Camping Buying Guide

A great way to enjoy fruits, vegetables, meats and more, food dehydrators remove moisture from foods in order to help preserve them. Prepare dried apple slices, banana chips, jerky and other treats that you can enjoy when you’re hiking, getting active or enjoying some downtime at your campsite. Popular brands of food dehydrators include: Sunbeam

If you’ve had your fill of classic campfire meals, you’ll find it easy to switch up the menu to something a little more exciting with the help of a vacuum sealer. Great for cutting down your total food preparation time while camping, these handy devices allow you to prepare your favourite dishes at home before reheating them once you arrive at your campground. Vacuum sealers work by removing the excess air surrounding foods, helping to preserve them and lock in flavours. They’re great for soups, sauces, marinated meats and more. Popular brands of vacuum sealers include: FoodSaver by Sunbeam

If you love a morning smoothie or prefer to make your own sauces, you’ll find that a compact cordless blender is another camping cooking essential. Allowing you to blend and process foods without the need for a powerpoint, many models of cordless blenders can be charged using a USB connection. Popular brands of cordless blenders include: Nutribullet, Cuisinart

Also known as camping BBQs, portable BBQs allow you to enjoy the convenience and delicious flavours of barbequed foods without having to worry about finding a campsite with the right facilities. Look for gas-powered BBQ models as they typically don’t require the use of electricity and are more widely permitted at campsites than their charcoal-powered counterparts. It’s important to also measure the available space in your car and compare it to the size of the BBQs you’re considering.

Easy to transport and use, portable gas cookers, also known as gas camping stoves, are an essential piece of camping equipment. Allowing you to prepare hot meals wherever you may go, they offer greater heat control than a standard campfire and don’t rely on electricity, allowing you to go camping as far afield as you’d like. Not sure which camping stove to buy? Look for camp stove models that come with a handy carry case and are large enough for your needs yet small enough to pack into your vehicle.

Ensure you always have access to clean water with the use of smart water bottles that allow you to filter fresh water when you’re on the go. The technology used to filter water will vary depending on the brand and style that you choose. Two common options include media filters and UV-C LED filtering. Media filters help to remove dirt, bacteria and viruses by physically passing water through a filter. UV-C LED filtering, on the other hand, uses a specific type of light to eliminate pathogens and prevent the growth of odour-causing microorganisms. Popular brands of smart water bottles include: Philips.

Great for longer camping trips, portable fridges, also known as camping fridges, are a good alternative to standard iceboxes. Although they do require the use of a powerpoint to keep them at the right temperature, they generally provide greater temperature consistency. Some models feature multiple cooling zones, allowing you to chill foods and drinks as needed, with digital displays allowing you to monitor internal temperatures with ease.

Also known as eskies, ice boxes are a popular device used to keep food and drinks cool when camping. Helping to maintain cool internal temperatures with thick layers of insulation, they’re often used in conjunction with ice or ice packs. If you’re considering purchasing an icebox to use while camping, be sure to choose one that will comfortably fit all the chilled food and drinks you plan to take with you. If you typically take shorter camping trips, a smaller icebox should be fine, but if you travel in a larger group or prefer longer stays, you may want to consider a model with a larger capacity.

If you’re heading somewhere new or prefer to have some help navigating to your favourite camping spot, a good GPS is a must for any camper. While most smartphones come with navigation apps, patchy phone reception can leave you with gaps in directions when you need them most. GPS systems provide better coverage while also featuring useful alerts about upcoming road conditions. Popular brands of GPS systems include: Navman, TomTom, Garmin.

When you want to take the party with you or simply want to listen to your favourite music on the go, portable speakers are a fantastic option. Connecting wirelessly to your mobile phone, there are plenty of lightweight rechargeable models on the market that are perfect for packing alongside your go-to camping gear. For added peace of mind, be sure to look for models that are water and dust resistant. Popular brands of portable speakers include: Logitech, JBL, Sony.

Whether you’re travelling solo or are looking for a great way to keep the kids entertained, portable DVD players are perfect for passing the time when you don’t have access to a traditional power source. Featuring rechargeable batteries and in-car chargers, it’s easy to watch your favourite films and TV shows on the road, under the stars or inside your tent. Popular brands of portable DVD players include: Laser.

Great for keeping up with the latest news when you’re venturing off the beaten track, portable radios can also provide the perfect soundtrack when you’re cooking dinner or getting started for the day. Keep an eye out for models that can pick up AM signals, FM signals and DAB+. Popular brands of portable radios include: Sony, Sangean, Panasonic.

A great way to stay cool when camping during the warmer months, rechargeable handheld fans help to keep you comfortable when you’re exploring the great outdoors or spending time at your campsite. Look for models that can be charged with a USB connection for convenient charging with a portable power bank. Some models of dedicated camping fans are also available, providing greater cooling range than handheld devices. Consider purchasing a purpose built camping fan if you plan to go camping during warmer weather. Popular brands of rechargeable handheld fans include: Goldair.

A good option for when you like to listen to music while hiking, wireless headphones allow you to focus on the scenery without having to deal with frustrating tangled cords and wires. Popular brands of wireless headphones include: Apple, Samsung, Sony.

Whether you’re camping with friends, family or by yourself, action cameras are handy devices that are great for capturing all the adventures you set out on. Most models are water and dustproof, ensuring that fun needn’t get in the way of a great photo.

If you’re going camping in a remote location, you can’t always guarantee that other people and other vehicles will be nearby if your car battery goes flat. Make use of a compact jump-starter power pack to get yourself back on the road sooner. Popular brands of jump-starter power packs include: Cygnett, Laser.