Sleeping Bag

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My personal favorite is the Bear Bag. Maybe it will keep us safe from the recent rise in bear attacks.

It’s more like from A to W with some letters missing. It’s by no means a complete list of outdoors terminology (hammock is missing) but some of them I’m not familiar with (like Imu). Let’s see how many of them you know. Here’s part of the list:

– Anorak: A waterproof pullover jacket with a hood and drawstrings to keep in warmth.

– Back tack: A stitch sewn over a stitch to reinforce highly stressed areas where pieces of fabric are joined.

– Baffle: Fabric panels are sewn to the inner and outer shell of a sleeping bag. Baffles, used often with down-filled bags, keep the insulation in place. Most synthetic bags feature quilted insulation.

– Bannock: A traditional trail bread. Usually made in a skillet by a combination of frying and reflective baking.

– Cairn: A small pile of stones used as a trail marker.

– Catenary cut: The natural curve formed by a rope tightly strung between two trees. A tent which has a good catenary cut rigs more tightly (less sidewall sag) than one without.

– Compression stuff sack: A stuff sack with cinch straps that compress a sleeping bag or pad so it’s small enough to easily carry, and at the same time reduces the overall volume within the pack.

– Corduroy: A corduroy road or log road is a type of road made by placing sand-covered logs perpendicular to the direction of the road over a low or swampy area.

– Deadman: A log or rock buried in the ground to provide a solid point for anchoring a tent in ground too soft for stakes.

– Ensolite: A soft rubber material used as a lightweight comfortable mat under sleeping bags.

– Gear loft: An overhead shelf in a tent. Keeps small gear overhead, allowing for more floor space.

See the rest of the list.

Wherever you may be, you never really know for sure when a disaster will happen. When the giant tsunami struck Aceh, nobody knew it was going to happen but it did. That was years ago and the world has not ceased to be unpredictable. There’s never a time to panic or worry too much about what might not happen but it doesn’t hurt to prepare for  a disaster.

The Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Resilience Team in the United Kingdom have issued a leaflet advising families to stock up on “hurricane” survival kit which includes a sleeping bag, camping stove, first aid box and wellington boots even though Birmingham rarely ever suffers a natural disaster.

However, some survival experts say that this type of preparation is a bit extreme for a city like Birmingham. They say people shouldn’t spend a £100 on things they’re never going to use.

Blizzard Survival is an outdoor thermal survival products company based in Bethesda, North Wales, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park; a mountainous region that offers truly challenging weather conditions and proving-ground.

They’ve been presented with Britain’s top industrial honour, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation 2009. The Queen’s representative, His Honour Judge Gruffydd Huw Morgan Daniel, Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd made the presentation at the company’s Bethesda factory to managing director, Derek Ryden.

Their success mainly comes from a material called Reflexcell™, which has an elasticated structure that traps heat within a silvery-surfaced material and holds it close to the body.

USA’s National Association of Energy Medical Technicians recommends the widespread use of Reflexcell™ products, and they are now the technology of choice of Military medics throughout the world. The revolutionary material has become globally successful with military markets including the United Sates, Australian, Finnish, German and Dutch Armies. Tests by the Royal Marines in Arctic Norway have shown that in sleeping bag form, it keeps users warm up to four times longer than conventional single skin bivvy bags.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is setting up demonstration “green” campsites at state parks this summer. Each will have a tent and sleeping bag made of recycled stuff, a fuel efficient camp stove, an LED flashlight, solar charger and reusable batteries, reusable cook set, solar camp shower, non-toxic bug repellent, bear-proof food container, a clothes line and reusable marshmallow sticks.

Some more tips from the department:

– Look for a campsite that is already established, more than 200 feet from a water source, and stay off plants as much as possible.

– Use re-usable plates instead of paper.

– Take along re-usable water bottles. If you use commercial bottled water, make sure to recycle the bottles.

– Use biodegradable camp suds for dishes and your body.

– Avoid dumping soapy water on plants because the soap could kill them.

– Recycle aluminum cans because burning them in a campfire will release chemicals that pollute the air.

– Leave in place any plants, fossils, flowers or other things that you find.

– Keep campfires in rings or use a cook stove instead.

– Use local firewood instead of carrying it with you as some unwanted invasive pests might hitch a ride.

– Tie a clothes line from tree to tree; bring along hot dog sticks instead of breaking off tree branches; set your lantern on the table instead of putting a nail in a tree to hang it.

– Do not feed wildlife.

– Dispose of trash properly or take it with you when you leave and recycle it when you get home.

I love to watch the show “Man vs Wild” on discovery channel.  In case you didn’t know it’s a show teaching you how to survive in just about any terrain. What a kid watches on TV he follows and a boy who got separated from his parents in the woods in Daggett County claimed that it saved his life.

