Back in 2011, we were brimming with excitement as we set off for a Big Lap of Australia with a 4×4 and camper in tow. At the time, we thought we had the ultimate camping accessories list. After 13 months touring the back roads of Australia, our camping essentials list has been further refined. The following list is our Top Camping Accessories:
Fridge Freezer: A 12V compressor fridge freezer is the best choice for touring, particularly for the northern extremes. Compressor fridges will run cooler than other fridge types both at rest and on the move, if installed and setup correctly.
A dual zone fridge freezer is the best option if intending to stay off the grid for longer, as it preserves meat better. Just like your kitchen freezer at home, meat will keep for months at a time before losing its nutritional value.
A fridge-only, relies on vacuum sealing to keep meat fresh, but only for a few weeks at a time. Vacuum sealed meat imparts a certain aftertaste on fresh meat, particularly if using low cost portable sealers and it is not to everyone’s liking.
We like the Evakool Aussie-made fridge freezer range. They are one of few fridges still made in Australia, very efficient in use and boast an industry leading 5 year warranty.
In-line Water filter: There are two schools of thought regarding water filters – either filter incoming water or outgoing water. The incoming approach uses a fresh water hose and filter to treat all incoming water. This means the tanks are always filled with treated water, conditioning the tank as part of the process and eroding any nasties along the way. The alternative option is to add the water filter on one of the outgoing cold water lines such as at the kitchen. You still use the fresh water hose to fill the tank/s but filtering is only done at the outgoing tap level. This method allows potentially affected water to pass into the water tanks and fester therein, with ingestion possible from using one of the unfiltered outlets. For this reason, we use the B.E.S.T. water filters and the former approach.
CGear Awning Mats: these mats were initially developed for the armed forces to repress the upward movement of stone projectiles during helicopter landings. The camping industry has been a benefactor of this development. A two-layer mat manages to sift dirt though the mat but not back up. As an awning mat, it reduces the amount of dirt walked into your camper, while providing something pleasant to stand on in and around the kitchen. Much better than a 3-corner jack!
Poo Powder: yep, you read that correctly! Poo Powder is the clever concoction from our mates at Ezygonow, the manufacturer of bush camping toilet solutions. While chemical toilets are the main-stayers along the popular tourist routes, options quickly reduce once off the blacktop where dump points are few and far between. Being chemical based, you can’t just dig a hole and dump the contents in a hole or dispatch in a long drop toilet which will only kill the natural bacteria.
In comparison, waste treated with poo powder can be disposed with normal garbage. Simply place a biodegradable bag in the bowl of your existing portaloo, tucking the ends of the bag under the toilet seat and toss in a spoon of Poo Powder (PP). The PP breaks down the waste. Simply tie up the bag after use and put in with the rubbish. A deodoriser masks any smell. Bags can be used for more than one sitting, just add another scoop of PP each time.
You can purchase a Toilet in a Bag kit which includes biodegradable bags preloaded with PP or PP in 60 or 120 use containers.
Portable Solar Panels: There are occasions when you just can’t or don’t want to camp in full sun. We like camping in spots to catch the morning sun before the heat of the day kicks in, which represents the most efficient solar capture time. The afternoon sun is hotter and the heat de-rates the panel output. In these conditions, it is good to have some afternoon shade. A portable solar panel can be run out to hit more rays while the camper stays cool in the shade.
Ozpig Is the ultimate personal campfire for use in the bush or on the back deck at home, ideal for entertaining friends or for cooking and warmth at your campsite. It is fully enclosed, improving safety and reducing wood use, so you get all the ambience of a campfire but without needing a trailer load of wood to feed it. Better still, it has a range of accessories to broaden its use such as the chargrill, heat bead basket and extra extension legs.
As travellers ourselves, these are products we personally use, so can vouch directly for their performance and reliability out in the wilderness.
You can read more about these accessories HERE.