The North Face Chrysalis 20 ($375)

Best for Weight Savings

If pack space is limited and distance is the goal, the Chrysalis is a trustworthy companion. It weighs just under two pounds and packs down to the size of a bread loaf, courtesy of 900-fill down. For this reason, one tester brought it along for 50 miles and two 22-degree nights in Utah鈥檚 Bears Ears National Monument. 鈥淎fter beating up my body all day, the anticipation of crawling into this soft cocoon was the motivation I needed to finish the hike back to camp,鈥� our tester said, crediting the 64-inch shoulder, 59-inch hip, and extra-roomy 47.5-inch footbox girths. On another trip, into Wyoming鈥檚 Wind River Range, our tester packed the Chrysalis among climbing equipment. Its abrasion-resistant ripstop nylon compression sack emerged unscathed, though the bag鈥檚 15-denier ripstop nylon shell (coated with a non-PFC DWR finish) is finer than most. Weight savings come from reduced insulation in the bottom panels (pair this bag with a high-R-value sleeping pad) and a smaller than average hood, which doesn鈥檛 hold a pillow inside. 1.9 lbs (regular); 20掳; unisex regular, long

Sitka Kelvin Aerolite 30 ($399)

Best for Versatility

Why choose between a sleeping bag and a parka when you can have both? When zipped, the Kelvin Aerolite takes the shape of a traditional mummy bag. But it鈥檚 the multifunctional design that helps justify the admittedly high price: a two-way, full-length center zipper allows you to roll the footbox up and stow it via an aluminum hook and a nylon webbing loop. That, plus zippered arm holes ringed with draft tubes, transform the bag into a knee-length layer for hanging around camp. 鈥淲aiting for the sun to warm the Zion West Rim Trail, I converted the bag to a jacket and happily got up to start the group coffee,鈥� one tester said. The synthetic fill kept another tester warm in 32-degree temps in Denali National Park. The bag鈥檚 66-inch chest and 60-inch hip girths offer room to layer. 2.3 lbs (regular); 30掳; unisex regular, long

Mammut 32 Trail ($100)

Best Value

Weighing just over three pounds and packing down to the size of a large watermelon, this budget-friendly synthetic bag shines for car camping trips and on short backpacking excursions. The Trail鈥檚 62-inch shoulder and hip girths, plus a 30-inch footbox, kept one tester cozy but not claustrophobic during a rainy, 32-degree night at 11,000 feet on Colorado鈥檚 Berthoud Pass. On a 55-degree night in Chatfield State Park, Colorado, the oversize hood fit our tester鈥檚 favorite pillow from home and the full-length, two-way zipper kept clamminess at bay. The Trail鈥檚 shredded synthetic insulation allows for a baffle-less design, so there are no stitch holes to let heat escape and fewer threads to tear or pull. While this construction doesn鈥檛 allow the Trail 32掳F to loft up, testers reported the synthetic fill doesn鈥檛 clump, and when temps dropped to freezing, the warmth was evenly distributed from head to toe. The bag鈥檚 63-denier polyester shell is more durable than most. 3.1 lbs (regular); 32掳; unisex regular

Montbell Seamless Burrow Bag #3 ($159)

Best for Warm Weather

On the hottest nights, we chose the Seamless Burrow Bag. The synthetic insulation is minimal, but it lofts more than similar bags. Credit a combination of cylindrical and angular polyester fibers, which stack like a losing game of Tetris and thus increase airiness. One tester reported that he didn鈥檛 sweat out the bag after five 45-degree nights in North Carolina鈥檚 Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On a two-week road trip down the Pacific coast, another tester used the full-length, two-way zipper to ventilate and reported that the DWR treatment repelled condensation on muggy mornings. Comfort bonus: the bag鈥檚 seamless construction trades baffles for internal elastic stitching that expands and contracts to match your sleeping position. The Seamless Burrow packs down to the size of a rugby ball. 2.1 lbs; 32掳; unisex regular, long

Exped Ultra 3R ($150)

Best for Comfort

Striking a balance between lightness and comfort, the Ultra 3R pad helps you go the extra backcountry mile. 鈥淚t kept my pack weight down for one of my longest mileage days to date,鈥� one tester said after heading into Wyoming鈥檚 Titcomb Basin. Another tester, after a trip in Oregon鈥檚 Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, lauded the pad鈥檚 three-inch thickness, fortified with insulating and cushy microfibers. 鈥淚t was comfortable in all sleeping positions,鈥� said the tester. 鈥淢y knees, back, and shoulders never felt uncomfortable.鈥� The 72-by-20.5-inch rectangular pad has lengthwise baffles, wider at the edges and slimmer in the middle, creating a cradling effect to keep sleepers centered. The Ultra 3R鈥檚 recycled, 20-denier ripstop polyester face fabric offers average durability, and an inflation sack eases setup. 1 lb (medium); 2.9 R-value; medium, medium/wide, long/wide

NEMO Astro Insulated ($140)

Best for the Environment

After more than a decade of success, this time-tested pad gets a sustainability makeover for 2022. For one thing, its 75-denier polyester shell is now 100 percent recycled. Still, it endured seven nights of sleeping directly on California鈥檚 High Sierra granite without signs of abrasion. Its rectangular shape鈥�72 by 20 inches, and 3.5 inches thick鈥攌ept testers warm on a ten-day backpacking trip in Colorado鈥檚 San Juan Mountains, where temps dropped below 40 degrees. A 2.6 R-value provides three-season comfort, thanks to 100 percent post-consumer recycled synthetic insulation. Still, the Astro Insulated packs down a bit smaller than a Nalgene. The included pump-sack reduces the blowup time from three-plus minutes to just under one and can extend the pad鈥檚 life by keeping delamination and mold-growing moisture at bay. (The updated non-insulated Astro now clocks a 1.5 R-value and packs slightly wider than a tube of cinnamon rolls.) 1.5 lbs (regular); 2.6 R-value; regular, long/wide

