17 Flashlights, Radios, and Camping Gear from the Basement

These once-trusty tools of the outdoors have been hiding in the basement, and they have stories to tell.

Daisy Montero
April 30, 2025
5 min read

17 Flashlights, Radios, and Camping Gear from the Basement — Mariano Ruffa on Pexels

Tucked behind old boxes and tangled cords, these camping relics once ruled every family outing and emergency drill. This listicle digs up the forgotten flashlights, crank radios, and gear that once felt high-tech—or at least necessary. Some were dependable, others were downright bizarre, but all of them were part of our gear stash for a reason. Get ready for a trip down memory lane through dusty shelves and half-working batteries.

1. The Bulky Yellow Flashlight That Needed 6 D-Cells

fir0002 flagstaffotos [at] gmail.com on Wikimedia Commons

You could spot this monster from across the garage. Heavy, clunky, and powered by what felt like a brick of batteries, it still barely lit up more than five feet. However, it was indestructible, and you felt like a pro using it.

2. The Radio That Only Tuned to Static and Baseball

Amitbalani on Wikimedia Commons

This thing picked up one AM station and a whole lot of fuzz. Still, you kept it close during storms just in case the power went out. Bonus points if it had an extendable antenna that always bent at the wrong spot.

3. Lantern That Burned Through Batteries Like Candy

Satdeep Gill on Wikimedia Commons

Bright for about 10 minutes, then sad and flickering for the rest of the night. You still brought it on every trip, convinced this time it would behave. Somehow, it never ended up in the trash.

4. Metal Canteen That Tasted Like Pennies

Medjaï on Pexels

It clanked on your belt and made you feel official, but the water inside always tasted a little metallic. Still, you carried it like a badge of honor.

5. The Crank Radio You Had to Power Like a Maniac

Derek Hatfield on Wikimedia Commons

You spun that handle like you were grinding coffee just to hear 15 seconds of news. However, when batteries failed, this was the hero of every blackout. Noisy? Yes. Reliable? Surprisingly.

6. Pop-Up Tent That Never Went Back In the Bag

Azmie Kasmy on Wikimedia Commons

It popped up fast but took a full team and a YouTube tutorial to fold back down. You swore every time it jammed, but it somehow followed you on every camping trip. It still lives in the garage, half-closed.

7. Mini Flashlight That Barely Lit the Inside of a Bag

Jonas Bergsten on Wikimedia Commons

It was small enough to lose in your pocket and just bright enough to be annoying. Still, it felt cool to click it on like a spy. The batteries were always dead when you actually needed them.

8. Mess Kit That Clanged Like a One-Man Band

Cjp24 on Pexels

This set of metal bowls, pans, and foldable utensils made more noise than it held food. You barely used it, but it always made it into the gear bag. It was great for creating the illusion of being prepared.

9. Folding Chair That Always Pinched Your Fingers

Stiftelsen Kunstindustrimuseet, The Design Collections on Wikimedia Commons

You loved the convenience but hated the setup. The hinges had a vendetta against your hands, and the fabric always sagged in weird places. Still, it beat sitting on the ground.

10. Old Compass That Was Probably Never Right

Markus Bachofner on Wikimedia Commons

This little guy lived in the side pocket of your bag, just in case. However, the needle never sat still, and you still got lost on every trail—a symbol of hope more than help.

11. Sleeping Bag That Zipped Wrong Every Time

Matti Blume on Wikimedia Commons

It kept you warm, but the zipper always ended up halfway stuck. You tried to fix it, then gave up and cocooned like a burrito. Somehow, it smelled like the basement no matter how often you washed it.

12. Battery Tester That Was More Guesswork Than Science

Raimond Spekking on Wikimedia Commons

You’d stick a D-cell in, squint at the little meter, and still not know if it worked. However, it felt good to check anyway. Half the time it lit up, half the time it didn’t—but you used the battery either way.

13. First Aid Kit That Expired in the ’90s

Roger Brown on Pexels

The bandages were yellowed, and the ointment tubes were hard as rocks. Still, it was always packed “just in case.” You never used it, but its presence felt oddly comforting.

14. Camp Stove That Roared Like a Jet Engine

Taryn Elliott on Pexels

The sound alone made it feel powerful. You never quite trusted it, but it boiled water faster than your kitchen. Lighting it was always a dramatic event.

15. Glow Sticks You Forgot to Crack Open

Dan Galvani Sommavilla on Pexels

These were always packed for fun or emergency use—yet somehow still unused. The few you did crack barely glowed, but that faint light was weirdly magical. Great in theory, underwhelming in practice.

16. Headlamp That Made You Feel Like a Coal Miner

Ntoshi on Wikimedia Commons

Wearing it gave you hands-free power, but it always slipped off your forehead. It was bright and functional, but weirdly uncomfortable. You wore it anyway and felt kind of cool.

17. Plastic Tarp You Were Always Grateful For

Leif Skoogfors on Wikimedia Commons Photo of forever

It weighed almost nothing and did everything. Ground cover, makeshift shelter, rain shield—it never let you down. The one piece of gear that actually deserved its spot in the basement stash.