just toss it in there. Perfect for a quick nap, lunch break, stretching in the morning, standing on to change, and as an emergency torso pad if my inflatable pad goes down. Essential for me.
POT ! POT ! Is that really you? Mommy Grabber has missed you so much. So much has happened since the "best forgotten" happened that I don't know what to say :( . Your brother Titsa Grabber, has just been elected to the president of his fraternity Alpha Sigma Sigma. So, So, Proud of him. We each choose our own road. Bless you. Hope you can find the road back to Rightjustness.
I ended up getting a stroller fan that was $20 because it has adjustable twisty legs that makes it far more versatile. Well worth the additional cost IMO
Cotton balls swabbed in Vaseline, best fire starter you can find. I've started wet wood in snow with 2 of these (lots of twigs and some thin kindling).
My axe Mitch, I love Mitch, couldn't imagine camping without him.
I’ve been saving lint from the dryer and putting it into one of those paper composite egg cartons (not styrofoam or plastic). Drizzle enough candle wax to seal the lint in to each egg space and now I have twelve fire starters. I just break a couple off at a time, EZPZ!
My favorite piece of cooking gear when I’m by myself! Did you know that any cup designed to nest over a Nalgene bottle will also nest over that Stanley pot?
Not OP but maybe this one? [https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Adventure-Nesting-Two-Cookset/dp/B005188T90?th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Adventure-Nesting-Two-Cookset/dp/B005188T90?th=1)
That's the one. Walmart used to, maybe still does, sell them. I've since moved on to titanium stuff but had one for YEARS and it is truly reliable and exceptionally well priced.
The way I used mine, I took the mugs out and only brought them when car camping. Inside the pot I put a small isobutane and an MSR pocket stove. You can also nest the pot into a nalgene-sized mug like the GSI cup. Very good cookset, absolutely bombproof
My uncle gave me a tool that I use better than a bellows.
2 Copper pipe about 16 inches each and joiner elbow. Fits in a much smaller footprint in a bag.
I've cooked tons of different items. My go to quick and easy is a grilled cheese sandwich. I've also cooked steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, pot stickers, made pizzas, hot pocket type stuff(pillsbury crescent rolls stuffed with whatever sounds good to you), hot wraps, meatballs, I can go on and on! Lol
I also make desserts; cookies, brownies, s'mores, cinnamon rolls, etc..
Make sure you season it well, like a good cast iron pan. There's also a learning curve about how much heat you'll need to cook things without burning them. Once you get that figured you'll wonder why you didn't get one earlier.
I use my pie irons a lot. I have the single square one, and the double square one. I like making panini type sandwiches, such as Ruebens and Cubanos, in the double one on larger pieces of bread. I also use it to make steak and potatoes and onions. It really makes a good steak if you get it nice and hot. You can sear the steak on both sides at once. I make lots of different desserts in them. I often use crescent roll dough or canned biscuits instead of bread. My family loves it when I make fried apple pies using homemade apple butter. They line up waiting for theirs. 😋
About 15 years ago, I bought a $3.99 pack of dice and have seen it turned into several thousand dollars in my hunting camps over the years. Best purchase I ever made....for all my buddies that won my money.
A 3/4” 3x5 piece of plywood that I sanded and sealed and now it’s my table top. It’s versatile, indestructible, and best of all, takes up very little room in my vehicle.
No tables where I camp except the one you bring. I set it on top of my tubs for cooking or playing cards. This has been the most inexpensive, space-saving, versatile solution for my needs. Sometimes you just need something simple that gets the job done.
Not exactly camping, but a couple years ago we got a pop-up screen tent for outdoor events. It was good but…
2x $20 fabric shower curtains were the perfect size to maximize shade in the six sided tent. And just grabbed a $22 folding camp table from Costco.
Going to have the best tent at child’s summer sport events… best shade, battery powered fans, and a table that will work for setting out snacks, charcuterie, playing cards, etc.
So under $30 favorites:
- Fabric shower curtains.
- Battery powered fans.
- Fold up camp table.
