While flashy and expensive gear like rooftop tents may get all the attention, there are a few things that will have a bigger impact on your overlanding and camping experience, like gear oriented toward hygiene, safety, and water storage. Here’s our list of items to check out to help keep you and your family clean, safe, and hydrated this summer.
Lunatec — Insulated Hydration Spray Bottle
Lunatec’s new insulated hydration spray bottle is what every active person needs. It has multiple spray patterns of mist, stream, and shower for cooling, cleaning, and drinking. It’s also fun to spray people with.
The best part about the insulated bottles is that they will keep water hot or cold all day long. That means you can fill it in the morning and have hot water all day for washing dishes and taking a shower, or you can add ice and have ice-cold mist and hydration all day at festivals, on the trail, and at sporting events.
The bottle is simple to use and does not require batteries. You just pump it to build pressure, select your spray pattern, and spray. And there are accessories to increase functionality and convenience, such as bidet and water flosser tips.
The 1000ml bottle is $49.95 and is available at www.lunatecgear.com. You can also buy just the lid and use it with popular insulated bottle brands.
MSRP: $49.95 (1000 ml bottle)
Mega Mike’s Adventure Products — Hydro 3 System
One of the greatest challenges for overlanders has always been managing potable water. The necessity to balance weight and space with the essential need for water has long been a limiting factor. For enthusiasts and professionals alike, the constant dilemma of how much water to carry and how to minimize usage without compromising safety and comfort has been a persistent concern. This challenge is particularly pronounced in remote areas where the availability of potable water is uncertain.
Michael Hodkin, an overlanding expert known in the community as “Mega Mike,” was no stranger to this issue. Frustrated by the limitations, he embarked on a mission to find a solution. His innovative spirit and deep understanding of the needs of overlanders culminated in the invention and patenting of the Hydro3 Water System, originally designed for the Jeep Gladiator.
The Hydro3 System is a game-changing innovation that addresses the core issue of water accessibility. At its heart, the system features a series of advanced filters, including a UV filter that eliminates 99.9% of bacteria. This sophisticated filtration process allows the system to draw water from natural sources such as lakes, rivers, and streams, transforming it from non-potable to potable in mere moments. The purified water is then stored in a robust 19-gallon tank mounted under the vehicle, which is protected by a skid plate to withstand rugged terrain.
Once onboard, the water is pressurized and can be heated, providing not only drinking and cooking water but also the luxury of hot showers. The versatility of the Hydro3 System extends beyond basic needs; it enables users to clean dishes, wash their vehicles, and even give their pets a bath. Michael himself has showcased its utility by using it to extinguish a small campfire before it could spread, highlighting the system’s potential in emergency situations.
The Hydro3 System’s technical specifications and features are a testament to its engineering excellence. The system boasts a 2.2 gallons per minute (GPM) pump and a smart filtration system that includes UV and carbon filters, ensuring water purity and safety. The UV lamp has a lifespan of 10,000 hours, and the carbon filter is NSF-certified, guaranteeing top-tier filtration performance. The system’s durable construction includes a powder-coated finish and weatherproof components, ensuring it can withstand the harshest conditions.
The Hydro3 System also features a hot and cold water tap, made possible by a heat exchanger that heats the water for showers or steaming beverages. The quick-disconnect panel allows for easy access to both hot and cold water. Additionally, the system can be connected to an existing air compressor, enabling the inflation of tires, air mattresses, and other inflatables.
Weighing 150 pounds when dry, the Hydro3 System includes stainless steel fittings and a 3-way tank valve for filling, draining, and bypassing. It comes with all necessary mounting hardware and instructions, making installation straightforward.
The Hydro3 System offers overlanders a reliable, high-quality solution to one of their most pressing challenges. By transforming any water source into a personal oasis, this self-contained system ensures overlanders have access to clean drinking water, hot showers, and convenient campsite cleanup, no matter where their adventures take them.
The Hydro3 System stands as a testament to innovation and practicality, providing a level of convenience and safety that redefines the overlanding experience.
MSRP: $3,899
O3 Outdoors — Overlander 750 Large Area Odor Eliminator
Roughing it does not mean you have to “rough” it when it comes to the powerful odors of last night’s campfire or the morning breakfast inside your rooftop tent. The wall-mountable, 9”x7” Overlander 750 by O3 Outdoors uses proprietary ozone technology that eliminates simple odors like campfire smoke in under 10 min and strong, powerful odors such as gas and diesel fumes in under 30 minutes! Designed by NASA scientists and used on the international space station, don’t let the size of the Overlander 750 fool you. This unit packs a punch with hard-hitting odor elimination. With a 12 + hour battery and a USB port for charging essential electronics, the Overlander 750 is ideal for the month-long adventure down the Baja or a weekend with the family in the camper. Wake up every morning having your gear odor-free! A set-it-and-forget-it with 30-minute, 60-minute, 2 or 4-hour cycles to choose from so you can treat all levels of stink while you’re out adventuring!
