Top 10 Bikepacking Camping Accessories and Gadgets
Camping and cycle touring or bikepacking are the perfect ways to explore this summer—offering a sustainable, hassle-free, and low-cost adventure.
From my experience on past bikepacking tours and camping trips, I have compiled this list of my Top 10 products for both outdoor pursuits. It is a mix of compact gadgets and more luxurious accessories—all of which can help make your camping experience that much more enjoyable.
1 – Voited CloudTouch Camp Blanket
This is the ultimate camp blanket—if I had one as a Scout, I would have been the envy of the entire troop. It is insulated, water and stain resistance, machine washable, and made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles.
The CloudTouch 4-in-1 PillowBlanket is a luxurious outdoor blanket that is built to last. It uses recycled 50D Ripstop REPREVE® on one side, and luxurious CloudTouch™on the other. CloudTouch™ is a 100 percent recycled high-loft insulation fabric that is soft and fluffy, with the feel of real wool; yet it is eco-friendly, lighter, lower bulk and faster drying than traditional sheep's wool.
You can use the Voited CloudTouch as a blanket, pillow, sleeping bag or poncho; it is perfect for cosying up on the beach or in front of a BBQ, but thanks to its DWR Teflon Eco-Elite™ coating and Ripstop Nylon it is also durable and rugged enough for all weather back-of-beyond adventures.
2 – Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool Pliers and Bit Kit
Leatherman tools are excellent quality and offer lifelong companions for back-of-beyond adventures. The Leatherman Skeletool Multi-Tool is a plier type tool; designed to be lightweight, portable, and robust. Partnered with the Leatherman Bit Kit it makes for a superb bikepacking and bicycle touring tool.
The Leatherman Skeletool weighs in at just 142 grams—placing it well within the realms of your standard bicycle multi-tool. Yet, this 7-in-1 tool has the capability to deliver a significantly greater level of functionality compared to many bicycle multi-tools on the market today.
As the stand-alone product, the Leatherman Skeletool comes with a 420HC stainless-steel combination blade, dual type pliers, a wire cutter, a bit driver and screwdriver bits, a removable pocket clip, and a carabiner/bottle opener.
The Skeletool is designed with ease-of-use and handling in mind. All the tools can be accessed single-handed from the outside of the unit. The blade and bit driver also feature a locking mechanism, so there is no risk of sudden closure, or of you losing your screwdriver bits mid-task.
The versatility of the Skeletool as a cycling multi-tool comes as a result of the Leatherman locking bit driver system. As standard, the Skeletool arrives with flat head and Phillips screwdriver bits; with the spare one able to be housed within the shell of the tool. When partnered with the Leatherman Bit Kit add-on however, you gain a massive 42 other tool bits. The Bit Kit includes almost every screwdriver head, torx key head, and hex key head you are likely to need for bicycle maintenance; apart from not including a chain-tool or some of the larger sized hex keys (8mm for example).
The Skeletool trumps a lot of standard style bicycle multi-tools because of its inclusion of a serrated knife and a set of pliers. These two instruments have proven extremely useful on all my past bikepacking tours; invaluable for performing tasks such as nut tightening, thorn extraction, and no-end of camping tasks and fixes.
Lightweight, built to last, and with a massive range of functions; the Leatherman Skeletool now makes it into my saddle-bag selection for any bikepacking or endurance ride.
>> Shop the Skeletool and Bit Kit at Leatherman.co.uk
The Leatherman Skeletool weighs in at just 142 grams—placing it well within the realms of your standard bicycle multi-tool. Yet, this 7-in-1 tool has the capability to deliver a significantly greater level of functionality compared to many bicycle multi-tools on the market today.
As the stand-alone product, the Leatherman Skeletool comes with a 420HC stainless-steel combination blade, dual type pliers, a wire cutter, a bit driver and screwdriver bits, a removable pocket clip, and a carabiner/bottle opener.
The Skeletool is designed with ease-of-use and handling in mind. All the tools can be accessed single-handed from the outside of the unit. The blade and bit driver also feature a locking mechanism, so there is no risk of sudden closure, or of you losing your screwdriver bits mid-task.
The versatility of the Skeletool as a cycling multi-tool comes as a result of the Leatherman locking bit driver system. As standard, the Skeletool arrives with flat head and Phillips screwdriver bits; with the spare one able to be housed within the shell of the tool. When partnered with the Leatherman Bit Kit add-on however, you gain a massive 42 other tool bits. The Bit Kit includes almost every screwdriver head, torx key head, and hex key head you are likely to need for bicycle maintenance; apart from not including a chain-tool or some of the larger sized hex keys (8mm for example).
The Skeletool trumps a lot of standard style bicycle multi-tools because of its inclusion of a serrated knife and a set of pliers. These two instruments have proven extremely useful on all my past bikepacking tours; invaluable for performing tasks such as nut tightening, thorn extraction, and no-end of camping tasks and fixes.
Lightweight, built to last, and with a massive range of functions; the Leatherman Skeletool now makes it into my saddle-bag selection for any bikepacking or endurance ride.
>> Shop the Skeletool and Bit Kit at Leatherman.co.uk
3 – Helinox Beach Chair
A larger and more luxurious option in this line-up, the Helinox Beach Chair is the ultimate chill zone for that post-ride relaxation.
Unlike your supermarket beach chairs, the Helinox Beach Chair is lightweight, robust, and built to last for years. It uses DAC (tent-style) poles to create a low-weight high-strength design, and splayed feet to stop it from sinking into soft sand and mud. The carry bag can be stuffed with clothing or a towel so that it can double up as a pillow, while the chair's wrap-around suspended fabric design creates a comfortable supportive seat.
