Team Ball's Out
Adventurer
solar panel
I have the same unit and love it!
I have the same unit and love it!
Camping Gear Reviews, A Ton
- Thread starter Corey
- Start date
Team Ball's Out
Adventurer
Very high quality.
Teton Sports Mammoth Bag and Eno Hammock
I am new here and still upgrading all my gear here from the basics, but here is two items that are pretty awesome for the price.
Teton Mammoth Sleeping Bag 20'
Specs:
Dimensions: 94"L x 62"W
Temperature Rating: –7°C/+20°F
Fill: SuperLoft Elite™ 4–Channel Hollow Fiber
Shell: Taffeta
Lining: 100% Brushed Flannel
Storage: Oxford Compression Sack
Zipper: Three Side Zip
Pack Weight: 15 lbs
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...l/Rectangular-Bags/prod999901359616/cat100842
The wife and I have a few different sleeping bags and blankets, but non have made the cut living up here in MT, plus we have always wanted to share one bag, better heat right! So after a little research I came across this bag. It's huge, has zippers on both sides and you can make it into a big mummy bag. Plus for a tad over $100 I feel it's a bargain. All the reviews have been very good and no major discrepencies. I get it in the mail tomorrow and post back with how big it is compared to our king bed.
Pros: Cost effective, huge, appears to be built well, double zippers, can purchase a liner for extra warmth (0' rating), great for 2 people
Cons: If you plan on hiking with it, then it can be a little heavy and cumbersome
Eno Double Nest Deluxe Hammock
Specs:
Size: 8' 4" x 9' 4"
Weight Limit: 400lb
Weight: 29oz
I have used this once while camping and a lot out in the backyard. It's light, strong, super comfy and versatile as hell. I have the Slap Strap Pro and with those you put this up using pretty much anything vertical. The straps have loops built in for different sized diameter tress or what not. Or you can use the carabiners and put it on a regular hammock stand. Put some egg foam down and the dog can hop up too! The only pic I have is of me and the wife, so here it is.
Pros: Reasonably priced, versatile, has many options like, rain canopy, mosquito net etc, small and light weight
Cons: If you and your wife equal 400lb or more yo cant use it!
I am new here and still upgrading all my gear here from the basics, but here is two items that are pretty awesome for the price.
Teton Mammoth Sleeping Bag 20'
Specs:
Dimensions: 94"L x 62"W
Temperature Rating: –7°C/+20°F
Fill: SuperLoft Elite™ 4–Channel Hollow Fiber
Shell: Taffeta
Lining: 100% Brushed Flannel
Storage: Oxford Compression Sack
Zipper: Three Side Zip
Pack Weight: 15 lbs
http://www.sportsmanswarehouse.com/...l/Rectangular-Bags/prod999901359616/cat100842
The wife and I have a few different sleeping bags and blankets, but non have made the cut living up here in MT, plus we have always wanted to share one bag, better heat right! So after a little research I came across this bag. It's huge, has zippers on both sides and you can make it into a big mummy bag. Plus for a tad over $100 I feel it's a bargain. All the reviews have been very good and no major discrepencies. I get it in the mail tomorrow and post back with how big it is compared to our king bed.
Pros: Cost effective, huge, appears to be built well, double zippers, can purchase a liner for extra warmth (0' rating), great for 2 people
Cons: If you plan on hiking with it, then it can be a little heavy and cumbersome
Eno Double Nest Deluxe Hammock
Specs:
Size: 8' 4" x 9' 4"
Weight Limit: 400lb
Weight: 29oz
I have used this once while camping and a lot out in the backyard. It's light, strong, super comfy and versatile as hell. I have the Slap Strap Pro and with those you put this up using pretty much anything vertical. The straps have loops built in for different sized diameter tress or what not. Or you can use the carabiners and put it on a regular hammock stand. Put some egg foam down and the dog can hop up too! The only pic I have is of me and the wife, so here it is.
