My Favorite Camping Gadgets

What are your essential items for camping trips that you cannot live without? Here, I will share my favorite camping gadgets. Check out these useful camping utensils; perhaps you will pack one of these for your next vacation?

At the end of the article, let me know what your favorite gadget in your van is. Whether it's a decorative element that makes everything cozy or a practical tool you can't do without, I'm looking forward to your tips for nature, accessories, and products.

Many of these camping gadgets can also be used for other outdoor adventures. Here you will find my most important equipment and camping gear that might make your next camping trip even better.

1. French Press or Bialetti for brewing coffee - I can't wake up in the morning without coffee.

2. Bluetooth speaker, life is only half as beautiful without music (I love the little Sonos).

3. Solar system and good batteries for self-sufficiency (Lithium battery from BullTron 12V 300Ah - lasts forever).

4. My Trelino separating toilet - stands for a long time without smelling or needing constant emptying.

5. Power bank or larger portable battery, in case the big battery runs low and the sun isn't shining.

6. Daypack for day trips and hikes.

7. Stain pen - I tend to spill often.

For you, it might be a luxury; for me, it has been installed from the start: A bathroom with a toilet (Trelino separating toilet L) and a shower. Kitchenette with a stove and 100l water tank. I don't want to do without that since I work while traveling.

Here you can view and download my camping/van packing list for free

Whether you travel with a tent, camper van, or caravan, these utensils are useful camping gear that I cannot do without. Many of these items are essential equipment, but some I still find very handy as camping gadgets:

A quick-drying towel is not only very useful when camping but for travelers in general. These towels take up little space in your luggage and dry very quickly. Indispensable in my camping gear.

Since I do not like the typical microfiber towels at all, I have been using this one from Globetrotter in all sizes for years. They are much nicer on the skin (soft, not leathery), are much more absorbent, and dry just as quickly as the "leathery" towels. I always pack them for every trip.

For all types of travel, a USB-rechargeable LED headlamp is a "must-have." Not just for camping, sometimes you need both hands free for night photography of the Milky Way, for hikes that start before dawn, or for camping. I bring my headlamp on every trip. I personally use the Petzl Tikka, which also has a red LED (useful on safaris in Southern & Eastern Africa). Additionally, I can adjust different levels of light intensity.

No camping gear is complete without a good pocket knife. Whether you need to saw something, cut a cable/wire, or tighten a screw. My pocket knife and a Leatherman are always ready in my camping kitchen.

I own both a Victorinox pocket knife (with my own branding) and a Leatherman Wingman.

The issue of water is particularly important to me. Therefore, I always have a separate thermos (currently this Made in Germany), a collapsible water bottle (for sightseeing in cities or on short hikes), and a hydration bladder (for mountain biking and hiking). Especially the collapsible water bottle and the hydration bladder are simple and space-saving.

What would camping be without a campfire? Of course, only if it is allowed. To get the necessary firewood small, this mini axe is ideal for chopping wood. Small, handy, and still fulfills its purpose and is very effective. In Scandinavia (view the road trip to Nordkapp trip report) it was very useful.

On a friend's recommendation, I bought this Gränsfors Bruks mini-axe.

I love to unwind in a hammock and relax with a good book. Therefore, I always carry a small and compact travel hammock from Häng. This ultra-lightweight hammock made of parachute silk weighs only 850 grams and is an ideal camper van and camping gadget.

Far too often, I am too lazy to unroll my hose for a few liters of water at the campsite or parking spot. Therefore, I have a small collapsible jug with a filler neck with me. You can also use a watering can but that takes up much more space. The jug is really helpful for filling the water tank. A must-have for camping equipment.

I typically don't worry about mosquitoes since I've secured all windows and the sliding door with fly screens. However, buying the portable Thermacell mosquito repellent is very worthwhile if you are traveling into nature in Scandinavia. There are healthier solutions, but the spirals have not helped against many flies and mosquitoes, while Thermacell has. I guarantee you that.

You only need a small butane cartridge and active ingredient plates to insert. Right after turning it on, it creates an insect protection zone of 21 m². It's brilliant. This allowed me to enjoy the sunset at a beautiful lake in Finland without being completely bitten. You don't need batteries or power cords. By the way, the active ingredient is not based on DEET if you care about that.

