If the Camping Police ever becomes a reality, they might decide that there are objects in stores and online shops that can be accused of being accessories to camping. Having these camping accessories predisposes the owner to (gasp) go camping. That they are also generally useful items to have – especially in any emergencies like global thermal nuclear war or uninvited in-laws dropping by – may not be enough of a defense in the eyes of the Camping Police.

Portable Gas Stove

One of the most useful camping accessories that is good to have in any emergency kit is a small gas stove. How small? You can get them as small as your hand. They consist of a frame to screw on a gas canister of a specific size and a base to put a small pot of kettle on. They are very light, tough and water resistant. If you want to do bigger cooking projects, there are gas stoves that about half the size of a barbecue. They are mainly two cooking rings like on the top of your stove at home and a hose to connect to a great big canister of gas. Since they are flammable, treat them with care and keep out of the reach of children, pets and alcoholics.

Water Purifier

Another damning piece of evidence that you may be thinking of camping is the possession of any kind of water purifier. These camping accessories are found in sporting goods, boating as well as camping supply stores. They are often very small and easy to use. You just need some patience with them.

You never know what lurks in seemingly clear water sources like rivers, springs and creeks. Carrying a weekend’s supply of water on your back is impossible (or very improbable). So you need to take advantage of any water you come across. You can live for a while without food, but you need water every day or you will risk dangerous disorientation.

The smallest and lightest water purifiers are pills and Ultra Violet light pens. They only purify a small amount of water at a time. If you need more water purified at a quicker rate, consider reverse osmosis pumps. They are heavier, more expensive and need some practice to get the hang of, but these overlooked camping accessories could save you from a nasty hospital stay.

Bedroll

Bedrolls are also camping accessories that are light, cheap and often totally ignored. They are usually made out of some foam material that rolls up easily. To keep warm during your time in the sleeping bag, you need a cushion of some sort between you and the ground. The sleeping bag and the tent bottom are not enough to keep the cold out. A bedroll will.