Grayson Wynne and his cousin had been hiking back to his family camper with a cousin when he fell behind and strayed onto a different trail. Family members immediately began a search when they found him missing.

It was Saturday and Grayson was found on Sunday and the first sign of him was found Saturday night about 300 yards from the trail the family had been hiking.

Did you notice anything wrong with this picture? While I believe the show helped the boy survive through the night, he could have been found that same night if he stayed put. He left a lot of clues behind just like in the discovery channel show but the best thing to do is stay put. He even left his backpack behind which contains his sleeping bag, snacks and extra jacket.

He spent the night under a log but he was found in good health and spirit.

“Search teams concluded the boy was following the creek based on the layout of items they found and concentrated efforts on that area. Two searchers on horses, Dave Potter and Rusty Burnside of McKinnon, Wyo., found Grayson at around 10 a.m. in a meadow near the stream. He was waving strips he had torn from a yellow rain slicker hoping to get the attention of the helicopter he heard flying overhead.” – Deseret News

You’ve probably heard about the Lost Girls – three twenty-something New Yorkers who ditched their media jobs to embark on a yearlong, round-the-world journey in search of adventure and inspiration.

I’m sure these girls have been an inpiration to many women and even men who can only dream of what they’re doing.

On their site LostGirlsWorld.Blogspot.com, guess blogger Britt Reints, talks about some camping tips for girls. In short, here they are:

• Stay at a campground with showers or at least ones with good bathroom facilities
• If you’re forced to camp without bathroom facilities pitch your tent near a water source (as close as possible? – maybe not too close – ed)
• The most important part of a camping trip is the packing process – have a tub stocked with camping supplies
• Every camper should bring a tent, sleeping bag, pillow, garbage bags, food for dinner and breakfast, plenty of water, camping chairs and a lantern [Read more…]

To tell you the truth I’d much rather buy my down sleeping bag or quilt because I’m not the kind of guy who would do this thing. If you’re interested, backpackinglight.com made an article with great detail on how you can make one yourself.

It costs around $50-$250 to make and weighs around 550-900 grams. Contruction time amounts to 10-15 hours if you know what you’re doing. The article covers:

• Materials
• Sources of materials
• How much of material is required
• Stuffing
• Quilt design
• Construction details

Kids love camping in the backyard at least as much as parents do. You can camp in your backyard anytime you want to but the official date for the Great American Backyard Campout is June 27, 2009.

Anyone who wants to go camping in their backyard can register at www.nwf.org  (National Wildlife Federation) even though it’s not exactly at that date.

The reason for the existence of the Great American Backyard Campout is to connect with nature in the hopes that as kids and adults spend more time outside, they’ll want to protect nature and wildlife. Now that’s a noble cause.

While I like to go hiking, not having to carry a backpack and just focus on enjoying the night of camping can sometimes feel like a blessing.

There are no restrictions on how you camp, whether you want to sleep unders the stars in your sleeping bag or with a bivvy or dome tent or whatever. It doesn’t really matter. The important thing is for you and your kids to get outside.

Gerald Myers, 41, a Colorado doctor who vanished near the top of Mount Mckinley,  is now listed missing and presumed dead according to Denali National Park and Preserve spokeswoman Maureen McLaughlin.

Search efforts were called off Tuesday afternoon after search crews determined that further efforts were unlikely to find him. Normally, this is when a breakthrough occurs, just after someone decides to give something up but continues anyway. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Rangers searching on the ground weren’t able to even find signs of Myers.

However, the park rangers will continue examining the thousands of high resolution images taken of the mountain during the search for any signs of the doctor.

Myers was described as someone who was the most likely to live through survival situation among his friends. A chiropractor with extensive climbing experience, Myers had been planning the ascent for a few years, said Dr. David Friedman, whose Centennial practice, Arapahoe Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center, Myers worked for. He’d held out hope Myers would be rescued until the search was called off, he said.

While Myers had 3 climbing partners for the climb, he left them at a 14,200-foot camp last Tuesday to attempt a solo summit. He packed a pair of skis and talked about skiing down after his ascent but he did not mention which route he planned to take.

Other than a pair of skis, Myers only carried a small daypack with insufficient survival gear. It appeared that he was not carrying recommend gear like a sleeping bag, bivvy sack, camp stove or thermal pad.

In the amount of time that he was missing and without the appropriate gear, it was very unlikely that he would survive. Myers is the 104th person whose life is claimed by Mount McKinley since tracking began in 1932.

Rest in Peace.

When I was just starting out hiking and camping I used to pack my sleeping bag loose into the backpack or even tie it on the outside. It took me 3 trips before I started using stuff sacks to store my sleeping bag. These cylindrical shaped nylon, usually waterproof, enclosures protect your bag from unnecessary wear and tear and also from the rain.

