We Found Campfire Guy

After a hiatus that Waldo would be proud of, Campfire Guy is finally here again.  As a wise high schooler once said, “Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop spending all your free time binge-watching Netflix, your blog will sit sad and idle for two years”.

Essential Work From Home Gear

My full-time career has had me working from home for most of the past three years.  However, when the Coronavirus shelter in place went into effect in March, we had all four kids schooling from home.  With a packed house during my typical working hours, my most essential piece of gear lately has been the BOSE QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II.

Essential Airplane Gear

On the recommendation of a few frequent flying college buddies, I picked up a set of the QC35s in the summer of 2018.  Their first test was on a four-hour flight to LA for a guys trip with my oldest son.  As soon as I pulled them from my backpack, he immediately threw down the doe eyes and begged to use them.  Campfire Guy is a sucker and gave in.  I tried them for a bit on the return leg and soon became a big fan.  They greatly reduced the jet engine noise, but still maintained clarity and excellent sound quality with the movie I was watching on the flight.

As a small business owner, I work.  A lot.  If I’m at the computer working, I have my headphones on.  They cover my ears entirely and are very comfortable to wear for long durations.  For everyday office use, the QC35s are invaluable.  Swapping out “jet engine noise” for “four kids and two loud dogs” noise, they work great.  You get a sense of the noise-canceling by simply turning them on.  Once you hit play on your music it’s off to spreadsheet bliss. 

Quiet Comfort and Intuitive Controls

Switching between laptop and iPhone for Spotify, Zoom and phone calls is seamless.  The built-in microphone does a great job picking up my voice, dogs barking at the Amazon delivery folks, and epic fights over Nerf gun ownership.  Most callers can’t tell when I’m using the headphones, though they can easily tell when my doorbell rings.  

The QC 35s have easy to adjust volume and call pick up buttons on the right side.  The call pick up button also doubles a “Pause / Play” button with Spotify.  The left side features an “action” button that can summon Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.  Otherwise, the “action” button can toggle between three levels of noise cancellation.

What’s Included With The Headphones

The headphones come with a carrying case they fold into, a 12” USB charging cord and a 47” audio cable.  A longer USB cable would have been nice to allow continued use while charging.  Bose touts a battery life of 20 hours, which feels about right.  A full recharge can be had in about an hour.  Bose has an app for the QC 35s that is “fiddly” at best.  I rarely use it.

Two Years And Still Going Strong

The only problem I’ve had with my QC 35s is that after two years of heavy use (50-60 hours per week), the foam earpads finally gave out and split open along the seams.  Otherwise, they’ve worked flawlessly.  Fortunately, the ear pads can be swapped out.  I picked up some knock off replacement ear pads on Amazon,  so time will tell if that was a good choice or if I should’ve paid more for Bose’s version of the ear pads.

While certainly not cheap (they typically run between $250 and $300 on Amazon) they are worth every penny if you want comfortable headphones that sound amazing.  If you spend any amount of time working from home, the Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones II is a must-have addition to your office supply inventory.

Pros

• Fully covers your ears

• Excellent sound quality

• Super comfortable

Cons

• Expensive

• Needs a longer charging cord

Specifications (as provided by BOSE)

• Headphones: 7.1″ H x 6.7″ W x 3.2″ D (8.3 oz)

• Audio cable:  47.2″

• USB cable:  12″

Campfire Guy bought the BOSE headphones with his own funds. Affiliate links are sprinkled throughout the page. Feel free to click through them, and go load up on fun stuff like Mad Libs and Easy Cheese.

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Hot Coffee is Essential on a Camp Out

I’ve dedicated quite a bit of space on this blog to my love of coffee. It started with what I’ve found to be a most convenient way to boil water quickly. More recently, I sang the praises of a lightweight and affordable way to make great tasting coffee in camp.  With the YETI Rambler Lowball I’ve finally found my favorite vessel for holding that sweet, sweet coffee when I’m lounging in the woods.

I’m a Ramblin Man

The 10 oz. Yeti Lowball is part of the Rambler series of drinkware. Made from 18/8 stainless steel, the double-walled design keeps your coffee nice and hot. During my last trip, I wanted something for coffee that had better insulating properties than ceramic. I also wanted a mug that didn’t have an airtight lid, so I could get into the business of drinking my coffee sooner. The Lowball fits that bill.

Campfire Guy Loves Science

For the “Campfire Guy’s Unofficial Science Experiment”, I poured a fresh cup of coffee at 8 am and put the lid on. At 10 am it was still pleasantly hot. With the opening in the lid, the Lowball isn’t designed to keep coffee piping hot for 3-4 hours. Yeti now sells a Magslider Lid , but the lid is splash proof, not leak proof, so be careful if you pick one up.

Dual Threat Mug

What drew me to this mug (aside from the $50 gift card from REI burning a hole in my pocket) was the versatility of the Lowball. It will keep coffee hot for a few hours in the morning and keep your bourbon nice and cold in the evening. I initially bought this for camping, but it’s turned out to be something I use every day for coffee. It also makes a nice accidental pencil holder.

Pros

Keeps hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold.
Double insulated, so it won’t burn your hand.

Cons

It weighs 9.5 ounces without the lid, so it’s a bit heavy for backpacking.
Magnaslider lid should be included.

