Welcome to another round of Fresh Gear Fridays! Today I've got a winter-worthy sleeping bag to add to your radar, a nifty new lightweight stool to tell you about, and a tasty meal to keep you satiated on those chilly overnighters. Let's get into it.
Therm-a-Rest Parsec Zero Degree Bag
What is the best cold weather sleeping bag?
When it comes to staying warm, dry, and making sound economic decisions, the Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag is a top contender. This cold weather sleeping bag costs $529 (USD), which is far less than heavy-duty (i.e. -10 to -20F) expedition bags, but it still has some clutch features for those winter camping trips.
Nikwax Hydrophobic Down
It is stuffed with 800-Fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down. This is an environmentally-friendly way to treat the individual feathers so that they repel moisture and dry faster. This means the down doesn't clump and you stay warmer, longer. I think the fabric on this cold weather sleeping bag is right up there with the most comfortable that I've experienced. And then the little touches really help elevate this bag even further.
Winter sleeping bag with cell phone pocket and draft collar
The Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag has a cell-phone pocket helps keep your battery alive through those cold nights, and the air-mattress straps anchor you comfortably in place, even if you stir frantically while sleeping. And finally, the Parsec has a draft collar, which you've heard me say before, is critical for getting a quality sleep in cold conditions. And just a friendly reminder that the 0-degree (F) rating is the lower limit. The comfort-rating for the Parsec is 14-degrees (-10C).
Lightweight Backpacking Chair – Hillsound BTR Stool
If you've been following along with BackpackingTV and/or In4Adventure.com, then you know that I've experienced a bit of a camping chair renaissance lately. In the past, I never bothered with the extra weight/bulk – choosing instead to park my keister wherever made sense. But lately I've come across a couple of stools that are so light, and so packable, that I can't resist.
Hillsound BTR Stool vs Grand Trunk Stool for backpacking
I've raved recently about the Grand Trunk Stool, and now I want to point you towards the Hillsound BTR Stool. Its minimal design is easy to use/pack, and it weighs only 14.7 ounces (17-inch version). Now, the downside of stools is that they lack the back support of a trustee chair. But, of course, chairs are also heavier. Chairs take up more space in your pack and good ones are quite a bit more expensive. So the never-ending list of backpacking trade-off calculations continues!
Backpacking Meals by Itacate
I love supporting small companies that contribute to the backpacking world in creative ways. Itacate was started by Martha Diaz. She is a fellow adventurer who decided to combine her Mexican cuisine sensibilities with her love of the outdoors. I tested out her Charge-up Chilaquiles the other night. I loved the flavor and enjoyed how spicy it was. But a note of caution for some, I suppose, since it is spicy. I just wish there was more.
The whole pack delivers 490 calories. I usually like to aim for that 600 – 700 range after a solid day of hiking. Be aware that these meals need to be added to a pot of boiling water. The package itself can't be cooked in like with some other dehydrated meals. I didn't mind this at all, but it's something worth mentioning.
Thus concludes my triple-threat of recommendations to fantasize about over the weekend and into those post-seasonal sales. If you want to learn more about cold weather sleeping bags, backpacking chairs, or backpacking meals head on over to BackpackingTV for loads of other hiking tips and gear reviews. Also, get on the In4Adventure mailing list so that you don't miss out on all our latest outdoor-adventure content.
For more suggestions on how to sleep well while winter camping, click here.
Sleeping Bag: Therm-a-Rest Parsec 0F/-18C Sleeping Bag
Camp Stool: Grand Trunk Stool, Hillsound BTR Stool
Food: Itacate
