Adventure gift guide 2017

The Mantis All-In-One Hammock Tent epitomizes sleep versatility. Resort-level comfort and four-season adaptability combine for the most epic hang between two trees. Mantis is adventure ready for basecamp and backcountry, and easily sets up for a backyard nap. This thing can do it all—seriously. “I have taken the mantis out half a dozen times now. It’s become my go to hammock. It’s very well thought out and having a single pack for everything makes it light and small.” - Chuck H., Happy Camper Go-Anywhere Packability It’s time to lighten your load, camper. We know you’re always ready for the next big adventure, and with the Mantis All-In-One Hammock Tent, your kit will be too. The Mantis packs down smaller than your sleeping bag and is lighter than a one-person tent. Don’t need the rainfly or mesh canopy for this trip? Leave one or both at home for an even more compact carry. And when we say the Mantis will go anywhere, we mean it. It’s light enough for overnights in the backcountry, yet comfy enough for daily backyard hangs. Quick, Elevated Setup If you’re tired of trying to find the perfect spot for your tent, level and free of roots and rocks, then the Mantis is your solution. Elevate your campsite and sleep on cloud nine every night. The structural ridgeline takes the guesswork out of setup, providing the ideal hang every time. The knotless design means Mantis goes up in 60 seconds, allowing for more time on the trail and less time fidgeting with cumbersome tent poles. All-Weather Versatility You know what you need better than anyone, so we’re putting you in the driver seat with the Mantis’ versatile design. Take what you need, and leave the rest at home. The detachable Dragonet mesh canopy is essential in mosquito season, and the included rainfly makes for four-season adaptability. Pitch the fly close to the hammock body to stay dry through rain and snow, or use trekking poles for front-porch mode to wake up with a view. No rain in the forecast? Ditch the fly altogether and examine the night sky through the Stargazer panel. Whatever the outdoors throw your way, Mantis has you covered. Designed With the Camper in Mind After a long day on the trail, we know all you want is a comfortable bed to crawl into. The hammock body is made with our signature Gravitas™ fabric—silky soft and luxurious beyond comparison. Storage is a cinch with built-in pockets, and during our Father’s Day Sale, all Mantis purchases come with a free Ridgeline Organizer, giving you even more space for essentials like a water bottle and headlamp. Add one of our trail quilts and our Insulated Pongo Pad for an outdoor oasis like no other—resort level comfort between two trees.

When you start smelling charcoal in your neighborhood on a nightly basis, you know it’s peak backyard season. There’s no better place to enjoy time outside than in your own outdoor space, hanging out with friends and family. Even in urban environments, your backyard has the potential to provide the daily nature relief you’re probably craving—a slow evening watching the fireflies dance after hustling through your busy day to day. We know you have a lot going on, which is why we think it’s even more important to press pause on the to-do list and make room in your schedule for time outside. Swiftlet and a Roo Hammock The Swiftlet is a no brainer for any backyard—especially one void of trees. If you’re working from home, your Swiftlet will be your go-to place to lounge for those long phone calls and lunch breaks. This portable hammock stand has lightweight, go-anywhere capabilities that make it perfect for moving around the yard, from lounging poolside to roasting mallows at the fire pit. With the addition of a Roo hammock, this will quickly become the most popular piece of outdoor furniture you own. Hang the Roo Double when you want company, and opt for the Roo Single when you’re looking for some me time. We know you need it. Roo singles are currently 20% off! Shop the whole Memorial Day Sale here. Field Blanket We’re not in full-on summer mode yet, so having a backyard blanket is nice for those brisk evenings. And even when the temperatures are hitting triple digits, your Field Blanket will make for the most comfortable picnic spot in the neighborhood. The water repellent ripstop shell provides the durability you need on the underside, while the microfleece offers a soft place to soak up the sun. Plus, with its DWR coating, your Field Blanket is protected from both the spring showers and the unexpected spills. No matter what you throw at it, this do-all blanket will never stop performing. Shop our Memorial Day Sale for 20% off. Field Blanket Jr. No more worrying about your hand-woven alpaca throw—we’ve got just the right blanket for your little one’s adventurous side. Just like its namesake, the Field Blanket Jr. is soft, durable, and ready for backyard and basecamp adventures alike. We made this version especially for our smaller campers—just the right fit and equally spill friendly. If you’re tired of your nice blankets getting literally dragged through the mud, you can take comfort knowing this smaller blanket will fit just right when in poncho mode. Plus, if it happens to get dirty (we know it will), the Field Blanket Jr. washes easily in no time at all. Whether they’re hanging it up to build a fort or donning it as a cape, Field Blanket Jr. is ready to play. It’s also 25% off during our Memorial Day Sale. Solo Stove Bonfire Backyard fires in spring are essential, and the Solo Stove Bonfire makes the experience even more enjoyable. Most fire pits are prone to annoying levels of smoke due to poor air flow, and Solo Stove has fixed that with their line of backyard products. Bonfire burns efficiently, keeping the smoke to a minimum, so you never have to bounce from one side to the other with a slight change in the wind. Additionally, the storage bag makes it incredibly easy to pack up the Bonfire and take it on adventures! Throw in some s’mores supplies, and you’ve got yourself a backyard party everyone will want to join. Backyard weather doesn’t last all season, so take full advantage while you can. Other must haves we love for any outdoor space are yard games like Kubb and Cornhole, a grill of your choosing to take meals outside, and string lights to keep the hangs going all night. Tag us in your backyard photos on Instagram or with #TimeOutside—we can’t wait to see what you come up with! And shop our Memorial Day Sale, now through May 31, for more savings on your favorite outdoor gear.