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Most of the time, choosing a sleeping bag and pad is about compromising comfort for the sake of weight. Car camping eliminates the need for such concessions. There are plenty of great such options on the market, and picking a winner is difficult when every product invites a nap. So we homed in on a few main criteria: packability, portability, and features. Here are the car camping sleeping bags and pads that stood out for delivering both extreme comfort and ease of use.听

NEMO Jazz ($300)

Best Solo Bag

Everything about this 30-degree synthetic bag feels indulgent, from the 77-inch girth (roomy enough for side sleeping) to the removable, washable microfiber liner sheet that buttons into the inside for added coziness. That鈥檚 in addition to an oversize draft collar and an extra-large insulated hood. The Jazz is stuffed with synthetic insulation designed to mimic the warmth and packability of down. On a 40-degree night in Tofino, British Columbia, one tester stayed so toasty he had to crack the two full-length zippers for ventilation. When it鈥檚 time to break camp, just drop it in the storage duffel, no stuffsack cramming required. Bonus: the fill and silky 50-denier ripstop polyester fabric are fully recycled. 6 lbs

Hest Foamy ($299)

Best Solo Pad

Three Benjamins for a sleeping mat? Trust us, Hest鈥檚 newest offering is worth it. For one, it鈥檚 made from a memory foam that鈥檚 infused with billions of small air pockets, which help retain gentle support even in subfreezing temps鈥攗nlike home-goods varieties that turn hard below 40 degrees. Then there鈥檚 the waterproof nylon bottom shell, which paid off when we spilled our Nalgene on the tent floor. A built-in strap system helps roll the pad up for transport. This does little to save space (packed up, the Foamy is more than a foot thick and two feet wide and the size of Oscar the Grouch鈥檚 garbage can). But during a 32-degree night on a Rocky Mountain logging road, we slept so soundly we forgot to complain. 11 lbs

REI Camp Dreamer Double Sleep System ($299)

Best Couples Bag

The only thing separating this sleep set from the one you use at home is that REI designed the fitted sheet to stay put on an air mat (its elastic sides are only six inches deep, ideal for double-wide camping pads). The kit pairs that sheet with a synthetic-insulated quilt, removable hood, and cotton top sheet, all of which pack into an included storage bag. Arrange the pieces together to lock in warmth or layer them unattached for easy heat dumping. The set doesn鈥檛 have a temperature rating, though one couple slept cozy down to 45 degrees. But the real winning feature is washability: simply remove the sheets to clean your sleep system between trips. 7.19 lbs

Ust Fillmatic Doublewide Air Mat ($180)

Best Couples Pad

Be careful when you pull out this two-person pad. Its three-inch-thick cushioning and large size (four feet two inches across and six feet eight inches long) spell such comfort that the pad had a way of making testers forget what they were supposed to be doing. (Some immediately wanted to lie down and take a nap on the soft, bouncy expanse.) Luckily the Fillmatic mostly self-inflates in a few minutes and thus requires little focus to set up: just open a valve, wait a bit, and then top off the pad with a minute or so of huffing and puffing. The internal foam structure is firm, warm enough for winter use (R-value of 6), and sized to fill most two-person tents. 8.3 lbs

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Big Agnes Sidewinder SL 20 ($280 and up)

If there鈥檚 one we鈥檝e learned in the past year, it鈥檚 that we all need space鈥攆or both health and sanity. The 20-degree Sidewinder SL offers it in spades. Unlike a tight mummy, this 650-fill down bag is designed for restless folks who need room to wiggle into the perfect position, including those who like to sleep on their sides. For starters, the zipper鈥攚hich drives straight up the middle鈥攊s sheathed in a protective down baffle, so your face won鈥檛 press up against plastic teeth all night, whether you sleep supine or in the fetal position. Traditional mummy design puts most of the fill on the front of the body for maximum core insulation, but Big Agnes distributed the Sidewinder鈥檚 down evenly throughout. The brand also added a layer of fully recycled synthetic insulation in the hip area for extra warmth and a bit of padding. Even the shape of the 36-inch square footbox (33 square inches for women) mimics the position of feet on their side. Regardless of your preferred sleeping pose, the bag performs. Both the ripstop-nylon shell and the silky taffeta lining sport a PFC-free water-repellent coating, which kept us dry on a late-summer paddling trip to the Canadian border despite three days of rain. We even stayed toasty when temps dropped into the thirties. A stretchy pillow pocket inside the hood makes for seamless, adjustable comfort all night long. 2.3 lbs (men鈥檚) / 2.6 lbs (women鈥檚)

Best for Doing It All

Rab Solar 2 奥辞尘别苍鈥檚 Bag ($120)

The 30-degree Solar 2 hits just the right notes. It鈥檚 long enough for a five-foot-nine tester (rare for a women鈥檚 bag), stuffed with synthetic fill made from recycled water bottles, and packs to the size of your stove鈥攁ll at a killer weight and price. On a wet, near freezing Minnesota night, we stayed comfortable. An internal zippered stash pocket keeps important items close. 2 lbs (women鈥檚)

Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Extreme Rectangular Unisex Pad ($199)

An insulated air pad with a 6.2 R-value may seem like overkill for summer, until you鈥檙e parked on a slab of cold granite gazing up at the Milky Way. The XT Extreme鈥檚 air cells deform independently, allowing the four-inch-thick pad to mold around your body. Warmth comes from layers of synthetic insulation in each cell. Bonus: it inflates in about four pumps with the included mechanism. 2.1 lbs