Place the unit in any RV, Tent, or trailer up to 750 sq. ft. Utilize as an everyday deodorizer for clothes or bedding that’s difficult to clean, just by placing the used gear or clothes in a bag or tote with the unit for as little as a 30-minute cycle! Extend your trip & reduce your bag size with the simple & easy Overlander. Quickly and easily deodorize all areas and gear with the touch of a button. Use the Overlander to eliminate smoke, food, pet, sweat, and other smells on used gear from clothing, helmets, sporting, climbing gear, and much more. Available in Black or Desert Sand.
MSRP: $299.99
READ MORE: The Best Gear of Overland Expo PNW
Wrappon/OK4WD — Wrappon WT-4 Trekker Portable Auto-Wrapping Toilet
While regulations and restrictions constantly change regarding the proper way of discarding waste while camping and traveling, one constant will remain. The portable WT-4 Trekker toilet by Wrappon eliminates the stress of complying with area restrictions, finding a sanitary, safe restroom, and reducing your impact on the local environment.
The Wrappon WT-4 Trekker is a portable, aluminum-construction toilet that automatically seals waste in a 5-layer bag with the push of a button. With a powder coagulant added to the waste bag before use, waste is deodorized and stops spreading bacteria. With the push of the “flush” button, waste is heat-sealed shut and dispensed out the bottom of the toilet. Making it safe to discard your waste bags in any trash can you come across during your travels.
The compact design allows the WT-4 Trekker to be stowed away when not in use and easily deployed when nature calls by deploying two legs stored within the Trekker. An available toilet slide system rated to hold 350LBS is a great way to store your Trekker in a van or camper situation.
The Wrappon Trekker uses a 50-count film roll to capture waste each flush, and each flush is recorded in the controller with a digital display depicting remaining flushes, eliminating single-use setup and making for an even faster setup time. Powered by a 12-volt power source or a portable rechargeable power pack, the Wrappon Trekker is an ideal bathroom solution for adventure travelers, elderly care, and emergency situations.
If you find the WT-4 Trekker takes up too much vital space, the Wrappon PF1 toilet provides the same heat-sealing technology in a smaller, collapsible, sign-use model. It is ideal for travelers with storage constraints.
The WT-4 Trekker has been used worldwide for disaster relief and has received a Good Design Award and Eldercare Innovation Award for its compact, portable, sanitary design.
MSRP: $1,595.95
Klose Encounters Inc. — Thunderbox Outback Toilet
Overlanders celebrate in breaking free from overcrowded public campgrounds and striking off into the wilderness on their own – bringing along everything they need. What do the public campgrounds offer anyway? A table? Easy – especially if you’ve got a tailgate… A fire ring? While pre-existing campfire rings can be found at almost every wide spot on National Forest or BLM roads, Tread Lightly principles suggest carrying your own fire ring to avoid additional scars to the land – you can usually score a lightweight, collapsible one at the Overland Expo.
But a toilet? In the words of Shakespeare: “There’s the Rub!”
For many of us who grew up in the woods, the prospect of “taking care of business” is not unfamiliar – but it is never particularly easy nor comfortable. Of course, if you have done your time in the wild, you undoubtedly have stories of various disasters – small and large –encountered while “going”.
While this method is certainly feasible, it becomes more difficult as families grow – holding children over holes in the ground can scar both parent and child for life! After much trial and error involving plastic buckets, water noodles, cheap Home Depot toilet seats, and various 3-legged plastic contraptions, eventually, most overlanders find their way to the Thunderbox Australian Outback Toilet!
It’s extremely rugged – built of heavy-duty galvanized steel and MDF wood, and very stable and sturdy when set up. It’s been tested by piling more than 500 lbs of bricks on top! But all of that ruggedness doesn’t detract from the soft side of the Thunderbox™: the seat height and the size of the hole are the same as the standard toilet found in almost every bathroom across the country – making it feel very familiar and comfortable. While there are probably better places to spend your time, many Overlanders have reported greatly enjoying their “morning constitutional” from the seat of their Thunderbox.
But the real beauty of the Thunderbox is its compact simplicity. It folds down to one inch thick with a 16 X 16-inch footprint and weighs slightly more than 9 lbs. But to deploy the Thunderbox to fully functional mode takes just seconds, with only a few hinges and a latch, Thunderbox is the poster child of the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid!).
