Roughing it ain’t what it used to be, and let’s be honest—that’s a good thing. With these clever gadgets, you can venture into the great outdoors and still enjoy some of the creature comforts of home.
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Cook and charge
Cook up an epic campfire meal and charge your cell phone at the same time with the BioLite CampStove 2. It turns sticks and twigs into smokeless flames that can boil a liter of water in under five minutes while also generating 5 volts of electricity. The onboard battery pack detaches to power a variety of USB devices and accessories. $130. (844) 824-6548; bioliteenergy.com.
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In hot water
Loving the wild doesn’t mean you have to live like an animal. Enjoy a hot shower at the end of the day or make short work of doing dishes with the BaseCamp BOSS-XB13. All you need are six D-cell batteries, a water source and a 1-pound propane tank for 30 minutes of hot water on-demand. $199. (800) 251-0001; mrheater.com/sporting.
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Cool breeze
Tent living is twice as nice with the Coleman CPX 6 Lighted Tent Fan. Hang it overhead or prop it on a built-in stand to direct a quiet, cooling airflow and 99 lumens of light right where you want them. Powered by a CPX rechargeable power cartridge (included), you’ll get 10 hours per charge on the highest fan setting, 30 hours on low speed. In a pinch, you can also use four D-cell batteries. $40. (800) 835-3278; coleman.com.
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Don’t slap; just zap
Those pesky mosquitos. There’s nothing like itchy welts to put a damper on woodsy fun. Keep pests at bay with the 2-in-1 Portable Zapper and Accent Light. The light attracts mosquitoes and flying insects and kills them on contact. At only 4 inches wide, it’s nearly pocket-sized. And when it’s not executing bugs, it’s a handy camp light. $19. (800) 466-3337; homedepot.com.
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Speaker in a jar
When you’re tired of singing camp songs and swapping ghost stories, you just want to sit back and listen to your tunes. But with the crickets and other sounds of nature, it’s hard to hear. That’s when the Bluetooth Mason Jar Speaker comes in handy. It looks like a pickle jar, but it delivers wireless sound that will have you jamming by the campfire. $50. (888) 365-0056; uncommongoods.com.
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Battery backup
You’re intrepid in the outdoors. Camping catastrophes don’t faze you. You can weather a storm, fillet a fish and put up a tent, but there’s one place you draw the line: A dead phone battery is a deal breaker. So, tuck the Crave Travel Pro Power Bank into your backpack and you’re safe. Compact and quick-charging, it will keep you connected, no matter where you go. From $33. (888) 280-4331; amazon.com.
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Disco campfire
Light up your campsite with some fun flashes of color with this multitasking Traverse Cube Outdoor Speaker Lantern. It’s an outdoor-rated Bluetooth speaker and a helpful lantern, but when the music is blaring, the light changes colors along with the beat. Dance party, anyone? $59. (800) 441-5713; llbean.com.