They have the look of something designed for the space program. They're mylar, a paper-thin shiny metallic sheet, that comes in handy when your car breaks down in winter, or when you're separated from your climbing group on the slopes of Mt. McKinley. Barring that, they're also a perfect material for a do-it-yourself cold-climate Halloween costume-near impossible to rip by hand, but cut easily with scissors. There's no padding, so they wouldn't be too comfy on your bed, but they sure are warm. They both come folded about the size of a wallet. The Blanket is 52" x 82", the Sleeping Bag is 34" x 84".

Put your silverware on your belt. This 4-1/4" camping implement separates into a fold-out fork and spoon, and the spoon has a fold-out knife at the other end so you can use it with the fork to cut your pork chops. Also includes a corkscrew (we recommend a nice Grenache or Tempranillo with pork chops), a can/bottle opener and the ubiquitous awl. In brushed steel with a black canvas belt pouch that you should put the thing into fork-down or the tines might catch on the fabric and make you crazy.

No gas or electricity needed for this pocket-sized manual chain saw, the camper's pal. It's 30" long overall, with (82) spring-steel teeth on the 18-1/2" middle section, and canvas loop handles on each end. Imagine a sharpened bike chain with a handle at each end. It's easy to use (we tested it), works a whole lot faster than a hatchet, rolls up into no space at all, and stores in the heavy-duty canvas belt pouch that comes with it.

The boys in the back room called this IZoom Pro™ flashlight ludicrously bright, and they’re usually right. Rated at 300, 1200, and 2500 lumens with a strobe setting, light is through a reticular COB LED element with an adjustable focus lens. Takes (6) “AA” batteries, and they’re included. Measures 7” long x 1-1/2” dia in black aluminum alloy body. Has up to a 4-hour life, depending on the beam strength you use.

We feel your pain. Nothing says first-world tragedy like camping with no way to make kale/bacon/acai berry smoothies. You’ll need this rechargeable travel blender. Holds 16 oz and has a 4-blade rotor on an eye popping, 15K rpm, ice-crushing motor. Recharging is easy via an included USB/Micro USB cord. Measures 2-3/4" dia x 9-1/4" tall, and includes a safety cap for the blades, and top and bottom caps for the bottle. BPA-free and dishwasher safe, and runs for (3) hours on a charge. Non-smoothie drinkers can use it for making brandy alexanders.

This one's easier to toss, cuz it folds in half. Johnny Appleseed would have carried one of these if he'd had our web address. Our folding garden trowel is a 5-3/4" x 2-1/8" when inside its black canvas belt carrier, but opens and locks to 8-7/8" long. All stainless steel, so there are no rust problems for you itinerant gardeners.

Veterans will know this as an entrenching tool, but to everyone else it's a folding camp shovel. Our hardened steel version is 22-1/2" long when open, folds to a measly 9-1/2", and weighs just over 2-1/2 lbs. Blade is 8-1/4" long x 6" wide, serrated on one side. Fits into the light canvas pouch, which you can carry on your belt because you never know when you'll need to dig a hole.

Orienteerer alert. This compass has (3) scales and a 4X magnifier. Can be used to read topographical and tourist maps, and to determine azimuthal locations. Perfect for use with overhead projectors. The 2” dia compass is graduated from 0-360 degrees in 2-degree increments, has a liquid-filled capsule, declination correction scale and luminous points, and hangs on a yellow lanyard. Meridian lines help with accurate plotting of angles. Scales are in mm 1:25K, 1:50K. Measures 2.5" (60mm) x 5.5" (140mm).

You don't have to smell like a polecat just because you're camping. Our 5-gallon PVC solar shower bag measures 23" x 16" with an in-line valve, 25" hose, 1-1/2" shower head and mounting hook. Mfr says 2 hours in the sun on a 70-degree day gets you 95-degree water.

In a automotive breakthrough of epic proportions, allow us to introduce the Bigfoot Air Freshener, complete with a little string for hanging from your rear-view mirror. And no, it's not an abominable aroma--it's pine-scented.

Packaged as a “single pocket sports belt” this black elastic belt is 1-1/2” wide, and adjusts from 27” to 43” but will stretch to up to 60”. Closes with a molle buckle. In the middle is an 11” long zippered pouch that folds flat under the belt but unfolds to approx 3” wide, and will expand to almost twice that. Big enough to hold a large smartphone, keys, wallet or a bunch of cash. Handy for runners or travelers. Or running travelers. Or traveling runners.

Small enough to fit into the belt-mounted black canvas carrying case (4-3/8" x 3" x 1" thick), but they open up to be plenty big for most binocular needs. These 10X25 binocs have glare-reducing coated lenses, a thin neck-strap, adjustable focus, water-resistant and easy-to-hold rubber skin, rubber eyecups and fine-tuning for the right eye.

Looks like an antacid tablet, a white disc 13/16" dia x 3/8" thick, but drop it in water and the rayon instantly expands into a 9" x 13" reusable wipe. Can you say handy? No mother should ever leave the house without a few in her purse and no glove compartment is complete without a handful. Click here and watch the magic! 

This digital stopwatch includes a clock, alarm clock and lap modes. Reading appears in a 7/8" x 7/16" tall LCD display, graduated down to 1/100th of a second. Includes a 16" neck cord. From United Scientific. In assorted, but dignified, coach-appropriate colors.

It's easier to see. Our each is (100) feet of 3/32" dia high visibility neon-green type-III paracord. Made of 7-strand, 550-lb test nylon, it's color-fast and resistant to rot, UV light and mildew. A camper's dream! Also makes really snazzy bootlaces.

It doesn't get much more economical in the whistle game. You get a pair of (non-chrome) steel referee whistles already hung on 20" lanyards in blue, green, pink or orange, which are guaranteed to be someone's school colors.

How to shoot an azimuth for fun and profit: Get the ultimate direction finder, a lensatic compass. It has a 2-1/8" dia face marked in 5-degree increments, a 1/4" dia sight lens, 9/16" dia bubble level, and a 1-1/2" sight with crosshairs. Measures 3-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/8" when folded and comes with an 18" long cord and an olive drab belt pouch. For instructions, go to www.armystudyguide.com, click on "prep for basic" then "land navigation," then click on "determine a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass." Piece o' cake.

You will survive with this Survival Candle, a 3-wick burner made of soy and palm wax in a 3-1/8" dia 2-3/8" tin can with a lid. Rated to last up to 36 hours.