As the warm nights of summer begin to settle in, it’s time to break out the sleeping bags, tents and other gear for family camping trips. And although there’s something inherently romantic about sleeping under the stars, the dirty water, funky smells and lack of electricity are usually enough to send people back to civilization after a couple days. But new innovations continue to emerge to take the “rough” out of roughing it.
For those accustomed to purified water (who don’t want to lug cases of Evian into the woods) there’s Lifesaver Systems’ Lifesaver Bottle (pictured). Inspired by the lack of safe drinking water available after the 2004 tsunami and the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the Lifesaver Bottle removes bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and other microbiological waterborne pathogens from water without the use of chemicals. A person simply unscrews the bottom of the bottle and fills it with water – rainwater, lake water, creek water, whatever. A pump system within the bottle is then employed to filter the water through a carbon cartridge. A single filter cartridge is good for filtering about 250 liters of water before it needs to be replaced. And a camper will know when that time comes because the bottle will become more difficult to pump and then stop working altogether. A pre-filter sponge also helps to remove any dirt or debris from the water. The cheapest LifeSaver Bottle available through the LifeSaver Web site costs approximately $425 – which includes shipping to the United States (the company is based in the UK).
If a lack of clean water isn’t as great of a concern as that stomach-turning odor coming from inside a sleeping bag, then Sierra Designs’ Echo Sleeping Bag should go on the wish list immediately. Along with premium goose down that can keep a person warm in the artic and a waterproof exterior, it also contains the Echo Funk!Off liner – which makes deodorizing a sleeping bag quick and easy. With this technology, a person turns the sleeping bad inside and lets it sit in the sun for a while. Almost magically, dirt and oils inside the bag break down, removing any musky or foul scents. As with the LifeSaver Bottle, the great convenience of the Echo Sleeping Bag comes at a price. In this case, $439.00 for a regular size bag ($459.00 for a long). The Echo Sleeping Bag can be purchased from select outdoor retailers, or Web sites such as rei.com.
Finally, for those campers who always end up in dire need of a little electricity to recharge digital devices like cell phones or MP3 player, there’s MINIWIZ’s HYmini. This portable “green” power station fits in the palm of a hand, and can harness wind power or store electricity from a wall plug or USB port for later use. The HYmini’s small fan can harness enough wind energy in 20 minutes to power an iPod for 30 minutes or an MP3 player for 40 minutes. Additionally, a separate solar panel attachment can be purchased to harness solar energy as well. The HYmini is equipped with a universal adapter so it can be used to charge almost any phone, digital camera, PDA, etc. Additionally, the HYmini features an LED night light to help campers scare away raccoons during those late-night bathroom treks into the woods. The HYmini has a retail price of $49.99, and is available for purchase on the HYmini Web site.
