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I don’t know about you and your family, but when things start warming up and we see the snow start to disappear, we’re all good and ready to head on outside. And sure, while 40s feel like a heatwave after the winter, there’s no denying the fact that it’s not actually that warm. So, if you’re spending some time outdoors, whether in your backyard or in a park, we’ve got some items here that will help keep you comfortable.
The first thing you need, especially when the weather is variable, is a good warm layer you can toss on top of your shirt (and maybe even under a water-repellent outer layer), such as the Jack Wolfskin Down Jacket ($179.95 for women’s or men’s models; the men’s models look to be discounted to $109.95 at the moment). For the warmth, these are filled with a 90/10 blend of good old duck down, all wrapped in a lightweight ripstop nylon shell that’s windproof and water resistant.
Seriously, these jackets are light – the men’s M version is just 300g (which means I could easily outweigh it with two 300m dive watches in a flash), so that’s great for travel and packing. Also great? These are made to be stuffed down into their own little stuff sack, taking up even less space when you don’t need the warmth. Or, to my eyes, it looks like it could double as a nice little pillow, right? Or, hey, even sitting around your Biolite FirePit, am I right?
And with that firepit, maybe you’re doing some cooking. That means you need to think about how you’re going to eat, and how you’re going to store your water (aside from your personal water bottles). For both of those, Sea to Summit has your bases covered (that’s right, they’re not just a tent company).
With the Sea to Summit Delta Lite Camp Set ($39.95) you get a set of 4 bowls and 4 cups (with lids) that all pack up together into one compact package. These are made from a glass-reinforced polypropylene, so they should be light and tough, and not impart any flavors to your food. The cups also come with silicone lids and sleeves, so you can keep your hot drinks hot, or the flies out of your cold drinks.
With all that food, you’re going to need some water, both for drinking as well as for washing up. When we’re car camping, we use some sizable hard-sided jugs, but that’s not always practical. If you want something a bit lighter, and more flexible (say, to put into a backpack), then the Sea to Summit Watercell ($39.95 – $69.95) are there for you. Shaped like an old-school hot water bottle, these are made of an abrasion-resistant 400D nylon (like many bags and sometimes pants are made from), and have internal baffles to help lend some support. These are setup to accommodate standard filtration systems, and can even act as a supply to gravity shower systems.
So, there you have it. In the cold months, we showed you some gear that could help your winter camping, and then shifted to talk about some tents and kayaks that would be handy for the warmer weather. And now, this gear, while definitely solid for camping and outdoors adventures, could also be just as handy in your own backyard. Have your own springtime camping gear you like? Drop us a line and let us know!
