The Hammock Compatible Sleeping Bag from Grand Trunk was developed based on a concept by Herrick Kroeger, an employee of Georgia’s Blue Sky Outfitters. The Thinsulate filled sleeping bag design cocoons the hammock (and you) and incorporates channels at either end for the suspension lines. Grand Trunk claims it fits most hammocks and looking at the design I’d say that it will work with most commonly available models.
store.grandtrunkgoods.com/sleeping-bag
ShelterBox is a charitable organization that offers proper shelter and other essential items to disaster stricken areas. Each ShelterBox shelter kit comes with a rugged dome tent modeled after a typical African bush hut, which comes with built-in mosquito screens, integral groundsheets, good ventilation, and internal privacy screens; thermal blankets are also included in the kit. A wood-burning or multi-fuel stove, pans, utensils, mugs, water storage containers, and water purification equipment are a part of the kit, as is a basic tool kit with items such as a hammer, ax, saw, hoe head, rope, pliers, and wire cutters. Finally, ShelterBox also provides children’s packs containing drawing books, crayons, and pens.
www.shelterboxusa.org/
Kelty unveiled a new lightweight backpacking system at OR Summer Market. Called TrailLogic, it consists of Packs, Sleeping Bags, Tents and sleeping pads. Any of the pieces can work alone or in concert with the other items.
The PK 50 ($199.95) backpack is the hub of the Kelty TraiLogic™ collection, offering compartmentalized organization to seamlessly accommodate the rest of your equipment and speed campsite set up. A removable clothing compartment gives easy access to apparel while allowing this 50-liter pack to convert to a 35-liter pack for shorter journeys. Advanced suspension designs provide a very comfortable carry on long hauls or with heavy loads. Completely zipper-free, the PK 50 is built with roll-top closures to eliminate the possibility of broken zippers in the backcountry while a specially designed tent pocket provides easy access to your shelter.
To save space inside your pack, the Kelty TN 2 ($249.95) and TN 3 ($299.95) tents feature shorter, more compact poles and a ‘Tent Cube’ stuff sack, both of which allow effortless compatibility with the PK 50’s dedicated tent pocket. These tents also boast our Stargazing Fly™ feature, giving you a view of the night sky while allowing you to deploy the fly without ever leaving your sleeping bag. Oversized doors and vestibules provide easy access and abundant gear storage.
Highly packable, compressible, and lightweight, the 800-fill DriDown™ insulated SB 20 ($299.95) and SB 35 ($249.95) sleeping bags offer outstanding performance in any overnight situation. Hydrophobic DriDown™ combines with waterproof panels on the head and foot to give you “Head-2-Toe Dri” waterproof protection from condensation and wet weather. A full-length, 2-way zipper offers easily customized ventilation on warm nights. Both of these bags pack easily into the PK 50’s separate sleeping bag compartment with or without a stuff sack.
Three different sleep pads- the PDsi full-length($79.95), PDsi ¾ length ($69.95), and PDa air chamber pad ($69.95)- each fold up into their own ‘Pad Cube’ for convenience and space savings in any pack. The PDsi and PDsi ¾ use body mapping to shape the pad and remove excess material from key locations for a perfect blend of weight and comfort. When pack space and weight are the primary concern, the PDa is an ultralight, ultra-comfortable air chamber pad that goes unnoticed in your pack until it’s time to turn in.
Coming Spring 2014.
Sierra Designs has introduced three new bags that integrate the DryDown we wrote about last year. None of the three are traditional sleeping bag designs. Everything they’ve done is better and different.
The Backcountry Quilt is a large, generously cut blanket that features a foot box and is worn like a Sniuggie. Offered in 15 Deg models.
The Backcountry Bed features NO zippers. It features a large oval shaped opening with a quilt to cover the opening. Offered in 15 and 30 Deg models.
The Mobile Mummy offers a hood and arm holes. Additionally the skirt can be pulled up so you can walk around. Offered in 15 and 30 Deg models.
As always, NEMO Shield, their tactical line, has several new items coming out. Up first is the new Gen 3 FAS AR Jump SE. It is designed to carry an M4, M16, etc.
It now incorporates an valve to regulate the amount of buoyancy as well as a roll top closure with a water proof closure as a back up. Additionally, NEMO reintroduced the window for the ATPIAL so that the laser can be used while the weapon is still in the bag.
The Targa SS SE is a short sleeve mobility bag that can be worn over kit. It allows the wearer full access to any chest mounted equipment which can be accessed via zipper or snaps and the sleeve sections can be closed off via zippers from inside or out. It’s a 40 Deg F stand alone bag but when worn with PCU you can go down to 0 Deg. The Targa features a helmet compatible, insulated hood. Finally, the hem can be pulled up so that the Targa can be worn parka style. Here you can see a Targa in Kryptek Yeti as well as Coyote and MultiCam.
The ALCS SE which we have featured before, incorporates a WL Gore black out fabric that won’t “glow in the dark” when you turn on a light.
Now, they’ve introduced an Integrated Camo Cover in Kryptek Yeti. It isn’t a fly but rather just offers the ability to easily change camouflage. Other ICCs include MultiCam and standard Arctic White but they can do virtually anything if the numbers are right.
First and foremost, NEMO has changed the color schemes of their sleeping pads to make them easily identifiable.
Next, they’ve introduced new pads. For example, the new Cosmo Lite series. Both models in the line incorporate the Airlock Elite fabric found on the Zor series of pads. And, they utilize a foot pump with a single baffle to save weight and increase compactibility. While the Cosmo Insulated Lite 20R (20 denoting width) includes a layer of PrimaLoft to take you down to 15 deg F, the Cosmo Air Lite 20R is made for slightly warmer temps above freezing and does include the additional insulation.
NEMO has also introduced two new tents.
The VEDA series is offered in two models. It relies on hiking poles for support but unlike other models on the market which only use one pole, NEMO presupposes that a hiker will have two poles and have leveraged that to provide better support and more head room. The Veda 1P seen below is a single wall tent but it also incorporates a bug net inside the tent which divides it into living and storage/cooking spaces. It is joined by a two person model which we’ll cover later.
This is the Galaxi 2P. It offers a large vestibule and these cool Magtie magnetic door tie-backs. The pole is of a single aluminum, hubbed design.
One feature that is kind of interesting is that they’ve incorporated a Velcro strip for name tags unto a commercial tent.
Finally, I’d like to mention NEMO’s new Duffel for storing your bags. It also includes a Dopp kit.
There are many other new products from NEMO and we’ll start sharing those soon as well.
I am sure you are familiar with PROFORCE EQUIPMENT, the exclusive importer of seven brands of clothing and equipment including Snygpak, Multimat and Wildo. You’ve seen their military gear but the big story is that they are expanding civilian color options for their lines.
For example, the Wildo line of BPA-free personal campware. Notice the new colors for commercial use.
They’ve also introduced some colorful options for the multimat line of sleeping mats. Likewise, the sleeping bags are also available in red, green and blue.
The Helinox Tactical Chairs I mentioned during last week’s Warrior Expo East are now available for order exclusively from Mystery Ranch.
MR honcho, Dana Gleason worked with the world renown aluminum wizards at DAC to refine a tactical version of their Helinox lightweight chair. He added a pair of side pockets as well as a Velcro patch on the back of the chair for ID. Offered in Black, Coyote, or Foliage, with Black collapsible chair frame.
www.mysteryranch.com/military/military-pack-accessories/helinox-tactical-chair
