The collection of camping toys is much more than a cool knife and flashlight, as you will see as we troll through the Scoutmaster Dave toy box.
Show Notes:
- Maglite Mini LED 2-Cell AA Flashlight with Holster (Amazon)
- Leatherman – Rebar Multi-Tool, Stainless Steel with Leather Sheath (Amazon)
- Tactical Pen/Flashlight Self Defense Tool (Amazon)
- Fire-Maple Foldable Rosewood Chopsticks (Amazon)
- Wyndham House 21oz Travel French Press Mug (Amazon)
- Kindle Paperwhite E-reader (Amazon)
- GCI Outdoor Zero Gravity Lounger (Amazon)
- Lodge Boy Scouts of America Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven (Amazon)
- LED Light Baseball Cap Hat (Amazon)
- CampMaid Deluxe Dutch Oven Tool Set (Amazon)
Cover photo by Matthew Sleeper on Unsplash
Transcript:
If you’ve done the camping experience for any length of time you start to accumulate what I will lovingly call “toys” to make the camping experience more enjoyable.
Probably the first toys you get are flashlights and knives.
I remember when I was first camping with the cub scouts, flashlights came in 2 categories, big and bulky or cheap. The investment in a good flashlight that has a belt holster keeps you from searching for the flashlight prior to the trip and most often when you are on the trip and can’t find it. It’s always right there.
In addition to the holster light, I always keep a pen light in my uniform pocket. Not only do I have a pen handy, by it’s always good in a pinch.
Knives come in all shapes and sizes. Some rugged scouters become attached to fixed blade knives in sleeves, like they were going out to kill a bear or something. Personally I use this multi-tool. It has a couple of knives that are useful, and the best part it forms a set of pliers that are useful for picking up Dutch oven lids. It also comes in it’s own pouch.
Something else I often keep on my belt is this collapsible chopsticks. It’s got a nice design, and lets you dispense with the spork. It comes in this little pouch.
Recently I purchased this coffee mug that is a combination mug and French press. I think I need to spend some more time with it. For a mug it’s pretty heavy, but I like the concept. You put your grounds in, fill with hot water and slowly push the plunger.
One of my favorite camp toys however is my Amazon Kindle. The battery life is measured in weeks, and this version, the Paperwhite, is back lit, so you can turn out the lights at night, and read without needing to shift around and reach for a lantern when you are done.
You take this Paperwhite and you combine it with this killer chair. Make no mistake, it’s big, bulky, and heavy, so you aren’t taking it backpacking. But when you have the space it’s reclining design makes for a nice afternoon nap in the woods.
I’m always getting new toys, usually in the form of cooking implements, like this BSA Dutch Oven with the Eagle emblem on the cover, or this Dutch oven device, which needs a video all by itself, or even this cool little spice box that was given to me as a gift.
All this makes the outdoor experience a little more fun and interesting. But this is what works for us.
Take what you like and leave the rest, and as we say in Woodbadge, feedback is a gift, leave yours below in the comments, with the hope we can all learn together.
I’m Scoutmaster Dave, and this was camping toys.