Material

Most stuff sacks are made of newer fabrics like coated polyester and ultralight silicone-impregnated nylon.

While the material itself is waterproof, the drawstring closure in most stuff sacks is not so be careful about getting it into water and if you tie your sleeping bag to the outside of your backpack make sure you at least cover the drawstring closure with a waterproof material to protect against rain. A plastic bag will do in most cases.

Newer stuff sacks like the eVac Dry Sack from Sea To Summit don’t use drawstring closures but instead you roll the sack down and then close the buckle. This accomplishes two things. First, when you roll the sack down air is pushed out of the base so water can’t get in. Second, it allows you to save both space and weight. The weight saving though is not such a big deal. You only save a little bit of weight but the space saving is much appreciated.

The lightest stuff sacks are made of silicone-impregnated nylon parachute cloth. It can be as light as 0.5 oz or even less. GoLite employs this type of material and they made an improvement to the drawstring closure by adding a collar instead of just a drawstring and flap configuration. Outdoor Research on the other hand uses a good waterproof fabric called Hydroseal. This fabric is tough and can handle rough use but still limp enough to mold itself to the contents of the sack. This stuff sack is available in the drawstring-flap configuration as well as roll closure secured with Velcro bindings.

Compression and Size

Most stuff sack suppliers have some sort of compression model with straps, laces or double drawstrings that reduces the volume by up to half. You can also stuff in your down jacket or parka together with the sleeping bag into the sack. Make sure that yours is big enough for you to easily put in whatever you intend to put in.

Don’t get a small stuff sack just because you think it would save you space because in most cases you’ll just have unused, wasted space in your backpack as a result. Another problem is that even if you can cram your sleeping bag and other stuff into the sack when you’re at home, doing so in less than ideal conditions on an empty stomach with the cold wind biting at you can turn it into a monstrous task. Get one that’s big enough to take its load with extra room to spare, leaving it soft, malleable and easy to stuff. I use Outdoor Research Hydroseal DryComp Sacks but I’m thinking of getting the eVac Dry Sack from Sea to Summit for myself.

Jonsky also writes at hubpages with articles on down sleeping bags, stoves, tents and other camping gear. He is also a writer for http://www.hiking-camping-world.com. Check out the range of down sleeping bags on that site.

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John Black and Robbie Kojetin planned to reach the summit of Mount Everest by 26th May but instead at 0915 hours on Saturday, May 23, they stood at the summit of Lady Everest, all in tears. Their Sherpa, Lhakpa Nuru, dropped to his knees and thanked Sagarmartha for letting them be there.

Congratulations to both John and Black. Robbie was nice enough to let his nephew and auntie ask questions about life in the mountains which resulted in the following:

Who cooks our food, do we have mountain chefs?

Our food at Base Camp is prepared by a team of really great Sherpa staff, headed up Tacchi and Lacchu. They are also helped by a chef from New Zealand name Haydn. They make all our food while we are here. When we go up the mountain, we have to cook for ourselves with camp stoves and pots. When we get up to Camp 2, there is a kitchen there with a three-man team to cook and boil water for us. they live up there for the three weeks while the teams make their attempts to get to the summit.

Do you sleep on the ground or raised off the ground?

In our tents we sleep on the ground, but we have a thin foam mat with a 6cm thick foam mattress. On top of that, I brought an nice thick blow up mattress and then I put one sleeping bag under me, and one really warm one on top of that. So I am really warm in there!

Are there any plants or animals at Base Camp?

The temperature up here makes it nearly impossible for anything to live up here. We see a few really small birds and a couple of crows around camp, but they usually disappear around Three o’clock when it starts getting cold.

There are no plants here. There are some small grasses and tough shrubs about three hours walk down from here.

Do you have used a rope to climb up and does the rope freeze?

Well yes, and yes. The entire way up the mountain from BC is solid ice so we have to use ropes where ever it is steep and dangerous. The ropes are attached to the ice with big ice pickets. They long steel spikes that get hammered deep into the ice. We are then attached to the ropes with our harnesses to keep us safe. The ropes lie on the ground all day and the snow and ice soaks into the ropes. Sometimes when it is cold enough, the ropes freeze solid and make it very hard to feed through the safety devices.

What time does the sun rise and set?

Well, the sun here rises really early and the first signs of daylight start around 4am. In the afternoon, because there are high mountains all around us, it gets really cold at about 4pm when the sun dips behind Lobuche. It is then dark by 5.30pm.

Do you have mirrors?

Well some days I wish I didn’t, but there is one in the toilet tent and I have a small one to help put my contact lenses in. Its not a pretty sight with my thick beard and sunburnt and peeling lips! Scary stuff.

Do you have fresh fruit and veggies?