Our outdoor community is built on seeking adventure. Sometimes this means spending time in harsh weather conditions and challenging ourselves physically, while other times it means having difficult conversations and changing our perspective. In this three-part series, we'll be sharing the stories of individuals redefining what it means to be outside. Written by Luisa Vargas. At the beginning of February, we witnessed the power of community. Slim Pickings Outfitters is the first Black-owned outdoor shop in the nation. They’re a fellow Texan business whose home is not too far from ours in Stephenville, TX. Their mission is bringing diversity to the outdoors and building a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. Like most small businesses, the pandemic hit them hard. When The Outbound Collective caught hold of Slim Picking’s struggles, they quickly set up a Go Fund Me, and with the help of social media, in just three days they raised over $100,000 and hit record sales. People saved Slim Pickings Outfitters and everything they stand for. This brings me hope. It’s proof that collective power is real and we each have a part to play in it. If you’re reading this, you likely want to do something to help, and I’m here to remind you that you can. You can start by supporting organizations and businesses led by Blacks, LatinX, Asians, Muslims, Immigrants, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. It’s in the intersectionality of these groups that we will bring about transformational change. Today, we’ll be learning about Aleshea Carriere’s life. Listening is one small thing we can all do, but actions still speak louder than words. At the end of this post, you’ll find a list of resources and things you can do to help others like Slim Pickings Outfitters. For now, let’s dive into the story behind Glitz n Grits. Aleshea at Guadalupe Peak: 8,749 feet Aleshea Carriere was 5 years old when she came home from school with a Girl Scouts flyer asking her mom if she could join a troop. This didn’t mean she would automatically be participating in outdoor activities, but her mind was set on being outside. Alesha’s mom volunteered to lead the new group of 20 girls who wanted to take part in this adventure. While Aleshea’s sister’s troop focused on more scientific learning, Aleshea was adamant about getting to do the adventurous stuff.  Girl Scouts became Aleshea’s way of exploring the outdoors. Aleshea and her Girl Scout troop on her first campout at Eisenhower state park Aleshea studied history and political science in college with ambitions to go to law school, but after interning with a law office, she realized it wasn’t for her. Aleshea says she accidentally stumbled into a teaching job but continued to spend her free time in nature and taking pictures. After working seven years in education she decided that it wasn’t a job that fueled her. She decided to quit her job, and that summer Glitz n Grits was born. What started as a food blog quickly developed into a travel and outdoor adventure blog as well. “I heard the song ‘My Texas’ by Josh Abbott after college and realized I had lived here my whole life and hadn’t done half the stuff in Texas,” Aleshea says. She started sharing the outdoor activities she was doing and recognized that she was an anomaly. People were asking her why she was spending so much time outdoors, and that’s when she connected the dots. “The Civil Rights Act wasn’t passed until 1964. So when people ask why Black children are nine times more likely to die from drowning, I explain that my mother was born before 1964, so there was a time she wasn’t allowed in public swimming pools or public places,” Aleshea says. As she began sharing more, more people wanted to learn more. Aleshea enjoying a day of exploring Texas Eventually, Aleshea was asked to come back to Girl Scouts and help plan trips to places such as Arches National Park. Before the pandemic, she led a backpacking troop in Plano. When Aleshea sat down with the girls and asked them what outdoor activities they wanted to do, there were many responses. Aleshea said a little Black girl told her, “I want to climb a mountain.” To which Aleshea responded, “Okay we can do that.” Aleshea recalls that the girl’s eyes lit up as she asked, “Really? You can take me to climb a mountain?” Aleshea replied, “Girl, we’re going to climb a mountain.” Partly, it’s businesses that fail to show a wide range of humans on their platforms. Another part is that people don’t see different kinds of people out on the trails. Not only different races but ages, abilities, and genders.   