The List: 18 Outdoor Gadgets that Work

It’s a short season to be sure, but we Canadians know how to make the most of summer. It’s a good excuse to accumulate new gear as well—stuff that makes it even easier to be outside with a family in tow. To help you avoid the gimmicks, we present to you The List: 18 Outdoor Gadgets that Work.

Looking to light a little fire this summer? Swedish-made FireSteel’s Spark Starter can light pretty much anything at any altitude. You can trust us, or you can trust the Swedish Department of Defense, which the FireSteel was originally developed for. Approved also by the International Survival Instructors Association, we’re confident it can handle any Canadian campfire this summer. ($14.99, where to buy)

Burnt offerings being rejected? Find salvation with the 4 Cob BBQ Corn Roaster from Home Hardware. Slip four cobs into the roller and turn with ease with the stay-cool handle. The non-stick surface makes for easy clean up, so now when it comes to your barbecue, the only thing you need to pray for is good weather. (Prices vary, where to buy)

Spend a little, get a lot. Use a little, use a lot. The choices are up to you, but reusing rainwater is one of the smarter decisions you’ll make all summer (next to summer camp enrollment). These rain barrels made of recycled plastic will prevent pesky mosquitoes from gathering, and allow you to reuse the cloud droppings for garden watering, car washing, pressure washing and more. Turn off the tap, and roll out the barrel. ($109, where to buy)

We’ve never met an actual card-playing shark, but land lubbers who want to shuffle the deck on the deck (or dock, or boat or towel), can now be secure that their game won’t blow away. This simple, magnetic card set and board keeps everything together. The cards are made of steel and finished with a paper backing to feel similar, and won’t fly off the magnetic board. Whether you’re playing solitaire, Crazy Eights or, more appropriately, of course, Go Fish. ($39.99, where to buy)

Stick a fork in me—I’m done. Until our meat comes with self-roasting sensory perception, there is the Gadgetree Digital BBQ Thermometre Fork with backless LD display (fancy!) which tells you the temperature range for more accurate barbecuing. Great grillers are made, not born, so pick up this fork and they won’t be afraid to pick up theirs. ($4.96, where to buy)

For more cool gear, check out the rest of The List: 18 Outdoor Gadgets that Work. Tested by Minnow H., Toronto

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