The mosquito repellent is also available at Camping Wagner.

Do you spill as much as I do? I am really clumsy; a splash of salad dressing or a piece of fresh fruit often lands on my shirt or pants.

Because of this, I have gotten into the habit of always carrying a stain pen. It is important to treat stains immediately. I now always have the Dr. Beckmann eXpress stain pen handy on trips.

For clumsy people like me, stain removers for grease-based & sauces (oil, ketchup, and butter) and for lubricants & oils (especially when I have my mountain bike or gravel bike with me on trips, this stain remover is useful for removing chain oil).

The most important thing when camping is the camping kitchen. Therefore, several items are already considered standard equipment for the camper van for the camping kitchen. Still, I have purchased some utensils that I can no longer do without. My additions to the standard equipment:

Every camper swears by the Omnia camping oven as it is now almost a part of the standard equipment for everyone. I have been skeptical about the aluminum, which is said to not be healthy. Still, I didn't want to miss the opportunity to bake bread on the road. Since then, I have used the Omnia every day when I am traveling in the car. Whether I am just baking rolls, melting my beloved Maultaschen with mozzarella (yes, I am from Swabia), or making roasted vegetables and casseroles.

I bought the standard Omnia with a silicone mold and baking grid from Camping Wagner.

This collapsible basin for washing (mine is from Ortlieb, 10 liters) is one of the most important camping gadgets for camping dishware. Heavily soiled dishes from cooking in the camper van are best washed in this basin outdoors. This way, no dirt and grease settle in the pipes of your mobile home.

A pizza or grilled vegetables (of course also steaks or sausages, depending on whether you are a vegetarian) prepared on the grill must not be missing from a camping vacation. Therefore, a camping grill is a must. It saved my "butt" when my gas cylinder ran out in Scandinavia and there was no opportunity to refill it (as always).

For all campers, grilling is part of the camping experience. After a long day, sitting cozily together and watching the sizzling food on the grill in front of the tent or motor home. What could be better? Often the question arises: charcoal or gas? In most places, you are not allowed to make an open fire, so for me, the Skotti Grill is ideal. It can be operated with both and is much smaller when packed. You couldn't save more space.

Also good is a Lotus Grill, which I have used for a long time before (and still have in the cellar). You have the choice. I like both grills but currently lean more towards the Skotti Grill with lid (unfortunately not available in a set). Ideal for making bread or pizza.

The small Skotti Grill can also be packed for festivals or into your backpack. It is so small and compact that it finds space anywhere.

For better sleep and ideal equipment, I went to my best friend at the bedding store. Originally, I only wanted a new pillow for traveling. With the following equipment, I left the store (and am completely thrilled):

The summer blanket with a climate concept is made from high-quality cotton jersey (cooling effect and completely machine washable). For warm travel destinations, I don't want to do without this thin and lightweight blanket on hot nights. My nephew stole it from me during our joint North Sea tour and hasn't given it back.

Additionally ideal: Cooling fitted sheet (dormabell coolmax) - I love it! At 34 degrees and nights around 22 degrees at the North Sea, it really cooled down very pleasantly. I didn't think it would work, but it does. Also ideal for home.

No matter if I go on a city trip, a road trip, or a multi-day hike with a tent: a travel pillow is always a good idea. On long flights, train trips, and even in my own camper van, having my own pillow means comfort that I cannot do without.

For hikes, I have a tiny, compact travel pillow that I recommend to everyone. For any other type of travel (even for van traveling), I recently got the pillow from Blackroll. Often praised, now always along - even at home, it has replaced my regular pillow. The "Recovery Pillow" is a must-have for travelers. You can roll it up small and compact for your travel bag. The cover is washable.

This gift will definitely make travelers happy. My favorite gadget that I now enjoy giving to friends and family.

It was clear from the purchase: A solar system has to go on the roof. I cannot do without it and can extend my time without being connected to power. Of course, the sun has to shine. I have 2 solar panels with a total of 220 watts on the roof. Additionally, the aforementioned lithium battery (12V 300 ah from BullTron) and a strong inverter as well as charge controller.

For those who work on the road and need to charge laptops and cameras, you really can't do without it. For me, it's my ultimate camper van gadget.

By the way: The solar system is not only environmentally friendly, but you can easily recover the money for the purchase by saving on electricity at campsites/parking lots. Electricity is often completely overpriced (in my eyes).