Best for Backpacking

Kelty Cosmic Ultra Down 20 Bag ($200)

Kelty took its popular 20-degree Cosmic, changed rectangular baffles to trapezoidal ones (which retain more heat), swapped 550-fill down for 800, and added a taffeta liner. The upgrades shave only a couple ounces, but the comfort boost feels like going from a Motel 6 to the Four Seasons for less than $40 extra. There are lighter backpacking bags in this category, but few that are so plush and affordable. 2.4 lbs (men鈥檚) / 2.9 lbs (women鈥檚)

Nemo Quasar 3D Regular Pad ($130)

Bowing is usually a sign that a mattress has seen better days. Not with the Quasar 3D. Its 3.5-inch horizontal baffles start level at the feet, grow subtly concave through the middle, and then level out again, with a raised 鈥減illow鈥� at the head, so testers stayed centered but could switch positions easily. When deflated, the 3D is completely flat. 鈥淚t packs like a minimalist pad but sleeps like a luxurious one,鈥� noted a tester. 1.4 lbs

Best on a Budget

Backcountry Stoic Groundwork Bag ($85)

We were shocked to learn that this 20-degree synthetic mummy rings up under $100. With a cozy draft collar in the hood to seal out gusts and a DWR-coated 20-denier nylon exterior, the Groundwork was as warm and protective as higher-priced options and only slightly bulkier. It鈥檚 a great pick for car camping or even short backcountry jaunts. 3.2 lbs

Ust Freestyle Short Pad ($90)

Despite its sub-four-foot cropped length, which hits anywhere from knee to mid-calf, the Freestyle Short delivers surprising comfort, courtesy of a body-mapped design that puts more cushioning at the hips and shoulders. One tester stuck an empty pack under his feet and a fleece beneath his head and slept none the worse. The whole rig also inflates in three swift pumps and packs down smaller than a bike bottle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just enough pad, especially given the weight savings,鈥� said the tester. 12 oz

Best for Car Camping

Zenbivy MotoBed Bag ($299 and up)

Cranky campers, here is the nighttime setup you鈥檝e been looking for. The MotoBed integrates a sleeping bag, a pad, and a sheet into a bulky but simple roll that sets up and packs down in seconds. The two-layer foam and air mattress smooths out even the roughest tent sites, and it zips together with an insulated quilt to create a roomy cocoon. One tester even claims it鈥檚 鈥渃ozier than the guest room at my parents鈥� house.鈥� Now that鈥檚 high praise. 8.6 lbs

Klymit Klymaloft Pad ($150 and up)

This unique 2.5-inch-thick hybrid combines an air mattress with a plush polyester foam topper for an R-value of 2.1, ideal on 60-degree summer nights. It comes in three generous sizes (regular single, extra-large single, and double). Even the latter packs down to the size of a standard foam roller. Invest in the pump ($25) to save your own hot air. 2.4 lbs and up

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Deep down, I have always believed that attempting to fix a leaking sleeping pad was a fool鈥檚 errand. I鈥檝e plunged several limp inflatable mats into my bathtub in search of streams of tiny bubbles, slapped synthetic patches over the holes, and yet still woken up in the middle of the night on my next trip with a rock jabbing me in the kidney.

But against my lackluster record stands that of Annica Lassesen, a warranty and repair specialist at Exped USA, who has patched听an average of 500听mats per year during her three years at the company. Her most stunning successes include a mat with 87 total punctures听and one with a 17-inch tear. With roughly 1,500 mats under her belt, Lassesen knows her stuff,听and says she鈥檚 鈥渁ll about trying to make resources available to people鈥澨齭o they can fix mats themselves.

We called her up and got her dos and don鈥檛s for those who want to try their hand at sleeping-pad repair鈥攖urning this skeptic into a glue believer.

Prevention

Do: Keep Pets Away

鈥淎听good chunk of my repairs lately are from animals. With the record of 87 punctures鈥攚e knew a cat did that,鈥� Lassesen says. 鈥淐ats and dogs very much enjoy our mats.鈥� It may be cute to see your beloved furry friend snuggle up on your sleeping pad, but pets鈥� sharp claws pose a significant hazard to inflatable mats. Store them out of reach.

Don鈥檛: Strap It to the 国产吃瓜黑料 of Your Pack

We鈥檝e all done it (or at least considered it): lashing our bulky sleeping pad to the outside of our pack. It may seem like space-saving common sense, but Lassesen warns against this strategy. 鈥淩eally, it should be protected on the inside,鈥� she听says. 鈥淪ome punctures occur while the mat is in storage mode, so the placement of a sleeping mat while in a backpack is very important.鈥� Keep听it separated from sharp tools and utensils.

Leak Finding

Do: Spray with Soapy Water

The first and听often hardest step is locating the puncture, Lassesen says. She recommends inflating your mat fully before spraying it with a mixture of soap and water. Then apply pressure to the mat and look for bubbles. She also notes that if the mat is wet, and there鈥檚 enough pressure, 鈥測ou can actually hear a bit of a whistle sound from where the air is coming out.鈥�

Don鈥檛: Hesitate to Call in a Professional

There鈥檚 a reason why Lassesen considers this the most challenging听point听of the听process. 鈥淚f somebody can find the puncture, then that鈥檚 a huge accomplishment,鈥� she says. Holes that cause your pad to completely deflate overnight can be tiny and nearly impossible to spot, even听with听the usual at-home tricks. At the Exped lab, she uses a hydraulic dunk tank that can immerse the entire pad under water and put enough pressure on it to clearly show where every single leak is, no matter how small. Also consider sending your mat to a professional if the internal foam is damaged听or if you鈥檙e just feeling out of your depth. Exped and many other companies offer free repair programs鈥攖ake advantage of them.

