Any experienced camper knows the
basics to take into the woods--tent, sleeping bag, cooler, etc.
There are a couple of items from Zelco Industries, Inc., Mt.
Vernon, N.Y., though, that might not spring to mind immediately,
but will prove well worthwhile to stick in your backpack for
comfort and/or safety's sake. FoodTool,
the Multi-Purpose Culinary Tool ($30), could put a Swiss Army
knife to shame for versatility. Less than six inches long and an
inch and a half wide, it contains a knife, can
opener/screwdriver, bottle opener, corkscrew, and salt and
pepper shakers in moisture-proof plastic containers. The
FoodTool has a die-cast aluminum body and the implements are
stainless steel, cleverly designed to resist rust and make
cleaning a snap. To appease picky wine-lovers, the corkscrew is
Teflon-coated for smooth penetration.
The bright-yellow Kangaroo Light ($35) is a
rugged, weather-resistant marvel that functions as a lantern,
table lamp, or emergency flasher; runs either on batteries or
plugs into a car lighter; and has a baby flashlight that
separates from the larger mother light and can be clipped onto a
belt or pocket for hands-free operation. The extendible arm
pivots vertically to bounce the beam off a ceiling (or tent
roof) to serve as a room light; converts into a table lamp with
the addition of a frosted filter and by tilting the head; and
can be turned into a flashing emergency light by attaching an
amber filter. (The various filters are stored in the rear
container of the main lantern compartment, as is a 12" cord with
a cigarette-lighter plug.) The baby flashlight nestles under the
larger light and can be separated or used to cast a beam
downward at the same time the lantern is aimed forward. The main
light operates with a high-intensity Krypton bulb (Superman
beware!), with a spare included, and runs off four C batteries,
while the baby light uses two AA batteries. As a final touch,
the main light comes with a four-position switch (dim, high,
blink, and off).
These ingenious devices can be ordered from
www.zelco.com, or call 1-800-431-2486 for a retail outlet near
you.
This symbol * indicates USA Today has tested a
product for operating in full compliance with the manufacturer's
specifications and to determine its performance as applicable to
our reader's needs. Disadvantages, if any, also are reported.
Although we cannot guarantee a product, we offer the starred
designation as a guide to readers. |