Presenting聽six totally unessential, very cool tools you can鈥檛 afford not to throw in the back of your truck, which, if you鈥檙e like me, serves as your weekend base camp and mobile party space. Think of it as an insurance policy for the next time a sunset and a great beer call your name.
Stanley 国产吃瓜黑料 Combo Stainless-Steel Shot Glass Set
These four 聽($20) in a retro hammered-steel case聽are鈥擨 almost hate to say it鈥攁mong my favorite pieces of gear. They seemed so impractical for camping, but the two-ounce glasses eventually聽won me over. Why? I can鈥檛 find a good reason not to bring them on a rafting trip because they always add to the party.
Yeti Rambler Tumbler
Even since I brought a 聽($30) on聽an 18-day trip down the Grand Canyon, it鈥檚 been an essential part of my road-trip kit. The double-walled insulated exterior has kept ice clinking inside for more than an hour on triple-digit days.聽
Miir Growler
Sure, lots of companies are making vacuum-insulated growlers, and many claim to help people in poor or underdeveloped countries. But after testing ($59) and getting to know Miir over the years, I can confidently say that both its product and its charity are among the best out there. The lid closes with a reassuring snap, thanks to a clamp system that, coupled with a rubber gasket, keeps beer carbonated and cold for up to 24 hours. Each purchase also guarantees access to clean water for a year to someone who needs it.
Vigo Protective Wine Carrier聽
Don鈥檛 bring glass wine bottles camping. If you can鈥檛 avoid it, opt for something like the malleable ($79), which is made from XRD Impact Foam and will prevent the bottle from breaking no matter what you throw at it. (Watch this of a woman dropping a bowling ball on a bottle inside the carrier. Spoiler alert: No glass breaks.)聽
REI Camp Roll Table聽
If you aren鈥檛 sharing a communal space while drinking, it isn鈥檛 a party. Roll-up tables, like ($65)聽from REI, are portable ways to create this area. This sturdy aluminum table is the perfect setup for a bar, snacks, or card game.聽
Howler Brothers Old Skool Kool Kans聽
There is currently debate among 国产吃瓜黑料 editors as to whether a koozie鈥檚 main purpose is to keep the hand warm or the beer cold. While I plan to tackle this important question in an upcoming Gear Guy post, the fact remains that beer is tastier when ensconced in a koozie. We like a simple, durable vinyl option like 聽($15 for two) from Howler Brothers.聽It has excellent hand聽feel, thanks to its sturdy closed-cell foam, which also causes it to float.