After a tiring week at work, with the weekend joyfully looming ahead of me, I often find myself fantasizing about a short sweet getaway! Just a few days away from my hectic life, and this hectic world, in a bubble of my own, where all my worries are nowhere to be seen. The pandemic may restrict my actual traveling plans, but it definitely cannot restrict my daydreams about vacations! Jetsetting on a flight may not be a practical option right now, but I do think Camping is a plausible plan. Although camping does have a few downsides too! I mean, you have to get down and dirty, live life on the road, and tackle the moodiness of the elements. In such a scenario, having a set of trustworthy and handy camping products can make a world of difference! Having the right products by your side can make your life much easier during those crucial moments. From an indestructible limited-edition survival kit with 72 EDC camping essentials to a whale-inspired camping trailer we’ve curated some fun and functional camping product designs for you. Enjoy!
1. The Whale Trailer Cabin
The Red Dot Design Award 2021 winning Whale Trailer Cabin, which as the name suggests derives shape from the marine animal, comes with a gradient marine blue and white color exterior. From the images, the white interior of the trailer blends well with the exterior color scheme and adds to the luxe. The concept separates the sleeping, living, and eating areas and has an extending awning at the back that offers more covered outdoor space to be utilized. When you want to grab a bite, the hideaway kitchen on the front can be pulled out giving you a complete kitchen to your disposal. In the middle is the living area with a pop-top roof opening up space for more headroom and natural light.
2. Shelf
With so many people camping nowadays, designers at PDF Haus have conceptualized a minimal camp grill called Shelf, a portable gas grill with folding shelves and a table. Developed in the design language of DHL, PDF Haus aimed to give Shelf a simple box silhouette with a freewheeling attitude, taking inspiration from the color scheme, materials and finishes often chosen by DHL for their vehicles and brand aesthetic. The grill even comes with DHL decals and tags that can be adhered to the metallic grill’s front case that turns into its table extension. While most gas stoves come with a separate carrying case, the Shelf’s entire grill has been turned into one that can be consolidated and carried away. Shaped and carried like a slim briefcase, two metal clasps open and slide out to reveal the Shelf’s grill and supplementary table space.
3. The Tranendreef Tree Tents
Designed by the Dutch artist Dre Wapenaar, these ‘Tranendreef’ tree tents blend architecture and sculpture into one functional structure. The tent is suspended above the ground and basically hangs on the tree like fruit. The guests use a ladder to get inside/outside. It can host two adults and two small children. Originally installed as part of a public art project called ‘Pit’ (hence the avocado shape we assume) organized by Z33, it brought art into the public space of Borgloon. The designer also created ‘field furniture’ – seating, washing, toilet, and BBQ units to complete the camping site with the tents.
4. Microlino off-roading vehicle
Meet this robust version of the compact electric vehicle, ready to take on the treacherous trails for boundless adventure. The Microlino off-road modification brings with it the assurance of a robust chassis and reinforced exterior body frame to take on the harsh road conditions, as well as inclement weather. The solid metal framing on all sides provides protection from accidental bumps into rocks or trees and also doubles as a platform for keeping essential tools or accessories. This brings freedom to pack in more stuff for the journey. Secondly, there is a rack on top to keep things like surfboards or extra luggage.
5. The M-Flashlight
The M-Flashlight from designer Wenhua Xu combines the most practical aspects of camping supplies to create a portable, handheld flashlight that doubles as a power bank to charge up any device that might need some extra power. Equipped with a 10000mAh high-capacity battery, the M-Flashlight is comprised of a round, miniature flashlight that fuses with a rectangular power bank to charge up devices like smartphones and other electronic appliances. Located at the top of the flashlight, a sliding dial turns the appliance on and off. Then, around the back, users will find the ports for USB, HDMI, and Type C cables.
6. Aeri
Meet Aeri, an inflatable canopy that you can carry anywhere inside a backpack, and inflate in 3 minutes with the press of just one single button. Aeri helps you effortlessly set up a canopy or an outdoor shelter in an instant. Designed to be used for recreational outdoor use, Aeri can easily be carried to the beach, campsites, the park, or even your backyard. It uses a four-pillar arch design that provides the perfect shelter against sun, wind, and rain, and its entirely inflatable design runs on a rechargeable air pump that can be operated independently by a single person with zero assistance.
7. Citroën’s My Ami Buggy concept
Citroën’s My Ami Buggy concept has adventure written all over it, ideal for hiking or camping trips to the deep woods with a cute friend. After all, it breaks the stereotype of big, brawny off-roaders with its friendly face! Based on the all-electric Ami City car, the fresh new concept by Citroën gets a good installment of stylish and practical touches in the form of huge chunky off-road tires and a grille cover to mask those pretty eyes. The French brand owned by Stellantis elevates the original Ami EV to an intrepid and friendly backpacker personality with inspiration from construction games, industrial design, and the glamorous world of fashion.
8. The Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit
The limited-edition Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit from VSSL features 72 EDC camping essentials that range from a set of navigational tools to a mini first aid kit, so you’ll always be prepared to rough it in the woods. Made from waterproof, military-grade aluminum, the Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit stores all the tools and starter kits you need in an indestructible vessel. Consolidated into canisters the size of hockey pucks, the Searcher Orange Camp Supplies Kit comes loaded with more than ten mini survival packs that carry everything from navigational tools to fishing supplies. Portable by design, VSSL’s Supplies Kit comes with a lid that doubles as a Suunto Compass, which is also considered one of the most trusted navigational tools on the market and carries the rest of the supply kits inside.
9. The Bungalow Luggage
A collapsible furniture range that is relatively luxurious, ultra-lightweight, and packs up into a travel trolley you can tote after you; the Bungalow Luggage by designer Eunsol Lee sets a stage for unique camping experiences. There is no dearth of foldable camping chairs and tables out there. You could even pick a set of tables and chairs off the shelf but this idea of a portable furniture set has its own merits. Unlike the other metal rod collapsible furniture for the outdoor, this one designed for National Geographic is convenient to transport. Just fold up the two chairs and the table into their bags and the trio sits evenly inside a suitcase you can lug along. This ease of portability also comes in handy when you want to fit the furniture in the boot of the car.
10. Everglow Light Tube
Everglow Light Tube by Klymit stands out from the rest of the portable lights for a design that’s both functional and highly useful in a number of situations. Klymit being an outdoor gear company very obviously has tailored this inflatable light for camping and adventure enthusiasts, but I can think of dozen other uses as well! The inflatable function, you can literally expand the light like a balloon, solves two inherent purposes – diffusing the light so that it doesn’t hurt the eyes and spread easily, and the other is of course the portability aspect. A pocketable design that is ideal for any adventure, or even at home for emergency use. The flexibility of the form factor permits it to be used as a hanging LED light – stick it to your base camp ceiling to use as a lantern, or attach like a hanging light to the awning.
