Friday, August 13, 2010

SALES GALORE at CCOutdoorStore.com!

What a great time to be shopping for outdoor gear! There so many bargains on hiking and backpacking gear...and there are still plenty of warm, long days to use them in the backcountry. With all the great deals on backpacks, tents, and hiking boots we created a Summer 2010 Clearance page for them. Find a great deal of up to 50% off everything from trekking poles to glacier glasses.

If you're looking to upgrade your old hiking or backpacking boots we've created a Men's Backpacking Boot Clearance page and a Women's Backpacking Boot Clearance page. Here you'll find some great buys on Lowa,Vasque, and Zamberlan boots. Please note that we have only one of each of these boots in the specified size and once they are gone...well you know...they're gone.

Last but not least we're running a 20% off Sale on select Big Agnes tents, sleeping bags, and pads for the next week. (If you know what you're looking for and want to see an overview of all of the Big Agnes offerings in a category and which is on sale, you can navigate straight to the BA Sleeping Bag Page, the BA Sleeping Pad page, or the BA Tent page).

Need some ideas? Cozy up with your partner in the Big Agnes King Solomon double sleeping bag or Big Agnes Cabin Creek double sleeping bag. But first get your kids settled into their Big Agnes Porcupine Junior Down bag for a long nature's rest - with creature comforts like this they'll beg to go hiking camping with you for years to come! Don't forget to get a Big Agnes Sleeping Pad so you get the full integrated pad effect. It's Big Agnes' claim to fame - never roll off your pad again! (note you can still get the effect with other pads, too). Check back here again for more sale features, or just visit us at CCOutdoorStore.com and browse to your heart's content!

Set up your whole family with new gear for a fall adventure - or now that your mind is fresh from your latest hiking or camping trip - get some great deals now for an early start next summer. Either way now is a GREAT time to shop CCOutdoorStore.com.

Monday, July 19, 2010

On the Matter of Warranties - and GREAT outdoor brands!

While at the Vermont Mountain Bike Festival this weekend, we spent a good deal of time practicing our tent set-up skills at the Nemo Tent booth Nicole from the home office surprised us with something new we didn’t already know about their tents…they all come with a lifetime warranty!


It’s a testament to the quality of the brands we carry that many of them come with lifetime guarantees. You may have seen on our last post that on several occasions MSR (and Thermarest - both owned by Cascade Designs) have shocked us by covering product issues (like broken tent poles) by replacing items at no cost to the customer…even when the damage clearly wasn’t a defect, but was the result of customer action and normal wear.


In backpacks both Gregory and Osprey cover their packs with lifetime warranties, and even our Darn Tough wool socks come with a lifetime guarantee... Imagine that!


Boot and watch manufacturers tend to treat warranties differently. Since both products can be subjected to extensive daily use--and wear and tear—their warranties are more limited. All of our boot manufacturers limit their guarantees against defects in workmanship or materials to 1 year, yet we’ve seen extensions made in some cases. Believe us we’ve recently seen some cases where boots have been subjected to so much abuse in as little as two weeks that the line between a product failure and user issue has been pretty close. Never-the-less our three boot brands Lowa, Zamberlan, and Vasque have been Fantastic to work with, have quickly dealt with the issues, and have been generous in honoring warranty requests. St. Moritz watches come with a 2/4/6 year warranty. More than a great service record, though, we have heard from many many customers - and seen the reviews on the web - of the amazing quality of these boots and watches. Perhaps even more telling in this case is the number of warranty issues we have NOT been called about.


At CCOutdoorStore our goal is to make sure you get a quality product, but in rare case when something isn't perfect, we work hard to be your advocate and give you the service you deserve. Just give us a call at 1-802-244-4000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-802-244-4000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-802-244-4000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email us at info@ccoutdoorstore.com and we’ll get the process moving so as to minimize your down time.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The MSR Hubba Hubba Tent - legendary innovation, quality and service

At CCOutdoorStore.com, we pride ourselves on bringing our customers the best gear with a good price and fast and friendly service. But what makes gear good, much less "the best"? We think it's about innovation, yes, but just as important is long-term durability and a strong product quality program.

Enter the MSR Hubba Hubba tent from Cascade Designs. This tent boasted the latest innovation in lightweight tent design a few years back. And in what we consider to be a great move, they actually DIDN'T change it just for the sake of change!

