Our gear editors scoured the floor of聽Summer Outdoor Retailer 2018 for the most interesting camping and hiking products. Here鈥檚 what they found.
Backpacker鈥檚 Pantry Mountain Standard Carrot Cake Pancakes ($13)
Sure, you could have a bowl of oatmeal every morning while camping. But why not make something that would put a restaurant to shame? This might be the I鈥檝e ever had. Yes, the pancakes really do taste like carrot cake, and unlike a lot of gluten-free products, they don鈥檛 come out gritty or crumbly. I can鈥檛 wait to have them again.
鈥擜bbey Gingras, social media editorial assistant
Eureka聽Quick Set Cot ($150)
These days I frequently find myself trading in my lightweight backpacking gear for plusher car-camping stuff. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 stoked on the Quick Set cot, which boosts you two feet off the ground and makes sleeping outside far more comfortable than a traditional pad. With a handle activated by a simple pull, the聽entire thing聽folds up in seconds.
鈥擝en Fox, affiliate reviews manager
MSR Pika Teapot ($25)
The classic two-liter camping pot has its place for preparing big meals, but sometimes all you want is a few cups of instant coffee or a bowl of oatmeal. MSR鈥檚聽Pika aluminum teapot holds聽a liter of water, just enough for it to serve as your sole fast and light backpacking pot.
鈥擜riella Gintzler, assistant editor
Ruffwear Trail Runner Bowl ($15)
The Trail Runner聽is my ultralight dream. The collapsible bowl stuffs into its own pocket and packs down to the size of a聽walnut. It鈥檚 fully seam sealed and holds a liter of water.
鈥擡mily Reed, assistant editor
GCI Outdoor Pod Rocker with SunShade Chair ($70)
I鈥檝e been using GCI鈥檚 Freestyle Rocker for about a year now, and it鈥檚 hands down the most comfortable camping chair in existence. You could argue that shocks on the back legs are excessive, but I鈥檇 reply to the contrary: that they鈥檙e not quite enough. The one thing that鈥檇 make it better? A sun shade, an addition that聽GCI conveniently unveiled this week at Outdoor Retailer.
鈥擶ill Egensteiner, senior editor