Perhaps you need a silicone coin purse, or perhaps you just want one on account of their being such cute little bulbous things with their double-ball closures. Plus you can keep anything you want in it. Ours measure 4” x 3” x 1-7/8” with a metal frame and a very pleasing, smooth feel. You pick lime green, warm red or robin’s egg blue.

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.

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".

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.

If you fly to where you hike, you absolutely need this three-piece bianbai wood walking stick. Like in portable pool cues, the pieces are threaded together via steel inserts. Measures 55” long assembled, with a metal tip covered by a removable rubber foot, wrist strap and water-resistant nylon carrying pouch. Pieces are approx 21” long.

Nobody would dare vote you off the island if you have this stainless steel survival tool. Smaller than a credit card at 2-3/4" x 1-3/4", it has (11) functions: can opener, knife edge, flathead screwdriver, small ruler, bottle opener, 4-position wrench, saw blade, 2-position wrench and a couple more. Slip it into your wallet or hang it on your keychain, then go get lost.

They don’t give them away in bars anymore, so you’d better buy this Matchstick Fire Starter. Has a 1-1/2" x 1-1/8" x 3/8" flint housing and a 1” striker with a small cotton wick around the end. Fill it with a little lighter fluid and you’re ready to start something. Includes a 1/2” clip to hang it on something. A must for camping.

An exhausted physicist. Also this 3-1/4" dia camping lantern. Stands 5” tall with fold-down handles, but pull up those handles and reveal the super-bright, a whopping 600 lumen COB LED light inside. Turns on when you open it, and has a small compass on top so you can see where you’re going. Measures approx 7” open and will shine for approx (6) hours with a trio of “AA” batteries, which are included. In utilitarian gray ABS plastic.

Made to strap onto the headrests in your car, this super-squishy pillow puts those airplane neck thingies to shame. Made of microfiber that’s irresistible to touch, it measures 10" wide x 6” tall and is approx 4” thick before you squish it with your head. Black back and neon orange front. Excellent for post-prandial naps after drive-through lunches.

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.

Try flashing this small, keychain Bat-signal projecting light. Cleverly marked “BATMAN™” on the side--and licensed by DC comics, Warner Bros., and, we assume, Batman himself, it’s 3” long x 1/2” dia on a split ring with a short chain. Won’t light up the night sky exactly, but if you need him and Robin to come to your bedroom, it’s big and clear on dark ceilings. (And like the original, it can also be seen as a set of bad teeth for spooky parties.) Includes (4) button-cell batteries.

Not your grandfather's penlight. This one features an intense 200 lumen COB LED with (2) beam settings (bright and super-bright) and adjustable focus. Weatherproof, impact-resistant and it's got a pen clip, 'cuz it's a penlight. 40-meter distance, which is plenty for crawlspaces, under the hood and other fix-it situations. It comes with a pair of "AAA" batteries because we care. 

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.

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.

Hook these on the zipper pulls on your jackets and you'll never be in the dark again. Tiny LED lights measure 1" x 9/16" in a 5/16" thick oblong, and come on a 7/8" long lanyard clip. We'll pick some that will go with your eyes, in blue, green, black or red. Include little button cell batteries that can be replaced if you're the sort of person who does that.

SPECIAL NEWS ALERT! WINTER IS COMING! Avoid those hip-cracking amateur sidewalk double-axels with TREX™ slip-ons, extra-aggressive traction spikes. It regularly ices up here at the home office, and we stay on our feet with these. The chains and spikes are stainless steel, with both sole and heel coverage, and the stretchable rubber tops are high-visibility orange for added safety. You pick small (men’s 5-7, women’s 6-1/2 to 8-1/2 ); Medium (men’s 7-9,women’s 8-1/2 to 10-1/2 ); or large (men’s 9 to 11,women’s 10-1/2 to 12-1/2 ). The rubber uppers are uber-flexible, so they’re likely to fit larger sizes than suggested. (Pat stretched the small over his size 11 boots!)

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.

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.