Camping Gear

March 13, 2014 By Chas Bruce

Grand Trunk Hammock Sleeping Bag

It’s gets cold on a desert night. We regularly see 30-40 degree temperature drops from daytime highs. And at elevation you can find yourself in 30 degree weather. Earlier in the season I tried a night out on a hammock. Light in the pack. Easy to hang. Instant bed. Great until the 40 degree weather found me with my down bag fully compressed and not insulating my back.

Fast forward to a recent night. I had Grand Trunk’s brilliant solution with me. A Hammock-compatible Sleeping bag, and good down to 30 degrees. To deal with the compressed insulation issue Grand Trunk has simply wrapped the sleeping around the hammock via openings at the foot and head of the bag.

Grand Trunk Hammock Sleeping Bag closeup — Closeup of the Grand Trunk Hammock Sleeping Bag

The GR bag is made of nylon with Thinsulate fill. Full dimensioned at 34 x 88 inches and weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces. Along with the specialized hammock openings, it has a full length 2-way zipper to fully modulate your night time comfort. You don’t need a Grand Trunk hammocks as this should work with most lightweight single hammocks.

Grand Trunk makes a complete line of accessories to make your nights even more comfortable:

Pair it with the lightweight Grand Trunk Nano 7 Hammock.
Don’t forget a Tree Sling to protect the trees. / $20
Where it’s buggy you might want a Mosquito Net / $80
If it’s drippy you might consider a Rain Fly / $80

$180

March 11, 2014 By Chas Bruce

Sierra Designs Backcountry Bed Sleeping Bag

Sierra is about to take the zip out of the mummy bag. This bag is meant to be more bed than mummy.

With an integrated pad-pocket the base bag is not meant to move with you, but allows you to move within. Access is through the large opening. Comfort is provided by a separate comforter that can be tucked in or out as comfort and temperature dictate. Sierra is also going to offer an Ultralight Quilt, that will feature an integrated hood with hand and arm pockets. These and a Movable Mummy will all be revealed at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Show. All of them stuffed with Sierra’s proprietary DriDown. We hoping to take them for a test drive.

July 18, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Brazos Travelers Walking Stick

I was going cross-eyed looking at the latest in carbon / titanim walking sticks and I was dreaming of the simplicity of my old Irish Blackthorn Shillelagh. Then I found this earthy, demountable Walking/Hiking Stick from Brazos Walking Stick Company.

The course wood shaft has a good heft in the hand. It’s dramatic and you feel like you should be tending the flock. But as useful as a new-fangled aluminum walking stick. The long staff makes it easy to negotiate and keep your balance through rough trail areas. This staff has saved my knees on more than one rocky descent.

It uses brass threaded rods to connect the oak or hickory shafts into a 55-inch Hiking Stick that disassembles into 19″ sections, quickly stowed in the leather carrying case and easily car or airplane worthy. Accessories include a compass and different spikes and leather carrying case.

$65

June 11, 2013 By Chas Bruce

StrapGear Stretch Utility Straps

“Better than bungies!” is the war cry for this new utility strap for outdoor gear. Excellent for strapping outsized gear like snowshoes or snow axes to your backpack.

We tried these on the staff commuter bike, and the 10 inch lengths that we had were perfect for securing extra gear on the top of the rear rack. The hooks were just the right size to clip to the sides and it wasn’t necessary to use the adjustment holes. We found the 12 inch worked well on a rolled-up tarp, with one snagged on the edge of the rack, the other side looped to the gear rail and the the sturdy barbed hook fastened through one of the adjustment holes.

StrapGear offers this handy silicone-blend Stretch Utility Strap in 6, 8 , 10 and 12 inch lengths. Straps will stretch to twice their original length, and use smooth barbed plastic hooks to reduce length via the strap holes. Straps come in brilliant colors: orange, yellow, green, blue, and black, grey and brown.

$4 – $12

May 23, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Fjällräven No. 21 Small Rucksack/Backpack

Pull on those knickers and head for the fjords with this Classic Rucksack, crafted in waxed cotton with leather straps.

It features the special Fjällräven G-1000 fabric, a tightly woven 65% cotton and 35% polyester blend that is treated with Greenland Wax, a secret formula of paraffin and beeswax made by a small family in the north of Sweden. The fabric swells when damp, delivering wind and water resistance the worse the weather gets.

