Whether it’s at a music festival with friends, or simply heading out into the UK countryside to pitch up a tent and enjoy the outdoors, camping is something I LOVE to do. It’s a great affordable way to travel and spend time with friends, as campsite fees are often much cheaper than staying in a hotel.
I’ve always had a fair bit of love for camping, but ever since I’ve invested in some affordable but solid quality gear, my comfort levels have increased tenfold. I’ve talked up the benefits of a blackout tent to everyone I know; and you’ll always catch me taking proper pillows on my tent excursions. Having a bit of home comfort while your camping makes the experience so much cosier and more relaxing, especially if your previous camping experience is a pop-up tent and a discount store sleeping bag.
While camping is a great way to escape modern life, there are a few tech gadgets I’ve added to my camping kit in recent years that vastly improve the experience. Which is why I’ve teamed up with Very.co.uk to showcase some additions to your gear!
If you’re camping at a music festival or thinking about a UK camping holiday this summer, here are five tech items that will upgrade your camping experience.
Products featured within this post have been gifted by Very.co.uk for the purpose of creating this guide.
Ninja Frostvault Wheeled Cooler
A cool box has always been an absolute essential on our camping trips, but previously we went cheap and cheerful. That was until we lived and travelled in Australia, probably the world capital of cooler culture! Aussies invest in sturdy coolers built to last, that keep their beers and lunches cool for days at a time.
Bringing home a bit of the Aussie spirit to a camping field near you, the Ninja Frostvault 30QT/28L Wheeled Cooler is our favourite new piece of kit! Keeping ice for up to five days, it’s a huge improvement in how long we can keep our drinks cold for without power – perfect for a music festival or long weekend camping.
I also LOVE the Dry Zone drawer, which keeps food items cool without them getting soggy from the ice in the cooler. The FrostVault technology keeps your food separate at food-safe temperatures. It’s also great for transporting, with wheels and a handle.
CAMPING TIP: Food cooked at camp always tastes incredible – which is why we love taking a small stove to campsites with us (sadly, they’re not allowed at most festivals). Make sure you plan your camping meals in advance and make sure you have all the items you’ll need for them – I’ve forgotten a tin opener WAY too many times…
Vango USB Lantern
Campsites aren’t always well lit, which is why we always like to have a light in our tent so we can find things easily without running down battery using a phone torch!
The Vango Lunar 250 Eco Recharge USB Lantern is an easy-to-use entry level camping light, at an affordable price point for new and casual campers. The LEDs provide a warm lighting effect up to 250 lumens, creating a relaxing ambient glow that will help you find your toothbrush easily in your tent porch.
You can easily recharge using a USB, and the design also incorporates solar panels to keep the power going during longer camping trips. The hanging hook is perfect for securing it to an internal tent pole, and folds away to make it easier to store.
CAMPING TIP: One thing I absolutely HATE when I’m camping is a messy tent, so I like to bring some kind of storage for my bedroom and porch areas. I actually find car boot organisers work perfectly to keep all of my things together! They fold down flat too, so perfect for sliding in the edge of your camping trolley while you move your gear from the car park at a festival.
JBL Portable Speaker
Listening to music with a drink while you relax at camp is one of the BEST things about going camping!
JBL Speakers make the perfect addition to your camping setup for tunes on the go, with their portable size that packs plenty of punch, whatever you’re listening to. We actually have a larger JBL speaker we use at home, and the JBL Go 4 is perfect for minimising weight and space in our camping gear. Plus, it comes with an integrated loop, which means you can strap it to your backpack on the move!
With up to 7 hours of battery life, it’s perfect for soundtracking a night around the campfire. The sound quality is impressive for the speaker’s size, and it’s also waterproof – so ideal for a trip to the beach or pool.
CAMPING TECH TIP: If you’re heading out camping to somewhere with minimal signal, make sure you download your Spotify playlist ahead of time!
Belkin 5000mAh Powerbank
Powerbanks have been an absolute essential for keeping our gadgets charged on camping trips. I used to hoard loads of free ones I’d picked up at events, but nowadays I prefer to invest in an affordable yet good quality powerbank that goes the distance.
The Belkin 5000mAh Magsafe Compatible Powerbank combines quality with great value for iPhone users, with no cable required. The built in kickstand keeps your device in a handy spot while charging, and the overcharge protection feature keeps your device safe.
One fully charged powerbank delivers over 19 hours of extended video playback for the iPhone 14. Not an Apple user? There’s also a USB C port, which will charge other devices via a cable.
CAMPING TECH TIP: To extend phone battery life even further while camping, I often put my phone into Airplane and Ultra Power Saving modes. It also stops me from being tempted to scroll, keeping me present in enjoying the outdoors!
Instax Mini Instant Camera
Okay, maybe not considered an ESSENTIAL, but capturing your camping memories is pretty priceless! I’ve had a Fujifilm Instax Camera for years now, and I love being able to capture spontaneous moments in the outdoors.
I’ve recently added the Instax Mini 12 Instant Camera to our instant camera family, as its compact size makes it perfect for sliding in a rucksack on the go. The simple controls make it super easy to use, with automatic exposure and flash control, as well as a simple twisting mechanism to turn it off and on.
Oh, and the selfie mirror makes it super easy to capture pics with your camping besties! With a five second print speed, you won’t be waiting around ages after you take your shot, so you can get back to enjoying the moment.
The sturdy case will also keep your Instax safe in your backpack, ready to whip out whenever the perfect photo moment arrives.
CAMPING VIBES TIP: If you’re looking for a quick aesthetic addition to your tent or gazebo, hang up a piece of string between two poles and use miniature pegs to hang your shots as you go.