Specs

Capacity – 10 oz.
Size – 4 ⅛” tall and 3 ⅜” diameter
Weight (without lid) – 9.5 ounces

This post contains affiliate links which don’t add to the cost of your purchase, but do add some change in Campfire Guy’s pocket.

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Okay, This Gear Makes Me Happy

Campfire Guy Here. From June to late September, weather in North Texas is a little too “scorched Earth hot” for camping. I take this time to reflect on the gear I used over the cooler months and make adjustments for trips I have planned this fall and winter. Remember, I am the serial gear returner.  For this gear to still be under my roof is seal of approval.  I currently own and use everything you see below.

Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles ($44.36)

I am pretty new to the trekking pole world. I picked these up in hopes of one day needing them for an ultralight tent. John Muir Trail thru-hike anyone? Wasn’t sure I’d actually benefit from them on the trail. However, after logging about 50 miles with these last month at Boy Scout summer camp in Oklahoma, I am a firm believer in trekking poles. They take some of the burdens off your knees and are very helpful in rocky terrain.

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CamelBak Chute 1L Water Bottle ($13.95)

Aside from being placed in about 80% of my review photos to give a sense of scale to the reader, the Chute is a tough, convenient way to carry water. The thick plastic loop at the top makes it easy to clip to your belt or pack. The larger lid makes it easy it add ice, while the smaller lid makes it easier to drink from. You get ice cold water, without a risk of dumping most of it down the front of your shirt.

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Columbia Silver Ridge Long-Sleeve Shirt ($41.73)

I am highly susceptible to falling down and getting poison ivy. The Columbia Silver Ridge Long-Sleeve shirt won’t help me with the former but is invaluable at preventing the later. In order to keep sun, bugs and poison ivy at bay, I needed a lightweight, stretchy, long sleeve shirt.  Goldilocks found his perfect shirt.

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Darn Tough Merino Wool Hiking Socks ($15.95)

I follow various thru-hikers who log some serious miles on their feet. (Editors note: Campfire Guy follows their blogs, not their actual footsteps on the trail). When pouring over packing lists they use for their trips, I kept seeing Darn Tough wool hiking socks pop up. I now own half a dozen pairs and they have held up much better than their Smart Wool counterparts.

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Mountainsmith Genesee 4 Tent ($149.49)

Mountainsmith hit a home run with this tent. I have sung the Genesee’s praises on this site before. In fact, it was the very first piece of gear I reviewed. The weight, durability, and price of this tent make it an excellent buy.

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Yeti Hopper Two Portable Cooler – 20 Qt ($299.99)

When life gives you a fistful of REI gift cards for your birthday and REI gives you a coupon for 20% off one item, you go grab a Yeti Hopper. I wanted an easy to carry soft side cooler for camping, hanging out by the pool and for band practice. The leak proof zipper on the Hopper has proven to be leak proof. Compared to other soft side coolers on the market, the Hopper is a beast.

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Jetboil Flash Cooking System ($97.00)

The Jetboil Flash is my go to coffee maker when I’m spending time in the outdoors. My Jetboil is better traveled than I am, as it’s been loaned out to friends on several camping trips over the past two years. I did a full review of the flash here.

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Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC Folding Knife ($24.95)

Rarely can I be found without a pocket knife in tow. You never know when you’ll need to cut up an apple, whittle a bit or field dress a deer. The Outdoor Edge Razor-Lite EDC knife is lock back knife 3.5″ replaceable blades.  Blade steel is Japanese 420J2, which is easy to sharpen.   The handle is made from a lightweight Grivory (glass & nylon).  Best of all, the knife comes with 6 blades.

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Therm A Rest Compressible Pillow ($21.07)

Never mind throwing dirty clothes into a stuff sack and calling that a pillow. The Therm A Rest Compressible pillow is a must have piece of gear. Sure it takes up some space in your pack even when rolled up tight, but the tradeoff is worth it.  My full review of the pillow can be found here.

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Merrell Moab Ventilators ($99.99)

I’m on my second pair of Merrell Moab Ventilators. Once you replace the included insoles with a Dr. Scholl Gel cushion, it’s like walking on clouds. There is plenty of room in the toe box for descending trails. The Moabs make for a lighter weight alternative to heavy over the ankle hiking boots.  I did a video a while back where I sang the praises of these shoes.

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Exofficio Men’s Give-N-Go Boxer Brief ($19.98)

I’ll be brief with this one.  Yes I know that was a terrible pun and that I’ve actually listed eleven pieces of gear.  Consider this the Easter Egg of my post.  I’m a convert to fancy, breathable underpants. As these pop up on Massdrop at a reduced price, I’m slowly getting rid of all my old cotton boxer briefs. They are super comfortable and help prevent chafing on the trail.

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Well of course this article contains affiliate links.  What did you think all the “BUY NOW”s where for?  Clicking on them and doing some shopping doesn’t add cost to you, but does put a little change in Campfire Guy’s pocket.

The post 10 Pieces of Camping Gear That Will Make You Happy appeared first on Campfire Guy.

Sometimes Gear Reviewing Can Be Tricky

Campfire Guy here.  If there’s one thing I love more than spending time in the outdoors, it’s trying out new camping gear.  A friend asked for my thoughts on the Coleman Sundome 2.  My initial plan was to use the tent while I was at Boy Scout summer camp in Talihina, OK.  However, when we arrived, I discovered that our camp site was situated on steeply sloped, rocky terrain.