Aleshea volunteering at Day Camp Aleshea shared several instances where people have stopped her on the trail asking her if she knows where she’s going or what she’s doing. “The number of people that stop us to make sure we know what we’re doing. I think, do you not see the backpacks, poles, and water bottles?” Aleshea says. She also shared that on a trip to Caprock Canyons State Park, she was with a friend who is white and LGBTQ+, and people were shocked when he said he was an Eagle Scout. “When I say yeah people who identify as LGBTQ+ can be in Eagle Scouts, they’ll just look at me,” Aleshea says. At Girl Scouts they have a saying, “you can’t be what you can’t see,” and Aleshea says that can be applied to diversity in outdoor spaces. If we don’t see others who look like us climbing mountains, we begin to believe that’s not a possibility for us. While there is still so much work to do, Aleshea shares the progress between generations. “I was joking with someone that this is my ancestor’s wildest dreams. I’m getting to do things they probably never got to do or would’ve thought of doing,” Aleshea says. Organizations to support: GirlTrek Adaptive Climbing Co  Indigenous Women Hike Check out Trailey’s guide of resources here.

Dr. Felicia Wong is a physician, outdoor enthusiast, and wellness blogger based in Southern California. Between her and her husband (also a physician)'s busy work schedules, raising two young sons, and running her popular Instagram account Everyday Adventure Fam and blog on adventure tips, she exemplifies what it means to live intentionally and joyfully with her family. The Wong family can be found hiking, biking, enjoying a day at the beach or skiing in the nearby mountains on any given weekend. However, one of their favorite activities is camping. In this blog post, Felicia shares her tips and recommended gear to help others who are interested in camping get started. This guide is for individuals, couples, or families who are interested in trying car camping. The following recommendations are not for backcountry camping, and are comfort-oriented for a “DIY glamping” type of experience. I fully recognize that many of the following items are not necessary, but my experience has been that comfortable campers are happy campers, and I’m proud to take credit for converting several friends who had never camped before, or who were skeptical about it, into willing, maybe even enthusiastic, campers. I’m sharing this list of tried and true items that we have purchased and used on our own camping trips, and that we like enough to have recommended to our friends and family. I have provided links to products throughout this list. Most of our items were purchased from REI or Amazon, though some are from small shops such as Power Practical (luminoodle), Miir (insulated camp cups), Rumpl (sleeping bag like throws and blankets), Kammok (hammock and stand). DIY Tent Glamping Basics Tent: We have the REI Kingdom 6. The general rule of thumb for comfortable family camping is to choose a tent at least +2 greater than the number of people you intend to sleep on the tent. We’re a family of 4, so bought the 6 person version. Some of our friends who like to spread out more or have older kids bought the 8 person version, and have plenty of room in their tent to fit 2 queen air mattresses, and have space in the front for storage and indoor card / board games (handy, in case of less desirable weather) . We also bought the tent footprint to keep the bottom clean and dry. A waterproof tarp will work for this purpose as well. Sleep System: We use air mattresses, and sleep comfortably while camping. We have the REI Queen Sleep system, and it is such a comfortable air mattress, we’ve even used it at home when guests come over! As the boys have gotten bigger, we’ve added a second one (twin) to our tent setup. Eventually, we’ll probably need two queen size mattresses.  Cozy Blankets and Throws: The comforter that came with the REI sleep system is warm enough for summer camping in Southern California. For additional warmth and lounging by campfire, we like our Pendleton wool camp blankets and Rumpls (we have original puffy, but also have a couple down blankets which pack down so small!) For a budget option, Costco sometimes carries down throws. Sleeping Bag: After a very chilly camping experience (37F), we found an additional sleeping bag necessary for camping down to 20 degrees F. I found this double wide Omnicore sleeping bag rated for 10, and it has kept us warm for these situations. We still also use my 20 year old north face sleeping bag -which shows that gear does last forever if you take care of it!  