Instead of standard metal poles, these tents use inflatable AirPoles. Kelty says that they’re just as, if not more resilient than their metal counterparts, standing up the usual use and abuse that comes with a camping trip. When you’re ready to pack it up and go home, de-flating the tent is just as easy as inflating it. The entire setup process should take less than a minute, thanks to the inflation by way of the two individual valves.

There are two versions of the Kelty AirPitch inflatable tent being offered. Both of them have a floor-less central vestibule where you can store your gear and this area is screened in to protect you against unwanted guests. There are also internal storage pockets for more stuff. The Mach 4 has a single four-person sleeping area, whereas the Mach 6 provides two separate sleeping modules, each with enough room for three people to cach some Zs. The dual-action hand pump is included, but you could presumably use your own powered one if you’d like.

You won’t be able to camp with Kelty this summer, but the $400 Mach 4 and $500 Mach 6 AirPitch tents should be ready in time for next year’s camping season. They’re saying that they’ll ship next January.

[Source]

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As you prepare to whip out the bug spray and water filter for your annual camping trip, you might consider a little bit of NASA technology as part of that camping trip. Garret Finney worked on habitation modules for the International Space Station while working at NASA, but he has now taken that passion for efficient living to the world of camping trailers.

No, it’s not the most glamorous-looking thing in the world and it hardly looks space age, but the “Cricket” is supposed to be remarkably utilitarian and efficient. For starters, it’s lightweight (around 1300 pounds), so you can tow it with even smaller cars and SUVs without resorting to a big honking truck. Next, the living space is flexible and adaptable. The couch becomes a bed and there are “loft” sleeping quarters too. There’s a small kitchen in there with a rotating table. You’ll even find a pull-out shower to wash off all that dirt you’ll surely accumulate. It’s not as big as an RV, but it’s not as small as a tent either; the Cricket fits somewhere in between.

This almost makes me think of the caravan challenge from Top Gear, but with far less buffoonery. And you can fully customize it to suit your needs, including solar panels, air conditioning, and a portable toilet. Prices start at $14,330.

[Source]

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When it comes to off-road touring, Moby1 has a unique trailer solution in its “expedition trailers”. These are built light-weight and therefore don’t count against your gas mileage too badly. They are designed on the old teardrop trailer concept, which was popular during the 30s through the 50s, but with Moby1′s own twist on the design.

Interestingly enough, there are multiple different models that all offer dramatically different experiences. For example, the XTR is an expedition-capable trailer for multiple terrain but also includes a rooftop tent, a sink with running hot and cold water, a cabin heater, outdoor shower, free standing awning, cabin air conditioning, solar panels, a portable toilet, and even a generator.

There are also very tiny units that can even be dragged around your motorcycle and offer a rather crapped design but still a more solid, dragable solution that a normal tent.

Prices vary just as wildly with the XTR coming in at $15,500, and the C2 going for just $5,500.

[ source ]

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The biggest advantage, of course, is that you are off the ground. This means that you are less likely to have random critters (including the creepy-crawly six-legged variety) pay you a midnight visit. Just like how they tell you to suspend your food high above the ground to reduce the risk of bears, you can save yourself from Yogi and his pals too.

The Tentsile comes in a number of sizes, ranging from 11 pounds to 100 pounds, and it can be set up in less than an hour. You have to find three points of contact and then the hammock-style tent is suspended above the ground using that tension. A rope ladder is included for getting in and out, but you’ll presumably have to climb the trees the old fashioned way to get your three points of contact.

[Gadget Review via Tentsile]

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The timing of this is a little off, since camping season is pretty much wrapping up, but the Sealander camping trailer is certainly an intriguing proposition. The pod-like camper is small and light enough to be towed by a mid-size vehicle, but it comes with a couple of surprises when you arrive at your chosen campsite.

First, it can function as a tent. That’s simple enough, since there are benches and beds and such in the modular and configurable interior. The inside can also be moved and swapped around to form the kitchen, complete with sink, fridge, and heater. The roof can also be peeled back for a night under the stars.

