How to Camp Like a Millionaire

Jonathan Blum

	Roughing It in Style

Here's the best way to grab the last bit of summer: Run down to the outdoor gear store, buy a bunch of cool stuff and hit the hills.

All month, I've been breaking down what's hot in the latest in backcountry clothing, shoes and bags. Learn the word Pro Shell from Gore-Tex -- you'll want a jacket made from it. And give Helly Hansen's new line of hybrid base-layers a try: merino wool on the outside, polyester on the inside. They officially pass the Blum family stink test ... and that, dear friends, is saying a lot.

Today, in my final salute to Action August, I focus on the gear and goodies that turn a mere camping trip into a luxurious experience.

The secret to truly low-stress, high fun -- dare I say elegant? -- camping starts with planning, and getting moving.

The basic rule of thumb is to spend the same number of hours on a plane, in the car or hiking the trail as the number of nights you spend out. Say you have one night available this weekend -- fly one hour, drive one hour and hike one hour to your destination of choice. From New York City, that's a flight to say, Albany, an easy drive into the southern Adirondacks and a reasonable hike to any one of several perfectly lovely campsites.

If that still sounds like too much exercise, swap the hiking for a bit of kayaking and let the boats do the lugging. My wife and I are having a blast loading up a ton of stuff and paddling around the St. George River in Maine. We're testing a new set of his-and-hers touring kayaks from Old Town Canoes and its sister brand Necky Kayaks. Necky's line of for-ladies-only Eliza boats ($1,100 with rudder) can turn even the most severe hydrophobe into a proficient paddler.

Whether you're traveling on foot or by boat, the main idea in ultimate camping is not to be lugging stuff for long. So you can dispense with all this ultra-light nonsense. Go ahead -- bring along every conceivable camping luxury item.

Here, then, are my 10 "essentials."

1. The Laser Stik from Adventure Lights ($12)

These cheap, reusable and portable stick lights replace those single-use chemical light sticks you felt bad about breaking out. They illuminate within a few feet for about 75 hours, and can be seen from hundreds of feet in the dark. Get one for everybody, and nobody will get lost.

2. The Dynamo 9 LED Mini Lantern from Essential Gear ($35)

Talk about the ultimate camping light. This hand-crank LED light produces a solid beam and never needs batteries. It's great for emergencies as well -- but you won't be worrying about that in your regal camp.

3. The AeroPress portable coffee press from Aerobie ($26)

This coffee maker comes from the manufacturers of the Aerobie line of throwable toys. But this little gadget has java-making game. It may be the elegance of the device itself, or the simple fact that you are enjoying drip coffee in the middle of nowhere, but nothing is more civilized.

4. Jose's Chicken Mole from Backpacker's Pantry ($7)

No, this not real mole. In the real world this would be a precooked disgrace, but in the woods, this creation somehow transforms itself into a dinnertime delicacy. Just add water and you're eating a meal far beyond hot dogs and gorp. But beware: If you're watching your sodium intake, check the labels on premade foods like these first.

5. The Pioneer from Campfire Grill ($40)

Campfires are great for singing, s'mores and feeling like you're one with nature. But the mysterious, wonderful outdoor vibe stops at cooking on clumsy things. Where else can you burn your food, run the risk of a grease fire and lose you eyebrows all at the same time? Use this idiot-proof grill from Campfire Grill instead. It locks your food in place well away from you, so even you can't ruin it.

6. The Gannett two-burner stove from Brunton ($75)

Learning to make a fire is an important camping rite of passage, but who can be bothered to do it for each and every meal? Instead, bring this two-burner stove from Brunton. The Gannett pumps out a miraculous 12,000 BTUs in each burner. That's about as hot as most kitchen stoves! Better yet, the unit can burn both coils for well over an hour on a sole one-pound propane canister. Yes, the thing weighs 10 pounds without propane, but seriously, can you live without it?

7. The Onix 400 GPS Navigation System from Bushnell Optics ($500)

The Onix is part of a new generation of portable global positioning system units that can capture live weather information. Usually Bushnell targets the bottom end of the electronics and optics market, with mostly discount and entry-level items. But I think the new Onix is worth serious consideration against larger rivals Garmin (GRMN - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) and Magellan. It is well designed, waterproof and, in a neat trick, comes with a USB connection and a live feed of XM Satellite Radio (XMSR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr) content, so you know where you are and what weather is coming at a touch of button.

8. The Cradle Lounger from Crazy Creek ($52)

Before we get into an intellectual debate over the ethics of a lounge chair in the outback, let me tell you that this thing weighs 800 grams and folds into a bag. That's only a pound and half. So why the heck not? I assure you, I've spent my summer in the great out-of-doors. You need this chair -- it's dirty out there.

9. The Hot Tap On-Demand Hot Shower from Zodi Outback Gear ($150)

Yes, at 11 pounds, this thing is a bit of beast. But ponder this: hot water in just a few minutes. A propane canister in the unit heats up water to almost-hotel quality. But still, you're getting a warm shower in the middle of nowhere. How nice is that?

10. First Need Trav-L-Pure water purifier from General Ecology ($180)

All I am going to say is that one summer a single beaver infected the water supply of an entire Canadian town where I was staying. Do yourself a favor and bring along a really good water purifier like this one from General Ecology. What's the good of all your luxe camping gadgets if you're too sick to enjoy them?

With all this cool stuff to tide you over -- and knowing that you're at least an hour away from the real world and another work week -- you might be tempted never to return. I know I am.

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