Extraordinarily Smart Camping Items for the 21st Century

For many of us, camping is all about discovering the wild of the Great Outdoors. However, the ways we use to experience that discovery vary from person to person. How does “smart camping” fit into that picture? Just think about how these camping trips might differ from each other:
- A set of lifelong friends heads out on a primitive trip to Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, one of the world’s most remote parks.
- A new couple with a young one chooses a local state park in North Carolina for their first family adventure.
- A venturous soul looking for solitude takes on the challenges of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Each of these journeys will be distinct from each other, and look very different from the eyes of the travelers. And that’s great! But still, do the words “smart” and “camping” really go together? After all, who wants to be glued to their smart phone the entire time they’re traveling?
As we’re about to find out, smart camping is something different. Armed with a number of new and intelligent tools, we have the option to enhance our camping experience…. to camp smarter. And all without giving up our desire to submerge ourselves in our natural landscapes.
In this guide, you’ll discover many of the latest and greatest items in camping. Some are digitally-minded while others have been re-imagined for a new generation. For each category, we’ve also given you several choices, so you have something that fits your needs (and budget). Either way, let’s start our journey!
High-Powered Flashlights Help You Find Your Way

Today, there are a number of affordable options when you’re choosing a light source for your smart camping trip. USB-charging, user interfaces, and even sub-lumen moonlight modes… well, you get the picture. There are a few that the Cairn North adventurers recommend: The Olight S1R and ThruNite T10 are favored by the EDC community. For camping lanterns, there’s the Nitecore LR30 and the Fenix CL25R, both solid choices. Of course, the Princeton Tec Helix Basecamp Bluetooth Lantern might be the right choice for avid adventurers.
Water Filtration Devices Define Smart Camping

If you’re sourcing water from nature, you probably already know that staying safe is very important. Lurking in that water could be bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that can wreak havoc on your body. However, in the past few years, we’ve seen several solid purification systems hitting the market. For example, the SteriPen Ultra UV Water Purifier is one handy little tool. There’s even personal “water straws” like the LifeStraw Personal! Additionally, there are water bottles with built in filtration systems, like the LIFESAVER Systems 4000 bottle.
Emergency Radios Give You a Connection

With weather alerts and even a smart phone charger, the FRX3 is one nifty gadget. With the name of the American Red Cross on it, this radio has emergencies in mind. This one has weather band alerts, AM/FM, and can be hand-cranked if needed. Another choice you might want to check out, also by Eton, is the Scorpion II. When choosing an emergency radio, our staff recommends searching for one that has NOAA and National Weather Service broadcasts if you’re smart camping in the United States. An added benefit to carrying one with a light and a hand-crank… you’re always assured to have a flashlight, especially when you need it most.
High-Tech Watches Do More than Keep Time

Built-in compasses, altimeters, and even barometers… and we haven’t even gotten to the durability factor yet. If you’re just dipping your toes into the adventure lifestyle, you might also be surprised to find out that you can get GPS-enabled watches as well. One popular choice is the Garmin Fenix 5, which also features a sapphire glass choice. With all the bells and whistles you can imagine, this watch takes camping and hiking to an entirely new level. It even has an Android and iOS app! Still, another option that is more affordable (but sans the GPS) is the popular Suunto Core.
Storing Food for Longer Periods

If you’re like the staff at Cairn North, you’ve probably seen a few displays for YETI coolers at your adventure store. Along with a few other brands, these coolers offer some serious cold storage for your camping food and beverages. The YETI Roadie 20 Cooler is one of the smaller (and more affordable models). Similar models include the Pelican ProGear Elite and the Orca cooler in a variety of sizes. At the very least, grab yourself a YETI Rambler for your day-to-day adventures, outdoor or otherwise. Our staff members love to use ours!
Coffee Makers to Start Your Camping Day

If you’re a coffee and outdoor lover, you probably know how delicious a hot cup of coffee can be on those cold mornings. Of course, we can’t recommend our adventured-themed Cairn North enamel mugs enough. They’re attractive, functional, and just plain fun. But when you want to brew a cup or two, you can’t do any better than the GSI Outdoors Java Press Coffee Maker. This 50oz French press is double-walled and even comes wrapped in ballistic nylon. Totally rugged! In fact, this one even won Gear Patrol’s “Best Overall” for coffee makers to use when camping and hiking.
Compact Stoves to Keep You Going

Since we know you love to rough it, you probably always eat your camp chow cold from the can, right? If you’re anything like our staff at Cairn North, you probably appreciate a well-cooked camp meal. In truth, there’s an art to preparing a tasty meal in the Great Outdoors. And one smart tool we love to use to make it happen is the newest line of camping stoves. The BioLite Wood Burning CampStove and The Jetboil Genesis Base Camp stands out as a solid choice in this sphere, but if you’re looking for something a bit smarter… check this one out: the Power Pot not only will heat up your water, it also charges your other devices… from any heat source, including your campfire.
Inflatable Tents Will Change Your Camping

When we first saw an inflatable tent… we thought, cool! After all, who truly likes pitching their tent, especially if you’re in a breezy or cold environment? Now, our adventure staff was a little skeptical at first, we won’t lie. In today’s day and age, so many things are billed as “convenient” or “time-saving,” when they’re just poorly-made junk. And they often don’t even really work! But the inflatable tent trend has even attracted the attention of sites like Gizmodo. Our recommendation? Go with a well-known and trusted brand like Hemiplanet. It doesn’t get any better than the Cave Inflatable Geodesic 3-Person Tent.
Tentsile Tree Tents Give Us New Options

Speaking of tents, another trend in camping smarter is the tentsile tree tent. You may have even seen one or two of these if you follow a popular adventure Instagrammer or two. What’s so smart about tree tents? The company Tentsile explains it best when they say they offer the versatility of a hammock, but with security in mind. Plus, you can grab a model for more than one person, and they’re comfy! Our suggestion is for the original Tentsile Stringray Tree Tent.
Smart Camp by Staying Clean with Portable Showers

Remember that venturous soul we mentioned earlier, the one hitting the Pacific Crest Trail? Or what about those lifelong friends discovering the Gates of the Arctic? These two groups have something in common: they’re very likely to get way dirty on their quest for freedom. Although a touch of dirt is always welcome, a nice shower can be equally rewarding after a long day of hiking or exploring. For those of you who have camped for extended periods, you know how true this can be. That’s where the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower comes in. Of course, you’ll want to consider the weight of your camping loadout if you bring this along, but it can also be used to wash dishes, which is a huge plus.
Recording Your Adventures for the All to See

Our last smart camping item is probably one you’re familiar with… video cameras. And while travel bugs have been recording their activities for some time now, only recently have some of the more powerful options hit the mass market. Take for example the AKASO EK7000 4K. Cheaper than the GoPro Hero Session, it’s 4k offering is drawing attention. However, the GoPro HERO5 Black remains a favorite for 4k in the outdoor community, but at a much higher price. And you’ll also like that the AKASO has been getting better reviews around the internet, which is always good to see. Either way, with one of these models by your side, you’ll be able to show the world just how exciting your camping adventures are. And if you have an outdoor YouTube, please feel free to get in touch with us, so we can highlight it here on our blog.
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