The CamJam XT is a clever cast-aluminum rope-tightening tool and carabiner. Has a 7/8” ID carabiner hook at one end, and a 1-1/4” toothed ratchet at the other. Made to take braided rope between 1/8” and 3/8”. Has a working load limit of 500 lbs, and a break strength of 1500 lbs. Measures 4” x 1-3/4’ x 7/8”. Marked “not for climbing.”

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.

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.

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.

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"

Made for truck and bus tires, but anyone tired of kneeling on gas station asphalt will love this 13" long x 5/8” dia air gauge. In nickel-plated brass, it has dual Schrader fittings, one straight on, the other on the reverse side at 45-degrees to ease use and save your back when the valve is at the top of the tire. Reads from 10psi to 160psi in 2psi increments.

It will be if you buy this bright-as-a-Phi-Beta-Kappa COB LED 3W flashlight, with a bonus red laser. Measures a mere 4-3/4" x 1-1/8" dia and comes with (3) “AAA” batteries inside, where they belong. In a knurled aluminum body of a color that we’ll pick for you (gray, black, red or blue) because who cares what color a flashlight is. (Note: flashlight and pointer can't be on at the same time.)

Just ax yourself if you really need a big hatchet when this excellent, and extremely cute, stainless steel mini hand ax is available. Blade is 4-1/2” wide on a 5” molded handle, so the whole shebang is just 9” long. Comes with a canvas sheath with a belt loop for easy carrying.

Or turn this versatile pivoting headlamp instead. From i-Zoom®, this lamp is a serious piece of equipment, not some disposable cheapo. Has high/low/flashing modes, precise slide focus and a max of a super-bright 350 lumens. Comes with (3) “AAA” batteries in a separate rubber-covered compartment at the back of (3) adjustable elastic straps. Will pivot down (4) clicks from straight ahead to straight down. Mfr says it’s good for a 5-hour cycle on fresh batteries. Fear not the darkness with this beauty.

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.

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.

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.

Special for bottlesquashers. This collapsible, non-toxic silicone water bottle (In assorted colors) is easily the cutest thing that ever held H2O. Starts out like a little squat barrel approx 5-1/2” x 2-3/4” dia, but pull up on the top and it rises to a full 9” tall. Flip cap has a screw-down lock, and there’s a carabiner near the neck to hang it from. Holds approx 17 oz, comes in four assorted water friendly colors and is rated for -40 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Great for camping, hiking, mom-ing and kid-ing. 

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.

You will survive, too, just like Gloria Gaynor, and in the woods, even. But only if you have this U.S. Army manual, cleverly titled: SURVIVAL, Department of the Army Field Manual FM21-76. It's 287 heavily illustrated pages of techniques for staying alive (add your own BeeGee jokes here) including orientation, food & cooking, fire- and shelter-making, rafts, animal, insect and plant recognition, and much more. This is the 1970 edition, but staying alive in the woods hasn't changed a whole lot since then. In soft-cover.

Our tactical twofer is a 6” long x 1/2” dia. aluminum body ball-point pen with black ink, with an automobile window breaker at the other end. In gun-metal gray, as befits things tactical, with a pocket clip on the flat-top cap. Escape from your car, then write us a thank you note.

Go ahead. If you've got your glow-in-the-dark compass with you, you can find your way back without having to grope around trying to feel the moss on the north side of the trees. In brass, 2" dia x 1/2" thick, with a bezel with 2-degree increments and a 13/16" dia hook on top.

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.