The Defence 4 from Carinthia is a 3-season bag insulated with G-LOFT and should keep you comfortable down to -15 C but can be used in conjunction with other Carinthia bags.
It’s offered in Medium and Long lenghts and features a center zip with draft tube.
www.carinthia.eu/en/defence-4-woodland-p3323
The Helinox Chair One XL is 40% larger than the standard Chair One.l which is great for those who don’t want to do a deep knee bend every time they get in and out of their camp chair.
helinox.com/collections/chair-one-xl/products/chair-one-xl
Designed to accommodate up to four, the Bell Tent from The Get Out but it will fit a full size mattress for some real glamping.
Featuring mesh windows and doors, it’s 13′ in diameter and 8′ tall and weighs 70 lbs.
This version of a frog camouflage pattern kind of reminds me of the uniform worn by the GI Joe Adventurer when I was a kid.
The US military is going through a massive transformation, standing some organizations down while creating entirely new ones while simultaneously fielding new systems.
This can cause some serious headaches for those who have to bed these units and systems down. One of the capabilities that arose during the past 20 years of conflict is expeditionary shelters which are almost as good as permanent structures and will last a decade or more. They offer a great solution for pressing needs. What’s more, they can be acquired using O&M funds.
In addition to storage for new equipment and structures for units, they can be used for rotational forces in forward areas where permanent structures would take years of negotiations and construction to complete.
Military Construction or MILCON in DoD jargon is responsible for Facility Planning, Design, Construction, Modernization and Sustainment. It is understandably difficult to pursue because it is a multi-year process involving all phases of construction from establishing a need to finishing up the punch list to disposing of an unneeded facility. New construction must be included in the National Defense Authorization Act to be funded so politicians also get involved. When it involves construction on foreign soil, the complications increase, even if they offer to pay.
As you can see from this Air Force slide depicting a notional MILCON project, it is a minimum of five years until the project is completed. Worse yet, the project may sit on a wishlist for several years before this process starts and it is even considered.
I’ve had my own run-in with the slow process of MILCON. While assigned to the 21 STS at Pope at the turn of the century, we were handed the keys to a brand now Squadron facility. Totally new construction, built specifically for a specific need. The problem was that it was designed for the 23 CCS, a unit that had been moved in the ensuing years between approval and construction from ACC to AFSOC. In the meantime the unit had doubled in size with the addition of Pararescue and enablers and its beefed up its complement of Combat Controllers. This consolidation of Combat Control forces across the Air Force to AFSOC had happened several years prior but the MILCON process is so plodding that it couldn’t keep up with a service in transition.
Since I was the sole support Captain in the Squadron, I was given my marching orders by the commander to start the paperwork for additional MILCON. It would be years, if ever, before relief would come. You can see the building on Hurst St on Pope Field, just to the right of the fuel tanks in the Google Earth image above along with the construction just north of the building which we occupied in 2000.
The image is from this year. I started the paperwork in 2000 and retired in 2006. We sure could have used some of the shelters seen erected in expeditionary environments to house elements of our Squadron and its equipment.
Others are already doing it. Expeditionary shelters started to pop up on several facilities in support of physical fitness training.
They’ve also been used for vehicle inspection and maintenance activities. There is a lot of capability available with multiple types and sizes of shelters as well as associated amenities like flooring, lighting, HVAC and furniture. Additionally, there are storage solutions for use inside the shelters like Spacesaver Storage Solutions.
Types of shelters include rigid wall, expandable, soft sided tent-style, and even shelters based on shipping containers. Need to stand up a full-time Operations Center for distributed operations? There’s a solution for that.
Check with ADS for your next shelter requirement. Their expert team can design a custom solution to meet your specifications, budget, and timeline. Utilizing the speed of other contract vehicles and the experience of industry-leading suppliers, ADS can complete deliver a built-to-order product in a fraction of the time of a standard MILCON project.
Carinthia’s new G-LOFT Tactical Poncho is Reversible from original MultiCam to olive green. Like the name says, this multifunctional poncho features 60g G-LOFT insulation.
www.carinthia.eu/en/g-loft-tactical-poncho-multicam-p3096
The Freelite tent series, MSR’s lightest semi-freestanding tent, will also receive significant updates in 2022.
SEATTLE, Wash. (August 10, 2021) — Seattle-based Mountain Safety Research® (MSR®), the high-performance outdoor equipment that’s part of the parent company Cascade Designs, is excited to announce updates to its award-winning Hubba series for spring 2022. The best-selling and award winning Hubba Hubba is known for its fast and easy set up thanks to its freestanding design and symmetrical poles, and now features a significant weight reduction and updated features. Additionally, all three size versions (previously Hubba NX, Hubba Hubba NX and Mutha Hubba NX) will be unified under the recognizable name – Hubba Hubba.
