Sleep Away the Night in a Selk’Bag

Ever seen a Selk’Bag sleep system? All the comfort and coziness of a traditional sleeping bag, but with the added ability to sleep in different positions, lounge around, and even walk. The best part of all this--besides a comfortable and restful night at camp--is that you can get up to make your coffee without having to get out of your sleeping bag! Talk about being the envy of your campsite.

Here's what one camper said about the Selk’Bag, “I find that I move a lot when sleeping and with traditional sleeping bags I often find that I am restricted and cannot get the freedom I need, I found with the Selk that this was not a problem as the bag allowed full movement and kept me snug and warm all night.”

There's also a Selk Bag for kids! I know two children who love their Selk’Bags and think that they are the coolest thing under the sun. No more getting up in the middle of the night to wrap your little one back up in their sleeping bag since they kicked it off and are now in a ball shivering in their sleep. They will enjoy a restful and warm night’s sleep as well. In the morning, they can just get up and have their oatmeal while staying all toasty and warm.

The Selk’Bag has zip up hands, a drawstring hood, baffle construction and draft tubes. They are constructed in Chile and are named after an indigenous Chilean tribe and their own innovative cold weather garb. This sleep system packs up like any other sleeping bag and comes in three adult and two kid sizes.

Ahh! Gregory's Denali Pro Expedition Pack

Whenever I say the name Gregory Denali Pro Expedition Pack I flash back to our 10 day backpacking trip in Denali National Park with our Gregory Pro packs. Unfortunately we missed this great view of Denali while camping at Wonder Lake...it was amazing how huge the mountain really was the one day it popped out of the clouds! We weren't pros at the time and you don't need to be one to get a pack like this...you just need to have a lot of stuff to haul. With a volume of 115 Liters in the large, you can almost pack your kitchen sink. Afterwards you may never want to leave the wilderness and go back to work. We certainly didn't. If you don't need quite that much space the Gregory Whitney Backpack holds 95 Liters. Best of all you get a Denali Pro or a Whitney @20% OFF now through 11/13 during our Gregory Backpack Sale.

All this talk also makes me think of even grander expeditions to far away places like the Himalayas. Besides having one person in the shop whose trekked there, we've got another connection to the Himalayas here in Waterbury, VT: The Himalayan Cataract Project. We get an inside view into how this non-profit is run from our friends who run their main office here. In a nutshell, a pair of opthamalogists started doing cataract surgeries to cure blindness in the Himalayan region and have added doctors, facilities, and training to expand their good work. They've also just started work on a hospital in Rwanda. It's a great cause...something worth supporting as we start pondering the many reasons we have to give thanks.

Ready for a new Gregory Ski Backpack this winter?

Winter backpacks...already? Yup. We had two customers in the store this week who'd hiked up for their first alpine ski runs of the winter at Stowe Mountain Resort. They came to us looking to upgrade to real ski backpacks. The Gregory Targhee was Backpacker Mag's Editor's Choice in this category last winter...and is a local backcountry favorite. A close friend started using its smaller version The Gregory Drift about a year ago and only raves about it. Besides the fact that both these packs are ON SALE now thru 11/13, you'll enjoy your early season skiing with a new, comfortable backpack. Gregory Packs are designed to transfer the load effectively so you stay balanced and strong as you make you way to the top of your first run. Besides why wait until after your next trip to remember that this was the year you promised yourself you'd get some new gear. Check out our new Ski Pack section for other great alpine packs from Deuter and Osprey!

Gregory Baltoro 70 wins again!

Yes, the Gregory Baltoro 70 (and Women's Deva 60) are great backpacks. We've known this since they came out. And indeed these were Backpacker Editor's Choice winners in 2008. But now they've given it even higher accolades: Backpacker Editor's Choice Hall of Fame in this November's issue of Backpacker. Here's what they had to say:

Of the 28 packs that have earned the highest award over the past 13 years, Gregory's Baltoro 70 (and women's Deva 60) from 2008 reigns as one of our all-time favorites. The packbag is near perfect (with just the right balance between features and lightweight simplicity), but it's the "miracle suspension system--with its auto-canting hipbelt and shoulder straps--that makes even a 50-pound load feel manageable. says one tester. $290; 5 lbs. 9 oz." Backpacker, 11.2010, pg. 72

If you've been looking for a 60-80 liter backpack (good for long weekends, weeklong outings, even through hikes) now you can win too! . They're on sale now for 20% off at CCOutdoorStore.com.

Gregory Backpacks Sale

Gregory Backpacks Sale? You heard right. Now through 11/13, CCOutdoorStore.com is having it's bi-annual Gregory backpack blowout. Get 20% off great Gregory packs now; don't wait until the last minute before your next trip. Get low sale prices on mountaineering backpacks, expedition packs, and ski backpacks. Better yet, we've just updated our site with a great new selection of packs in many sizes and colors. It's definitely worth a look if you need an activity specific backpack or want to replace an old, worn one. We'll try to write some features for a few of our favorites in the coming days.

Darn Tough's Merino Wool Socks

As the weather has chilled, the leaves pretty much fallen, and the geese have flown south; I have to say getting out of bed is a chilly feat for my chilly feet. I keep a pair of Darn Tough socks right next to my bed, so I can slip them on before my feet hit the floor. If you haven’t put on a pair of Darn Tough socks, you don’t know what you are missing. These Merino wool socks are definitely comfortable and come in many colors, styles, and cushion options. More importantly, they last! They are durable and made for cold morning floors to freezing mountain tops and everything in between. Although they're made with New Zealand wool, Darn Tough socks are made nearby in Cabot, Vermont. And they boast a lifetime guarantee. You heard me right! This is a sock that is guaranteed for life. What this means is that if these socks are not the most durable and comfortable socks that you have ever owned, then you get your money back! My experience has been great with Darn Tough socks. My feet are warm, dry, and comfortable. These socks actually feel more cozy with time, not thread bare or thin like some other brands. Be good to your feet – they carry you. Treat yourself to some darn cozy, Darn Tough socks today!

Zeal Transcend Ski Goggles will keep you in the clouds!

Zeal's Transcend Ski Goggles will make you feel like a Top Gun pilot on your next ski adventure. With Recon Instruments vertical odometer technologies you'll get real-time access to performance statistics including speed, altitude, temperature, and time in the corner of your ski goggles. I wore a sample pair last winter and knew instantly that this piece of gear was a must have. Men's Journal agreed and included these goggles on their list of perfect gear this past summer.

Two models are available: one with transitional/photochromic lenses, and the other without. Both lenses are polarized. They feature a Zeal Optics' frame design with a micro LCD display, which appears to hang approximately six feet in front of the user. Even more fun you can relive your day and download your day's adventures. Store and email your total vertical and miles to impress your friends. Want to read more...check out Zeal's blog.

We will only have limited quantities available so don't wait to put your name on our waitlist to get a pair when they become available in November. With such cool gear you can even adopt your own Tom Cruise swagger on the slopes.