{"id":792271,"date":"2026-07-10T06:48:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T06:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/792271\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T06:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T06:48:27","slug":"from-collapsible-kettles-to-folding-kayaks-10-camping-gear-upgrades-to-make-life-outdoors-easier-life-and-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/792271\/","title":{"rendered":"From collapsible kettles to folding kayaks: 10 camping gear upgrades to make life outdoors easier | Life and style"},"content":{"rendered":"

A weekend in the woods requires a lot more than just a cooler full of cold ones. After you have a tent, sleeping bag and other basics covered, it\u2019s time to consider upgrades that can make your camping experience more comfortable, relaxing and just plain fun.<\/p>\n

The Guardian\u2019s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.\u00a0Learn more<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Our outdoor-loving staff have some ideas. From a solar oven to a backpacking pillow you\u2019ll never leave behind, these Filter-tested products will make your next trip one to remember.<\/p>\n

Eat and drink betterFrontier Ultralight Collapsible Kettle
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sea To Summit<\/p>\n

Ultralight Collapsible Kettle<\/p>\n

from $72.95<\/p>\n

\"Frontier Photograph: Courtesy of Sea to Summit$72.95 at Sea to Summit<\/a>$87.95 at REI<\/a><\/p>\n

Pinkies up! Sip your morning coffee or tea as if you\u2019ve never left home by heating water in this collapsible kettle made of food-grade silicone with a hard anodized aluminum base for efficient heat transfer. Alyx Gorman, a Guardian Australia editor, uses it to make \u201cbilly tea\u201d with eucalyptus, but if you\u2019re not headed to the outback, it also doubles as a cooking pot thanks to its wide rim.<\/p>\n

Read the story: The 21 best gifts beloved globally that Americans haven\u2019t caught on to yet<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sea To Summit<\/p>\n

Ultralight Collapsible Kettle<\/p>\n

from $72.95<\/p>\n

GoSun Sport-E Hybrid Solar Oven
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

GoSun <\/p>\n

Sport-E Hybrid Solar Oven<\/p>\n

$225<\/p>\n

\"GoSun Photograph: Courtesy of Man Cave and ApparelNow $225, originally $349 at GoSun<\/a>Now $229, originally $349 at Man Cave and Apparel <\/a><\/p>\n

Put the summer sun to work with this solar oven that cooks with the radiation of our nearest star \u2013 or electricity \u2013 in a pinch. In testing, Alan Truly, a Filter reviewer, found it capable of whipping up staples such as potatoes, quinoa, stir-fried veggies, bread, kebabs, tofu and brownies in a \u201cnovel and green way\u201d. No sun? No problem. Plug it into your car\u2019s 12V accessory outlet, or a portable battery pack, to keep cooking into the evening.<\/p>\n

Read the story: GoSun Sport-E solar oven review: a fuel-free way to cook outside, even with no sun<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

GoSun <\/p>\n

Sport-E Hybrid Solar Oven<\/p>\n

$225<\/p>\n

Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hydaway <\/p>\n

Collapsible Water Bottle<\/p>\n

from $29.95<\/p>\n

Jacobsen Salt Co Pure Sea Salt Slide Tin
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Jacobsen Salt Co<\/p>\n

Pure Sea Salt Slide Tin<\/p>\n

from $6<\/p>\n

Play betterTucktec Pro Foldable Kayak
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tucktec Pro <\/p>\n

Foldable Kayak<\/p>\n

$360<\/p>\n

\"Tucktec Photograph: Courtesy of AmazonNow $360, originally $379 at Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t need to wrestle an oversized kayak atop an SUV to get out on the water, or sweat over pumping up an inflatable for 30min. This affordable folding kayak packs down small enough to fit in a Prius and assembles in just 10min. \u201cThe reduced hassle often turns a \u2018maybe\u2019 idea into a \u2018let\u2019s go!\u2019 adventure,\u201d said Truly. \u201cIt is compact without feeling flimsy, light without feeling toy-like, and quick enough to make paddling feel spontaneous again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read the story: This $380 foldable kayak fits in my Prius and goes from backseat to lake in 10 minutes<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Tucktec Pro <\/p>\n

Foldable Kayak<\/p>\n

$360<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Gregory<\/p>\n

Alpaca Gear Box, 2-Pack<\/p>\n

from $104.96<\/p>\n

See betterBlack Diamond Storm 450 Headlamp
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Black Diamond <\/p>\n

Storm 450 Headlamp<\/p>\n

from $51.93<\/p>\n

Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8×25 Binoculars
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nocs Provisions <\/p>\n

Standard Issue 8×25 Binoculars<\/p>\n

from $99.95<\/p>\n

Sleep betterLoop Dream Earplugs
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Loop <\/p>\n

Dream Earplugs<\/p>\n

from $49.95<\/p>\n

\"Loop Photograph: Courtesy of Amazon$49.95 at Amazon<\/a>$49.95 at Loop<\/a><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve had a long day of setting up gear, ambitious ascents and maybe even combatting jet lag. The last thing you need is the sound of a snoring tentmate or whining mosquitos keeping you up. Loop Dream Earplugs don\u2019t fall apart like foam disposables and don\u2019t require charging like noise-canceling earbuds. \u201cThe soft silicone tips [of these earplugs] stay comfortable for hours \u2013 including for side sleepers \u2013 and the multiple size options make it easy to get a secure, gentle fit,\u201d said Patterson.<\/p>\n

Read the story: The 20 best gifts in the US for people who love the outdoors, tested in nature by our expert<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Loop <\/p>\n

Dream Earplugs<\/p>\n

from $49.95<\/p>\n

Nemo Fillo Backpacking Pillow
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nemo <\/p>\n

Fillo Backpacking Pillow<\/p>\n

from $49.95<\/p>\n

\"Nemo Photograph: Courtesy of REI$49.95 at Amazon<\/a>$49.95 at REI<\/a><\/p>\n

A full-size pillow is way too bulky to backpack with, but lightweight inflatable pillows are a poor imitation. Nemo found a way to get the best of both worlds. \u201cThe mix of an inflatable core covered with soft foam insulation makes it more pliable and, in turn, feel more natural with none of the crinkly sounds that many inflatable pillows make when you shift around at night,\u201d said Patterson of this packable pillow \u201cwith an outsized payoff\u201d.<\/p>\n

Read the story: The 20 best gifts in the US for people who love the outdoors, tested in nature by our expert<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Nemo <\/p>\n

Fillo Backpacking Pillow<\/p>\n

from $49.95<\/p>\n

Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter<\/a>, the Guardian\u2019s guide to buying fewer, better things:<\/p>\n

Explore the Filter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A weekend in the woods requires a lot more than just a cooler full of cold ones. After…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":792272,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[49,48,195,61],"class_list":["post-792271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-gadgets","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-gadgets","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792271\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/792272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}