The updated designs include up to a 14 oz reduction in weight compared to previous models, keeping the Hubba Hubba series a premiere lightweight option. The three-season tent series will now also feature easy-open, no-curve door zippers, tech-friendly cable ports on all storage pockets, ultra-tough Easton Syclone poles and durable floor materials. The Hubba Hubba’s durable mesh and fabric materials balance comfort, airflow, protection and privacy through the widest range of conditions. The waterproof Durashield-coated fly and floors and taped seams provide reliable, durable weather protection and the reinforced patches and stitching at guy points add extra stability in windy conditions. Finally, the true rectangular floor and extra headroom make the Hubba Hubba incredibly spacious and easy to set up, eliminating sleeping pad overlap, thanks to the symmetrical pole design.
To learn more about all of the Hubba Hubba tent updates, check out this video featuring MSR’s tent designer, Terry Breaux.
“For experienced outdoors enthusiasts with limited free time but many outdoor pursuits, the new Hubba Hubba and FreeLite tents are updated to offer more livability, now in lighter weight designs,” said Terry Breaux, MSR’s Tent Category Manager. “These updates will allow you to go farther and do more without sacrificing comfort or space.”
Brand new for this season and far more than just an accessory, the LowDown Remote Stove Adapter amplifies the performance and versatility of all current MSR top mounted canister stoves and stove systems. Placing the stove on a low, stable base, away from the canister, allows these ultralight stoves to serve you reliably on group trips, in basecamp settings and deep in the backcountry. Cooking with larger pots and on uneven surfaces are now both easier, making this seemingly small add-on a big game-changer for every kind of camping kit.
“The big advantage of the LowDown adapter is that you are able to control the stove from about a foot away from your hot burner, while boiling water or simmering a meal, instead of directly underneath it,” said Scott Youmans, Product Line Manager at MSR for Stoves, Cookware, and Winter. “This makes for a much more comfortable flame adjustment experience and in our experience, users fine tune their flame control much more when it’s easier to do. The end result is an easier, more comfortable cooking experience.”
Also receiving updates for spring 2022 is the Freelite tent series, MSR’s lightest semi-freestanding tent capable of handling various multi-day outdoor trips. The reimagined FreeLite series will offer targeted performance and value to the ounce-counting weekend warrior. The updates deliver on the MSR promise of greater livability for less weight, while also maintaining the stalwart reliability that MSR is known for. The updated models are up to 9 oz lighter than previous models, and feature easy-open, no-curve door zippers, cable ports on all storage pockets, and the ultimate in durability and performance, thanks to DAC’s lightest weight aluminum poles and Durashield Coating, providing the peace of mind that your tent will last for many seasons to come.
The Freelite is available in one, two and three-person size options. To learn more about all of the Freelite series updates, check out this video.
The updated Hubba Hubba tent series (MSRP: $379.95-$549.95 USD), the LowDown Remote Stove Adapter (MSRP: $49.95 USD) and the updated Freelite series (MSRP: $349.95-$449.95 USD) will launch to the public starting January 1, 2022. For more information about MSR, please visit: msrgear.com.
BERKELEY, Calif. – August 31, 2021 – To mark the changing of the seasons, Filson and Helinox, two brands known for offering premium equipment for outdoor enthusiasts, today introduce a limited-edition collection that celebrates the cooling temperatures, colors and enjoyment of fall.
The new collection melds the craftsmanship of Helinox with the heritage of Filson, featuring strong and lightweight DAC aluminum alloy frames, resin hubs and 600D polyester fabric in a new Grey Shrub Camo pattern and Flame Orange. The collection includes the Helinox Sunset Chair and Table One Hardtop, each with a co-branded badge, detailed accents and silver alloy poles.
“It’s an honor to partner with Filson, a brand with an incredible history and known for its style, durability, outdoor utility and ruggedness,” said Azul Couzens, SVP of Sales and Marketing, Helinox. “This new collection reflects that heritage on the canvas of two of our most popular pieces with a look that captures the season.”
“Following the success of the first Filson x Helinox collab, this refreshed collection features pops of color inspired by the fall foliage in our Pacific Northwest backyard,” said Neil Morgan, director of marketing, Filson. “The collection’s modern and portable design offers our customers the perfect camp furniture for their next adventure.”
Sunset Chair
The Filson x Helinox Sunset Chair is all about comfort, sitting higher off the ground and with a high back for lounging. The Sunset holds up to 320 lbs and weighs 3.4 lbs packed and is available in Filson’s LTD Grey Shrub Camo print or Flame Orange. MSRP $230.
Table One Hardtop
Lightweight, stable and a perfect choice for the campsite, picnic or as a vanlife staple, the Filson x Helinox Table One Hardtop weighs in at 2.2 lbs packed. Available in Flame Orange or Filson’s LTD Grey Shrub Camo print. MSRP: $195.
The new Filson x Helinox collection is available online at helinox.com and www.filson.com.
Fashioned from an ammo can, Ignik’s Fire Can caught a lot of buzz at the show. This self contained “fire pit” features pop out legs to keep it above the ground and perforated sides to release more heat. It’s a bit heavy for carrying, so consider this for vehicle bivouacs.
While it currently uses propane, a diesel variant is under development for military use.
