5 of the coolest camping accessories

From staycations to festivals, romantic weekends away to family holidays, we all love camping nowadays! No longer just for earnest outdoor types, camping’s renaissance means a wealth of brilliant kit on the market. Here’s our pick of the coolest camping accessories for your next night under canvas… (click on the images to buy direct from the page)

Solar powered tent – £179.99

Can’t bear to be without your camera, phone or tablet when sleeping in a field? We’ll forgive you tech-heads when you arrive on site  with one of these super cool shelters! These 4-man tents, by Bang Bang Tents, come with a 5W solar panel, lithium solar storage bank, and mobile phone/USB charging adaptors. They are also available in some very swanky designs, including Woodstock, Machu Picchu, Butterfly Collector and Fool on the Hill – never again lose sight of where you’ve pitched up!

‘Moomin’ enamel mug – £16.95

Whether it’s for your morning coffee or a hot toddy around the camp fire, you’ll need a cool set of enamel tin mugs. We love these Moomin designs! Matching plates and cooking kit also available.

Glamping lantern bags – £5.69 (for set of 5)

These pretty lanterns will add a magical atmosphere when the sun goes down. Made of fire resistent paper to hold tea lights there’s enough in one pack to dot them around your temporary ‘garden’.

 ‘VW Campervan’ deckchair – £34.95

You could go for one of those ubiquitous canvas fold-up camping chairs, or a squishy inflatable number (but do you really want something else to pump up along with the airbed?!). Why not go old school with a deckchair? Classic, retro and perfect for relaxing back at the tent, this version boasts a VW campervan print design (polka dots, butterflies and ‘beach rules’ also available).

 ‘Cool Camping Cookbook’ by Jonathan Knight – £9.06

Printed on organically-textured, wood-free paper (yes, really!), this cookbook is bursting with rustic, campfire recipes that taste great al fresco from smokey barbequed mackerel to cakes in a tin. It even includes advice on creating your own fire pit and has a whole chapter dedicated to vegan-friendly recipes.

 

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.

The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide 2013 – Part 1

Wondering what great Christmas gifts to get friends and family this year? We’ve picked some of the best ideas for travel enthusiasts, backpackers, weekenders, globe trotters and lovers of the great outdoors. Time to get shopping!

FOR STYLE_SAVVY TRAVELLERSE-SIDE - Proof Wooden Sunglasses in bamboo polarized - £120

Sustainable wooden sunglasses by Proof: These stylish shades, designed by Proof, are individually handcrafted and rendered in beautiful eco-friendly wood such as ebony and bamboo. We like the classic, unisex style, and that for every pair you buy a portion of the sale price goes to supporting charitable causes worldwide, including an eye clinic in rural India.

Price: £120. Available from www.e-side.co.uk

Oxfam Monsoon wash bag

Monsoon for Oxfam large wash bag: This special Monsoon collection for Oxfam includes hand embroidered items are made by SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), a community cooperative in India committed to empowering female artisans. This beautifully patterned textile washbag is a stylish way to carry your travel accessories.

Price: £9.99. Available from www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/local-shops/monsoon

 

trapper-wrist-warmer-turquoise-blue Snugbug hat and wrist warmers: Snugbug create some the most Cable Floppy Pom Pom Whitesnugly winter woollies around! Made with 100% New Zealand wool, this top quality lanoline repels rain and snow making them great for winter outdoor activities. We love the on-trend chunky cable-knit designs and tribal-style patterns of the wrist warmers. But best of all, Snugbug works with ethical and fairtrade suppliers in Nepal where they are hand knitted – this ensures the money goes directly to the Nepalese villages involved.

Price: Cable floppy pompom hat – £22; Trapper wrist warmers – £20. Available from www.snug-bug.co.uk

 

TEKO EVAPOR8 socks: Every Christmas list needs a pair of socks and, would you believe it, Teko Evapor8 socksthese socks are actually made from recycled drinks bottles! The high-tech lightweight fabric ensures that your feet will stay dry, comfortable and odour-free as the EVAPOR8 fibre dries incredibly fast and is very durable making them perfect for high intensity activities or for wearing in hot, humid conditions.

