What do you take?

[MacGyver]

Prompted by Mike posting about welder's gloves, I got to wondering what else people take camping that most people probably don't. I'm always looking for new gadgets that I didn't know I couldn't live without

Here are some of my indispensibles:

Swiss Champ knife from Victorinox. Multifunction including "the splinter kit" - a straight pin, a magnifying glass and tweezers. The wood saw is surprisingly sharp and I've been surprised at how many times I've wanted a pen

Mini Blowtorch. Starts fires easily, melts the ends of poly rope and paracord. Also a cigarette lighter that no one can pocket "accidently".

What-a-Saw folding bow saw. Three blades. Traditional blade for sawing logs, a smaller toothed wood blade and a metal blade.

Mini Vise Grips. Among other things, great for cutting and bending coat hangers to make hooks for hanging lanterns, tools, utensils etc. and helping to pull out a tough tent peg.

Hand Mattock. Trenching for rain runoff and "bathroom work"

[Old Time Camper]

Re: What do you take?

As an old retired woodworker I was always in need of extra hands, clamps solved the problem. When camping I always have a few spring and other clamps with me. 16 penny nails help keep the indoor/outdoor carpet down. A single flint welder’s striker is great for lighting the stove or torch. I have a friend who brings a chain saw. I carry a good bow saw, a couple of wood wedges, Estwing hatchet, and a 5# sledge hammer. I use Monk Ind 12” tent stakes for my Kodiak tent, it needs 18 total, I use knee pads while I’m driving the stakes in, and my knees thank me. I always cook a few meals in a Dutch Oven, depending on the size of the group, an 8” to 16”. I also bring a portable battery power rotisserie for cooking chicken or roast over the fire.

[ppine]

Re: What do you take?

Too much stuff. For a longer trip like a week of hunting in tough conditions, I bring that kind of stuff. For a couple of days in mild weather I don't make lists and don't bring much.

[Nickadeamus]

Re: What do you take?

I camp in a large tent with a wood burning stove and we stay in the same place for 3 up to 7 days at a time. So with this said I bring a 18" chain saw and a 12lbs splitter. When we camp in the winter we can go through a lot of wood and if we had to cut it with a hand saw we would never have enough to keep warm. I also need to say that here in my area is a National Forest area and you can't bring any wood in with you ( except boards from a hardware store ) so you have to get what you can out in the woods.

[Irate Mormon]

Re: What do you take?

One of my guitars is always with me when I car camp. Keeps the neighbors at a respectful distance ;-D

[05Kingquad700]

Re: What do you take?

I added a tarp to my camping gear this year. 10x20 size. Hang it from some trees and it makes great sun/shade protection.

[tplife]

Re: What do you take?

We tote a 42-pound Optima AGM house battery to power our 200W Kenwood/Polk sound system, LED programmable special-effects lighting, and converter, inverter to power a host of charging and other gear as needed. Three Coleman lantern stands to light up our campsite since here in Cali you can't touch a tree, bush, or blade of grass anywhere anymore. Other than that, we look like any other campsite out there...

Typical outing of the extended gang and hangers-on:

[Mike]

Re: What do you take?

Cool pic, TPlife. I have the same tackle box and Eureka tent. You are lucky to have all those kids to camp with. That is a lot of good energy to be around

[rajncajn]

Re: What do you take?

I have a list... a very long list. Camping with three girls can be a lot of work.

[Bigdog57]

Re: What do you take?

A good handgun..... because you just never know.
A Marbles Safety Axe - actually a light-weight hatchet with blade guard, perfect for backpack or motorcycle camping. Great for making kindling.