Pros: Reasonably priced, versatile, has many options like, rain canopy, mosquito net etc, small and light weight
Cons: If you and your wife equal 400lb or more yo cant use it!
most have a 250lb limit on themI received the Teton sleeping bag from Sportsman Warehouse very quickly a little while ago. I have been really bust with work, but I unpacked it and was very impressed with the bag. It seems to be very well constructed and it is HUGE! I am 6'3 and 215 and I had plenty of room left with my wife in the bag. Its nice too cause you can zip it all up and pull the sinch cords to make it to be a mummy bag. I haven't been able to use it yet, but when I do, I will post any information. The only pain with this bag as most that use a compression bag, is it's a pain to put it in the bag. It's kinda slippery and you have to roll it real tight and start stuffing the bottom first. Once you have it started it goes in pretty easily.
I don't mean to high-jack Corey's thread here but I'll add some reviews.
These two items go hand-in-hand for me and how I intend to use them as my camping lighting "system."
Rayovac Sportsman Extreme lantern (SE3DLN)
It's a 300 lumen, LED lantern that operates on three D cell batteries. At full bright it'll run for 72 hrs and 150 hrs for half bright. So, with 3 D cells, figure 4 hrs of light per night i'll run for ~ 2 weeks of use at full bright. The lantern is reasonably compact standing maybe 7-8" tall and about a 3.5" x 3.5" foot print. The lantern feels solid with a quality heavy plastic housing with molded rubber elements. The top handle is specially shaped so that it'll fold flat against the side of the lantern when down. The primary lens can be removed and a hook popped out of the bottom so the lantern can be hung upside down in a tent or from a lantern stand (see below).
This is a bit of a surprise at how solid and sturdy this little bugger feels. And the light out put is very good. We had two CFL-based four D cell lanters and this Rayovac unit puts out about 50% more power just by eyeballing the two different types of lanterns side-by-side (and it's almost half the physical size, too). And if you want it even brighter, take off the outer lens.
Pros
- Incredibly bright, 300 lumen lantern
- Compact-ish size
- Solid, rugged construction
- Removable lense / hook in base for flexible usage
- LONG battery run time
- Requires fewer batteries than other lanterns.
- Excellent value at ~$25.
Cons
- Um, it'd be cool if it had a remote control the way I've seen on a couple other lanterns
- Can't find it locally in stores (stupid stores . . . )
Colman Lantern Stand
Corey had a previous review of this and partly after asking him some further questions I ordered my own.
This is a folding lanterns stand with a steel tri-pod base and telescoping aluminum main pole. At the top is a flip-out hook for hanging camping lanterns. The unit extends to a hair over 7 ft tall. It comes with some stakes and a long draw string stuff sack type carry bag. When folded it's approximately the size of a typical folding camp chair (length) when folded up but not quite as bulky. The telescoping mechanism are three segments with a twist-n-lock method of securing them. The legs are flat-stock steel instead of some profiled or round tube stock but they seem reasonably heavy duty.
This cost a bit more than the Rayovac lantern but I'm really excited about deploying this equipment on the next camping trip. It gets the lantern up high enough that it casts a good amount of light around a camp site. I'll help quite a bit with meal prep or general comfort at the campsite.
Pros
- Handy for raising a lantern to a decently tall height
- Folds up compact enough to toss next to folding camp chairs
- Sturdy-enough steel and aluminum construction
Cons
- The screw knob to lock the leg collar into position . . . it would be nice if it had metal threaded insert vs. the nylon threads.
The outer lens has been detached from the lantern and
it's hanging upside down by the tent hook.
I like the combo of the lantern stand and the Rayovac
unit, it's like my own portable street light.
No more cooking or camp prep by head light.
I've used propane lanterns in the past but I've never liked them. Their light out put is amazing but the mantles seem rather delicate and I'm always worried about fracturing or shattering the glass lenses. Oh, and they tend to be bulky. Over all, they're not worth the hassle for their light out put, IMO. This Rayovac unit will run longer on it's three D cells than a propane lanter on a charge of propane. It's smaller, and much more rugged, too vs. the gas lanterns.
