Every year, new so-called mosquito-repellent solutions appear on the market. All have similarities and differences, the similarity being that all of them are being purchased in huge amounts by consumers. The difference is that some work and some don’t.mosquito bites so much that most people are willing to give it a try and spend another $15 on yet another magical repellent solution that just might do the job. If you imagine a new device and can craft a nice story that explains why it should repel mosquitoes, you’re apparently on the fast lane to wealth – people will just start buying your product. It’s a bit like alternative healing methods – most people don’t really believe that they work, but when you’re really ill and other methods don’t help, why not give it a try? The potential benefit is just so much bigger than the cost. But in the end, most people don’t get cured, and most new mosquito repellent devices end up at the back of a drawer.
What have we seen in the past? Chemical lotions (DEET does work, for sure), ultrasonic devices (don’t work), amber lights to "scare them away" (don’t work – mosquitoes don’t see yellow), ultraviolet bug zappers (attract flies but not mosquitoes), vaporizers or mosquito coils (do work, indoors, but they're not very healthy), citronella candles, and so on. Thirty years after the appearance of those useless ultrasonic devices, new variants are still being launched on the market – and bought by consumers, otherwise nobody would keep launching them, right?

Do we need regulation and formal testing and certification for each new mosquito-repellent method appearing on the market? Probably not – but it would be good if consumers started collecting more structured feedback on their effectiveness. At least I'd be happy to collect and organize any feedback you provide. And if you're planning on buying that new promising mosquito-repellent device, don’t believe just any claim – ask for proof and money-back guarantees!

Keeping your hydration at a high level is important when tackling the great outdoors. The loss of concentration, disorientation and false judgment are all risks that you're exposed to if you don't take special care to provide your organism with regular supply of fresh clean water. The direct use of bottled water isn't always a good solution. The water stagnates, especially in long and far away camping destinations, thus using a camping water filter is a much better alternative.

Depending on the size of your group there are different types of filters available. The plethora of models offered by numerous brands often tend to be confusing when you're trying to choose your portable water filter. There are a few things you should know in order to avoid making the mistake of buying a low quality system that may be unreliable and cause potential harm to yourself or fellow campers.
For large groups of people that are often found at base camps and relief organizations, there are some very good expedition filters like the Katadyn KFT, made of hardened stainless steel and big enough to cope with the demand of the group. Advanced removal systems help you keep your water clean, fresh and tasty by filtering out particles, parasites and other organic substances, and providing silver treated ceramic element that takes care of bacterial growth at a micro-level. Pumping capacity and weight are important factors here and for reference, the Katadyn model offers a rate of 4L per minute, weighting around 5 kg.

A smaller water filter is very suitable for a more private usage, but that doesn't mean you should make compromises on the quality of the service it provides. Using the excellent Katadyn Pocket Water Filter model as a guide, we're looking at a very comfortable unit, with a shock absorbing pump handle and attachable outlet hose to make filling up bottles with filtered water a much easier task. Using the same technologies as its bigger brother, this light portable filter, weighting just half a kilo, takes out even the very small bacterias and protozoas from the water, at the rate of 1L per minute. Guaranteed to last up to 50 thousand liters if used correctly, such a filter system can serve you for many years.

If you are an active camper or a camping group, make sure to take care of yours and everyone else's health, and safety, by accommodating a filter unit in your backpack. Once you taste the fresh purified water and feel the benefits first-hand, you won't think of going out without your camping water filter ever again.

Many of us like to see new gadgets and camping accessories, but how many new designs are really needed? In this article we take a look at the growing interest in camping toilets, examining why more and more people are turning to folding toilet solutions.

Let's not be slow to discuss why it is that people like to use their own camping loos - it's because campsite toilet and bathroom facilities are often shockingly poor. It's simply unacceptable for us to have to make use of dirty and unhygienic facilities in this day and age.
So why is it that many campsite owners appear to provide such poor facilities? In truth, it's often simply because they've been allowed to get away with it. This is certainly the case in almost around the world, where many of us feel that it is somehow impolite to complain about such things.

Unfortunately, if we don't complain then things are unlikely to improve. Camping toilet options have improved as a result of complaints and yet we all know of sites that offer a poor quality experience when it comes to the toilets.

That's why many of us opt to use our own camping toilets. But why should we choose to use folding camping loos in particular? Although there are plenty of options available, it's only the folding toilets that provide the real flexibility that many people are looking for.

Other designs that are advertised as being portable are often actually quite bulky. They take up far too much room in the car. This is a real problem - especially when we think about how much most of us need to pack for a camping trip.

So a folding toilet is a much better solution - it's truly portable. That means that you won't have to worry about poor quality campsite amenities.

The very latest designs are also environmentally friendly too. That's important to many of us who want to enjoy the great outdoors without damaging our surroundings.

By far the most popular type of outdoor grill in the world is the type that uses charcoal, although propane and natural gas based barbeques are becoming more and more popular. Whatever type of barbeque you are using, there are a number of steps that you should follow if you are going to get the best, and safest, performance from your outdoor grill:

Always use your grill outdoors. Don’t even think about grilling indoors, even in an open garage, as it is too much of a fire hazard.
Make sure that the racks are clean, the cover fits snugly, and that the grill pan doesn’t have any fissures or holes in it.

Make sure your grill is clean before you fire it up. This is especially important if it is the first time you have used it this year. In particular, get rid of any old ash, as this can turn into a corrosive chemical when mixed with water. A layer of ash that has been created over the course of a grilling session works well as a heat insulator, but old ash will only rust your grill.

Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the correct lighting method for your grill, as you may damage your grill permanently if you do this the wrong way. Gas grills use something known as lava rocks as a secondary heating element.

These look, and behave, a little like charcoal, but the two are far from interchangeable. Unlike charcoal, lava rocks can be used several times before they need to be replaced. It is important to keep these as clean as possible, as grease attached to the rocks can catch fire and burn your food unnecessarily. Don’t stack lava rocks, or they will trap grease and catch fire more frequently. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning or replacing the lava rocks. It is a good idea to set your gas burner on high for a few minutes after you’ve finished cooking, in order to burn off any grease or food residue from the rocks. Rearrange and turn over the lava rocks now and then to maximise their efficiency. Replace the rocks when they start to look dirty and break.