The Outdoor Life: Outdoor Essentials for Campers and Hikers

Kicking off The Outdoor Life event! I love being outside. But you have to manage unfavorable elements – bugs, sunburn, damp, and dirt. Here are Outdoor Essential items to help you deal!

Bengay® Pain Relief + Massage

I am the world’s worst masseuse. It runs in the family – we have skinny pinchy fingers. Working in the garden, running, hiking… all lead to sore, stiff muscles (even though we are NOT “old!”).

We tried BENGAY® Pain Relief + Massage topical analgesic balm for relief. My husband said it was WAY better than when I try to work out a stiff muscle for him. The tube allows you to apply the ointment (which has a menthol scent at first, but quickly vanishes). Then I twisted the cap closed and used the specially designed massaging applicator (it has five little nubs!) to rub in the ointment. For once, hubby wasn’t wincing from my nails pinching him, and my hands didn’t get tired! I didn’t even get my hands messy! It’s perfect for after a hike, or if you wake up with a stiff neck from camping! (ARV $7.79. 3 oz tube).

EcoLips

Another factor in being outdoors is proper skin care. Know where people forget to protect? LIPS! If you’re outdoors more than 20 minutes, put some SPF protection on your delicate lip skin – glosses and balms do NOT cut it!

EcoLips makes a variety of products, many with SFP 30 protection. They use organic products whenever they can (Vitamin E has no organic version), and clearly label how much of their product is, in fact, organic. EcoLips Face Stick is 82% organic (it contains 3% oxybenzone), and glides on smooth. I did find it remained a bit oily after application. EcoLips SPF products block UV rays and moisturizes skin with natural oils and extracts, protecting from sun, wind, dry heat and cold. (ARV $7.49)

EcoLips Sport goes on smooth with a mild vanilla scent. (ARV $2.49). Try Honest Kids organic lip balm for little ones – with yummy Berry Berry flavor! My son LOVES his lip balm! (Does not have SPF!). (ARV $2.49).

We tried a variety of EcoLips balms and moisturizers without SPF 30 –great flavors and natural ingredient – Organic EcoLips Gold has the USDA Organic certification. Find out more about EcoLips by following them on Facebook and Twitter

KIWI Products

My first camping experience EVER was in the cold wet woods of Franconia, New Hampshire. And, both times I’ve hiked Mt. Washington, it has been rainy. Honestly, not sure why I ever went camping or hiking again. But I wanted to give nice weather a chance!

To stay dry, try KIWI Camp Dry Performance Fabric Protector on synthetic, nylon, and Gore-Tex fabrics. We spray our hiking boots yearly to maintain a waterproof barrier. Hats, coats, fleeces and pants would also benefit. It’s summer, so all those items are packed away, but you can bet we’ll give them a KIWI treatment in the fall! Not only does KIWI protect your fabrics from the wet, but also from dirt and stains. Definitely going to be some dirt if you’re an outdoor enthusiast! (ARV $7)

KIWI Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent has silicone content that bonds to materials, forming a tough water barrier. We’re trying this out on our tent’s rain fly to improve performance. Easy to spray on – you just have to let it set for about 24 hours. You could use this on tents, bags, boots, tarps, and other outdoor gear. (ARV $10)

Even if you’re only outdoors in your backyard, you can use these products on lounge chairs, hammocks, flags, pool covers. Kiwi recommends household uses like silk ties, tablecloths, purses, etc. I’ve got a lot of work to do this summer, protecting all my high-use fabrics around the house!

Enviro-Log

Who doesn’t love a nice little campfire, roasting marshmallows, or even a fire pit on the patio on a warm summer evening. We used Enviro-Log firelogs at the beach last weekend. A great option for the natural, organic outdoor family! Made from 100% recycled materials – food-grade waxed cardboard boxes. These boxes would end up in a landfill, but Enviro-Log gives them a second use as a fuel! They burn for about 3 hours, with much less smoke than firewood. Great for when you camp out of state and aren’t allowed to bring your own firewood! Check them out on Facebook! (ARV $21 – 6 pack of 3 lb logs).

Zippo

Need more fire? Check out Zippo’s Outdoor Utility Lighter. A high-tech lighter with adjustable flame for precision use – grills, lanterns, tiki torches – who doesn’t love a good tiki torch on a summer night? The advanced ignition system lights easily (unlike lighters where you have to fight with the button to get a spark!). There’s a child-resistant safety button – you have to press two buttons to light. It’s refillable, so I won’t keep buying those plastic stove/grill lighters anymore. And it’s wind-resistant, perfect for outdoor fires! (ARV $19.95).

Thompson’s Water Seal

Finally, outdoor gear gets dirty. No way around it. Even if you don’t camp, your decking, patio furniture, and children’s toys develop that film from pollen and dust. I hate seeing my household dingy and dirty.

To combat outdoor grim, I used Thompson’s Water Seal Oxy Foaming Action Cleaner to scrub my son’s water table – being mostly white,  it developed that dirty look quickly. You can remove dirt and even mildew from wood, brick, concrete, and other outdoor materials with just a spray, scrub, and rinse! It’s biodegradable, non-bleach, and chlorine free! (ARV $12 – 32 oz. bottle).
My sponsors are generously offering giveaway prizes! Please thank them by visiting their sites and checking them out!

Prize Pack 1 – Open US Only – ARV $113

• 1 – Zippo Outdoor Utility Lighter (ARV $20)
• 1 – Thompson’s Water Seal Oxy Foaming Action Cleanser case – 6 – 32 oz. bottles (ARV $66)
• 1 – EcoLips Sampler (ARV $10)
• 1 – KIWI Camp Dry Fabric Protector and Heavy Duty Water Repellant (ARV $17)

Prize Pack 2 – Open to US / CANADA – ARV $29

• 1 – Bengay Pain Relief + Massage – 3 oz. tube (ARV $8)
• 1 – Enviro-Log 6-pack of 3lb logs (ARV $21)

Disclosure: I was sent a product to facilitate this review, and was not compensated in any other way. All opinions are 100% my own.