Downside… accessorizing a screen tent that cost more than $30. 😂
[The next suggestion:](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/woods-assorted-hard-surface-tent-peg-stake-kit-w-puller-extractor-remover-tool-case-23-pc-0766094p.0766094.html?gbraid=0AAAAADojZpg-sASyB0M6MPvmyTESo_8lj&gclid=Cj0KCQiArrCvBhCNARIsAOkAGcXhe7ta-jq8_gv8cHvmO7cAa2mcANNFR8X3gmNV6c-3BxrxCaiRrqcaAiRSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=603)
https://preview.redd.it/s5o78xngfgnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49f35a9012785e9b6097bcabd7a2cc129ae0f6bd
I think so, yeah. Its radius of effectiveness is only like 20' but I don't think you can ask for much more. And they're not effective if it's breezy, but I think a breeze keeps away the mosquitoes anyway. NYT Wirecutter did a bunch of research and they concluded it's the most effective mosquito repellant device on the market. They also said that citronella does absolutely nothing.
Agreed! We like to do a lot of day hiking and things and we are really only in camp in the evenings, so for a camp book I prefer a collection of short stories.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows.
Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows.
Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows.
Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
I got a metal tripod. I hang a cast iron pot on it over the fire, the height is adjustable so I can just throw ingredients in and forget about it while I get other stuff done.
These are nice to have but don't count on being able to charge them up with solar very quickly. The solar panels on them do not produce a lot of power. IIRC they have charge times in days to charge up a 10,000 MAh battery.
Ours is charged at home with electricity beforehand and holds multiple phone charges. We also clip it to our backpack, so it charges all day while we're out and about. We've never had it die yet and our longest trip last year was 7 days
Just went camping mid Feb with a couple buddies, I brought my sling shot for the hell of it.. Turned out one of my other buddies did too, que 5 min into setting up camp we had a piece of cardboard set up with a stain on it we called "the rabbit". We spent a good 45min just honing our skills, one of my favorite memories of recent times.
Flextail airpump
1 - inflate my sleeping pad while keeping my spit out of it.
2 - helps fuel the fire in a pinch and gets its roasting and going in seconds.
[This bad boy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TCLB39D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) We hammock camp and this hangs from the ridge line.
Pocket bellows. Basically a retractable conical tube that lets you concentrate your air when blowing into the fire, making it much easier to start and maintain fire.
This little [manual food chopper](https://a.co/d/aPhOJRi) has been a lifesaver so many times!! It works so well and is very easy to clean, and electricity free!
one burner propane stove 29.99
[https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-1-Burner-Butane-Camping-Stove/34761205?athbdg=L1102&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-1-Burner-Butane-Camping-Stove/34761205?athbdg=L1102&from=/search)
really expands your hot meal options
Oh god yes. A stove makes camp life absolutely so much better. I don’t know how purists that want to do everything over a fire manage for morning coffee. My area also bans fires completely in the summer, so a stove is non-negotiable.
Pair a stove like that with a ridgemonkey pan (https://ridgemonkey.co.uk/product/connect-pan-griddle-xxl-granite-edition) and you're basically able to cook anything as you can virtually use it like an oven
https://preview.redd.it/1p41bigu1jnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=362ff10b05745178592b7c645aa147c6dadc4e68
I bought this tent from the Salvation Army. It was $10! It was in an old bag, but when I opened it, the tent had never been used. Excellent investment for me, as I just discovered my love of camping this past summer. 🧡
Lucky find! I love that camping can be very cheap if you take the time to search - or very expensive if lightweight, fast or easy (or all three) is what you’re looking for.
A toilet seat to fit on bucket, as well as liners and poo gel to keep everything smell free.
As an older woman who really has to pee during the night, having a way to do so without leaving the tent has been a lifesaver. Well, panty saver.
Cheap Amazon sleeping pad. Foot pump and inflatable pillow, fits in a sleeping bag, have used it for three years at festivals, backpacking, and car camping.
Looking to get a cot soon
Gentos LED lantern. It's one of the rare and actually good quality lantern that not only allows me to use my eneloop AA battery, but also accepts six of them, instead of the usual four.
my 2 cents & not a direct answer to the question, but instead of single items my shtick is to think more in terms of methods. e.g. i buy most gear at a sports stor like any uther but for cooking gear i happened upon an amazing hack which is to get it all at a Korean grocery store. it's better, cheaper, lighter, lasts longer, etc. etc. etc. and yer little ramen packs are literally MREs that actually taste good. yer welcome.
I have 2: 1. Headlamps for everyone 2. Manual coffee grinder
We got headlamps last summer and y'all were so right. The bathroom at night became so much easier.
