Camping seems to lend itself to the gadget inventor’s imagination, maybe because campers are forever looking for ways to condense ten things into one. Camping will often mean being away from electricity or certain conveniences and gadgets make it possible to take a small, portable piece of home with you to make life easier.

Whatever the reason, it is certain that the outdoor and camping-kit market is swamped every year by new ideas. Some of them are so ridiculous they instantly sink into obscurity while others are pure genius and you wonder how you ever coped before they were invented.

Any top ten list of anything is always going to be dictated by personal choice but I have tried to include must-haves that will appeal to a wide audience as well as my own favourites.

1. Swiss Army Knife or Multi-purpose Tool

No self-respecting camper or outdoors-man is ever going to leave home without one of these.

The ownership of a multi-purpose tool takes us into Neanderthal (male) territory. The make, quality and type of tool seems to stand in direct relation to the owner’s masculinity. If you picked yours up at the local Esso garage as part of a special deal then keep it hidden from fellow (male) camper’s eyes unless you are prepared for open ridicule or, at best, pitying looks.

On the other hand if you have the latest all-singing-all-dancing Leatherman then you can wield it with inflated chest and impunity.Multi-purpose tools can cost a small fortune but it is unfortunately true that the more you pay, the better the quality will be. It really is false economy to buy a cheaper version as the minute you try and use it the tool will bend, snap or just be completely incapable of completing the task in hand.

The most basic of tools will normally include a knife, scissors, file and screwdriver and these days the top end of the market sees tools with flash lights, pens, blue-tooth connectivity, MP3 player and USB flash-drives. There are versions designed with the camper in mind and include knives, corkscrews, can-openers, wood-saw, bottle openers, punchers, sewing eyes and wire cutters as well as the usual inclusions.

 All joking aside, a multi-purpose tool is worth its weight in gold to a camper. It does away with the need for many other items as all good gadgets should; it is light and can easily be carried about your person at all times.

2. Portable Solar Charger

This wonderful little invention is relatively cheap to buy(around £30 mark/ 2010 prices), very light (185 grams) and very small (123mm x 62 x 17). Its solar panels, that incidentally will power up even on a cloudy day, charge eternal batteries that can store power for up to three months.

No matter where you are you can power up your mobile phone, MP3 player, rechargeable batteries, digital camera and even portable gaming devices.

3. Folding Kitchen Sink

It was always going to happen that some-one, some day would invent this. This is not a gimmick though, it is a highly useful stroke of genius. A truly portable ‘sink’ that can hold 10 litres of water and which folds away into a tiny pouch that you can fit in the palm of your hand. Its clever construction means that when in use, the rings at the rim hold the whole structure rigid.

4. Head Torch

Once upon a time there was only one or two head torches on the market. Now, there are literally hundreds to choose from. It’s another case though of you get what you pay for; better quality normally comes with a higher price tag.

Head torches are a camping essential, giving you constant available light but allowing you to keep both hands free.

Opt for a head torch that gives you choices of red or white LEDs. Red LEDs don’t ruin your night vision and are far more camp-site friendly if there a lot of other people about.

5. The ‘Handpresso’ Coffee Maker

 The camping gadget for those who have everything or for people who just can’t go without their caffeine fix. It comes with a hefty price tag but will allow you to make real coffee without the need for electricity. It is lightweight and small as all good camping gadgets should be.

It is also possible to buy solar-powered coffee machines but these are a little heavier and bulkier.

6. Solar Powered Collapsible Lamps

Another fold-away eco-friendly camping accessory. They work as a great, soft light option for kids who want the comfort of a night-light. They are super-lightweight and can be hung from virtually anywhere. They are a good option for extra lighting at your camp as they don’t have the intensity of so many other lantern options that can be disruptive to other nearby campers trying to sleep.

7. Portable Barbecue

For many years campers have coped with those little tin foil, use once, disposable barbecues that you could buy from garages and supermarkets. They’re great for what they do but wasteful and small which meant a family of four needed several of them at once. Carting the barbecue from home was never really an option – huge, messy and heavy.

Now there is a choice of truly portable barbecue grills that fold-away into a small carry-case. They are sturdy but light. They come in different sizes but the average choice gives you a cooking area of  33 x 44.5 cms

8. Re-usable Hand and Foot Warmers

I’m a bit wimpy when it comes to the cold and, on all but the balmiest of British evenings, find myself doing the camp-site stomp to get some heat back into my fingers and toes. It’s normally as the evening is starting to warm up in every way except temperature wise.

The modern versions of hand and foot warmers seem to keep their heat longer and don’t seem to lose efficiency with repeated use.

Some of the use once versions are good but it means taking up a lot more space in the packing of gear.

There is a new choice on the market too – the Zippo hand-warmer. It is powered by lighter fuel and works on the principle of catalytic combustion which means no flame. Once fired up this hand-warmer will last for up to 12 hours.

This entry isn’t an essential for everyone but is a must-have for those of us who seem to lose feeling in our extremities as the night progresses.

9. Filter Water Bottle

Not only will you have far better tasting water constantly to hand but you will be doing your bit for the environment. These water bottles come with their very own built in filter. The most basic variety that can be bought for under £5 will filter out the chlorine taste and any harmful bacteria (effective to 99.9%). The more expensive versions allow you to scoop muddy water from a stream and drink it.

The water bottle does away with the need to buy bottled water and has the knock on effect of using less plastic.

This water bottle could be the answer for those with sensitive digestive systems that always seem to be affected by a change in water leading to stomach upsets – something you’ll want to avoid on your camping trip.

10. Fold-away Table and Chairs

Some people manage without table and chairs on camping trips while for others they are indispensable. If you fall into the latter category then consider a folding table and chair set. Chairs for a family of four plus a table take up a huge amount of space but this can be reduced with an all in one set as it folds completely flat. They are also surprisingly light as many of the newest versions are made of aluminium.

New gadgets are being brought onto the market all the time as well as new and improved versions of existing gadgets. www.firebox.com has a wonderful range of gadgets suitable for camping with price tags ranging from a few pounds to a few hundred.

Keep your eyes peeled if you have been waiting for that certain something to be invented to make your camp trip easier. Sooner or later some-one will develop it if they haven’t already.