Repair

Do: Use Glue

This is where I and so many others went wrong. The little patch that comes with your pad鈥檚 repair kit? It won鈥檛 actually fix a leak.听鈥淧atches are more intended to be a protective, cosmetic听layer. Some are adhesive, some are not, but the patch itself isn鈥檛 doing any of the work,鈥� Lassesen says. While an adhesive patch may stave off a leak for one night if you鈥檙e out in the backcountry, the only permanent solution for a puncture or tear is a glue that will bond with the fabric听to create an airtight seal. In fact, no patch is necessary at all. 鈥淕lue is key,鈥� Lassesen says.听For fabric-covered pads, she听recommends ($7) for short-term field fixes听or the brand鈥檚 ($8) for long-term ones, which should also work on rubberized mats. (The latter can be layered over the former to reinforce field repairs when you get home.)

Don鈥檛: Get Creative

This is one place duct tape won鈥檛 help. Besides being unable to create an airtight seal, the adhesive on the tape can leave a residue on the fabric, making it harder to patch in the future. 鈥淪tick with the right products, and don鈥檛 experiment,鈥� Lassesen says. Tent-repair kits and down-jacket patches are also no-go鈥檚.

Other Advice

Do: Test Your Pad

Inflate your repaired听pad at home, and weigh it down with books (or sleep on it) before heading out into the backcountry. Even if you successfully took care of one leak, there could be more, and you may not know until it鈥檚 too late.

Do: Reinforce Large听Tears

鈥淚f there鈥檚 a larger hole or tear, having some kind of backing on the underside of the repair is super helpful,鈥� Lassesen says. 鈥淪ometimes people will just glue the top of their mats, but the glue might be able to permeate through the hole area. Then you have something that鈥檚 glued the top and bottom together, and you end up ruining the mat.鈥� She recommends ($5) or medical tape.

Do: Know When to Quit

Typically, Lassesen says, tears through welds and valve housings cannot be permanently fixed. If your mat breaks in those spots, it鈥檚 probably best to just get a new one. Here are a few we recommend.

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Sea to Summit Ascent AcII ($399)

We鈥檝e seen the trend in jackets and tents, and now it鈥檚 come for sleeping bags: weight savings, warmth, and comfort are no longer at odds. Sea to Summit loaded its 颅Ascent AcII with niceties, like an oversize shape that accommodates all sleeping positions and three zippered openings鈥斅璮ull-length on one side, half-length on the other, plus a slit around the footbox鈥攖o regulate temperature. It boasts 19.4 ounces of 颅750-fill down, with a mix of vertical and horizontal baffles that keep the insulation in place and prevent cold spots, and a large draft collar to lock in heat. The result is a 颅no-compromise sleeping bag that weighs just 2.4 pounds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 much roomier than most light bags, but still toasty warm,鈥� said one tester. On a backpacking trip in British Columbia鈥檚 Chilcotin, we found it true to the 15-degree temperature rating, but the easy venting system meant we slept great at 60 degrees. That鈥檚 an impressive range, especially for such a feathery bag. Sure, there are cozier options. But we have yet to find a worthier bag for three-season use. 2.4 lbs

Mammut Relax Down Bag ($320)

Best in Summer

Claustrophobic sleepers will 颅appreciate the 750-fill Relax Down, which has a wide torso so you can wiggle into a comfortable 颅slumber. The men鈥檚 version is 颅rated at 28 degrees (the 颅women鈥檚 is four degrees 颅warmer), and a 颅two-way zipper slices up the middle for easy temperature regulation. The included earplugs and sleep mask were nice luxuries. 2.1 lbs (men鈥檚) / 2 lbs (women鈥檚)

听

NEMO Flyer Pad ($120)

NEMO鈥檚 new hybrid design 颅marries the durable nylon exterior of an inflatable pad with the structure and comfort of open-cell foam. The Flyer has about 60 percent less foam than similar pads, replacing the balance of its internal volume with air. Bonus: it takes less than ten breaths鈥攁bout 30 seconds鈥攖o inflate. 1.4 lbs

Marmot Paiju Bag ($564)

Best Year-Round

For an October outing in British Columbia, our tester gambled on the minus-five-degree Paiju鈥檚 storm readiness (the threads are waterproof and the shell water-颅resistant) and went sans tent. Dew shook right off, and the 颅800-fill 颅water-resistant down kept him toasty even on a windy ten-degree night. Superb packability makes it an ideal choice for summer trips with unpredictable weather. 3.7 lbs

Zenbivy Light Mattress Pad ($159)

Your bag is only as warm as the pad beneath it. Unlike most lightweight air mats, 颅Zenbivy鈥檚 has an R-value of five-plus, thanks to 180 grams of synthetic fill. Still, it鈥檚 only about the size of a 颅football when packed down. The pad鈥檚 rectangular shape means that even restless sleepers will avoid the sting of waking up on the cold, hard ground. 1.3 lbs

NEMO Forte 35 Bag ($160)

Best on a Budget

Finding a high-performance sleeping bag for $150 is hard. Enter the Forte. With 80 percent recycled, 颅moisture-resistant polyester fill, it kept us warm during a wet, 颅near freezing trip. Extra room at the elbows and knees for side sleeping plus zippered ventilation gills are smart details that will make a camping fan out of anyone. 2.1 lbs

听

Klymit Static V Luxe SL Pad ($120)

The Luxe SL is a lofty 3.5 inches high and 27 inches wide, enough that active sleepers won鈥檛 slide off, and it comes at an affordable price. To shave grams, Klymit used a thin 30-denier fabric and narrowed the bottom third of the pad. This translates to a high and dry night of rest on V-shaped baffles so pronounced, they gave back sleepers gentle acupressure therapy. 1.3 lbs

Rab Mythic Ultra 180 Bag ($550)