Yes we get fresh fruit and veggies all the time. The expedition boss, Russell, makes sure that there is fresh food and supplies brought up to the camp every 12 days or so. People bring from very far away, and so we are really happy to have it.

How do you weigh yourself?

Well, as part of the team, we have a really nice doctor named Monica Piris. She does regular check ups with us and she has a scale in the “hospital” tent. She is ready to handle anything from a headache to serious stuff.

What water do you drink? Mineral water or melted ice?

All our water up here is melted from the glacier we are living on. The kitchen has giant pots that are constantly boiling lots of water for the whole team to use. We boil all the water we drink or cook with to kill the germs and they melt some water for the showers.

Mineral water is available down in the valley but its expensive because it arrived on the back of a Sherpa or a yak (R40 for a 1 litre bottle). We wash our clothes in a plastic bucket with some warm water from the kitchen and a squirt of shower gel.

Do you have Coca Cola on the mountain, and if so do you put ice in it?

Good question. I would not be alive if there was no Coke up here! We can get it from the social tent, along with fanta, sprite, beer and espresso. But everything comes at a price. A can of Coca-Cola is $4 and a 1.5 litre coke bottle is $12.50. We don’t have a fridge to keep it cold, but we don’t need one. Sometimes stuff freezes overnight if it is left outside… so no ice.

Have you made a snow angel yet?

I haven’t made one yet. I have been a bit scared to, but when I put on my down suit I will. I fell over the other day coming down the snow slope, but the mark I made in the snow looked more like a chicken on a bicycle. My down suit will make sure I don’t get ice down my neck and will keep me nice and dry.

How many Sherpas per climber and do they speak English?

Well depending on the type of climbing we do, the number of Sherpas vary. Tomorrow when we leave for Camp 2 and 3, we will have 2 or 3 climbers to one Sherpa to help us. On summit day, each climber will have 1 “guardian angel” each to the summit and back. Their English varies, but we are able to communicate with simple words and actions. Should we have any trouble communicating, we can use our radios and get Phurba to help translate.

How eco-friendly will your trip be?

Maintaining a minimal impact is a great priority for Himex, the expedition company and the climbers themselves. The team comprises of people who love this sacred environment and are extremely conscious to preserve it. This expedition is 70 percent powered by solar energy, using a solar farm of panels to charge batteries throughout the day. In case of bad weather, there is a generator which is run for two hours a day when needed.

Air travel obviously has its disadvantages in terms of carbon emission, but I feel it is offset well if the other factors are considered.

All transport from Lhukla airport to BC is on foot or on yaks. Yak dung is burnt as heating in the villages. Most climbers power their electronic equipment with solar blankets, waste is well managed, home luxuries like heaters, hot showers daily, regular toilet flushing and the like impact more heavily than the lifestyle we lead up

[media:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMu3H6IK6ck]

Outdoor recreation presents a good opportunity for some people to show off their latest camping gear. It gives them a sense of pride for own such an expensive equipment even if they don’t need it.

However, the majority of my friends have never even gone camping before. This is mostly because of their fear of not having enough gear or the right gear. They think that to have the complete set of gear they need to spend a lot of money and they are not willing to spend that much especially in the recession.

Good hiking boots cost around $200, clothing could cost you about $600, a reasonable down sleeping bag costs about $200, 4-season tents can cost $600, internal frame backpacks can cost up to $500 for a good one and $100 for trekking poles. This is just some of the equipment. You might need camp stoves, flashlight, crampons, gaiters, child carriers, lantern, hammock and more.

For a lot of people, this is a lot of money. Yet there are still a lot of people who don’t have that much money to spare that enjoy hiking and camping with little problems. Manufacturers like to make you think that you need all this stuff and all the expensive features.

The truth is camping is about going back to basics. You don’t need the state-of-the-art equipment. You can even find what you need in your own home or the local thrift store.

Check out the gear tips below that can really cut your costs:

– Down parkas are very expensive and they make you sweat when you hike. Using layers will keep you warm and you can adjust if it gets too hot by removing the layers. Avoid using cotton for layers as they absorb water and makes you wet. Use synthetics and wool. Synthetics wick away water and keeps you dry. Wool keeps you warm even when it’s wet.

– For the waterproof outer shell you can use a windbreaker and make it waterproof by applying a bottle of waterproofer that will set you back a few dollars.You only need expensive parkas when you’re going for an expedition under harsh conditions.

– Use a cheap camping tent or bivvy and treat them with a seam sealer. Do this before every camping trip. You can find cheap tents just about everywhere. Remember to check for tears. Unless you’re backpacking, you don’t really need an expensive tent.