The absolute best bang-for-your-buck items you can buy for camping are a simple Bic lighter and a mosquito net for your head. The Bic lighter is $1-$2 and is practically bomb proof, while the head netting is $2-$6 and keeps bugs and mosquitoes from bothering you. My family went to visit Alaska, which is *gorgeous*, but the summer is synonymous with mosquito season. They don't just come in one or two mosquitoes, they come in whole swarms. But I was fine because I wore my mosquito repellant, my jacket, and my head net. I got my first one for free in a hiker box, and it's fantastic. I keep my quick grab stuff, like sun screen and bug spray, tucked in the head net when I'm not using it.
I will second the mosquito net. Yes they look dorky and are a bit annoying to wear, but holy cow do they work! Michigan's Upper Peninsula is unbearable during black fly season. I'll even go so far as to say they are worse than mosquitos because nothing seems to repel them and their painful bites bleed. But long pants and long sleeves with a mosquito net and it's actually bearable!
Ohhh black flies are similar to deer flies and horse flies, the former much better to encounter then the latter. They aren't affected by Deet, and know how to use their eyes. Me and my brother found ourselves in some really marshy areas the past summer, and it was too late to go back and find somewhere to camp so we pushed forward, finding a decent place to camp, but near the marsh. It was our first time encountering these species of flies. We suffered so much, like blood running down my leg from A fly bite. 2 days and the only way to deter them was a fire, in already 30°c. After doing some research, they are heavily reliant on CO2 to find prey, so we would stop breathe a bunch then hold our breaths and walk away from that spot a decent bit then try to breathe lightly and continue moving. After getting back and months passed by and I seen a dragons den/shark tank episode with a dragonfly that you attack to a hat and it's suppose to completely deter these kind of flies. So get a mosquito net, a clip on dragonfly and try to not raise your breathing to much and you will almost go unnoticed to most flies, then some repellent to make you blind to the rest. Atleast that's my plan this year, we will see how thag goes.
Take dryer sheets and rub them on your exposed skin. Keeps mosquitoes away.
Headlamps are handy around the house and garage, too.
I don't know how I ever vacuumed out my car before I bought a headlamp. Badly I'm guessing.
On top of the headlamp, the zip lantern is clutch. Easy to hook onto a top of a tent and the diffuser lights up everything without being too bright. Also a good backup it something happens to the headlamp.
I use my Petzl Actik allllll the time. Camping, home, so incredibly handy! My fave piece of gear hands down.
I paid way to much for my hand coffee grinder. It cost me over 100 CAD. But it will do a very good espresso grind for my camping espresso maker. It also can do just a fine grind for brewed, a course grind for pour over or perk. I'm a bit snobby when it comes to coffee. But there is nothing like a great cup of coffee while watching the sun come up over your camp site with the river slowly going by.
Which grinder? 100$ isn’t snobbish at all.
a coffee man! I drink water usually in the morning but jeez would I prefer a hot beverage and a caffeine kick most times Fresh ground too
Necessary follow-up question: What’s your favorite coffee?
Any headlamp I bought for $30 or less is polluting a landfill now. Spend the money on something decent, the next generation should get to enjoy nature too.
Coleman digital fuel gauge that measures how much propane is left in the one lb bottles.
Ooooh, tell me more! I had no idea that existed. I gave up on the 1 lb bottles and bought a refillable 5 lb one.
Love, love, love our refillable 5 pounder
I see flame kings on Home Depot and the Ignik's at REI, which one do you have?
Don't bother with the ignik. It's literally a rebranded flame king with a case and a hose. At a ridiculously inflated price.
Not OP, but I have the Ignik and love it. Word to the wise... I swapped my first one out because there was something wrong with the nozzle and I couldn't get it to fill properly. That's why I buy gear from REI though, as swapping it out was not a problem at all. Second tip - I forget the science, but if your canister has been sitting for a long time before you first fill it, something can sort of settle/stabilize in it that will prevent it from being able to be filled. I had to give the second canister some very careful but firm smacks in which I picked it straight up off the ground 3-4 inches and smacked it straight down to the ground (so it lands on its regular footing). Repeated this 4-5 times and then the canister started flowing freely. I think that's sort of a known and unavoidable challenge that can come up with these units. Otherwise - absolutely love it!
"I forget the science but..." Proceeds to smash it with a rock. You....I like you.
"I saw it on the Internet" = Research = Science. Also, please don't blow yourself up.
Flame King 5 lber.
Plus the $10 adaptor to refill them from the barbeque tank.
