Technology means you don’t have to go to far away places to enjoy the great outdoors, and you can have fun even when you camp in the middle of nowhere. Use these battery or man-powered devices to brighten up an evening, stay out of the rain, or enjoy restaurant-quality food.
1. A Smarter Lantern
Image via Flickr by atonal
Sometimes you don’t want to mess with propane or with the incredibly fragile mantles that traditional lanterns use. Instead, try one of these alternatives:
Hand-crank lantern. Coleman offers this handy no-fuel-needed device for light around the picnic table or at a campfire. Simply crank for one minute to get fifteen minutes of light. That’s not all this handy lantern does, either. It will also charge your phone and play the FM radio.
LED hanging lantern and fan. This battery-powered lantern has 18 LED light bulbs, offering an almost blinding supply of light for about 40 hours. It also includes a fan that can either hang from the tent and work with the light or that can be positioned to sit on the floor or table. The fan will work for an additional 15 hours. It’s the perfect light supply to hang on your tent ceiling.
2. Electricity in Case of Rain
Image via Flickr by barron
In the event of wet weather, it is always good to have a plan B for entertainment. In comes the battery-powered tent and its many accessories:
Battery-powered tent. Lined with a 12-volt system, this Eureka tent offers all the comforts of home. Plug in your computer, blow-dry your hair, or put on the kid’s favorite DVD—you’ve got everything you need. The tent is large enough to house ten people, so you’ll have plenty of room for clothes, sleeping bags, and all the electronics you perhaps should have left at home but didn’t.
Handheld entertainment. As long as you have signal and a subscription with companies such as direct2tv.com, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, and streamed games and events. So don’t get discouraged by the rain. Direct TV has got you covered.
3. Gadgets for the Making Food
Image via Flickr by Lennybaker
You’ve got your propane gas stove and your cast iron skillet, but you still miss some of the simplicities of the modern kitchen, like running water and kitchen electrics. Try these camping inventions:
Hand crank blender. When you really need a margarita or fruit smoothie, grab onto this awesome GSI man-powered blender. A few minutes of cranking will get you several servings of any slushy drink you like. It also comes with a table clamp to keep it sturdy when the crank is in use.
Gravity water filter. The Katadyn Base Camp Water Filter can turn 2.5 gallons of lake water into pure and clear water in just 15 minutes. The best part? You don’t have to work for the results. Gravity does all the work for you. Because it filters so much water so quickly, it is the best choice for family campers or group trips.
These are just a few of the newest technological advances that make camping more like staying at home. What gadgets or devices have transformed your camping experience?
About the Author
Shaun Chatman is a well published author on many authority sites. He lives in Dunedin, FL, and spends his free time playing with his kids or his collection of gadgets.