– A lightweight down sleeping bag can cost you a lot of money. A zero degree synthetic sleeping bag should be good enough for the mountains in most cases. Use a chemical warmer and some layers of clothing to keep warm inside your sleeping bag. If you’re not backpacking and weight is not an issue, you can even be without the sleeping bag. Just use whatever suitable bedding you have at home but make sure you insulate yourself from the ground.

– Blisters are your worst enemy when you’re hiking so I don’t recommend cheap hiking boots. However if you’re just camping, you can wear just about any footwear as long as you’re comfortable.

– There are still quite a few places where you’re allowed to build campfires. This eliminates the need for camping stoves. If not, there are a lot of cheap and practical stoves out there. You can either buy it new or used or you even just borrow them.

– For trekking poles you can just use a strong enough stick. I’ve used it for a few years without any problems. Some people may argue that cutting out sticks from the forest is bad for the environment but the process making those expensive trekking poles takes an even bigger toll on the environment.

This list is pretty basic but covers the most common concerns people have told me about. Camping gear doesn’t have to be overly expensive. You can and should use what you already have as much as possible.

Check out our windbreakers and compare them with parkas. Also see how expensive down sleeping bags can get.

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Campers Village was originally founded in 1921 as North West Tent & Awning based in Edmonton, Alberta. The company encourages affordable ways to enjoy recreation and leisure time with the family, with camping as its core business. Today, their product offferings includes camping gear and travel.

Despite the recession, the West End Campers Village has expanded and is about to celebrate the completion of their much anticipated renovations. This is largely due to the fact that many people have turned to outdoor activities as a cheap alternative vacation. People are also attracted to the wide range of activities they can do for the price they pay. This includes hiking in the mountains and roasting hotdogs in the local park.

The grand reopening of the West End Store will offer an entire weekend of excitement for the Edmonton locations on May 9th and 10th. A crew of Girl Guides will be involved and staff will spend the night in a sleeping bag under the stars in the parking lot.

There will be chances to win some great prizes including 2 two-day, all expenses paid trip to Mount Assiniboine Lodge, located in the scenic Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. This includes a $1,000 gift card for the winners to purchase the necessary equipment and the necessary ground and helicopter transport to and from Mount Assiniboine Lodge. This prize is valued at $4,500.

Autism is a brain development disorder that first appears during infancy or childhood and continue to worsen continuously. Kids with autism don’t respond well to social stimulus, grow socially awkward and have problems communicating even their basic needs.

The odds of being diagnosed with autism is 1 in 150 and it is thought to be caused by infant vaccination programs.

Meet Matt and Josh

The two students first learned about the Appalachian trail in 2002 or 2003, and now the summer break presents a good opportunity for them to go for it.

Renner, an environmental science major, came up with the idea of raising money for charity. The psychology major, Baden didn’t hesitate to tag along. The recipient for this charity is the Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Autism Society of America.

They will travel to Springer Mountain in Northern Georgia to begin the long and arduous hike. They have three and a half months to complete the trail.

Matt Renner and Josh Baden learned a few things in their preparation like how to choose the right food to pack and how cotton socks will make your feet wet.

Here are fome facts about the Appalachian Trail:

• Total length is 2,178 miles
• Longest marked hiking trail in the US
• Touches 14 states
• Approximately 10,000 have hiked the entire trail
• It normally takes about four to six months to complete

What’s in it for them?

Doing something good makes you feel better so why not do what you would to do while raising money for charity. Perhaps this is what these guys were thinking.

Among their gear are:

The total weight of their hiking gear would at least be 30 pounds. They could probably shed some more weight with a 3-person tent instead of each person carrying a one-man tent or by using bivvy bags instead.

Their food consist of oatmeal, rice mixes, dried food and beef jerky. With minimal amount of food on them, these guys are bound to lose a lot of weight. However, they do have an opportunity to resupply when they come across towns and even eat in a proper restaurant.

Considering that it normally takes 4 to 6 months to hike the whole trail, these childhood buddies wouldn’t be too upset if they didn’t make  it on time because their main aim is to spread the word about autism.

If we don’t take care of the earth, there will be no more that it can offer to our children. That’s why environmental protection is one of the key values guiding the development of new ADVANSA products.

In case you didn’t know, ADVANSA is a well known fabric manufacturer in Europe and also the leader in polyester fabric technology.

The textile giant will launch two new ranges of high-end technical insulation products for sleeping bags and apparel. Both ADVANSA Thermo°Dry for sleeping bags and Thermo°Cool for apparel provide an excellent level of performance.

The two revolutionary fabrics are a result of ADVANSA’s extensive experience in developing high performance fabrics for insulation and moisture management in clothing.

The performance of a fabric is determined by the combination of different fibers and design. ADVANSA’s high-end fabric not only provides insulation but also deals with the effects of perspiration, condensation and humidity inside the sleeping bag or clothing. So instead of wearing one layer for insulation and another layer for moisture management you only need to wear one layer that does both.

