When RV.Net asked me to write a weekly column on camping gadgets, my first reaction was; wow! Then the reality of writing 52 articles on the same general subject settled upon me, and I began to get nervous. You see, I am not much of a “gadget guy” at all. Sure, I carry a cell phone – who doesn’t? But my method of navigating the western byways is with a trusty paper map. No fancy GPS device for me, even though I have worked in the GPS industry for years. Don’t get me wrong, I would not mind owning a GPS navigation system, but I can buy a lot of paper maps for $250 and I really don’t get lost very often (at least not that I will admit to – my wife may have a different opinion!). I generally use three tests that I weigh any potential camping-related purchase against:
It must solve a specific problem for me
It must provide enough benefit to justify the cost
It must be durable enough to survive the rigors of camping
A GPS navigation system, for me, fails two of the three tests; I am not having a problem with navigation, and the cost does not provide enough benefit (for me) to justify the purchase. Now, just because a GPS navigation system does not pass the test for me, does not mean that it would not pass the test for someone else. Anyone who frequently travels in unfamiliar territory might find a GPS navigation system an essential tool for ensuring that they spend more time camping than they do trying to get there. Problems do not have to be major, like getting lost, in order to justify purchasing a gadget. The Scribner Clan predominantly camps in state parks, without the luxury of any hookups. One problem that we have been having is that without the luxury of unlimited power, we are reluctant to leave a light on at night, and our three children will not get out of bed to use the bathroom in the dark. We recently picked-up one of the new flameless candles that have become so popular, lately, to see how it would workout as a night light. The candle is powered by three AAA-size batteries, so we were a bit concerned about how long it would last. We have put about 50-hours on it so far, though, and it is still going strong. The LED bulb flickers like a real candle and, in fact, the candle’s body is actually wax so it has the heft and feel of a real candle. Real wax means it might not be the best solution for backpacking, without some kind of protective carrying case, but for all campers it is certainly a viable and safe alternative to open flames.