Best Fast-and-Light

To manufacture a bag that weighs less than a pound, crams into a three-liter stuff sack, and still performs at 32 degrees, Rab used responsibly sourced 颅900-fill down and a reflective lining made from 颅tita颅nium-coated fibers that capture radiant heat鈥攁n industry first. During a fall trip to Greenland, even amid snowfall, our tester slept like a baby. 14 oz

Big Agnes Insulated 颅Axl Air Pad ($180)

For the Axl Air, Big Agnes upgraded one of its most popular lightweight sleeping pads with PrimaLoft鈥檚 new synthetic insulation, which includes a warm, ultralight aerogel. It then thermally bonded that fill to the top and bottom of the pad, reducing air movement. The resulting pad has an R-value of three鈥攇reat for three-season use. It also packs down to Nalgene size. 14 oz

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Lusting after the newest equipment鈥攊tems that are free of ember holes and designed听with the coolest features鈥攊s a common predicament for outdoor enthusiasts. Maybe you have a perfectly good tent or stove听that you want to upgrade, or maybe you really听do need to splurge on something new, because what you鈥檝e got听in your gear closet is broken and beat-up and the latest version is truly safer. We spoke to gear reviewer and avid thru-hiker for guidance on how to know听when it鈥檚 time to justify the price tag on a new piece of equipment.

Tent

Your tent can last a lifetime if you take care of it properly. 鈥淚 have every tent I鈥檝e ever owned,鈥� says Fox, who has hiked both the Pacific Crest听and Continental Divide Trails. But just because they鈥檙e still standing doesn鈥檛 mean they won鈥檛 pop a seam听or need new stakes over time, he adds. Poles, zippers, and mesh are usually the first features to fail on a shelter鈥攂ut the good news is that those are all easily fixable.

Many brands鈥攍ike ,听听and听鈥攚ill repair their products. (If the issue isn鈥檛 covered under warranty, they may charge a small fee.)听You can also try your hand at fixing a zipper, patching a tear, replacing shock cord, or re-waterproofing听your gear听yourself. 鈥淲hen the tent is so old that the people you鈥檙e sending it to are like, 鈥榃e haven鈥檛 seen one of these in years,鈥� it may be time to replace it, but not necessarily because it doesn鈥檛 function听anymore,鈥� Fox says. This is because tent technology has come a long way since the heavy, bulky shelters of yesteryear. You can find models that are fully waterproof,听made out of extremely strong and light Dyneema, or that only require trekking poles as supports.

One new reason to replace your tent听is recent research showing听that听some frequently applied听flame-retardant chemicals听used to treat tents have been linked to a slew of health problems, ranging from cancer to reproductive complications. 听from its shelters. All tents from 贵箩盲濒濒谤盲惫别苍, and some from Hyperlite Mountain Gear and Zpacks, are free of flame retardants. REI will start transitioning away from using these chemicals this fall.

Sleeping Bag

If you鈥檙e compressing a sleeping bag into your backpack every day on a thru-hike, it鈥檚 going to need replacing much sooner than if you car-camp a few times a year. Like most gear, a sleeping bag鈥檚 lifetime depends on use and care. Fox says a good way to tell when your sleeping bag is kaput听is when it isn鈥檛 keeping you as warm anymore. 鈥淚f you have a 900-fill, ten-degree sleeping bag, maybe after six months of hiking and sticking it in your backpack, it actually functions more like a 700-fill, 25-degree bag,鈥� he says.

Before springing for听a new one, consider patching any holes, throwing it in the wash听(), or听getting it restuffed with down (ask the manufacturer if it听offers a refill service). Even if it鈥檚 still not up to par after trying to restore it, your sleeping bag probably still has some life left in it. 鈥淢aybe your fall sleeping bag becomes your summer sleeping bag,鈥� Fox says.

You can also donate your used sleeping bag鈥攁nd other gear鈥攖o someone in need. Check with your local homeless shelters, Girl Scout听and Boy Scout听troops, and animal shelters to see听if they can find it a new home.

Sleeping Pad

One night while lying down in his tent, Fox heard a few pops and then felt his inflatable sleeping pad deform. The baffle seams听had burst and the air ballooned at the head area. He needed a new pad. Inflatable sleeping pads tend to leak over time through holes developed during use. But try 听before you toss it.

With non-inflatable pads,听the time to upgrade may not be as obvious. Fox says to pay attention to the thickness of foam pads. 鈥淎fter a couple months of sleeping on them, they鈥檙e noticeably flatter,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hen you buy a 听and stack it up, it鈥檚 probably seven or eight inches tall, and over time, it might be four inches tall instead.鈥�

No matter what kind of pad you have, if you鈥檙e not getting a good night鈥檚 rest after long days outside, it may be worth the money to buy听a new one.

Stove

Fox says that if there鈥檚 something on this gear list you should听replace as a result听of new technology rather than a system failure, it鈥檚 going to be your stove. Unless the autoignition on听your stove stops working (and even then, you can simply听use a match or a lighter), you鈥檒l probably feel compelled to start shopping for something lighter, faster, and easier before it鈥檚 destined for the gear grave.听Regardless of you stove鈥檚 age,听after every camping trip, inspect it for gas leaks by connecting your canister, closing the valves,听and listening for any hissing. If you hear anything and can鈥檛 fix it, even after talking to the manufacturer, it鈥檚 time to find a new one.

Water Filtration

According to Fox, water filters give out much quicker than any other piece of听gear. When yours听gunks听up and becomes difficult to pump, you can try to back-flush or clean the filter to prolong its life, but it鈥檚 likely time to put a new one on your shopping list. 鈥淲hen it gets to the point where I鈥檇 rather risk getting giardia instead of having to sit there and pump, then it鈥檚 probably time to replace听my water filter,鈥� Fox says.

