LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY
In the beginning, we all knew that the essentials of camping included things like tents, sleeping bags, stoves, cooking gear and the like. The list below, however, is the result of years of camping and a constant search for tools and equipment that best perform
my camping tasks. It also reflects refinements of existing tools and equipment that make camping easier and better.
It's no secret that most of the items on this list got started with that light bulb moment, while camping, when I realized that there was a better way to do something or a tool that I should be adding to my camping list. Eventually, I made a habit of creating a list, while I was actually camping, of all the new stuff I needed. Since I started making these lists, there have been very few trips when I returned home without a list of some sort. Admittedly, these days, the list is frequently just refinements of existing tools, but you would be surprised how often I see another camper who has some ingenious tool that just has to be on board next time I camp.
1. Mini Sledge Hammer
For years I carried a regular hammer, but it soon became evident that a mini sledge could do much more while at the same time not taking up appreciably more room. Also known as a BFH, a good sized hammer (mini-sledge) has multiple uses including driving tent stakes, removing particularly stuck tent stakes, driving the Wishy Washy stake, returning vehicle sheet metal to its original shape, coaxing various mechanical vehicle items (i.e. tie rods), etc.
Invariably, there is always someone who needs a BFH, and having it in an easily accessible location (for you and your friends) always helps. Incidentally, Estwing refers to them as "Drilling Hammers." Here is an Estwing mini sledge held securely in a very accessible location with "Quick Fist" clamps:
- Estwing Mini-Sledge (Large).jpg (50.3 KiB) Viewed 988 times
The Quick Fist Clamps are an excellent way to securely store things in a vehicle (
https://www.quickfist.com/index.php/qui ... ounts.html).
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2. Mini Shovel
Every camper and 4WD adventurer should always carry a standard size shovel! For big sized tasks, nothing beats a well made, very sturdy, full size shovel. While camping, however, there are a lot of other tasks that require a shovel, but not full sized, like latrine duties, trenching around a tent for drainage, burying certain things like dead coals, animal guts when hunting, chopping wood, digging fire pits, clearing a fire safe zone around a campfire, clearing snow in camp, clearing snow blocking vehicle tires, etc.
And, yes, I said chopping wood, because the mini-shovel I use, made by Cold Steel, (
https://www.coldsteel.com/review/product/list/id/868/) has one edge sharpened allowing it to serve as an ax. These shovels are small enough to easily store in any vehicle, exceptionally well made and reasonably priced. Here is one secured in the vehicle, again with Quick Fist clamps:
- Cold Steel Shovel (Large).jpg (108.37 KiB) Viewed 987 times
3. Camp Chairs
This piece of camp equipment is overlooked all too often, and the result is we end up with a camp chair that is just plain uncomfortable. And, rarely does the cheapo stuff last very long, either because it breaks down or is destroyed in anger by it's owner. This may account for all the abandoned chairs we frequently see in campsites.
There are several attributes of a quality camp chair, foremost among them is comfort. Look for good back support, reasonable arm rests, compactness, durability, and lastly, and I think most important, the seat should remain flat when sat upon. So many collapsible camp chairs these days have a seat that forms into a V shape when occupied. Most uncomfortable.
One other thing that seems to plague the camp chair market is the flightiness of the manufacturers, all of which seem to manufacture their products in various foreign countries. If you hit upon a chair that really meets all of the criteria I mention, be advised that you should buy a boat load of them as they probably won't be around for long. Don't even get me started on obtaining replacement parts.
Naively, a few years back, I discovered a chair at Costco that was the perfect camp chair. My thinking was that since it was from Costco it would be a quality item and would be around for a long time. I was half right - it was quality, but you can't find them anywhere, including the manufacturer.
While you will need to your own research for a chair that will suit you, I offer a picture of my favorite chair, just to give you an idea of what can work. Note that the front of this chair remains flat when you plant your buns.
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4. Speedy Stitcher
It seems appropriate to mention this tool now, following the camp chair discussion, above. The Speedy Stitcher (
http://www.speedystitcher.com/) is a very compact sewing tool that is meant for use in a huge variety of situations. The tool itself, and the thread that comes with it, are well build and very heavy duty. Invented in 1909, the Speedy Stitcher uses include repair of leather goods, canvas tarps, climbing and camping gear, saddlery and tack items, athletic equipment, even shoes and belts.
The chair I mentioned above began to show its age, especially after 10 years of camping use. While the fabric was very durable, some of the stitching started to give way. The stitches, of course, gave up the ghost on a camping trip, but the Speedy Stitcher came out and the problem was solved.
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5a. Water
Every campsite needs water. There are two parts to making this possible and convenient - the water carrier and the means to dispense it. The common 5 gallon carrier is the usual first choice, but over time it became evident that lugging that much water for many uses, like the kitchen, was something needing improvement. So, finding a robust carrier that cut the weight was part of the obvious solution. Finding a good dispenser was the rest of the solution.
I need to give credit where credit is due here, however. On a recent trip, I noticed a water dispenser that Jeff (WD6USA) was using for his chef duties one evening, and I was sold. It was a 2.5 gallon Scepter Military Water Can (MWC) with a very handy spigot. Shortly after returning home I ordered a set, and they are now a permanent part of my kitchen gear. Thanks Jeff!!!
The scepter cans are made from food grade material, will not add taste, odor, or chemicals to the water, will not rust, and are rugged and durable. What more can a camper want? Both the can and the dispenser are Scepter products.
A. for dispenser:
http://lexingtoncontainercompanysonline ... ater-cans/
B. for can:
https://lexingtoncontainercompanysonlin ... 10l-black/
- Water disspenser.jpg (336.13 KiB) Viewed 960 times
5b. Water
Sanitation while camping is an important safety concern, and washing hands is at the top of the list, especially for the cooks. But in truth, everyone who joins the meals also benefits from this. Anything that makes a task easier and more efficient, is always welcome at our camp. Enter the Partner Steel Company's product, known as the "Wishy Washy" - a truly ingenious idea. When connected to a water source (like a 5 gallon can) it serves as a community hand washing station, operated entirely by a foot pedal - no dirty hands ever touch the on or off handle.
The only drawback to the system was the part of the design which required a 5 gallon bucket to catch the dirty water. This presented a problem when it was time to pack up to go to the next campsite or go home, because we had to dispose of the dirty water and then wash out the bucket. A real PITA. Solution - I made a stake to hold the Wishy Washy and now the dirty water goes into a hole in the ground that we just have to bury. Also, we no longer have to carry that 5 gallon bucket. Almost forgot - I had to make a soap dispenser holder.
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- Wishy Washy Improved DTK.jpg (128.71 KiB) Viewed 958 times