There are a variety of cooler options you can use as the base for your plunge, but this Frozin is interesting in that it has ports already included so you don't have to drill and install bulkheads. I haven't personally tried this as I used a Grizzly 400, which has now been replaced by the Grizzly 450. Some also use insulated shipping containers or even farm animal feed troughs. The key is buying something insulated or adding insulation to reduce the power needs of your chiller.

I really like this teak platform as a spot to drip dry a little after getting out of the plunge.

This chair was easy to assemble, relatively cheap, and sturdy. I have it next to the plunge and keep my robe/towel there, and will sit to take my flippy floppies on and off.

Capture hairs, bugs, and miscellaneous floaters.

• Outside diameter 7cm(2.75") x H 3cm(1.1"),Inside diameter : 2.5cm-3cm(1"-1.1"). Good bathroom drain hair catcher
• Awesome kitchen and sink item. Simple and small design. Allows to be cleaned easily without hassles
• Stainless Steel Sink Strainer, Perfect for Kitchen Sink Bathroom RV Bathtub Wash basin Floor drain balcony Drain Hole，Utility
• 2.75” Top diameter, Also comes with metal flat rim to fit over sink's drain, At the same time can intercept hair, food bits, debris.long lasting protection against drainage clogging. Great for American families’ small kitchen and bat

The tried and true pump, which makes the water move through your filter and chiller. note that most chillers, including the recommended Active Aqua, do NOT have a built-in pump so this is required even without a filter.

This filter housing houses filters. Basically it forces water through the filter element and cleans it up.

I use ozone for additional filtration, and if you're going to follow suit, you either need a bubbler (like an acquarium) or a venturi like this to mix the ozone into your water. If you use this particular venturi, use about 3X the amount of teflon tape you think you'll need on the pipe threads, as my venturi was a leaker!

The ozone generator create ozone, which is sucked into the water from the venturi. Ozone is a harsh oxidizer (and bad for your lungs!) so don't breathe it in. I set my generator to run for about 45 minutes in the dead of night, and the ozone disolves into oxygen a couple hours later.

These serve no legitimate purpose beyond adding some bling to your plunge. You can adjust color and brightness, and depending on your controller, do cool patterns and other nonsense. These lights will work with the extension cable, power supply, and controller below.

Light strips need a controller to set their color, brightness, etc., and this one is based on the open source WLED project. It's easy to connect to the WLED app, or an automation system like Home Assistant. For the 4 conductor light strip I used, just connect both data lines to the D terminal.

This power supply turns 120V AC into 12V DC to power the controller and your light strip. If you're worried about zapping yourself, 12VDC is much safer than AC in this submerged application.

If you need an extension cable, this one is rated to IP68 for submersion, compatible with the above lights, and flexible enough to just sit between the gasket in the Grizzly lid.

I used Flex Seal adhesive to mount my lights, but it wasn't great. I'll likely replace with VHB tape, which is very effective, and rated for submerged use.

At around $20 a unit, I like these radios when we're travelling as a group or family, say on a bicycle trip or hike where the group might get spread out over a few hundred yards. They're faily robust, have decent sound quality, are easy to operate, and charge via a USB plug, albeit somewhat slowly. With the low cost, they're easily replaceable if one gets lost or broken and are much better than phones for communicating with a group. Don't believe the hype around many miles of range. All these low-powered FRS radios are good around a mile or less in real-world conditions.

If you need a bit more range and sophistication, I've had good luck with these radios. There's more power, a better antenna, and the ability to use GMRS Frequencies and repeaters. To stay 'legal' you'll need a GMRS license in the US. I wish these could be charged via USB-C or simlar, but it would likely make the charge time unbearable.

Amateur radio, often called 'ham' radio, is a level up in the radio game. It requires a test that's not difficult but will require study of some radio principles, but allows you to use things like repeaters, which can extend your communications range from a mile to 30+ miles. It's also a bit of a communications tool of last resort should the mobile infrastructure shut down during a natural disaster. This Yaesu does everything I want in a compact package. The user interface is more MS-DOS than iPhone, but that's par for the course in the radio world, unfortunately.

I have the previous generation (FTM-400DR) in my truck and like it a lot. The new model adds a speaker in the head unit, but apparently the screen is a bit smaller and harder to use.

A solid set of power tools will last you years, and Black Friday or summer holiday sales can take the sting out of the initial cost. I really like these Milwaukee Fuel brushless tools. Most of them are high quality, the batteries last well, and the waranty and support are solid. You typically end up with a tool or two with limited use in these kits, but it's often much cheaper to buy a larger kit than acquire specific tools peacemeal. Key tools you'll want from the start are a drill, impact driver, and circular saw. If you're doing to do things like build decks or remodel, add a sawzall, angle grinder, and perhaps an impact driver.

If you end up with both M18 and M12 tools, this combo charger takes less space and charges the big batteries quickly.

A standard claw hammer is the 'do it all' hammer, and will last you a lifetime (or two). I personally like the anti-vibration synthetic handles but get something nice and it won't let you down. You probably don't need a framing hammer unless you're doing a lot of framing, and in that case, I'd invest in a pneumatic nailer.

Zircon has been making stud finders for at least 30 years, and I like the models that have live wire detection so you can be appropriately cautious. Knocking on walls is reasonably effective, but doesn't provide the opportunities for stud-related puns that will endless delight your partner and children.

Yeah, it does the same job at a $15 tape, but these are amazing when doing things like quickly measuring a room, or measuring high walls or objects. They're also great outside, since you can quickly measure longer distances for things like hanging lights or fencing.

More lasers! Another seemingly luxe item, until you do a complex tile project, need to align a half dozen cans or shop lights on the ceiling, or a dozen other tasks. Basically lets you project perfectly straight, level lines anywhere you need them.

A miter saw is probably my most used power saw. My Bosch has been crusing along for a dozen years and never let me down.

Similar to the above, this saw stores nicely in a corner of the garage, and deploys where you need it in minutes without having to work on the ground or mess around with awkward tables.

Chafing is a fact of life, especially once you start logging double-digit miles. Body Glide is the standard recommendation, but this stuff works as well (or better) and is cheaper. Just don't leave it in a hot vehicle or out in the sun or you'll have anti-chafing soup vs. stick.

One you get to running for more than 40 minutes, or if you're out in very hot weather, having some water is nice. I've tried belts, soft flasks, and other stuff, but these Nathan handhelds have worked for me up to 2 hour runs and on multi-hour looped courses. Throw a couple gels in the little pouch, plan a fountain or store along your route, and you're good for even the longest runs.

You'll eventually want a running-specific hat. Why? Obviously to keep the sun out of your eyes, but also running hats are designed to wick away sweat, and survive being repeatedly thrown into the washing machine. Look for one like this Ciele that doesn't have any velcro otherwise it will stick to your other clothing in the wash.

Eventually, you may join the ranks of the stereotypical running, rising in the wee hours and putting in miles before sunrise. I like headlamps for illuminating my way versus a handheld, and this light has the added benefit of including a rear-facing blinky light to let cars know you're there.

I run two of these Dell 4K monitors in my studio since it provides USB power, great quality, and good features in an unassuming and business-like package.

This is my primary work/personal laptop. It's powerful enough to edit video, and light enough that I don't hate it on a transcontinental business trip. I also use a Windows desktop that I built so don't have a huge MacOS vs. Windows preference, but I find Apple does a better job integrating hardware and software than most of the Windows laptop options.

I frankly hated to spend this much on something as boring as a monitor arm, but after using wobbly, saggy mounts I went with something robust that keeps my monitors exactly where I leave them.

I wanted good quality, compact speakers and these fit the bill.

I tend to use my laptops (work and personal) connected to a large monitor, with their lids closed. To avoid taking up a bunch of desk real estate, this adjustable stand allows you to hold two laptops in a limited amount of space, while looking fairly good doing so.

Why a $60 cable? Well, USB-C is the 'one cable' docking solution I use, sending power, video, and data over a single cable. This can get tricky at longer lengths, so you're going to pay if you want a cable longer than a couple feet. These cables work well, just pay attention to the fact that there are two unique ends to the cable, and you'll get substandard performance if you plug it in backward.

I generally don't use a headset for video calls, since I feel like I'm talking to a call center rep when someone else has one, but I do like them for long phone calls. This headset works well, has reasonable noise cancelling, and a nice charging dock that makes it easy to refuel after a long day of calls.

I probably don't stand as much as I should, but this desk hits a good balance of cost and functionality, and it's what I use in my studio. Bamboo is cheap and durable, although at some point I'll replace with a nicer, real wood top.

A legit ergonomic office chair is expensive, and chairs like this Steelcase or the Herman Miller Embody I use cost as much as a well-equipped laptop. However, a solid chair will last you a decade, and your back and joints will thank you.

A portable fridge plus a power bank is a killer combination for car camping. You get fresh food without worrying about ice (or the resulting mess). Check out the list of power banks, and I'd recommend at least a 1000 wHr bank for a weekend of car camping with a fridge.

Yeah, I know everyone uses propane these days. Perhaps it's the nostalgia of hearing the hiss of a Coleman stove or the sound of the pump, or the environmental benefit of not using disposable gas canisters, but I love the liquid fuel Colemans. This model also burns gasoline, so you can still cook your pancakes when the zombies disrupt the propane supply.

Yup, it's significantly more expensive than the typical off-brand cookset, but this is something that will not only last a lifetime, but will make camp cooking much more fun. This set nests together so all your stuff stays organized and together in storage and in camp. Definitely a 'buy once, cry once' purchase.

Dutch ovens are a ton of fun in camp, whether you're making a batch of brownies for desert, or a breakfast caserole. They take some practice but half the point of car camping is slowing down and eating ridiculous meals. This aluminum version is a bit lighter than the typical cast iron, but has similar performance.

High quality 'mess kit' with everything you need but the silverware.

I love these since you can stick everyone's flatware together and not spend half of every meal searching for that missing spoon or what not. This also makes it easy to be sure you're brining everyone's utensils since they're all stuck together in one 'glob' versus scattered all over the place.

Good, sharp knives, a functional cutting board, and a place to keep it all together? Yes, please.

There's something magical about the sound of a coffee percolator and the smell of joe as you wake up to the chirping birds and rising sun. This percolator is well-made, and makes enough coffee for 2-4 adults.

If you really want to level up your camp kitchen game, this is a great option. There's a place for everything, nice counter space, and easy storage. It folds down nicely and while not light, it's a truly luxe option for car camping.

An almost-mandatory Jerry can accessory. Fill your Jerry, screw this guy on, tilt the Jerry on it's side, and you've got the closest thing to running water you can get without a sink and pump.

A sleeping bag liner does a couple good things for you. First, it adds a bit of extra warmth on a cool night, or alternatively serves as a 'sleeping bag' of sorts on a hot and humid evening. It also protects your sleeping bag from sweat and odors, and is much easier to wash than your entire bag. Silk is the premium option, or you can go synthetic or just sew an old sheet into a bag liner.

I've tried a bunch, and this is my favorite camp (and power outage) lantern. It's well-built and robust, dimmable, long-lasting, and can even charge your phone in a pinch. It uses standard 18650 batteries that can be replaced if needed, and can also be customized if you want to unravel the long manual and various button sequences required to do so.

Mrs. Bigheavy advocated for these and I rolled my eyes, but they're great and I have one for each tent. Having a place to wipe your feet before going into your tent greatly reduces the sand, pine needles, and other crud from accumulating in your tent.

While the title is provocative, the approach is straightforward: get out of your head and embrace what's happening around you.

The classic 'lipstick' battery backup. Provides about one full charge of most modern smartphones and the solution I use for backpacking or travel.

The 'two charge' bank I carry during typical air travel. Will charge most modern phones once or twice in an emergency.

iPhone-specific, but an interesting option that I've been thowing in my carry-on bag when going on long trips. It magnetically attached to the iPhone so it eliminates any cables. Tends to charge somewhat slowly and get warm with a case, but makes it up with ease of travel/use.

An interesting option in the middle range below 1000 wHr, this bank has solid state batteries, which are lighter and supposedly safer. Nice design, the best lighting I've seen so far, and the ability to provide power AND charge over the USB-C port provides some differentiated features.

If you need a lot of juice for a long weekend or camping or similar, but still want a somewhat portable unit, it's gard to go wrong with this Bluetti.