Pillows: We’ve tried a few, and these Thermarest compressible pillows are the most comfortable. Lighting: We’ve found some great deals on camping lanterns from Costco. We bring flashlights for the kids. Instead of single use glow sticks, I’ve found some LED glow necklaces that make it easier to spot kids (and adults) after the sun sets. I like the Black Diamond Moji lanterns which are small but mighty, and can be hung on a carabiner to the top of your tent to provide a good amount of light at night. Recently, I’ve tried the Aimtom Power mini camping lantern and am very impressed with how much light it puts out! Camp Cooking Camp Stove: We like this Coleman triton stove and its carrying case. Cooking Table/Storage: GCI Outdoor slim-fold Camp Kitchen Portable folding cook station Camp Kettle Coffee Supplies: We use a Stainless Steel french press, or a collapsible drip coffee maker. Our friends have had success with a percolator. Recently, we’ve also enjoyed Kuju Coffee since serve drip coffee. Cast Iron Pan with Lodge cast iron pan silicon handle Oven Mitts: Don't forget to protect your hands when handling hot kettles or roasting sticks. Enamelware Dining Set: We have this Every day set from Stansport, and for Glamping, we have this beautiful dipped set from Barnyard Electric. It is $$$ and was a birthday gift, but we use them year-round and quite frequently for our backyard dinners and with the kids (enamel ware = childproof and unbreakable!) I’ve seen s started carrying a very affordable and classy looking enamelware mug and plate. Camp Cooking Utensil Set: This set has everything you really need. Camp Collapsible Dish Bin Scrub Brush: for doing dishes Camp Soap: campsuds Egg Storage: It really works and keeps our eggs from crushing! Cooler: We tried a bunch of coolers before getting Yeti Hopper flip and it really is amazing – keeps food cold all day in the summer heat with proper ice packs in place and doesn’t sweat. We were skeptical, but it really has outperformed all our other coolers, and it’s a perfect size for road trips and picnics. We also have the tundra haul which has kept food cold for 4 days, and is better for longer camping / road trips. Pop up trash can NOTE: On some camping trips (i.e. when water is limited), we have found it easier to use biodegradable disposable plates, rather bring all our enamel ware and do dishes. These not only look great, but they are really effective kindling as well! Bathing Bath caddy or hanging organizer Biodegradable soap: from REI Microfiber towels: These are great and less bulky. I think they might be seasonal but you can find them at Ikea for a great low price. Nalgene travel leakproof bottles: for toiletries Seating/ Hanging Out Don’t forget your camp chairs: we have an assortment of REI camp chair, Coleman kids chairs, Coleman adult chairs. We love these small packable ones from trekology and have been bringing them on road trips and even for tailgating parking lot picnics during the pandemic. Hammocks are great for seating or lounging! We haven’t tried sleeping in one yet, but we’ve heard some people do hammock camping! If you’re in Southern California like us, we don’t have many trees so we have found this Swiftlet portable stand super useful with our double room hammock. Extras, that enhance the experience Camp Organization: We have this Ozark trail folding end table with cup holder. Camp Table: It’s really nice to have a table to set things on when sitting by the campfire. For example, you’re s’mores or hot chocolate. We get a lot of use out of our large Trekology table Luminoodle: I love these colored rope lights – they add a splash of color to your tent. Makes it easy to pick out your tent when it is dark out and you are walking back from the bathroom. Tablecloth: Adds ambience and provides a trusty clean surface. Tablecloth Weights: Coleman watermelon table weights.  Glowsticks: for the kids, for a more sustainable option – we’ve moved to these reusable LED necklaces and have a different color per family member. Telescoping Smore’s Sticks: We like these ones. Mystic Fire: Turns campfire into a rainbow. Everyone loves this! Gas Campfire: We have the Camco big red campfire, and it comes in handy in Southern California where there are often wood fire bans. Kids Play Tent: I found one on sale for a little over $10. This is nice to have because it provides shade for kids in summer, and a place to play. Meanwhile, they don’t track a ton of dirt into your actual tent. Doormat: I got a cheap one from Target. Keeps the dirt from tracking into the tent if you’re camping by the beach or some other dirt campsite. We did not find this necessary when camping on grass. Bring From Home: Scooters or bikes for kids. I hope you find this list helpful. Again, this is just a guide and what has worked for us. None of this is “necessary” for having fun. As I prefaced, for some – a simple tarp will suffice. We did not buy all of this gear at once, but have accumulated items over the years. We generally wait until things are on sale – Labor day, Black Friday and Memorial Day tend to be sale times for outdoor gear. Finally, for those who are wondering, we organize our camp gear into several large bins, which we then store in our garage – always ready for our next trip. Happy Camping!   If roughing it in the backcountry doesn't get you excited, give glamping a try on National Camp At Home Day. For more family camping, traveling tips and inspiration, follow Dr. Felicia Wong's Instagram account Everyday Adventure Fam and blog.