It’s more difficult to get upset at storm clouds when they’re depicted with cartoonish fangs and a cute little thunderbolt tail. Nice tactic.

Hello, lovely travel chopsticks! Such a great multi-purpose on-the-road tool, good for working the (low heat) grill, general cooking, serving and, of course, eating. This stylish, inexpensive pair can withstand temps in the high 200s. I am now craving sushi. Who am I kidding? I’m always craving sushi.

I’m setting aside my hatred of cheesy word fusions for the love of these outdoor learning games—bug bingo, beach quest, star quest and others—printed on bandannas. Small, engaging, easy to pack. And if the game doesn’t hold their attention, it’s a hat or a napkin. A hatkin. Hapkin?

These eight-inch speakers are built into their own super adorable Asian-inspired travel case. Four AAs should give you about 24 hours of sound.

Made of material that blocks 98 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Plus, you can crush, crumple or fold it into your purse or suitcase. Not bad for thirty bucks, eh? This one is really cute, cuter than the photos portray, even, but if it really isn’t your style, check out the dozens of others. Plus a bunch for dudes.

This starts out as a regular-looking flashlight, then, at the touch of a button, those tripod legs spring from the shaft. Also? The light-emitting head adjusts. I thought it perfect for outdoor cooking past dark, or interior tent lighting. My nephew thought it a cool Transformer-like spaceship. Incidentally, the non-rechargeable version is cheaper.

Maggie’s awesome Spork Roundup over at MightyGoods reminded me that I had yet to post about the spork I tested a while back. This one I can vouch for. They come in lots of lovely colors, yes, but that wee knife that’s actually a part of the fork—total bonus. Good for camping and budget backpacking. There’s a discount if you buy a four-pack.

Instant party. Just add one roadside convenience store.

Every vehicle should be equipped for impromptu picnics. Stylishly equipped? Even better.

Money’s tight all around, and camping is the ultimate cheap-o vacation. This here’s a nice tent for first-timers, especially. It’s solid, well priced and comes with the ability to charge your cell phone, iPod or hook up lighting. It sets up quickly and easily from the get-go, even though it’s wired with three 12V DC outlets. Power Pack sold separately for 50 bucks, as are the sweet accessories. I like the fan/light. Nice to have a little air circulation for sleeping.