A few weeks ago we posted MEGATech Showcase: Five Camping Gadgets for Outdoor Techies, which showed you how to retain your geeky edge while maintaining the camping essentials like staying hydrated and nourished. Think of it as a camping how-to guide for geeks or how to survive a camping trip the techie way.

Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, we can show you how to remain a true geek while stranded in the wilderness. Forget that survivalist machismo. Here’s how to bring all the techie comforts of home to the great outdoors.

Satellite Phone

To this day, whenever I think of a satellite phone (which is, of course, all the time), I can’t help but think of The Lost World: Jurassic Park. A satellite phone makes crucial luggage when trekking around a dinosaur-infested island, but you don’t have to be on Isla Sorna to reap the benefits of a satellite phone. With a sat phone, you can comfortably venture to places where your normal cellphone will be without reception, knowing that you’ll still be in contact with the civilized world. Iridium satellite phones achieve total global coverage, so unless you’re rocketing into space, you should be good.

4G Wireless Hotspot

I believe that universal law dictates that if you’re without internet for a certain length of time, you’re required to turn in your geek card. I don’t quite remember what the timeframe is, so just to be safe, you should take a mobile hotstop with you wherever you decide to go camping. T-Mobile offers a prepaid hotspot, as does Verizon Wireless. They’re both 4G capable, so if you have coverage wherever you happen to wander, you’ll be able to enjoy some rip-roarin’ speeds. What would a camping trip be without the safe confines of Reddit?

iPod/iPhone Solar Powered Sound System

How are you going to blast your techno and your technology podcasts without a proper sound system? While undoubtedly not as effective as whatever setup you may have at home, the Eton Soulra Solar Charger is very impressive in its own right, providing five hours of music after ten hours of nothing but sun. Not only is it compatible with all generations of iPods and iPhones, it all has an AUX-input for other MP3 players. It’s rubberized exterior makes it both durable and splash proof, though I doubt it could take a direct splash right to the front where your device is plugged in.

GAEMS G15 Personal Gaming and Entertainment Bundle

If you can look past the silly name, GAEMS offer a crucial service for gamers: the ability to comfortably play your home consoles while anywhere that’s not home. We even got a chance to take a look at it last year at PAX.

With a built-in 15.5inch LED HD display, you can connect your Xbox 360 or PS3 via HDMI and enjoy high-res gaming goodness on the go. As of right now, the GAEMS system doesn’t support the Nintendo Wii, and with the Wii U just around the corner, I doubt it ever will. Still, if you’re looking to bring your Xbox 360 or PS3 on your camping trip, this will fit the bill nicely.

Xantrex XPower Powerpack 600HD

You’ll need a way to power things, be it your laptop, GAEMS system, or whatever geeky gadget you’ve brought along. There are plenty of options out there for mobile power, but few pack quite a punch for as low of a price as the Xantrex XPower Powerpack 600HD. Charge it at home and then bring it on the go and not only will it keep you running, but it brings with it a built-in light, alarm clock, and AM/FM radio. While it may not be as fancy as the other stuff on this list, it’s arguably the most important.

Between these gadgets and the other list of camping essentials, you should be prepared for one undeniably geeky outdoor experience.

 

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