The British summer is finally here! I’m writing this on Monday after a glorious bank holiday and knowing our fair skies will likely be clouding over by the weekend.
Though I suppose there’s something wonderfully British about soggy barbecues and muddy festivals.
Sadly, there’s no such thing as tech to bring the sun out (yet), though tech for everything else summertime — including an umbrella to tell you when it’ll rain — does exist.
The best tech gadgets for adventures
Biolite CampStove 2
Creates smokeless fire using normal sticks, which you can use to cook or convert into energy to charge your devices.
The company funnels its revenue into eradicating energy poverty.
G-Ro
I would never in a million years recommend being outdoorsy with a suitcase. But then I met the G-Ro.
Think of it as the Land Rover Discovery of suitcases.
It has two oversized tank-like wheels. The result is a suitcase that can withstand all weather conditions — snow, rain, mud, shrubs.
Oh, and it comes with a 10,000 mAh (removable, TSA friendly) charger — enough to power your iPhone five times.
The Oombrella
This “smart” umbrella tells you when it’s going to rain and alerts you when you leave it somewhere.
If you’re an early-adopter of a smart mirror, the Oombrella will project the weather forecast while you brush your teeth. And the iridescent finish makes me desperate to own it.
Lumify solar fairy lights
I’ve always loved fairy lights. These are solar-powered, so charge up during the day or can be charged with a USB. They can also withstand extreme weather conditions.
Nanopresso
This portable coffee-maker uses your hands to create the 18 bars of pressure needed for optimal pumping.
The Nanopresso has non-camping uses too: it’s great for work trips or as an alternative to a pricey Nespresso machine.
Coolest Cooler
It’s a speaker AND a cooler so rather than lugging around both you now only need one for your party and picnic needs. It also has a blender, because why not (even if it’s a bit messy for the park. Props for getting the domain www.coolest.com, too.
Grace Gould is the founder of SODA
