Most campers have a love-hate relationship with gear – love to get a shiny-new toy, hate it when it breaks or wears out. And there’s nothing worse than gear that doesn’t work as advertised, or winds up not being worth the money in the first place.
The roadtripster feels your gear pain, and so is always on the lookout for gadgets and gizmos that live up to their billing. Here are three that recently passed the road-test:
Rio Adventure Roll-Up Table
Finding a reliable, sturdy table that you can eat at or let kids play games on but still fold down into a reasonable size for transport can be a challenge. This has long been my favorite camp table, and now I have several. When open, the table top measures 32” square, and it sits 26 inches high. The slatted top rolls up for
easy storage, and the X-frame sides give it extra stability, but they’re still narrow enough to get your legs under. Made of easy-to-clean, very lightweight aluminum that’s nonetheless hearty, and best of all, you can set hot pans and plates down on it, or even use it for your cookstove. The legs just collapse, and it comes with a carrying bag. Cost: $59.95
GSI nesting wine glass
No matter how fancy-schmancy that merlot might be, it’s never going to taste any better than jug wine in a paper cup or tin coffee mug if that’s all you’re toting around. If you’re worried something nicer will break or take up too much space, check out the nesting wine glasses from GSI. Lightweight and thin, but pretty much indestructible, they have screw-off stems that turn upside-down and snap into the cup, so you can then stack and store them. Made of a BPA-free material that’s easy to clean. Cost: $6.95 each.
Lucky Bums Kids Moon Camp Chair
Kids’ stuff in particular takes a beating, so it’s especially nice to find camping equipment that can withstand some abuse. These chairs are groovy and comfy, strong enough to hold up to 95 pounds, and come in handy when the tykes finally get tuckered out enough to sit down for a while. They’re also inviting (padded!) enough that they’ll want to sit in these instead of your chair (you know, the one with the nice cup holder for your beer). Lifetime guarantee, drawstring bag, and comes in pink or green. Cost: $31.95
The roadtripster is the handle of a longtime Coloradan who travels the country by any means possible, sometimes in an RV, sometimes car camping or in the backcountry, with kids and without.
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