Summer Gear Roundup: Camping

When our tester went looking for a tent that could fit her, her partner and a dog, she needed something big enough for three, but light enough for one person to carry. Enter the Tungsten Ultralight 3, which has 41.5 square feet of floor space and weighs in at just over 4 pounds. Everything but the footprint and a 6-inch border around the base is mesh. Our tester was unconcerned about a light breeze, but suggested she wouldn’t use this on a windy mountain top. She also practiced setting up in her backyard before embarking on her trip and was happy she did. “The fly’s corners have corresponding colors that match up to the body,” she observed, saying this made the build speedy. Easy to put together once the orientation is figured out, but not before a few minutes of fumbling. As for in-tent storage, it was adequate for two people, but would have been tight for three. Two of the four corners have drop pockets, which fit a phone, headlamp, contacts and book. She especially appreciated the “nifty lampshade pocket on the ceiling that holds a headlamp and disperses light through the tent.”

Marmot’s Lost Coast line has four temperature ratings (5, 15, 30 and 40 degrees), all of which come in a short, regular and long length. Our tester used the 30 degree in a regular. ”On a September night at 10,000 feet, the temps plummeted to the low 30s and I was cozy in this 600-fill down bag,” she said. She was worried about the durability of the lightweight Ripstop nylon shell, but her concerns proved unfounded after her dog unsuccessfully tried to claw her way into the bag in the middle of the night. The nylon—both the soft inside and water-resistant outer—were left without a scratch. Other features include an inner stash pocket, draft collar and two-way zipper. The pocket doesn’t have a zipper, which lead to our tester’s phone falling out and getting lost in the depths of the bag. Still she appreciated the collar, which she said “kept kept her head and face warm through the night,” and the zipper had minimal snags when closing it up.

Rumpl Backcountry Puffy Blanket

Rumpl claims their Backcountry Puffy Blanket is their “warmest, toughest, and most capable adventure blanket.” Our tester agreed with the comfort. She praised the blanket’s coziness and found it a great substitute for a campfire where the fire risk is high. The cozy factor is thanks to nanoloft insulation—a ball-shaped bio-based insulation that is designed to stay fluffy, retain heat and clump minimally—which live in quilted pockets. To keep that insulation safe, PFA-free waterproofing treatment and a 100% post-consumer recycled polyester 30D ripstop shell offer a protective exterior. Our tester appreciated these details: “it feels more durable than my sleeping bag, so I’m more willing to use it outside.” Still, she felt obligated to keep the blanket clear of sparks and sharps. “Best of all, you can wear it as a cape,” she joked, complimenting the hands-free clip that allows you to wear your puffy like a cape or link it to multiple Rumpl blankets.

Where to buy

Rumpl Backcountry Puffy Blanket

$149.00 – to $249.00 from REI

Nemo Tensor All-Season Pad

After sleeping on an old, leaky pad for two years our tester switched to the Tensor All-Season and promptly threw his old pad into storage (forever). “It never lost air, even with multiple days of desert temperature swings,” he exclaimed. Additional comfort was provided by an internal baffle construction that holds multiple layers of bonded mylar, and insulating material that contributes to the Tensor All-Season’s 5.4 R-value. That insulation “kept me toasty warm in below freezing temps,” said our tester. He also appreciated that the 3.5-inch-thick pad could be inflated firm enough to support his side sleeping tendencies as well. Other features included a 20D nylon ripstop top and 40D nylon bottom to increase puncture resistance while staying quiet, a double valve system that allows for micro-adjustable inflation and an inflation sack that fills the pad in just four “breaths.” All of that can be packed down to “genuinely the size of my nalgene,” said our tester. The size regular weighs just 440 grams. “I’d endorse the Tensor All-Season for literally anyone looking for a comfortable, ultralight pad,” summed up our thoroughly impressed tester. 

“I imagine a relationship with this pack is a slow burn,” said our tester after coming to terms with her colorful Outro 55. “At first, you may question your attraction to the packing system, but with time, for the person who keeps an open mind, it will become something you can’t live without.” The reason for her on and off love affair was a unique 50/50 interior packing system. Instead of a large main pocket, there are two storage units inside. “The front compartment is accessible via the rolltop and is rather spacious,” explained our tester. The rear pocket is accessed via a zipper in the middle of the pack. “Gear stored in the rear compartment settles under the front compartment and presses against the torso of the pack,” she continued. Because of the way the compartments work together, our tester found, “This is a pack that feels best while full.” However, her qualms started and stopped there. She lauded the massively adjustable torso length, highly waterproof construction, internal frame and lumbar support and padded but flexible hip belts. Like all of Pingora’s offerings, the pack is made of dead- and overstock fabrics. The fabrics are essentially waste materials from other outdoor brands, making each backpack unique and keeping their environmental impact incredibly small. The Outro will be available for purchase March 2025.

The name JetBoil has slowly become synonymous with backcountry stoves and our tester thought the MightyMo lived up to its reputation. “The stove is ultra packable,” she explained. “It is a powerful and consistent burner, boiling 1L of water in under 3 minutes.” The 98-gram stove also features four heat adjustments for gourmet cooking and an ignition button. “I liked the security of having the push button igniter,” noted our tester. Our tester’s set also included JetBoil’s 1.5 liter ceramic pot and Trailware utensil set, which can be packed down to 8 inches by 8 inches and weighs just under 2 pounds. Our tester was impressed with the extendable capability of the utensils, especially when scooping backpacking meals. “The ceramic cookpot was incredibly easy to clean,” she added, but noted it was hefty for one person. “If you want to go ultrapackable and lightweight into the backcountry, just take the stove and maybe one of the extendable utensils,” our tester summarized. If you’re car camping, she endorsed all the accoutrements.

After relocating to the Pacific Northwest in September, our tester realized she’d be needing more of a sport-capable rain jacket. Something light and packable, easy to move in. Arc’teryx’s Beta SL hit the mark. Weighing just 300 grams and featuring the PFC-free Gore-tex ePE membrane, the Beta SL is capable in rain and wind. “I comfortably ran and biked through soggy Washington woods and forest road downpours,” said our tester. Meanwhile, on the interior the Gore C-Knit Backer technology adds comfort and breathability. Pit zips with “incredibly smooth zippers,” per our tester, made air flow easy. Additional features include two hip pockets, a helmet-compatible hood and adjustable cuffs. Plus, as fall temperatures drop, she has been able to add a light layer underneath for warmth. Other than the normal discomfort of sweating beneath a waterproof layer, our tester has yet to find anything to complain about.

Skida Viska Pant

Our tester runs cold, even around a summer campfire. Her answer? Skida’s Viska Pant. Made from lightweight, breathable moisture-wicking fabric, our tester found these patterned pants offer just enough of a full-leg layer to maintain the perfect temperature when the sun sets. The fit only helped. “Simply the most comfortable pant I’ve ever worn,” she lauded. “They’re elastic without squeezing too tight.” The cherry on top are Skida’s characteristic colorful prints which they’ve taken from head- and neckwear and applied it to pants. “These are the perfect campsite pants whether your cooking, lounging, slack lining or stretching,” said our tester. “So comfy I now wear them to work.”