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HikeLight Dyneema Stuff Sack Review
I recently ordered a HikeLight Dyneema stuff sack (round bottom) from Etsy. I needed a new stuff sack for my old Silnylon tarp. The stuff sack that came with it was too small, plus it was starting to rip apart from wear and tear. It’s over 20 years old. After searching around for the right-sized stuff sack, I found HikeLight on Etsy. They offered a stuff sack that was designed for an inflatable sleeping pad that seemed like it would work perfectly for my old tarp. Plus, they had purple! What is the HikeLight Dyneema stuff sack? The HikeLight Dyneema stuff sack is a stuff sack — what more can…
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Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow Review First Look
I’m starting to look at all the new gear for this year and up first is the Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow (get it) Review. This is the first look. I bought this pillow late last year when Zpacks’ annual holiday sale. For awhile, I’ve wanted to find a replacement for inflatable pillows. While I like my Nemo Fillo Elite, I’ve wanted to something a little less airy and thick. The Zpacks pillow seemed like it might be a good fit. What is the Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow? The Zpacks Comfy Camp Pillow is a 2.3-ounce (65 grams) lightweight pillow that features a fleece cover on one side. It’s stuffed with…
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Wild Rye Sale for Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day coming up, I’m scrambling a bit to find a gift for my wife. I guess it just slipped my mind a bit. If you’re in a similar boat, I have a suggestion. While I don’t usually write these types of guides, I cover so few women-specific items on this blog that I thought it might be nice to highlight something. Last year, Wild Rye sent over a couple of pieces of clothing for my wife to try out. You can read the Wild Rye review. She also got a Danner 3/4 Zip Fleece Jacket and has been wearing it all last fall and through the winter. With…
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Pushing the River Book Review
Recently, I read Pushing the River by Frank Bures and enjoyed it thoroughly. The book documents the history of marathon racing on the Mississippi River, other stories from the region, some of the author’s personal adventures and his brush with death on cold water. Overall, it was an entertaining read and well worth picking up for your winter reading. I find book reviews somewhat tedious, but I did want to recommend this book to PaddlingLight’s readers, so I’ll be brief with this review. The History of the Paul Buyan Canoe Derby The book starts with a detailed history of the Paul Bunyan Canoe Derby race, which started in the early…
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Lightweight Dyneema Wallet Aliens vs. Monsters Style
In the middle of October, I found that Hilltop Packs offered a humorous Halloween-inspired stake bag (Vampire Killing Kit), and recently I saw that they offered a Dyneema wallet with an Aliens vs. Monsters theme. I love a company that offers funny outdoor products such as these. Plus, it weighs only 0.3 ounces, which is less than the wallet that I’ve been using for canoe tripping. Lately, I’ve been doing a lot more organizing of my gear in my pack. I’ve been slightly annoyed that my cards and cash, while in a wallet it still floats freely away from my car keys and other stuff in the big bag that…
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ThermoDrop Thermometer Review
While I never thought that I’d be reviewing a thermometer on PaddlingLight, last time I ordered from Garage Grown Gear, I decided to pick one up. I got the ThermoWorks ThermoDrop Thermometer. It’s a simple zipper-pull thermometer. Why? I decided that I wanted to figure out exactly how my sleeping bags were working for me in different temperatures, so that I could more accurately decide which one to bring. What is the ThermoDrop Thermometer? The ThermoDrop is a small thermometer designed for a zipper. It comes in multiple colors. I got orange. It features big digits, a backlight, and is switchable to °C or °F. It’s IP67, which means it…
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ZPacks Pivot Solo First Look
