Most water filter pitchers are made of BPA-free plastic. But as new research shows that bottled-water drinkers ingest tens of thousands of excess microplastic particles, wellness lovers have begun to look askance at water filters that are themselves made of plastic.
The camping category has gone through a genuine design evolution. Products are emerging from studios that understand outdoor life not as a survival exercise but as an experience worth designing for.
The portable power station market has grown considerably over the last few years, and with that growth has come a predictable flood of look-alike black rectangles. They're useful, sure. But they're mostly garage gear, things you pull out during a power outage or scramble to pack the night before a camping trip.
The all-new 2026 Escape, designed after the original camper, is no less, in fact, the petite solution, the Escape Pod. Which reimagines the existing model, is "built for those who want to disappear off-grid without giving up comfort."
The best hiking pants earn their place in our packing list the hard way-through scree scrambles, sweaty switchbacks, and the kind of bushwhacking that tests each and every seam. We've worn them on short hikes and multi-day backpacking trips, in hot and cold weather, through light rain and high-alpine winds.
The key upgrades with these new units compared to the original/standard Jetboil stoves are the integrated pot supports and regulator valves that enable simmer control and incremental heat adjustment, expanding beyond the company's signature boil-water-as-fast-as-possible functionality.
The Anker Solix C1000 is my pick of the best portable power stations for camping, because it has the capacity to keep your phones and tablets charged up, maybe run a small fridge or cooler for a weekend, and boasts a handy light bar for a soft glow at night.
Ulefone's RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro tries to close that split by putting a detachable magnetic action camera directly on the back of the phone, so both jobs start from one object. The module snaps onto the rear chassis magnetically, drawing obvious design inspiration from the Insta360 GO series, and peels off into a fully independent wearable.
Using Voronoi polygon modelling, the design team mapped how pressure from a sleeping head distributes across the pillow's surface, then engineered protrusions and recesses to respond to that data. The front face features raised cellular structures that increase the contact area between pillow and skin, improving comfort while simultaneously channelling airflow to keep things cool. The back face offers four distinct tactile zones depending on orientation, giving users a degree of customisation that is rare in camping gear. Also, a little warning but: trypophobia alert.
Plastic water filter jugs have long been a popular option, but growing concerns around plastic waste, convenience and ongoing maintenance are driving interest in alternative solutions. Puure®, a water filtration brand operating in the UK, has developed a stainless steel tap mounted water filter designed to challenge the role of traditional plastic filter jugs. Rather than relying on refilling a jug and replacing plastic components, the system attaches directly to the tap and filters water instantly as it is used.
Meet Wingcube, a box that transforms from a foldable tentwooden cabinet-like structure into a wing-looking mobile shelter. Combining the structure of a tent with the concept of a compact cabin, the project, which is till in development, focuses on being modular so users can transport it anywhere with their vehicles. It can be towed easily, and once it finds its spot, the structure extends outward like a fan, creating a raised mini cabin.
If you throw away a plastic item today, it'll very likely still be around for decades to come. In fact, some research suggests that certain plastic items could take up to 500 years to decompose. To put that in context, that means that if, say, Henry VIII threw away a plastic coffee pod in Tudor England, it would only just be finished degrading now. He didn't, of course; plastic wasn't used regularly until the 20th century. But you get the point.
First and foremost, that small hole allows steam to escape. If a lid is fully sealed right after the cup is filled, steam can gather inside. Under the right conditions, that could build enough pressure to pop the lid off and result in a nasty burn. Letting a tiny bit of steam escape instead makes that pressure build up less likely to happen.
Whether you're planning a quick road trip to the nearest beach or a much-needed couple's getaway, spending a few days away calls for a sturdy, stylish, and functional travel bag. We often turn to our favourite weekenders to hold everything we need for short trips and overnight stays. The best weekender bags are roomy enough to carry your clothes, toiletries, and a pair of comfortable shoes or two
However, each individual watch has its own unique selling point - and for the Flint (as its name rightfully suggests), it's the waterproof flint-rod that's integrated into the watch's body. Unscrew it when you want to start a fire, scrape on the rod using a pocket knife, and sparks immediately shoot off, igniting any form of tinder, creating a tiny fire that can then be harnessed to light a campfire, an old-fashioned torch, or an emergency signal in a time of distress.
Shaped like a seat bag, the monstrous new Old Man Mountain 12L Atlas Rack Pack gives you more capacity with a more stable design...and still leaves room for a saddle bag above it. Well, there's room for one if you have a lot of seatpost extension, but it's also shaped for room to drop your saddle if you're using a dropper post, too. And if this is all you need, it keeps your center of gravity lower and your load more stable.
Our latest Quince obsession-the Water-Repellent Puff Expandable Tote-features so many of these unexpected design details that shoppers are calling it the "near-perfect travel bag." Equipped with so many pockets, the bag "has a place for everything," and that's just one of the reasons we're snagging one today. If you're looking for a tote bag to use on your next trip-and for occasions and events well beyond it-this one is it, with shoppers calling it the "most practical bag" they have ever purchased.
There's something oddly satisfying about watching outdoor gear shed its bulk. We've seen tents collapse into impossibly small pouches and sleeping bags compress into cylinders the size of water bottles. Now, Camprit is applying that same minimalist philosophy to camp stoves with their TiStove, and the results are kind of brilliant. The concept is deceptively simple. Take five titanium pieces (two foldable legs and three cooking panels), make them pack completely flat, and keep the whole setup under 1.5 pounds.
Even if you bring home as few bags as possible - using reusable bags, carrying purchases home with your own two hands - soft plastics sill accumulate. I certainly have a collection with one flimsy plastic sack filled with dozens or hundreds of others. I plan to do something with it... eventually. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of options for what to do with those soft plastics, as most recycling facilities can't accept them.
Recently, I've been testing rechargeable hand warmers, and to be honest, most of them are junk. Some were dead on arrival, others failed after a few hours, some had absurdly short runtimes, and others got dangerously hot. I've found a few good ones, but they're rare. What I've been searching for is a hand warmer that combines fast USB-C charging, water resistance, power bank functionality, and the ability to handle extreme cold.