May 9, 2008
SolLight LightCap200 Solar-Powered Lantern
If you want to put your old polycarbonate water bottles to good use, try the SolLight LightCap200 solar-powered lantern. Ideal for the campsite, the LightCap200 solar-powered lantern produces light free from batteries, chemicals, electric cords or fire hazards. Simply fill your bottle, top it with the LightCap200, and a built-in sensor turns the super-bright white LEDs light on when it gets dark out. The LightCap200 weighs just 2.6 oz. – lighter than most lanterns out there – making it a great gadget for the campers watching their weight. Best of all, the LightCap200 solar-powered lantern comes at a price of just $19.95. SolLight.
May 8, 2008
Macpac Sanctuary 500 Light XP Sleeping Bag
The Macpac Sanctuary 500 Light XP sleeping bag delivers on its promises of light weight, warmth and comfort. The weatherproof Sanctuary 500 Light XP sleeping bag weighs only two pounds, is filled with 750 loft to keep you cozy, and is covered with a waterproof yet breathable shell to ensure your body heat stays in while the chill stays out. Continuous baffles eliminate cold spots and keep fill from migrating, and to keep you from migrating throughout the night, the bag’s cocoon shape keeps you tucked snug as a bug in a rug. The Sanctuary 500 Light XP sleeping bag retails for $275. Macpac.
May 7, 2008
2008 Mont-Bell Crescent 2 Camping Tent
As far as two-person tents go, the new 2008 Mont-Bell Crescent 2 camping tent is a top contender for its weight and performance, not to mention price – always a bonus. The Crescent 2 tent is a freestanding design built for two, combining single- and double-wall construction, with a single pole for easy set-up, and a steep-walled profile that lets rain roll right off. The tent’s 34-sq.-ft. floor allows ample space for some compact campers and their gear. The most amazing thing about this tent is its weight, at only 12 oz. – that’s six oz. per person. Last but not least, the Crescent 2 camping tent retails for just $279. Mont-Bell.
May 6, 2008
Buck Knives X-Tract LED Pocket Tool
Gearing up for an outdoor adventure? Don’t leave home without the Buck X-Tract LED Pocket Tool. This rugged all-in-one tool lets you cut, fix, tinker with easy one-hand access and lock for safety. The X-Tract LED Pocket Tool includes everything you’d need for a few days in the backcountry – a full-sized partially serrated knife blade; spring-loaded needle nose pliers; a wire cutter; Flathead and Phillips screwdrivers; a bottle/can opener; and topping it off, a pretty cool 5mm LED flashlight with an automatic three-minute shut-off. You get all this, in a convenient 6.4-oz. package. Don’t leave home without being prepared. Buy the X-Tract LED Pocket Tool for $66. Buck Knives.
May 5, 2008
Multimat Adventure Superlight 25 Self-Inflating Mat
It’s being called the “world’s lightest self-inflating mat,” and that claim alone is reason enough to give the Multimat Adventure Superlight 25 self-inflating mat a second look. Great for campers on the move, the Adventure Superlight 25 mat offers four seasons of comfortable sleeps. Ideal as a carry-along on your hikes and treks, the Adventure Superlight 25 mat measures 72 by 20 by inches and one inch thick, weighing only 1.5 pounds. Those looking to shave off even more weight can opt for the Adventure Compact 25 mat, which measures 48 by 20 inches, is under an inch thick, and weighs less than one pound. The mat’s top layer is made of lightweight 75D Rip Stop polyester, with lightweight 75D polyester base and a lightweight vertically drilled foam core for comfort, durability and fast inflation. The Adventure Superlight 25 self-inflating mat comes with a stuff sac, an elastic retaining strap and a repair kit, just in case. The mat retails for approximately $100. Multimat.
May 2, 2008
Oregon Scientific Meteo Weather Forecast Watch
For the ultimate in camping fashion and function, try the Oregon Scientific Meteo Weather Forecast Watch on for size. The Meteo Weather Forecast Watch is a low-profile watch that not only tells the time, but has a built-in stopwatch for keeping track of time gone by, and it also forecasts the weather by measuring barometric pressure trends. The Meteo Weather Forecast Watch boasts an LDC display where you’ll find the easy-to-read weather icons – sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy or rainy – for the upcoming 12 to 24 hours. The Meteo Weather Forecast Watch retails for $70. Oregon Scientific.
May 1, 2008
Burton Lil' Buddy Audio Cooler
What could be better than kicking back in the great outdoors, with a cold beverage and some hot tunes? The Burton Lil' Buddy audio cooler is something no recreational camper should be without. The weather-resistant Lil' Buddy audio cooler comes with an internal beverage compartment with a 12-can capacity, and features a convenient bottle-opener zipper pull. For some tunage with that ice-cold beer, the Lil' Buddy cooler also boasts an audio-compatible stereo speaker, amp and auxiliary input. The Lil' Buddy cooler has built-in side accessory pockets, and a cush, ergonomic shoulder harness. Buy the Lil' Buddy cooler for $59.95. Burton.
April 30, 2008
Cool Shirt Cool Water Shirt
The Cool Shirt Cool Water Shirt is literally one of the coolest shirts you’ll find. Looking forward to summertime camping, but dreading the sweltering car ride? The Cool Water Shirt could be just the solution. Claiming to eliminate heat-induced fatigue, the Cool Water Shirt uses cool water from an ice-water cooler, and circulates it through piping woven into the shirt, keeping you cool without getting you wet. Now you’ll be able to spend hours in your car without breaking a real sweat. The Cool Water Shirt retails for $129. Cool Shirt.
