Adjustable lightweight camping mallet

An adjustable weight camping mallet, comprising:

• an elongate handle formed from a rigid plastic material having a specific gravity of less than about 1.5 g/cc and a Young's modulus of at least about 2 GPa, having a first longitudinal axis, and configured to be grasped by a user;
• and
• a mallet head formed from a rigid plastic material having a specific gravity of less than about 1.5 g/cc and a Young's modulus of at least about 2 GPa, that is integrally molded with or rigidly attached to a distal end of the elongate handle, and having a second longitudinal axis oriented substantially orthogonally relative to the first longitudinal axis, the mallet head including:
• an outer wall formed from the rigid thermoplastic material, the rigid thermoplastic material forming an interior surface at least partially surrounding and defining an interior chamber into which weighting material can be selectively inserted or removed, the outer wall having a cross-sectional shape that is circular, oval, elliptical, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or polygonal;
• one or more ribs extending along the second longitudinal axis to add strength and rigidity to the mallet head;
• at least one hammering surface provided by, formed over, or supported by the rigid thermoplastic material;
• an opening through the outer wall that provides access to the interior chamber;
• and
• a cover configured to selectively cover and uncover the opening.

An adjustable weight camping mallet, comprising:

• an elongate handle and a mallet head integrally formed from a single piece of rigid lightweight material having a specific gravity of less than about 4.5 g/cc,
• the elongate handle having a first longitudinal axis and being configured to be grasped by a user,
• the mallet head being attached to a distal end of the elongate handle and having a second longitudinal axis oriented laterally relative to the first longitudinal axis, the mallet head including:
• an outer wall formed from the rigid lightweight material and providing an interior surface at least partially surrounding and defining an interior chamber into which weighting material can be selectively inserted or removed;
• one or more ribs extending along the second longitudinal axis to add strength and rigidity to the mallet head;
• a hammering surface on a first side of the mallet head provided by, formed over, or supported by the rigid lightweight material;
• an opening through a second side of the mallet head opposite the first side that provides access to the interior chamber;
• and
• a cover on the second side of the mallet head configured to selectively cover and uncover the opening.