5 Summer Camping Essentials for Staying Cool and Keeping Food Fresh
Quick answer: for hot-weather camping, bring a hard cooler, a rechargeable fan, a neck cooling ring, a portable fridge and, if you want a high-tech option, a portable air conditioner.
Even at a high-altitude campsite, summer heat can be hard to shake. Here are five items from the WhoWhy team that cool you down quickly and keep your ingredients fresh, so a summer trip never feels like a chore.
1. Hard cooler
A hard cooler keeps ice for a long time, and the lid can double as a work surface or a seat. Choose a capacity that matches the number of campers.
2. Rechargeable outdoor fan
A fan boosts air circulation and takes the edge off stuffy heat. Outside the tent, choose a standing model or one with a tripod; inside, a hanging circulator works well. A fan is also a handy fire-starting tool: after lighting your firewood it fans the flames more easily than waving by hand or blowing through a tube. It does more than one job.
▲ CLAYMORE V600+ USB rechargeable fan (all black)
3. Neck cooling ring
Neck cooling rings were an instant hit when they launched in Japan. They help prevent heat stroke in kids and adults, and some can be worn by pets too, so the whole family, furry members included, can stay cool.
4. Portable fridge
A good choice for car campers, it can run on a car DC outlet, and some models also support AC power with an adapter. If you need more function, choose a model with adjustable temperature and separate fridge and freezer compartments.
▲ ENGEL 40L portable fridge MT45F-P / MT45F-C-P, with a Japanese-made compressor.
5. Portable heating and cooling unit
Sony has refined its portable air conditioner over the years and this year upgraded it to a portable heating and cooling unit. It runs for up to 9 hours and has a built-in rechargeable lithium battery, so you do not need a separate power bank.
Summary
Alongside enjoying nature, protect yourself from the heat. With the right gear from this list, you can stay cool and comfortable and enjoy summer camping.