OR 2012: Stoke-Worthy: Camping

Published on 08/08/2012

By Aly Nicklas

With some 4,500 + companies showing off their best and brightest gear, the Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake is an Active Junky’s idea of gear heaven. The ingenuity illustrated in next year’s gear was innovative, cutting-edge and sometimes even a bit baffling. We’ve got the down low on all the new products - check out some of our Stoke-Worthy picks from the show.

Sierra Designs Clo Dri-Down Bag

Sierra Designs is stepping it up with their new Dri-Down technology. Offered at 800 fill and and packed with water-resistant down, the Clo (for both men and women) will stay dry 2.5x longer then competition and 10x  longer than untreated down. They’ve added a little more room for comfort without sacrificing lightness (the 20 degree bag weighs in at 2lbs 4 ounces). Sierra Designs Dri-Down retains 170% (2.7x) more loft and dries 33%  faster than regular down as well—pretty sweet when you’re backcountry bound and you drop your pack in a river. The down is treated with a molecular level polymer that doesn’t add weight, and increases the durability of the down.

MSRP $600

Brunton Wow Task Light Lantern

This light is awesome. The top pops off to turn it into a flashlight, it’s got gorilla-pod like legs that you can wrap around a tree branch, a tent pole or straighten to stand on your campsite’s picnic table. It gets even more cool point for having removable legs that you use as a tripod for your point and shoot. The diffused lens keeps glare down, and you can plug it into one of Brunton’s solar power packs to keep it raging long into those late-night tent-bound poker games (though the 10 hour run time on the internal lithium battery means it will last a least a couple days into the woods). 

MSRP $47.00

Big Agnes Fishhook SL (Magnet Tent)

Nine times out of ten it seems the zipper is the first thing to go on a tent. Problem solved—the Fishhook uses magnets instead. They line up surprisingly well, making late night wake-ups from your tent mate needing to go to the bathroom a thing of the past. The fly overlaps in the front to create a wind-proofing seal, and while it might not hold up on Everest you wouldn’t want it up there anyways, seeing at it’s a 3 season tent. The cross bar at the top makes for ample head-room, another innovative touch. Big Agnes tents are always well designed and lightweight, the two-person version is only 3lb 4oz. and the silicon treated nylon ripstop is coated with 1200mm waterproof polyurethane, making it watertight as well as airtight.

MSRP $399.95 (2 person)

Carhartt Men’s Double-Front Canvas Work Dungaree

Carhartt has a long lasting reputation for durability and its style has an element of manliness to it that screams tough. Fact is, Carhartt pants last, and these 7.5-ounce, 100% ring-spun canvas work pants will stay intact whether you’re bushwhacking down mountains in the High Sierra or climbing pant-shredding off-widths in Vedauwoo, WY. The 19" leg opening will fit over even the burliest of hiking boots (or your down-filled camping booties). Stray sparks from the fire will only make them look more rugged, if they’re even singed at all.

MSRP $44.00

Eton Rukus Solar

Dedicated to rocking your favorite tunes even in the midst of Mother Nature? Solar power is the way to go, and if that runs out having the option to switch to batteries makes for a party all night long. The Eton Rukus weighs four pounds and takes up a good bit of space (dimensions are 12” x 8.125” x 3.25”) so unless you’re really psyched it’s likely to be more of a car camping accessory. As a side note please note it will, however, fit in the basket on your bike while you ride to the beach. It plays off an auxiliary jack or, alternatively, your smart phone, computer or tablet if you’ve got Bluetooth, which makes us wonder what we did before this sort of technology became so ubiquitous (mix tapes, remember those?). With two speakers delivering 14W Stereo Sound you’ll scare even the biggest bears in the woods away.

MSRP $150.00