Camping is all about packing light and doing with the bare minimum. But sometimes it can be hard to find a good compromise between having the essentials and keeping the weight down. Well we have some good news: you do not need to compromise with these five pocket-sized essential camping gear. 

 

SABRE Advanced Compact Pepper Spray

A good number of national parks in the US are home to bears and on the off chance that you encounter one, what you want to do is simply deter it and not harm or kill it. Fortunately, the Sabre pepper spray will do just that. Now you can explore the woods confidently knowing that you have something in your pocket that you can easily pull out to disable bear-sized threats.

Compliments	Complaints
Good for everyday protection Longer shelf life of 4 years Small enough to carry in any occasion	You can accidentally spray yourself in the face especially when there's wind Range is only around 4-5 feet No key chain holder

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Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker

Having good background music can transform your hiking experience from good to great but acoustics tend to be lousy in the open outdoors. But with the Bose Micro, you won't have to worry about sound dissipating into the wilderness. Even with its miniscule form, the Micro can deliver crisp highs and decent lows that can rival its non-portable counterparts.

Compliments	Complaints
Waterproof Good battery life Good customer service	Mono speaker only Sound quality is not as good as other Bose speakers Slightly more expensive than the competition

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Gerber Gear Truss Multitool with 17 Tools

Many would argue that next to the swiss army knife, a multitool is something that you should bring when camping. In fact, it's probably something you need to have in your car at all times. If you still don't have one, you might as well get the Gerber Gear Truss Multitool, a brand that's well-known for their high quality knives.

Compliments	Complaints
Good size and weight Affordable for a Gerber tool Good warranty	A customer complained about the durability of the metal A customer said that Gerber was not as well-made as his Leatherman's Sheath not as high-quality as expected

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Streamlight 88060 Pro Tac HL 4 2,200 Lumen Professional Tactical Flashlight

Experienced campers know that like the swiss army knife, a good flashlight is something you should not be without when staying outdoors. But what you need is a palm-sized torch that is strong enough to light up your surroundings under any conditions. For this, you need the Streamlight 88060, a diminutive but military-grade flashlight that can easily cut through the night's darkness.   

Compliments	Complaints
High light output Small enough to be an everyday carry flashlight Has a couple of different modes	A customer complained that it might be counterfeit A customer complained of low-quality build Somewhat expensive

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Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller

Mosquitos can be pesky but they can be an unbelievable annoyance that can ruin your day if you can't keep them away. Sprays and patches may work at home but in the wild where these pests are more ravenous, what you'll need is the Thermacell MR450. This tough mosquito repellant even has a belt clip so you don't have to carry it on one hand while hiking.

Compliments	Complaints
Creates a bigger protective zone than sprays Easy to carry around No scents unlike sprays	No return policy on Amazon Uses Allethrin, a known allergen A customer said that his device did not work

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