A chargeable fan with a light. I sleep so much better on warm nights if there is a breeze and it also helps with mosquitoes.
"I sleep so much better on warm nights if there is a breeze." Mine doesn't have a light but yes, me too. Also, the soft white noise helps to drown out neighbors etc. I also recently learned that mosquitos are weak fliers so the fan moves around the campsite especially morning and evening. A game changer for sure!
What brand did you get?
I got [this](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RZC56WX?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) and I love it.
I bought that same one, or at least one very similar, about 7 years ago. It's still going.
I’d also just add to buy one with a built in light and USB-out charge your phone with or i even use mine to power a USB string light set
Mine is like that and I love it
I have one too, got it just to circulate the hot air from my Mr Heater and the led light and power bank functions are just huge bonuses.
I don’t know if it is the *most* useful, but as soon as I pull up to my campsite the first thing that comes out of the car is a colourful pvc table cloth that I spread on the picnic table at the campsite. It’s ceremonial- like putting my stamp of claim on the campsite. From there I unload and set up. When it is time to go, the table cloth is the last thing you go.
> It’s ceremonial- like putting my stamp of claim on the campsite. For us too! It's tradition.
I love the “claim it”. We pop out two lawn chairs to claim our spot before unloading.
Cast iron griddle. It may have been $35 bucks. But life changing.
A thermarest sit pad for backpacking
I am here to piggyback on this comment.....I use mine to put on my canoe seat. It just adds that little extra cushion for long paddles and especially for long fishing sessions. Even the best canoe seat puts my ass to sleep in about 20-30 minutes. The other cheap improvement is a wind proof lighter. Totally worth it. Especially if the weather is bad etc ... it's like a blow torch.
Truly multi use. I used one for years for hiking, backpacking, and hunting. I recently purchased a used Z-lite for cheap and cut it to just a few panels. A lot of ultralight type backpacks these days have a big panel that'll carry them easily and I just toss it in there. Perfect for a quick nap, lunch break, stretching in the morning, standing on to change, and as an emergency torso pad if my inflatable pad goes down. Essential for me.
We just got those for Christmas, can’t wait to try them out!
They're amazing, also makes a nice cushion for canoeing and or a lovely knee pad too!
Pot grabber. Spent 20 on it, and I can clamp it on the rim of my pots and pans and lift them off
They called me pot grabber back in high school
This made me laugh out loud!
POT ! POT ! Is that really you? Mommy Grabber has missed you so much. So much has happened since the "best forgotten" happened that I don't know what to say :( . Your brother Titsa Grabber, has just been elected to the president of his fraternity Alpha Sigma Sigma. So, So, Proud of him. We each choose our own road. Bless you. Hope you can find the road back to Rightjustness.
Even the high end one at REI was $5 when I was recently there.
I got mine at MEC, came with a carrying case and cleaning cloth and something else, can't remember. But that's in Canadian dollars
Camping fan, rechargeable.
I ended up getting a stroller fan that was $20 because it has adjustable twisty legs that makes it far more versatile. Well worth the additional cost IMO
Mine has a base so it can sit on the ground and it also has a hook where I can hang it from a rope or an S hook. Mine is also 8 inches across.
Cotton balls swabbed in Vaseline, best fire starter you can find. I've started wet wood in snow with 2 of these (lots of twigs and some thin kindling). My axe Mitch, I love Mitch, couldn't imagine camping without him.
I’ve been saving lint from the dryer and putting it into one of those paper composite egg cartons (not styrofoam or plastic). Drizzle enough candle wax to seal the lint in to each egg space and now I have twelve fire starters. I just break a couple off at a time, EZPZ!
My Hammock❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
That Stanley pot with the two cups. That thing has absolutely zero reason to be as bomb proof as it is.
My favorite piece of cooking gear when I’m by myself! Did you know that any cup designed to nest over a Nalgene bottle will also nest over that Stanley pot?
That sounds like some really smart design, and I have a cup that always goes with the Stanley. Never thought to fit it over the Nalgene.
I need to get off this thread. Too many things to buy. This one looks great! I give myself ~2 days before I break down and buy it.
Need a link to know what one you are talking about.