Plan B was to set the tent up on the BSA summer camp standard issue wood platforms covered by an old canvas tent.  That plan was ultimately thwarted by all the missing slats in the most level platform I could find.

Plan C was to venture out beyond the bounds of our campsite for a little stealth camping and maybe some smoother ground.  The same day I planned to find a place to pitch the tent, a norovirus hit 13 of our 53 scouts, so the remainder of the day was spent making rounds checking on the kids.  I’ll spare you the glorious details, but picture the pie eating contest scene from Stand By Me and that’ll give you a pretty good idea.  Due to the outbreak, the camp closed and we went home the next day.

While I have yet to sleep in this tent, I was able to pitch it several times and get a feel for the overall quality and functionality.

What’s Included

Sundome 2 has a good sized carry bag and it holds the tent with room to spare.  In the bag, you’ll find the tent body, two long poles for the tent body, one short pole for the rain fly, a small “welcome mat” and (9) stakes.  Setup instructions are sewn inside the carry bag, though I was able to figure out how to set it up without reading them.

The Pitch

Setting up the Sundome 2 by myself was easy.  There were three folks in the neighborhood park that could see me setting up the tent.  Want to guess how many of them gave me strange looks?  Yep, all three.  The carry bag boasts a ten-minute setup, but it only took me a little over eight.

A combination of clips and nylon sleeves connect the tent body to the poles.  For ease of setup, I prefer all clips and no nylon sleeves.  Nylon sleeves have a nasty habit of snagging the pole joints and separating the sections as you try to set up or take down the tent.

You can push the poles through the sleeves when doing both, it just adds time.  The metal tips clipped to each corner were easy to insert into the base of the tent poles.

Kicking The Tires

Once the tent was pitched, I did a walk around and noted any prior damage from the previous user.  Wait, that’s what I did the last time I rented a car.  Tent poles are constructed of fiberglass, which is heavier than their lightweight aluminum counterparts.  The  Coleman Sundome 2’s tent body and fly material seemed fairly durable.  The bathtub floor is thicker and more rigid than floors of other tents I own.  While I didn’t take a sharp stick and try to recreate a Houston mosquito trying to get inside, the bug mesh felt pretty sturdy.

What I Liked

First off, the price on the Coleman Sundome 2 is hard to beat.  For $69 this is an affordable entry level tent for a someone new to camping in mild conditions (more on that in a sec).  Interior headroom is outstanding for a two person tent.  At 49 1/2″, there is plenty of room to maneuver.  I’m 5’11” with a 29” inseam.  I’m all torso.  Like…a hot dog with legs.  The power port is pretty convenient and the vent window located near the ground allows for air circulation.

What I Did Not Like

Specifications from Coleman state the Sundome 2 is 5’x7’.  Usable interior dimensions were actually closer to 4’9″ x 6’9″.

The Coleman Sundome 2 only has one door, which isn’t a big deal If you are camping solo.  However, for two occupants, getting out will require some gymnastics to avoid stepping on your tent mate.   The two gear pockets are placed awkwardly along the ends of the tent, where the bug mesh starts.  You run the risk of hitting your head if there’s anything heavy in the pocket.  Pockets near the corner are always more convenient.

The biggest drawback was that it leaked in the corners when we water tested.  The inside corner seams are taped with what looks to be really flimsy version of duct tape that was already peeling up at the corners.

After spraying each corner for about five minutes, two of the four corners leaked.  For me, this would get the tent immediately sent back, as I’m not sure if gobs of seam sealer would remedy the issue.

Conclusion

I really wanted to recommend this as an affordable entry level tent.  I was about to, right up until the water test.  Sometimes you get what you pay for.  Outside of dry weather campouts in the backyard, there are better alternatives to be found.

Pros

• Price
• Excellent headroom
• Convenient power port
• Gear loop at the tent peak

Cons

• It leaked
• Only one door
• Interior size isn’t truly 5’x7’
• It leaked

Specifications (as provided by Coleman)

• Doors: 1
• Rainfly: Polyguard
• Tent: Polyguard, Polyester mesh 68D
• Floor: Polyethylene 1000D
• Size: 5′ x 7′
• Height: 4′
• Poles: Fiberglass
• Weight: 7.2 lbs

A sample tent was provided by Majestic Expressions for the purpose of this review, however, all opinions are my own.


This post contains affiliate links.  Clicking on them and doing your shopping on Amazon helps us offset operating costs and get outdoors more.

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Resting Happy Face

Campfire Guy here.  It took me a few years to stumble into the wonderful world of camping pillows.  No longer would my EDP (everyday pillow) come home from a weekend in the woods smelling like a campfire.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a good campfire, but when it’s time to head back to civilization, that campfire smell and sandwich stealing raccoons can stay in the woods.  Fortunately, my stumbling lead me to the Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow.

Do Dirty Clothes + Stuff Sack = Pillow?

No.  No, it does not.  I took a backpacking trip to Colorado when I was 12.  The experience was awesome, but those five nights in the woods taught me everything I needed to know about cramming dirty clothes into a stuff sack and calling it a pillow.  It’s not a pillow.  It’s a stuff sack crammed with dirty clothes.  Unless you are counting ounces on a thru-hike, a good camping pillow should be included in your sleep system.  

