An Overnight Trip
It’s amazing what a single night on the mountain will do for the soul! I snuck away and fell asleep under a (nearly) full moon, then woke up to see a shooting star within a few seconds of opening my “tent,” which is the very reason I’m throwing this article together! It never fails: every time I post anything about my bedrolls, people go nuts! This article will break down my preferred sleep system, and how I would change it to make it heavier or lighter depending on the trip. The additional weight is just for comfort when I don’t need to be strict about having a light setup. This particular trip fell somewhere in the middle in terms of size and weight. Let’s get to the details!
Overview
I was camping in Southern Utah this weekend, so the nights are cool (50s) and during the day it gets pretty warm (80s). I dropped my truck off higher up the mountain, unloaded my 4wheeler, and filled my 3 saddle bags up with gear, then strapped the rest of my gear down on the front with bungee cords. I was alone, so I had extra room behind me where a second person would normally sit! I just wanted to paint a picture of how much stuff I’m able to take because I was not carrying camp on my back.
MUST-HAVE CAMPING ITEMS
The Summit - the newest addition to the Canvas Cutter line. For years, my husband and I have used their Fortress bundle (now they have a 2.0 version, but we have the original.) and it’s been on numerous trips around the country; however, when they released the Summit I was too curious not to try it. While I’ve only used it once, I’m very impressed! It rolls up much smaller and lighter than the Fortress, and it has a built-in mesh system that’s really nice for those warm nights and for keeping bugs out. I actually opened up the outer shell of my bedroll and slept with the bug net as my only barrier for some of the night because my sleeping bag was keeping me plenty warm without an additional shell over me. Keep in mind, if you were to go the Fortress or Dominator route, you can purchase The Mesh liner separately and add it to your setup! We did this with our Fortress bundles so we have the option to sleep with the outer shell pulled down too. Also make sure that you get the pole system with whatever system you choose! Having the option to pull your bedroll over your head and create a tent-like structure is what makes these so neat in my opinion. With that being said, I don’t have the full body pole system so I can’t give feedback on that. I actually like the weight of the bedroll on my lower body because it feels like a blanket, but some people may prefer space from head to toe!
Klymit Klymaloft Sleeping Pad - the sleeping pad that feels like foam, which is important to note because the Canvas Cutter BUNDLES come with their own memory foam and I love those too. If you have the space and if weight isn’t an issue, then definitely take your memory foam! It’s larger and thicker. However, for a middle option (meaning this is not your lightest option out there), this Klymaloft is really tough to beat. They nailed the design and it’s my favorite I’ve found. I have NOT packed it into the backcountry because it obviously weighs more than other options out there and the added memory foam is an unnecessary luxury.
Mountain Mafia Sleeping Bag - I typically run really cold, so I always have a 0 or 20 degree bag that I just leave open if it’s a warmer night like this overnight stay. Use code FOLLOWHERARROW for a discount on any of their bags!
Klmit Drift Camping Pillow - the perfect size pillow with a water resistant outer shell to keep it clean while traveling! Obviously if you’re trying to save on weight, you’d just go with an inflatable pillow. On the other side of that, if you have the space, just bring your pillow from home! This is a great middle option though.
Luci Outdoor Solar Inflatable Light - by far the most underrated item for any camping trip! I love this thing so much, and apparently others do too with over 4,500 reviews and a 5-star rating on Amazon.
Garmin InReach Mini - I used to run their full size InReach until I discovered the Mini. It’s much smaller and will bluetooth to your phone in order to have a larger screen for messaging. Be sure to download the Earthmate app to use this function. It also has an SOS button for emergencies, which is one of the only items that makes me feel safe when I’m in the mountains alone, paired with my Glock of course :)
Jetboil Cooking System - this is all I’ve known over the years, so if there’s a better option I’m unaware of it. Whether you’re cooking a meal, making coffee, or just need some warm water, this is a great option. I’ve even used it to start a fire when we were desperate in the freezing temps of Montana! The only issue we’ve ever had with one is the starter going out after years of use, which isn’t a deal breaker for us because we carry multiple fire starters. A simple lighter or match will do the trick!
A better view of the Klymaloft sleeping pad on a trip to Lake Powell. This was combined with the Fortress Canvas Cutter, a cot, and a real pillow. There are so many variations you can have with any of the Canvas Cutter bedrolls.
Testing my Garmin Mini to make sure it’s sending/receiving messages before I go off grid. Always test that your subscription is working properly before your trip!