The AquaQuest Defender is a heavy 70D nylon tarp with taped seams, a 20,000 mm waterproof rating and 19 tie-outs. At 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) in the 10 x 10 it is built for car camping, canoe trips and base camps, not for counting grams.
The Exped MegaMat is a one-person self-inflating foam mattress, 4 inches (10 cm) thick with an R-value of 8.1. Too heavy to carry far and priced at a premium, it is the pad for car campers who want to sleep the way they do at home.
The Exped MegaMat Duo is a self-inflating foam mattress for two: 4 inches (10 cm) thick, flat to the edges and warm enough for winter. It is heavy, bulky and costly, and for car camping it is the most comfortable bed we know.
Hammock camping against a tent, sleeping pad and sleeping bag: where each one works, comfort, staying warm underneath, rain, wind and insects, weight and cost, how to hang a hammock safely, and how to choose by trip.
A packable daypack is a fine first bag until you load it properly and feel it fold around your spine. The WATERFLY 20L adds a stiff frame sheet to an inexpensive daypack, so a day’s load keeps its shape and stays off your back. There is no load-bearing hipbelt, so keep it to day-hike weights.
A three-finger leather mitt with a removable liner: among the warmest handwear you can still work in, and built to last for years. For demanding winter trips in cold, dry conditions.
A women’s insulated waterproof gauntlet glove with a removable fleece liner you can wear inside it or on its own. A flexible workhorse for regular winter trips.
A warm, waterproof gauntlet glove with generous synthetic insulation and a DryVent insert. The workhorse winter glove for regular cold-weather hiking, snowshoeing and winter camping.
A warm, waterproof, affordable women’s winter glove with a quilted shell. A good first winter glove for casual cold-weather outings, once you size up.
A warm, waterproof, hard-wearing glove built for outdoor work, and a dependable first winter glove for cold day hikes, snowshoeing and camp chores.