Therm-A-Rest Gets It

The Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow is one of the most comfortable camping pillows on the market.  Mine is medium size, which is approximately 14”x19”.  I picked mine up about three years ago.  The pillow consists of a brushed polyester shell filled with urethane foam.  A built-in pocket with a drawstring allows the pillow to fold up into itself and be cinched tight.  The urethane foam compacts decently enough, but you’ll have to get creative in how you pack the pillow, as it is an odd shape.

Tips for Using It

To cut down on head sweat and drool (don’t judge me), I cover my pillow with a lightweight cotton pillow case.  Does it get any better than the cool side of the pillow on a hot night?  Right after I unroll my sleeping bag, I’ll also unroll the pillow to let the foam expand.  You could use it right away, but after about an hour or so, the pillow is nice and fluffy, about 6” thick.  When packing it back up, I’ll roll it up once to get the air out, then a second time to get a nice tight roll.

After heavy use over the past few years, the stitching on mine still looks brand new. The pillow gets a trip to the washing machine with a nice air dry at the end of a camping season, or after an especially hot trip.  If you are tired of the dirty clothes and stuff sack combo or want a little comfort of home out in the woods, grab a Therm-A-Rest Compressible Pillow.  Unlike admitting you drool in your sleep, you won’t regret it!

Pros

• Comfortable
• Compact
• Pocket and drawstring make it easy to pack

Cons

• Gets a little warm in warm weather
• Rolled up shape is challenging to pack

Specs

• Manufacture – ThermARest
• Size (Medium) – 14” x18”x6”
• Weight – 9 oz.
• Price – $21.99 on Amazon

This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking on the links above, a portion of the sale helps support this site at no additional cost to you.

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Texas in My Heart, Mountains and Public Spaces On My Mind

Campfire Guy here.  Every two or three years, we pack up the family truckster, strap grandma to the roof and head to the mountains of Colorado.  Okay, one of those might not be true.  We only make it to Colorado every five to ten years.

Estes Park – Gateway to Rocky Mountain Nation Park

Our usual destination is Estes Park, Colorado.  On those trips, the highlights are the drive up Old Fall River Road to the Alpine Visitor Center and the hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park.  Oh the hiking.  Mountains give me a yearning and eagerness for movement, which I completely lack in the suburbs of Dallas.  In spite of my dislike of running and my love for all things nacho, I love a good hike in the mountains.

We were lucky enough to take our kids to RMNP in 2014.  They were a little timid of the looming mountains as we drove in from Ft. Collins, Colorado.  Choruses of, “I’m not going anywhere near those” and “nope, those are too tall, I’m not hiking” echoed from the rear of our grocery getter.  They didn’t realize that you ease into the mountains, you just don’t suddenly appear atop a 14,000-foot peak.

During our stay, we did two day hikes, about four miles each.  Not too shabby for a group of six adults and seven kids, the youngest of which was two.  Seeing the kids scamper up a trail in search of what new hiking stick or chipmunk awaited them filled my heart with joy.  

Heaven On Earth

Returning to the trail head with the same number of kids we left with was nice too.  To paraphrase the eloquent John Muir, “mountains are awesome!”  Rocky Mountain National Park is (thus far) my Heaven on Earth.

Our National Monuments are at Risk

So why prattle on about Rocky Mountain National Park?  For starters, it’s the only National Park or Monument I’ve been fortunate enough to visit.  The park is protected public land, intended to be enjoyed by generations to come.  I know the status of National Parks is not currently up for review like our National Monuments, but what’s to stop emboldened, short-sighted politicians from setting their sights on those as well?  

The President has tasked Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke with a review of the Antiquities Act of 1906.  You can find more on Secretary Zinke’s review of the act here.  Ultimately, he will make a report to the President who will then decide the fate of National Monuments that were designated over the past twenty years.

A Few National Monuments on the Chopping Block

Places like Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Carrizo Plain, Gold Butte and Vermilion Cliffs, currently designated as National Monuments may lose their protected status.  These monuments evoke the same passion for the outdoors my family and I feel for RMNP. It would be nice to have assurances the awe-inspiring beauty we see today will be there for my kids, and all future generations, to see.    

FDR Gets It

What is clear, our National Monuments and Parks are a GREAT deal, right now.  Why break what’s already fixed?  As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “There is nothing so American as our National Parks…the fundamental idea behind the parks…is that the country belongs to the people.” Our National Monuments must remain protected for our kids, our grandkids (who we will one day get to spoil and feed cake to at 10 pm,) and for grandmas everywhere.

Here’s What You Can Do

• If you are a writer of any and all things outdoors, take part in the Monumental Day of Blogging.
• Submit your comments to the Department of the Interior, through Monuments for All here
• Voice your concerns to Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke here  
• Reach out to your Senators here  
• Reach out to your Representatives here
• Call the White House 855-980-5634
• Register to vote.
• Pay attention to how and what your elected officials vote for.  2018 is just right around the corner.

Thanks to fellow outdoor blogger Scott Jones for spearheading the Monumental Day of Blogging.  His fantastic work can be found at www.justgetoutmore.com.

Further thanks to my friend Tony Gutierrez for use of the awesome Rocky Mountain National Park shots.  Head over to his Instagram feed for more of his work.

Even more thanks to the Bureau of Land Management for uploading free images (like the cover photo for the post of Indian Creek, in Bears Ears and the others as attributed) for use in the blogging world.

Editors Note:  No grandmas were harmed in the writing of this article.  