I recently got a Zpacks Pivot Solo to review, and I’m excited. The Zpacks Pivot Solo is an ultralight, single-wall, solo tent that with poles, eight stakes, and stuff sacks weighs 1 pound 5.5 ounces (611 grams). It’s surprisingly roomy for this style of tent, and that may mean many nights of great sleeping without carrying an additional pound of weight that carrying a freestanding or semi-freestanding tent would bring. Get it here. What is the ZPacks Pivot Solo tent? This single-wall, solo, ultralight shelter packs packs a surprising number of features for the weight. Using a 52-inch main pole and a 32-inch secondary pole, it creates a near vertical…
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Cumulus X-LITE 200 Sleeping Bag First Look Updated
Herein lies the saga of obtaining a Cumulus X-LITE 200 Sleeping Bag. It is a long and tangled tail of international commerce, and the saga will enthrall you with wonder. Back in days of yore, when scribed my 2025 paddling gear update, I penned that I wasn’t going to buy any new gear this year, but I was on the lookout for a 30°F sleeping bag without a hood. I kept my eyes open for a bag that would meet my criteria, and decided that at 30°F, I’d likely just bring my Sea to Summit 15°F Spark. That meant I was looking for a bag for the summer. I used…
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KÜHL Silencr Kargo Shorts Review
I think I may have found my new favorite shorts for canoeing, and they are the KÜHL Silencr Kargo Shorts. Earlier this year, KÜHL sent over a pair for review, and I’ve been using them often since then. If you are looking for the gist of this review, it’s I like them and recommend them. I’m going to dive in below for more details. The Silencr Kargo Shorts are cargo short from KÜHL’s men’s shorts category. They offer a slim fit with low-profile pockets that appear hidden but extend across the entire front of the pants. Each are big enough to hold two smartphones plus extra gear. For an idea…
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Wild Rye’s New Water Collection Review
Earlier this year, Wild Rye sent over a few pieces from their new "When Wet" Collection for review. The pieces included the Parker Action Dress, Sawyer Sunshirt, and a Camp Towel. While I'm writing this review, it was my wife that tested out the gear. The impressions section will be her thoughts.
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The North American Odyssey Book Release
Back in 2010 shortly after Amy and Dave Freeman got married, they left on a three-year honeymoon odyssey across North America. They called it the North American Odyssey. They recently completed writing a book about the trip. It’s title shares the expeditions name, North American Odyssey: 12,000 Miles Across the Continent by Kayak, Canoe, and Dogsled. The book, their second, documents the trip across the continent by sea kayak, backpack, dogsled, and canoe. The trip started in Washington on Earth Day and took them by sea kayak up the Inside Passage to Alaska. From there they backpacked and canoed north to the Arctic Ocean. They then switched to a dogsled…
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Eezycut Trilobite Knife First Look
The Eezycut Trilobite Knife is an effective, easy-to-use tool for cutting ropes and webbing, offering safety and versatility.
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Cross Bands by Grifiti: When is a stuff sack not a stuff sack?
The Cross Bands by Grifiti, costing $1.79, are heavy-duty rubber bands that hold a pot and lid together, reducing weight by 0.3 ounces. They prevent lid rattle and fit items like the Vargo Titanium Ti-Lite 750 Mug. This gear enhances efficiency and reduces small annoyances on trips.
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Sea to Summit Spark 15°F Sleeping Bag First Look
I’m excited that I get to test the Sea to Summit Spark 15°F (-9°C) sleeping bag this season. They sent it for review. If you haven’t heard of this bag, it’s an lightweight down sleeping bag made by Sea to Summit. It’s claimed weight is 1 pound 9.7 ounces (730g). At that weight, it is in the weight range of quilts. This is my initial impression after using it for two short trips. Later this year, I’ll post a final review after I get about 30 nights on it. Unboxing When I pulled this bag out of the shipping box, I got excited just from the storage bag. Usually, sleeping…
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Simple Plate for Front Country Camping
The 10" Plastic Kids' Square Divided Plate by Pillowfort, sold at Target, costs $1 and is now $0.85 on sale. It’s lightweight, BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and microwave safe for reheating. Available singly or in sets, it effectively separates food. Its limited colors and separate spork purchase are drawbacks. Highly recommended for camping.
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