The perfect chair for camping and travelling, no matter where your adventure takes you.
4 – NiteIze Radiant 400 LED Outdoor Camping Lantern
The Radiant 400 Lantern is the perfect illuminator for any outdoor camping adventure. The robust design delivers 400-lumens of light output and is powered by three D-cell batteries. With three output modes of varying brightness, plus a unique diffuser bag, it can offer the perfect strength of lighting for any outdoor environment.
Robust, and with a neat carabiner handle; the Radiant 400 is easily clipped, carried, or hung from any tent ceiling, bag, or branch. In low power mode the unit lasts an incredible 800 hours on good quality batteries.
Robust, and with a neat carabiner handle; the Radiant 400 is easily clipped, carried, or hung from any tent ceiling, bag, or branch. In low power mode the unit lasts an incredible 800 hours on good quality batteries.
5 – Klean Kanteen Insulated TKPro 25oz 750ml Flask
I am obsessed with thermally insulated flasks; likely stemming from the countless occasions when a hot brew has lifted my spirits immeasurably and rekindled a feeling of comfort and confidence in the great outdoors. The Klean Kanteen Insulated TKPro Flask is without doubt the best thermal flask I have owned to date.The TKPro is a high-performance plastic-free thermal drinks Kanteen. With an electropolished 18/8 food-grade stainless steel interior, and double-wall vacuum insulation; it will keep drinks warm for up to 24 hours, without tainting their flavour. The party-trick of the TKPro is its integrated double-wall stainless steel cup and 360-degree pour-through spout, which allow you to pour and sip on just as much drink as you want, without exposing the rest of the flask to the cooling external temperatures.
Leakproof, bombproof, and beautifully made. The Klean Kanteen is the ultimate flask to have at hand for that warming brew when you are up on the hills or mountains.
6 – Vapur Wide Mouth 1L Collapsible Water Bottle and DrinkLink Hydration System
Collapsible drinking bottles are one of the best camping and bike touring accessories you will find; they allow you to carry extra water at the end of the day before you set-up camp for the night, but without being bulky and cumbersome the rest of the time.The Vapur Wide Mouth 1L Collapsible Water Bottle is the best 'soft flask' I have used to date; it is lightweight and fully collapsible, but it is also easily cleaned thanks to the wide opening. The thing that really sets it apart from other flasks though, is the neat DrinkLink Hydration Tube system; that can be easily attached to the bladder allowing you to use the bottle like a hydration pack water bladder as well as a 'bottle'.
The Vapur has no unpleasant taste, even when I have used it stashed in a warm bag or buoyancy aid on kayaking trips; the DrinkLink hose system is also easier to dry from and store than many of the competitor's options thanks to the ability to disconnect both ends of the hose.
A well-made and faultlessly functioning soft-bottle and hydration bladder combined.
7 – Princeton Tec Vizz LED 165 Lumen Waterproof Head Torch
There are a lot of USB chargeable head-torches on the market now, and I normally use these in preference to a AAA battery powered unit. However, for back-of-beyond adventures where re-charging may be problematic, a traditional replaceable battery unit is a great choice.The Princeton Tec Vizz LED 165 Lumen Waterproof Head Torch is a superb example of a standard replaceable battery head-torch. Running on 3x AAA batteries, it has a choice of three different lighting modes: a powerful 165 lumen spot beam for long-throw illumination, a pair of white Ultrabright LEDs for a dimmable flood beam, and two red Ultrabright LEDs. The inclusion of a red LED is what makes this unit a real winner for me; allowing you to use it at night for reading or close-quarters activities, without it compromising your night vision.
Waterproof to one metre, well-made, and robust enough for all outdoor pursuits; this is a great value headtorch for camping, hiking, bike touring, and kayaking.
8 – NiteIze CAMJAM® Small Cord Tightener and Reflective Rope
The least expensive item in this line-up, but one of the most useful; the NiteIze CAMJAM® Small Cord Tightener and Reflective Rope is my solution to a campsite washing line or back-up guy rope.
I have used the neat little system on many occasion to create an adjustable and secure washing line, fix up a tarp, or extend tent guy lines if you want to wrap them around a nearby tree for extra strength.
9 – Voited Soul Slipper Camp Shoes
The Voited Soul Slipper is an eco-conscious shoe, built to provide warmth for your feet during your outdoor expedition; or to give you that warm cosy feeling at home. The water-repellent recycled REPREVE® ripstop fabric is fitted onto a durable sturdy outer sole using a water-based gluing process and hand-stitching; to provide a lightweight, compact shoe. A cushy memory foam inner sole then creates a naturally moulded foot bed, which paired with an ultra-soft fleece inner lining offers supreme warm and comfort.Grippy, beautifully warm, and incredibly durable. I have used the Voited Soul Slippers on biking, boating, and backpacking trips as my evening chill-out footwear. After spending the day in cycling shoes or wetsuit boots, your feet will love you for slipping on a pair of these.
10 – OverBoard Waterproof Bags
Roll-top waterproof bags are a great way to keep things sealed, separated, and safe when you are travelling or camping. The collection of dry pouches from UK brand Overboard Bags, as well as their multi-sized multipack of larger bags are ideal.The Overboard kit is well made and fantastic value; providing a stripped-back minimalist approach. These dry bags are no exception. The multiple colours and sizes make them ideal as grab-bags for valuables, tools, and small essentials; to stop contamination between different kit and avoid smaller objects being lost in the depths of your pannier. The larger sized bags are ideal as sleeping bag stuff-sacks or clothes bags—keeping your kit dry, clean, and protected.
Disclaimer: The equipment and accessories discussed in this post were supplied for test and review on Life In The Saddle
Comments
Post a Comment