Scamper Life

Camping Gear that Elevates the Experience

19–29 minutes

Crossing the US multiple times in my 13-foot Scamp has taught me there are some luxuries worth packing. If basic essentials are what you’re after, you can find them in my Scamp Essentials Simplified article. If you want to bump your comfort up a level, these are the items that have made Scamping in all types of weather much more enjoyable.

Start with the quick list and continue on for in-depth information, how I use them, and why I love them.

Quick List

In Depth

10 x 10 Pop-up Awning

Easy ups, also known as pop-up awnings, are considered a must-have by most experienced campers. They provide shade in the heat, additional dry space in the rain, a place to hang things up, and an easy elevated attachment point for a lantern at night.

Even though our Scamp has an awning, placing an easy-up over the campground table drastically improves our camping experience. It expands our outdoor living space and means I don’t have to roast in the sun when cooking outside in the summer. In the fall I don’t have to frantically pack away equipment when some rain hits. Placing the canopy near the fire pit means we can stay dry while enjoying campfires in the rain or snow since this brand is waterproof and flame resistant.

A Scamp 13’s limited interior space really encourages us to spend our time outdoors, and with a sturdy canopy in our kit, there is no reason we can’t.

Why this option?

There are a lot of pop-up canopy options to choose from. There are definitely less expensive alternatives to fit tighter budgets. However, I have spent more money in the long run, replacing multiple inexpensive canopies that fail quickly. It is much more cost-effective to just buy a durable option up front.

The quality of the frame and pull-pin toggle-style height adjusters make deploying this canopy much smoother than most. It does require 2 people, but the lack of a deployment handle in the center of the peak makes for tons more headroom. That extra space means this canopy can be set up right over top of the Scamp. We have used it to keep the Scamp shaded so it stays cooler inside on blazing hot days. It’s been used to dampen the sound of heavy rain on the Scamp roof since I’m a light sleeper. We have even used it to prevent falling tree nuts from booming loudly on our fiberglass roof all day/night. Having a canopy over the Scamp has drastically improved our sleep quality more than once.

The higher quality materials are bomber in a storm, too. We spent four days getting pounded by relentless Oregon Coast downpours, and everything stashed underneath stayed nice and dry. On a particularly windy excursion, the canvas material held up like a champ. We did pack extra tent pegs and added reflective guy lines to each corner for more stability in heavy winds.

Anker Everfrost Powered Cooler

Expanding food storage, no ice needed.

One of my biggest struggles with downsizing from a Class C RV to a Scamp 13 has been the teeny tiny fridge in the Scamp. It is super small, and my 2023 fridge only runs on electricity. This means my Scamp fridge is my biggest power vampire when camping without hookups. Even with a permanently mounted solar panel to offset the battery drain, the fridge itself is still too small to hold the amount of fresh food my diet requires.

Enter the Anker Powered Cooler. I’ve been a fan of Anker products for over a decade. I’ve been using and abusing their battery banks and compact solar panel in the backcountry on my backpacking adventures for years. I am truly impressed by the quality and durability of everything Anker makes.

So, when Anker came out with powered coolers that don’t need ice, can run for 42 hours on their own power, and will even charge other devices with the onboard battery, I was not surprised that they sold out immediately. (Currently back in stock!)

Mine instantly quadrupled the amount of food I can carry and keep cold. The 50 has 2 separate compartments that can be set to different temperatures. Both can be set to refrigerator temps, they can both be freezer temps, or you can have a fridge and freezer with a whisper quiet compressor. The removable battery also doubles as a power station for charging other devices.

I have so much to say about this cooler that it deserves its own in-depth review, but I’ll try to keep it short:

What I love about the Anker Everfrost:

  • Temps can be set and adjusted via Bluetooth through the app. This means I can adjust the settings from inside my tow vehicle as outside temps rise/fall even while we’re on the road.
  • It’s built like a tank! You can sit on it, drag it across rough terrain, and slam the lids without worry.
  • Both compartments have their own lights. The interior is very well lit. Since there isn’t any ice to dig through and the lights are well placed, it’s not hard to find what you seek.
  • Super quiet. The onboard compressor is efficient and very quiet.
  • Cools from room temp in 30 minutes.
  • 3 ways to power/charge. It can be powered by 12v, solar, or plugged into a 110 outlet. I precharge it at home, then run it with 12v while I drive. If my site has power, I can run it with that. While it’s plugged in, the battery can come out and power other electronics. When off grid, the 100w solar panel is plenty to keep it running and topped off.
  • Long run time when temps are set higher.
  • Stays efficient when opened often.
  • Built-in cutting board.