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Have you ever cleaned your sleeping bag? Or has it been ten听years since it鈥檚 been thoroughly washed? Chances are it鈥檚 time to give that thing a deep clean, especially before you put it away after the summer camping season, since any trapped moisture will fester in storage. You can get it professionally laundered鈥攖ech cleaners like in Seattle, Washington, or in Truckee, California, will do that for you, either in person or by mail. But it鈥檚 also easy to do it yourself. Here鈥檚 what you鈥檒l need.

The Process

Step 1: Head to a Laundromat

Your home washer and dryer aren鈥檛 quite burly enough to clean your sleeping bag, so your best bet is to go to a laundromat for industrial-sized equipment and a front-loading washer. Never use a top-loading washing machine with an agitator column鈥攖he bag could get twisted around it and rip.听

鈥淚f you鈥檙e using a zero-degree or alpine bag with large baffles, hefty loft, or high-quality insulation, I always recommend putting it in a larger washer,鈥� says Kipp Godfrey, manager at Rainy Pass Repair. 鈥淎 big drum will help expel water. If you overstuff your home washer or dryer, the machine won鈥檛 function as efficiently.鈥�

Step 2: Use the Right Cleaner

Never dry-clean your sleeping bag, and never wash it with regular laundry detergent. 鈥淲here people consistently go wrong with DIY cleaning is using the right cleaner,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淚f you use a standard detergent or household cleaner, you could end up with down clumping.鈥澨�

Be sure to read the care instructions. If you鈥檝e ripped out the tag, check the manufacturer鈥檚 website for cleaning guidelines. If it鈥檚 a down sleeping bag, you鈥檒l want to wash it with a down cleaner formulated for down feathers and fibers, like or . If it鈥檚 a synthetic bag, use or .听

Step 3: Wash It

The care instructions on the bag should cover the basics of water temperature听and spin cycle, but generally, you鈥檒l want to use either cold or warm water鈥攏ever hot鈥攁nd put it through a second rinse cycle.听

Step 4: Dry It

Once it鈥檚 been washed and rinsed, transfer the bag to the dryer on a low heat setting. Make sure the lint filters are clean. If it鈥檚 a down bag, toss in a couple tennis balls to maintain the loft. For synthetic bags, you don鈥檛 need the tennis balls.听

鈥淒rying takes a long time,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淭his is why an industrial dryer is nice. You鈥檒l get better heat transfer with lower temperatures.鈥澨�

Step 5: Spot Cleaning and Hand Washing

There鈥檚 really no need to spot-clean your bag; you鈥檙e better off just washing the whole thing. But if your bag has one pesky stain or mark, you can spritz and dab it with a cleaner like .听

If an industrial washing machine isn鈥檛 available, you can, in a pinch, hand wash your sleeping bag in a large basin or tub filled with soapy water. Pour a small amount of cleaner into warm water, and use your hands to wash and rinse the bag. Air drying works if that鈥檚 your only option, but know that it鈥檒l take quite a long time to get the bag completely dry.

Step 6: Storing Your Bag听

Now your sleeping bag is all clean听and dry. That wasn鈥檛 so hard, right? To maintain its longevity and loft, store the bag as loosely as you can. Never keep a bag jammed into that tiny stuffsack built for backpacking trips. 鈥淭he best way, if you have the space, is to lay the bag out and either hang it completely open or lay it out on top of something, like a sleeping pad or under a couch or bed,鈥� Godfrey says. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 have room for that, at least use the enlarged sack so it鈥檒l be loosely stuffed.鈥�

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In the late 2000s, Therm-a-Rest revolutionized the sleeping pad with the NeoAir XLite, which was lighter, warmer, and more comfortable than the prevailing self-inflating pads of the day. While听other brands have since developed competing products,听the XLite has remained dominant among weight-conscious backpackers. But Therm-a-Rest鈥檚 newest offering just might change that dynamic.

This summer I slept on the new ($195, 8.8 ounces) for five weeks in West Virginia鈥檚 Appalachians, Alaska鈥檚 Brooks Range, and Yosemite National Park. It kept me warm in temperatures down to 30 degrees Fahrenheit, incurred no holes or blown seams, and was acceptably comfortable.

Due to its weight, it鈥檚 a very attractive option for backpacking in three-season conditions, for which the UberLite provides sufficient insulation.听

The UberLite competes most directly with the Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air听($180, 10.6 ounces).听Between the two, it鈥檚 a toss-up: the UberLite is marginally lighter,听the AXL is slightly more comfortable,听both cost about the same, and both push the limits of fabric and construction technologies. Go to the store and test-sleep both; or order both, try them at home, and decide which one you want to keep.

If your pad needs to work听beyond three-season conditions, your answer is still the ($185, 12 ounces), which is more durable, costs ten bucks听less, and is 60 percent warmer than the UberLite and the Insulated AXL Air.听

UberLite Specs

• Sizes: small, regular, and large
• Weight: 8.8 ounces (250 grams) for听regular
• R-value:听2.0
• Materials:听15-denier ripstop nylon on top, and 15-denier听nylon on the bottom
• Thickness: 2.5听inches听
• Cost: $180 MSRP for regular

Comfort

If you鈥檝e听spent a night on the XLite or the warmer XTherm, the UberLite will feel very familiar. All three pads are 2.5 inches thick, feature horizontal baffles of uniform height,听and taper slightly toward听the foot end.

Without 鈥済uardrails鈥� to help cradle the sleeper, wider bodies should consider the large pad, which is five inches wider and taller (and 3.2 ounces heavier and $30 more expensive) than the regular. For context, I wear slim or very slim medium shirts听and find the regular size suitable, but not with much margin.

