Camping Accessories - Gear Guide

by

By Perry Mack

Cabela’s West Wind™ Dome Tent

This windproof, waterproof tent comes in 4-, 6-, and 8-man models, but we chose the 6-man version of this tent as it allows you to stand up inside the tent but still only weighs 9.7 kg. Being able to stand up in the tent is just one the key features we demand from a tent as well as loops, pockets, and a gear loft to keep everything off the floor. Naturally it has to be waterproof so you and your gear stay dry, so the West Wind is designed with a 1500mm waterproof rating. It has a vestibule where you can dump your outerwear before getting into the main tent where it is cozy and clean. Great window and door ventilation with a fine mesh screen keeps the bugs out – anyone who has camped and fished in Manitoba or Northern Ontario knows how critical this is. And it is rugged and easy to set-up. 100% nylon taffeta construction, colour-coded clips, shock-cord fibreglass poles, good guy lines, stakes and a carry bag take care of that.

All in all, a well designed three-season tent for the Canadian outdoors.

MSRP: $350 CAD - Cabelas.ca

Camp Chef Flat Top Griddle

Turn any grill into a flat cooktop in seconds. Fry up breakfast, lunch or dinner on the Camp Chef® Deluxe Fry Griddle. It features restaurant-style high sides and a convenient grease drain, as well as a heat diffuser plate that distributes heat across the griddle’s surface to reduce “hot spots”. It’s pre-seasoned so you can start using it right away.

Dimensions: 35.5 cm x 40.6 cm (14" x 16")

MSRP: $70 - Cabelas.com

Filletmaker

Whether or not you fillet a lot of fish, this fillet board will not only help you keep more meat on your fillets and make clean up easier, it doubles as a serving tray.

The angled raised service of the main cutting area allows you to hold your fillet knife flat, so you keep more meat on your fillet while the surrounding trough catches scales and waste from the draining grooves in the cutting board and the scraps you scrape into it. The larger catch basin is perfect for sorting the carcasses from the finished fillets.

The Filletmaker keeps everything off the counter, or is stable enough that you can work with it on your lap. When you’re finished, take your finished fillets from the deep pocket, grab the Filletmaker by the lipped edge and dump the carcasses and waste directly into the trash. Then rinse it and you’re done clean up.

Flip the Filletmaker over and the reverse side makes a deep serving tray for snacks like tacos, chips, veggies and beverages, or the perfect cutting board to catch the juice from a roast chicken or turkey.

The lightweight and rugged rotomolded construction makes it an anglers perfect travelling companion.

It’s available in two sizes; large is 82L x 61W x 8.25H cm (32.25” x 24” x 3.25”) and 3.6 kg (8lb) or small at 58L x 44W x 8.25H cm (22.75 x 17.36 x 3.25”) and 1.8 kg (4lb).

MSRP: Small $30 USD; Large $50 USD - Filletmaker.com

HydraPak Full-Force 2 L

Everyone who spends time outdoors understands the importance of hydration. It’s the convenience and effectiveness of how you carry fluids that determines if you’ll pack it, and take that final step – drink it. The design of the HydraPak Full-Force 2L is a system that just makes sense. Not only does it have a bite tube to draw water, it also has a squeeze bulb so you can use the reservoir to clean wounds, hands, camp utensils, or fill your dog’s water dish (or another friends cup). It excels over other systems because maintenance is so easy. The reservoir top is wide enough that it fills in seconds and large enough that you can pull it inside-out for easy cleaning – even throw it in the dishwater. Even the components of the drink tube are easy to disassemble for a thorough cleaning. Let’s face it – if there’s something funky in the reservoir or tube, you won’t use it. The drink tube has a leak-proof quick disconnect so the reservoir is simple to remove, refill and reconnect. We chose the Full-Force version as it’s made of heavyweight Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) with welded seams – that means military grade durability. The TPU material also means it can be frozen, or filled with hot fluids up to 60°C. It’s our tested, tried and true choice for hiking, fishing, boating, wheeling, and camping in Canadian wilderness, lakes, and mountains.

MSRP: $48 USD - Hydrapak.com

WeatherTech Cargo Liners

WeatherTech Cargo Liners are custom fit, laser measured, trunk mats designed to protect your vehicle’s cargo area while hauling your fishing gear and outdoor equipment. The raised outer edges contain spills, dirt and mud while its skid-resistant surface helps prevent cargo from shifting. They are available for cars, minivans and SUVs in black, tan, cocoa or grey. An optional roll-out bumper protector is available for some applications. Designed and manufactured in the USA with a limited lifetime warranty.

MSRP: from $140 CAD - www.weathertech.ca

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