Urban Hammocking

Alisha McDarris is the co-founder and writer at terradrift.com, a sustainable travel and outdoor adventure blog and YouTube channel where gear reviews, how-tos, and guides help folks get outside to play more and do so safely, responsibly, and sustainably.   There’s little more thrilling than outfitting yourself with a few new pieces of gear. The excitement! The thrill! The compelling urge to get outside to use it as soon as humanly possible! But constantly buying brand-new gear is hard on the environment. Virgin materials, resource-intensive manufacturing processes, and harsh chemical dyes all contribute to harmful greenhouse gasses, and often, the well-loved gear we just replaced gets tossed in a landfill where it could take hundreds of years—if not longer—to break down. But there is a solution: used gear. Buying used instead of new is good for the planet, good for our wallet, and good for overflowing landfills. And it’s still just as exciting. It’s new to you, after all. So if you want to make your camping setup more sustainable, consider buying used instead of new. Here’s how (and where). Where to find used gear If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to used gear, don’t sweat it; there are plenty of places to find it online or in person. Start by checking at a local gear shop if you’re lucky enough to have one near you. Many local shops have used or consignment sections. Some cities even have stores dedicated entirely to used gear. If there’s not a used gear shop where you live, keep an eye out for sample sales. Kammok isn’t the only brand that hosts them as a way to offer solid used gear at a discounted rate! Next, check larger retailers like REI. The stores host several Garage Sale events per year that offer returned and used gear at deeply discounted rates. During COVID, most stores still place Garage Sale items around retail locations so savvy customers can still find a good deal. You do have to be an REI Co-op member to shop Garage Sale items, though, so keep that in mind. Online is a great place to look for used gear too. REI has a used gear section, as do many outdoor brands like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and The North Face. Another favorite is GearTrade.com, which is all used outdoor gear all the time. You may even find items with the tags still on! Lastly, it never hurts to check sites like Ebay, Amazon Warehouse, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. You can often find used outdoor gear in your own neighborhood. How to score the best used gear Of course, not all used gear is quality used gear. There’ll be plenty of used and abused, weathered and battered gear out there, but there’s also plenty of gear that’s barely been touched. On online listings, look for wear ratings like good, fair, or excellent. Then check for details on what’s wrong with it if it’s not in great condition. Sometimes a pair of boots may have been worn thin. Other times, all that’s wrong with a tent is that it has a small puncture hole in the floor (more on repairing used gear below). Make sure the item you’re considering suits your purposes, then buy with confidence. If you’re shopping locally, either from a retailer or individual, don’t be afraid to ask to unpack a sleeping bag, set up a tent, try on a jacket, or inflate a sleeping pad. Make sure it’s in as good of shape as the seller claims before you buy. Check for warranties Many quality outdoor gear brands and manufacturers offer excellent warranties with their gear. Osprey, for example, offers their All Mighty Guarantee on everything they make (whether or not you bought it used), and Kammok gear comes with a lifetime warranty too, which even backs their used gear! So check which manufacturers offer lifetime warranties and find out if that warranty extends to a second owner or used gear sold directly from the manufacturer. Then, if it needs repairs, find out what it takes to ship it in and get it fixed up like new. Repair worn or used gear Finally, if you found an amazing piece of gear for a stellar price, but it has a small tear, defect, broken buckle, or the like, don’t shut it down just yet. Most gear can be repaired, and often, all that’s required is a wash, re-waterproofing, patch job or zipper lubrication. Learn how to perform basic maintenance on your gear and you’ll not only be able to keep it in use longer, you’ll be able to score great deals on slightly defective gear as most people won’t bother repairing it. For example, I scored at least half off an expensive Big Agnes tent that was probably used once at an REI Garage Sale because it had a small tear in the floor. I took it home, patched it in two minutes, and the tent is just like new. Sell your old gear Now that you’ve replaced a few items in your gear closet with quality used camping gear, don’t forget about your old gear! If it’s still in decent or better working order, clean it up and resell it! Use sites like Craignslist or Marketplace or gear-specific sites like GearTrade.com. REI also lets members sell their used gear on REI.com now! If it’s time to retire an item permanently (say, if a tent is falling apart at the seams, or a sleeping bag is so old it’s lost all of its loft), take a minute before tossing in the garbage can. Many materials, buckles, and accessories can be removed and reused on other repair or DIY projects. And some repair shops and universities may even take the old gear for certain specialized programs. It’s always worth it to check as most plastic and synthetic materials won’t break down in landfills.   Bottom line Used gear is more sustainable than the shiniest new eco-friendly gear. So if it’s sustainable camping you want, it’s out with the new and in with the old! Fill that gear closet with quality used items and feel good about reducing your footprint, being kind to the planet, and saving yourself a few bucks in the process.