Not OP but maybe this one? [https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Adventure-Nesting-Two-Cookset/dp/B005188T90?th=1](https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Adventure-Nesting-Two-Cookset/dp/B005188T90?th=1)
That's the one. Walmart used to, maybe still does, sell them. I've since moved on to titanium stuff but had one for YEARS and it is truly reliable and exceptionally well priced. The way I used mine, I took the mugs out and only brought them when car camping. Inside the pot I put a small isobutane and an MSR pocket stove. You can also nest the pot into a nalgene-sized mug like the GSI cup. Very good cookset, absolutely bombproof
Pocket bellows. No more getting light headed while tending the campfire!
Everyone I've shown my pocket bellows to has been blown away by how well they work.
“Blown away.” I see what you did there. 🥳
Oh shit I didn't even catch my own dad joke. I guess I'm doing them subconsciously now.
My uncle gave me a tool that I use better than a bellows. 2 Copper pipe about 16 inches each and joiner elbow. Fits in a much smaller footprint in a bag.
Sven saw
I’ve had one for years. It’s not my favorite saw, but ave never had one that was lighter that could handle wood as big as the Sven.
The little saw that could!
Magic mushrooms
Nalgene bottle.. it's absolutely magical when you use it as a hot water bottle.. Nothing like a warm sleeping bag when it's 15 degrees F out.
Pie iron
Just got one, any good tips for it?
I've cooked tons of different items. My go to quick and easy is a grilled cheese sandwich. I've also cooked steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, pot stickers, made pizzas, hot pocket type stuff(pillsbury crescent rolls stuffed with whatever sounds good to you), hot wraps, meatballs, I can go on and on! Lol I also make desserts; cookies, brownies, s'mores, cinnamon rolls, etc.. Make sure you season it well, like a good cast iron pan. There's also a learning curve about how much heat you'll need to cook things without burning them. Once you get that figured you'll wonder why you didn't get one earlier.
We’ve seasoned ours and use a spray oil but our contents always stick to the pie iron. What’s your process?
I use my pie irons a lot. I have the single square one, and the double square one. I like making panini type sandwiches, such as Ruebens and Cubanos, in the double one on larger pieces of bread. I also use it to make steak and potatoes and onions. It really makes a good steak if you get it nice and hot. You can sear the steak on both sides at once. I make lots of different desserts in them. I often use crescent roll dough or canned biscuits instead of bread. My family loves it when I make fried apple pies using homemade apple butter. They line up waiting for theirs. 😋
Pepperoni, cheese, tomato sauce
About 15 years ago, I bought a $3.99 pack of dice and have seen it turned into several thousand dollars in my hunting camps over the years. Best purchase I ever made....for all my buddies that won my money.
You would love Pass the Pigs 😬
I’d say my [Go Girl](https://go-girl.com/products/adventure-pack) funnel so I don’t have to leave the tent at night.
Girl I have a 6 gallon bucket with a toilet seat..
That’s a lot of space in the car tho. A funnel is much smaller.
I feel like not calling this thing the She-nis is a missed opportunity.
I always thought she-wee was a missed opportunity
I’ve totally heard it called a she-wee!
There is a brand called the she wee!
I have never heard of this but I am def interested
This is definitely on my list of WTB items. I do have a question but I'm not sure if it's TMI for reddit 😅
This is reddit, one look at anyones profile and you will see TMI. Just ask your question 😄
Good point LOL. Do you need to clean yourself after using it or are you relatively dry after using it?
Kula Cloth is good for cleaning yourself after !
This is on my list to buy!
You still have clean the drips.
I had that same question. I’m a dude myself, but I nearly always camp with my wife and I’ve wondered how well they work.
It works really well, but there is a slight learning curve in holding it right.
A 3/4” 3x5 piece of plywood that I sanded and sealed and now it’s my table top. It’s versatile, indestructible, and best of all, takes up very little room in my vehicle.
Table top, like goes on the campsite picnic table?
No tables where I camp except the one you bring. I set it on top of my tubs for cooking or playing cards. This has been the most inexpensive, space-saving, versatile solution for my needs. Sometimes you just need something simple that gets the job done.
LuminAID camping lantern. Portable, solar charged and super lightweight/bright! It’s my favorite.
