Here's a "how to" video that we can all appreciate. This time, the good folks at REI explain how to fix a sleeping bag zipper, which is probably something we've all had to deal with at some point. There are few things more frustrating than wanting to climb into a warm bag at the end of a long day, only to discover the zipper isn't working properly. This video will help you sort out those issues and get your sleeping bag performing at a top level again.
Showing posts with label Sleeping Bags. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleeping Bags. Show all posts
Video: How to Patch a Sleeping Pad
We'll continue our "How to" videos from REI today with some more great tips for maintaining and repairing our gear. This time out it is how to patch a sleeping pad, which is something we can all probably appreciate knowing a bit more about. There is nothing worse than being on a long trip and discovering your pad won't hold air. Fortunately it is fairly easy to fix as you'll see in the clip below.
Video: How to Clean a Sleeping Bag
The Care and Repair series of videos from REI continues today, this time with tips on how to clean your sleeping bag. This is probably something we could all use some help with, as far too often we forget to take good care of our bags after coming home from a trip. But, a little cleaning and maintenance will keep them performing – not to mention smelling – better for a lot longer.
Gear Closet: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Camper SV Sleeping Pad Review
Now, before we delve too deeply into the Camper SV, lets get one thing out of the way immediately. This sleeping pad is not for the light and fast crowd. If you're someone who counts every ounce, you'll be better suited using one of Therm-a-Rest's ultralight options instead. This model tips the scales at a beefy 2 pounds, 5 ounces, making it a hefty inclusion in your pack.
On the other hand, the Camper SV delivers plenty of comfort and durability, which makes it a great choice for anyone who favors a bit of luxury over going as light as possible. The pad doesn't pack down as small as others that I've used, but it makes up for it in providing plenty of support and warmth. Therm-a-Rest says that it has an R-value of 2.2, which puts it squarely in the three-season camping area in terms of performance.
The NeoAir Camper has been in the Therm-a-Rest line-up for awhile, but the SV adds the company's Speed Valve technology to the mix. This allows campers to inflate the pad much more efficiently and quickly using the Bernoulli effect. To do this, you simply blow air into a large opening located at the top end of the pad and it begins to inflate quickly and efficiently. At least in theory anyway. It took me some practice to get the process ironed out, and I'd recommend inflating the Camper SV a few times using the standard air valves first. This seems to help iron out some of the stiffness in the pad when its new, making it easy to inflate using the Speed Valve.
That same valve also helps to deflate the pad very quickly too. This comes in handy in the morning when you're ready to break camp and get on the trail as quickly as possible. Some pads you need to squeeze over and over to get all of the air out just so you can pack them away in their stuff sack, but that wasn't the case with the Camper SV. Each time that I've used it, it was a quick, easy, painless process.
But, the most important thing is how does it perform as a sleeping pad when you're ready to crawl into the tent after a long day of backpacking. In that area, the Camper SV really shines, providing a nice stable platform with which to catch some Z's. It is wide enough that side sleepers can move around a bit, and stable enough that you won't wake up the next day resting on the ground because it lost all of its air over night. It is also just plain comfortable, making it one of the best pads I've used in a really long time. So much so, that for my money, it is worth the extra weight and size when heading out into the field.
Additionally, the Camper SV is extremely durable, which is something you don't always find in ultralight sleeping pads. It is made of tough fabrics that can take a beating, and still come away unscathed. I've plopped down hard on it on more than one occasion, and dropped a heavy pack on it as well, it weathered the abuse like a champ. Therm-a-Rest includes a repair kit with the pad, but it's probably only necessary if there is a direct puncture.
The one drawback these durable fabrics have however is that they are a bit on the noisy side. That could potentially be bothersome to light sleepers and tent mates. It wasn't especially annoying for me, but it is worth noting just in case.
The NeoAir Camper SV is available two sizes – large and extra-large – and sells for $139.95 and $169.95 respectively. That puts them on the higher end of the three-season sleeping pad market, although not much pricier than competitors. Considering everything they bring to the table however, I feel they are worth the price of admission. The Speed Valve is fantastic once you get use to it, and the comfort and durability of the pad is fantastic too. If you're in the market for a new sleeping pad for your backcountry camping outings, this one needs to be on your short list for consideration.
Find out more at thermamest.com and buy from REI online.
