REI"s ongoing video series with tips and tricks for maintaining our gear has provided a lot of useful information over the past few weeks, but today's clip may be one of the most useful of all. It helps walk us through the process of replacing a shock cord in a tent pole, which can become frayed or broken over time. Rather than just going out to replace the poles themselves – or worse yet the entire tent – perhaps his video can help get you up and running again.
Showing posts with label Tents. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tents. Show all posts
Video: How to Waterproof Your Tent
More maintenance and repair tips courtesy of REI today, this time with a focus back on taking care of our tents. The video below offers advice on how to best waterproof your camp shelter, ensuring that it continues to protect you from the elements as it ages. This is, once again, a great reminder that a little upkeep and care can go a long way towards keeping our expensive outdoor gear functioning at a high level.
Video: How to Repair a Broken Tent Pole
Yesterday REI showed us how to patch a tent and today we'll learn how to repair a broken tent pole. Taking good care of your tent is an important aspect of enjoying an outdoor adventure, and with these handy tips you'll be able to make field repairs to a broken tent pole to at least get you through the outing.
Video: How to Patch a Tent
REI Co-Op continues its video series that provides tips on gear repair and maintenance, this time showing us how to patch a tent. Note, that is patch a tent, not pitch a tent. If you're reading this, you're probably more than familiar with how to do the latter. But, we've all had our favorite tents get rips, cuts, or small tears, and fixing them can sometime be a challenge. This video will tell you how to apply a patch and get your favorite outdoor shelter back to as good as new.
Video: How to Clean Your Tent
REI continues its "how to" series of videos today, this time providing some tips on how to clean your tent. This is something that a lot of rarely do, and yet the inside of our tent can definitely attract a variety of funky smells and strange dirty marks. This short clip will tell you how to get your favorite tent smelling fresh and clean, and looking brand new, in no time at all.
Traveling to California - The Lost Coast Trail with Tepui Tents
I depart early on Monday and will be back early on Thursday, so there is a good chance there won't be any updates until next Friday. But should a big story break, there is a chance I'll be able to post something to the blog before then. In the meantime, have a great weekend, enjoy the spring weather, and I'll be back before you know it.
After this trip, I don't have anything planned for a few weeks, which means I should be around for summit season in the Himalaya. Always an exciting time of year for sure.
Everest Climbing Gear - Then and Now
Today's climbers are outfitted with highly technical apparel, a host of gadgets, and gear that offers an amazing weight-to-performance ratio. Everything from the boots they wear to the tents they stay in have improved dramatically over the past 60+ years. With all of the advanced fabrics and space-age materials at our disposal, it is easier to climb lighter, faster, and more comfortably than ever before, which is part of the reason so many more people are making the attempt.
So just how different was it back in 1953? In the Nat Geo article we learn that Hillary and Norgay couldn't use wireless communications higher up on the mountain, so they communicated by laying out their sleeping bags in a particular pattern that could be seen below. Today, walkie-talkies, sat phones, satellite messengers, and even cell phones can be used to communicate from any point on Everest, including the summit.
Similarly, the tents used on the first ascent where heavy and bulky. Those shelters were made from cotton, and were often crowded, uncomfortable, and very heavy. In contrast, today's tents are surprisingly strong, lightweight, and warm, even at higher altitudes. Every aspect and component of a tent has been upgraded, making them easier to carry and assemble, even when the weather turns bad.
The story is a fun one and well worth a read for Everest fans and gear junkies alike. Lots of good information here comparing climbing now to then. You're likely to come away with even more respect for those early Everest climbers.
Video: Talking Tents with Explorer/Mountaineer Lonnie Dupre
Want to know what to look for in a tent when embarking on an extreme expedition? Who better to ask than a guy like Lonnie Dupre, who managed to make a solo summit of Denali last January. In this video Lonnie sits down with Petra Hilleberg to talk about the tents he uses on his various adventures, and what he looks for in a shelter in extreme locations.
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.
Outside Presents the 2016 Summer Gear Buyers Guide
The Buyer's Guide is broken down into multiple categories, including Float, Hike, Bike, Run, Fitness, and Travel. Each of those listings is further divided into subcategories that include lists of great gear that is applicable to the activity. For instance, under hiking you'll find the best tents for 2016, as well as the best hiking shoes. Meanwhile, under the bike category you'll discover the best mountain bikes and accessories for a summer ride.
Naturally, with this many items to explore, it can take you quite a long time to sift through all of the options. But, if you're in the market for a new sleeping bag, kayak, camera, or other equipment, the experts at Outside can help you find exactly what you're looking for. There are some really great products to check out here, each of which has been curated by testers who have put these items through their paces over the past few months.
Check out the full list of items on the Outside Online website by clicking here.
Gear Closet: Eureka Midori Solo Tent
The Midori Solo has inherited a number of key features from its older, larger siblings that make it an attractive option for anyone looking for a single person tent for their excursions into the backcountry. For starters, I was impressed with how easy it is to set up, even on my first go. It took less than ten minutes to take the tent out of its included bag, assemble it and move inside. Considering the tent is designed for the solo hiker, that ease of set-up is much appreciated.
