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Odd But Useful Outdoor Products


Sleeping bag-check.
Backpack-check.
Swedish FireSteel?

In this gadget-crazy world, it's not much of a stretch to find gizmos for your camping trip. They're mostly only available on the internet, but some of them might become available in high-end stores like REI or novelty shops. Since trees and sand dunes don't usually have power outlets, most of these are battery-powered.

I laughed out loud when I saw this one. It's a tent that hangs from a tree.  


What you do is spread it out, anchor it onto a tree and sleep in the bottom. I'm not sure how many people it sleeps or how comfortable it is, but a tent that isn't sitting on the ground doesn't attract all the bugs and snakes a 'regular' tent can. Plus, you don't have to worry about roots poking you in the back at night. Sounds good to me!

Are you a Star Wars or Blade Runner fan? I'm not, but I'd still get some use out of this umbrella.


The shaft of this umbrella glows like a 'light saber', giving you light to walk by. It's also a good way to keep track of people like me who tend to wander off when they see something cool in the window of a store.

Have you ever had trouble starting a campfire? Thanks to the Swedes, that doesn't have to be a problem anymore.


This is the Swedish FireSteel. It was originally made for military use, but our friends at ThinkGeek have found a way for 'civilians' start a fire with even the wettest of wood. It works by running the metal blade across a flint at the end of a cable. The spark it creates is hot enough to start a fire and bright enough to be used as an emergency signal. It's about 3.75” long and weighs less than 2 ounces, so you won't have a problem fitting it into your bag. Cool, huh?

I grew up on the beach, so I've seen (and worn) a lot of bikinis. However, I've never seen anything quite like this.


The mini-strips this bikini is made of soak up solar power for your iPod Shuffle. Granted, it's not a bikini you can actually swim in. I've also seen velvet or sequined bikinis, though, so that won't be a problem for some people. At least this one doesn't look like dental floss. There's supposed to be a male version coming out that cools beer. Fun.

The OCD among us will appreciate this portable disinfection scanner. 


It's about the size of a cell phone and uses UV light to disinfect up to 99.9% of germs. It's a great way to kill the dust mites that have been gathering in your sleeping bag all winter. If you're staying in a hotel, it does a great job of killing any cold and flu viruses a previous guest may have left behind. It uses AAA batteries and is small enough to fit in your pocket. Neat!

The internet has a funny way of making you want things you didn't even know you wanted! For even more weird but useful gadgets for your vacation, check out ThinkGeek.com
 and NetworkWorld.com. Have fun!


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