The dual functionality of ThermoºCool makes it the top choice for many European brands. The fibre is designed with increased surface area and microchannels to transport moisture quickly away form the skin to the textile surface. The hollow fibres allow enhanced air circulation and focus energy on the evaporation process to achieve maximum evaporative cooling.

In cool weather or after exercise the hollow fibres provide thermo-buffering to protect muscles from post-exercise chill. Thus, providing superior moisture management and temperature control, the fabrics for apparel are keeping the users comfortable across a wide range of temperatures and activity levels.

Created with new intelligent technology from ADVANSA and again meeting the two trends of growing consumer interest – multifunctionality and environmental awareness – the thermoregulation product ADVANSA ThermoºCool is also available in an ECO version. ADVANSA ThermoºCool ECO uses a polymer that is made from renewable resources, such as corn, instead of traditional petrochemical derivates.

Last year’s Zero Impact Challenge by Backpacker Magazine focused on eco-friendly backpacks. The challenge was to “create a trail-worthy 3,500-cubic-inch midsize with materials and manufacturing that entail minimal environmental impact.”

Seems pretty simple right? Not so. If you knew anything about pack design you’d understand the enormity of the task. An eco-friendly backpack needs to be light, simple and made of recycled material. Five companies that rose to the challenge were GoLite, JanSport, L.L. Bean, Mountainsmith and Osprey.

Key = Lowest impact (1, Green); Lower impact (2, Blue); Business as usual (3, Orange)

This year, the challenge is focused on something more interesting –  sleeping bags. The goal was to develop a dependable three-season sleeping bag with lower carbon emissions.

Five out of thirty companies rose to the challenge – Big Agnes, Feathered Friends, GoLite, Sierra Designs, and The North Face. The rules are simple:

“Send us a bag rated 20°F, plus an encyclopedia of data on materials, shipping, and energy use.”

This finished sleeping bags have to undergo a three-month evaluation by testers from Colorado, Vermont, Kentucky, New York and Utah. How much the bags impact the environment will be analyzed by Cooler, a pioneer in climate studies and product analysis, and endorsed by three major environmental organization.

Findings

• Recycled polyester produces 35 percent less emissions than virgin poly and 50 percent less than virgin nylon
• Goose down bags are not greener than recycled polyester
• Contestants cut emmissions by 10 percent

The results in alphabetical order:

Big Agnes Tumble Down 20
Less bag where many hikers don’t need it makes a big difference.

Feathered Friends Blue Heron 20
A winning combo: Make it light and local.

GoLite Starlite 20
Recycled materials and fewer trucking miles trim carbon weight.

Sierra Designs Verde 20
No bag in this challenge incorporated more recycled components.

The North Face Green Kazoo 15
How do you replace a legend? Cut its footprint without cutting warmth.

Women-specific sleeping bags as the name suggests are tailored to fit women a little bit better. The really big problem is that women vary is shape and sizes. Some are round, some athletic, some skinny, some curvy and more.

Sleeping bag manufacturers claim that their women-specific sleeping bag dimensions are based on the size of an average women. The problem is, most women I know are not the size of an “average woman”. So where do these “average women” come from?

Most athletic type women have problems with fitting women-specific sleeping bags because while it is made a little wider in the hips and a little narrow at the shoulders, these athlete women are a little narrow at the hips and a little wide at the shoulders.

So what am I saying?

Women-specific sleeping bags are still worth looking into despite the size problems. If it fits, why not?

I need a zero degree sleeping. Which one should I get that’s no more than $300?

Sierra Designs make really good women sleeping bags. The Winema 0 degree sleeping bag is highly recommended. Weighing 3 pounds, 12 ounces, it is made up coconut shell derivatives that are as soft as nylon. Insulation is made of the synthetic Primaloft Eco surrounded by EcoSensor recycled shell material that keeps you comfortable in damp conditions. It has got some of the features of a high end down sleeping bag.

If you want a down sleeping sleeping that is less than $300 then go for the Teton +0 by Marmot. The 600-fill goose down insulation makes it softer, warmer, lighter(3 pounds, 5 ounces) and more durable than synthetic sleeping bags. Considering that the price is about the same as the Winema, this one is a steal.

If the above two are out your range then a good cheap sleeping bag is L.L. Bean’s Katahdin Climashield Women’s Mummy. Despite the fact that the price is about half the maximum budget, this one is still a zero degree sleeping bag that’s highly rated by users. At 3 pounds, 5 ounces, it’s surprisingly light for a synthetic sleeping bag.

Also consider a sleeping pad or two to keep away the cold from the ground and for extra cushioning.

