GearScout Spring Preview Extra- Camp

Pacific Outdoor Peak Oyl Elite

Spring 2010, $115

Looking at the selection of sleeping pads on the market it seems most are variations of the same foam design. Foam thickness, weight and size are all important, but Pacific Outdoors differentiates their latest, the Peak Oyl Elite, by using different densities of foam, gel and air channels intelligently placed to maximize 4 season warmth and comfort. The gel insulates better than foam, but weighs a bit more. Even so, the regular sized pad (20″x72″x1.5″) is 27 oz, is still among the lightes 4 season pads on the market. They’ve also used palm oil to make their foam which is a more environmentally friendly material than petroleum based foams.

Therm-a-rest Ventra Down Blanket

Available Now, $200

The Ventra is a home run for cot sleepers. Therm-a-rest made the down comforter for family campers, but the single sized, 650-fill down comforter can be combined with a foam mattress to give a crappy cot the footloose feel of a single bed. You can use a set of adhesive-backed snaps to keep it from sliding off the side of your cot or mattress. It’ll keep you warm down to 40°F while giving the ventelation and freedom of a blanket. Available in regular 2 lbs, 48″x76″, and large 2.5 lbs. 58″x80″. Sadly, the two colors are red and yellow-green. Since this won’t see a lot of  tactical use, the lack of subdued colors isn’t a huge issue.