Price: from approx. £8.50. Available from www.tekosocks.com or Amazon

 

Reflexion photography cases: For the wannabe David Bailey in your life who’s always lugging their camera (and Reflexion casescamera equipment) on their trips, the Reflexion photography case collection could be just the thing. The range, by Case Logic, includes two messenger-style cross-body bags which feature a removable camera pod to store your camera, lens and accessories, as well as offering good padded protection.

Price: various, from £45. Available from Amazon

 

FOR GADGET FANSTrakdot device

Trakdot luggage tracking device: Never fear lost luggage again! Once you register on the Trakdot website, place the device inside your suitcase or bag. Trakdot will deliver location information directly to your mobile phone or SMS device via text or email. An additional app even alerts passengers as their baggage approaches on the carousel…smart.

Price: £44.99 (plus annual service fee of £13.65). Available from www.trakdot.com

 

E-SIDE - Handmade wooden compass - £15

 

Wooden compass: For trekkers who prefer the classic forms of navigation, get them this stylish, hand carved wooden compass by Singgih Susilo. It’s tactile and attractive enough to keep them away from battery-draining GPS devices.

Price: £15. Available from www.e-side.co.uk

 

 

House of Marley watch, Transport light wood House of Marley watch, Billet Fabric greenHouse of Marley Watches: We love these eco-friendly watches designed and crafted by House of Marley (yes, of Bob Marley family fame). Choose a design with either salvaged leather, REWIND fabric, cotton and canvas straps; recycled steel or FSC-certified wood dials; and casing and buckles created with low impact ion plating. And to make them extra lovely, a percentage of proceeds from each sale goes to support 1Love.org, a non-profit which aims to make lives better around the world.

Price: various, ‘Billet’ with fabric strap – £89.99; ‘Transport’ with leather strap – £109.99. Available from www.watchshop.com

 

Lifeproof NUUD S3 case

Lifeproof waterproof cases: Smartphones and tablets can take a battering on your travels, but the award-winning Lifeproof creates a great range of shock-proof cases that protect your precious gadgets from water, dirt, mud and snow. The LifeJacket case even makes your tablet or smartphone completely buoyant allowing you to take it out on the water, and even take photos underwater. Cases available for iPhone 5, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad mini, Samsung S3 and S4.

Price: various, from £59.99. Available from www.lifeproof.com or Amazon

 

FOR OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTSDraper Tools Folding Stool_Backpack

Draper Tools folding stool backpack: Lighten the load on a long hike – no need to carry a backpack and a separate chair, this durable, water-resistant backpack has a lightweight steel tube attached (1.6kg) that forms into a comfy seat. Ideal for camping or hiking.

Price: £16.50. Available from national outdoor stores or Amazon

 

Zap-It: Being in the great outdoors is wonderful – but not so wonderful if you find yourself a meal for the local Zap it in greenmosquitoes! Zap-It is a cute little device that is perfect to soothing itchy insect bites. Just place over the offending itch and click a few times – the mild and harmless (no stronger than a gentle pinch, honestly!) electrical impulse is created by crystals, delivering little zaps that soon stops you scratching. Its tiny size means you can even carry it around in your pocket.

Price: £5.95. Available from various health stores, garden centres, pharmacies and online at www.ecobrands.co.uk

 

JML Flexi torch: This slimline, bendable torch helps you illuminate awkward, hard-to-reach areas with its 360° JML FlexiTorchflexible head. But as a bonus, the head extends up to 57cm and is magnetised allowing you to retrieve lost or trapped metal items – you’ll realise how useful this is when you drop your keys down a tiny hole! It can lift objects of up to 1kg. The three LED lights have a good life expectancy and batteries are included.