Noise

Unlike the XLite, Mylar film isn鈥檛 used in the construction of the UberLite. That means it鈥檚 less warm听but also听less crinkly. Sleeping on the XLite has rightly been compared to sleeping on a bag of potato chips.

The UberLite is quieter than the XLite, but it鈥檚 not absolutely quiet. The听fabrics are crispy听and can replicate the sound of balloons being rubbed together when laid atop some shelter-floor fabrics.

My experience with the XLite, XTherm, AXL, and now UberLite is that these pads make less noise with age and when paired with older shelter floors. Repeated folding of the pad seems to soften the materials, and normal use seems to buff the fabric coatings.

Warmth

The insulating properties of a sleeping pad are quantified by the R-value, which measures how well something resists conductive heat transfer. The higher the number, the warmer the pad. The UberLite has an R-value of 2.0. Anecdotally and quantitatively, it鈥檚 not as warm as the XLite, which has an R-value of 3.2. The UberLite鈥檚听optimal temperature range feels close to the Insulated AXL Air, whose听R-value is not publicly known.

The lowest temperature I experienced with the UberLite was 30 degrees. I was extraordinarily comfortable, but context matters here: I was sleeping on a soft bed of Arctic tundra and on my backpack, which were complementing the UberLite鈥檚 warmth. More often, nighttime temperatures during my testing were in the forties; I slept on gravel bars, pine needles, mineral sand, granite slabs, and plain old dirt. In general听I鈥檓 very adept at finding campsites that are inherently warm鈥攊t鈥檚 rare that I sleep on cold, damp, hard-packed ground. So your mileage may vary.

The听coldest I ever got with听the UberLite was in West Virginia, when I was camping in a bridge hammock atop a windy ridge with temperatures in the low thirties. By 2 A.M. I was too cold to sleep, so I dropped the hammock to the spruce-needle-covered ground, which was a much warmer arrangement.

Overall, I would describe the UberLite as a true three-season pad. In the Mountain West, that means June through mid-September. In the Eastern woodlands and desert Southwest, you can add one to two months on both sides. Undoubtedly, the UberLite is a less capable pad than the XLite, which I unhesitatingly pack for hunting trips in the Colorado Rockies in November and early-season backpacking trips in May, when I might have to sleep on snow.

Durability

My UberLite has not yet developed any holes or bulges. I wouldn鈥檛 expect the latter, since delamination of the internal tubes is a very long-term issue. To avoid the former, I鈥檓 careful with it鈥攅very night I protect the UberLite with a tent floor or bivy sack, a plastic pack liner, and my backpack.

But don鈥檛 be mistaken: the UberLite is a delicate pad. Keep it away from sharp rocks, thorns, and needles. Don鈥檛 use it as a sitting pad during rest breaks or around the campfire. And keep it inside a stuffsack when it鈥檚 in your pack.

I also don鈥檛 store the UberLite (or any other pad) in the same way that it arrives from the factory. Instead of folding it in thirds and then rolling it, I roll up the pad听full width听and then fold it in half. This technique avoids sharp creases in the fabrics, which I think improves long-term durability, and it鈥檚 faster and less fussy.

If you read through reviews of the UberLite, you鈥檒l see quite a few comments to the effect of, 鈥淚t developed a hole on the second night, and I returned it.鈥� I get the sense that there are (or were) lemons being produced, and I鈥檇 advise you to test out your UberLite before you rely on it; you can do this by听inflating it at home, weighting it with something, and making sure that it holds air for a few days.

Inflation and Deflation

The UberLite retains the tried-and-true stick valve that Therm-a-Rest has been using since at least the early 2000s. The valve restricts the rate of inflation and deflation, but I don鈥檛 mind: my respiratory system, not the valve, is the limitation during inflation.听And deflation is acceptably quick if I release it while still lying on the pad. Recently, I timed this process鈥攊t took 60 seconds from opening the valve to putting it inside a stuffsack.

How It Compares

How does the UberLite stack up against听other popular sleeping pads?

Therm-a-Rest UberLite Versus听Therm-a-Rest XLite

Compared to the ($185, 12 ounces), the UberLite is:

• 3.2 ounces lighter and $10 more expensive
• just as comfortable听but less noisy
• less abrasion- and puncture-resistant

Therm-a-Rest UberLite Versus听Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air

Compared to the Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air ($180, 10.6 ounces), the UberLite is:

• 1.8 ounces lighter and equally expensive
• less comfortable: it鈥檚 thinner and lacks oversize听outer tubes
• similar in warmth
• comparable in durability

Therm-a-Rest UberLite Versus听Klymit Static V Ultralite SL

Compared to the ($120, 12 ounces), the UberLite is:

• 3.1 ounces lighter
• $75听more expensive
• warmer
• less suitable for rolling sleepers

The post Long-Term Review: Therm-a-Rest UberLite Sleeping Pad appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Dear ,

We鈥檝e been together for a long time. It鈥檚 been about four years, spending virtually every waking (and sleeping) moment together. Running rivers, crashing illegally in the back of my car, living it up at music festivals… We did it all.

Damn, we had some good times.

I remember when I first saw you, new and neatly rolled up, on the beach at Lees Ferry before we put in the Grand Canyon. My old whitewater rafting boss got you for me on a pro deal as a thank you for staying late in the season (as well as for inviting him on my Grand Canyon trip). It was love at first sight.

Normally, a 24-day first date would ruin just about any relationship, but for some reason, the chemistry between us never fell flat. You supported me over those weeks in the canyon, and I could tell you were in it for the long haul. I slept on rocks, roots, and river rubbish鈥攁nd I never felt anything but your air-and-foam-filled goodness. You were open to trying tons of different positions, and when some of the oranges in my cooler started going bad, you helped by keeping them shaded. If that鈥檚 not love, I don鈥檛 know what is.