Gear Closet: Mountain Equipment Glacier 1000 Sleeping Bag Review
Rated for use in temperatures as low as -25ºC/-13ºF, the Glacier 1000 is warm and cozy thanks to its 700-fill power duck-down insulation, which is wrapped in Mountain Equipment's proprietary Drilite Loft II fabrics. This outer shell provides a measure of protection against moisture, keeping the down inside dry and helping it to retain the properties that make it a great insulator. That down itself is not hydrophobic – as most other manufacturers are using – but thanks to the protective fabrics it really doesn't have to be. The Drilite Loft materials do a great job of keeping the bag dry and comfortable, even in extremely cold and wet environments.
One of the biggest challenges that I typically face when crawling into a sleeping bag is getting comfortable due to my size. I'm fairly tall (6'2"+) and broad, which often leads to feeling a bit confined when I settle in for a night's sleep. But, that wasn't the case with the Glacier 1000, which has been designed to provide plenty of room in the interior. In fact, I found the bag to be quite spacious, which made it all the more comfortable. Mountain Equipment has even sculpted an anatomically shaped foot-box that provided plenty of room as well. That's not always easy, as I often find a lot of sleeping bags are very confining in that area.
Despite having plenty of room inside, the bag didn't disappoint in the level of performance it offers. Thanks to strategically placed baffles throughout the design of the Glacer, heat is retained quite nicely. So much so that you'll definitely only want to use this sleeping bag when the conditions call for it, otherwise you'll find yourself overheating. If anything, Mountain Equipment is probably being conservative with its temperature rating numbers, and depending on the situation I wouldn't hesitate to use the Glacier in even colder conditions.
Other nice features include a nicely shaped hood that once again provides warmth without being overly confining. That same hood can be sealed up using the company's Lode Lock closure, which makes it a breeze to wrap into place, and can be opened with one hand when it is time to crawl out of the bag. Mountain Equipment also ships the Glacier with a roll-top waterproof stuff sack for use in the field and a cloth storage cube for maintaining loft while at home.
Despite its fantastic performance in cold conditions, perhaps the most impressive thing about the Glacier 1000 is its price. A sleeping bag designed for use in extreme cold will typically set you back a considerable amount of money, but somehow Mountain Equipment has managed to deliver high level performance for just $380. I know for many people that will sound like quite an expensive sleeping bag, but when compared to similar bags from the competition, the Glacier 1000 delivers a lot of bang for the buck.
And if you happen to be one of those people who simply doesn't want to embark on an arctic adventure, Mountain Equipment makes versions of the Glacier for you too. The Glacier 700 and 450 offer many of the same features, but are suited for use in warmer conditions, although their temperature ratings offer solid comfort in cold conditions too.
With winter on the horizon here in northern hemisphere, it is time to start thinking about our cold weather outings to come. If you find yourself in need of a good sleeping bag to keep you warm on those excursions, the Mountain Equipment Glacier 1000 is an excellent option. Whether you're skiing through the backcountry, making alpine ascents, or simply going winter camping, this is a sleeping bag that you'll be glad to have in your own gear closet.
Find out more at mountain-equipment.com.
13 Pieces of Gear Every All-Around Adventurer Should Own
The list is a comprehensive one, although most of the items are exactly what you would expect. In fact, I suspect that many of you reading this already have a good portion of these pieces of gear. Still, it is a good reminder of the things we should have at our disposal before setting out on an adventure, and as I read through the article, I was also doing a mental inventory of my own gear to make sure I had each of these things on hand.
Some of the items that make the list include a two-person backpacking tent, 30- and 60-liter backpacks, a rain shell, and a down jacket. Author Brendan Leonard also shares his picks for a proper sleeping bag, a headlamp, water bottles, and a variety of other gear as well. If you're looking to build a collection of solid gear to keep you safe and comfortable in the backcountry, this is a good place to start.
So, what do you think of the list? Did Brendan leave anything out? Do you have anything that you would add? Personally, I know I never leave home without a Buff or two, and I think a good watch – such as the Suunto Ambit – is an important piece of gear to have with you as well.
Find out what else made Semi-Rad's list by clicking here.
Gear Closet: Kelty Ignite Down Sleeping Bag
The version of the Ignite Down sleeping bag that I tested was rated for 20ºF/-7ºC. That makes it a comfortable option for three-season camping. The bag has a pack weight of 2 pound, 12 ounces (1.2 kg), which is decent, if unremarkable. The mummy-style bag also includes internal loops for a bag liner, external security loops for connecting to a sleeping pad and hand loops for storage. It has high quality zippers and is made from 30D ripstop nylon, while being stuffed with 600-fill DriDown of course.