Price: from £9.99. Available from www.jmldirect.com or Amazon

 

H2Onya 350ml purpleH2-Onya-750ml-Emerald-Green

H2Onya steel bottles: Perfect for hiking or cycling trips, these reusable stainless steel bottles are lightweight but sturdy enough to survive regular knocks. Made from 100% foodsafe material and bisphenol A-free, they won’t leach any nasties into your drinking water. We like the funky metallic colours and attractive ergonomic design.

Price: £11 (1l); £9.50 (350ml). Available from www.onyabags.co.uk

 

Coming soon…The Goodtrippers Christmas Gift Guide: Part 2 (last minute gifts to buy online!)

All of the Amazon links in this article link to the Goodtrippers Amazon Affiliates site – this is at no additional cost to you (prices are the same as going direct to Amazon) but Goodtrippers receives a small percentage from sales when you purchase using these links. Many thanks for your support.

 

8 eco ‘must haves’ for your travel bag

Guest blogger Erin Steiner gives us her checklist of eco-friendly travel bag essentials

1. Water Bottle with Filter

Carry a reusable water bottle that has a filter in it. You won’t be able to fill it up until after you get through security, but that’s okay—pack it empty. This bottle keeps you from having to buy a bottle of water while you wait for your flight. It also makes it easy for you to get (free) drinkable water pretty much anywhere you go, saving you money and keeping quite a few beverage containers out of landfills. (One of our personal favourites is the Bobble, but even with a filter, please be aware that tap water may not be safe to drink in the country you’re travelling in – Editor)

2. Travel Blanket and Pillow

Make sure these are constructed from organic materials like bamboo. They’ll keep you warm on your flight, and you won’t have to worry about using a pillow that hundreds of other people have coughed on!

Make use of solar power as you travel
Make use of solar power as you travel

3. Solar Charger

Solar chargers are smaller now and incredibly useful while travelling, especially internationally. With a solar charger, you don’t have to worry about whether or not your chargers will fit into the outlets wherever you are, and you can use it even if you don’t have access to A/C power. (Nigel’s Eco Store sells a good range of solar chargers for travel -Ed)

4. Snacks

Airplane food is notoriously expensive and sometimes just bad. You can make your own snack packs at home for a fraction of the price and can even use herbs and salads you’ve grown yourself. Save the plastic bags to use for snack packs to make before you fly home (and to keep them out of landfills).

5. Water Alarm Clock

You want to have a reliable alarm clock with you. Sure, there’s an alarm on your phone, but what if you don’t hear it or if your phone dies? The water alarm clock is exactly what it sounds like: an alarm clock that runs on water. One fill keeps the clock running for six months (which is way better for the environment than a clock that requires batteries), but make sure it’s empty before you go through security!

6. Sanitising Wipes

Germs are bad. You don’t want to get sick on your trip (or as soon as you get back)! Look for wipes created by green companies like Seventh Generation.

7. Change of Clothes

A company called Revolution Apparel makes clothing that is travel-ready and has almost no carbon footprint (organic and sustainable materials, fair labour manufacturing). Just a few items can be combined and turned into a bunch of different looks. This way, even if the rest of your luggage gets lost, you’ll have enough variety in your hand luggage to last for your entire vacation. If you’ve got room you may want to also take some compression socks, a sleep aid… but when space is limited, though, stick with what you absolutely need. Remember, you still need to be able to carry the bag you’re packing.

8. Eco-Friendly Personal Care Products

Tom’s toothpaste (travel-sized of course) and Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps (the kind of bars that double as body soap and shampoo) are a must-have in any travel bag. This will keep you from having to buy the products when you get there and can give you a quick “freshen up” in the airport (or even plane) bathroom. They’re environmentally friendly, so you won’t have to worry about using products provided by hotels or hosts who aren’t as green as you are.

About the author: Erin Steiner is a freelance writer and blogger from Portland, Oregon, who writes about a variety of topics including business, being environmentally-friendly, and the price of gold and silver.