What started as an April Fools joke by Thinkgeek.com could actually become a reality. The site put up for sale a cute and rather appealing Tauntaun sleeping bag.

In case you’re not familiar with Star Wars, a Tauntaun is a furry warm blooded reptomammal (half reptile and half mammal) used as pack animals by the good guys.

The idea for the sleeping bag probably came from the scene when Han Solo slices open a warm Tauntaun carcasss and inserts the young Luke Skywalker to keep him from freezing to death.

The description says, “This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and LED Luke Skywalker Lightsaber zipper pull. Use the lightsaber zipper pull on the Tauntaun sleeping bag to illustrate to your wee ones how Han Solo saved Luke Skywalker from certain death in the freezing climate of Hoth by slitting open the Tauntaun belly!”

Mind you, this sleeping bag is probably not the kind of sleeping bag suitable for camping but with a price tag of $39.95 it attracted a lot of buyers. But it wasn’t real and it created quite a big buzz on the internet. ThinkGeek.com soon realized that it wasn’t just a good idea for a prank.

Check out the message on their product page:

“ATTN Tauntaun Fanatics! Due to an overwhelming tsunami of requests from YOU THE PEOPLE, we have decided to TRY and bring this to life. We have no clue if the suits at Lucasfilms will grant little ThinkGeek a license, nor do we know how much it would ultimately retail for. But if you are interested in ever owning one of these, click the link below and we’ll try!”

But why stop there? My suggestion is to create more star wars related camping gear like crampons, tents, trekking poles, hiking backpacks and even boots. It could work especially for kids anyway.

Alternatively check out these kids sleeping bags.

Related post:

• Making of the Tauntaun sleeping bag – So it turns out that the maker of ThinkGeek’s most talked-about April Fool’s prank, the tauntaun sleeping bag, is actually a friend of CJ’s own Rach. She didn’t come up with the concept, but she did assemble it, and you can check out …

In an annual Fast and Sleep Out held on campus at Loyola College students began their 24-hour abstention and slept out in the open, simulating when the homeless go through every day. The event is aimed at establishing solidarity among students and those who are hungry and homeless and increase their awareness to the reality of millions thoughout the world.

Organized by the Centre for Community Service and Justice, the students were told to bring a sleeping bag, warm clothing and other essential gear. Most of the students slept on top of a tarp to protect themselves from the wet ground.

The conditions at the time didn’t go easy on the students. The ground was indeed wet from morning downpours. Even though the damp ground provided a cushion, the winds made it uncomfortably cold. Some complained of having difficulty sleeping because of the cold. A down sleeping bag or a lot of extra layers of clothing would have helped. But then again, that could be considered cheating because the homeless would not be able to afford such an expensive camping gear. Better use a camping tent while they’re at it.

Participants were briefed on the significance of the simulation after they gathered in groups for icebreakers.

One of the student coordinators of the event said that the event exposes students to the facts and realities about hunger and homelessness in Baltimore in a vivid way by experiencing some of the discomforts and hearing first-hand accounts.

Greg Sileo, the Director of Community Outreach for Baltimore Homelessness Services in the Baltimore City Mayor’s office was followed by a panel of individuals who suffered from homelessness, sharing their experiences on the street and in transition homes within the Baltimore community.

After the presentations, the students watched a movie called “Hidden America”, which follows one family’s struggle with poverty, unemployment and food insecurity.

Other activities throughout the night included making cards to be sold to raise money for the CARES Food Pantry, which serves the Govans neighborhood right near Loyola as well as letters to Congressman John Sarbanes, Governor O’Malley, and Mayor Dixon “to draw their attention to particular funding needs related to hunger, homelessness, and healthcare legislation.”

This list is made by Erin George at Examiner.com:

#10: Space Blanket (Mylar) – This is for emergency use only so why not keep it in your backpack all the time. Space blankets are used to battle hypothermia. People don’t use it to prevent hypothermia. Hypothermia can be prevented by wearing adequate clothing for cool conditions. A warning sign of hypothermia is prolonged and uncontrolled shivering. When this happens, action must be taken immediately to prevent fatalities.

#9: Compass and Whistle – These are definitely emergency essentials. A map would make the compass even more useful so can have an idea of where you are and where you’d want to go. Whether in a group or not, everyone should carry a whistle to get attention when needed, especially children.

#8: Intant Heat Warmers – It may be difficult to find a source of heat when you hike the mountains. There are no fuel around and you are in trouble if you don’t have a camping stove. Your sleeping bag may also be inadequate in keeping you warm and some people with cold feet may find it hard to sleep. Throwing in a couple of hand warmers at the bottom of your sleeping can probably help you sleep well at night.

#7: Waterproof matches and flint – You need these to build a campfire or a signal fire for emergencies. It is also used to light up the camp stove. Carry one or two extra just in case.