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Coffee Talk, Review Amongst Yourselves

Campfire Guy here.  I’ve made many mistakes in the outdoors. Some of my lowlights include not protecting our food from bold,cooler-invading raccoons at Tyler State Park and ignoring the warnings about invasive black ants at Cedar Hill State Park.  Those mistakes occurred early on in my outdoor adventures.  My gear has since evolved, and so has my ability to read notices posted by park rangers.  Reading is still FUNdamental!  Sadly, the most egregious mistake I’ve made occurred on my last camping trip, when I should have known better.  I didn’t bring a backup coffee system.

Coffee Sadness

During my last campout, we used the two percolators atop a double burner propane stove.  The slow brewing percolators couldn’t keep up with the demand of our large coffee drinking contingent.  We had a tight schedule on Saturday morning, so we were all lucky to get a cup or so each.  On Sunday morning, someone left one of the percolators unsupervised and the coffee burned badly.  Tired and in a hurry, I decided to pour a cup.  I was warned that it tasted like a combination of charcoal, bleach, and death.  Sadly, I ignored the warning.  The only thing missing from the description was a dash of sadness.

Enter The JavaDrip

I’ve owned a Jetboil Flash for some time now.  You can find the review I wrote on it here.  I usually leave it home for big group campouts because there’ll be another system that usually works.  Never again.  I’ll always bring a backup system.  When I first started using the Jetboil, it was always with the Starbucks Via packets.  One of my readers recommended the  Ultralight Javadrip from GSI Outdoors.

Pour Over Coffee Goodness

I picked one up at REI and have put it through the paces over the past month at home and at work.  I’ve been using it in lieu of the convenient, though non-recyclable Keurig K-Cups.  The Javadrip is a “pour over” coffee system.  Clip it to a cup, add coffee grounds and pour hot water over it.  Once the water seeps through the coffee and drips into the cup, it’s time for coffee goodness.  On backpacking trips, I’ll use my Jetboil to heat water, but any method of heating water will work.

At 11 grams, the Javadrip is super light.  The diameter of the basket is 4”.  The orange legs that connect the basket to a cup are about 4” long.  It folds up to about ½”.  I use a #4 paper filter with mine, just to make cleanup easier, but you can use the Javadrip without it.  The Javadrip does not come with a cup.

Makes Great Coffee, But Doesn’t Nest

A graphic on the packaging suggests the Javadrip is able to nest below a standard fuel canister, like the popular 3.5 oz. Jetboil fuel canister.  Unfortunately, this is not the case.  The fuel canister diameter is only 3.5”, versus 4” diameter of the Javadrip.  Even with some coaxing I couldn’t get it inside the Jetboil either.  Certainly not a deal breaker, but it would have been nice to have it nest inside my Jetboil.

Overall the GSI Outdoors Ultralight Javadrip is a convenient and lightweight system to make a good cup of coffee.  Make sure to test it with the cup you plan to use, as the Javadrip had a tendency to lift up on our thicker ceramic mugs.  When I attend summer camp with our Boy Scout troop next month, I’ll definitely have my Javadrip and Jetboil in tow.

Pros

• Lightweight
• Easy to use
• Compact

Cons

• Doesn’t work well with really thick mugs
• Doesn’t nest inside the Jetboil Flash

Specs (As provided by GSI)

• Manufacturer – GSI Outdoors
• Product – Ultralight Javadrip
• Price – $9.95
• Size – 4.2″ x 4.2″ x 0.5″
• Weight – 11g

Special thanks to reader Ken Pearson for recommending the Javadrip!

This post contains affiliate links.  Affiliate links don’t add any cost to you.  Feel free to click on them and noodle around.  Maybe buy some other, noncamping stuff like paper towels or laundry detergent.  Campfire Guy appreciates your consideration!  

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Campfire Guy here.  The season for gearing up continues with the next installment of, “How to Gear Up For Car Camping”.  Aside from a tent, your sleep system is the second most important step in the path to camping bliss and a good night’s rest.  A sleep system consists of some sort of mattress or pad on the ground with something to cover up with on top.  

Put Something Between You and the Ground

If you ever camped out in the backyard as a kid, chances are your sleep system consisted of an old sleeping bag that smelled like mothballs.  A thin tent floor was probably the only thing separating your sleeping bag from the ground.  Whatever roots, rocks or pinecones happened to be hiding under the tent earlier in the day would rear their pointy little heads when you lay down.  As a kid, chances are you didn’t care.

Air Beds

If you intend to only camp in warm weather, air beds are a cheap option.   They are cheap and can pull double duty for guests back at your full-time house.  If you go that route, have a backup plan for power, just in case, the campground has an outage.  

A DC/AC converter will plug into the cigarette lighter if your car is lacking a fancy outlet.   If you bring that converter, make sure the fuse is good before you leave home.  Any takers on who has made that mistake before?

I would recommend sticking to a twin size.  Queen and king size mattresses sound great for two people.  The problem is, if one person moves, the other person feels it.  It’s almost like a double bounce on a trampoline, but without the broken arm.  The twin size Coleman Soft Plush Top Inflated Quickbed is one that we use every once in a while.

Better Options for Three Season Camping

If your goal is to “three season” camp (Spring, Summer, and Fall), avoid bulky air beds.  I would recommend something lighter and more versatile.  The next three categories are packed with different brands and designs.  They don’t require pumps or power and can be found at most of your big box retailers, or Amazon, because who wants to put on pants to go shopping?

