Outdoor gear isn鈥檛 just expensive to buy鈥攊t鈥檚 expensive to design, test, and produce. For that reason, many small brands have turned to Kickstarter to raise the money they need to manufacture new products. Here are four launches we鈥檙e excited about right now.
Kammok Mantis
Kammok is known for its comfortable, lightweight hammocks. Now the Texas-based company is adding two backpacking models to its line: the . Both feature听zippered bug netting and a rain fly, so you can customize your level of protection based on the weather. But the Mantis Ultralight (pictured)听is the one we鈥檙e most excited about. The body is made from听a proprietary 20-denier ripstop nylon that Kammok claims has the best weight-to-strength ratio of any hammock fabric out there. The whole Ultralight kit, including straps and carabiners, weighs just under two pounds,听making it among the lightest on the market. As of publication, the Mantis had raised about $157,175, much more听than Kammok鈥檚听original $70,000 goal.
Veer 18 Packable Camera Bag
Packable travel bags鈥攖he kind of lightweight, flimsy packs that scrunch down small for travel, then unfurl once you get to your destination鈥攁re a dime a dozen. But there鈥檚 no good similar option听for hauling photo听gear. Typical camera bags are bulky, with large foam pads and compartments to hold lenses and keep your equipment locked in place. This is听why we鈥檙e intrigued by the new 听($100 MSRP), a compressible daypack with an inflatable back panel and camera cube. The cube packs down flat when not in use; when inflated, it slides into an internal mesh pouch, so it stays securely at the bottom of the bag against your back. A side zipper gives you quick access to your camera when you sling the bag off one shoulder. With 41 days left in the campaign, Veer has raised $186,666, far above its听$25,000 funding goal.
Morrison Outdoors Baby Sleeping Bag
Many outdoor parents look forward to their baby鈥檚 first overnight camping experience. The only problem: no company makes sleeping bags for babies, leaving folks with little听choice but to bundle up their little one in bulky clothing. A startup听called Morrison Outdoors wants to change that. Its听new听Baby sleeping bag ($200 MSRP for down and $110 for synthetic)听is rated to 20 degrees and sized for kids up to 24 months old, with arms that snap together to act as a swaddle, and a double zipper for easy diaper changes. According to the company, the bag meets all of the American Academy of Pediatrics鈥櫶齡uidelines for safe sleep, including no hood or drawstrings that could听restrict airways. With eight days left in the campaign, the Baby sleeping bag has raised $11,300, topping听its $10,000 goal.
DesignNest Folding Fire Pit
Collapsible and weighing in at just 6.6 pounds, this听听(MSRP TBD) offers an easy way to reduce the environmental impact of your next campfire. The听basic X-shaped steel frame supports a swath of flexible, heat-resistant steel-fiber material, which holds your logs and coals. The kit also comes with a metal grate that fits over the top听for grilling. We鈥檙e a little skeptical of how air will flow through the tight steel mesh, but the concept of a lightweight off-the-ground campfire solution has piqued our interest. With 16 days left in its campaign, DesignNest has already raised $16,612, which is far beyond its initial听$5,000听goal.听
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And One Fully Funded Item You Should Preorder听
Pika Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are a great way to organize your gear. The basic concept鈥攁 zippered nylon pouch in various sizes鈥攈asn鈥檛 changed much over the years. But听Pika Gear, a Colorado-based startup, is offering something new. Its听packing cubes听have roll tops and can听cinch down to fit your load听so your things won鈥檛 jostle around inside. Internal pockets keep听track of small items like headlamps or charging cords. And听our favorite part: the larger sizes come听with removable webbed听backpack straps, so your packing cube can double as a lightweight daypack for short missions or walks around town. The cubes come in small, medium, and large ($25, $35, and $45 MSRP), and between the three sizes听they鈥檒l听accommodate everything from kitchen sundries to听socks to enough clothes for a multi-day trip.听The project is fully funded and the , but we can鈥檛 wait until Pika cubes become available for everyone.