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.

C'mon baby, light someone's fire with this magnesium and flint fire-starter kit. The 3" steel hack-saw-type blade and a 3-1/8" x 3/8" x 1-1/8" hunk of magnesium, with a rod of flint embedded in one long side, are on a keychain for carrying but are easily removed from it. With the serrated edge of the blade, shave some Mg into a small pile of tinder. Strike the flint with the opposite edge to spark the tinder-Mg's interest, and you're Prometheus.

In nylon digital camo, this military radio bag measures 11" x 12" x 6" with adjustable straps on the side panels to pull them in, another to close the top, and a pair of female molle buckles to attach it to something else. Sew it all together, add a strap and you’ve got a great carry-all. Note openings at bottom corners. For you collectors, it’s marked  "APB03 RADIO POUCH SPM1C1-09-F-C002 8465015158636 F190686393 TAMCN NO. C54402F"

Four carabiners, no waiting. These are for keys and stuff, not for hanging around Mt. Everest. We'll pick a quartet of 2-3/4" x 1-3/8" carabiners in assorted vibrant anodized-aluminum colors, including black and polished silver. They open to a max of 5/8" and each has a complimentary 7/8" slip-ring at absolutely no extra charge.

Camper alert: nothing says temporary water storage like this collapsible translucent PVC water jug. Holds 3-3/4 gallons (15L) and measures 11-1/2” x 10” x 9” when full, but flattens to cargo-pants-pocket size when empty. Includes a 3-3/8” handle, and a screw-on cap/spigot. Would also hold about a case-and-a-half of pinot grigio for bachelorette parties in the woods.

Yes, campers, you can now tote a teapot to the woods. This devilishly clever, collapsible silicone tea kettle measures 5-1/2" dia x just 1-3/8" when folded down to its stainless steel base, but pulls itself up (actually, you do the pulling) to stand 6-1/4” tall and hold more than 40 oz of water. Even has a locking spout, and a fold-away handle. Food-grade and dishwasher-safe, it’s good over any low flame as well as on electric stoves.

Make your dashboard one with everything for under seven bucks. This Buddhist monk-on-a-spring wears an off-the-shoulder saffron robe and a blissful expression that will make your daily commute a little slice of Nirvana. Sits 4-5/8" tall with an adhesive base.

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.

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.

These mighty handy wipes start at 3/4" dia x 1/2" thick and come alive (in a manner of speaking) when you drop them into a glass of water. Unfold one to 9" x 10" and use it to clean up the kids--or yourself--and you'll never leave home without them. Each pack is a plastic tube of  (8) wipes, which makes them great for purses, glove compartments and campsites.

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.

What a bright idea! Our emergency blanket is reflective silver Mylar on both sides. Measures 68" long x 23" wide x a heat-sealing 1/16" thick. Comes with attached straps to roll it up and store it, plus a little carabiner to clip it to a pack. Keep it in the car and it might save your life. Or use it as a slim 21st century bedspread if you have a stainless steel bedroom.

Yes, of course from i-Zoom. This one has a super-bright white LED with settings at high (1600 lumens), medium (435 Lumens) and low (118 lumens), plus strobe and a rescue mode that flashes SOS in Morse code (…_ _ _ …). Strobe and SOS are both at 1600 lumens and have a max throw of approx 1500 feet. In black anodized aluminum with knurled handle, measures 10-1/4” long x 1” dia at the handle. Includes (9) “AAA” batteries with a 10-hour lifespan.

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! 

Our jumbo emergency fire starter is 4" long with a 2-3/4" long x 5/16" dia flint with a handle, on a wrist strap with an attached 2-3/4" long steel striker. Guaranteed never to run out of fuel.

This storage pouch, in safety-vest-chartreuse, is 9” x 2” x 2” with a 2-step zip-lock and hook-n-loop water-resistant seal. Good for walking in the rain, biking, sailing and triathlete-ing with valuables, either strapped around your waist with the adjustable elastic belt and molle buckle or not. The pouch is gusseted, which means it’ll also open to 4” wide—perfect for a cell phone.

Tube tents are tubes in the sense that they're one piece, with floors, and can be used as shelters, ground cover or or blankets in emergencies or disasters. This one is bright orange nylon with an aluminized coating on the inside for insulation. Measures 82" x 36". Includes 23 feet of nylon rope for hanging between trees or posts and (4) 9" zinc-plated steel stakes.

Nifty device that takes maxi air and squeezes it down into a mini condition. The device is roughly 6-1/2"" long x 6" tall x 4" wide. It has a 10 ft. cord that plugs into an auto lighter socket: i.e. it runs on 12VDC @ 10 amps. Air output is via a 12" hose with a variety of valve adapters for tires, soccer balls, rubber rafts, and just dusting off the environment. Complete with a 0-250 psi gauge. Which should be plenty of pressure to explode a weak bike tire or flimsy beach ball, so please be careful!