Bug spray. No one will be able to enjoy the unspoiled natural treasures of this 45-mile-long island on Lake Superior, the centerpiece of Isle Royale National Park, if they鈥檙e screaming down its trails trying to outrun squadrons of prehistoric blood-hungry mosquitoes. But why stop at one item? Let me give you the 国产吃瓜黑料 Adviser鈥檚 Five Must-Bring Group Camping Accessories.
Bug Spray
No matter where you camp, bugs and weather are the main causes of a lousy time. You can鈥檛 do much about rain or cold, but there鈥檚 an easy solution for bugs. It鈥檚 a friendly little compound called N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, otherwise known as DEET.
Yes, I鈥檓 talking the nuclear option, here鈥攁nd I鈥檓 a neurotically earth-friendly guy who uses only biodegradable cleaning products, and won鈥檛 let his kids eat anything that doesn鈥檛 have 鈥渙rganic鈥 and 鈥渁ll natural鈥 stamped on its recyclable packaging. Go with a repellent that鈥檚 comprised of a maximum of 25 percent DEET, because any more is simply overkill (and not recommended for infants). No need to get fancy here, just go with ($5.50).
Portable Game
Nothing brings a camping group together like a little cutthroat competition before hitting the sleeping bags at night. A simple deck of cards opens a world of possibilities, but even better is . Consisting of just a small pouch filled with letter tiles, it鈥檚 kind of a combination of Scrabble and Boggle that pits players against each other in a frenzied race to link together words ($15).
Camp Hammock
Easy-living luxury in the backcountry can be defined in two words: camp hammock. ($55) weighs 1 pound 2 ounces. If you get the nylon SlapStraps accessory ($20), it can be hung in about 30 seconds from trees as far as 20 feet apart.
Lantern
Campfires put off more warmth than light, and people can鈥檛 really gather beneath the bright glow of headlamps. For those reasons, a camping lantern definitely adds to evening enjoyment and ambiance. The 4.7-ounce S burns fuel from Primus, Snow Peak, or MSR stove base canisters, and can put out the light of a halogen ($75).
Telescoping Roasting Forks
Some camp cooking items are excessive (like the portable dishwashing station/stool combo) or downright ridiculous (camp espresso maker), but one will make you the champion of the fire ring: a telescoping roasting fork. Use it for cooking hot dogs for dinner and marshmallows for dessert. You鈥檒l never again roast your hands over the fire, the smoke won鈥檛 burn your eyes, and your food will never fall off the stick to a fiery demise. The ($11.50) extends 42 inches.