Gearzilla » Camping Accessories

Alite Mantis Camp Chair

nborchelt — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:00:37 +0000

www.alitedesigns.com
We’ve never been big fans of the standard camp chair—the awkwardly folding, bulky canvas gigs with the even bigger carry bags. Even with drink holders in both arm rests, they’re never as good as we want. Well, San Fran-based Alite Designs must’ve heard our quiet dissatisfaction, because their Mantis Chair really hits every sweet spot. The chair employs the same pole assembly tech found in tent frames—a simple, but genius design solution—to create a ridiculously strong, breathable 210D ripstop nylon chair that holds up to 250 pounds. The frame assembles in seconds, and the four corners of the seat slide seamlessly into the tips of the aluminum poles (color coding keeps things easy, though our testers hardly needed the guidance). The chair sits about eight inches above the ground on four cylindrical legs, providing all-day comfort, whether you prefer to keep your feet flat, sit Indian-style, or contort into some other quasi-yoga pose. Plus it fits into a carry sack that’s a modest 17.5 inches long and five inches in diameter. The two-pound chair is ideal for car camping, but a bit hefty for backcountry applications. To address the needs of ounce-scrimping backpackers they’ve developed the Monarch chair ($70; pictured, right). Built off the same design as the Mantis, the Monarch boasts only two legs:your feet offer the additional stability, which lets you slowly rock as the chair takes the bulk of your weight. The Monarch provided the same body-hugging comfort and support as the Mantis (with the same 250-pound weight limit), but weighs in at a feathery 1.3 pounds, packing into a stuff sack that’s 12 inches long and only 4.5 inches in diameter. The Alite designer refers to the Monarch as the “six-beer chair” because, after six beers, balancing on its two legs can be…challenging (and potentially humorous for those around you). We see this a challenge, but some might find it an insurmountable obstacle. Both of these chairs are as at home at outdoor concerts or on the beach as they are tent-side. The thin diameter of the chair legs means that the feet can sink into wet dirt or sand, leaving the sitter off balance (or in a slow-motion fall). But on dry land, both chairs proved to be admirable outdoor thrones. And a bonus: one three-year-old car camper even figured out how to wear the Monarch.

GSI Pinnacle Camper Cook Set

nborchelt — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:00:15 +0000

www.gsioutdoors.com, three pounds, nine ounces
We all love the latest/greatest in tech that makes up the universe of Gearzilla, but gear obsession really reaches its apex with camping cook sets—in large part because the way they always nestle together is always so darn clever. Witness the GSI Pinnacle Camper, our latest car-camping obsession. This convenient kit gives you everything you’ll need for a four-person outing: three- and two-liter pots, two strainer lids, a nine-inch fry pan, four 14-ounce insulated mugs with sip-friendly plastic lids, four 14-ounce bowls, four 7.5-inch plates, a folded pot gripper, and a sturdy carrying case that also doubles as welded sink. The bowls, mugs, and plates are color-coded so you don’t have kids fighting over which plate was theirs, and the pots and fry pan are made of non-stick, hard-anodized aluminum. The heat-resistant, crush-proof strainer lid makes it easy to drain water from pasta and works with both the bowls and the frying pan, and each lid has a convenient orange thick-cloth handle centered at the top. The folding handle has a trigger that locks into the pots with comforting authority; we’d expected that sliding the handle on before engaging the lock would be tricky, but when you’re cooking the weight of the food makes the action a breeze. During a long-weekend car-camping expedition everything performed well, except one of the top handles did come off and quickly disappeared in the chaotic darkness of late meal prep. And, as you’d expect, the whole things collapses down like a Russian nesting doll.

Therm-a-Rest LuxuryLite Mesh Cot

nborchelt — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 12:00:28 +0000

cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest, 3 pounds, 12 ounces
The understandable compulsion of car camping is to bring everything—which should inspire at least one savvy manufacturer to make a portable kitchen sink. And since we also pack more than we really should, our vehicles becomes a disorderly collage of gear that we seldom use while sleeping in the sidecountry. But from now on we’ll be sure to pack the new LuxuryLite Mesh Cot from the outdoor sleep professionals Therm-a-Rest. Unlike the old school army cots that haunt the minds of more than one tester, this 26-inch-wide, 72-inch-long bed offered some of the best sleeping we’ve had while camping. The cot employs what they call “bowframe” technology; instead of using crossbars that inevitably bite uncomfortably into your back, the cot uses a series of stretch-free, anodized aluminum poles (much like those used in a tent) that flex and bend, which are slotted into circular nylon feet that attach to the cot to create airy flex without any obstructions across the width of the cot.

