When camping season arrives, you will naturally be obliged to think about how you can get yourself some great camping gadgets to suit your campervan experience. They keep on arriving thick and thin, and smart innovations are being made all the time. These range from cooking equipment to innovative tech gadgets.
They can range from power banks to screen projectors and even portable lavatories. Camping involves a lot of compromises that you would normally take for granted at home, so you have to be prepared for these things.
A well-kitted-out campervan should come with the essentials installed. These include adequate cooking facilities, including camping hobs, somewhere to sleep, and somewhere that provides a water supply. There are many guides out there which can tell you how to do anything from converting a normal van into a camper to travelling tips. But crucially, you need a mobile home to sleep, cook, and wash in.
The best camping gadgets for campervans 2024 at a glance:
The best gadget for a campervan: Anker EverFrost Cooler 30 – buy from Amazon
Editor’s pick: Bose Soundlink Flex Portable Speaker – buy from Amazon
Best portable power stove: Biolite Campstove 2+ – buy from Amazon
However, some camping gadgets have become extremely clever to the point where they’re almost essential – portable coffee makers included. We’ve done some browsing around and rounded up the best bits of kit you can have for your next trip, ranging in function, price, and usefulness.
The best camping gadgets for campervans 2024
Best camping gadget for campervans
The removable battery also has three USB ports, one USB-C and the other two USB-A. You also get an extendable table that doubles as a handle for when you need to carry it around. It weighs 20 kg, so it is quite bulky even when empty.
Pros
- Doesn't require ice
- Long-lasting cooling of up to 35 hours
- Keeps essentials fresh for a weekend away
Cons
- Quite heavy if you intend to pull it around
It has a claimed battery life of 15-hours and comes with an SD card slot which can support up to 32GB. If you're going away with friends on a campervan trip, this can be a great device to share with them.
Pros
- Supports up to 32 devices (claimed)
- Up to 15-hours of battery life
- Compact size, which makes it easy to pack when travelling
Cons
- The screen may be too small for some
Best value portable speaker
You can get 360-surround speakers from Bose and rival manufacturers, but we believe the price point and compactness of this one make it perfect for most situations where you want to bring a bit of atmosphere to your spot on the campsite.
Pros
- Great value for money at well under £200
- Has an IP67 waterproof rating
- Incredible sound quality, as expected from Bose
Cons
- Doesn't offer surround sound like more premium models
- Fairly limited choice of colours
The coolest camping torch
This mini variant isn't as long as the longer siblings, which arguably makes it a finer choice for camping trips. It can shine with a beam of up to 145 metres with 97 lumens of light. It can even last a total of 32 hours on low intensity and 11 hours on high. It's a waterproof and versatile torch which should meet your camping needs, but also has a bit of style to it.
Pros
- Stylish compared with other torches
- Powerful enough for most situations
- Lasts a long time and only uses AA batteries
Cons
- Not rechargeable, which some may prefer
Best portable power stove for camping
Some of the power is diverted to internal fans, which stoke the flames, ensure optimum fuel efficiency, and reduce smoke output by 95%. On the side, three LED gauges provide feedback to the user on fire, fan, and power performance.
Pros
- Power is almost always guaranteed in any place
- Multi-purpose from boiling flasks to charging devices
- Fast boiling time of 1 litre in under five minutes
Cons
- The flames can be a bit nerve-wracking
The best water purifier
The device's filters are proven to remove 99.9% of bacteria and viruses and reduce the presence of heavy metals like mercury. Its small size means that it's easy to pack and transport, too. It'll filter 500ml of water every minute, and the hose allows for filtration straight from a wild water source.
Pros
- Perfect tool for refilling water bottles
- Easy to use, thanks to its hand pump
- Filters out filthy contaminants
Cons
- Is quite a thorough item over fresh bottles of water
The best portable projector
This 200 ANSI Lumen version displays a 100-inch picture, video playtime of up to four hours, and a display resolution of 720p. It's a perfect tool for low-light environments and even has an 8W speaker and the ability to connect to the Nebula app to control the settings.
Pros
- Great quality picture at 720p
- Perfect for portability on camping trips
- Connects via Bluetooth, HDMI, and USB
Cons
- Chromecast not supported
- Netflix and other streaming sites can't be cast - they have to be downloaded
Best camping shovel
Rrp: $35.00
Rrp: $35.00
This shovel's carbon steel construction makes it robust enough to handle any situation and also doubles as a hammer. Plus, it comes with a stow bag. Camping is all about being economical, so anything that has more than one function is a winner.