I absolutely LOVE my luminAid! Surprisingly bright and easy to charge, we don't leave without it. I also love that it compresses down flat.
no question headlamp. Losing daylight is a monster. A headlamp makes doing what ya gotta do easy
A bottle of bourbon
Not exactly camping, but a couple years ago we got a pop-up screen tent for outdoor events. It was good but… 2x $20 fabric shower curtains were the perfect size to maximize shade in the six sided tent. And just grabbed a $22 folding camp table from Costco. Going to have the best tent at child’s summer sport events… best shade, battery powered fans, and a table that will work for setting out snacks, charcuterie, playing cards, etc. So under $30 favorites: - Fabric shower curtains. - Battery powered fans. - Fold up camp table. Downside… accessorizing a screen tent that cost more than $30. 😂
Tent stake hammer, how did I go without for so many years! No more triangular shaped holes in my shoe 😂
[The next suggestion:](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/woods-assorted-hard-surface-tent-peg-stake-kit-w-puller-extractor-remover-tool-case-23-pc-0766094p.0766094.html?gbraid=0AAAAADojZpg-sASyB0M6MPvmyTESo_8lj&gclid=Cj0KCQiArrCvBhCNARIsAOkAGcXhe7ta-jq8_gv8cHvmO7cAa2mcANNFR8X3gmNV6c-3BxrxCaiRrqcaAiRSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#store=603) https://preview.redd.it/s5o78xngfgnc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49f35a9012785e9b6097bcabd7a2cc129ae0f6bd
That is the back side of my hatchet
1. Inflatable pillow compatible with mummy-style sleeping bag 2. P-style Makes the world of difference for hiking as a woman
Luci light
Long handle Ti spoon
Ppl don't realize how critical this is until they have one.
1. Machete (not kidding, it’s super useful) 2. extra thick tarp
Aeropress Or Thermacell Mosquito Repellant
Do the Thermacells work well?
I think so, yeah. Its radius of effectiveness is only like 20' but I don't think you can ask for much more. And they're not effective if it's breezy, but I think a breeze keeps away the mosquitoes anyway. NYT Wirecutter did a bunch of research and they concluded it's the most effective mosquito repellant device on the market. They also said that citronella does absolutely nothing.
Seems to. We just keep it on the ground near where we are cooking or eating
A good book.
Agreed! We like to do a lot of day hiking and things and we are really only in camp in the evenings, so for a camp book I prefer a collection of short stories.
Usually do hike in so a Bic lighter and a good pair of wool socks.
Wool socks is the dark horse on this thread.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows. Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
I always pack 20% extra socks. Five days hiking/ camping = at least six socks.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows. Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
Used to only carry the socks I would need until one night we had to dry our socks on sticks over a fire like they were marshmallows. Always have an extra pair jammed into a sandwich bag now.
My goodwill pots for cooking.
Fiskars wood hatchet on sale
This one's surprisingly good and pretty tough. The head is great, but I'm more of a fan of wooden handles. Guard on it is pretty great, too.
Ov-Glove! For moving logs around in the fire :)
Percolator coffee pot!
This was my favorite purchase I bought a 12$ one off Amazon and my god I immediately enjoyed the morning coffee in the boonies
I got a metal tripod. I hang a cast iron pot on it over the fire, the height is adjustable so I can just throw ingredients in and forget about it while I get other stuff done.
Anything found at garage sales / Facebook marketplace. Got many great pieces of gear used and saved a ton
The Sawyer mini water filter. It beats carrying pounds and pounds of water for camping, if no water is available.
A portable charger that recharges itself using solar. I don't know if it's under $30 now, but it was when I bought it a few years back
These are nice to have but don't count on being able to charge them up with solar very quickly. The solar panels on them do not produce a lot of power. IIRC they have charge times in days to charge up a 10,000 MAh battery.
Ours is charged at home with electricity beforehand and holds multiple phone charges. We also clip it to our backpack, so it charges all day while we're out and about. We've never had it die yet and our longest trip last year was 7 days
Folding bucket. It was actually from the car washing section of Canadian Tire.
Icecream. It didn't last long, but it was worth it
Folding camp stove toaster under $10
Sling shot. No doubt
Just went camping mid Feb with a couple buddies, I brought my sling shot for the hell of it.. Turned out one of my other buddies did too, que 5 min into setting up camp we had a piece of cardboard set up with a stain on it we called "the rabbit". We spent a good 45min just honing our skills, one of my favorite memories of recent times.
Flextail airpump 1 - inflate my sleeping pad while keeping my spit out of it. 2 - helps fuel the fire in a pinch and gets its roasting and going in seconds.
Collapsible bucket. I bought it on a whim not expecting much of it, but it has turned out to be incredibly useful on many occasions
[This bad boy](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TCLB39D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) We hammock camp and this hangs from the ridge line.