#6: Pitch Chunk – This is a good one to have. Pitch is very effective in starting fires. A small chunk of pitch makes a surprisingly big fire. Pick some up as you go through the woods.

#5: Rope – For hanging your food in bear sacks up high and out of reach from wild animals. You might also need it to rig up your camping tent or poncho. The rope is probably the most used tool in rescue efforts. Erin recommends that you carry 20 metres of a 5 mm nylon rope.

#4: Sweetwater filter pump – Even the clearest, coldest stream can yeild little parasites that will run havoc on your internals. Diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, headache, fatigue are just some of the symptoms of waterborne diseases.

#3: Camelback: While I agree that something like the camelbak mule is very useful for keeping hydrated, I don’t think it is essential. You can use bottles to store water.

#2: Film canisters and Altoid – This one is interesting. It’s not essential you carry this but it is useful. You can put your small personal items here and keep them dry.

#1: Duct tape – This one works for undeveloped blisters and for general repairs for your sleeping bag, tent, boots or just about anything.

Dennis Quinn is a 24 year old graduate of Kutztown University who is preparing to hike the entire 2,175 miles of the Appalachian Trail as a tribute to his brother Kyle.

Dennis and Kyle Quinn are brothers who love the outdoors. They started at an early age as Indian Guides. Unfortunately, Kyle was murdered at the college they were both attending on September 2007. He was only 19.

Just four days before Kyle’s death, the brothers had trekked to a popular part of the Appalachian Trail called the Pinnacle, in Hamburg, Berks County. Dennis had been thinking about hiking the whole of the Appalachian trail for about five years now but he got more serious about it after his brother’s untimely death.

Dennis says that while he’s not a religious person, he’s  a spiritual person who finds the spirit outside. I’m  not sure what he means exactly but he adds that the minimalistic way of life on the trail, with nothing more the gear on your back, is kind of a romantic idea.

Dennis hopes to end his journey by September 7, the anniversary of his brother’s death. His trip is scheduled to start on March 28, from Georgia to the trail’s northern terminus on Mount Katahdin in Maine. Quinn estimates that the trip will cost $4000 and made thorough preparations to increase his chances of success.

Quinn will be traveling with longtime friend Geoff Grandfield for the first month. His Kutztown graduate friend, Brett White will join him part of the way. His family and friends will be able to see his progress with the help of a small satellite tracking device Quinn will be carrying. His goal is to hike 20 miles per day, depending on the terrain.

The series of white blazes painted on the trees that mark the way will guide Quinn through the Appalachian Trail. He also plans to use the three side shelters located at various stages in case of bad weather but he will also  carry a sleeping bag to get the whole experience.

According to Quinn, it’s more about the journey than the destination. He was in the middle of helping troubled youths see the beauty of the outdoors during the trial of the murder case.

The Appalachian Trail is known to be a tough trail to hike the whole way. According to the stats, 20 percent barely make it out of Georgia, only 10 percent make it halfway and out of that, only 10 percent finish.

I hope Dennis Quinn does go through to the end. If he does, I wonder what he’ll do next.

What is Freedom Camping?

It’s camping at places not designated for camping, where there are no camping facilities, no campgrounds, no motor parks, etc.  Camping in this sense includes camping in a tent, sleeping bag, bus, caravan and campervan. Location can either be in remote areas or public places like car parks, beaches, shopping mall precints, road sides, basically anywhere that’s possible to safely pitch a tent or park a vehicle.

In New Zealand, freedom camping is popular with both Domestic and International travellers throughout the year. People do it for different reasons. Some for the freedom of being independent and to ‘get away from it all’, some to save money on accommodation, some for fun and some because there are no camping grounds or holiday parks around.

Why crack down on Freedom Campers?

There are a number of reasons why New Zealand’s, Nelson City Council is considering cracking down on freedom campers at the Lions Playground at Tahunanui Beach and at the Trafalgar Centre.

Many are irresponsible, using bushes as toilets and throwing rubbish everywhere. They are also an eye-sore for local inhabitants.  Most times about a dozen or so campervans are parked at the Tahunanui Beach carpark in the morning.

Locals are certainly not happy and want freedom campers kicked out.

In Tasman district, residents claim that freedom campers are abusing the district’s hospitality. Tasman District Council’s policy is that “overnight camping may only be carried out in mobile vehicles fitted with a minimum three-day capacity toilet and greywater storage facility”. In most cases camping is allowed as long as there are no signs forbidding it and for no more than two nights in a month at any one place.

The problem is that, this policy is often ignored and difficult to enfore. However, according to regulatory manager Jean Hodson, the policy was primarily educational, and in such a big district, with so many places to camp, the problem of freedom camping would exist whether or not the council allowed camping outside camp grounds.