What I Don’t love:

  • It is quite heavy. The cooler itself is 60 pounds empty. It is a 2-person job to move it. Solo travelers might want to consider one of Anker’s smaller options.
  • Nowhere to put it inside the Scamp. I’m not even sure this beast would fit through the Scamp door. But there isn’t any space for it in there anyway so ours stays inside the tow vehicle.
  • The compressor cannot get wet. I have a truck with a topper shell, so this isn’t a problem for us. But for such a quality piece of outdoor gear that aspect is a bit limiting.

Anker 100W Solar Panel with Adjustable Kickstand

Since I spend a majority of my time at campgrounds without hookups or boondocking far from the grid I invested in an Anker 100W Solar Panel to power my cooler. They aren’t cheap but when I do the math it is SO much cheaper in the long run than paying for sites with hookups every time I camp.

Anker Solar Panels are not only compact, lightweight, and super durable, they have little engineering touches that make big differences. My favorite is the tiny bubble they included to achieve the optimal angle. You never have to guess if you are getting the maximum charge possible or not.

It only takes a few hours of good sunlight to charge up and top off my Everfrost cooler. Additionally, the panel has multiple USB ports and a USB-C port. So, between the panel and the cooler’s battery I can charge several devices and several phones at once while I power the cooler for free from the sun. It is an off-grid dream.

Portable Power Station

Another luxury that helps make my boondocking dreams come true is having a Portable Power Station along with me. The number of ways I use mine would make this article too long if I tried to list them all. So, I will just discuss the biggest advantages to keep things brief.

  • It charges my Scamp battery – armed with an adapter I can plug my trailer right into the power station. When the solar panel I installed on the Scamp roof doesn’t keep up with my power usage I plug the Scamp into the power station to top off the battery. The power station runs the fridge, powers everything in the trailer, and gives me live outlets throughout (just like having hookups.) The only thing it won’t run is the roof AC.
  • It powers my cooler on low light excursions – when the rain doesn’t quit for days, I use my power station in place of the solar panel to keep my electric cooler topped off.
  • It runs all my kitchen appliances, devices, and lights – toaster ✔️ magic bullet ✔️ movie projector ✔️  Thermacell Bug Repeller ✔️ dehumidifier ✔️ This thing is like an extra house battery AND inverter in one!
  • 3 ways to charge – I mostly charge it via the 12v port (cigarette lighter) in my tow vehicle while driving. But it can be charged via an outlet or solar panel as well.
  • Big capacity – it’s beefy. This thing is 1100Wh with a 2000Wh peak. It can power almost anything.
  • Doubles as a lantern – there is a very bright light on the back that is amazing when you need to change a tire in the dark. It also lights up the whole camp table when pointed up at the underside of the white easy up listed above. We place a gallon of water over it for an awesome defused light that has an absurdly long run time.

Sand Free RV Mat

A good outdoor mat is a given for expanding outdoor living space. But THIS MATT is a cut above the rest. IDK what kind of sorcery CGear uses but sand and dirt particles fall through the mat and can’t come back up.

Having one has drastically reduced how much debris gets tracked inside the Scamp. The 8′ x 8′ size is perfect for under the awning and packs away nice and compact. It dries super fast too. Highly recommend.

Thermacell Mosquito Repellent

Blood suckers suck and they transmit disease, but my sensitive skin leaves me few options for repelling mosquitoes. Thank goodness there are rechargeable Thermacell Mosquito Repellers. These magic devices diffuse a fine mist that’s safe for humans and pets but creates a protective dome that most flying insects won’t enter. They work. I won’t ever camp without mine again.