Who doesn't know it? Exactly when you would like to use the heater because it's bitterly cold, and the solar panels have been failing for days (Scandinavia in autumn), the batteries are empty. Therefore, I always carry a portable power station on long trips. In an emergency, I've already charged my camper's battery a bit with it so that the heater would work again (no joke).

I use the Jackery Explorer 500, 518Wh with a foldable solar panel. Perhaps something that finds its place on your packing list? The power station also has a USB port so you can charge your gadgets.

I am self-employed and enjoy traveling for extended periods. Internet is very important to me. Therefore, the Netgear Nighthawk M2 WLAN router and two antennas for signal enhancement are indispensable for me. I can connect these to the router and mount them on the roof via magnets. Since the question about internet while traveling comes up often: Especially in Scandinavia, local SIM cards are cheaper than using data volume from Germany (as mentioned earlier, I work on the go and need more than the included data volume of my phone contract. 100 - 120 GB per month is normal).

Who knows this? The radio has a display that you can't see anything on in sunny weather? I experienced this at the beginning with my old Kenwood radio that was installed at the time of purchase. Also, Apple Car Play including navigation crashed exactly when you needed it most (city highway in Paris, for example, horror).

So I had to find a solution recently and decided on the Zenec radio after extensive research. I am completely thrilled. The display is huge, I see it perfectly, the touch display responds excellently, and optionally I can use a proper camper navigation system via SD cards for an extra fee. By inputting the vehicle's dimensions, the navigation system then automatically guides me along roads that I can traverse (which Google Maps cannot do). Additionally, there is a point of interest function and a directory of parking spots.

Note: I bought the SD card for navigation, but haven't needed it so far. In Scandinavia, Google Maps is sufficient for navigation. However, if you have a camper van that is over 6 meters long, it is definitely worth it. Sooner or later on the next trip to France, this navigation will come into play because Google Maps has often guided us along country roads.

Music is always part of the fun for my friends and me. Since my speaker can often get damp, it should be robust. Therefore, I swear by the Sonos Roam speaker because it has the best sound by far. It is even waterproof up to one meter deep and resistant to dust. Theoretically, I can control it with my voice, but that's not my thing. The battery lasts up to 10 hours. Ideal for saving power while listening to the radio.

Do you drive a van like I do, where you can't see out the back? Then the rearview camera is the most important gadget for safety while driving. The investment is truly worth it because who wants dents in their vehicle?

For me, it's an essential camper gadget that increases safety. I ordered this directly during the purchase. You can install rearview cameras later on as well. The investment is genuinely worth it in my opinion.

If a gas station is a bit further away or you've let air out of your tires for driving in sand, you can quickly and easily pump air back into the tires with a small portable car pump. Mine also has connections for a bicycle valve. This saves me from bringing along an extra pump and allows me to keep an eye on the tire pressure.

Since gas stations are often far away in emergencies, this mobile air pump with a battery is your best helper in an emergency. Because the nozzles are variable, I can also inflate my bikes with it.

As a camper, you can easily protect your motorhome from theft. From wheel locks to alarm systems or chains, there are many options. Even with a small investment, you can save yourself a lot of trouble and grief.

Update: I have had the Pandora alarm system installed by now. Simply secure (and loud). The installation is highly recommended with a visit to Erfurt (report to follow).

Here you will find my best tips for theft protection in motorhomes

Whether rental camper or own motorhome - the vehicle key is absolute sacred. You get nervous when the key suddenly can't be found anywhere. No panic: there are helpers to locate the key. I use Apple Airtags; alternatively, there is the Tile keychain, with their app, you can locate the keys. You can also attach these little helpers to your backpack, wallet, or camera bag.

Hidden in the car, I have a GPS tracker (Prothelis Meintal). The battery life is indicated with up to 40-50 days. I charge the tracker less frequently. The device tracks movement all day long. At the end of the day, you have a complete movement history of when and where you were. The device is flatter than a cigarette box but a little longer.

You can find more information about this in my article on theft protection in motor homes.

Leave me a comment and let me know your gear while camping. I'm very curious and love to be inspired by you and your gadgets. What is luxury, and what is a must-have for the next camping trip? In my eyes, it doesn't matter whether you travel with a tent, car, or caravan.

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