Size: 16 1/2″ tall x 9 3/4″ wide x 4 3/4″ thick (42 x 25 x 12 cm), about 750 cubic inches. Interior pockets provide plenty of room for laptops, Thermos, and other city gear. Comes in Pumpkin, Black, Navy, Red and Green. Natural-finished-leather riveted and buckled straps. Also available in medium and large sizes for more serious trekkers.

$170

May 21, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Patagonia Black Hole Pack

I call a number of my black bags “black hole bags” where I put black gear like cameras, phones, pens, notebooks, iPods, etc, and some sort of internal gravity keeps them from ever escaping. A bright light or sometimes a heavy shake will make the black gear reappear. Sometimes not.

I assume Patagonia’s Black Hole Pack is actually meant to swallow vast quantities of gear (black or not). Holding over 2136 cubic inches of gear, this bag is meant to have the sturdiness of a climber’s haulbag, yet have features that make it perfect for school or office.

A companion to and made of Patagonia’s Black Hole Duffel fabric, this crossover pack easily holds most 17″ laptops. Featuring waterproof fabric and water-resistant construction and zippers, it has padded shoulder straps with load lifters and a sternum strap, a molded back panel that allows a cooling airflow, and a simple waistband to secure a load.

On the outside, a lid pocket with little gear seals with a moisture-shedding, reverse-coil zipper and daisy chain lash points will secure your bulky items. Made from 14.7-oz 1,200-denier polyester with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. Weighs 992 g (2 lbs 3 oz). Comes in “Black Hole” Black, or a more visible Larimar Blue (which will cancel some of the Black Hole effect), or a middle ground Nickel.

$149

May 1, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Kelty Cycle Hiker Vintage Backpack

Study metal zippers secure the top and outside pocket of the Cycle Hiker Backpack. Retro 1960’s styling with padded adjustable shoulder straps, internal organization, and easy-to-access pockets ensure that this pack is perfect for hauling your daily chores.

Made with Cordura fabric, this top loading bag features leather lash tabs, ice axe loop, internal organizer, outside pocket and padded adjustable shoulder straps.

This 15 oz. bag is 16″ tall , 12″ wide and 10″ deep for a volume of 1100 cubic inches.. Kelty is celebrating 60 Years of Backpacks with a line of Vintage styled packs–from Duffels to Wing Packs.

$70

April 30, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Mountain Khakis Market Tote

Just the thing to get all your swag home with the panache of a recycled climbing rope handle. Or perhaps the voluminous tote for your next foray to the Farmer’s Market for your hit of fresh veggies.

Ruggedly made with 20oz canvas and reinforced with 18oz waxed canvas. Each set of recycled climbing rope handles is unique. Flap closure with MK rivet snap and sewn in organizational pocket.

Dimensions: 13”H x 19”W x 6″. Comes in Khaki–what else–and Olive.

$60

April 13, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Archival Rucksack

The Archival Rucksack is a modern interpretation of the traditional canoe pack. Constructed from 22 ounce heavy weight waxed cotton twill, sturdy leather straps, solid brass hardware, and mil-spec cotton webbing.

Features: adjustable two inch wide shoulder straps, two outer bellows pockets, leather strap with brass roller buckle closure, and draw cord to secure the bag’s contents. Edges are bound in waxed cotton tape, and stress points are bar-tacked or riveted. A double-layer reinforced bottom ensures a long life and even wear; semi-rigid back panel guarantees a comfortable ride and prevents bag flop.

Available Colors Tan (shown), grey, black and navy. Dimensions: 18” x 13” x 5”. Weight: 3 pounds.

$260

March 26, 2013 By Chas Bruce

Belay Specs

These remind me of those old TV watching glasses. A pair of prisms allowed you to watch TV while laying flat on your back, looking through your toes. No joke! I had an uncle hurt in a mining accident who did just that. Now thanks to Belay Specs you can keep an eye on your belayed partner while looking through your bouffant.

Actually these are quite useful specs if you’ve ever held long belays. It allows you to keep an eye on your belay partner without putting your neck in a strained upward position. Thus you are more likely to keep a constant eye on the old boy. These are made with precision ground polished prisms that provide sharp images. The bows are comfortable bendable stainless steel. And these are large enough you can fit them over prescription lenses or sunglasses. Now I wonder if I could take those old TV specs and turn them upside down…

$80