Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

Black Crater unveiled a small new light built into a cord lock at the recent Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2008. It works just like any cord lock when placed on the cord of anything from a sleeping bag to a stuff sack to a hoodie, but also keeps a three-beam-setting light handy on the bag, sack or garment.   The little eight-gram light is water resistant.

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  On  all but the hottest of nights, a warm and cozy sleeping bag makes a real difference at the end of a long, hard day on the trail. However, finding the right bag can be as challenging as finding your way along a poorly blazed trail.   For starters, a bag’s rating, such as 30F/-1C, is a general guide to comfort. It is not a guarantee of snuggly warmth down to the listed temperatures....

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The insulation or "fill" inside a sleeping bag largely determines a sleeping bag's: Weight (and thus its "warmth-for-weight" ratio) Compressibility Durability   DownDown is the wispy, fluffy undercoating found just beneath the outer feathers of geese and ducks. This natural fiber is an extraordinary insulator. Goose down is preferred to down from ducks, prized because it is believed its plumes offer a higher "fillpower" (explained below). Down's positives include:   It offers tremendous warmth for...

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Picture a sleeping bag formed and molded to your body, allowing completely free movement of arms and legs, and you've visualized the revolutionary Selk'bag.It's the answer to the prayers of those of us who have never been completely satisfied with what our sleeping bags were providing.Check it out at http://www.wymanoutdoors.com/

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Whether you're gearing up for an adventurous trek, or you need to recoup much as possible before returning to work on Monday, these tips for sleeping well will getcha rested.1  Don't worry about not getting enough sleep. 2  Don't force yourself to sleep. 3  Go to bed only when you are feeling really tired and sleepy. 4  Don't look at the alarm clock at night. 5  Body-heating procedures. 6  Avoid oversleep. 7  Sex. 8  Avoid...

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