Essential camping gadgets to level-up your next outdoor experience

With travel to far-off destinations still out of reach for most Hongkongers, ever more residents have taken to exploring the city’s hidden corners with overnight camping trips as a means of escaping the confines of home. For these intrepid outdoor enthusiasts, take a careful peruse through our favourite camping gadgets that ensure your next stay under the stars is seamlessly easy.

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors biolite camper stove charger — Image: BioLite

A portable two-in-one camp stove charging station
Meal time in the wilderness is made particularly easy with this electricity generating camp stove. Designed by BioLite, it elevates self-sufficiency to another level with its award-winning CampStove 2+ designed to burn anything from to wood scraps as fuel to not only cook your meals, but also charge your gears and phone at the same time. It uses 3W of power and can boil up to a litre of water in just 4.5 mins.
How much: HK$1,164

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors larq sanitising water bottle — Image: Larq

A sanitising water bottle
In an era of hyper-hygienic, pathogen-eliminating practices, the habitual sanitation of all things in one’s possession makes for a reassuring safeguard against viral infections such as the ongoing pandemic. And while in the wild, keeping an such an item as the Larq Movement Water Bottle might just be the protection you seek. Equipped with internal UV-C lights, it sanitises its interios and contents regularly, discarding the usual distasteful metallic flavours of tin water bottles. It even serves as a sanitising canister for your utensils, offering peace of mind while in the wild.
How much: HK$750

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors portable projector — Image: Hachi

A portable smart projector for an outdoor cinema
Though the days of campfire stories may be long gone, with wireless entertainment becoming increasingly more portable, the perfect way to gather loved ones for your next outdoor staycation may be best done with an evening of Netflix and smores – an experience made possible by miniature portable projectors that eschews the need for cables and oversized screens. The Hachi Infinite M1 Projector, in particular, boasts a full Android tablet system built in for app downloads like Netflix and Hulu — replacing the need for USB and HDMI connectivity. It also features a holographic touch-screen tablet for easy navigation. Simply place it facing your tent and tap on your latest binge-worthy flick and enjoy a holographic cinema experience in the wild
How much: HK$7,761

gafencu camping gadgets for outdoors vespera telescope camera — Image: Vaonis

A compact telescope-camera
Enjoying the evening under a blanket of stars might be a highlight that most campers long to share, but if you never posted it on social media, did it even really happen? Thankfully Vaonis’ latest cutting-edge technology delivers an ultra portable telescope-camera that lets any star gazing enthusiast get a taste of being an astrophotographer. The Vespera is a two-in-one device highlighted by its advance telescoping technology designed to deliver impressively clear images in low light, and uses a GPS system to locate and track any star, galaxy or nebulae automatically. The gadget is lightweight device that is compact enough to fit in a backpack and connects to a Smartphone via Blutooth to take pictures and share online.
How much: HK$11,646

Adventure Weekend: A guide to exciting staycations for the family

Most people in Hong Kong have been hunkering down and staying home since January this year —for obvious reasons. With overseas travelling out of the picture, staycations have been trending. Although, relishing in the comforts of a five-star hotel is often enticing, it may not appeal to families with active lifestyles and adventurous spirits. But worry not —Hong Kong has plenty of green lands and open seas to revel in that could equate to a holiday in Thailand or the Philippines. Here are some ideas for planning an exciting staycation for the adventurous family:

exciting family staycation in hong kong sai yuen monkey climbing abseiling teepee tent geodesic domes camping day and oivernight gafencu — Image from saiyuen.com

Saiyuen Camping & Adventure Park
With four different camping grounds that offer the accommodations in the form of safari tents and teepees. The children will have their fun in the outdoors tree-climbing and abseiling provided with the campsite facilities. You can also take up the chance to star-gaze within their geodesic domes.

exciting family staycation in hong kong jkclub caravan camping day and overnight gafencu — Image from jkclub.com.hk

JK Club
Parked in its own private drive, this campsite offers a well-equipped caravan experience for the family that misses bunking in a mobile home on long roads. Although you won’t be able to drive in these caravans, you will however have plenty of hiking trails and waterfalls to visit around Lantau Island and a BBQ feast to enjoy afterwards.

exciting family staycation in hong kong Asiamarine yacht day and overnight gafencu — Image from asiamarine.com/hkg

Asiamarine
If you prefer a more luxurious stay but still want to breathe in the open air, enjoy the sun on deck, wakeboard against the waves, and spend the night at sea on a yacht. Asiamarine provides an array of sails of different sizes for both half-day charters or overnight trips. Equipped with Bose sound systems, a BBQ grill, and accommodations that vary between two to four cabins, you can enjoy the luxury of quality and space away from the city.

2-Day Eco Adventure Sail
Another option for taking the kids out to sea is through hellohongkong.com, where they offer a two-day Eco Adventure trip around Hong Kong’s protected Geoparks and a visit to the pristine sandy white beaches of Tai Long Wan. Inclusive with an overnight accommodation in their 56-feet fully-equipped cruising sloop with two double cabins that can sleep four to six people comfortably.

Whether under a tent or out at sea, these staycations will be an experience for the family to remember and an exciting story for the kids to tell. However, in these challenging times, although we try to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information, we do advice our readers to enquire with the above establishments directly for updated news.

8 Hong Kong farms to check out for all your green needs

Are lunar new year resolutions even a thing? If so, and yours include “going green” this Year of the Dog, we’ve put together a few grassroots movements in Hong Kong that you can check out for a more wholesome 2018. From glamping to organic shopping, these farms will get you on the right track the fun, interactive (and delicious!) way.

GrowingSmart.HK – Permaculture-based programs, workshops and volunteer activities www.growingsmart.hk

Evergreens Republic – Order locally grown organic produce (harvested and delivered within 24 hours) from the largest and only USDA certified organic commercial Aquaponics farm to operate in Southeast Asia www.evergreensrepublic.com

Nature’s Harvest – a natural environment connecting visitors with their local and natural food system whilst escaping to a rural retreat in Clearwater Bay www.naturesharvest.com.hk www.veggies.hk

HK Farm – An organisation of Hong Kong farmers, artists and designers who grow local food, curate exhibitions and design products / services relating to urban agriculture www.hkfarm.org

Eat Fresh – An organic e-Greengrocery delivery where you can get packaged organic products like gluten-free brownies, baby & toddler fresh seasonal produce subscriptions or coconut body milk www.eatfresh.com.hk

Homegrown Foods – an e-grocery delivering premium, sustainable clean food to most anywhere in Hong Kong, 7 days a week www.homegrownfoods.com.hk

Go Green – An organic pineapple park and BBQ / camping / events venue in Yuen Long www.gogreenlife.com.hk

Sai Yuen Farm – One of several farm staycations have also sprung up. This one in Cheung Chau features glamping; you can check into Stargazing Geodesic domes, Transparent igloos set on a higher elevation offering breathtaking views of sea and sky. At night, the see-through ceilings yield unobstructed visions of twinkling stars from the comfort of your bed. At HK$3,300 a pop on weekends, prices are comparable to hotels in the city. www.saiyuenfarm.com

Words: Julienne C. Raboca