Posts Tagged camping
Crazy Mountain Hardware Guys Camp Atop Ski Resort in Chile
So there I was sliding off the ski lift at Valle Nevado resort in Chile a couple weeks ago when I spotted a dome tent with a Mountain Hardware logo on it. Curious, I skied over to see what it was all about. As this guy explains in the video, he and a couple other guys are camped out up there the entire ski season! In the daytime they ski a little, greet visitors, build igloos, and show off their gear. At night, they bundle up.
I think the point is that this gear can hold up well to the elements, even for an entire winter at 10,000 feet in the Andes Mountains. Tents, sleeping bags, insulated pants, and serious puffy jackets.
You can check out Mountain Hardware gear yourself at the following online retailers.
Mountain Hardwear at Backcountry.com
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear on August 31st, 2010
Citronella Wilderness Wash from Sea to Summit
We love to review double-duty travel gear here on Practical Travel Gear, especially when it’s cheap and light as well. So how about hand-washing laundry detergent than also helps keep the bugs away?
That’s the idea behind Sea to Summit’s Citronella Wilderness Wash. You squirt some of this in the sink and wash your sweaty clothes. Then instead of your shirts smelling like flowers or perfume (which insects and bees will just love), you smell like citronella—a scent that the critters hate—and sandalwood.
Even better, this concentrated washing liquid comes in two sizes that are easy to carry on and airplane. The 1.3-ounce one goes for $3.50 and the 3-ounce one is a buck more. (If you’re going on a long overland or camping trip, however, you can buy an 8-ounce version.)
I tried this citronella laundry soap out on two recent trips and it did the job as well as any other liquid detergent I would use. I kind of liked the smell too—it’s not overpowering. If I were in a sensitive area I would rather have this along than one with harsh chemicals: it’s biodegradable and paraben-free.
It lives up to the “super concentrated” label as well. I’ve done five hotel bathroom sink loads with the smallest size and still have nearly half of it left. Whether you’re hiking through the mountains or backpacking around the tropics, this bug-unfriendly washing liquid is easy to pack and well worth the minimal cost.
And hey, this is multi-use soap meant for camping, so in a pinch you can use it for dishes, your body, or your hair. Double duty indeed.
See more details at the Sea to Summit site and follow the link below to order it from REI.
Sea To Summit Citronella Wilderness Wash Soap – 1.3 fl. oz. at REI
Posted by Tim in General Gear, Travel Light on August 12th, 2010
ExOfficio Insect Shield Halo Shirt Keeps the Mozzies Away
Mozzies? Well if you travel internationally in the tropics, you hear that word a lot—a slang term for mosquitoes—often accompanied by some kind of swear word. When you’re in a place with hungry mosquitoes it’s always annoying, but when those bugs carry malaria or dengue fever, you need an arsenal of weapons to stay healthy.
This Halo Check shirt with Insect Shield takes ExOfficio’s usual double-duty usefulness to a higher level, hitting all the right points for active travelers and keeping the bugs away as well. This fabric treatment is a no-brainer really once you get past the cost: there’s no odor, no harm to your skin, and no change to the feel of the fabric. Yet it holds up for 70 washings or so. I don’t know about you, but there are very few items of travel clothing I own that have been washed that many times.
The shirt itself has most of the attributes I love from ExOfficio . It’s lightweight nylon that doesn’t wrinkle, it dries quickly after a sink washing, it’s ventilated, and there’s a 30+ SPF sun protection. Provided you’re not in a place that’s super hot and humid, it’ll wick away the sweat. With the color I tried out—the khaki checked one—it doesn’t show sweaty areas too badly either.
As usual, there are lots of nice thoughtful extra features built in as well. It has snaps instead of buttons, which I really like. A mesh liner extends much of the way down the inside. There’s a 
fabric hook on the back for hanging it up and a flap and snap system to hold the sleeves up when you roll them up. (Rolled up during the day when the mosquitoes aren’t around, down at night to protect the arms.) Each breast pocket has a regular pocket and a handy zippered hidden pocket for stashing some cash or a credit card.