Closed Cell Foam Mattress

Closed cell foam is a noninflating mattress.  They are a similar to the old “egg crate” foam you may have put on your college dorm room bed to make the mattress more bearable.  Closed cell foam is denser and considerably more rigid.  Closed cell foam mattresses are especially popular with hikers wanting to cut their pack weight.  Cutting weight when car camping is usually not a concern, so for adults, I wouldn’t recommend using one by itself. 

 However, for kids who tend to weigh much less, be less careful with gear, and have much lower standards of comfort, they work great.  They are cheap and usually pretty durable.  Closed cell foam cannot be punctured.  The Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol is a very popular example of these mattresses.  I reviewed this mattress a while back.

Self Inflating Mattress

Similar to how I haven’t found a Roomba that will wash my dishes, I have yet to find a “self-inflating mattress” that will fully inflate on it’s own.  Self-inflating mattresses have foam inside that expands when a valve is opened.  A few deep breaths will usually firm them up.  They are generally about an 1” thick when fully inflated, which will keep you off the ground a little bit, especially if you are a back sleeper.  If you are a side sleeper though, chances are your shoulder or hips may poke the ground.   They are susceptible to puncture.  My son likes his Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout Mattress .  I’m a side sleeper, so I fall into the next category.

Air Pads

Air pads come in a variety of sizes, thickness, and R-values.  While they are going to be more comfortable and warmer than anything above, they are more expensive and more prone to puncture than self-inflating mattresses.  If you intend to purchase gear that can be used for both car and back country camping, I would highly recommend an air pad.  They range in thicknesses of 2”-4”.  My biggest piece of advice is to go to REI and try out several different pads.  Some have baffles that may not work for side sleepers.  Others may be noisy when you toss and turn at night.  Here are a few tips on air pads to help you out.

Air Pad Tip Jar

Get an air pad that is at least 25” wide.  Sure you’ll pay a little more money, and add a little more weight, but for a side sleeper, your knees won’t hang off the side like they might with a 20” pad.

Higher R-Value Equals More Warmth

R-value, as defined by Professor Google, is “the capacity of an insulating material to resist heat flow”. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating power.  Effective insulation in a pad is going to reflect more body heat which will keep you warmer in cool weather.  I use the same pad in warm weather that I do in cold weather.  I’ll just open up my sleeping bag if I start to get warm.

If you are a light sleeper, make sure the pad is not too noisy.  Some of the highest rated pads take a few hits for being too crunchy sounding when you move.  If you don’t roll around like a hog in a waller at night, you’ll probably be OK.

Before you take it out on a trip, at least take a nap on the air pad at home.  If it’s comfortable at home, chances are it will be in the woods as well.  Get comfortable with how you inflate the mattress.  Some air pads come with an internal foam inflator that work OK.  I had one of these for a short time but found the hand pump system to be tiresome so I returned it. Keep in mind that it usually takes more breaths to inflate air pads than what the manufacturers state.

I would also keep in mind that the old saying, “Cotton Kills” can be officially modified to “Cottonwood Kills”.  For the photo shoot, as I was taking a big old breath to blow up my Big Agnes Q-Core, I managed to inhale some cottonwood dander / seed / fluffy killing machines.  The hacking and coughing that followed was really spectacular.

My Current Setup

Of the dozen times, I’ve camped in the last 14 months, I used a big Coleman Soft Plush Top Inflated Quickbed twice.  Both were on hot weather campouts at Texas state parks where I used an extension cord and pump for inflation.  I used my Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol with a Big Agnes Q-Core insulated air pad on top for the other ten campouts.  The Z Lite Sol adds more cushion, warmth and also helps to protect the expensive Big Agnes.

As for what goes on your bed, mattress, or pad, that depends on the weather and your tolerance for various temperatures.  I posted a fairly extensive guide to sleeping bags a few months ago, so I won’t repeat any of that here.  I would add that for hot weather car camping, I’ll sometimes leave my sleeping bags at home and used cheap cotton sheets to cover up with.

Plan ahead, do your homework and give yourself plenty of time to shop.  If you get lucky, you may avoid overbuying on car camping gear that later ends up in a garage sale.  Any guesses on which blogger might be guilty of that?

This post contains affiliate links.  They don’t add cost to your purchase, but in a round about way, help add gear for future reviews to my closet.

The post How to Pick Out a Sleep System for Car Camping appeared first on Campfire Guy.

Campfire Guy Here.  We are planning a camping trip with some friends for this coming Fall.  During our correspondence (fancy way to say Facebook Messenger), they asked me, “we are new to car camping, where do we start with buying gear?” My inner gear dork squealed with glee.  Every time Campfire Guy gets to dispense gear advice, either an angel gets its wings or Campfire Wife rolls her eyes and groans.  I can’t remember, though I’m pretty sure it’s the wings thing.

Car Camping vs. Backpacking

I have definitely been on a backpacking gear kick lately.  Those trips were centered around minimizing pack space and carrying a lighter load.  With car camping, my gear selection is limited only by the capacity of my vehicle and how many times I can say, “I’ll grab this just in case” before I run out of space.

Home is Where Your Tent Is

Since I started camping in 2011, I have amassed quite a bit of gear.  I can camp fast and light on my own or outfit my family of six with most of the comforts of home.  Since your home in the woods on a car campout is most likely going to be a tent, I’ll start there in the upcoming series, “How to Gear Up For Car Camping”.

