Four Season Excellence - Sierra Designs Convert 2 - Review

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It is time to review the Sierra Designs 4 Season Convert 2 tent.  I've put the time into this product so you don't have to and here are my thoughts!

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Link :  https://sierradesigns.com/convert2/

Weight :
Minimum Trail Weight
4 lbs. 9 oz.
Packaged Weight
5 lbs. 2 oz.

Price : $499 retail.  This may sound high but for a 4 season tent, it isn’t.  There is a 3 person version available.

Setup : The setup for this tent isn’t all that quick and that’s pretty common for most true 4 season tents.  Tents which can handle the elements typically take more time to setup and to anchor it down.  This isn’t a con so much as a common trait to such tents.  There are some 4 season tents which are much quicker to setup but there are always going to be trade offs.  Always!

It’s an easy process but it is one that takes time

Experiences :

I have almost a week of cumulative time spent in this week which involved steady rain for over 10 hours without a single leak.  It has endured strong winds up to 40mph and snow.

Temp ranges have been from roughly 35f to 10f.

This tent has handled everything that I have put it into with ease and the most impressive aspect has been the handling of wind!  This tent is rock solid and I mean that, ROCK SOLID.  It has easily handled a winter storm with winds up to mph and never did I feel uneasy.

It handles the snow with ease.  Winds with ease.  Rain so far with my testing with ease.

I am concerned about the rear vent and whether or not wind driven rain could enter through the zipper.  Based on other Sierra Designs tents which I have tested, I would say that it would likely leak but that would be a very rare occurrence and would be a very specific failure which wouldn’t be likely.

Very durable so far with my testing.

Lots of living space – good for two people.  Palace for one.

Vestibule offers you a lot of space for cooking and gear.  For tall people it be hard to hunker in but it is completely useable.

Ventilation is excellent and even with camping out in 10+ hours of rain I didn’t have any issues with moisture build up.

Mesh door and vent which not all 4 season tents have

Very compressible

Great storage sack

Color : Love it or hate it, this is what you get with a sierra design product.  I often refer to their color schemes as tele tubby colors.  I don’t hate it but I do wish they would go with dark earth tones as that would open up their products to a new market of individuals.  I see the comments on their products in my video and the most common complaint are the colors.

Not the smallest of tents; will need some space to setup

Pros:
Mesh increases versatility
Strong waterproof DriZone material
Ventilation
Jake's corners and internal guylines(optional) increase tents strength in high winds
Adequately sized for two people and gear
Lightweight and compact in fastpack mode
Price
This tent comes in component parts. Because the vestibule zips off, you can better divide up the weight of the tent / poles between two carriers.
Once sealed up, will hold in some heat!

Cons:

Cheap tent stakes included
Non-Reflective Guy Lines

Best Backpacking Pillow Ever? - Snugpak Basecamp OPS Air Pillow

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Today Luke is reviewing the Snugpak Basecamp OPS Air Pillow!

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Link : http://www.proforceequipment.com/product-details.php?id=572&catid=24

Weight : 85g to 2.9oz

Price : Retail is $19 / strangely on Amazon at the time of filming, there was one company who is selling this pillow….for $73.44 plus $4.49

Colors : Olive Coyote and Navy Blue

The Snugpak Basecamp Air Pillow inflates just right, whether you like a hard pillow or one with some movement/flexibility., you decide how you want it. This one is tough, high quality and durable. When not in use it can be easily deflated and stored. Light and compact, it comes with its own stuff sack and repair kit.

SIZE 18 x 10 x 3in | 45 x 25 x 8cm
PACK SIZE 4 x 5in | 10 x 13cm
WEIGHT 3oz (85g)
FABRIC 30D Stretch Fabric/TPU Coating

Review :

Very nice product. Good quality

Lightweight

Nice storage stuff sack

Pillow materials are soft and comfortable; pleasant to have against your face and skin.  A lot of pillows on the market are not very comfortable and will require you to wrap them in different material

Good solid Valve. Not Cheap or flimsy like some.



Easy to inflate..

Easy to release the air and fold it.



Stuff sack is perfectly sized.



When inflated, it is incredibly soft; not hard or harsh when laying upon it.



This is not a super thick pillow; about 3 inches when inflated.

Pro Tip : If you need more thickness, release some of the air and then fold the pillow in half; perfect solution!



Oddity 1 : When inflating your pad, it is incredible loud!. It sounds like a jet engine!. Not a con, just worth mentioning.



Oddity 2 : Pad is supposed to come with a repair kit. Mine review model didn’t have one and I’m not sure if that is because it is a T&E model or it was a mistake.



To Sum It Up :

This has to be one of my favorite pillows; it’s perfect for backpacking and camping.

Great in a tent.

Great in a hammock.

Old but Awesome - Arc’teryx Covert Collar Zip Sweater – Review

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Today Luke is reviewing the Arc’teryx Covert Collar Zip Sweater; a very thick and warm sweater which is still easy to find today and is often times very inexpensive.  This is one of those products which I receive a lot of questions about.

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Link : Your best bet is to find one of these used on eBay as they have been discontinued some years back.  Note : There is a modern Covert jacket which features a full zip which costs $200

 Price :  When these were being offered these would sell for around the $160 range but since they can only be purchased used you will find them on eBay for around $60 - $80.  At times you will see an auction listing for as low as $8 like I did at the time of filming.

I purchased mine back in 2015 for $40 and let me tell you, this is one heck of a nice sweater.

Features ¼ collar zip and is one of the thickest fleece jackets that I have ever seen.  It is what I would refer to as a heavy weight fleece sweater.

Looks like Wool
Made from Polartec® Thermal Pro – 100% polyester
Keeps you warm, dry by wicking away moisture, very breathable.
Features a small stretch-woven laminate sleeve pocket with welt-closure zipper

Pros :

Misty drizzle deep in the back country, too cold for light base layer but too warm and pushing it too hard (timed ride pick up) for the windstopper or rain jacket. Got damp but stayed warm and still pleanty breathable enough to let heat out. Water seemed to collect mostly in cuffs and shirt bottom for easy ringing excess water. This was a full day of pushing too. Was very impressed and was one of those days you're glad you paid the extra cash!

It is made out of a fleece knit where the fabric resembles a traditional knit sweater more that a traditional fleece pull-over. It seems far more warm than any of my other fleece pull-overs.

I love the color of this sweater; it’s not bright or flamboyant; it almost has a tactical feel to it and I think that is why I get so many messages about it.  Over the years, I can’t even count how many times I have been asked about it.

Great as a layering piece

Flattering fit

For hiking, backpacking, sky, going to town, etc, this is an awesome sweater!

Cons :

The sizing for this seems small in my opinion and that may be because it is form fitting but this is a medium and it fits like a small.

Even used the price tag is high but for this level of thickness and warmth it is worth it.

They are short in the torso length so keep that in mind

Not wind resistant…but it’s as sweater….I say this because if I didn’t mention it I would hear about it later from that one viewer; “You didn’t say that it wouldn’t block the wind.”

Very small collar; it isn’t going to block much.

That is Going In My Office! - Viewer Mail #40

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It's mail time again and as always I are honored and thankful!
That is definitely going in my Office!