New for 2007, the Big Agnes Big House tents are the ultimate dwelling for 4-6 campers and all their gear. A straight forward floor plan means you’ll be set up, cooking and putting the kids to bed while the guy next door fumbles with his multiple room big-box tent. Because there’s no need to sacrifice comfort when weight isn’t a huge concern, the Big House also features an optional, extra large accessory vestibule for more storage or a shady sitting room. With a head height of 6′ 3″, you’ll be able stand up completely, unless you are taller than most. With The Big House Tent, you’ll feel right at home even when you couldn’t get farther away.
Another year, another tent I must have. Last year Big Agnes lightened up their Seedhouse Superlight tents, making them two of the lightest double wall tents around. The Seedhouse SL 2 was just under 3lbs and their 1 person Superlight was only 2lbs 6oz! They aslo introduced the Seedhouse Superlight 3 tent which sleeps 3 but was lighter than most 2 person tents. With the Superlight tents came sacrifice, and that sacrifice was space. Although you can sleep 2 people in the 2 person Superlight tent, it is a bit tight. Is there a tent that’s lightweight that doesn’t sleep like a can of sardines? Yes, my granola friends, there is. The eagle has landed and hatched the 2007 Big Agnes Emerald Mountain Tent. Slender, voluptuous, sexy…I could go on for minutes. Late night fantasies high in the Tetons have been realized. The Emerald Mountain 2 person tent comes in at 4lbs 3oz. That’s not great on weight, but get this. Two doors and 22 sq ft of vestibule space! Also, the big difference is in the length. This tent is 7′ 6″ from end to end, which should be enough length for just about anyone. The Emerald Mountain 3 gets even more interesting. This 3 person lightweight has 44 sq ft of floor space. The Seedhouse Superlight 3 only had 36. It also comes with 2 doors, 7′ 6″ of length and only 5lbs! Compare this to the MSR Mutha Hubba which has only 40 sq ft of space and comes in at 6lbs 12oz or the Sierra Designs Baku 3 tent which has 42 sq ft and weights 5lb 6oz.
Granite Gear’s latest and greatest pack, Nimbus Meridian, is now available. Granite Gear sent Justin Lichter, also known as “Trauma”, this pack for his 10,000 mile North American journey which he finished on October, 23 2006, a little less than 1 year after he started. 10,000 miles later and a ton of pasta, the Nimbus Meridian was back and performed like a champ. The Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian is available for 249.95. You can read all about Trauma’s trip here.
The new Petzl e+Lite is big on cool and small on size. They say this headlamp is for an emergency, hence the “e”, but I’ll be packing my new toy around as my primary light-weight headlamp. It has 3 white LEDs and 1 red led in the middle for night vision. The strobe mode is for emergency and will blink for days. The light also snugly fits into a nifty red carrying case that is waterproof. Petzl really got it right whe they designed the easy to use yet highly functional e+Lite. MSRP 29.95
3 watts and 104 hrs later, the new Icon finally goes dim. Black Diamond’s new headlamp is an Icon for Headlamps to follow. There have been a handful of 3-watt headlamps come to market this past year but they were either too expensive (see Princeton Tec Apex) or low on quality. The new Black Diamond Icon Headlamp is priced at only 59.95 and made with the quality we have come to expect from Black Diamond. The 3-watt LED also lasts a surprisingly long 104 hours on low, and 70 hrs on high which is longer than some 1-watt LEDs. This headlamp and the new Petzl e+Lite just took over the top two spots on my Christmas wish list.
Outdoor gear providers are creating products that work great and outperform the competition thanks to their eco-friendly innovations. It’s the start of a new phase in green living where the green choice is unquestionably the better choice because it actually improves our lifestyles.THIS WEEK’S GUESTS:
Jessica Ng – Marketing Manager for Arbor, maker of snowboards and skateboards designed for high performance thanks to innovative eco-aware materials like lightweight yet extremely sturdy bamboo. Arbor also makes clothing base layers using bamboo fabric, which naturally wicks moisture to keep body temperatures regulated while being active.
Zach Lyman – Co-founder of Reware, maker of the Reware Juice Bags, a line of solar powered backpacks and messenger bags. Reware also recently introduced its Power Pockets, a line of foldable, portable, and easily stow-able solar power charging kits.
SIRIUS AND LIME RADIO SHOWTIMES:
Premieres Wednesday at 9 am EST on the Lime Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio 114 and streaming live at Lime.com. Encores – Wednesdays 9PM; Thursdays 3AM, 2PM, 8PM; Fridays 2AM; Sundays 1PM.
Have you ever fallen asleep with 1.5″ of comfort & warmth beneath you only to wake up in the middle of the night with a hard cold rock poking your spine because your pad sprung a leak in the middle of the night? Well my friend, Thermarest thinks they have the answer. Their new Toughskin pad has a layer of closed cell foam on the bottom of the pad that fits between the air filled open cell foam and the ground. Thorns, rocks, sticks and scorpions won’t be able to put a whole in your pad unless they’re long or freakishly big (the scorpions). Available now for 119.95.
Updated for 2007, the popular, Award Winning MSR Hubba Hubba Tent is now even lighter. A new pole and hub system make this tent about 7 oz less than the 2006 model. The Hubba Hubba Tent has receved rave reviews for it’s roomy space and double door design.
I’m not a big fan of bulky double wide sleeping bags for a couple of reason. First, they are impractical for backpacking because of size and weight. Second, the only air mattresses available are crummy inflatable mats that seem to always spring a leak in the middle
of the night. Enter the Mother of Comfort, Big Agnes. This year Big Agnes introduc