Car Camping is “In-Tents”

Of all the gear I’ve purchased and returned, tents gave me the most grief.  I am the Goldilocks of outdoor gear.  Either the tent setup was too cumbersome, door placement was bad, it leaked or something broke the first time I set it up.  More research would have helped me avoid a few embarrassing trips to the return line.  These are not hard and fast rules to tent buying, merely some guidelines to help you find tent bliss.

Be Wary of Tent Capacities

Listed tent capacities are bologna. Our REI Half Dome Two plus is comfortable for one adult, or two kids.  Our Mountainsmith Genesee Four is comfortable for two adults or three children.  I’m certainly not knocking these two respected brands, but tent capacities are for “average sized” humans.  If you have two adults and two kids, get a six man tent.  For my family of six, we have a no longer made, clownishly large, Kelty Parthenon 8.  In hindsight, we would have been better off with two decent four person tents.  Eight person tents are lavish but can be difficult to set up.

Free Standing is Easier to Pitch

I prefer a freestanding tent rather than a tent that requires staking corners before you can set it up.  An easier set up is better.  I like to get the tent up as fast as I can since I usually have little ones (children or maybe small wooden creatures) running full tilt throughout camp as we try to set up.  A freestanding tent usually goes up faster and is easier to reposition should the need arise.  Freestanding tents are also more convenient to air out back home.  Even if you don’t get rain, you’ll likely have condensation and thus a wet tent at some point on your trip.  Always air out your gear post camping.

Try to Stick With Right Angled Footprints

I’ve seen a lot of oddball hexagonal tents.  They aren’t necessarily bad, but can be a little more confusing when trying to get all the parts aligned.  Most tent makers color code everything but there can still be some guesswork.

Clips Are Better Than Sleeves

The recent trend in tent design is to use clips instead of nylon sleeves to secure tent bodies to the poles.  No longer must you gently feed the tent poles through sleeves, hoping to avoid snags or having the pole sections separate.  Most super cheap tents still have the sleeves.

 Good Ventilation

No offense to Houston, but hot, damp and muggy is no way to go through life.  Make sure the tent has some form of cross ventilation, either in the form of pop up vents in the rain fly, or rain fly overhangs.  Moisture inside tents is no good.

Break on Through to the Other Side

The Doors on a tent can have a big impact on how you arrange your gear inside.  For a two person tent or larger, I recommend two doors.  If there’s only one door, make sure the placement works for you.  Set it up at home and lay out your sleeping bags.  You’ll figure out real quick if you can make efficient use of the space.  Having two doors will limit foot traffic inside and decreases the likelihood you accidentally step on a sleeping child in the middle of the night.  However, I make no guarantees that having two doors will keep a sleeping child from stepping on you in the middle of the night.

After Your Match Made In Camping Heaven

So, you’ve done your research, read all of my post,  poured over reviews and found that perfect tent.  Now, set it up at home.  Are all the parts there?  Did it come with enough stakes?  Does the stitching on the seams look tight and uniform?  Are there any holes in the tent body or fly?  Do the zippers all operate smoothly?  If you are happy with your purchase, the next step is to get some water based seam sealer and seal the “taped side” of any seams on the rain fly and the tent body.  This will help insure seams will indeed repel water.  You will most likely need to upgrade your tent stakes, as oftentimes, the stock ones are too flimsy. These are excellent stakes that I have had good luck with.  These are rubbish and broke the first time I tried to use them.  These steaks were just right.

One Size Does Not Fit All

What has worked for me, may not work for you.  If you stick with known brands, in the long run, they should serve you well.  Amazon and Academy have some super cheap tents, whose quality and longevity I cannot comment on.  Do your homework and allow plenty of time to make your purchase.

Recommended Brands

• ALPS Mountaineering
• Big Agnes
• Coleman
• Kelty
• Marmot
• Mountainsmith
• MSR
• REI

Two Person Tent Suggestions

• REI Half Dome Two Plus – I did an in-depth review of the Two Plus a while back. I’ve own the 2017 version for a while and love it.
• ALPS Mountaineering Taurus (also available in a four person version) – While I haven’t used this, our Boy Scout troop uses ALPS tents and they have held up well. If you have time to wait on shipping, hikerdirect.com is an excellent source for highly discounted ALPS Mountaineering gear.

Four Person Tent Suggestions

• Mountainsmith Genesee 4 – Own it and love it.
• Kelty Salida 4 – I have not owned, but the Kelty tent I do own has top quality construction.

Six Person Tent Suggestions

• REI has two offerings that review well but I have not owned either.
• Coleman 6-Person Instant Cabin. I’ve not owned one, but a friend of mine has had one for about five years and swears by it.  He also really likes the tent.

Eight Person Tent Suggestions

• Coleman Evanston 8– I have not owned but Amazon gives it 4.5 stars and it is super cheap.  It only has one door and partial pole sleeves.
• REI Kingdom 8 – I have not owned, but it reviews well and REI’s return policy is very friendly if you find it too cumbersome.

If you have any questions or comments, drop them in the comments section below. Happy shopping!

This post contains affiliate links. Clicking on them and doing some shopping doesn’t cost you anything, but it does help offset my operation costs.  Clicking on the links doesn’t require your to recruit ten friends to sell stuff, in hopes of one day of quitting your day job and living the dream.

