36 pieces of outdoor gear that prove the future is here

Nothing’s worse than sweltering in a hot, sticky tent with no relief in sight. Sweat no more—this portable air conditioner from Coolala packs 3500 BTUs into a seven-pound package. Buy it here!

This gadget, which fits on a gas canister, generates a dome of mosquito-repelling allethrin, the same chemical used in mosquito coils. Want a bigger area? Combine multiple repellers to keep your campsite bug free. But it here!

No splitting wood necessary for this camp stove. Use twigs to power the BioLite, which features an LED dashboard and an integrated battery for charging your phone. Also awesome: the design creates an efficient, smokeless fire, which means stuff gets hot fast. Buy it here!

Because sometimes you just don’t want to wait for the JiffyPop. This portable microwave is the size of a Thermos and has an integrated battery that heats evenly. The battery is rechargeable, or you can bring along an extra to keep the juice running. Buy it here!

The Drumi isn’t exactly high-tech, in fact, it’s as low-tech as you can get. But it’s still a cool idea—especially if you’re camping in one area for an extended period of time and don’t want to wash by hand. Clean clothes in five to 10 minutes? Yes, please! Buy it here!

Tent feeling a little cramped? Bunkbeds are the answer! This ingenious, compact bunkbed breaks down into smaller pieces, making it easy to pack and assemble. And if your kids don’t want to be bunked up, the two pieces come apart to form two cots. Buy it here!

Never trip over your tent pegs on the way back from the bathroom again. Each peg uses an AAA battery to glow in the dark, throwing 17 lumens of light enough to help you navigate your way back to the tent, but not so bright that you’ll think it’s morning.Buy it here!

Kayaks are awesome. If you have a compact car, a portable kayak is even awesomer. Measuring 14 feet when assembled, the Pakayak breaks down into a 3.5-foot pack, easy enough to fit into the trunk or backseat, no matter how small your car. Buy it here!

If you go camping to unplug, but still want to be reachable, the Punkt MP 01 allows you to text and make calls, and nothing else. This is a huge bonus when it comes to battery life. This minimalist phone only needs charging every few WEEKS. (And yes, you could haul out your old Nokia, but this is so much cooler.) Buy it here!

Because camping is no reason to suffer with warm beer, this underground beer cooler uses the natural coolness of the earth to keep your brews cold—no ice required. OK, you have to dig a fairly deep hole (3.5 feet), but once it’s dug, you can keep up to 16 beers nice and frosty. Buy it here!

“All-terrain” doesn’t necessarily mean exactly that, especially when the snow falls or the ice builds up. Fortunately, this kit converts your Can Am ATV into a veritable tank in about 20 minutes. Buy it here!

Want to go tobogganing, but don’t want to haul the sled up and down the hill? Sled Legs is your answer. Strap ‘em on and slide down any hill on your knees with the help of hard molded plastic outside and cushiony foam inside. Buy it here!

Sometimes a coat just isn’t enough to keep you really, truly toasty warm. Solve your chills with this thin, durable heater that fits inside any coat from puffy duffel to sleek car coat. The heater lasts for up to five hours on a single charge, so go ahead and enjoy that winter weather. Buy it here!

If you’re hiking, this is a great way to stay powered up. Simply hang it on the outside of your backpack and let the sun do its work while you walk. Charge it via a wall outlet before you leave and you may only need the sun to top up its power. Buy it here!

With one push and about 15 seconds, the Grayl will get rid of almost all viruses, disease-causing bacteria and protozoan cysts in any water, anywhere. Electroadhesion and ion exchange technology (along with activated carbon and silver-treated zeolites) means that there’s no light and no chemicals to worry about. Buy it here!

Sure, you could use one of those suspended shower bags, or take a bath in the lake, but sometimes it’s nice to have a real, pressurized shower. Use the foot pump to pressurize the water and you’ll be able to rinse the (biodegradable) shampoo out of your hair with no problem. Buy it here!

A headlamp is an invaluable tool when you’re camping, but this takes hands-free illumination to a whole other level. The rig features a light sensor so you automatically get exactly the amount of light you need. MUCH better than holding a flashlight in your mouth as you try to undo your tent zipper in the dark. Buy it here!