UPDATE 10-31-2012 After a season of camping I must say I love this combo. It sets up easily and quickly. The lanter stand is plenty stable with the light weight Rayovac up there. And with it hung upside down with the lanter lens removed it just cranks out the light. PLENTY of light for around the camp. We've been setting up the lantern between the cargo deck / camp table and the chuck box and it provides excellent task lighting for cooking duties at night. Then we leave the light on for hours through the evening. After a few camping trips there hasn't been a need to change the batteries. Probably one need to either for another 1-2 years. And the lantern is nice and compact.
I still highly recommend the combo for campsite lighting.
.
These two items go hand-in-hand for me and how I intend to use them as my camping lighting "system."
Rayovac Sportsman Extreme lantern (SE3DLN)
It's a 300 lumen, LED lantern that operates on three D cell batteries. At full bright it'll run for 72 hrs and 150 hrs for half bright. So, with 3 D cells, figure 4 hrs of light per night i'll run for ~ 2 weeks of use at full bright. The lantern is reasonably compact standing maybe 7-8" tall and about a 3.5" x 3.5" foot print. The lantern feels solid with a quality heavy plastic housing with molded rubber elements. The top handle is specially shaped so that it'll fold flat against the side of the lantern when down. The primary lens can be removed and a hook popped out of the bottom so the lantern can be hung upside down in a tent or from a lantern stand (see below).
This is a bit of a surprise at how solid and sturdy this little bugger feels. And the light out put is very good. We had two CFL-based four D cell lanters and this Rayovac unit puts out about 50% more power just by eyeballing the two different types of lanterns side-by-side (and it's almost half the physical size, too). And if you want it even brighter, take off the outer lens.
Pros
- Incredibly bright, 300 lumen lantern
- Compact-ish size
- Solid, rugged construction
- Removable lense / hook in base for flexible usage
- LONG battery run time
- Requires fewer batteries than other lanterns.
- Excellent value at ~$25.
Cons
- Um, it'd be cool if it had a remote control the way I've seen on a couple other lanterns
- Can't find it locally in stores (stupid stores . . . )
Colman Lantern Stand
Corey had a previous review of this and partly after asking him some further questions I ordered my own.
This is a folding lanterns stand with a steel tri-pod base and telescoping aluminum main pole. At the top is a flip-out hook for hanging camping lanterns. The unit extends to a hair over 7 ft tall. It comes with some stakes and a long draw string stuff sack type carry bag. When folded it's approximately the size of a typical folding camp chair (length) when folded up but not quite as bulky. The telescoping mechanism are three segments with a twist-n-lock method of securing them. The legs are flat-stock steel instead of some profiled or round tube stock but they seem reasonably heavy duty.
This cost a bit more than the Rayovac lantern but I'm really excited about deploying this equipment on the next camping trip. It gets the lantern up high enough that it casts a good amount of light around a camp site. I'll help quite a bit with meal prep or general comfort at the campsite.
Pros
- Handy for raising a lantern to a decently tall height
- Folds up compact enough to toss next to folding camp chairs
- Sturdy-enough steel and aluminum construction
Cons
- The screw knob to lock the leg collar into position . . . it would be nice if it had metal threaded insert vs. the nylon threads.
The outer lens has been detached from the lantern and
it's hanging upside down by the tent hook.
I like the combo of the lantern stand and the Rayovac
unit, it's like my own portable street light.
No more cooking or camp prep by head light.
I've used propane lanterns in the past but I've never liked them. Their light out put is amazing but the mantles seem rather delicate and I'm always worried about fracturing or shattering the glass lenses. Oh, and they tend to be bulky. Over all, they're not worth the hassle for their light out put, IMO. This Rayovac unit will run longer on it's three D cells than a propane lanter on a charge of propane. It's smaller, and much more rugged, too vs. the gas lanterns.