There are many options when it comes to what kind of insulation to use on your outdoor adventures. Down insulation is one of the most popular options because of its weight-to-warmth ratio and compressibility. It’s also extremely durable if taken care of properly. Kammok’s Bobcat, Firebelly and Arctos quilts are examples of gear that uses down insulation. The down’s ability to trap heat depends on how well it lofts, which is measured by the amount of space a certain weight of down takes up. The fluffier it is, the warmer it will keep you.  When your down insulation has been compressed in a stuff sack or storage, the fill can appear flat or displaced when taken out. Before using, we recommend allowing it to loft.  How to loft insulation: Give the quilt a good shake.  Lay it on a flat surface to allow the down time to loft evenly.  Let the gear lay out for a few hours, shaking occasionally to bring to its full loftiness. Where your down trail quilt or sleeping bag is stored when you’re not using it affects its lifespan. Here are a few tips on how and where to store your down insulation. How to store insulation: When down gear is not in use, keep in a roomy storage bag to maintain gear lofted.  Store the bag in a climate-controlled room or a sealed container. This will help your gear avoid getting wet or damaged by pests.  Pack into the stuff sack only when needed for travel.   How to wash down insulation: Sleeping bags and trail quilts don’t have to be washed after every use, however, as with any great adventure gear, it’s bound to get grimy after regular use and will need to be washed on occasion.  If using a washing machine, only use a front-loading washer or a machine without an agitator.  If the inside of your washer has the center ‘agitator’ part, hand wash with warm water in a large bucket or bathtub. When using a washing machine, place the product in the washer by itself, and add the recommended amount of insulation cleaner. We recommend using Grangers Down Wash and Repel. Wash on a gentle cycle with warm water.  Do not use fabric softener, bleach, or stain removal products.  To dry, place the product in the dryer with 3 dryer balls or clean tennis balls. Heat is required to activate the water resistance on the fabric. Tumble dry on low-medium heat. Your insulation is now clean and ready for the adventures ahead. We put our gear through a lot, and sometimes we get too close to an ember from the fire or snag it on a sharp rock. If you have a small hole in your insulated gear, you can repair it with a patch kit. We recommend using Noso Patches, though any fabric gear patch brand will do. You’ll also need rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab handy.    How to repair insulation: Tuck in any loose down feathers or snip away loose threads from the damaged area.  Clean the spot with rubbing alcohol. Allow time to dry. Crack and peel the paper release liner.  Center patch over the damaged area. Apply pressure from the center out to the edges.  If using a Noso patch, apply the patch permanently by tumble drying on low for 10 minutes.  Remove from the dryer and press the patch in a circular motion for 30 seconds.  These tips for down insulation care and repair will increase the lifespan of your sleeping bag or trail quilt. If something went wrong with your Kammok gear that isn’t easily repairable, remember that we have a lifetime warranty on all our products. Please reach out to our customer experience team or fill out the warranty form for any concerns regarding the durability of your elevated gear. 

Over the past 10 years, we've been on a mission to elevate time outside by designing outdoor gear that lives up to our promise: Adventure Grade, Better Made™. And in that process of creating the best quality gear, we're mindful of our impact it has on the environment and community. As a 1% for the Planet member, we've donated 1% of revenue to social and environmental non-profits thanks to your support. As a certified B Corp company, we have committed our business practices to reach a high caliber of social and environmental sustainability. In 2020, we introduced our first fully recycled Bluesign approved fabric with the launch of the Arctos 20. In the coming months, we'll incorporate recycled materials and cleaner manufacturing processes in our core product lines. Today, we’re proud to announce we have committed to becoming Climate Neutral Certified. We’re working with Climate Neutral, an independent non-profit organization, to measure, reduce, and offset our carbon emissions. The three-step process will give us net-zero carbon emissions, meaning we’ll reduce the amount of carbon we’re responsible for emitting, then zero out the rest by purchasing carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are investment projects that either prevent carbon from being emitted, like renewable energy, or remove carbon from the atmosphere, like planting trees. You’ll soon start seeing the Climate Neutral Certified label on our packaging and website. This label will help conscious consumers support brands that are taking immediate steps on climate action.  At Kammok, we're committed to designing adventure grade, better made gear. Becoming Climate Neutral Certified holds us accountable in our ongoing commitment of better made, sustainable manufacturing. Learn more about our commitment to a low-carbon future at climateneutral.org and find out more about why we’re so passionate about taking climate action. We remain inspired by you and can't wait to update you along the way. Elevating time outside, Greg McEvilly CEO & Founder

Meet Briana Cohen, an active rider in our monthly Taco Tri community events and a winner of the Greg Siple Award that helps young adults get in the saddle and out on the road by providing the skills and the gear needed for a lifetime of bicycle travel adventure.  As a recipient of the award, Briana organized an outreach project, Fearless Tandem, an introductory workshop to bicycle travel for the students at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. When Briana asked our team if we would get involved with her Adventure Cycling project, we couldn't have been more thrilled to raise our hands up. Briana has been an outstanding community leader, a positive spirit, and an absolute joy to bike alongside.  We sat down with Briana after organizing this massive project to get her take on what #timeoutside means to her, what the students walked away with from this experience, and tips to get yourself started into the world of Adventure Cycling.   There are many forms of cycling and it goes by many names. What exactly is Bicycle Traveling or Adventure Cycling? “Bicycle travel is traveling by bike as a form of adventure and exploration. The adventure begins when you start pedaling, and you are able to openly experience the land and environment in an intimate way. The bike is a mechanism to get you where you want to go - whether to a local or state park, scenic view, quaint town, or to remote places that are not easily accessible. The bike gets you there and there are no limits to where you can go. Bike travel is not much different from cycling, since you are still experiencing the joys and exercise of riding, but there are added layers of exploration, freedom, self-discovery, and fun depending on your adventure.” Biking has been a large part of your life. You started biking as a young kiddo for fun and now it's your form of transportation to commute to work and venture on self-contained rides in the Pacific Northwest. How has that molded your experience for the outdoors and what does time outside mean to you?  “I value the outdoors because there’s space for everyone and endless natural beauty. When I spend time outside, I enjoy the fresh air and feel at ease, whether I’m on my own or with lovely people. Biking allows me to reach farther distances than I can’t otherwise, while still being outside.” “So many favorite moments outdoors on the bike. The first time I rode with the Lend Your Legs ride with Texas School for the Blind: it was my birthday and I rode alongside a girl who is blind on the back of a tandem who was completely overjoyed as we went down a hill. She threw her hands up and shouted as if she were going down a roller coaster. She could not see where she was going, but she could experience the thrill. The burst of excitement she felt from biking has always stuck with me.” Why did you apply for the Greg Siple Award? “What led me to apply goes back to last summer when I did a workshop with VieCycle to learn about basic bike maintenance and the art of bike touring. One woman who led the class said anyone can do a bike tour and the bike you already have is good enough; so after the class I went on my first bike camping trip. I did not have any gear for camping and before that weekend, I never imagined I could ride 75 miles in a single day. I borrowed a tent and panniers the night before from someone on Team Snacks and set out for Palmetto State Park. I learned a lot about myself and abilities, and gained newfound freedom knowing I can ride anywhere, anytime.” “The trip was awesome and transformed my perspective; I applied for the award because I wanted more people to have that moment of discovery. I thought back to the blind rider going downhill on the tandem, and immediately knew what my project would be. My reasons for applying to The Greg Siple Award were to 1) feed my love of biking and traveling, 2) inspire others to ride, and 3) spread bike access and awareness.”   The Fearless Tandem workshop and community ride was a great success! What did the students learn from the workshop? “Students learned about tandem bikes basics, cycling resources, parks and trail conservation, and the principles of Leave No Trace. They shared their favorite memories spending time outside and also heard stories from a blind athlete and partner who discussed linking up with sighted guides to explore, stay in shape, and race tandems with Paracycling. They got to take home hammocks, reusable water bottles, t-shirts, wooden camping spoons, Adventure Cycling memberships, stylish socks, and other giveaways.” “Students walked away with the tools and confidence to go on their next adventure, which was the group bike ride later that day. The workshop served to inspire them; the gear to equip them; and the ride to have fun with the community. The Lend Your Legs ride has the students pair with cyclists on tandem bicycles to ride. Over 70 people joined for the ride! It was so cool to have such a large group come together and you could tell that bike travel is accessible to anyone. Someone even sent me a direct message on Instagram saying he and his partner had a tandem bike we could use - and they brought it so another student could ride. I love when the community supports each other like that.”   During the community ride, we stopped at a park to take a break and raffle gear. A student won a Field Blanket. Now that the event is over, any plans for doing something similar or more community events to get more people to spend time outside? “Always! I’m aiming to continue the momentum of the Fearless Tandem project to provide sustainable cycling resources, access, and awareness. I’ve also been instructing some city cycling classes for beginners so they feel more comfortable and confident riding in Austin. After receiving this award, I switched my job to a role in which I lead group rides with a team for anyone to join.” Do you have any suggestions to get riding or involved in the adventure cycling community? Anything else you’d like to share? “Bikes are a revolutionary tool, not just as a means to get places or for recreation, but to open people up to the outdoors and an upbeat community. The best thing I can recommend is to get out there and ride! You don’t need a fancy bike or gear and there are lots of great trails in and around Austin to check out. If you want to do some bike travel throughout the US, check out Adventure Cycling Association, which runs the Greg Siple Award and has maps featuring rural and low-traffic bicycle routes.” “Applications for The Greg Siple Award 2020 will open on November 1st, 2019! Anyone between the ages of 18 to 30 can apply. I definitely would recommend for anyone who is interested in bike travel to apply! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions! My project page can be found here.”     If you asked our team what #timeoutside means to them, you’ll receive a slurry of answers. It comes in many shapes and sizes, different experiences, emotions and memories. It molds how we interact with the world and community around us. Briana radiates our Kammok values of community, love, and adventure. We’re proud to support her and everyone in our community who inspire others to spend time outside. Photos provided by the talented Ali Mae.