Coleman Camp Stove

The tiny kitchen inside a Scamp is nice for coffee or tea in the morning, but I much prefer to cook outside. The extra room to prep and cook on a campground table is so much easier than trying to cook inside. It also helps to keep the trailer cooler by not adding the heat from the stove to such a small space. So, a simple two burner Coleman Stove saves me from building a fire every time I want to cook something.

Few things are built to last quite like Coleman stoves. One has been in my family and functioning without issue for over 20 years. I prefer the simplicity of the Classic Coleman Stove with fewer parts that might fail and the readily available stove fuel type. I bought this case to protect my stove and store 2 bottles of fuel in one compact carrying case.

Cast Iron Skillet

A good quality cast iron skillet is a game changer while camping. Nothing cooks like cast iron. They can be used over the fire, on the camp stove, or inside the trailer. In addition to the added versatility, they save water and time since they are so easy to clean with one of these scrapers. There is nothing quite like bacon cooked over a fire on a crisp morning. Ours came with a hot handle holder which has been amazing for grabbing it off the fire pit. Just don’t leave it on the handle over an open flame. Level up the pan’s seasoning and flavor with some Bacon Up.

Why this one?

It is worth it to pay a little more for a quality brand like Lodge. The iron is smoother making them much more non-stick. The rounded edge makes cleaning so much easier than cheaper options with a square edge around the bottom. I have found the 12 inch to be the perfect size for everything from hash browns to berry cobbler, and it still fits inside the Scamp’s kitchen cabinet.

Nesting Cookware

I originally bought this super durable set of nesting cookware for my backpacking adventures. While it turned out to be a bit too large and heavy duty for that, it has been THE BEST thing for my Scamp kitchen. The Snow Peak Field Cooker Pro. 3 Set has been a huge space saver! It can handle being tossed around in a bumpy trailer without damage. The strainer it comes with is a rare touch that saves lots of cabinet space since you won’t need to buy/store a separate colander. The mini oven mitt aids in picking up hot pot handles and stores the detachable wooden pot handle nested within itself to prevent clanging or damage. The wooden pan handle is interchangeable with the pan and various pots. All the pieces cook really evenly. This set makes it easy to strain pastas and rinse vegetables. It also heats up quickly to boil water super fast and cools quickly to store away.

This kit is heavy duty enough to last a lifetime without being too heavy for a lightweight trailer.

Durable Dish Set

Anyone who has taken their Scamp down a bumpy road knows how often things fly out of the cabinets. My dishes stored over the sink have flung onto my bed in transit. So durable dishes are a must. This set is super cute and very difficult to chip or break. They are lightweight, easy to clean, stack together compactly and are the right size to fit in the tiny Scamp kitchen cupboard.

Shatterproof Drinkware

Just like a trusty dish set shatterproof drinkware options are a must. Glass and ceramics are just not a good idea and won’t fare well for long in a Scamp. These stainless-steel cups on the other hand have stood the test of time. I have been using mine for 8 years and they have almost no signs of wear. They stack together to take up very little space and fit into camp chair cup holders with ease. Just pay attention to what size you order cuz I find the pint size preferable to the tiny 10 oz size.

French Press

If you haven’t discovered what a superior cup of java you can produce with a French Press I highly recommend you try it. I use one every day at home because I love a good strong cup. Even if I wasn’t a certified caffeine junkie a French press makes the most sense for camping. Generating heat with electricity takes a lot of juice so a French Press saves a ton of power and doesn’t stop you from going off grid. Simply boil water and pour it over coarse ground beans. Easy peasy.

To dispose of beans, I wipe them out into the trash with a rubber spatula. I try to keep the grinds out of my gray tank, so I follow the spatula with a good wipe with a paper towel before I rinse the press. Much like the dish options listed above this French Press is highly shatter resistant and easily fits inside the Scamp kitchen cupboard.

Insulated Mugs

Once I’ve made my coffee, I like to keep it piping hot. Cold campground mornings can suck the heat out of a hot beverage really quickly. But these insulated mugs have what it takes to keep things hot.