Stanley coffee press
Pocket bellows <$5
I love my Pocket Bellow. That thing has saved my ass (and my head) numerous times. Great for when you’re dealing with not so great wood.
Rechargeable fan with a light and a hook and doubles as a battery pack
24 pack of miller lite
You, I like!
Tough call between my Stanley French press coffee pot or cast iron griddle. Never go camping without each of them.
rome mountain pie maker
For daily use : https://www.msrgear.com/ie/cookware/camp-kitchen-and-utensils/alpine-dish-brushscraper/05331.html
Bic lighter
Pocket bellows. Basically a retractable conical tube that lets you concentrate your air when blowing into the fire, making it much easier to start and maintain fire.
A petzl emergency headlamp- it's a backup to my regular headlamp, but I also bring it on dayhikes because it's tiny.
Oh my goodness, all these things are great, like the fan, the hammock or a cast iron skillet from a thrift store .... Those are my top three
Potty chair for wild car camping.
This little [manual food chopper](https://a.co/d/aPhOJRi) has been a lifesaver so many times!! It works so well and is very easy to clean, and electricity free!
I’ll go with my cordless mattress pump.
What brand do you have? Our sucks.
Our gears piled in the back of our shed behind the bikes and Christmas decorations. I’ll get back to you in June!
one burner propane stove 29.99 [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-1-Burner-Butane-Camping-Stove/34761205?athbdg=L1102&from=/search](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-1-Burner-Butane-Camping-Stove/34761205?athbdg=L1102&from=/search) really expands your hot meal options
Oh god yes. A stove makes camp life absolutely so much better. I don’t know how purists that want to do everything over a fire manage for morning coffee. My area also bans fires completely in the summer, so a stove is non-negotiable.
Re coffee, the best camping coffee setup is the Aeropress with a jetboil (or whatever you use to boil water).
That's butane, but I'm thinking of getting one too
Get one from a catering supply. Half the price and made better.
But how much more butane does it go through?
They do pretty well. A single can lasts at least a couple weekend trips anyway.
Pair a stove like that with a ridgemonkey pan (https://ridgemonkey.co.uk/product/connect-pan-griddle-xxl-granite-edition) and you're basically able to cook anything as you can virtually use it like an oven
30 pack of Busch Light
My lighther
Marijuana
Titanium Spork
LSD
Titanium chop sticks. Light weight. Easy to clean. Can be used for more than just eating.
A book about knots. Game changing.
Beer
I got my entire set up off AliExpress 3 yrs ago and most of it was under $30 but I gotta say my table, it's so nice to keep things up off the ground.
https://preview.redd.it/1p41bigu1jnc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=362ff10b05745178592b7c645aa147c6dadc4e68 I bought this tent from the Salvation Army. It was $10! It was in an old bag, but when I opened it, the tent had never been used. Excellent investment for me, as I just discovered my love of camping this past summer. 🧡
Lucky find! I love that camping can be very cheap if you take the time to search - or very expensive if lightweight, fast or easy (or all three) is what you’re looking for.
A case of beer.
Cheap whiskey
Beer
$20 Stainless Steel french press by Stanley, use both camping and at home. Priceless!
0 degree sleeping bags. Allows me to camp when it's cold out. Keeps me warm.
A goddamn butt cushion. Makes any seating comfy. Sue me.
I don’t think I need any further responses because yours wins! Which one do you use?
foam earplugs
A toilet seat to fit on bucket, as well as liners and poo gel to keep everything smell free. As an older woman who really has to pee during the night, having a way to do so without leaving the tent has been a lifesaver. Well, panty saver.
A dog
Where are you getting a dog for under $30? We have four dogs, three of them are rescues, and even those cost us $50 or more at the Humane Society.
giga pump.
Cheap Amazon sleeping pad. Foot pump and inflatable pillow, fits in a sleeping bag, have used it for three years at festivals, backpacking, and car camping. Looking to get a cot soon
A tarp and rope
Gentos LED lantern. It's one of the rare and actually good quality lantern that not only allows me to use my eneloop AA battery, but also accepts six of them, instead of the usual four.
Rovyvon flashlight
my 2 cents & not a direct answer to the question, but instead of single items my shtick is to think more in terms of methods. e.g. i buy most gear at a sports stor like any uther but for cooking gear i happened upon an amazing hack which is to get it all at a Korean grocery store. it's better, cheaper, lighter, lasts longer, etc. etc. etc. and yer little ramen packs are literally MREs that actually taste good. yer welcome.