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The Mini Grill That Could

Campfire Guy Here.  It’s well documented that I like playing with fire.  It’s also well documented that I like to eat (see any picture of Campfire Guy in his ill-fitting clothes).  Spring weather in North Texas provides a great opportunity to get outdoors, make like a caveman and cook over an open flame.  No loincloths were set on fire in this post.

Among a wide array of headlamps, lanterns and fire starters, UCO Gear also makes portable grills.  One of these is the Mini Flatpack Portable Grill & Firepit.  UCO Gear recently sent us one to try out.  As with the other products from UCO Gear I’ve used, it has a unique look and great functionality.

First Impressions

When I dug into the box like a kid on Christmas morning, I noticed right away how flat it was.  The grill packs up to about an 1” thick.  Also, it’s small.  The useable grilling area is only 8.75” x 6.75”.  

By my kitchen scale, the grill and grill grate weigh 1 lbs. 10.7 oz and comes with a handy canvas case to store the grill and the grate lifter in.

You Just Need to be 10% Smarter Than the Grill

My second impression was not good, though it was due entirely to user error.  There are only two ways to set up the the Mini Flatpack. The right way, and the way I did it.  The grill box unfolds easily along the side and bottom hinges.  The next step is to unfold the black support legs.  Done correctly, the entire assembly sits upright on its own.  Done incorrectly, the grill tips over, like it’s taking a bow after a well-choreographed tap number.

I Am the Firestarter

Once I got over my initial embarrassment of not being smarter than the grill, I got my charcoal chimney starter ready to go.  I used a lighter, two sheets of rolled up newspaper and some Kingsford Charcoal to use with my Weber chimney starter.  

In the spirit of “Leave No Trace” and “Don’t Set Your Backyard On Fire” the Mini Flatpack actually makes a good base to set your chimney starter on.

Next time, I’ll use some tin foil to keep the newspaper ashes from sticking to the grates of the grill.

Grill Capacity

The Mini Flatpack will comfortably hold about 20 briquettes.  You could pile more in there if you weren’t using the grill grate.  

After the coals burned for about 20 minutes, I got down to business.  

Campfire Wife marinated (see below for the recipe) some venison back strap for our gear test.  After placing a ½ pound of steaks there wasn’t much room left.  

3-5 minutes on each side, and meat was ready to pull.  Unlike most of my jokes, the steaks turned out great!

Clean Up

Like any grill, there’s going to be a mess afterwards.  After it cooled for a bit, I soaked the grill and grate in hot soapy water.

Other than the hinges, everything cleaned up fairly easy with some steel wool.  My steel wool kept getting snagged in the hinges, but ultimately, everything came clean.  After the first use, the grill had a nice copper patina to it.  It’s only going to be shiny clean when it’s brand new, out of the box.

When Would You Use the Mini Flatpack?

My biggest question before I spent some time with the Mini Flatpack was, “sure, it’s convenient, but in what situations would I actually use it?”  With a 9.5” x 8” cooking surface, cooking a meal for more than four adults would be a little time-consuming.  At 2 lbs, this certainly isn’t what you’d call an ultralight cooking system.

Here are a few scenarios where I could see the grill coming in handy:

• Tailgating – For a small group, it doesn’t get much more convenient than this.
• Car camping – When there is no established fire ring or the built-in grill is so infested with spiders that you’d rather try your luck with raw food.
• “Base Camp” Backpacking – Emphasis of your trip is setting up a lavish camp once, not trying to make miles on the trail.  Your priorities are comfort and convenience.  Weight or pack space isn’t too big a concern.  In this scenario, I’d recommend storing the grill in a one gallon zip lock as well, just to mask the smells until you can give it a proper cleaning at home.
• Boy Scout Patrol Boxes –  Boy Scout patrols usually have a “patrol box” that holds all the gear necessary for cooking and feeding about 8-10 Scouts.   The often heavy boxes are transported to camp on the troop’s trailer.  Our troop does a lot of dutch oven cooking, so we always have charcoal and chimney starters on hand.  The Flatpack Mini would be an excellent addition to any patrol box.

Final Thoughts

Though my test involved cooking with charcoal, I could also see building your fire in the Mini Flatpack with a Sweetfire Strikable Fire Starter, using small sticks and twigs as your fuel source.  If you are looking for a small, portable grill for your next outdoor shenanigans, the UCO Gear Mini Flatpack Grill & Firepit is a great choice!

Pros:

• Easy to set up once you figure it out
• Doesn’t require assembly
• Very portable

Cons:

• Would be nice to see cleaning instructions included
• Including a recommended charcoal quantity would be helpful
• Hinges are hard to clean

Specs:

• Product: Flatpack Mini Portable Grill
• Manufacturer: UCO Gear
• Cooking Surface Area: 8.75″ x 6.75″
• Kitchen Scale Weight (including grill, grate, grate lifter and canvas bag): 1 lb, 13.1 oz.
• Height: 7.5”

Venison Marinade

• • • Olive Oil – 1/4 cup
    • Apple Cider Vinegar – 1/8 cup
    • Worcestershire Sauce – 1 Tbsp.
    • Minced Garlic – 1 Tsp.
    • Brown Sugar – 1 Tsp.
    • Salt – To taste
    • Pepper – To taste
    • Paprika – To taste
    • Chili Powder – To taste

UCO Gear provided a Mini Flatpack Grill  for the purpose of this review.  Campfire Guy’s opinions are his own.

This article contains affiliate links, which help offset operation costs and fund future hunting trips for tasty venison.

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