I was extremely impressed with the build quality of the Ignite Down. Kelty has a rich history of delivering outdoor gear that provides an excellent performance to price ratio. But this bag actually exceeded my expectations in terms of how well it managed to keep me comfortable in a variety of conditions. Better yet, it also feels like it is built to last, shrugging off the normal abuse that come with traditional camping and backpacking trips. The durable external fabrics are easy to keep clean and very resistant to wear and tear.
The bag also happens to be quite comfortable, which is of course what we're all looking for. Not everyone likes a mummy bag, and if you're someone who feels restricted by this type of sleeping bag, the Ignite Down probably won't do anything to change your mind. But if sleeping in a mummy bag isn't a problem for you, you'll find that this one provides a snug, but not overly confining fit, with plenty of room inside. At 6'2" (1.8 m) in height, I used the "Long" version of this bag and found that I had plenty of room to spare. So much so in fact that I could keep socks, base layers and a few other clothing items that I wanted to keep warm and dry at the bottom without feeling cramped in any way.
As expected, the DriDown performs exceptionally well. The material provides plenty of warmth, even at a slightly reduced 600-fill level. In fact, I feel Kelty might be a bit conservative with their temperature rating and I wouldn't have a problem using this bag even in slightly colder weather. Its water-repellant properties make it a great option whether you're camping in the desert or heading to a damp forest. Similarly, it works well in dry, cool conditions, as well as damp, rainy or snowy ones.
If there is a knock on this bag it is probably in its weight and compressibility. As I mentioned earlier, the Ignite Down tips the scales at 2 pounds, 12 ounces, which makes it rather average in terms of pack weight. It also doesn't compress down particularly small, which means it also takes up more room in your pack than similar bags.
But Kelty more than makes up for these minor issues by delivering a great product, that happens to include waterproof down, at an amazing price. The 20ºF version of the Ignite Down carries an MSRP of just $219.95, and it can be found at places like Sport Chalet for just $199.95. That is an incredibly good deal for backpackers and campers on a budget, who care more about good performance at a great price than they do about shaving a few ounces from their pack weight. For those folks, Kelty has delivered a great option.
As we're heading into the holiday season, this sleeping bag also happens to make a great gift for your favorite outdoor enthusiast. I know I wouldn't mind finding one under my tree this year.
Nat Geo Adventure Announces 2012 Spring/Summer Gear of the Year
Items on the list include the new Sierra Designs Zissou 15 sleeping bag which uses the new waterproof down that has been all the buzz in recent months. The Outdoor Research Axiom jacket get a nod for its use of a more flexible version of Gore-Tex and the Canon 5D Mark III DSLR sets a new standard for cameras as well.
A couple of items that I've had the pleasure of reviewing make the list, including the Atmos 50 backpack from Osprey and Camelbak's ingenious All Clear bottle, which uses UV light to purify drinking water. I found both of those products to be fantastic and highly recommend each as well.
Of course, the Gear of the Year list always inspires some gear-lust in my personally and the 2012 edition is no exception. I'm personally looking forward to trying out the Suunto Ambit watch, which I've heard really great things about and the North Face Havoc Mid GTX XCR hiking boots have me intrigued as well.
Most of this equipment is available now and makes perfect gifts for moms, dads and grads. Of course, they also make perfect gifts for yourself as you gear up for the summer adventures ahead.
Gear Box: Kelty Cosmic Down 20º Sleeping Bag
Kelty is an outdoor gear company that has built a solid reputation for making good gear, at affordable prices, that are perfect for the more casual outdoor crowd. Someone who enjoys camping and hiking, but isn't likely to be heading to the Andes or the Himalaya any time soon. Their gear is designed more for the weekend warrior than the hardcore adventure set, but over the years they have built a very loyal following who swear by their products.
With that in mind, I wasn't sure what to expect out of the Cosmic Down. After all, Kelty was promising a down-filled sleeping bag, rated for 20ºF (-6 Cº) that weighs 3.5 pound (1.6 kilograms) for around a hundred bucks. If the bag could come anywhere close to meeting those specs, I'd be quite happy.
Removing the Cosmic Down from its included stuff sack, I was pleasantly surprised at the overall quality of the bag. The fabrics were all quite nice and the zippers were solid and moved without sticking or snagging on the cloth. Rolling it out on the floor, I immediately crawled inside and was happy do discover there was plenty of room for my tall frame. Kelty had sent me the "large" version of the bag for review, and it was definitely spacious and comfortable, particularly for a mummy bag.