UPDATE 10-31-2012 After a season of camping I must say I love this combo. It sets up easily and quickly. The lanter stand is plenty stable with the light weight Rayovac up there. And with it hung upside down with the lanter lens removed it just cranks out the light. PLENTY of light for around the camp. We've been setting up the lantern between the cargo deck / camp table and the chuck box and it provides excellent task lighting for cooking duties at night. Then we leave the light on for hours through the evening. After a few camping trips there hasn't been a need to change the batteries. Probably one need to either for another 1-2 years. And the lantern is nice and compact.
I still highly recommend the combo for campsite lighting.
.
Last edited:
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
GCI Outdoor Express Lounger Chair
We picked up a couple of these from Sportsman's; comfort and packability being the key factors in the choice.
Thumbs Up..
Easy to collapse
Small storage footprint
Stable
Stout
Comfortable
Meh...
Pricey, $60 at REI, Sportsman's
Nothing locks when deployed, so when the chair is moved it feels as if it may collapse, though it won't. Set it back down and it's solid.
REI.com has a page on it here.
We picked up a couple of these from Sportsman's; comfort and packability being the key factors in the choice.
Thumbs Up..
Easy to collapse
Small storage footprint
Stable
Stout
Comfortable
Meh...
Pricey, $60 at REI, Sportsman's
Nothing locks when deployed, so when the chair is moved it feels as if it may collapse, though it won't. Set it back down and it's solid.
REI.com has a page on it here.
4Rocker
Observer
Since I just so happen to have two different camp kitchen boxes at the moment, I figured I would post up some thoughts on these two units. The two boxes are the Campmate camp kitchen (green/tan) and the Beaver Tree camp kitchen (green).
Campmate Kitchen:
Specs:
Footprint: 20.5"x24.25"
Height (closed): 16.5"
Weight (empty): 23.6 lbs
Made of fiber-reinforced plastic and is very strong and solid. Lid is attached using 4 clips, is not hinged, and is completely removable. The front hinges out to each side and creates two small shelves on top. Room for dishes, stove, silverware, etc.
Beaver Tree Kitchen:
Specs:
Footprint: 17.75"x24.5" (15.75"x24.5" for the 'box' area not including the rear ribs)
Height (closed): 19"
Weight (empty): 19.6 lbs
Made of plastic which has some flex to it, but feels lighter weight and the integrated handles make carrying easy. The lid is secured with a metal twist-latch and is hinged in the back using removable pins. The front of the unit hinges downward to create a work surface. Room for stove, silverware, dishes, etc.
The Campmate seems to be the better built unit, but I like that the Beaver Tree kitchen is lighter and seems to fit in my truck better with the way I pack. Both can accommodate a stove on top for cooking. The flip down 'table' surface on the Beaver Tree kitchen is convenient for cooking off a tailgate or out of the back of a truck though the Campmate seems to have more useful storage capacity.
:chef:
Campmate Kitchen:
Specs:
Footprint: 20.5"x24.25"
Height (closed): 16.5"
Weight (empty): 23.6 lbs
Made of fiber-reinforced plastic and is very strong and solid. Lid is attached using 4 clips, is not hinged, and is completely removable. The front hinges out to each side and creates two small shelves on top. Room for dishes, stove, silverware, etc.
Beaver Tree Kitchen:
Specs:
Footprint: 17.75"x24.5" (15.75"x24.5" for the 'box' area not including the rear ribs)
Height (closed): 19"
Weight (empty): 19.6 lbs
Made of plastic which has some flex to it, but feels lighter weight and the integrated handles make carrying easy. The lid is secured with a metal twist-latch and is hinged in the back using removable pins. The front of the unit hinges downward to create a work surface. Room for stove, silverware, dishes, etc.
The Campmate seems to be the better built unit, but I like that the Beaver Tree kitchen is lighter and seems to fit in my truck better with the way I pack. Both can accommodate a stove on top for cooking. The flip down 'table' surface on the Beaver Tree kitchen is convenient for cooking off a tailgate or out of the back of a truck though the Campmate seems to have more useful storage capacity.
:chef: