At Daiso I found the camping section, which had a few interesting items. Most were more suited for car-camping, but there were a few that might be good for backpackers (lightweight is important). As I’ve researched lightweight gear, there are a few items that are popular with backpackers that don’t cost a fortune. Smartwater bottles are a good examples of that. But I think Daiso might hold some undiscovered gems as well.
One such item just might be their portable cushion. It’s a similar idea to the Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat pad, but at US $1.50, is a tenth of the cost. And it weighs less than an ounce! Anyway, we’ll see how it works out on the next camping trip.
I also bought the pictured aluminum sheet, which is also very lightweight but might be helpful as another layer of insulation under the sleeping bag/pad. Lastly, I bought an aluminum stove shield which is commonly used in Japanese kitchens to keep the area clean from splattering, but I think I can cut it down to make a nice wind shield for the camp stove. Again, US $1.50 for each of these items is a steal and definitely worth trying out.
I could spend a couple hours in Daiso, and wish there was one in Austin. But I’ll enjoy keeping it a destination when we visit my hometown each December.