Obi Elite 1 & 2

One of the easiest and most painful backpacking mistakes is over-packing. A few ounces or pounds here and there quickly add up to equal a backache at the end of the day. Usually the heaviest item one carries is their tent, but Nemo's new Obi Elite series is a game changer, and changing the way people look at tents.
  Obi 1-Person Elite Tent

The Nemo Obi Elite series was contrived to be light enough to carry as an emergency shelter but still maintain the functionality of a one or two person backpacking home. Intricately designed to one-up Nemo's own Ultralite series, the Nemo Obi Elite 1P & Nemo Obi Elite 2P features even thinner material and more weight saved. The result: Nemo Obi Elite 1P's minimum trail weight is an astounding 31 ounces and the Nemo Obi Elite 2P an amazing 35 ounces.

As seen in the floor plan, the Obi Elite 2P has two entrances and both a vestibule and a generous storage space. Each version uses a single pole with two shoulder-like joints that split and extend to the tent's corners, and each have water-tight raised tub floors. Cutouts in the Obi Elite's fly save space, weight and exponentially increase ventilation.

At $419.95 and $479.95 the Nemo Obi Elite 1P & 2P are priced marginally below what you could pay for a similar tent. Come say hi and check out this remarkably lightweight tent at the twin silos in Waterbury, or check it out online at CCOutdoorStore.com

A Portable Palace: The Nemo Hexalite 6

There are very few things I would rather do than hang out with close friends in a beautiful spot. But when those beautiful spots are rather remote, the requirement of protection from the elements is inevitable. Tarps can fail, but check this out- the Nemo Hexalite 6.

A perfect group shelter, the Nemo Hexalite 6 sleeps 6-10 people comfortably. This prime shelter from rain, sun or snow has an optional footprint and pawprint if ground protection is also necessary. A camp kitchen, poker hall, or ghost story chalet are just a few possible uses for the extremely versatile Hexalite 6. Poles, stakes, and an impeccably designed waterproof seam-taped outer layer provide instant protection for you and yours. MSRP $449.95. Available in our Waterbury store off Route 2 at the twin silos, or 24/7 from CCOutdoorStore.com    


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Petzl Nao and Core: Smart Headlamps

Fernand Petzl, a Frenchman born in 1912, was into hanging out in dark places, more specifically- caves. A true explorer, many large caves in France were opened and deemed safe solely because Petzl explored them beforehand. Petzl was an outstanding craftsman. He constructed all of his exploration equipment himself, and with it he became a world record holder in depth-expedition, having traveled to 985 meters (3232 feet) deep. Along with his son Paul, Petzl created his first caving products mostly for use by his friends and he. But it was Paul who turned the company into the world's leading provider in vertical sports (mountaineering, climbing, caving), vertical occupation and rescue, and specialized headlamps.

Two astonishing advancements Petzl have unveiled this year are the Core rechargeable and programmable battery pack, and the Nao reactive and customizable headlamp.

With an equivalent lifetime of 900 triple a batteries, the Core battery is featured in the Petzl Tikka and Petzl Zipka headlamp models. The Core recharges with any USB plugin (you can charge your headlamp anywhere you can charge your cell phone). It will start saving you money after four battery lives and the lack of batteries that you'll need reduces waste! But that's not all (in a Billy Mays voice). The Core, when plugged into a computer, opens the Petzl OS- a programming software that actually allows you to control the output of lumens by your Petzl headlamp. Select either their economic or maximum output mode and actively control the headlamp's function.

And secondly, the highly anticipated release of the Petzl Nao. The first of its kind, the Nao incorporates "intelligence" to illumination. Equipped with an on-board sensor, the Nao reacts to its environment and  changes between wide and focused light, and can actually dull or brighten its lamp- correlating to your areas available light. And this things got range! The sensor influences the headlamp to shine light fluctuating between 7 and 355 lumens! And I've seen this thing in action; in just a moment's time the Nao goes from a brilliant light shining dozens of meters ahead to only bright enough to read the map in your hand. The Nao comes with a USB rechargeable battery (but can also run off triple-a's if necessary), and is programmable (by connecting it to a computer) to shine at whatever lumens you desire- anywhere between 7 and 355.

Come check these out in our store in Waterbury, Vt, or order anytime online from CCOutdoorStore.com Shed some light on the subject with a Petzl Headlamp. 
Petzl Nao

Julbo's Amazing Photochromic Lenses

For over 120 years, the French optical experts at Julbo have continuously developed innovations in sunglass technology. Julbo finds its roots in the Jura Mountains in France and has a renowned heritage of creating the most protective performance eyewear for high-altitude and glacial exploration. Julbo is still the king of mountain eyewear, but has also emerged as a well-regarded action, mountain and water sports sunglass company. And when it comes to Julbo photochromic lenses, they’re a cut above the rest.

Simply meaning that the lenses change and react to different intensities of light, Julbo’s four photochromic lenses are the Camel, Zebra, Falcon and Octopus.

The Octopus is Julbo’s sovereign lens for aquatic activities. Polarized and coated with a water-repellent membrane, some Julbo frames that host the Octopus lens even have foam pads for floatation. 