But the real kicker is that the Sealander, as its name leads you to believe, is also a seafaring vehicle. There is a “low emissions” electric motor in there that lets the waterproof Sealander hit the lake. That’s pretty awesome. It also has a shallow draft so you can make your way through shallower waters too.

Maybe the timing isn’t so terrible, since you can’t even get the Sealander yet. They’re planning a launch in 2012 with an approximate price of $20,400. If they’re able to hit the retail channels and get distribution by the spring, this could be quite the hot seller.

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When it comes to camping, you are either the rough, outback survivalist, spending your nights in a sleeping bag and living on beans, wieners or various wild nutrients, or you prefer bringing a tent and a miniature kitchen to cook full meals as if you are still at home. For the people that prefer a more “tamed” weekend surrounded by nature, but with the help of technology, the Kanz Outdoor’s Field Kitchen is the right choice.

Made from marine-grade aluminum and Baltic birch plywood, the Kanz Field Kitchen is basically a self-contained portable camping kitchen, helping you store and use all your gear. When in opened and in use, the camping kitchen transforms its top lid into a makeshift wind protection panel while a wooden front panel folds to serve as a food preparation surface. Depending on your location or preference, you can either place the unit on a picnic table, or use its optional set of legs.

Though the basic version (around $595 US) includes silverware drawer, various small compartments for cooking utensils and plates,  Kanz will not include a burner. They will, however, offer you a choice between a Coleman Powerhouse dual-fuel stove burner for a hundred dollars more, or, if you want to enjoy a premium experience, a powerful Partner Steel stove for roughly $800 extra.

Sure, in some ways (especially financial ones) this may seem like overkill, but if you enjoy eating outdoors in style, then look no further than Kanz Outdoors.

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If you’re a serious outdoorsman – or a snob city-dweller who gets dragged out RVing by your serious outdoorsman friends – the new Eddie Bauer Airstream camper is for you.

This pristine tin can is packed with all of the size and amenities of a high-end bachelor pad, and will cost you about the same at $74,000. It includes everything you would expect for an adventure in the great outdoors: A flat-screen TV, queen bed with goose-down duvet, fold-away lounge; heat. Electricity. You can grab a cold beer from the fridge, throw on some tunes, open the hatch door at the hind-end and sit on the rubber-topped, bench-style back bumper. It’s like giving mother nature a big bear-hug.

“Airstream customers have always been passionate in their pursuit of outdoor adventure, and now we’ve created the ultimate tool to support their needs,” says Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “And we’ve done so by perfectly melding the inimitable style of two great American brands.”

“Eddie Bauer has been outfitting fishermen, hunters, mountaineers and other outdoor adventurers for 90 years,” said Neil Fiske, president and CEO of Eddie Bauer. “Partnering with Airstream gives us the opportunity to build something special for those who enjoy comfort and style yet want the flexibility to take all of their gear and equipment on their family adventures.”

Sounds like the CEOs of these companies have blown past their adventure years and straight into the perspective that camping and luxury belong in the same sentence.

I don’t think I would ever consider camping in something like this. But it’s a tempting thought when considering my next apartment. It’s mobile. It’s bigger and classier than every flat I’ve ever had the pleasure of inhabiting. And I could pay it off in six years for less than the cost of inner-city rent.

[Gizmodo, CampingLife via Airstream]

The post Eddie Bauer and Airstream create 215 square feet of camping luxury appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Stump Stove burns five times longer than traditionally cut firewood.

How often does a wood log get some technological lovin? A log is a log is a log, is it not? Not the Stump Stove.  It’s a log that has been cut according to the specs of the companies patent which allows it to burn five times longer than a traditionally cut firewood log.  You can even extinguish it and reignite it multiple times.  One single 16-inch log, depending on diameter and density, can burn well beyond 3 hours.  Compare that to a typical night out camping, and you’re burning anywhere from 2-6 bags of firewood.  The Stump Stove is probably the most ingenious advancement to camping technology we have seen in decades. It conserves forestry by cutting back the amount of wood used, and also the amount of carbon released in the atmosphere when you burn it.  They sell from $15-$20 depending on the size, and are available in the US and Canada just in time for the camping season.

[Hat tip to Jaysunz]

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