The Wind Warrior not only blocks wind, but can provide privacy for your next campground stay/Patrick Cone

Have you ever pitched your tent in a national park campground only to desire a little more privacy, or perhaps some help with calming breezes so your stove flame won't go out? There's a solution: Wind Warrior.

Created from a panel of tight-weave 420 denier nylon fabric with water-resistant urethane coating, the Wind Warrior (MSRP: $180) erects in minutes and provides you some privacy from nearby campsites, or serves as a wind barrier that allows you to cook without constantly relighting your stove.

Now, this is not a backcountry piece of gear, unless you're traveling via a large canoe or a boat with lots of room. Stowed in its bag, the Wind Warrior measures not quite 4 feet long and about 7 inches across. But take it with you on a car-camping trek, and this piece of gear can quickly be erected to provide a 10-foot by 6-foot wall. Buy two or more and the wall expands as much as you desire.

The fabric is designed to be stretch resistant, so no obnoxious flapping, and it's fade-resistant, as well. How much of a gust can it handle? The company claims it survived a truck-top ride that peaked at 35 mph.

While the model provided the Traveler for testing came in bright orange, there are somewhat more subtle colors available: Yellow, tan, camo, blue, and black. But, if you like to stand out, the Wind Warrior also comes in red.

All the pieces stow nicely in a bag/Patrick Cone

While one person can set the Wind Warrior up, two would be better. Heavy-duty steel stakes go into the ground, and then telescoping rods are used to support the fabric barrier via Velcro tabs. Three rods are inserted onto the steel stakes, and then cross-rods tie into them and hold the fabric.

The one drawback we came upon was placing the steel stakes into the bag. If you're not careful, you could poke holes in it. Otherwise, this is a wonderful way to bring a little privacy to campgrounds that squeeze sites together or lack natural barriers.

This warrior also just might come in handy for Traveler's river trip through Canyonlands National Park later this year; some riverside campsites are pretty sandy, and gusting breezes kick up the sand. The Wind Warrior, placed strategically, just might limit the amount of sand that blows into my tent.

Telescoping rods and Velcro tabs hold the Wind Warrior in place/Patrick Cone