If Jeremiah Johnson were around today and opted to go into the woods to become a hermit he’d probably opt for something like the just announced Mountainsmith Haze pack to carry his gear. Empty this pack weights just 1.9 pounds, but it can carry 50 liters of gear in its open main body, while the outer mesh pockets provide places for all the things a modern mountain man might need.
There are pole carriers, ice axe loops and plenty of places to tuck a mobile phone, GPS device or other gizmos. Let’s face it, just because someone opts to be a hermit doesn’t mean they want to be completely out of touch! The Haze will be available next year for those looking to get off the grid, even if it just for a week or so.
Can you put a price in saving weight while hiking and camping? If you can then the Sierra Designs new line of ExoFusion fast-and-light tents might not be for you. But if you want superior quality and materials in a two-person backpacking tent, which weighs in at less than two pounds and can be pitched in minutes, then the Sierra Designs ExoFusion Mojo UFO is one to consider.
Cooking over an open fire is what camping is all about – unless it is windy or wet and then it isn’t so much an open fire but no fire at all. The VitalGrill Barbecue from SolHuma (MSRP $170) is part of portable stove and grill in one. It burns whatever combustible material can be loaded into it and supercharges the flames with a small battery-powered fan to produce 20,000 BTUs of heat. It also features a 13.5 inch circular lidded grill that is perfect for cooking over the fire.
Often times when one thinks of “car camping” it means driving to a camp ground and “camping” next to another row of cars. This is sort of camping in a rural parking lot. But for those who want to experience a bit more serenity while still having some creature comforts should consider the Yatoo, which can essentially transforms a user’s car into its own camper, complete with tent, kitchen and bed. 
When camping bringing good portable lights is key. This is something that is sometimes very difficult to understand in our modern world where lights are readily available after the sun goes down. There are plenty of lights out there, but it can expensive and take up a lot of room to bring them all.
Many of the problems of sleeping bags have been solved. We’ve seen sleeping bags with small LED lights, and even bags that offer legs so you can walk in them but we haven’t seen a bag that offers vents to allow your legs to breathe. Some people like to kick off the blanket while at home and a sleeping bag doesn’t allow that.
As we’ve often noted hot water in the wilderness is something that is close to priceless. We’ve seen numerous methods to heat the water in a pot or other cooking vessel, but there is another way – by heating the water from the water from inside out.
The axe is a tool that has stood the test of time, and while there are more modern versions today, outdoor and bushcraft enthusiasts, know a quality “old school” axe just gets the job done. Sport Hansa is now offering authentic, handmade Swedish axes from Wetterlings that are perfect for hikers, campers and anyone looking to use a quality tool made the old fashioned way.
Despite its name, the Midget Bushtrekka from Kamp-Rite isn’t just for little people. It is actually a bicycle trailer-mounted pop up tent. It weighs 56 pounds but offers up to 48 gallons of storage space, and is designed to go off road, and can be towed by bicycles with real sizes ranging from 20 to 29 inches. As a tent they can be erected atop the trailer, measuring 90 inches long by 32 inches wide, and offering 40 inches of headspace. This doesn’t offer a lot of room for a guest, but as a one-man tent they could beat sleeping on the ground. 
While some camping gear has gone so high-tech that it might not feel like you’re actually getting back to nature, Portland’s Poler Camping Stuff brand, which launched last fall, is all about simple yet efficient. The company’s focus revolves around being “an outdoor brand that brings together surf/skate/snowboard culture and sensibilities into pragmatic gear,” and providing “simple, good looking, well designed gear.” The products offer a vintage look, such as the Napsack sleeping bag that will keep you warm at night and in the morning let you wear it while heading to the camp fire.
Camping in the backyard means there is likely no shortage of light, but real camping out in the wilds probably means that when the sun goes down and the camp fire goes out things can be a bit dark. For those not familiar with their location this can be a bit dangerous in the night – such as when answering nature’s call.
There are times that “getting into hot water” is a good thing, such as when it is cold outside and you could use a warm beverage. The Jompy takes this a step further, as it provides a way for campers, backpackers and hikers to get hot water from their hydration packs, while also ensuring that the water is clean and safe to drive.
We’ve seen a few hanging tents in the past year, along with some hammock and other new innovations that let users sleep off the ground. Now comes the Tentsile, which was created by a team of British designers. This is a portable habitation for campers but we assume could just as easily be used in the backyard. It uses tension forces to suspend the tent, to protect campers from the elements, so no more sleeping on the cold, hard or damp ground, but it also ensures that campers are protected from wildlife. The system works by providing three anchor points, which utilize the forces to make for a stable, adaptable and lightweight system.