The Hubba Hubba's Innovation:
Ushering in camping and backpacking innovation in 2007, the MSR® Hubba™ 1-person and MSR® Hubba Hubba™ 2-person tents were introduced with a one-pole hub and swivel design to deliver the perfect combination of light weight and livability. This great design was simple and easy to set up, but revolutionary in delivering interior space without a lot of extra weight and gizmos. That alone went a long way to making the MSR Hubba Hubba a highly sought-after backpacking and camping tent. And the innovation still holds strong today... the MSR Hubba Hubba still one of the best-selling ultralight tents in the world.

Other features like the two doors and two large vestibule areas make the Hubba Hubba a great backpacking or small camping tent for any adventure. Two people and their gear can move around pretty comfortably, and only carry 4 pounds, 3 oz to the campsite. With its virtually total screen body, you can use the MSR Hubba Hubba without the fly for those great nights when you just want to sleep under the stars but WITHOUT the bugs!

MSR Hubba Hubba Quality:

Cascade Designs - parent company to MSR products - backs all of its products with a lifetime guarantee. And they don't split hairs with you about what that means.

We recently had a customer who had his Hubba Hubba tent for over a year and broke his poles. He was very apologetic because the break was not due to normal wear and tear, but rather was caused from from external and undue pressure on the poles. He wanted to pay for a new set. Now we knew about Cascade Designs' fantastic lifetime warranty on all their MSR tents, stoves, and snowshoes, but figured this was a borderline case. After speaking with Cascade Designs, we discovered they would replace the Hubba Hubba tent poles for free. Great!

And a few months back a customer who had her Hubba Hubba tent for more than 5 years and used it well (and quite often) poked a hole in her fly. You guessed it, Cascade Designs was willing to fix free of charge. Unbelievable!

Now we're pretty sure there's a bunch of legal jargon that says that Cascade Designs does not have to replace anything and everything on an MSR Hubba Hubba tent whether it's due to abuse or normal wear and tear or not - but in practice, these guys do what's right... and even go above and beyond. They've even got a great repair program that saves the landfills and extends the life perfectly good equipment for many many years.

In our experience, when it comes to MSR and the Hubba Hubba Tent we're not talking about a lot of product quality issues - this backpacking workhorse is build to last right out of the box.

So a big shout out to Cascade Designs/MSR for making such a fantastic lightweight tent for backpacking, but most of all for standing by it with their lifetime warranty and general customer-friendly approach to each and every product.

Check out the MSR Hubba Hubba Tent at CCOutdoorStore.com today.

see also:
MSR Hubba Hubba HP Tent


Monday, June 28, 2010

The Tents are coming! The Tents are coming!

The tents are coming! The tents are coming! ... a message from Reed and Maureen McCracken, owner-operators of CCOutdoorStore.com.

We've got a new shipment of Sierra Designs tents making it's way to us at this very moment.
We were in a Sierra Designs Lightening XT 4 not so long ago and I'll tell you it was a snap to put up...and very roomy. With nearly vertical sidewalls this backpacking tent would also be a roomy car camping tent for a young family. We can't wait to open up the boxes of all these great Sierra Designs tents. So which tent will we be sending to you?? Check out the full Sierra Designs Tents page and place your order today!

Also in tent news... this past week we took in a big shipment of Nemo's Meta 2P tent. So they are IN STOCK NOW and ready to ship within 24 hours of your order. The Meta 2P is the ultimate in the new ultralight backpacking category and is HOT HOT HOT! This is a tent you gotta grab while you can because people are just snapping them up. Check out the Backpacker Editor's Choice video review HERE. We're also anticipating more Nemo tents coming into inventory in the coming days - check out the great deals and options on our Nemo page. Later this week we'll get re-stocked on the roomy Asashi 4P. If only there were enough of those Asashi's to go around, we'd take one for ourselves!

Speaking of ourselves, we got back from a recent family camping trip where we tried out the Big Agnes' Lynx Pass 4P. What a value! At $299 you get an incredibly versatile all-around great tent. Yeah, you can find lighter tents, but there are a lot of more cost effective ways to shave a pound from your back than missing out on this tent. Our family of four fit fine...in fact it was surprising roomy. Best of all, with four corner vents in the fly there was practically NO condensation overnight, as an added bonus each corner had a mesh pocket for each family members' headlamp and personal items. Plus it was a snap to put up. The Lynx Pass 2-person and Lynx Pass 3-person tents utilize the same innovative pole architecture and share the same great features - just a bit smaller.

