5 Clever Camp Accessories You've Likely Never Heard Of

Published June 12, 2017 12:00AM

Leave it to the vendors who showed up at Overland Expo West to surprise us with some of the most inventive gear we’ve never seen. Some we covered in our roundup of rigs, but we wanted to dedicate another overview to the inventive camping accessories we found. What follows are five pieces of gear anyone—overlander or not—can use to have a better time living outside.

TemboTusk Skottle Grill ($185)

We’ll always be fans of the classic Coleman two-burner stove, but now we’re also hooked on these grills (seen above). They originated in South Africa and are having a moment in the United States. The grilling surface resembles a flatter wok, making it ideal for cooking anything from bacon and pancakes to steaks and veggies. The surface comes preseasoned, so you can start cooking immediately. The grill sits on three legs about three to four feet off the ground—just hang a Coleman bottle and burner combo (sold separately) below to create heat. All the legs come off so the grill packs down into a portable package.

Decked Truck Drawers (From $1,080)

Ditch the random gear tubs floating around your truck bed and opt instead for drawers like these from Decked. They slide out and lock to keep your stuff secure. The high-density polyethylene and metal build is waterproof, and the drawers have a 2,000-pound payload, so you can also stash equipment on top. Currently, Decked makes drawers only for full-size trucks, but the Tacoma version is coming soon.

Campfire Defender Pro Camper Kit ($250)

Made with a woven-glass fabric on the bottom, the Defender Pro is essentially a blanket for your campfire. When you turn in for the night, throw it over your coals so they can’t blow away and to keep them piping hot for your morning fire. The glass fabric can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the top is made from high-temperature silicone that can take the heat and beat off the rain. A metal vent lets the coals breathe.

Krazy Beaver Tools Shovel ($80)

The teeth on this shovel look like they’d break off under pressure, but they’re made from 13-gauge heat-treated tempered steel, which means they’re twice as thick as what you’d find on a normal shovel and work for everything from digging holes in packed dirt to chipping ice off your driveway. At just 40 inches long, the shovels are not full-size, but that makes them better for storing in or on top of your car. (Check out the clever mounting brackets.)

ARB Rechargeable Adventure Light 600 ($60)

There are innumerable uses for this magnetic light. To name a few: Slap it on the side of your car to change a tire at night, attach it to your hood to change the oil, connect it to your camp stove for evening cooking, and hang it inside your tent as a lantern. You get the idea. It puts out 300 lumens on low and 600 on high and runs for up to six hours.