If you’re going to be on the water or heading out backcountry trekking, it makes sense for people to be able to find you in as many ways as possible—just in case. The ResQLink+ is small, but powerful, incorporating a 66-channel GPS, a 30-hour battery and a super-bright strobe light. Buy it here!

The comforts of home can come camping with you with the help of this small, light handheld espresso machine. No nitrogen cartridges, compressed air or electricity necessary, just a handheld pump and a great shot of espresso. Buy it here!

Drink water from anywhere with Lifestraw—no bottle required. Lightweight and super-portable, the Lifestraw uses microfiltration technology to remove the yucky bugs in water that can make you sick. Buy it here!

Get talk and text on your phone even without a connection to a carrier. Just create your own off-grid network with other goTenna users. And with goTenna plus, you can get detailed topographical maps and other navigation support, perfect for your next big adventure. Buy it here!

These glasses have durable, heat-resistant frames made of T-90 plastic, which means they won’t warp if you accidentally leave them in an oven-hot car. The lenses are just as durable as the frame and because they’re polarized and scratch-resistant, easier to see through for longer. Buy it here!

Even if you’re on a bike trip, you’re going to have to lock your bike up sometime, so outsmart thieves with the lightweight Ottolock. Four layers of stainless steel wrapped in Kevlar means that bolt cutters might as well be over-cooked spaghetti. Buy it here!

It’s not a cigarette lighter, but it has that iconic Zippo style. This compact handwarmer uses lighter fluid to produce a consistent warmth for up to 12 hours—more than 10 times the heat of disposable warmers. Plus, it’s reusable and pollution free. Buy it here!

Small, but easily usable with gloves on—an important consideration on chilly mornings—this GPS system has a number of features designed for hunters, including the ability to scope out hunt locations and mark features like game funnels and feeding spots. Buy it here!

If you don’t want to use a standard battery or solar-powered charger, check out this charger that powers your gadgets, thanks to a fuel cell that uses hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. The charger’s two hydrogen cores are the equivalent of 30 AA batteries, which means it packs some serious power. Buy it here!

You might be in the outdoors, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be indulging—and doesn’t mean you might make a bad decision. Use this keychain breathalyzer to make sure you’re OK to drive and sleep it off in the tent if you’re not. Buy it here!

Wool may not seem high tech, but the ultralight materials that are now available are nothing short of modern miracles. Get the breathability and water-wicking power of wool with seriously super-light cloth. It’s 21st-century manufacturing meets an ancient textile. Buy it here!

You’ve got a step counter. Now count your paddles as well. Why should your feet get all the glory? Buy it here!

Making clothes that keep you cool despite a layer of cloth is an ongoing challenge and this one comes pretty close to a built-in air conditioner. Fibres that both attract and repel water help you stay cool and dry, no matter how sweaty you get. Buy it here!

You probably don’t have a cat with you in the great outdoors, but that doesn’t mean this laser won’t come in handy. Visible from more than 30 kilometres away, it’s a great signalling device if you need to be rescued. Buy it here!

This lighter dispenses with the need for lighter fluid using a battery to create a plasma beam that sounds like it’s straight out of Star Trek. The beam can’t be blown out by heavy wind or rendered useless in the rain, so it’s the ideal outdoor fire-starter. Buy it here!

These ropes have reflectors embedded in them meaning if you use them to pitch your tent, you won’t trip over them when you’re coming back from the privy at 3 am. Buy it here!

Want to prove to your friends that you saw an off-course frigate bird at Point Pelee this year? These recording binoculars are a twitcher’s dream come true. Buy it here!

This tent has its own ambient LED lighting system and incorporates solar panels, a fan, lantern and battery allowing you to see what you’re doing in your tent, charge your phone and stay cool. What more could you want? Buy it here!

If you’re sick of the tinny, compressed sound from your cheapo headphones, try out Bang and Olufsen’s portable Bluetooth speaker. Small and durable, it has 24 hours of battery life and provides top-notch sound. Buy it here!