When put to real-world, practical use, the bag didn't disappoint either. The Cosmic Down uses 550-fill Down, which was surprisingly warm and made for comfortable sleeping with temperatures falling into the 20's, although I'm not sure I'd want to trust it much lower than that. For most three-season camping conditions, this is a more than adequate choice.
When first eyeballing the CD I was a bit concerned that it didn't have any kind of venting options on the lower half of the bag. Turns out it didn't really need them, as the well designed half-zip that runs along the side worked well when I needed to let a little air into the bag. Kelty also built in security loops to keep the Cosmic Down connected to your sleeping pad, which is a nice touch for a bag that isn't considered "hardcore."
Campers and backpackers on a budget will absolutely love this bag. It is comfortable, well made, and is a perfect option for late spring, summer, and early fall camping. Kelty has managed to create a product that lives up to its performance promises and does so in an attractive and affordable package. If you're in the market to upgrade your gear, than the Cosmic Down is a fantastic choice, as you'll have cash left over to continue shopping for other equipment as well. (MSRP: $99.95 (small), $109.95 (medium), $119.95 (long))
Checkout other Kelty gear at TravelCountry.com.
Gear Box: Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0 Degree Sleeping Bag
Like most gear from Mountain Hardwear, the Phantom 0 Degree sleeping bag will immediately impress you with its quality and style. It is a lightweight, high quality offering that will keep you plenty warm in inclement weather without filling your pack or weighing you down on the trail.
The Phantom clocks in at just 2 pounds, 10 ounces, making it one of the lightest 0º bags on the market. It uses tried and true 800-fill goose down as insulation on the inside and superlight Ripstop fabrics along the outside to keep the elements out. The interior of the bag is lined with nylon and is soft and comfortable whether you’re lounging on a bed or on the ground. This combination of fabrics and stuffing helps to keep the Phantom’s weight down, while remaining durable for extended use in remote, rugged, places.
The Phantom is a mummy style bag, which automatically make`s it a bit of a love-hate affair for some people. Personally, I don’t’ mind the mummy cut at all, but I know others who find them impossible to sleep in. For cold environments I happen to believe it s the best option, but critics of the mummy bag complain about feeling claustrophobic when the hood is pulled up around their head. If you’re one of those people, you probably won’t enjoy the Phantom either, but for those who don’t mind the style, you’ll find a hood that is warm, comfortable and designed to allow you to breathe easily without getting cold. There is even a handy little pocket built into the hood’s draft collar, which is a perfect spot for an iPod or small light, keeping your gear in easy reach.
I put the Phantom through its paces recently while in the Himalaya, and found that it was warm and comfortable for long nights in the drafty Nepali teahouses. The rooms in those lodges are unheated and can get quite cold, especially at the higher altitude, but the Phantom kept me warm throughout my trek. Better yet, the bag is well designed to allow you to sleep without feeling like your movements are restricted or that your body is too confined. And at the end of the night, the Phantom rolled up easily and slipped inside its high quality stuff sack. When compressed down, the bag has a small footprint and doesn’t take up much space in your pack.
If I have one complaint about the Phantom it is with the zippers. While they have a solid feel and are of high enough quality to match the rest of the bag, they did tend to get caught on the excess fabric that lined the zipper teeth. This led to occasional frustration with getting the bag properly zipped up, whether from the inside or out. The question is, was it a bit of a design flaw or user error brought on by the thin air? Only further use of the bag will tell for sure.
If you’re looking for a very good, high quality 0 Degree sleeping bag, the Phantom from Mountain Hardwear should definitely be on your short list. It is a warm, comfortable, and well-designed bag with nice touches from the warm hood, down to the well padded end. If mummy bags aren’t you’re thing, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere, but otherwise, this is a perfect sleeping bag for your cold weather adventures. (MSRP: $475 (regular)/$485 (long) - Buy it at TravelCountry.com for just $380!)
Gear Box: GoLite Adrenaline 4-Season Mummy Bag
Let’s face it. When you head out on an extended backcountry trip, there are three pieces of gear that are essential to your comfort. You need a good, comfortable pair of boots, a good, comfortable pack, and a proper sleeping bag to help you sleep comfortably at night.
While preparing for my recent trip to the Himalaya, I knew I had the first two items more than covered, but I was a bit concerned about the sleeping bag. My guide service recommended that I bring a four-season bag in order to stay warm at altitude, and even though we would be staying in Nepali teahouses, I was keenly aware that they were unheated and could get quite cold over night.
