Three Camping Related Holiday Gift Ideas We Love!

Single Burner Camp Stove

This is one of my all time favorites! For me, it's probably the handiest item that stays on our picnic table at the campsite. It gets much hotter, and heats things up way faster than our standard camp stove. And it's just plain quick and easy. To set it up, you simply twist it on top of a propane bottle. You then turn the nob, light it, and you're ready to cook.

This single burner stove is really handy as an extra burner when cooking dinner, or a way to keep something warm. My favorite use though, is using it with the next item.

Stove Top Coffee Percolator

I just love to percolate coffee first thing in the morning when we are camping. This is an old-fashioned stove-top percolator, much like what my mom had when I was a kid. It certainly takes me back to simpler times. There's just something about smelling the aroma of the coffee while it brews, and watching the bubbles in the glass bulb on top.

To use it, I simply put water in the bottom, coffee in the basket that sits above the water, close the top, and set it on the single burner stove above.

Digital Laser Infrared Thermometer

If you pull a travel trailer, you really should check your wheel bearing temperatures at each stop to be sure they are not overheating. (See the explanation under Things to Keep in Mind Throughout the Day on the Towing a Small Travel Trailer page in my Beginner's Guide.) It's a rare, but huge potential problem that can leave you stranded. The most common way to check them is to put your hand on each hub to see if it's excessively hot. This works, but usually gets your hand dirty. Should you ever find you have a bearing overheating, you'll also likely burn your hand finding out!

This digital laser thermometer is a much better solution. You simply aim the laser gun at your wheel hub and pull the trigger. You'll see the red laser beam wherever you aim it, and get an immediate digital reading of temperature. Best of all, no dirty hands.

As a bonus, tt's also just a cool gadget. If your husband is like me, he'll find all kinds of things to point it at...just because he can!

What it is

Why I like it

• It gets much hotter than our standard camp stove
• It's quick and easy to both setup and put away. There's no real cleanup to do.
• It takes up no significant room when traveling and storing

What it is

Why I like it

• Waiting for the first bubble to show up in the glass bulb on top
• Watching the bubbles go slowly from clear water to brown coffee
• Smelling the aroma of coffee brewing
• It makes great coffee the old-school way. Reminds me of when I was a kid and this was how my mom did it!

What it is

Why I like it

• Keeps my hands clean when checking the trailer wheel bearings for overheating when traveling
• Prevents the chance of burning my hand if there ever were a problem
• Fun gadget to play with