And last but not least, Thunderbox helps in leading a more Earth Friendly style, and while maintaining Tread Lightly principles. When combined with their In-viro degradable bags or with several brands of “wag bags”, the options for “waste management” while off-grid camping are many and help ensure a more pristine outdoor experience AND reduce plastic in our landfills and environment.
MSRP: $175.00
InstaPrivy – Portable Toilet Kit
When it comes to Overlanding, we all want the best gear to make our outdoor adventures as worry free and enjoyable as possible. When it comes to portable toilet solutions, the InstaPrivy portable toilet kit in a backpack is proving to be the #1, #2 kit for overlanding.
What really makes the InstaPrivy kit stand out is that it is a complete solution that sets up instantly. The kit comes with a privacy tent, toilet chair, waste bags, shovel, toilet paper and hand sanitizer and comes nicely packed in a compact custom backpack that fits easily in every overland vehicle or trailer. It is lightweight (Just 7 lbs for the complete kit!), and most importantly, it is super easy and fast to set up. When you are on the trail and really gotta go, the instant setup capability of the InstaPrivy is priceless. Â
This InstaPrivy kit is loaded with functionality. The InstaPrivy tent’s instant-use, rest-on-your-head design provides instant privacy for those gotta-go moments. The screen mesh at the top of the tent provides 360-degree visibility while in use and a little ventilation. The tent also works great for changing clothes, and you can hang it by its top strap for use as a shower curtain. There is no need for an expensive bathroom/shower enclosure awning.
The InstaPrivy chair is sturdy and comfortable and can be used with or without waste bags. To keep your product and the environment clean, it is best to use the included waste bags (the kit comes with 5 waste bag sets). If you run out of waste bags, though, just grab the shovel from the kit, dig a hole, and set the chair over the hole. The generous open front design of the toilet chair lid provides ample room to comfortably take care of business.Â
The InstaPrivy kit also helps us be responsible stewards of our outdoor environment. When we use the waste bags and dispose of them properly, we keep our waterways clean and leave our outdoor environment as nice as we found it.
The InstaPrivy kit is so compact that we keep one in our vehicle all the time. It is also great for boating, and it is an absolute must-have for family road trips!  Â
MSRP: $149.00
Pure Active – The Ultimate Shower Body Wipes
The Ultimate Body Shower Wipes from Pure Active come in a massive pack of 50 wipes. The XL wipes measure 12×12 inches and are thicker than standard baby wipes. They are 100% Biodegradable, eco-friendly, plant-based material, hypoallergenic, paraben-free, alcohol-free, and enriched with aloe vera, Witch Hazel, and vitamin E to nurture the skin. Â
Each wipe is a waterless shower to keep you clean and refreshed in the backcountry. You can use them all over your body and face. The Pure Active shower wipes offer a unique formula, so they don’t leave you feeling sticky or dry out your skin.
These extra-large body wipes are perfect for all outdoor activities, as well as use at the gym, after a workout, or while traveling. They’re perfect for those long days between showers when you need to clean up and keep moving. Pure Active gives you a shower in a packet. Simply keep a couple of the individually wrapped packets in your vehicle and you can be fully clean and sweet-smelling for days on end without any water at all. Â
You can choose from a variety of sizes, packages, and scents to find the Pure Active wipe that works best for you. They’ll make you feel like you just got out of the shower without the need for soap or water.
MSRP: Starting at $23.99Â
Lifesaver — Lifesaver Jerry Can
Do you need a way to both transport and filter your water on the road? Enter the Lifesaver Jerry Can. This unit provides a robust and portable water purifier capable of filtering 20,000 litres/5,300 gallons of clean drinking water, removing viruses, bacteria, cysts, and parasites instantly. The LifeSaver Jerrycan holds up to 18.5 liters of water at any one time and is designed to support those with a greater demand for clean water, such as group expeditions, adventurers embarking on overland travel, families or those setting themselves up for off-grid living.
Filter water for drinking, for washing with the addition of the LifeSaver shower attachment and for cooking. No need for chlorine or chlorine dioxide.
MSRP: $329.95
Camp Cover — Toilet Roll
There are few things as regrettable as dropping your toilet paper in the dirt, sand, or mud while in the outback. The Camp Cover Toilet Roll has you and your precious TP covered, literally and figuratively. Keep your toilet paper dry, hygienic, and dust-free. These are made of a durable ripstop material designed to last a lifetime, and they may just save your backside.
MSRP: $14.25