This is a great all-around, double-duty travel shirt that should keep looking good for years and keep the mosquitoes away for however long it takes you to wear it enough to need to wash it 70 times. It lists for $90, but prices will vary depending on who is selling it and what colors aren’t moving. As I wrote this, some colors were selling for around $50, so shop around.
There’s a version for women and a version for men, some in solid colors, others in checked patterns.
See more at the source, ExOfficio.com: Halo Check Shirt for Men and Halo Check Shirt for Women
Get the ExOfficio Halo shirt at Amazon.
ExOfficio Insect Shield Halo Check Shirt – Men’s or Women’s at REI.
Check prices at Magellan’s – Halo ExOfficio shirt
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, General Gear, Travel Light on July 15th, 2010
Adventure Medical Kits for Travelers
So, what happens when you’re traveling around and you get blisters? Or have a bike wreck? Or get bit by some nasty critter while camping?
The Adventure Medical Kit company has your remedy. I’ve been checking out two of their medical kits, one a simple Travel Medic weekender, one a major World Travel kit for a group or family that will have you ready for a hike through the Amazon.
The first picture here is of the latter, a packed 1.8 pound, $70 sack of insurance that is right for someone who wants to be prepared for any situation. I’m not sure I would want to carry this around the world, but I sure hope my guide is carrying something like it when I’m on an adventure tour, a trekking trip, or a river rafting excursion. I also wouldn’t mind having a doctor along to use it all, but in case I don’t there’s a handy little book that tells you how to do a proper bandaging job and which medicines to use in which situations.
So what’s in it? Well here’s a small sampling: bandage scissors, thermometers, wound closure strips, 10 yards of tape, bandages, dressing, rehydration salts, topical antibiotic, moleskin, sterile gloves, tick remover forceps, syringe, painkillers, and “wound closure strips.” Overkill for a trip to Paris, sure, but good to have if you’ll be in the wilderness for a while, hours away from a pharmacy.
The kit is impressively designed and has an amazing amount of stuff packed into its small package. Plus there are a few empty bottles you can fill with whatever else you need, in small enough sizes that the whole thing can go in your carry-on.
If you are just traveling through populated areas and just need a few basics, you can pick up the tiny Travel Medic kit for ten bucks or less. It has enough to get you through minor scrapes and cuts, a bout of the runs, hiking blisters, or a wicked hangover. It folds flat and takes up almost no space in your bag, so this is a good thing to pack for yourself or to give as a gift to an about-to-depart traveler.
Travel Medic First-Aid Kit at REI.
Get the full-blown Adventure World Travel First-Aid Kit
See other options at AdventureMedicalKits.com
Related post: Women’s Edition Travel Medical Kit
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family on June 30th, 2010
Score a Cute Little Lantern from Coghlan’s
Usually when we give away a prize on here it’s one big item and it’s an all-or-nothing affair. Well this time three readers will score a cool little LED Micro Lantern from Coghlan’s.
I first reviewed this item in 2008 (see the full review here) and I’ve been using it on camping trips ever since. I still haven’t replaced the two CR2032 coin batteries that came with it.
Despite the small size, I’ve found this bright enough to light up a tent or serve as the light source for a board game. In cheap hotels with dim lighting, this would be handy to have along. It sure doesn’t take up much space!
You can buy one of these at Amazon or your local outdoor gear store but how about a free one instead?
We can only ship to Canada or the U.S., but if you live in one of those places, you have two ways to enter.
1) Go become a fan on Facebook. Yes, it’s lonely in there because the page just went up this week. Be a pioneer. We’ll pick two random winners from the fans on June 25, 2010.
OR
2) Leave a comment below answering the following question: “Why is a weekend of camping better than a weekend of hanging out on Facebook?” We’ll pick one winner on June 25.
Your choice—conformist or rebel—but either way you can win.
***
Related post: Cheap travel and camping gear from Coghlan’s
Don’t miss out on any future giveaways – subscribe to this blog!
6/26 update – We have our winners! Congrats to the following, first two from Facebook fan page signups, last one from the comments below. All chosen via Random.org.
Rita Sams – from Facebook fan page
Véronique Mallet – from Facebook fan page
Christie – from the camping non-conformists
Posted by Tim in Adventure Gear, Kids and Family, Travel Light on June 10th, 2010
