Gear Patrol | Spirit of Adventure, Passion for Gear

What down side?

The next time you think Mother Nature has lost her edge to science, consider this fact. Despite all of the advanced synthetic insulators on the market today, no material boasts a better warmth to weight ratio than down. The trouble is that down’s got a serious achilles heel. As most outdoor enthusiasts know, its thermal [...]

Bear Grylls Meets Optimus Prime

Preparing for a wet outing in the woods normally involves packing a solid rain shell, a warm sleeping bag and a weather-proof tent. Thanks to some seriously resourceful engineering, the JakPak Jacket ($250) serves as all three — granted with some sacrifices. Made from waterproof, flame retardant material, the jacket features an integrated and detachable [...]

Look funny, stay warm

Remember the tent with no poles we reviewed here a while ago? Well, today we bring you another outdoor product from the “thinking outside the box” category: a sleeping bag with legs. The Selk’Bag, conceived of by a small company in Chile, is hardly a new idea. It was modeled and named after an indigenous [...]

Portable Protection From the Elements Done Right

Bivy sacks represent an excellent shelter solution for any trailblazer seeking all-weather protection without dealing with the weight or pack bulk of a tent. Nemo’s Gogo LE Bivy represents a better solution than competing models though on a variety of fronts. First of all, thanks to its added length, the Gogo LE provides sleeper’s with [...]

Simply put the North Face: Solar Flare sleeping bag is a hard core sleeping bag. It’s trapezoidal baffle construction, vaulted oxford-cloth lined footbox, goose down filling, breathable laminate shell make it one of the top bags out there. It will take you to -20 degrees (F) and take you there in comfort. Features: 7-chamber sculpted [...]