I was also impressed with the level of ventilation on the Solo. Here in Texas, we're just now starting to cool off from the summer heat and the evenings have continued to be relatively warm. Rain has been at a premium as well, which meant I was able to camp without the rain fly without any issues. Even on warmer nights however, I was comfortable inside the tent with jut a light sleeping bag liner.
One of the most important aspects of any solo tent is how much it weighs, after all you won't be able to split the weight across multiple backpackers on a solo excursion. Eureka has delivered a product that performs relatively well in this aspect, particularly considering the tent's price tag. The Midori Solo tips the scales at 3 pounds, 9 ounces, which is hardly svelte but not especially hefty either. Make no mistake, there are solo tents that weigh considerably less than this one, but they'll also lighten your wallet too.
Inside, the Midori Solo provides a solid amount a room for a single person although things get a bit tight if you bring too much gear inside. When secured into place, the rain fly provides a secure place for hikers to stash their gear to keep it protected from the elements. Inside their are a couple of gear pockets for keeping a few small items close at hand such as a headlamp or a multitool. A gear loft across the ceiling provides even more internal storage.
With the fly in place, this is a tent that is rated for three-seasons, making it versatile for just about any outdoor adventure save winter camping. As mentioned, we haven't had much rain in my area, so I can't comment on how well the Midori Solo performs in wet conditions. But if it maintains the same level of performance of the Midori 2 and 3 however, it should do well in adverse conditions.
On more than one occasion in this review I've indicated that Eureka has delivered a great tent at an affordable price. The Midori Solo will sell for just $129.99 when it hits gear shops in January of 2014. That's a great price for a solo tent of this quality and relatively light weight. If you're in the market for a single-person tent for your future excursions, without breaking the bank, this is a tent that I think you'll be very happy with.
(Note: The photo in his story is of the Midori 2. I haven't been able to find a solid image of the Solo yet and I didn't carry a camera with me when I went camping with this tent. While the Solo is smaller and more narrow, the image of the Midori 2 does give you an indication of what the Solo looks like as well.)
Jacket Concept Design Converts To Tent
It seems like just about everything that can be done with our outdoor gear, has been done with our outdoor gear. We now have stuff that is lighter, stronger, and more durable than ever before. Heck, it's all designed to go easy on the environment too! Thankfully, some people are still coming up with some interesting designs. Take this interesting concept for an outdoor jacket designed by Justin Gargasz.
The Vessel jacket as it is called, converts from a sling pack to a fairly standard looking shell, before transforming one more time into a tent. Yep, it's like having three gear items in one, and they are traditionally three items that backpackers would take out in the field with them anyway.
Overall, I think it's an interesting design, and better left as a concept that an actual real product. I'm not sure how you would use this on any serious excursion into the woods, although I admit that the jacket converting into a tent idea is great for an emergency situation. The design is top notch though, and I give Justin credit for that, and forward thinking and innovation like this may be in our future gear items. Definitely something cool to think about.
Thanks to The Goat who picked this up via Core 77.
Tents!
With the Summer camping season just about to get underway, Gadling has a couple of tent stories for us today.
First, check out this tent that comes with a seven inch installable solar panel to collect the sun's rays during the day, then use them to light the tend after dark. The article says that the stored up energey can be used to power the "tent's integrated LED rope lights; to operate the removable hand-held flashlight that hangs from the center of the tent; or to charge a completely separate set of batteries."
Obviously this thing is aimed more at the camping crowd than the backpacking set, but still an interesting option. The four person version of the tent runs $206 while the six person model is $250.
If the solar powered tent doesn't work for you, perhaps you can find what you need on FindMeATent.com. As Gadling notes the site allows users to compare more than 800 different tents, from 57 brands, and read a growing library of user posted reviews. I'm sure you'll be able to find a tent to suit all your needs.
What defines a 3 vs. 4 Season Tent
I found this very good Q&A over at TrailSpace.com earlier today. It asks the question "What Makes a Tent Four-Season?"
Since I actually couldn't tell you what specifically were the differences, I thought it was worth a read, and it turned out to be pretty informative. The short answer is that the four season tents have reinforced poles for higher winds and snow conditions, as well as more rounded roofs to allow snow to slide off. They also tend to have thicker walls for a warm escape from the winds, and other conditions.
The article also notes that they are generally too warm for any other conditions, other than the cold. That makes me wonder why they aren't called 1-Season tents. Yeah, sometimes I think too much. :)
Gearbox: The Two-Second Tent?!?!
I saw this item over at Gadling earlier, and I just scratched my head a bit in disbelief. It's a new piece of gear called the two second tent, which basically is a self expanding tent that you simply toss in the air and by the time it hits the ground, you're ready to climb in. Sound great right? Well, in concept, I'd agree, but when looking at the site, I see the tent in it's collapsed state, and being carred around by a guy like a backpack. Which of course begs the question, where does your uh...backpack..go? I mean, when you're carrying this tent, where is the rest of your gear, as it doesn't seem to fold up small enough to actually fit inside of a backpack. Great concept. Needs more work. Still, for only $100, this might not be a bad tent for the right circumstances. It even sleeps two! :)