The Original Canopy Chair

by Justin Glow on

It’s amazing how fast those collapsible camping chairs came down in price. It seems like only a few years ago I picked one up for $20 or $30, and now you can find them two-for-$10 at Wal-Mart. Granted, they’re poorly constructed at that price, but you get what you pay for.

If you’re willing to splurge a bit, Renetto has what they call the Canopy Chair. This comfy cousin to the cheapo is equipped with dual cup holders and a sun-blocking canopy attached to the back — perfect for your next camping trip. I just might have to get me one.

The Original Canopy Chair is available from Renetto for $49. [via]

The Piilo: What is it?

by Justin Glow on

Okay, it’s time to play guess that travel gadget again! Above is the Piilo. Do you know what it is? It’s either a:

  1. Theft-proof money pouch.
  2. Protective cover for a snowboard.
  3. Futuristic tent design.
  4. Smog-reducing face mask.

What do you think? Find out after the jump.

If you guessed a futuristic tent design, you’re right!

The Piilo probably isn’t something you’d take on your next camping trip, but it sure is interesting to look at. According to the designer, Markus Michalski, “the object is designed for the interior as a private secret retreat. it can be used at home, on the road or in the office.”

No other details — like will it keep rain out? — are available, and it’s not actually for sale. Yet. If it does become commercially available in the future, we’ll let you know. [via]

Grilliput: Pocket-Size Portable Grill for Hiking

by Justin Glow on

It looks like a flute, I know, but it’s actually a compact camping/hiking grill called the Grilliput. When not in use, it’s small enough to fit in your back pocket. Assemble it above a campfire, and you can easily cook a meal for four or more. The only downside I can find is you’d want to make sure the grate is completely clean before packing up, otherwise you might have some greasy leftovers seeping into your bag.

The Grilliput, $29 from REI. [via]

Ex-Marine Kills Black Bear With Log: His “Bark” Is Worse Than His Bite

by Willy Volk on

I spent my formative years in a sleepy little hamlet north of Atlanta known as the only city in America that required all city residents to own a handgun. We all felt safe, and nervous, and protected, and just a little bit skittish. It was nice.

An hour-or-so north of my well-armed town was an even tinier hamlet: Helen. Designed to resemble a Bavarian village (seriously!), Helen is a draw for shop-happy grannies (thanks to its novelty) and outdoorsy types (thanks to its remoteness).

Evidently, ex-Marine Chris Everheart (not a shop-happy granny) was camping near Helen with his three children when a 300-pound bear snuck into their campsite. When the bear lunged for Everheart’s six-year-old boy, the former military man “picked up a log and threw it at it. It happened to hit the bear in the head. I thought it just knocked it out but it actually ended up killing the bear.” Everhart was later cited for not storing his food properly.

No doubt Everheart’s boys are bragging to all their friends: “My daddy can beat up a black bear!” It’s cool now, kids, but wait’ll you try to sneak in after curfew and daddy’s eyes start gleaming…

[Via Get Outdoors]

Tarp Shelters

by Willy Volk on

Minimalist campers — or those just too stinking cheap to purchase a tent — will no doubt thrill at the bounty of tarp-related information provided on equipped.com.

From an exhaustive FAQs relating to tarp shelters, to detailed schematics about the various ways to hang a tarp to suit your needs, to intricate folding patterns for your tarps, this site is like the Costco of tarps: it’s a one-stop shop.

It’s worth noting that the piece specifically warns against using a tarp to protect against hailstorms. My thought? If you didn’t know that already, then you should NOT click over to read more. Go read about sexy cities instead. Thanks.