Summer is more or less a month away, and that means the days of going camping outside or going to the beach to escape the summer heat and stress at school or work are soon upon us.
While you may have some things already in hand for the upcoming trips you'll be a part of, it doesn't hurt to make extra preparation to make them much more enjoyable. After all, the early bird gets the worm.
Here are some items you may want to pack for your summer getaway that are not only useful but also as budget-friendly as they can get.
Waterproof Camera
Whether you're diving underwater or going kayaking along a river, having a waterproof camera recording your summer memories without breaking them due to water splashes or being submerged underwater is a great way to keep them alive.
While a GoPro is the go-to camera for waterproof cameras, there are other alternatives since a GoPro could be not as affordable as people may think.
Thankfully, the GoPro Hero10 (starts at $215 on Amazon) has the best bang for the buck you pay. Its ability to stay functional within 30ft below sea level and the quality of its shots and videos make it worth your money.
Solar Power Bank
Going to the beach or camping in the mountains may sound fun and relaxing, but unless you have a powered cabin or hotel room to charge your gadgets and devices, you might be looking at a short stay at best.
That's where a solar power bank comes in. It may sound fancy, but its ability to charge devices and charge itself through solar power could be a life-saving feature if you're in dire straits during your outing - literally or figuratively.
For this, a solar power bank with similar or better features than the BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank ($28 - $45 at Amazon as of press time) is the best for both your devices and your wallet.
Portable Firepit
Grilling - one of the simplest forms of cooking there is. It's been with us since our ancient ancestors, and it will continue to do so so long as humanity knows how to create and tend to fire.
Having a portable firepit allows you to both enjoy cooking and having a heat source at the same time, though you may want to check with your destination's policies on portable firepits before you pack one.
Blue Sky's 16-inch Outdoor Living Ridge Portable Fire Pit ($80 - $100 on Amazon) is the best budget portable firepit in our opinion - it doesn't produce excessive amounts of smoke for the heat it provides from burning firewood, wood pellets, or a combination of both.
Waterproof Phone Pouches
Smartphones are handy little things, but we are sometimes over-reliant on these things for a good reason: it fits various devices into a gadget that can fit into pockets. Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a price - break the smartphone, and you lose your access to the conveniences it provides.
Having a waterproof phone pouch on hand allows you to protect your smartphone from being exposed to water (which could ruin its circuitry), and gives you quick access to your phone while it's protected.
Calicase's Universal Waterproof case is the best waterproof phone pouch out there. For $30, you have a phone pouch that protects your phone from pressure, puncture, and penetration, making it the only phone pouch that's not only drop, scuff, and waterproof, but also buoyant enough for it to float above water when dropped.
First Aid Kit
Cuts, scrapes, and wounds are sometimes unavoidable when you go campings or outings that involve physical activity (ie. all of them). As such, having a first aid kit in hand is not only a wise decision, but it could also save your life and others.
The Red Cross' Deluxe Family First Aid Kit is a 115-piece kit that contains all you need to treat most common injuries like cuts, scrapes, swelling, sprains, strains, and more. These include aspirin tablets, antibiotic ointment packs, bandages, gauzes, and even one-time-use thermometers.
For $41, you could turn an otherwise disastrous situation into a manageable one, though you may want to read up on how to apply first aid on someone or on yourself first or have someone who knows their way around a first aid kit.
