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  • Our Favorite Sleeping Bag for Summer Adventures

    Our Favorite Sleeping Bag for Summer Adventures

    If you’re a camper or backpacker, you’re certainly aware of how important a good sleeping bag is. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable while trying to catch some winks in the wilderness. Whether your bag is too heavy for your pack, traps moisture too easily or is just too thin to keep you warm, the wrong bag can ruin a trip. To keep your trip on the “awesome” side of things, we’ve got a roundup of our favorite heavy-duty sleeping bags for camping! Let’s go on a wilderness adventure! 

    Patagonia Hybrid Sleeping Bag 

    Patagonia’s entry on this list is a little odd. It’s actually half a sleeping bag, which might sound like a rip-off, pun intended, but it’s actually pretty sweet. In the summer months, it’s great for cutting excess weight. When you don’t need a ton of extra warmth, having such a light sleeping bag will keep your pack light. Just carry a light blanket to cover your top half! In winter, just pair it with a thick, warm jacket. You’ll already be wearing one, so why not carry a lighter sleeping bag? The Patagonia Hybrid weighs in at 17.3 ounces, which is incredible. You can grab one for $300 straight from Patagonia. 

    REI Co-Op Igneo 25 

    A great buy at $270, the REI Igneo is a great pick for temperatures above 25 degrees Fahrenheit. During Fall, Spring and Summer, the Igneo will keep you comfortable and warm. The exterior is 20-denier ripstop nylon, meaning you won’t have to worry about water or rips during normal use. It only weights a hair over a pound, and it packs in beautifully. For a serious backpacker, this is a great buy for the price. The only situation you wouldn’t want this in? Winter time backpacking or camping, for which it’s not rated. For normal three-season outdoors expeditions, though, this is a great choice! 

    Our Favorite Overall Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends Swallow UL Nano 20 

    This one is our favorite for a number of reasons. For one thing, it’s incredibly comfortable. You won’t have to worry about being uncomfortable trying to get to sleep after a long hike. Just plop down, zip up and snooze. The warmth-to-weight ratio here is also absolutely nuts: it’s rated for 20 degrees, but you could take it even colder. Feather Friends is known for their modesty in temperature ratings, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. That said, experienced campers could take this one lower than the rating suggests. For $550, this one is expensive, but worth every penny for a serious hiker or backpacker. 

  • Which Hiking Backpack is the Best for you?

    Which Hiking Backpack is the Best for you?

    It’s time to head outdoors and enjoy the warm weather! If you’re going backpacking, though, you’re going to need a good hiking backpack! When you go backpacking, you have to choose what you carry wisely. You don’t want to be over-encumbered, but you want to make sure you have everything you need. Not to mention, choosing which pack you carry is paramount. Packs that are big, durable, waterproof and comfortable are important! They’re also usually somewhat expensive, so experimenting with different brands isn’t really feasible. With that in mind, we’ve got a roundup of some of our favorite backpacks for your next hike! 

    ARC’TERYX BORA 63 

    The Arc’Teryx Bora 63 is fantastically comfortable. It sports straps and pads that help distribute the weight evenly across your body. The foam pads contour to the body and are quite thick and durable. The pack sports a rock-solid suspension incorporating aluminum stays, so it holds up under pressure. The pack is highly weather-resistant, featuring waterproof zippers and seam seals. While the pack is expensive, running $550, it’s also incredibly high quality. If you’re a serious climber looking for a seriously comfortable backpack, this one is for you. 

    HYPERLITE MOUNTAIN GEAR 3400 SOUTHWEST 

    The Hyperlite Mountain Gear pack makes this list for being so darn light. The trend of ultra-light hiking has blown up recently, and with it, demand for ultra-light packs has too. Hyperlite, thankfully, is here to provide! Weighing in at just 2 pounds, the 3400 pack is made of a material called Dyneema. The pack is completely waterproof and unquestionably durable. Great for hiking, kayaking or camping, the 3400 pushes the boundaries of how durable such a light pack can be. It’s $345, but it’s also quite spartan. This bag has few bells or whistles, but what you’re paying for is the weight and durability. If you’re looking to travel very, very light, this is the right hiking backpack for you. 

