THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO SUMMER

By Evan Spence 20 Min Read

Best buys under $100

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MSA TINNIE TUBES

It’s happened to all of us at one point, arriving at camp to find a can has exploded inside your fridge or icebox, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Fear no more travellers, thanks to this simple yet effective solution from MSA 4×4. Tinnie Tubes are made from 2mm thick neoprene, allowing for maximum storage space while offering much needed protection from rubbing. Both ends of the Tinnie Tubes are covered unlike a traditional stubby holder, which means the chance of finding a leaky fridge when you pull into camp are massively reduced. Supplied in a set of 12, they even arrive in a handy canvas storage bag, and are available in two different colours.

Priced from $34 for 12 Tinnie Tubes

www.msa4x4.com.au

ARB BOOT SWAG

Designed to complement the ARB Skydome range of swags, the ARB Boot Swag is one product that thinks outside the box. When designing the new swag, ARB engineers found the traditional boot mats found on other swags generally caused more issues than good. This standalone item can be used with any tent or swag, and solves the problem of where to put those muddy boots at the end of a day, once and for all.

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Priced from $39.99

www.arb.com.au

BUSHMAN INSECT REPELLENT

Insect repellent may sound like an odd thing to get excited about, but if you have ever headed north without the good stuff you will know that the creepy crawlies can grow to the size of small birds. Bushman is an Australian-based company, and there are two grades of repellent available (Ultra and Plus with sunscreen) as well as an anti-itch product if the bugs get to you before you have a chance to apply Bushman. Water, sweat and rub resistant, Bushman is even pleasant on the nose – unless you are a sand fly or a mosquito that is!

Prices range from $9.99- $19.99

www.bushman-repellent.com

ST JOHN AMBULANCE FIRST AID KITS

A first aid kit should be something every 4X4 owner has, and knows how to use. This is especially true in the warmer months, when snakes and spiders can be particularly active. St John Ambulance offers a first aid kit for just about every situation, and for $89.95 it’s pretty hard to pass on the Medium Leisure Kit. It fits easily in your 4X4, and has enough first aid supplies to take care of most emergencies.

Priced from $89.95

www.stjohnambulance.com.au

RENETTO ORIGINAL CAMPING CHAIR

A good camp chair is something you will use time and time again, so why not treat yourself to one with more options? What sets the Renetto Original Camping Chair apart from the rest is the incorporated waterproof canopy, which also provides 100% UV protection. The canopy features a pocket that is ideal for storing smaller items, and for peace of mind the Renetto Original Camping Chair is even backed up by a one-year warranty. A 16mm powder coated steel frame offers enough strength to carry a load rating to 150kg, and the oversize seat with wide arm rests and two large drink holders seals the deal from our end.

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Priced from $59.90

www.renetto.com.au

1 YEAR SUBCRIPTION TO PAT CALLINAN’s 4X4 Adventures magazine

Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures is a premium quality 4X4 magazine – created, designed and printed in Australia, for Australian 4X4 owners.
Launched to complement the popular TV Show of the same name, you’ll find stunning touring destinations and honest product reviews, along with articles on how to get the most out of your 4X4 lifestyle. The quarterly magazine that promotes responsible 4X4 touring, Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures is ‘the essence of 4X4 adventure’. Each issue now comes with a free DVD!

Priced from $39

www.mr4x4.com.au

Camping Gear

SNOW PEAK FIREPLACE

Camping isn’t really camping without a decent fire, but having one in warmer months can prove to be tricky. This is where the Snow Peak Pack & Carry Fireplace comes in handy by allowing for a contained fire, which is raised off the ground. Built by Snow Peak in Japan, you can easily see this is a quality unit. This stainless steel fireplace comes in three sizes, and folds flat for easy storage. A variety of cooking and grilling accessories are also available, making this one practical bit of kit.

Priced from $165

www.drifta.com.au/snow-peak

REDARC FOLDING SOLAR PANELS

Looking for more charge in your 12V system, but don’t have the space for another battery or traditional solar panel? The range of folding solar panels from REDARC has been designed to be easily transportable. Compact, light weight, and easy to set up. These flexible, foldable and amazingly thin panels can even be linked if you need more power. There is no excuse to not have a reliable solar system – bulky solar panels are out!

Priced from $755 – $2,666

www.redarc.com.au

CTEK MXS 5.0 BATTERY CHARGER

The MXS 5.0 battery charger from CTEK is an advanced microprocessor controlled battery charger that offers diagnosis of battery condition, an automatic desulphation step as well as a reconditioning step that actually revives your batteries after being deeply discharged. The entire testing, charging, and maintenance cycles are easily followed on the LED display. Not only that, but the MXS 5.0 is fully automatic once connected and, like all good things in the world of four-wheel driving, is splash and dust proof as well.