Want to power your house, or keep key devices going for days/weeks? This is the solution, in a format that's still vaguely portable (the word luggable comes to mind). Great app, tons of useful outputs, and lots of expandability make this a truly beast mode power bank.

Combine the Ecoflow unit above, sprinkle in a little solar, and connect up this gas-powered generator, and you essentially have your own microgrid for indefinite power. This generator communicates with several of the Ecoflow power banks and will spin up to charge the battery as needed.

I have a bunch of these panels and they're mostly great. They have a small internal DC-DC converter so you can directly charge a phone or USB device from the panel, and they're super easy to carry, store, and setup. The only negative is the proprietary connector, but you can easily find an adapter to something more standard like MC4 and I've linked one below.

Need some massive portable solar? It doesn't get an more massive than this 400W EcoFlow panel. It's a little floppy and awkward, but once setup it's great, and you can even run two of these with the larger EcoFlow power banks.

I'm frequently asked how long a partular power bank can run a particular device (CPAP, Fridge, computer, flux capacitor, etc.), and the answer is usually that it depends. It depends on how much power that device uses, and for many devices, power consumption can be variable. This unit allows you to measure actual power consumption of a device. If you're sizing a power bank, plug your device into this unit for 24 hours. Take the resulting power consumption (in wHr) and divide by 24 so you get your average consumption per hour. Then, divide by the size of a given power bank (500wHr, 1000 wHr, etc.) and you'll find out how many hours you can power that device.

A 12V fridge is a rather large accessory, but I've found a power bank (ideally at least 500wHr) and a fridge are a game changer for car camping and road trips. Fresh food and no more traditional coolers with the dreaded lake of melted ice and 'icebergs' of funky food is nice as well.

I really like the Jackery solar panels listed above, but strongly dislike their unusual connector. This adapter allows you to connect a Jackery panel to any power bank that will accept a more typical MC4 plug.

Whatever cable comes attached to your solar panel is invariably too short. This MC4 extension cable solves that problem.

My workhorse camera for video and the occasional still shot. Way more capable than I am, with solid 4K capabilities. Sony has its challenges, but it seems to be a bit of a YouTube standard so it's easy to get settings and ideas.

My primary lens for video and general photography. Good image quality and low-light performance, without the wallet shattering cost of the Sony GM lenses.

A travel tripod is great for location shooting or keeping your video game going on the road. I have the photo version with a ballhead that came out before this video version.

I tend to use OEM batteries with my cameras. They're too expensive to trust to knockoffs in my opinion. I got a couple free Sony batteries via rebates and the A7IV is pretty coservative with batteries so you could get by with 1 extra.

Definitely in the nice to have category since you can charge the battery in-camera, I still like an external charger. For travel, I just use the USB-C cable directly to the camera although I find it's much slower than an external charger.

A more traditional action cam, I use mine for bicycle and travel and water-related videos.

I recently went 'mainstream' and got the DJI Wireless Mic 2. I was very happy with the Sansom unit below, but basically had a bad case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) and wanted to try something new. It's been good after a couple videos, but I'll update this text as I get more experience with the unit.

I like wireless lapel mics since I'm not an audio engineer and record in a room with a lot of echo. This set isn't as popular as the DJI wireless mics, but works great, is compact, and has a nice protective case that also charges the set.

A shotgun mic works well when you can't put a mic on everyone or want to get ambient audio.

These are pretty much the industry standard for audio, and I usually use these for editing and mixing my audio.

Lighting is still a bit of a dark art to me (pun intended), but you need a good primary or key light. Amaran is the budget brand of industry standard Aputure. This is a solid light, and I like that all the Amaran and Aputure stuff communicates via their app, which allows you to turn on and adjust all your lights with a couple taps on your phone.

A softbox diffuses the rather harsh light and casts a soft, even light on your subject. It acts a bit like an umbrella so it can be stored and transported as needed.

Stick lights can be used as fill lights, to add a splash of background color, or for effects like lightning strikes and police lights. There are cheaper options, but this works with the Amaran/Aputure app.

Similar to the above, but smaller and more portable. When traveling, I'll use a couple of these lights for a small portable lighting setup.