    Our Favorite Hiking Backpack Overall: OSPREY ATMOS AG 65 

    If you’re looking for a great overall outdoors bag, the Osprey Atmos won’t disappoint. Featuring a fantastic suspension system to evenly distribute weight, the Osprey was designed to make you forget you were even wearing it.  The bag is pretty light, coming in at 5 pounds, and is as durable as they come. Featuring tons of flaps and pockets, you can make sure you stay organized with this hiking backpack. If you’re looking for a high-quality, all-purpose and weather-resistant bag, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal. The Osprey Atmos AG 65 retails for $270, making it the most affordable bag on this list. It also happens to be the best overall! This one is a no-brainer. 

     

  • Best Hiking GPS Roundup

    Best Hiking GPS Roundup

    It’s that time of year again, when the weather is hot and it’s time to head outside! If you’re looking to go on a hike in the wilderness, you’ll want to bring a good hiking GPS with you to make sure you don’t get lost! There’s nothing worse than getting turned around and having no cellphone signal to help navigate your way back. In order to alleviate this problem, carrying a good satellite GPS receiver is a must! Which ones are our favorites? Read on to find out! 

    Spot X Satellite Messenger 

    A great pick for hikers, the Spot X allows users to send messages to people back home via satellite connection. While the subscription for the device is $20 per month, it’s worth it for the SOS feature. The device can send an SOS and real-time location tracking in case you get into a serious problem out in the wild. The device itself is $249, and it’s definitely a good pick at that price. It’s water-proof and drop-resistant and features a ten-day battery life. On the downside, it doesn’t have any maps pre-installed, but that’s a small gripe. All said, this is a great companion for any hiker. 

    Garmin Oregon 700 

    Utilizing both GPS and GLONASS to ensure accurate location tracking, the Oregon 700 is a fantastic GPS. The touch-screen display is small but responsive and designed for viewing in direct sunlight. The screen is Gorilla Glass, which makes it nigh-indestructible and easy to read. It even offers driving directions and directions on water! Hikers will love the compass and altimeter, allowing them to retain their bearing and track altitude. If you want a modern, serious GPS with a great interface, this one is for you. The Garmin Oregon 700 costs around $400 and can often be found on sale for $350 or so. 

    Our Favorite Hiking GPS: Garmin GPSMAP 64S 

    The $300 GPSMAP 64S is a steal for the price, and our favorite hiking GPS. Like the Oregon 700, the 64S uses both American GPS and Russian GLONASS to maintain orientation. It comes pre-loaded with a world map and it has 4GB of internal storage for waypoints and routes. The design is durable and has huge buttons that are easy to press even while wearing gloves. Smartphone connectivity is available to send updates like inclement weather, too! The device even has preloaded geocaches for treasure-hunters to go after! For its price, the GPSMAP 64S is the best GPS you can buy for hiking. Garmin’s products are really quite something, and you won’t be disappointed with this one.  

  • Looking to Stay Frosty in the Great Outdoors? Check out Our Favorite Backpack Cooler List!

    Looking to Stay Frosty in the Great Outdoors? Check out Our Favorite Backpack Cooler List!

    There’s nothing quite like hiking in the wilderness. The fresh air, the plants and animals, and the times spent with good friends really make spirits rise. In the heat of summer, though, you want to make sure you have enough ice-cold drinks to cool down! It’s not easy to lug a cooler around the hiking path, though, so you’re going to need a cooler backpack. We’ve got a round-up of our favorites right here! 

    Mountain Khakis Compass 

    This rectangular pack is almost two feet deep and can hold thirty dry cans of beer or soda. If you include ice, it’ll hold about half that number. This is awesome for those long hikes! It has a high quality make, including a fantastic water-resistant zipper and body. The bottom is molded and keeps it shape even on long hikes under a ton of weight. There’s even a zipper inside for ice packs or other small things so you can keep them from being lost amidst your drinks. It also sports a drop-in, waterproof liner that can be pulled out for easy cleaning! 

    Polar Bear Solar Bear 

    The Solar Bear cooler is perfect for spending a long time in the hot sun. The exterior is made of a UV-blocking polymer and is thick and excellent at insulating its contents. Polar Bear promises the pack can keep drinks cold for 24 hours, even under direct sunlight! The design is also highly water-resistant, and it’s durable and great for long hikes. If you’re expecting to be in temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, this is a great pick! The best part is, it costs less than $100! 

    Our Favorite Backpack Cooler: Orca Podster 

    The Podster pack is awesome, sporting materials and make that would make some kayaks jealous. It’s highly water-resistant, durable and can keep food and drink cool for days. The interior is 14.5 quarts, which means you can carry a pretty sizable picnic or number of drinks. It also comes in a gorgeous array of colors and looks amazing in all of them. A truly unique and stylish backpack cooler!