Priced from $169

www.ctek.se/au/en

ROTOPAX WATER TANK

If you are looking for the toughest and most versatile method of storing a few litres of water, it’s hard to not look at the Rotopax Water Tanks. Made from durable roto-moulded food grade plastic, the manufacturers claim there isn’t a blow-moulded container on the market that will outlast theirs. With features such as thick crush-resistant walls, leak-proof gaskets, a stackable design and unique locking and mounting systems, it’s easy to see how this is an off-road friendly way to transport water. A variety of tank sizes and diesel/petrol/storage options are also available.

Priced from $79

www.rotopax.com

OPPOSITE LOCK BLUE TONGUE COMPRESSOR

With summer here, there is a fair chance you will be doing more beach driving. If you’re hitting the soft stuff, you’re going to need a good compressor to allow for quick inflation of your tyres after dropping a few PSI (you did drop your tyre pressure, right?). The Opposite Lock Twin Tongue Compressor claims to produce a serious 84.1L/min of air output, which is enough to inflate a big tyre to road pressure in minutes. It’s easy to service with spare parts available and a long life motor, and is even made in the good old USA. Definitely worth a look if you are in the market for a high-quality compressor.

Priced from $536

www.oppositelock.com.au

OUTDOOR CONNECTION 5-STAR SWAG

Do you like the sound of having a swag for all seasons? So do we, which is why the Outdoor Connection 5-Star Swag gets a mention. Traditional swags tend to get too hot if left closed during the warmer parts of the day, and if you roll the canvas up to get more ventilation, you’re exposed to rain and bad weather. This is where the 5 Star Swag shines, with its unique design allowing the sides to be pegged out away from the swag providing excellent cross-ventilation. If the temperature drops, the top cover can be set up with the sides down trapping in warm air too, making this one versatile swag.

Priced from $349

www.outdoorconnection.com.au

Shelter

OZTRAIL RV SHADE AWNING TENT

Awnings and 4X4s go together like beer and pizza, which is why the RV Shade Awning Tent from Oztrail is such a good idea we wonder why we didn’t think of it! By attaching the tent to the frame of the awning, you now have a fully enclosed tent large enough for four people to sleep under, which sets up in just minutes. Made from 150 denier 100% polyester walls, ultrafine No-See-Um mesh, and a durable heavy weight PVC bucket floor ensuring no wet feet on damp mornings. Perfect for those who have less space to store bulky four-man tents in their vehicles, or those who want a decent size tent that doesn’t take all weekend to set up.

Priced from $319.95

www.oztrail.com.au

TJM BOULIA ROOF TOP TENT

The trick to a good night’s sleep in summer is having a tent with a good amount of ventilation. One way to get that is by installing a roof top tent such as the TJM Boulia. As these tents are mounted up high on the vehicle’s roof, they will get much more breeze than a tent positioned on the floor. Not only that, but the views are better, less sand gets transported into the tent, and you have extra security from scary wildlife. The Boulia is available with an optional annex too, which when combined with the included pull out veranda makes for an impressive amount of shelter.

Priced from $1637.20

www.tjm.com.au

HENNESSY HAMMOCKS

If you are looking for a lightweight shelter to bunk down in for the night, a hammock could be just what you’re after. When it comes to hammocks, it’s hard to look past the range of Hennessy Hammocks that not only shelter you from the elements thanks to the ripstop polyester rain fly; but stops pesky bugs as well thanks to the included bug-proof mesh screen. Think about a life with no more tent poles, no need to find flat ground, and no lengthy set-up times. All you need is two supports to tie the hammock off on, and you’re set.

Priced from $129 – $299 with five different models available

www.hennessyhammock.com

Staying cool

COLEMAN CPX6 LIGHTED TENT FAN

Camp fans might not be the most glamorous accessory, but the second you use one you won’t want to go camping without one again. The Coleman CPX 6 Lighted Tent Fan doesn’t just circulate air throughout your tent or swag, it is also a bright LED light with three light modes offering up to 99 lumens of brightness. The fan blades are made from soft foam to prevent injuries, and there are two mounting options included (a floor stand and a magnetic plate for hanging from tents) for versatility. Powered from either four D-cell batteries or the optional Coleman CPX rechargeable cartridge, they claim it will run for up to 30 hours with just the fan on!