Pros
- Foldable for easy storage and packing
- Great for setting up tents and other camping tasks
- Compact enough to not be too bulky
Cons
- Some will prefer a longer shovel
The best portable tyre inflator
Pros
- Efficiently inflate tyres with ease
- Excellent value for money
- Compact dimensions make storage easy
Cons
- More powerful versions will inflate quicker
Best jump starter for campervans
Rrp: $124.95
Rrp: $124.95
Additionally, the GB40 will charge devices via USB and be charged by USB too. It also features a flashlight that has an SOS flash function, should you need it. The GB40 is small at about 17cm x 8cm and only weighs about one kilogram. It's tough, too, rated at IP65.
Pros
- Suitable for most campervan engines
- Great build quality, as per NOCO products
- IP65 waterproof rating
Cons
- Not compatible for any diesel engine above 3 litres
The best mini coffee maker for camping
Rrp: $69.90
Rrp: $69.90
It uses ground coffee, hot water, and internal pressure-creating pistons. The compact device delivers the perfect hillside coffee in a matter of seconds. It's small too, fitting into a backpack's bottle pocket and weighing 336g. It even comes in a number of colours too.
Pros
- Compact size for easy packing
- Makes superb coffee on the go, anywhere
- Can make up to 120ml
Cons
- Awkward to clean the components
- Boil the water separately
The best midge protector for camping
The gadget uses a small butane cartridge to heat a pad dowsed in an odourless natural insect repellent, found in chrysanthemums. The area that's affected is around 4.5m by 4.5m. It'll run for 12 hours, and can be connected to a pack if required.
Pros
- Keeps mosquitoes and midges away from you
- 20 square metres of protection
- Lasts for 12-hours (claimed)
Cons
- Will need to be placed cleverly
- Some will just prefer a spray
Best gas stove for camping
It only weighs 103g but can boil one litre of water in about four minutes and slips easily into a backpack pocket. Just make sure you use it somewhere sheltered because a breeze will impact its effectiveness.
Pros
- Good value for money compared to the BioLite power bank
- Useful item from boiling water to cooking
- Compact in size for easy packing and portability
Cons
- Not as powerful as some may want
The best foldaway blanket for camping
When it's unfolded, it'll comfortably seat two people. Four corner pockets allow for the use of natural anchors like sand or pebbles, and there are also some small tethering pegs included.
Pros
- Folds away into a compact size
- Has four pockets where stones can be placed to pin it down
- Comfortably seats 2-4 people
Cons
- It doesn't represent great value compared to normal blankets
Best portable camping toilet
It weighs only 1kg, can be used for festivals and long hikes (according to the manufacturer), and is sturdy enough to be sat down on. Though, we'd recommend placing it on at least relatively flat ground.
Pros
- Useful if you get caught short far from public loos
- Foldable and quite easy to carry
- Comes with bag to carry it around in
Cons
- Can be a slight faff, if you're not already used to these things
FAQs about campervans/camping gadgets
What accessories do you need for a campervan?
Anything that’s helpful for making you live properly for your time away. Portable cooking equipment is always essential on these sorts of trips, as are other devices and containers that can allow for fresh food and drink. A flask is always a great idea, as is the little coffee machine included in our list, should you want a caffeine boost each morning. But don’t forget your toiletries and other essentials that make you healthy at home.
How can I make my campervan cool?
If your aim is to be the cool one in your friends group and rock up with the kitted-out camper, you really need nothing more than a number of ideas listed in this article. A quality speaker, projector, Wi-Fi hotspot, power bank, and portable fridge will make your camper the one others will envy.
But don’t forget that the essential bits like the water supply, bedding, and kitchen are what makes a van a camper. Ensure these bits are working properly and well-installed so you can rely on them when away on trips.
How can I make my campervan more homely?
Alongside the essentials, taking familiar bedding, a set of lights and lanterns, a water container, and perhaps a Wi-Fi hotspot are ways to make your campervan feel more homely than a functionally converted van. Another idea could be to meal prep before your weekend, so when it comes to cooking your dinner, you have a portion you made earlier. Or perhaps have a nice plan of what to eat and take the ingredients accordingly.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
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