Top-5 en route emergency gadgets

RV touring, camping and general road-tripping are among the best ways to spend your leisure time, but epic trips and remote adventures don't always go to plan.

Here are some of our favourite portable gadgets and accessories that are small and light enough to carry in the vehicle (or in the backpack) at all times, and will not only get you out of a sticky situation but can avoid you getting into one in the first place...

Compact multi-purpose tools are a great idea when trying to squeeze everything into your rig for a road trip, and iTechworld's JS80 is one of the best when it comes to handling a number of emergency tasks with the one small unit.

Not only does it quickly and easily jump-start your vehicle's flat battery, but you can also use the lithium battery as a backup for charging electronic devices or even running a small fridge. It also comes with a tactical grade LED torch, IP65 waterproof rating and various in-built safety features.

The JS80, from iTechworld, is priced at $299 without a heavy-duty case, or $349 with the case included.

What if you're bitten by a snake or a rabid dingo on the Tanami Track? Or if your caravan’s A-frame breaks, a tyre blows out and you have no spare?

That's when a 'last resort' emergency beacon like GME's latest MT610G can be a life-saver. The Australian-made, 406MHz GPS Personal Locator Beacon comes with a seven-year battery life, is water-resistant and buoyant and is Cospas-Sarsat Class 2 certified so you'll be easily located in an emergency wherever you might be.

It costs around $350 from outdoor retail outlets, or visit the GME website.

This nifty little portable water filter straw has been around for years now, and is an affordable piece of insurance that you can carry anywhere and ensure you're never short of some clean drinking water.

It's extremely lightweight, requires no battery or power, lasts indefinitely and filters out bacteria, parasites, microplastics, dirt, sand and cloudiness from water sources including lakes, rivers, and even puddles.

They cost around $50 each, or check out the LifeStraw website.

Theft of personal items when camping or just travelling around is a big problem, and there are countless locks on the market to help secure valuable items like mountain bikes, generators, solar panels and fridges.

However, few appear as versatile as the flexible, close to 'uncuttable' lockable straps from Load & Lock Transport. Available in different styles, they feature a 3mm braided stainless steel cable inside the strap, and an all-in-one combination lock, to make it easier to keep items away from thieves, whether they're loose on the ground or attached to your vehicle or RV in some way.

The 760mm strap pictured is priced at $62 from the Load & Lock website.

Probably not a must-have emergency item, but we've included a portable air inflator as they're easier to carry in the vehicle than a much heavier and more powerful air compressor, and also more affordable in some cases.

The Noco 10A 10-amp portable air compressor is priced just over $200 and boasts a 138-watt motor rated at a maximum pressure of 60 PSI. The manufacturer reckons it can pump up tyres up to 31-inches, but at the very least it should be able to help get you to the next servo or mechanic...