While shopping for a down sleeping bag, jacket, quilt, comforter, or pillow you may have noticed that there are two different types of down available. This guide outlines the pros and cons of goose vs duck down to help you decide which insulation is the best choice for you. We’ll compare the warmth, weight, price, …
When choosing a sleeping bag or jacket, one of the most important decisions you need to make is the type of insulation it’s filled with. The insulation (or fill) determines the warmth, price, weight, durability, compressibility, performance in wet conditions, and more. The ideal insulation depends mostly on the climate and temperatures you plan to …
In the never-ending quest to cut weight and bulk, many minimalist hikers, bikepackers, and travelers are making the switch from a sleeping bag to a quilt. Everyone is going ultralight. This guide outlines the pros and cons of a quilt vs sleeping bags. I’ll compare weight, warmth, ease of use, cost, durability, comfort, size, moisture …
Condensation inside of a tent is an annoyance that every camper faces. It is an unavoidable natural process that occurs in every tent, regardless of the design and the materials it is made of. You can’t stop condensation but you can minimize it by taking a few simple precautions. This guide outlines how to reduce …
Backpacking tents fall into two categories: freestanding and non-freestanding. The ideal tent design for your trip depends on the climate, the type of ground you’re camping on, how often you plan to use it, personal preference, and more. This guide outlines the pros and cons of freestanding vs non-freestanding tents to help you decide which …
Last season, I began experimenting with different camping shelter options. In the past, I had always been a tent camper. Now I’m giving hammocks a try. In this guide, I list the pros and cons of hammock vs tent camping to help you decide which shelter option is best for your style of camping. I’ll …
These days, the trend in camping shelters is toward minimalism. Everyone is going ultralight. I grew up using tents but began experimenting with bivy sacks last year to cut down my base weight. This guide outlines the pros and cons of using a bivy sack vs tent to help you decide which is best for …
Tents these days are expensive and fragile. This is the result of complex ultralight designs and modern high tech fabrics. After spending hundreds of dollars on a new tent, you want it to last as long as possible. One way to increase the lifespan of your tent is to use a footprint. This guide outlines …
I bought the Kelty Cosmic 20 degree down sleeping bag on Amazon to use for hiking, travel, and bicycle touring. I needed a bag that was light enough for backpacking, warm enough for 3 season use, and, most importantly, affordable. After extensive research, I settled on the Kelty Cosmic 20. In my opinion, this is …
Last season, I began experimenting with different camping shelter options. In the past, I had always been a tent camper. Now, I’m giving tarps a try. In this article, I list the pros and cons of using a tarp vs tent for camping. I’ll also outline the different types of tarps available including materials, shape, …