April 29, 2008
Skullcandy Link Hydro Pack
My, how the camping experience has evolved! The Skullcandy Link Hydro Pack is the perfect example of how gear has kept up with the times. For the most basic necessity, the Link Hydro Pack features a 72-oz. water-tight bag, ready to keep you hydrated on the trails. But don’t forget to bring your iPod – just plug it into the pack and let music fill the air via the speakers built right into the upper straps, and a volume control is conveniently located mid-strap. And hey, why not bring the cell phone along for the trip? The pack’s hands-free speaker and phone link lets you talk and walk. The Link Hydro Pack retails for $130. Skullcandy
via Be Sportier
April 28, 2008
Largest, Most-Portable Hammock in the World – Hammock Bliss Triple Sleeper Hammock
What’s eight ft. wide, 10 ft. long, and swings from a tree? The Hammock Bliss Triple Sleeper hammock – a large hammock designed specially for the tall camper. Touted as the largest, most-portable hammock in the world, “even NBA players can lay both diagonally or perpendicularly with plenty of room to spare.” The Triple Sleeper hammock is a fun hang-out for camping kids, or a snuggle spot for camping couples, and weighs just 26 oz. “That is a whole lot of bliss in a very small package.” Buy the Triple Sleeper hammock for $59.95. Hammock Bliss.
April 25, 2008
The North Face Fission Sleeping Bag
The North Face Fission sleeping bag has got it all: very lightweight, very compressible, very comfortable – what more could you ask for? Designed for all-season camping, the Fission 20°F half-mummy sleeping bag weighs just over two pounds, but still manages to eliminate cold spots thanks to its Climashield Neo insulation, which is welded to the bag’s outer shell for weight savings. From head to toe, the Fission sleeping bag is built for comfort, featuring a fitted hood, and a vaulted footbox with a zipper for venting. Come morning, the Fission sleeping bag easily stuffs down into an 8-by-17-inch sac. The Fission sleeping bag retails for $239. The North Face.
April 24, 2008
2008 Coleman Traipse X45 Backpack
The new 2008 Coleman Traipse X45 backpack lets you traipse through the woods without feeling the burden of a heavy load on your back. The Traipse X45 lightweight internal-frame backpack offers a volume of 45 liters and a weight of just three pounds, allowing weight-conscious campers to keep it light without having to endure the either-or dilemma when packing up. The backpack features full-sized zippered access and a floating top lid for easy loading and access. A zippered and divided kangaroo pocket helps to keep gear organized and on hand. A thermo-molded back panel features air channels, allowing air to circulate for a more comfortable and dryer trek. Buy the Traipse X45 backpack for $134.99. Coleman.
April 23, 2008
Scarpa Kailash GTX Backpacking Shoes
Ideal for running, hiking and kicking around on the trails, the Scarpa Kailash GTX backpacking shoes will make the road traveled a little easier on those tired old dogs. The mid-weight Kailash GTX trail shoes feel like they’ve been custom made for your foot, thanks to their soft suede uppers and the super shock-absorbing Vibram Hi-Trail Lite sole. These shoes are breathable, with a Gore-Tex lining that keeps your feet comfortable and dry, regardless of where the backcountry road takes you. The Kailash GTX trail shoes are available in men’s sizes 38 to 48, and women’s sizes 36 to 43, for a retail price of $169. Scarpa.
April 22, 2008
2008 Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo Camping Tent
For its incredible space-to-weight ratio, the new 2008 Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo camping tent earns a five-star rating. The Lunar Duo camping tent, while made for two, sleeps three comfortably, thanks to its innovative floor plan of 58 sq. ft. Weighing just 2 lbs. 8 oz., this tent is also great for campers who are watching their weight. The Lunar Duo camping tent features a twin-door, twin-vestibule single-wall design that pitches with two trekking poles and six or more stakes. The result withstands wind, rain, hail – the worst Mother Nature can throw at you. When the weather’s cooperating you can open up both vestibules and enjoy the view, along with some cross ventilation. The Lunar Duo camping tent retails for $275. Six Moon Designs.
April 21, 2008
2008 Big Agnes Skinny Fish 20° Sleeping Bag
The new 2008 Big Agnes Skinny Fish 20° sleeping bag is made almost entirely of recycled materials, right down to its drawstring and stuff sack, decreasing environmental impact – something to think about with Earth Day but a day away. Inside its 100-per-cent recycled shell, the eco-conscious Skinny Fish 20° sleeping bag is filled with Climashield HL Green synthetic insulation, so if you’ve planned your Earth Day celebration in the great outdoors, rest assured this bag will keep you warm should the overnight temperature unexpectedly drop. The Skinny Fish 20° sleeping bag features a no-draft collar which creates a seal around the neck opening to keep cold air out and warm air in. Its rectangular shape creates plenty of room in the foot box and shoulder area; an integrated pad sleeve ensures you never roll off the pad again; and a built-in pillow, well, it’s those little luxuries of home that’ll get you through the night. The Skinny Fish 20° sleeping bag comes in regular and long sizes, and retails for $179.95 and $189.95, respectively. Big Agnes.