Set-up is pretty straightforward: two long bars create rigidity along the length of the cot, and then you assemble the cross bars by mounting poles in each foot and marrying them together (male to female) before attaching them to the cot by stepping on the back panel, bending the poles to create that flex, and then hooking the feet into the pre-cut spots. The whole thing takes about five minutes the first time—and about three minutes to take apart. And, because it’s built from a series of poles, it breaks down to a package that’s 16 inches long and six inches in diameter, which makes it easy to pack in your overstuffed car. It’s also suitable for rides into the backcountry on horseback and bike, and can work with just four of the six crossbars, cutting down on weight. With all the legs included, it weighs a fairly hefty three pounds, 12 ounces; you wouldn’t want to carry this on a multi-day backpacking trip (for that, check out the comparatively featherweight, two-pound, 12-ounce UltraLite model). We used this cot in a small backcountry two-person tent, and it stretched the limits of the tent’s floor space with another person in the tent, so check the dimensions of your tent and plan accordingly. The all-mesh fabric also means you’ll want a traditional sleeping bag in the fall, winter, and spring. We also support pairing the cot with Therm-a-Rest’s NeoAir for plush, warm outdoor sleeping comfort.

Action Wipes

nborchelt — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:00:02 +0000

www.actionwipes.com
Cotton may kill, but sweat stinks. For those on-the-fly cleanups, we love the pre-moistened, alcohol-free Action Wipes. The 100-percent natural wipes are made with plant-derived ingredients that moisturize while they clean. On a particularly rough, dirty ride along the McKenzie River Trail, our intrepid tester encountered sweat, dust, dirt, mud, and even poison oak.Despite multiple forays into the underbrush, she emerged at the end of the ride looking and smelling like a daisy (okay, a dirty, somewhat pungent daisy). The disposable fabric is strong enough for multiple uses and our choice when there’s no shower in sight—like those marathon days at Burning Man. Note—it’s easier to mop a sweaty brow than underarms, but the wipes work for both. And you’ll love the calming effect of the soothing tea tree and eucalyptus scent.

Outdoor Retailer: Alite Preview

nborchelt — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:00:21 +0000

Alite—founded by a The North Face designer—is wholly focused on one thing: making it easier for people to get outside. They’ve already initiated a wildly successful loaner program for camping gear in San Fran (their home town), and their current products are some of the most playful and inventive outdoor items to hit the market in a long time (reviews coming soon!).

In spring 2013, they continue down the path they’ve carved thus far, introducing playful, utilitarian, stylish products like a three-in-one fork/spoon/knife set and a set of camp spoons that also become tongs (both pictured). They also have recruited SF-area chefs to provide camp-friendly recipes for a new cookbook.

But we’re really looking forward to the Mayfly chair, which is a hybrid of their Mantis and Monarch chairs (four- and two-legged designs, respectively). The Mayfly will have three legs—two in the back, with a central cross bar in the front. The spin? If you want to go light, the front support comes off, transforming the chair into the Monarch. We jokingly refer to it as a training wheel for the two-legged chair, which does require a bit of balance to sit in for long stretches. The full version of the Mayfly will weigh 1.15 pounds.

Innate Caravan Compartments

nborchelt — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:00:12 +0000

www.innate-gear.com
Some may call it OCD, but we prefer to think of it as a place for everything and everything in its place, because nothing can ruin a day on the trail (or in a foreign city) quicker than misplacing your sunglasses, lip balm, or cold medication. Innate’s new Caravan Compartments fill this need. They come in small (with sufficient space to store socks or small toiletries), medium (suitable for tech shorts and shirts), and large (big enough for four folded dress shirts). Each one is constructed from fabrics that have been repurposed from scraps destined to a fiery end in an industrial incinerator, with PU-coated zips and stichless seams to keep the conditions at bay. Clear windows make it easy to spot what’s inside, and an exterior RF welded grab handle makes it easy to shuffle stuff around, even the cavernous duffle. We loved to pack ‘em on daylong kayaking or canyoneering adventures, when a dry change of clothes at the end of the day is most welcome. The small bags also found a home on multiday backpacking trips, keeping our nice-to-have camp items (flashlight, pen and paper, beef jerky) within easy reach and well away from the stinky base layers that we’d worn for the last 72 hours. The zips do feel a bit flimsy compared to more hardcore product like your day pack, but they’ve held their own over months of arduous testing. If that changes, we’ll let you know.

