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.

For every camper and backpacker who start off fully zipped in their sleeping bag, only to wrestle half your body out an hour after you fall asleep because you’re just too damn hot, Brooks-Range hears your struggles.  Their Cloak—hitting markets in spring 2013—is a smart hybrid of a sleeping bag and a down blanket. A generous pocket at the feet lets you slide in your sleeping pad (your feet and body weight keep it in place). Then you just pull the rest of the Cloak over you, much like a blanket. An extra baffle at the neck keeps things snug and your sleeping pad will keep you sheltered from the cold, cold ground.  The pack is insulated with 850-fill waterproof Down-Tek (the same tech as DryDown), and comes rated at 15, 30, and 45 degrees. The 30-degree pack weighs 16 ounces and will retail for $300.

Brooks-Range will also be introducing a full line of insulated jackets this fall utilizing Down-Tek.  Stay tuned this autumn for from-the-field reports.

Cascade Designs, the parent company of such venerable outdoor brands as MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, and Seal Line, have a bunch of interesting new products slated to hit the retail shelves this winter and spring 2013.  Here’s a few highlights:

This January Therm-a-Rest will get into the sleeping bag game with three models, the zero-degree Altair, the 20-degree Antares, and the 25/45 Navis Convert Bag, a hoodless, ultralight 1-pound, 9-ounce bag that’s meant to be used while wearing a down jacket (hence the double temp rating).  All the bags are designed to pair with their Gearzilla All-Star Therm-a-Rest NeoAir pad, utilizing flexible bands that reduce cold spots.

Platypus is redoing their entire line of hydration packs in a variety of sizes and configurations, from everything to ultralight fast packs to overnight expedition rigs.  The all-mountain Duthie 12 pack boasts nine liters of gear storage and a three-liter reservoir, with external body armor attachments (for the gravity-fed biker), as well as organization pockets for tools, clothes, and food.  And we love that all the pack names come from cross-country trails around Seattle, Cascade Designs’ home.

And the cache of products that once fell under Sealine is branching out. Dubbed E-Case, these waterproof gadget pockets offer a refreshingly streamlined spin on their Sealine counterparts that’ll help these products reach beyond the paddle-centric set.  We predict these will become essential must-haves for the tech-conscious traveler and outdoor-lover.

We’ve always loved down. From jackets and vests to sleeping bags, those soft little feathers are the insulation elite for good reason. Warmth without weight, excellent breathability, and plush, comfy loft—except when down gets wet. Then it loses its capacity to keep you warm, and takes forever to dry.  Previous solutions to this problem mainly include wrapping down in various waterproof/breathable shell fabrics. But that adds extra weight, stiffer material, extra cost, and greatly reduced breathability.

That’s all changed now, thanks to Sierra Design’s new DriDown. Introduced in this summer’s sleeping bags, this new technique makes the actual feathers water-resistant.  And when they do get wet, they keep their loft and dry much faster than their less-enhanced relatives. This miracle cure occurs during the down finishing process (some time after it leaves the duck or goose and before it becomes insulation), when a molecular-level polymer is applied to each individual feather. This hydrophobic (water-hating) finish keeps the feathers dryer longer (manufacturer’s tests indicate five- to seven-times longer). The treated down maintains its loft in humid conditions (which can pancake non-treated feathers) and dries noticeably quicker when it does eventually get damp.  Sierra Designs will start unveiling the apparel with DriDown this August.

DownTek (made by Down Décor, a supplier of down since the 1990s) is also entering the game, supplying hydrophobic, quick-drying down to outdoor gear and apparel manufacturers including Big Agnes, LL Bean, Mountain Hardwear, and Brooks-Range, who will be rolling out their version of waterproof down in sleeping bags and apparel throughout this summer and the fall/winter seasons ahead. Which one works best? We’re testing now. Stay tuned.

Jeff in Colorado

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