Looking Back: Five Stand-Out Camping Products From 2015

  • 15th Jan 2016

For some people camping is a minimalist experience, all about taking off into the wilds with nothing but the basic survival items that you can carry on your back. For others however, camping means something entirely different. Most campers like at least a little more comfort and some take the luxuries to extremes. Here are five of the more intriguing camping items that made a stir on the outward bound scene in 2015:

Hot Tub Hammock:

The Hydro Hammock would not be included, surely, in anyone's essential equipment list. But there are arguably very few who will not love the idea, at least in theory. Perhaps this strengthened hammock that holds 50 gallons of water and has a propane water heating system is indeed the perfect way to relax and unwind after a long and tiring day in the great outdoors.

Tree Tent:

These alien looking Tentsile creations allow campers to get off the ground. Sling one of these tents between trees or between boulders or other features of the natural landscape and you can have the ultimate grown up treehouse – great for where the ground is rough or simply for a little bit of fun. These Tentsile tree tents are a great, if somewhat unusual, idea and throughout 2015 have come down in price to become a far more competitive option in the marketplace.

Chairs in Small Packages:

The Therm-a-rest Treo Chair is the ideal solution for those who might be a little short on space but still want a little more comfort and don't fancy sitting on the ground. There are plenty of folding chairs on the market but for comfort and space-saving this is an interesting and innovative solution. This Treo chair packs into its own, stable tripod base and takes up less space than a 2 litre drinks bottle while providing a lot more comfort and solidity than you might imagine.

Lifestraw:

The Lifestraw water filter has been around for a while in disaster relief and helping people in developing nations where clean water is scarce. In 2015 this amazing family of products became more prominent in the hiking and camping field. While it is mostly given away in disaster zones and developing nations, it is for sale in the developed world and has developed something of a following with those who like to get out into the wilds and appreciate the light weight of the product and its amazing filtering capabilities. For each LifeStraw you purchase, one school child in a developing community receives safe drinking water for an entire school year.

Portable Espresso Machine:

From the life-saving to the frivolous, but if you are one of those people who just isn't themselves first thing in the morning until they've had a cup of good coffee then the Handpresso range is for you. You can have a cup of decent coffee wherever you go, giving you a much needed boost as you enjoy a camping trip with the family.