Many outdoors people have a tendency to view newly established outdoor brands with a degree of skepticism. When your gear choices could feasibly make the difference between a healthy, cozy night’s sleep and a dose of hypothermia and a night spent shivering your proverbial a** off, their preference for the tried and tested is perhaps
Whether you spend a ton of time outside on amazing adventures or challenging hikes, or you simply like to escape for the weekend to a peaceful campsite, your sleeping bag is the one piece of gear that provides protection, comfort and warmth once you’re ready to turn in for the night. The better maintained your
REI is one of the best known outdoor gear retailers in the United States. They carry a wide selection of gear and apparel from essentially all the most popular brands. However, REI isn’t just a retailer, but also a manufacturer. REI’s own line of gear is known for being well-made and priced very competitively. For
Enlightened Equipment is a small company located in Minnesota, dedicated to providing super lightweight, functional katabatic gear. Ultralight backpackers and hammock campers may already be familiar with the equipment Enlightened Equipment offers their audience. This company really sets itself apart from other big brands by focusing on fewer but extremely well-made UL gear. You’ll also
Kammock is technical outdoor gear company that specializes in shelters, both on the ground and up in the air. Kammock is best known for their hammocks and, like many small outdoor gear brands, began out of a need for higher quality equipment. Greg McEvilly was made abruptly aware of a lack of quality hammocks in 2010 when his hammock failed
Feathered Friends is a smaller company that has been around since the 1970s. It started when husband and wife team, Peter and Carol Hickner, began creating apparel and outdoor gear in the comfort of their home basement. What began as a hobby turned into a true business and Feathered Friends is now one of the
The key to a successful camping trip is having the right gear for a good night’s sleep. Waking up with a sore neck or back isn’t going to do you any favors and can quickly put a damper on the fun of camping. Good sleeping and shelter is key but don’t forget about a pillow.
One sure way of ruining the experience of a camping trip is not getting enough sleep or waking up to a sore back. Getting enough shuteye is extremely important and one of the best ways of ensuring restful sleep is using an air mattress. Thankfully the old floppy, squeaky air mattress that were once common
Hammock camping and backpacking is becoming more popular than ever as people of all types realize how much easier and more comfortable this shelter is over traditional tents. There are unfortunately a lot of cheaply made, uncomfortable hammocks on the market so it’s important to choose wisely. Shopping for a hammock isn’t much different than
Sleeping under the stars is one of the best memories many people have in life. Watching the stars twinkle above as the gentle hum of the insect orchestra plays in the distance. Mother Nature at her best. However waking up to the sun beating down on you and your neck sore from resting it all