 

Julbo Pipeline (w. Octopus lens)

The Zebra and Camel are two high definition lenses that evolve to UV light intensity. The Zebra, an amber hue, is non polarized -- perfect for when you need to see the glare of ice, or slick spots on the road. The Camel, a silver hue, is polarized- eliminating all visible glare. Both the Camel and Zebra reach darkness protection index levels 2-4, perfect for any mountain or desert, and are both all-terrain lenses with an anti-fog coating for action sports.

 Julbo Contest (w. Zebra)

Julbo Bivouak (w. Camel)

The fourth photochromic lens, the Falcon, is the most suited for travel and “behind the windshield” use. Sensitive to visible light, this lens evolves to any light source, including light bulbs. They are also featured on more urban styled frames. 

 Julbo Zulu (w. Falcon)

If you find yourself squinting, start sprinting to CCOutdoorStore.com and get some Julbo tinting.

Big Agnes: Would You Like a Bag?

In life we have choices; summit or vista, lead or follow, wake up or stay in toasty sleeping bag? Another choice to make, related to toasty sleeping bags, is whether to get a down sleeping bag or synthetic sleeping bag. For years down was the go-to, 'cuz hey- feathers keep birds warm. But research and development have led to advancements in the quality of synthetic sleeping bags. There are a few trade-offs but in my book synthetics are the way to go.

Down's one major upside is less weight, but there is a vital drawback. Not to be a 'downer' but wet feathers don't keep you warm, only dry ones.

Synthetic sleeping bags do have the insulating properties to still capture and contain heat when wet. You will also save money when you buy a synthetic sleeping bag, and the weight issue has improved substantially.

Two Big Agnes summer sleeping bags, the Gun Creek (30 degrees) and Cross Mountain (45 degrees) bags, use A-Shingo construction to save weight and keep you warmer. Envision how shingles on a roof are aligned. All of the space between each 'shingle' creates more trapped air, which maximizes heat containment by eliminate gapping. And the "Integrity" insulation within the bags comes from 97% recycled materials. It is by far the lightest and warmest synthetic insulation that Big Agnes offers.

Both the Gun Creek and the Cross Mountain have pad sleeves which fit a 20" wide sleeping pad, eliminating the risk of a roll off. They're also both constructed with breathable nylon and finished with a stain and water resistant coating. The warmer of the two, the Big Agnes Gunn Creek has a no-draft collar to prevent air from sneaking in near your head, a no-draft zipper tube and a no-draft wedge between the bag and pad sleeve. The Big Agnes Cross Mountain, for down to 45 degrees, has a pillow pocket for a fleece or a Big Agnes pillow. The Gunn Creek at 2 pounds 13 oz, and the Cross Mountain at 1 pound 11 oz, are both cozy, dream inducive and capable to keep you warm if even if the bag becomes wet- a potentially life-saving parameter.
Cross Mountain Gunn Creek

Big Agnes Wyoming, Award-Winning Multi-Functional Tent

Big Agnes has done it again! Another Outside Magazine Buyer's Guide featuring another Big Agnes Tent.  The Big Agnes Wyoming Trail 2 Camp Tent was chosen as one of the "Seven Best Tents of Summer 2012".

Enter, the Big Agnes Wyoming Trail SL2 and Wyoming Trail 2 Camp tent with vestibule!  When living in a tent, each item that you have with you has a purpose and an importance- nothing extraneous.  However, there are plenty of things that do not need to be inside your tent as you rest and rehabilitate, but shouldn't be out in the open either. I'm thinking camp chairs, coolers, bicycles, boots, surfboards, wet clothes, wet dogs, anything that doesn't make you want to doze.

 

Pictured above is the Wyoming Trail 2 Camp. Notice the vestibule area perfect for storage or just chilling. This tent is even considered rad enough by the folks at Outside Magazine to merit a write up in this month's onlinedition. The exact type of tent ideal for a music festival, as you see in the floor plan below- plenty of space for sleeping bags and pillows, but also an outdoor living room!

Available in a nine-pound camping edition for $350 and a seven-pound SL (super light) edition for $499 this tent is a bit cumbersome for backing, but absolutely spectacular for everything else!  Check 'em out on our Big Agnes Tent site. 

Nemo Helio: For When it's Time to Clean Up Your Act

There are times, for some- more than others, when we are less than clean. Most of us, once we reach that stage, jump in the shower for a little "scrub a dub dub." But when you're a few weeks into the Long Trail, stuck in a car on a multiple-day road trip, at a remote work site or are anywhere that is not proximal to your washroom- there's a new method from Nemo Equipment: the Helio Pressure Shower.

When packed, it's about the size of a birthday cake and weighs 25 oz, but has the capacity of 11L (2.9 gallons) of purifying sanctified aqua. And unlike other portable shower systems that rely on gravity, the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower has a pressure pedal to regulate your stream. Good for about five to seven minutes of steady stream, the Helio Shower is perfect for rinsing off a muddy dog, or even dirty dishes! A spray nozzle, like that one on your sink, at the end of a seven foot hose will bring your from grungy to lovely - no matter where you are.

After you're finished cleansing yourself of crud, a ventilated carry case and Eco-polyurethane coated polyester protect the Helio Shower from growing any type of nasty mold (either). At $99.95, the Nemo Helio Pressure Shower will make people less apt to turn around and run from your unpleasant aroma : )