Isn't time YOU pitched a new tent? Check out our complete selection @ CCOutdoorStore.com

Friday, May 28, 2010

HUGE SALE on Osprey Packs and Big Agnes Tents!

If you haven’t aired out your tent and backpack since putting them away for the winter, get 'em out and give 'em a thorough inspection. Now could be the perfect time to replace your old tent with an easy to set-up, lightweight new model - or get that backpack that has today's innovations in comfort and hydration. Because right now is when we're having our HUGE Osprey and Big Agnes Tent SALE. The sale begins this weekend and continues through June 13, 2010.

Osprey Packs - the ultimate in backpack design:
Osprey has always been on the forefront in backpack design and innovation, and this year is no exception. We are so excited to put EVERY OSPREY we have on our site on SALE for 20% off! Have you heard about Osprey's new HydraForm reservoir and hydration system? Check out the pictures on our Manta 20 page - or any of the Osprey Hydration products on our Osprey Backpack page. Osprey's cool new reservoir has a handle that makes it easy to hold while filling, but also works with the track system inside Osprey hydration packs - so the reservoir stays in place and doesn't scrunch up at the bottom of the pack or get all sideways. The Osprey HydraForm hydration-compatible packs are also designed to put the right amount of pressure in the right places, so you get great water pressure and delivery down to the last drop. And as one customer reminded us today, the system also provides protection from the stuff we jam in our packs - no poked holes or uneven pressure in our water supply. Of course you don't want to forget the packs that keep Osprey on the map - the Exos backpack, the Kestrel 68 backpack, and when you want travel luggage with a backpack component the Osprey Sojourn wheeled convertible pack is the perfect choice.

Big Agnes Tents - Tried, Tested, and getting better every year:
And then there's Big Agnes Tents. Big Agnes Tents. Need we say more? Yes, this is the same Big Agnes that has won Backpacker Magazine acclaim for years running. The legendary Seedhouse tents, Copper Spur tents, Lynx Pass tents - these are the tried and true tents that gave Big Agnes her fantastic reputation. And then there's Big Agnes' innovative and earth-friendly Salt Creek tent, and of course the latest Backpacker Magazine sensation the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent. CCOutdoorStore.com will be offering most Big Agnes Tents (except their brand new just-out-of-the-gate models like the Fly Creek UL2) at 20% off during this sale. You don't want to miss it!

Throughout CCOutdoorStore's Osprey/Big Agnes Tent sale, shipping will be just $7.99 - regardless of the size of your package, where in the lower-48 US it is going, or what other products you purchase.

At CCOutdoorStore.com, we have bought extra inventory to support this huge Osprey/Big Agnes Bonanza. If necessary, though, we will hold your backorder, honor these great sale prices, and keep you up-to-date on your order. It's all part of our ever-improving service program - where we strive to support every customer with a friendly voice, a virtual smile, and when you make it to Vermont a very hearty welcome!

So we hope to see you online, and as always - thank you for giving CCOutdoorStore.com the opportunity to win your business!



Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Glacier and Mountaineering Glasses - Polarized or No?

When travelling on, over, and around glaciers, eye protection is a must, including at minimum 100% protection against UVA, B and C radiation. But beyond that, our customers often ask: when going mountaineering, should I get polarized lenses or not?

The truth is, there really is no one right answer, but the following information may help you make your own decision.

Nick Yardley, President of Julbo USA (internationally for their glacier and mountaineering glasses) says that guides all around the world use both Julbo's Spectron 4 lenses (non-polarized) and their Camel photochromatic transition lenses (polarized).

Many traditional climbers using glasses solely for glacier travel stay away from polarized lenses because getting rid of the glare blurs the distinction between snow and ice. This can be a critical - or sometimes just very convenient - distinction, and with something like a Spectron 4 lens, squinting is not really going to be an issue. Julbo's spectron 4 lens transmits 4% of visible light. Amazingly, though, our team has noted on many occasions that these lenses are comfortable and allow pretty clear vision even on a cloudy Vermont day. So don't let the "dark" scare you away from a Spectron 4 lens.

