Grab This Camping Gear and Go
Grab This Camping Gear and Go
Having the right gear deflects a lot of the discomfort and even potential danger of camping in extreme conditions.
1. Winter Sleeping bag Stay warm during the night with a -10°F Marmot Wind River.
2. A Great Gas Stove The Mountain Safety Research (MSR) WhisperLite Stove is a pump-pressurized classic that roars to life and boils water fast in the coldest weather.
3. Traction Devices Kahtoola MICROspikes or Yak Trax will help you step onto those inevitable slippery slopes.
4. Down Parka App State Geography Professor Baker Perry, whose recent work includes installation of the world’s two highest meteorological stations in the Everest region, recommends this bomber version in the premium Summit Series from The North Face.
5. Down pants and booties They can be essential aids in unexpected circumstances, they’re super light, and available from many manufacturers. Perry also recommends the synthetic insulated Mountain Hardware Compressor pant.
6. Sleeping Pad Thermarest is a top brand for light, comfortable pads that keep the cold ground out of mind.
7. The right water bottle Insulated water bottles are great for keeping hot drinks hot and liquids unfrozen. Perry carries a “Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle that I fill with hot water to snuggle with for the really cold nights.”
8. Tasty dehydrated meals Brian Baldwin, Manager of Footsloggers in Blowing Rock, says dehydrated food used to be “total junk, but the trend now is clean, healthy, high protein choices that include low sodium, gluten free and even vegetarian meals.” He recommends GOOD TO-GO, a cottage industry company in Maine. AlpineAire is another great brand.
9. Superlight Cookwear Go light, with titanium or similar cutting edge materials. Troll the GSI brand for a range of choices, including some that Brian Baldwin says let you stick the pot in a fire if things get outta hand. Check out their cool folding spoon/fork combo.
10. Trekking poles JD Dooley says poles are indispensable stabilizers in summer but they're even more useful in snow and ice. Stouter winter versions like Black Diamond’s Traverse shorten and lengthen for use with snowshoes, Nordic skis, and even downhill skis.
11. Winter Tent Randy Johnson leans to The North Face for tents like his VE 25.
12. Snowshoes If the snow flurries you expected turns into a dump, snowshoes can be lifesavers.
Photographs courtesy of manufacturers