The Coolest Collapsible Camping Gear for RVers
Take These Space-Saving Products on Your Next Road Trip Adventure
Image Caption: Image Courtesy of Virrage Images/Shutterstock
Thanks to innovative design and creative use of space, modern camper vans and travel trailers now come with a surprising amount of features. From well-appointed kitchenettes and dining areas to comfortable sleeping quarters and a hot shower, these campers have a lot to offer RVers.
But compared to larger motorhomes, these smaller models don’t always have a lot of onboard storage. This can make packing for a trip challenging at times, as cabinet and closet space can be at a premium. Fortunately, there are some creative ways to overcome these limitations, including using collapsable camping gear.
Specifically designed to save space, these products are perfect for life on the road. They don’t take up much room in cabinets or storage bins yet offer plenty of functionality when needed. These are the coolest pieces of collapsible camping gear that you should have in your RV.
Image Courtesy of Helinox
Helinox Chair Two
Helinox is a company that specializes in making collapsible camp chairs, with a number of great options to choose from. The company’s Chair Two model is an excellent choice for RVers, providing plenty of comfort and support. This model features a high back and a padded seat, and when not in use, it breaks down for easy storage in its included tote bag.
Buy the Chair Two from Helinox
Image Courtesy of Shelterlogic
Shelterlogic Quik Shade Solo
RVers looking to escape the sun will appreciate what the Shelterlogic Quik Shade Solo has to offer. This canopy takes just a few minutes to set up and comes with an awning that doubles as a sidewall for added protection from the wind. When not providing shelter, the entire unit collapses for storage in an included bag.
Buy the Shelterlogic Quik Shade Solo at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Coleman
Coleman RoadTrip Classic Grill
The Coleman RoadTrip Classic is proof that a grill doesn’t have to be big and bulky to cook up a tasty meal. Powered by propane, the RoadTrip features a push-button start, two independently adjustable burners, fold-out side tables for accessories, and 20,000 BTUs of cooking power. For ease of storage and use, the legs can either be folded underneath or removed altogether.
Buy the Coleman RoadTrip Classic at Camping World
Image Courtesy of GCI Outdoor
GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station
Perfect for the RVer who enjoys cooking outdoors, the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station provides additional space for food prep. Built on a durable—and stable—steel frame, this pop-up utility stand offers a heat-resistant countertop, a center storage basket, and four side tables for cooking utensils, pans, and plates. After the meal, it collapses flat for easy storage.
Buy the GCI Outdoor Slim-Fold Cook Station at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Rio
Rio Gear Expandable Camping Table
When it comes time to sit down for an outdoor meal, the Rio Gear Expandable Camping Table is a versatile option to have in your RV. The table’s telescoping legs allow campers to adjust the height for a variety of chair sizes, and its surface is expandable, allowing it to accommodate additional people. And after the meal is complete, the table folds down to an incredibly small size.
Buy the Rio Gear Expandable Camping Table at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Sea to Summit
Sea to Summit X-Set 31 Dinnerware
Sea to Summit’s X-Set 31 dinnerware set includes a 2.8-liter pot, two bowls, and two mugs. Made from BPA-free and heat-resistant silicone, these place settings are completely safe and shatterproof. Best of all, everything collapses down flat for easy storage in a cupboard or drawer.
Buy the X-Set 31 from Sea to Summit
Image Courtesy of Sea to Summit
Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle
Traveling with a kettle allows RVers to quickly boil up some hot water for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa. But when not in use, a kettle can take up an inordinate amount of space, particularly in a vehicle that doesn’t have much storage. The Sea to Summit X-Pot eliminates that problem by paring a heat-conducting aluminum base and durable plastic lid with collapsible silicone sides. This allows the kettle to fold flat and store neatly in a cupboard.
Buy the X-Pot Kettle from Sea to Summit
Image Courtesy of Prep Solutions
Prep Solutions Swivel Spout Collapsible Dish Drainer
Get back to enjoying the campsite sooner by using the Prep Solutions Swivel Spout Collapsible Dish Drainer. This product gives RVers a place to set their freshly cleaned dishes and utensils, allowing them to dry without dripping all over the counter. Afterward, the drainer collapses flat and can easily be stowed beneath the sink.
Buy the Prep Solutions Swivel Spout Collapsible Dish Drainer at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Fireside Outdoor
Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit
Want to enjoy the fun and relaxation of sitting around a campfire without lugging a heavy fire pit to the campground? The Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit allows you to do just that, providing a safe environment for enjoying a bonfire at any campsite. And when you’re done roasting marshmallows and telling ghost stories, the fire pit easily comes apart and stores in a small carrying bag.
Buy the Fireside Outdoor Pop-Up Fire Pit at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Camco
Camco Pop-Up Utility Container
The Camco Pop-Up Utility Container is a handy piece of gear to have in any RV. Not only is it great for storing miscellaneous items like wet towels and dirty outdoor equipment, it can also double as a collapsible recycling bin for keeping the campsite clean. Lightweight and easy to store, you’ll probably want more than one of these useful storage bins.
