【Buying Experience】What are the 4 gears I’m glad I chose to "enjoy" car camping?

As I go car camping regularly for relaxation, various ideas come to mind. With the desire to incorporate better items, a camp writer has selected four pieces of gear that he purchased. What are the four items he thinks were worth buying?

Part 1: Listening to In-Car Radio with Portable Speaker "JBL CLIP5"

The "JBL CLIP5" (8747 yen) is a portable speaker with a carabiner. Its IP67 rated dust and water resistance makes it suitable for outdoor use, and it supports Bluetooth 5.2, allowing for up to approximately 15 hours of continuous use.

Recently, the author has been hooked on a radio program called "Kūki Kaidan no Odoriba" (TBS Radio every Monday 24:00 - 25:00) and while trying to watch it simply on their smartphone during camping, they found that the battery drained quickly, resulting in an inability to continue listening. At that moment, they felt the need for a portable speaker and got one right away.

The main reason for choosing the JBL CLIP5 was that it can be hung from the assist bar in the car using the included carabiner. Since there is little space to place a speaker in a cramped car interior, the author had already been thinking of a way to hang it with an item they had. However, this item comes with a carabiner that has a wider opening of 23mm. It can be directly hooked onto the assist grip, perfectly meeting the author's needs.

Upon actual use, the smartphone's battery consumption improved, and due to its high sound performance, the voices from the radio became very easy to hear. Even during solo car camping when feeling occasional loneliness, the radio flowing from this speaker helped the author regain an active feeling, making the trip more enjoyable.
*Using speakers may be prohibited in certain facilities and may disturb nearby users, so please check the rules and conditions and be mindful of the volume when using.

Part 2: Enriching Camp Meals with Unbreakable Plastic Tableware "Nature"

When starting car camping, one realizes that there is no need to worry about the amount and size of baggage like in backpack camping. One item that had previously focused on compactness was "tableware," but the author began to think it might be okay to incorporate larger tableware that could be used at home.

Therefore, considering "visual flair" and "ease of use," they chose the unbreakable tableware "Nature Series" (from 660 yen). In the image above, it shows frozen horse sashimi purchased from a nearby store.

The Nature series is made of resin, making it resistant to breakage and lightweight, and is easy to use at home as it is compatible with dishwashers and microwaves. Among the various options available, the author purchased plates in a wood grain pattern with monochrome colors, as well as small plates in vibrant glossy red and white. The table has become lively with the addition of natural wood textures and colorful hues, compared to the previously used metal tableware. Just placing side dishes in these dishes makes everything look appealing, so they seem useful for group camping trips with friends.

Item 3 "LETOUR LED Lantern" that can be fixed to a tripod with a 1/4 inch screw hole

The LED lantern I love and frequently use for camping started to malfunction, so I researched and replaced it with the "LETOUR LED Lantern" (2280 yen). Personally, the essential features I needed were the ability to fix it with a magnet and hang it with hooks, as well as the capability to fix it to a camera tripod using a 1/4 inch screw hole, which ultimately led to my purchase. By adjusting the angle of the handle on the back of the unit, it can also be placed flat on its own.

It is equipped with a 4000mAh battery, allowing for stepless dimming with a maximum brightness of 500 lumens. When I attached it with a magnet to the back door to illuminate my feet, it brightly lit up a wide area. I use it as the overall lighting for the site.

Item 4 Used in conjunction with the OD can screw conversion adapter "PROTOTYPE OPTION prop02"

An adapter "PROTOTYPE OPTION prop02" (2,640 yen) that connects to the valve screw of an OD can and converts it to a 1/4 screw. This adapter allows you to use an OD can as a base for placing lanterns or cameras when you cannot set up a tripod, such as inside a car. It can be used with OD cans of any brand, is small, and is made from A6063, a material used in aircraft, treated with anodizing (only the core of the ball head dial is made of stainless steel screw), fulfilling the desire for ownership.

I tried using the aforementioned "LETOUR LED Lantern" together with the "PROTOTYPE OPTION prop02". It is adjustable to various angles with its swivel function, making it useful for using as a tabletop light or for illuminating nearby objects for product photography.

Let's enjoy the outdoors by incorporating new items.

These seemingly insignificant items are very helpful in changing the atmosphere of solo car camping. Enjoying small changes in the outdoors, the active use of new items can enhance the experience of car camping time. If you are starting to feel a sense of monotony in your usual outdoor leisure activities, why not try incorporating something new?

Interview and text by Kazuma Tanaka

Search LETOUR LED Lantern on Amazon