Elizabeth Saunders

I have done 3 field seasons in the desert southwest and this is by far my favorite desert sun hat. Floppy wide-brimmed hats can get in the way and tend to be hot. The Sun Runner hat has loads of ventilation and is made out of a light nylon fabric so it's cool, lightweight, and easy to pack or stuff in your back pocket should the need arise. The brim keeps the sun off your face, the skirt keeps it off your neck. It doesn't absorb heat (at least the white one doesn't). I like that you have a number of options for wearing the skirt, depending on conditions, as well as the option of removing it altogether. If it gets wet, it dries in a jiffy. If you spend a lot of time in glaring desert sun, I think you'll agree that this product is among the best of its kind.

Following up on my previous review, I returned the petite bag for the regular size bag. It is perfect for my height. The interior is roomy. This is the first "mummy bag" (if you can really call it that) that I have been able to move around in a bit while I sleep. I have broad shoulders which usually forces me to purchase men's bags, but this bag has plenty of shoulder room. I find I can easily zip up the bag from the inside with one arm across my chest. I can bring my knees up to my waist when sleeping without a problem. The pad keeps the bag from twisting. You must use a pad with this bag because it lacks any insulation on the bottom. The pad brings the insulation, so be sure to note the R rating of your pad. The pad and bag are a great team. Once blown up, the pad slips right into the bag like an oversized pillow into a pillowcase. This bag doesn't skimp on the details. It has a draft tube, a chin tube, ties on the bottom for a bag liner. The firmness in the pad can be adjusted from releasing air from the pad--which you can do from inside the bag in case you get in and find it is too firm. Have used it once on a 30 degree night in the midwest, but it did the job. Plenty warm and really comfortable. I coupled this with a Big Agnes air pillow and I don't know that I'm as sold on that product. I may play around with a combination of travel pillows, but still, a great night's sleep. As an entry level backpacker, I greatly appreciate it's light weight. The color are funky in a fun way. Highly recommended.

I am 5'5.5" and I ordered the petite with a dual core insulated pad. The petite is supposed to be appropriate for heights up to 5'8". When it arrived, I jumped and and found that my feet were straining against the bottom of the bag. I was a bit worried when I blew up the pad and it wasn't more than 5'4", so I'm hanging off of both ends of that, too. Love the bag. High quality, great materials and design. Just too short. I'm reordering the regular size bag. But beware if you aren't a "true" petite.

High quality construction. Tough as nails zippers. The full cubes hold more than you'd guess. You can roll up 6 or 7 short sleeved Ts, a dozen socks, I've even gotten 3 pairs of field pants in there. I've used them to keep clean items separate from dirty items. To keep socks together. As an organizer for loose things in the backpack. Different colors for different tasks. Indispensable. Get some. Now. Do it.

Got this mid-way through a 33-day trip across the American southwest, mostly dry camping on BLM land. I set it up on sand, grass, rock, and hardpan. The first time I set it up, I had to do it in the dark in high winds amid cactus without having read the directions.(This tent was an emergency replacement for a cheaper one that didn't survive the harsh conditions.) Aside from the fact that it is extremely light (be sure to secure at least one corner before erecting the poles), it was a breeze. On clear nights, this tent is fantastic. The sides prevent water and dirt from blowing in and the mesh panels allow for some spectacular star-gazing. The two sided entry is fantastic. My ONLY complaint about this product is that the rain cover is difficult to align properly. Twice I connected 2 of the cover's snaps only to find out they didn't align with the door. They could have avoided all of the confusion by color-coding the snap-locks or the webbing at each corner. I'm going to put a splash of paint on each one.

While probably too heavy for backpacking (and too large a footprint as well), it does pack well. The pole, stake and tent bags are roomy enough to stuff the tent in easily. WARNING, the tent stakes are cheap and bend easily. Get yourself some sturdy ones for a buck at the nearest discount/outdoor store. You're going to need them even the first time.

This is a fantastic car camping tent and roomy for two adults. I'm sure this is going to be a long-lasting tent. I recommend using a tarp or footprint to increase the longevity of the tent bottom.