Buy the Camco Pop-Up Utility Container at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Nite Ize
Nite Ize Rad Dog Collapsible Bowl
Dogs love camping as much as we do, which is why Nite Ize created a collapsible water bowl to help keep our pups hydrated. Perfect for hiking or just hanging around the campsite, this bowl can hold up to 16 ounces of water. When ready to travel, simply empty the water, give it a shake, fold it flat, and store it in a backpack or drawer.
Buy the Nite Ize Rad Dog Collapsible Bowl at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Robert Irvine
Robert Irvine 10-Quart Collapsible Bucket
Whether you’re carrying water to the campsite, playing in the sand at the beach, or chilling beverages on ice, a bucket is another valuable item to have in your RV. The Robert Irvine 10-Quart Collapsible model has a 2.5-gallon capacity and is durable enough to handle heavy loads. As the name implies, it also collapses flat when you’re ready to tuck it away.
Buy the Robert Irvine Collapsible Bucket at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Hydrapak
HydraPak Stash 1L Water Bottle
Keep your dog—and yourself—well hydrated on the trail and at the campsite with the HydraPak Stash water bottle. Made from BPA and PVC-free materials, this bottle can hold up to one liter of water but can collapse down to just a quarter of its size when empty. This allows the bottle to be tossed into a backpack or RV drawer without taking up much space.
Buy the Stash 1L Water Bottle from HydraPak
Image Courtesy of Platypus
Platypus PlatyReserve Wine Bottle
A nice glass of wine can be very relaxing while sitting around the campfire, but glass bottles can be heavy, hard to store, and easily broken. The PlatyReserve from Platypus is a safer, lighter, and easier way to store wine in your RV, keeping it fresh and preserving the flavor. And when it’s empty, the bottle rolls up and can be stashed away for when you’re ready to use it again.
Buy the PlatyReserve from Platypus
Image Courtesy of IceMule
IceMule Classic 20L Cooler
It’s not easy finding a lightweight cooler that doesn’t require a lot of storage space, but that’s exactly what IceMule offers. The Classic 20L option can hold up to 18 cans of your favorite beverage with enough room left over to add ice. This cooler can keep drinks cold for more than 24 hours and rolls up into a surprisingly small space when you’re ready to store it away.
Buy the Classic 20L Cooler from IceMule
Image Courtesy of Goal Zero
Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma
Need a little light around the campsite but don’t want to travel with a bulky lantern? Goal Zero has you covered with the Crush Light Chroma, a collapsible, solar-powered lamp that can provide up to 60 lumens of illumination and run for 35 hours on a single charge. And when you’re ready to change up the mood, the Chroma even has six different color modes to choose from.
Buy the Crush Light Chroma from Goal Zero
Image Courtesy of Jackery
Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel
A solar panel is an efficient, quiet, and eco-friendly way to keep your devices powered up while camping. Jackery’s SolarSaga 100W model produces up to 100 watts of power and can directly charge either a portable power station or other gadgets. It also folds flat and stores away neatly when it isn’t collecting energy from the sun.
Buy the Jacker SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel at Camping World
Image Courtesy of Matador
Matador Beast 18 Technical Backpack
Matador’s line of travel products includes a variety of highly-packable travel accessories. One of the company’s most popular items is the Beast 18 Technical Backpack, which offers everything you could want from a daypack. The bag’s features include a hydration sleeve, suspension system, multiple storage pockets, and 18-liters of carrying capacity. And when not being used to haul outdoor gear, it packs down surprisingly small.
Buy the Beast 18 Technical Backpack from Matador
Image Courtesy of ENO
ENO DoubleNest Hammock
When you’re looking to relax at the campsite, a hammock is the perfect item to have at your disposal. ENO’s DoubleNest model is lightweight, comfortable, easy to set up, and spacious enough for two. The hammock even comes with a built-in stuff sack for storage and occupies just 5.5-inches of space when not in use.
Buy the DoubleNest Hammock at The House
Image Courtesy of Oru
Oru Inlet Folding Kayak
Who says you need a big vehicle to bring a kayak on a camping trip? Oru has been making origami-inspired kayaks for years, and the Inlet is one of the company’s smallest and lightest models. This boat is as packable as an inflatable but offers performance like a hardshell boat. And when you’re done paddling for the day, it folds down to an astonishingly small size and takes the shape of an easy-to-store and carry box.
Buy the Oru Inlet Folding Kayak from Overtons
Image Courtesy of Jetson
Jetson J8 Folding Electric Bike
An e-bike is a fun and economical way to get around, but most models are bulky and take up a lot of space. Not so with the Jetson J8 Folding e-bike, which takes barely any room at all when collapsed down for storage. The J8 comes with a 350-watt motor and can reach speeds of 15.5 mph with a pedal-assisted range of up to 30 miles. It is also equipped with sturdy 20″ offroad tires and an LCD display for tracking speed, distance, and battery life.
