5 Unnecessary But Necessary Camping Gadgets

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When I first started camping, canoeing and hiking, I took what I knew I needed: the *essentials* that would fuel, clothe and shelter me to get me through the trip. I’ve had some time to explore gadgets over the years (some bad, some good) and have refined a list of things that may not be *essentials*, but they are now things that I can’t live without. These items make my trips feel cushy and are incredibly handy and well designed. They’re the items that prompt people to ask “where did you get that?!”. So, if you wanna look like a pro and impress people with your gadget- repertoire, take a look below at my top 5 unnecessary but necessary camping gadgets. You’re welcome.

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1. Travel clothesline

This Sea to Summit travel clothesline is my top find. No longer will you be flinging your towels and clothes over tree branches and having to deal with those stubborn sap stains.

A clothesline feels like a very lux thing to have space for when packing meticulously for a backpacking trip. But this clothes line folds up super small (as tall as a lip chap!) and then extends to 3.5m long, which is plenty of room for the small amount of clothes you bring on a backcountry trip. It is so handy to have a clothesline for drying your items, because you won’t need to: 1) pack damp clothes or, even worse, 2) put damp clothes on first thing in the morning *shudder*.

This is one of those "handy and well-designed" items. You’ll see in the pictures below that the clothesline has two lines with a number of beads along it. These beads cinch the line so that you can pinch bits of material and hang them as you would with clothesline pegs. Meaning, your clothes dry faster because they are not folded in half over the line. Genius. I’ve left this clothes line up in heavy wind and none of my clothes have budged. Whoever designed this needs a raise.

2. Mini camping lantern

I bought this 100 lumens Black Diamond ReMoji Lantern (no longer available but here’s a new model) a year or two ago as an impulse buy and I now bring it along every trip. This little lantern throws a ton of light and has a little hook at the top – I typically hang it on the loop found in the middle of the roof of the tent (every tent should have one of these) and it will light up the entire tent. It’s so nice to have a wider field of visibility than just your headlamp’s beam. It also has a magnetic back for more mounting options, like on a car.

This lantern also has a dimmer for various brightness levels, although I don’t really use this function, it can also switch to multiple different colors (blue, green, red, pink etc.). Because who doesn’t want the option to have a disco party in the woods?

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3. Nesting mug/bowl

Enter the GSI Gourmet Nesting Mug + Bowl. Why is this mug a triangle you ask? I asked the same question until I picked it up and it fit perfectly in my hand. Not only is this mug tactilely pleasing, but it also has a second cup nested in it like a Russian stacking doll (see picture below). This second container can function as a second cup for a friend who forgot theirs or as a bowl. This mug and a spoon are the only dining items I’ll bring on a backpacking trip as all I need are two containers: one for coffee/tea and one for oatmeal – everything else either doesn’t need to be cooked or I eat right out of the dehydrated meal package. Kitchenware = sorted.

4. Inflatable pillow

If you read other my blog post The ultimate backpacking packing list, you’ll notice I mention this item (Deluxe Pillow from MEC). I can tell you that having a pillow to sleep on is invaluable after carrying 30-40lbs on your back for 8 hours, or paddling/carrying a canoe over your head. I don’t think I need to spend a lot of time convincing you how important a pillow is. I bought this inflatable one from MEC some time ago and I love it. It has some weird squishy padding in it so it’s actually comfy and not just a hard inflatable thing. They come in multiple sizes depending on how strict you are with your packing. Pro tip, don’t blow it up the whole way or it’ll be too firm and won’t cradle your head.

5. Z-seat

Or as I like to call it: my butt pad. Therm-a-Rest Z-seat is also mentioned in The ultimate backpacking packing list. A lot of my friends won’t bring any sort of seat when we go backpacking and will rely on logs or sit on the ground. I guess I’m a bit more of a princess. I love this little Z-seat because it’s super light, insulating (keeps your bum warm), doesn’t absorb water, and can also be used in the canoe to save you from uncomfortable rental-canoe seats. I believe these come in different sizes and I have friends who will use these mats as a sleeping pad and/or a dog bed.

So, now you have all the information you need to look like a pro in the woods, and feel comfortable while you’re at it! Do you have any gadgets you’ve discovered along the way? Or any that we should avoid? Comment below or contact me here.

Happy outdoors-ing!