The lids are perfect for sipping around the campsite or preventing spills while on the road. They come in lots of cool colors, so you always know which one is yours. Unlike the tumbler style they pack away in the smallest of cabinets. The insulation is very effective and they are crazy durable. I love my Stanley mugs.

Grill Tools

I absolutely love cooking over a campfire. That smokey flavor that a wood fire adds to a meal is what happy memories are made of. One of the best parts is how few tools you actually need. This set of BBQ Tools contains the only tools I really need. I’ve cooked just about everything you can think of with these simple tools, and they pack away super compactly in the protective case. It is the perfect size set for any Scamp.

Foldable Fire Pit Grill Cooking Grate

Speaking of cooking over a fire, it only took one hamburger patty falling through the extra wide grates built onto campground fire rings to realize the importance of bringing my own grill grate. I’ll be darned if I let the expensive steaks, I’ve splurged on become a burnt offering on my next adventure. This folding grate is easy to store away and incredibly well built.

Forgot cheap alternatives this is the one you want. The welds are super high quality and aid in easy cleaning since there aren’t porous crevices at the weld points. It is just the right size for nearly every campground I’ve taken it to, and it’s built like a tank.

Fire Starters

I have long been a fan of building a fire without the use of supplemental igniters. I love the act of chopping wood down to ignitable pieces and practicing my fire-starting skills using only natural materials. However, a recent shoulder injury left me no choice but to use a little assistance.

What a game changer these little fire starters are! When building a cooking fire, I no longer have to wait to process wood. In the rain when firewood gets damp these starters have no problem getting a fire roaring. They are individually wrapped so you can pack the exact amount needed and the wrapper is water resistant. Best of all they will never spill like a lighter fluid bottle might. They are much safer to use than lighter fluid as well. Even though I still love the challenge of building a “one match fire” with natural materials, having these fire starters on hand has been a real luxury when I need a fire fast.

Wood Splitting Axe

Did you know that not all axes are designed for splitting wood? If you want to break wood frequently with the least amount of work, get a splitting axe. If you are like me and have been mistakenly using a maul axe from the local hardware store for years you will notice a tremendous difference. A wood splitting axe head is wider and flatter than a traditional axe, with a blunt, rounded edge designed to deliver maximum force and easily split wood. This Fiskars X11 is the perfect combo of compactness and efficiently. With my shoulder now on the mend I can get back to my favorite camp chore and still lessen the impact it has on my healing body.

Dish Washing Basins

If you have watched my Scamp Hacks Video you’ll know I’m not a fan of washing dishes inside my Scamp 13. The tiny sink and limited counter space can be frustrating. Drips and spills abound. So, I was elated to find these collapsible dish basins with strainers in the bottom that fit perfectly into the Scamp sink for draining.

I use 2 of them to wash dishes outside on the camp table. I fill one with hot soapy water and the other with cold water for rinsing. This system actually saves a ton of water which I love while boondocking. When the soapy water gets too filthy, I can drain it right into my gray tank through the bottom of the basin into the sink.

Then, I make the rinse water into soapy water and get to reuse it instead of all that water running down the drain. I can carry less water with me and save that precious gray tank space when adventuring without hookups. Plus, the strainers help fight holding tank stink by keeping bits of food out of the tank.

I pair this system with a scrub brush that has a soap reservoir, biodegradable soap, and a dish drying mat. This way I can wash and dry dishes outside with a compact system that’s easy to carry to the camp table and helps protect the beautiful places I visit. The grippy rubber drying mat doubles as an antiskid mat inside my cabinet when placed below my dish set.

Drinking Water Container with Spigot

Another item that makes the water we pack in go further is this water carrier with a spigot. The 12L size is perfect for hauling drinking water for the weekend with a family of 3, but it is the spout that makes these particular carriers so multipurpose. We create an outdoor hand washing station that captures water to repurpose for dish washing later. We place the water carrier on the edge of the camp table with the spout aimed at the bench. Then we place one of the wash basins discussed above on the bench to recapture the water we wash our hands with. The soap and water both get salvaged for washing other things like pots and pans at a later time.

We carry 2 when camping off grid and always have plenty of filtered drinking water without having to drink from our trailer’s holding tank.

