Review Crew Roundup: Camping Gadgets

The sun is shining, the birds are singing. Summer is here! Time to escape the concrete jungle and head into the great outdoors. Our crew has rounded up some hi-tech camping gadgets to take on your next excursion. Just because you’re out in the wild, doesn’t mean you have to rough it!

Coleman RoadTrip Grill LXE – $199

Taking a barbecue out camping can be challenging. They’re big, bulky, and heavy. That’s where the Coleman RoadTrip LXE comes in handy.

This little red demon has 20,000 BTU burners and nearly 285 square inches of cooking surface. We threw some dogs on this grill and were surprised to see just how fast they cooked. The grill heats up quickly. But here’s the best part. Once it cools down you can fold it up, making it easy to transport!

The lid on the Coleman RoadTrup LXE is a bit shallow so you will be limited to smaller slabs of meat (no whole chickens on this baby). You will also have to use smaller 1 lb propane tanks. One tank will last you roughly one hour with both burners on. Make sure to bring a few tanks with you on your next trip or you’ll be stuck starring longingly at it instead of using it.

Coleman FryWell Instastart Portable Fryer – $159

Nothing says camping like a deep fryer! This is the real deal! Pour in some oil, heat it up, and plop in your favorite food. The basket will hold one pound of fries or any other appetizers. We’re talking small batches of golden fried food here.

Due to its small size, the Coleman FryWell Instastart Portable Fryer is best for small food items. You will not be able to deep fry a turkey or even multiple chicken parts at the same time. Maybe a leg or thigh, but if you want deep fried chicken you will have to do it in batches.

As with the RoadTrip LXE grill, the fryer runs off the small 1 lb propane tanks and does not require any electricity to run! One tank will run the fryer for 2 hours. Plenty of time to cook up a whole mess of fries.

Be warned, this fryer gets hot! A thermometer is included to warn you when your oil is too hot and poses a fire risk. Make sure you always keep a close eye on it. Needless to say, this is only to be used outdoors, not in a tent!

Sure it’s a bit messy, but man just imagine…pub fare under the stars. Now that’s a man’s camping trip!

Bass Pro Shops Fish Fryer / Steamer – $169

If you’re concerned about the compact size of the Coleman fryer, then you may be more interested in checking this unit out. This is the ultimate fish fryer! A deep fryer used by real men!

This unit has many different uses. A shallow pan can be filled with oil to deep fry large batches of fries, fish, chicken and other goodies. Or throw on the extra deep pot and indulge in deep fried turkey.

If healthy eating is your thing, you can use fill the unit with some water and use the steamer tray. Steamed fish and veggies for everyone!

We tried frying up some french fries in this baby. It heats up extremely fast. Our oil hit 400°F within 4 minutes. Fries never tasted so good! Cooked to perfection!

We do admit this unit can be a bit intimidating to use. Deep frying is done with no lid and you are using a open flame here. If you do not let enough oxygen into the propane, the flame grows and will begin licking the side of your pot. Not what you want to see when you’ve got a pot of hot oil! But if you follow the instructions and use care and caution you will not be disappointed with this fryer/steamer.

The only other issue is cleanup. If you are camping you have to figure out what you’re going to do with the oil and how you’re going to clean up the greasy pots. Plan ahead if you want to bring this along.

Coleman Drip Coffee Maker – $79

Imagine, ground-free coffee while you’re camping. It is possible with Coleman’s Drip Coffee Maker.

Once the maker is filled with coffee grounds and water, you place it on a camping stove. The solid steel base heats up and the coffee begins to percolate.

This is a great gadget for people who don’t like the strong taste of “cowboy coffee” over the fire. It really does make coffee that tastes like it was brewed at home.

Camp Chef Propane Oven – $199

A stove is nice to have while you’re camping, but imagine having an oven as well. Nachos with melted cheese, brownies, fresh baked cinnamon rolls in the morning. Need we say more.

The heavily insulated oven can run at 350°F for 7 hours on a single 1 lb propane tank. The top of the oven also doubles as a 2 burner stove.

It’s a little bulky coming in at 35 pounds, but you can also buy a separate carrying case for it to make those long treks into the bush a little easier.

Coleman Hot Water On Demand – $299

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make camping that much more enjoyable, like having hot water available to you right at your tent. Coleman’s Hot Water On Demand heats up ice cold water in 5 seconds flat.

The device draws water from a 5 gallon water bag and uses propane to heat it. You can wash dishes with it, wash your hands, even take a shower with the included shower adapter.

Although the device works as advertised, the name is a bit misleading. During our tests the cold water was warmed up, but it was by no means hot. The hottest we could get it was comparable to a warm bath. Yes it’s great for washing dishes or your hands, but you will not be making any hot beverages with the water.

There you have it. Some of our crew’s favorite gadgets to take camping. of course they’re not necessary, but why rough it when you can camp in the lap of luxury.