10 Must-Have Gadgets for the Great Outdoors

Don't let creepy crawlers and pesky insects ruin your camping trip. The Rechargeable Power Bug Zapper/Swatter from iTouchless is shaped like a small tennis racket and electrocutes bugs on contact. All you have to do is swing the Bug Zapper/Swatter and its wind tunnel triple-layered nets will catch the bug and destroy it. But don't worry; it was designed with a safety switch to keep your kids and pets from harm. When it starts to get low on steam, just insert the rechargeable battery into the included charger and plug it into an outlet. Start swatting for $12 at Amazon.com.

Sick of eating baked beans because you can't seem to catch any fish? Make sure you pack the WaveBox on your next camping expedition. The WaveBox ($199) is dubbed the world's smallest and most portable microwave. It offers three power options: 120-volt AC, DC direct clip to a battery, or DC connection to a vehicle power socket. The WaveBox can only operate through a vehicle's DC power rated at 12 amps or higher. It also features a digital display, preset cooking times, an elevated cooking rack to make popcorn, and a weather-resistant design. The WaveBox is so popular that it's on backorder until June 2007.

Does the thought of toasting marshmallows on a stick gross you out? Then here's a device that's a bit more sanitary. The Battery-Operated Marshmallow Toaster from E&B Giftware is an automatic, handheld rotisserie. Simply place three marshmallows on each of the prongs, press power, and each marshmallow is cooked evenly over the fire. It's made of stainless steel, with an ergonomic handle. It takes four AA batteries (not included) and sells for $20.

Made it all the way to your destination, but realized you forget the batteries for your radio? With the Freeplay Summit AM/FM Self Sufficient Radio ($89.99), you don't have to worry about being forgetful, because it powers by wind-up, solar, or AC/DC energy. Relying on wind-up energy, the harder you crank, the more energy you create to power the radio. When exposed to sunlight, the solar panel will charge the batteries and work the radio at the same time. The radio digitally scans across four wave bands, and you can store up to 30 stations at a time. The LCD screen displays a clock with alarm settings.

Who said camping can't include all the comforts of home? The N!ergy 9 E! Power Tent from Eureka is a tent with three 12-volt outlets inside that utilizes Eureka's Power Pak to power many gadgets including an alarm clock, hair dryer, cell phone or MP3 player. The outlets are even easy to see at night, because they glow blue when powered on. There's a power switch located on the tent floor to control the power of all three outlets. The tent has one door, two windows, a roof mesh vent, and sleeps up to five people. Pitch a powered tent for $149.90 at CampMor.com.

Mother Nature may be beautiful, but it won't help you stay clean and fresh, especially if you're camping for longer than a couple of days. So grab some soap and use the Coleman Battery-Powered Shower. It contains a submersible pump that can be used in a lake or with Coleman's 5-gallon expandable water carrier. When you're ready to siphon the water, just press your foot on the switch and use the eight-foot hose to clean yourself while whistling some tunes. It runs on four D batteries (not included) and sells for $15.55. Shower curtain sold separately.

Can't bear to leave your cell phone or iPod at home while you're out in the wilderness? Then you'll need a device to keep your gadgets charged up. The Soldius Solar Back Pack ($229.99) features a breathable back panel and shoulder straps, non-slip waist strap, and the company's MSPT solar charging technology. It comes with interchangeable adapters to charge all iPod models and mobile phones (Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola and Blackberry only). So while you're backpacking to the next campsite, secure your device in the charging compartment and let the sun charge your device through the built-in solar panels.

Unless you were a boy scout or on the cast of Survivor, rubbing two sticks together to make fire will probably leave you with sore hands and a bruised ego. There's nothing wrong with a little help along the way. The SLP2 Survival Tool is described as a "super-tough, compact and lightweight tool" that comes with a stainless steel blade, waterproof flashlight, and a fire steel to produce an extremely hot spark. In the body of the SLP2 is an emergency whistle in case you've traveled too far into the woods. The flashlight requires four LR41 button cell batteries. Unfortunately, it's only available in the UK for $62.98 from IWantOneOfThose.com.

What's better than a compass to guide your way? A pocket-sized GPS! The Magellan eXplorist 100 North America ($109.99) features TrueFix technology, which utilizes "14 parallel channels, supported by WAAS and EGNOS for fast signal acquisition, minimal signal loss and reliable accuracy to within 3 meters." The device is made out of a rubberized, impact-resistant plastic that's also water resistant. Use its joystick controller to navigate through four different screens (Map, Compass, Locator and Satellite Status). You can save up to 500 points of interest and 20 routes, so it should be easy to find your way back to the campsite or car.

The last thing you want to do is take too many gadgets with you on your trip. This gadget combines an LED light and a water bottle. The LightCap ($24.95) from SolLight is a solar-powered LED light housed in a water bottle. The cap contains a waterproof solar panel, rechargeable Ni-Cad battery pack, and an LED. Just place it in the sun for four hours and by nightfall, fill it with water and use the light to guide your way. The LightCap stands about 8 inches tall and 3 inches wide and stores up to 32 ounces of liquid.