Gear Review & Photos By: Carla K (@carlakiefer)
With so much camping gear out on the market it really is hard to choose what to get! I constantly feel overwhelmed when trying to pick a new piece of gear.
This year I will be setting out on the West Coast Trail (WCT); a 75km multi-day backpacking trail. It’s located along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island, and can take 5-6 days to complete. I needed to upgrade some of my backpacking gear, as a lot of my current gear is heavy, bulky, and potentially too warm for the summer months.
With this in mind, I tested out the backpacking sleeping system from Sea To Summit. This included the following gear:
If you’re living in Vancouver you would know we still have a lot of snow hanging around in the mountains, but I still wanted to get out and test my gear on an overnight trip. My friend and I found a spot in Squamish to call home for the night.
I was like a kid on Christmas setting up my new gear! Seeing all the features in action made me so excited.
Ether Light XR Sleeping mat
Firstly, I started off with the Ether Light XR sleeping mat. No need to feel like you’re blowing up balloons for someone’s birthday, because the sleeping mat comes with the Airstream pump integrated into the stuff sack. I didn’t even realize it was there at first until I read the instructions. It’s as simple as attaching the stuff sack to the valve on the mat, blowing into the pump then rolling the air into your sleeping mat! Coming in at only 525g, this sleeping mat is so compact that it’s incredible just how comfortable it is.
Next up was the camp pillow! I know I’m not the only one who has been rolling up their clothes as a poor imitation of comfort. I have been on the hunt for years now and have never been able to find the perfect pillow… Now I have - The Aeros pillow. Weighing in at only 79g, this pillow is so soft and comfortable. Another perk that had me excited was the pillow lock system. Sea To Summit sleeping mats come with 4 adhesive patches that you can place on your sleeping mat. The patches then adhere to the fabric of the pillows, keeping your pillow in place!
Spark Sleeping bag + Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner
We then have the Spark sleeping bag which is filled with goose down treated with a non-PFC Ultra-Dry Down. This sleeping bag is rated at -1, which is perfect for the warmer months. As it is down-filled, it compacts down super small. My personal favourite feature is that it goes perfectly with the Reactor Lining. The lining helps provide extra warmth, for those cooler nights, and comfort. It’s made out of Thermolite® Pro fabric which is stretch-knit meaning that the liner can fit in any sleeping bag, so you can use it for any season!
There is a lot of prep that goes into a big trip like with West Coast Trail, and one important thing is making sure you have the right gear and that it fits and sits well. I’m so pleased with the Sea To Summit sleep system, not only being good quality, but light-weight, compact and comfortable. I didn’t think I could find a better sleeping set-up for the West Coast Trail.
I’m excited to have a bit more room in my bag for important things like some chocolates or other snacks!