Priced from $34

www.coleman.com

WAECO SEAT AIR-CONDITIONER

Are you sick of sitting in a burning hot seat when you first jump into your 4×4? It’s never a fun experience, which is why Waeco have come up with the MagiComfort air-conditioned seat cover. Installation is as simple as strapping it in place on your seat, and connecting it to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Before you know it, cool jets of air will be blowing across the entire surface of the seat while providing a massaging effect at the same time. The ergonomic design enhances occupant comfort levels further, and with two cooling stages to select from, you won’t want to leave the driver’s seat even on the hottest day.

Priced from $89.95

www.waeco.com.au

COMPANION MINI TENT EVAPORATIVE COOLER

Looking for the next step up in cooling your tent while camping? The Companion Rechargeable Evaporative Cooler can be used as a fan or an evaporative cooler, with adjustable air direction and a touch button control panel for ease of use. Capable of holding up to 800ml of water, meaning you can run the unit for longer between top-ups. An outstanding feature of the cooler is the fact it’s completely portable, and runs off a 6V DC rechargeable battery. Companion claim this battery is enough to run the pint-sized air-con unit for six hours, which should be plenty long enough to cool a tent or swag.

Priced from $114

www.companionbrands.com.au

MISTY MATE COOL CAMPER 6

Now this is a novel way to stay cool at camp, a portable misting unit designed to spray cool mist over otherwise hot and frustrated family and friends. No batteries are required, and the Cool Camper 6 comes complete as a kit with 10ft of lead line and 6ft of mist line included. The hand pumped water tank holds over two gallons of water and the set-up is as easy as connecting the kit together with the supplied clip-on connectors. Perfect for mounting over tents, awnings or even just over a tree, you’re bound to be the most popular guest at camp with your own outdoor misting system.

Priced from $69

www.mistymate.com

DARCHE MATE COOLER

If you’re looking for the ultimate campfire happy hour accessory, the Darche Mate Cooler is going to be the envy of your travelling companions. This portable fold-up padded cooler has four stubbie holders that sit on top of a large ice storage compartment to keep drinks nice and cold. Additional drinks can also be stored in the ice compartment, and accessed through the Velcro hatch in the top, meaning the lid doesn’t need to be opened to grab another drink. A removable ice insert is included for quick cool down times, and the whole show is locked away in a convenient carry bag for ease of transport and storage.

Priced from $59

www.darche.com.au

Activities

IRONMAN TRAVELMASTER FISHING ROD

One of the hardest things to pack is the fishing gear. Not that it takes up too much space, but how do you know what outfit to take away? This is where the Ironman Travel Master comes into play, offering up to 36 different rod combinations, as well as three different pre-loaded reel spools that are colour coded to match the rod tips. The rods suit nine different fishing styles, and have been constructed from carbon fibre with an additional interwoven layer. The reels feature a 5.5:1 gear ratio, and brass pinion gears. A balancing system is also utilised, as is a silent anti-reverse. The rod and reel are available separately and come neatly packaged in a handy carry case.

Priced from $149 for the rod and $75 for the reel

www.ironman4x4.com

LOGITECH UE BOOM SPEAKERS

UE Boom is a versatile little wireless speaker system that not only sounds fantastic but is water and stain resistant too. The clever shape and design allows you to put the UE Boom anywhere (cup holders work great.) It has a huge run time of 15 hours thanks to the rechargeable battery, which you can actually monitor for charge so you aren’t ever short of music. Despite its size, the UE Boom features full-balanced sound thanks to dual performance drivers for clear mid-and-high-range tones, and dual passive radiators ensure there are plenty of deep low frequencies too. And being wireless, means no more speaker docks or charging stations!

Priced from $199

www.logitech.com/en-au

ENGEL PICNIC SET

We all love a picnic in a tranquil setting, but often the logistics of organising food and cooking utensils can be daunting enough to decide the afternoon would be better spent on the couch. Fear no more, thanks to the Engel Picnic Set. This clever backpack packages everything you’re going to need for a picnic on the beach or river into a handy backpack. It arrives with cutlery, plates, mugs, a cutting board and much more. There are even provisions to carry your drinks on the sides of the bag, and there’s enough inside to comfortably feed four hungry adults.

Priced from $79.99

www.engelaustralia.com.au

SEVYLOR INFLATABLE KAYAK

Remember those dodgy inflatable rafts you used to have as a kid? Well, forget everything you remember about them popping after one use. The range of Sevylor Inflatable Kayaks are built strong, perfect for those who can’t store a full-size rigid kayak at home or on their vehicles, or those looking for something lighter to transport. Available in either single or double seat configuration, as a standalone kayak or even as a package with oars and a hand pump.

Priced from $149 to $520

www.sevylor.com

Words By Evan Spence


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