I saw this video on CNN.com last week and it reminded me of a Yogi Bear cartoon:

Of course this was a real bear and I’m not sure the campers were treating it with the fear and respect they should have. Is it really worth risking your life over some food in a cooler? Next time, let the bear take the food and keep as far away from him as possible!

We love new camping gadgets as much as the next person but sometimes manufacturers take things a little too far. Case in point: the Coleman Quickbed with built-in MP3 speakers. I personally have no problem with the integrated battery powered pump (who wants to blow up such a huge air mattress?) but MP3 speakers cross the line. And these aren’t just over-sized headphones we’re talking about either - these babies include a built in amplifier which we assume is powered by the same batteries used in the QuickPump. With that extra power you can certainly annoy your camping neighbors all night long!

According to Coleman this air mattress supports up to 600 pounds which is almost as ridiculous as the MP3 speakers themselves. I suppose two 300-pound campers might want to use this mattress but I’m thinking they may have a hard time fitting on the same mattress and in the same tent in the first place

The queen sized version will set you back less than $60 on Amazon.com which is about the same price you’d pay for a decent self-inflating Therm-A-Rest air matress. Of course the Therm-A-Rest is only wide enough for one and is less than 2 inches thick inflated but it also doesn’t weigh 14.4 pounds like the Coleman Quickbed.

What’s next? A camping stove with a built-in internet browser? A tent with a digital thermostat? We’ll keep you posted…

Via GadgetGrid.

There’s been a lot of talk here and on other websites about the cost effectiveness of camping in a slow economy but the fact is that camping still requires gassing up the family truckster and hitting the road. In Eugene, OR, however, the local parks department has a better idea: open up city parks to campers!

For just 5 bucks per person, residents were allowed to pitch tents in Sladden Park this month and were provided meals, recreation, and entertainment. I imagine some urban campers didn’t even need to get in the car at all to go on this camping trip!

Activities organized by the parks department included tree climbing, African drumming, and even rafting on the Willamette River. The final city park camp out will take place this weekend, August 22 at Peterson Park Barn. Hopefully we’ll see this concept popping up elsewhere around the country in the next year or so…

It is not every day that new gear catches me by surprise for its usefulness and simplicity, but that is exactly what happened when I started using the X-Bowl, manufactured by Sea to Summit.

The X-Bowl, and its companions — the X-Plate and X-Cup — are collapsible food-grade bowls and plates made out of a hard, cut-resistant nylon base and a flexible silicon wall. This innovative design allows the X-Bowl to collapse from about 2″ to about a ½” thick.

I have been using the X-Bowl for about four weeks now, and I have to admit that I like it so much that its found its way into my backpack (and briefcase) along side my spork.

Here’s what I like about the X-Bowl. When extended, the sides of the X-Bowl are high enough to create a very functional bowl. When collapsed, the X-Bowl is super easy to pack. You can use a sharp knife against the bottom without causing damage, which make it easy to cut up your meal including meat, fruits, and veggies. The sides can handle hot food (up to 300 degrees according to the manufacturer), and you can compress the walls to make it easy to pour liquids. This makes it perfect for pasta, soup or cereal. You can toss it into the microwave to heat up leftovers and its easy to clean by hand or in a dishwasher. There are easy-to-read measurements on the inside walls so you can use the X-Bowl to mix freeze-dried food. The nylon base and silicon walls are BPA-free. In other words, it does it ALL!

I like gear that is simple and useful and there’s nothing worse than trying to eat cereal or soup out of a cup or pot. For backpacking, I’ve always wanted a “real” bowl that didn’t take up a lot of space. The X-Bowl and X-Plate are no-brainers. They’re easy to pack, lightweight and functional. I have to hand it to Sea and Summit. I think their “X” products are real winners. I’ll be getting the X-Plate and X-Cup.

Another month, another REI gift card giveaway. Once again Mongoose is on top after outdoing himself with 196 points! Virgo Fabulous took the second REI gift card with a very respectable 58 points during the month of July. Thanks to everyone who participated!

The good news is that we’re renewing the contest once again in August. Post your hiking, camping, and gear reviews and photos in August if you earn the most points we’ll send you a $25 REI gift card. Get out there and explore - then come back and tell us about it!