Need Camping Gear? Alite Will Loan it Out for Free

nborchelt — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:00:38 +0000

If you live in the San Fran area and want to go camping but don’t have all the right stuff, outdoor gear manufacturer Alite has a solution. Their new Ranger Station program will equip you with all the essentials, including backpacks, a lantern, full cooking set, sleeping pad, camp chair, and tent. Just call or email them, they’ll set up your kit, you pick it up (between 2 and 6 p.m. on the Friday before you depart), and then return the (undamaged) kit between 9 and 5 the following Monday through Thursday. Note that they do take your credit card info in case of damage or (as Alite likely hopes) if you decide to keep some of the loaner products. If only they had country-wide resources…

We’ll be testing out some of Alite’s new product this summer and fall, and will report back.

Therm-a-Rest Jembe Seat Kit Deluxe

nborchelt — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:00:18 +0000

cascadedesigns.com/en/therm-a-rest
The only drawback for long-time devotees of the All Star-Awarded Therm-a-Rest NeoAir has been that the remarkable sleeping pad didn’t have a seat kit. To resolve this great inequity, Therm-a-Rest looked to an unexpected source of inspiration: drums. Partially inflate the pad, roll it up, and then pull the Jembe seat cover over the top and bottom—Viola! A seat that looks like the drums from West Africa. With very little effort one tester was able to get the seat assembled—the adjustable straps help with logistics. Once we blew in a bit extra air, the drum-chair was a great alternative to sitting on a rock, log, or wet ground. It’s a bit wobbly, but far more stable than a semi -inflated exercise ball. We will admit that, after a full day of hiking, we missed having back support. After an hour of balancing, one tester abandoned his chair to sprawl out in front of the fire. Then his Jembe was repurposed as an impromptu side table, holding a lantern till it was time to unroll the pad and go to sleep.
Note: we tested the original Jembe. The deluxe version boasts more durable fabric to protect the pad against rough terrain and slight padding at the top of the seat for added comfort and stability.

Snow Peak Hybrid Trail Cookset

nborchelt — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:00:06 +0000

www.snowpeak.com, 7.9 ounces
The go-light approach typically doesn’t afford much in the way creature comforts or pleasing aesthetics, but we think we’ve found the exception. At first blush, the Hybrid Trail Cookset just looks attractive, with a 26-ounce pot, a 14-ounce frying pan, a mini-spork (all titanium), and a brilliant orange 12-ounce silicone bowl. And it works as well as it looks—the walls of the silicone bowl are pliable enough for the vessel to work as a pitcher for controlled pouring as well as plate or cup, and the rubber-like tactility of the bowl is also quite…pleasant, especially when using the included spork to scoop your grub. The entire unit stacks into a 2.5-inch-tall package, with space inside for a small fuel canister, and weighs in at just under eight ounces–plenty light for all but the stingiest of weight-watching backpackers. You won’t be able to cook a meal for an army, but for the solo backcountry diner, it’s perfect.

Coghlan’s Storm Matches

nborchelt — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:00:11 +0000

www.coghlans.com
These matches definitely qualify as a must-have survival item, but damned if they’re also a lot of fun to…just burn. Wind and waterproof, developed specifically for the UK Ministry of Defense, and NATO-approved, they work as advertised. We submerged a few in water and they took a flame moments later in a powerful display of sputtering fire. Then we tried to blow ‘em out. No go. They’re like the trick birthday candles that re-light themselves, except these matches burn with serious intensity for ten full seconds, and are perfect for starting fires in the harshest of conditions. The waterproof case includes 25 matches with two striking surfaces