Luckily for me the good folks over at GoLite offered to let me try out their Adrenaline 4-Season Mummy Bag on my trek to Everest Base Camp. As a long time fan of GoLite gear, and their eco-sensitive approach to manufacturing their products, I jumped at the chance to put their bag though its paces, and I certainly wasn’t disappointed by the results.
The 4-Season Adrenaline uses 800+ Goose Down fill inside a 100% recycled polyester and ripstop shell that is both water proof and breathable. Strip away the marketing speak, and that means you’ll stay warm and dry in a variety of conditions. Rated down to 0º F, the Adrenaline weighs just 3.3 pounds, making it one of the most lightweight and efficient sleeping bags from any manufacturer. Throw in the fact that it stuffs down to a very small size, especially for a zero degree bag, and you have the perfect sleep system for cold weather camping, hiking, and backpacking.
In real world performance, this bag more than met my expectations. While it never quite reached 0º inside the teahouses we stayed in, it did routinely drop into the 20’s and even the teens at the higher altitude. And while most of my travel companions scrambled for extra blankets to augment their inferior sleeping bags, I happily slept cuddled up inside my warm and toasty GoLite. In fact, I was so warm, that I never even needed to sleep in my thermals base layers, electing to crawl in each night in just my skivvies.
Unlike most sleeping bags, the Adrenaline has a single zipper along the front. As someone who generally sleeps on his back, I appreciated this placement, as it made it easy for me to adjust the zipper throughout the night to help regulate temperature while sleeping. There were times however when I wished the bag had venting zippers along the side that would have allowed more air in around my legs and feet. The Adrenaline is plenty warm, which is obviously one of its strengths, but when you’re too warm, it’s nice to have extra options to help vent.
Other than the lack of venting options, I did manage to break the drawstrings on the Adrenaline’s included stuff sack the first time I tried to use it, but I was able to improvise and make do for the length of the trip. But aside from that, I have nothing but good things to say about this bag. It is warm and comfortable, lightweight, and packs down very small in size for when you need to toss it in your backpack. Furthermore, I’m very impressed with the overall quality of the product. After two weeks of use, it looks exactly the same now as when I first took it out of the box, with no indication that it had been dragged halfway around the world, and used up and down the Khumbu Valley.
If you’re in need of a 4-season bag that offers plenty of warmth without adding much weight to your pack, then the GoLite Adrenaline is the perfect bag for you. It is definitely a welcome addition to my gear closet, and something tells me we’ll be spending a lot of nights together in the future. (MSRP: $500)
Gear Box: Eureka Kotey Sleeping Bag
Sleeping bags are another piece of gear that are crucial to our comfort while out on the trail. Whether it's snuggling up inside one at the end of the day or carrying one in our pack, we all want a bag that is light, versatile, and works well in the weather conditions in which we use it. In other words, we want it to keep us warm and dry in what ever weather we encounter. I recently had the opportunity to test out the Kotey bag from Eureka, and found that it fits that description, and does so in a small package.
The first thing I noticed was how small and light the Kotey was. When stored properly inside it's included bag, it compresses down to a very small size, allowing it to fit neatly inside your backpack without taking up much room at all. On top of that, the bag weighs just a shade over 2 pounds, which means that it's not going to significantly impact the amount of weight you're carrying while lugging it around all day.
Made from synthetic materials, the Kotey is rated for temperatures down to 35ºF (2ºC), which makes it ideal for spring and fall camping, and cooler summer nights depending on your location. Obviously, for winter camping, you'll want something a bit warmer. While I didn't get the chance to test it in sub-40º weather, I did find that this mummy-style sleeping bag kept me comfortable and snug. There was also plenty of room inside for my longer 6'2" frame, despite the bag not being rated for my size.
Eureka is a company well known for its excellent tents, with great options for backpackers and families alike. Their line of sleeping bags displays the same high quality design and construction, showing that as a company they "get it" it in terms of what we want while out on the trail. Lightweight, high quality products that allow us to enjoy our time in the backcountry. Small, but highly appreciated touches, like an internal pocked, perfect for storing your iPod, are just one example of the conveniences that this bag has to offer. Those touches will help you to really like this bag a lot, but it's small size and weight will make you love it.
MSRP for the Kotey is $95 but it can be found online at discounts too. If you're in the market for a good 3-season bag, this is definitely a winner. Now does someone have any suggestions for a 4-season bag for the Himalaya this spring?
Disclaimer: The Kotey that I tested was proved by Eureka for this review.