You were so fresh in those early days鈥攏ot yet worn down by the experiences we鈥檝e shared since. I fondly remember that summer guiding the Trinity River and our fall-season stint trimming marijuana plants in Humboldt. My boss wanted us to sleep out in the crop, and you were my only company and insulation, even on the coldest nights. Waking up in a sea of green, we enjoyed those crisp NorCal mornings together. Sorry for spilling coffee on you from time to time.

What about a couple of years later? That rafting season we spent squatting in Charlie Sands鈥檚 boathouse in Jackson? Every day I鈥檇 come 鈥渉ome鈥� and stash wet bundles of cash under you from river-guiding gratuities. But you never complained or got moldy. If anything, you seemed to appreciate the better living situation that the tips promised鈥攁s long as I didn鈥檛 start eyeing new sleeping pads.听

We even survived that disturbing night on the Hoback River, when a . I remember lying awake all night wondering if some meth-fueled madman was going to jump out from the bushes and pad-nap you along with the raft and beer. I held you tightly that whole evening, along with my knife.

And the look on the TSA agents鈥櫶齠aces when I brought you as carry-on鈥攔olled up and damn near overflowing from my pack鈥攖o Maui in 2017? But they let us on board! Sure, other passengers stared as I violently jammed you into the overhead bin, but who were they to judge? I鈥檒l never be ashamed of you. Crashing together in that rental van was way better than paying for a fancy hotel room. After all, a year鈥檚 worth of guiding tips would have only bought a few nights at the Four Seasons.

Then, of course, there was that summer on the Rogue, working 18-hour days. Cook, rig, raft, cook, rig, raft, cook, do the dishes鈥攖hen repeat, day after day. I鈥檓 still haunted by the sound of an early-morning coffee blaster as my fellow guides got breakfast going. If it weren鈥檛 for you, I wouldn鈥檛 have made it, and the river would have broken me.

I love you, Paco Pad. We鈥檝e shared so much, and we鈥檒l continue to do so. But let鈥檚 be honest: it鈥檚 not like it used to be.

Sadly, I鈥檓 not in my twenties anymore. You know I鈥檒l always love you, but our relationship has changed. When we met, I was in a different phase of my life. Gravel sandbars, sketchy out-of-view parking-lot corners, and obscure campsites made sense. A part of me wishes I was still that guy. But I鈥檓 not, and I鈥檓 sorry.

I have an apartment now鈥攁nd a real bed鈥攁nd my days of dirtbagging it out of Rhonda the Honda are over (hopefully). I鈥檒l never replace you with another pad. I promise. We鈥檝e got a trip down the main Salmon later this summer. And when it comes to laying out on the balcony and reading sci-fi, you and I still have a great thing.

But鈥攂eing together every night鈥攊t just doesn鈥檛 make sense anymore.

My yoga mat is no threat to you, and I sincerely hope you and it can be friends. Trust me, there鈥檚 still no other piece of gear I鈥檇 rather spend a road or river trip with. OK, maybe the French press. For now, rest easy in the closet. You鈥檝e earned it.

Yours in love, z鈥檚, and dirt,

Sam

The post Dear Paco Pad, It’s Time for Me to Move On appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

You鈥檙e willing to sacrifice plenty of creature comforts while camping and backpacking, but you鈥檙e not willing to give up a good night鈥檚 sleep. Thankfully, gearmakers today understand that a comfy bed isn鈥檛 a luxury, it鈥檚 a necessity, and they鈥檙e in a robust space race to create the greatest sleep pad. It鈥檚 a crowded market but we dug through reviews and our own tests to pick a handful of the best-rated sleeping pads you can buy right now.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite ($130)

If you鈥檙e counting ounces, you鈥檒l love the , which offers 2.5 inches of cushion but weighs only 12 ounces听and packs down to the size of a water bottle. The newest version听is made from 30-denier ripstop nylon, which makes this pad听softer and quieter than previous models.

NEMO Astro ($80)

Yes, you can get a quality pad for under $100. NEMO鈥檚 is 3.5 inches thick and made from a quiet polyester that doesn鈥檛 crinkle when you move. We dig the lateral baffles, which听provide听structure, and the oversize听鈥減illow鈥� baffle at the top of the pad. At one pound four ounces it鈥檚 not the lightest pad on this list but you can鈥檛 beat the price.

Exped MegaMat Duo ($350)

You鈥檙e not going to lug this double mat into the backcountry, but if you鈥檙e looking for the most comfortable sleep for you and your partner away from your own mattress, look no further than the . We鈥檝e been gushing about this pad for years听because it鈥檚 almost four inches thick (3.9 inches) with a combo of foam and air insulation across its 52-inch width. It鈥檒l fill up your entire two-person tent, and it comes with a mini-pump so you can save your lungs.

Mountain Equipment Aerostat Down 7.0 ($190)

Winter camping calls for a four-season pad, and the is one of the warmest on the market. The 30-denier ripstop shell is filled with 120 grams of down spread throughout the air chambers to create a ridiculously high R-value of 8.8. Also cool: the stuffsack is a Windsock, which rolls air into the pad. And it鈥檚 not as heavy as you鈥檇 think, coming in at just 1.1 pounds.

Klymit Insulated Hammock V ($110)

Plenty of hammockers forgo听pads altogether听but we like the warmth and stability a pad adds. The Klymit鈥檚 鈥渨ings鈥� help keep the pad in place inside your little cocoon while also providing side warmth. It鈥檚 not light, but , which is loaded with synthetic insulation, helps battle the cold drafts that can make sleeping in a hammock uncomfortable when the temp drops.

The post 5 Sleeping Pads as Comfortable as Mattresses appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.