Other glacier travellers, though, like the polarized and transitional (photochromatic) lenses, especially if they are going to use the glasses for other activities. Julbo's Camel lenses evolve from a category 3 to 4, transmitting 5% to 16% of visible light respectively. They are every bit as protective, and are a bit more versatile. They are polarized, but depending on your plans the slight disadvantage seeing ice vs snow may not be a critical issue.

At CCOutdoorStore.com, we carry all of the Julbo glacier glasses , especially the Explorer, Bivouak, and Monterosa models for those going mountaineering. All of these models come with a Spectron 4, Alti Arc 4, or Camel polarized/photochromatic lens option. The Bivouak has a Zebra photochromatic lens option which is not polarized and has variable protection from category 2 to 4. (incidentally, our team really likes the Zebra lens for biking, hiking, and trail running, where sunglasses have to provide protection but also evolve as quickly and seamlessly as the terrain and weather.)

We hope you find some interesting food for thought in this blog and we encourage you to check out Julbo's web pages on lenses for more detailed information.

We also found an interesting and informative article HERE.

So in the end the lenses and glasses you chose for your mountaineering trip is really a matter of personal preference. But it's definitely smart to arm yourself with information so your choice is not accidental.

We hope that when it's time to buy, you consider CCOutdoorStore.com, where our goal is to find the best gear for your outdoor adventure and bring it to you hassle free - and with a virtual smile!

Happy Travels,
The CCOutdoorStore.com Team

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Zamberlan - a Deeper Bench

There's more to Zamberlan than today's hot craze the 760 Steep - at CCOutdoorStore.com, we want to take a moment to highlight the 996 Vioz and remind you of the classic backpacking boot that helped bring Zamberlan to where it is today.

First, an update on the much-discussed 760 Steep:
Backpacker Magazine's amazing review and cover photo of the Zamberlan 760 Steep has helped to make that boot and overnight sensation. Indeed it seems even Zamberlan itself was caught off guard and is having trouble getting enough inventory in the United States. At CCOutdoorStore.com, we are continually working with Zamberlan to get inventory of the 760 Steeps and are taking pre-buy orders when inventory is not immediately available. Unfortunately, a women's version of the 760 Steep is currently unavailable.

Many customers - including many women hikers - who started out looking at the Steep are also eyeing the 540 Rise. The 540 Rise is - in a nutshell - a lighter 760 Steep. The sole package is exactly the same. It's the upper that shows difference, in the color of course (mostly gray or tan vs. mostly red), but also in that is has a split leather/cordura mix as opposed to the Steep's nubuk leather only. According to the specifications, it's 70 grams lighter (about 2.5 oz) and on long backpacking treks that can make a big difference.

Now, a reminder of the boot that helped Zamberlan get where it is today - the Zamberlan 996 Vioz.
In all the frenzy about the 760 Steep and 540 Rise, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the company's 996 Vioz mens bacakpacking boots and 996 Vioz womens backpacking boots. These classic backpacking boots have been bringing customers comfort and satisfaction on the trail for years. This is one of those backpacking boots that will never go out of style.

The materials used in the Vioz GT, and the overall quality of construction, are of exceptional quality. The uppers have only two seams -- one at the heel, and one around the tongue gusset. So in addition to the Goretex lining, the absence of seams on the Vioz give these boots excellent water resistance. The Vibram sole is stiff enough to provide protection for your feet on rough and rocky trails. It also provides excellent traction in most conditions - including bare and wet rock and granite - and the aggressively angled heel unit allows for a rock-solid grip on descents or loose gravel conditions. The curved position of the sole - with an upward arc at the ball of the foot - makes for miles of walking comfort and can feel like it's actually propelling you forward with each step. (but don't worry, you're still doing a lot of the work!)

The 996 Vioz has all the features to support a strenuous backpacking trip with heavy loads, but it's also just a really nice looking boot that will do your feet good on a day hike and at the local gathering place after the adventure.
For many, the Zamberlan 996 Vioz is the most comfortable hiking boot they have ever worn... and that just might be the best reason of all to get your hands on a pair.

The 996 Vioz is available at CCOutdoorStore.com. We've got free shipping and an instant 10% discount for Facebook fans, so there's really no excuse... VISIT US TODAY!

Happy trails!