Maybe your next outdoor trip will take you ultralight backpacking or maybe, you need light gear to pack in the car or on the plane.
Big Agnes makes some of the best lightweight outdoor gear out there, so in preparation for packing for a camping vacation in Iceland, we checked out one of their lightest tents and lightweight sleeping bags.
Thunderhead sleeping bag:
- Nylon Ripstop, Nylon Taffeta.
- 650-fill DownTek.
- DWR Finish, Hydrophobic Down Treatment.
- Zipperless, With Hook-And-Clip System.
The Thunderhead 30 is a super lightweight, technical down bag with 650 fill power (DownTek…our favorite). But lightweight down bags abound…what sets the Thunderhead apart is its lack of zipper.
That’s right…no more loud zipping sound breaking the silence of a wilderness morning. The cocoon style construction features a clip and loop system instead, which sounds like more work, but really wasn’t a big deal.
You also get an oversized interior anti draft collar that wraps around the entire body…no more cold spots. The foot box is vaulted and pretty spacious, which is a must for my crew…they hate not having any ‘wiggle’ room.
If you use a sleeping bag liner, there are interior hooks for that, and there’s an nice hood as well. Exterior hooks are ready-bade for hanging the bag to dry or store once you’re back home.
Of course, you get a mesh storage sack and stuff sack included. The Thunderhead is $249 for the regular size (it comes in long, too). For me, it’s definitely worth the price if saving room and shaving ounces is important to you.
Happy Hooligan UL2:
- Lightweight And Functional.
- Extra Storage.
- Easy To Use And Enjoy.
- Waterproof Features.
The Happy Hooligan tent offers everything you need, and nothing you don’t…including extra weight. No need for gimmicky features when all you want is a tent that protects from the elements (and buzzing mosquitoes, of course).
We tested the 2P version, but there’s a 3P as well. The key to the Happy Hooligan’s light weight is in the poles: Big Agnes uses DAC Green Anodizing technology in the tent poles and stakes.
Not only are they extremely lightweight, but according to DAC, they’re safer for the environment and significantly reduce waste water by recycling water throughout the manufacturing process.
We tested the Happy Hooligan on a spring backpacking trip on the Rogue River, and loved it. The packed weight is 3 pounds, 9 ounces, which includes the fly. You get two doors and two vestibules, which is a nice perk that doesn’t always come included in small tents.
It’s 40 inches in height, which, combined with the fully see-through mesh walls, makes the tent feel very open and spacious. (Of course, when you need the rain fly, you’ll lose some of that feeling.)
There are two interior pockets and two media pockets, and reflective guy lines. We had no problem setting up the tent for the first time, and it’s definitely lightweight enough that we’ll pack it for our Iceland adventure, and carry it on the plane.
- Lightweight And Functional.
- Extra Storage.
- Easy To Use And Enjoy.
- Waterproof Features.
The Happy Hooligan is $379 for the 2 person version…steep for a small tent, but you won’t need to replace it any time soon!