Solar Lanterns

One of my absolute favorite bits of gear are these little inflatable solar lanterns by Luci. They deflate so flat that I can drive with them on my dashboard on the way to a camping spot to charge em up in route. They charge quickly and have a long run time. They might be small, inexpensive, and super lightweight but they are powerful little buggers.

They have loops on both sides so they can be hung anywhere to illuminate the site at night or to charge up in the sun during the day. The loop also fits perfectly around my Scamp’s iron tree shaped support next to the sink. So, whether I’m boondooking and want to conserve battery power or I just want softer light inside the Scamp at night the Luci light is my go-to.

I hang them from our pop-up canopy to light up the table. They are bright enough to cook under but soft enough to avoid disturbing anyone at a neighboring campsite. Having multiple means that if one runs out of juice the party can keep going with the backup light. Since they are solar and LED they don’t take much sunlight to be ready to go the next night. No batteries needed and no waste.

Just don’t leave them unattended to charge out in the open because I’ve had birds rip into mine looking for food. I think the Ziploc like appearance of material entices critters. Charging them on the dash or hanging by a window is a better bet.

Bungee Cords

Most people don’t immediately think to add bungee cords to their packing list. But I have used this set in more ways than I can list. They keep my water carriers upright in transit. They keep my trashcan from blowing away in the breeze. I’ve used them to attach tarps to the legs of my easy-up to create side walls. I have used them to hang lanterns and string lights. They have also come in handy for on-the-spot repairs. I consider them a staple in my camping kit.

Packable Trash Can

A sizable trash can is definitely a luxury while camping. It saves me from making tons of trips to the dumpster and wasting multiple smaller trash bags. Since Scamp storage space is limited the ability of this Pop-up Trash Can to pack away flat is a game changer. It has grommets on the bottom to stake it into the ground and a zippered lid to keep critters out. It isn’t the most durable option on the market, but it is durable enough for the price that if a hungry raccoon tears through it I wouldn’t feel like it was a big loss.

Small Folding Table

Most campsites come with a table. Yet, I’ve found a small folding table is great for moving around into the shade with a snack and beverage. I like to drink my coffee in a comfortable chair with great back support so having a little table to set my drink down lets me sip under my awning or anywhere I wish. When I received this small folding GCI table as a gift, I honestly didn’t know if I would use it. I gave it a chance and have grown to love the versatility it provides. I especially love placing it near the Scamp entryway with my Thermacell Mosquito Repeller on top at the height of bug season. It keeps mosquitoes from sneaking through the open Scamp door and makes the area under my awning a bug free haven.

Camp Chairs

I have saved the VERY BEST for last. These Dometic Camp Chairs are ABSOLUTE LUXURY. They do weigh 9 lbs a piece so don’t try to lug them very far. But for camping chairs these beauties are unbeatable. They are high backed, wide and deep without being too high off the ground. This unique combo makes them comfortable for campers of all shapes and sizes. They have real wooden arm rests and a very sturdy frame. They also have a cup holder that swivels in and out. However, it is the utter lack of pressure points that make these chairs comfortable to lounge in for hours on end. Then when it’s time to pack up, just push inward. They fold in with the carry strap accessible. No need to attach anything or stuff it into a storage sack. They compress enough to fit under the Scamp bed and look so fancy you’ll be the envy of all your campground neighbors.

Bonus Entertainment Items

Love to watch movies and your favorite shows while far from the grid or wifi? No worries! This Nebula Projector is designed to be portable and work anywhere. The internal battery lasts long enough to enjoy full length movies and the onboard memory lets you download plenty of entertainment to watch where no WiFi can go.

Add a white sidewall to the EZ up listed above and you’ve got the perfect screen to cast the picture on plus a great wind block! Place the projector on top of the recommended GCI folding table and you’ve got a fully portable entertainment system that works anywhere. With a portable power station the runtime becomes nearly endless.

If you made it to the end of this article, I am truly impressed by your attention span. I hope this list of my favorite luxuries to use while I camp has helped you find some items to elevate your camping experience as well. Please be safe out there and remember to leave it better than you found it. Safe travels friends!

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