Alec is a landscape photographer and outdoors storyteller with a zeal for pushing boundaries in the wild. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, and visiting remote places, allowing him to photograph locations the rest of the world shies away from. In addition, Alec loves to write about his travels and craft articles that help educate and inspire others to find their joy in nature.
HUGE backpacking tent sale at REI (like really good you need to run to this ASAP!)
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Hi everyone! This one will be short because I just returned from a work trip to Fairbanks, where I hardly slept due to chasing the northern lights. And then Jaimie's birthday is this weekend, so we're packing up for a little weekend trip up north. So, life's a bit chaotic, but some photos from the trip are below. (I'll have more soon.) But I wanted to let you know that REI is having a flash sale until March 11 on backpacking tents that are the cream of the crop. It's until supplies run out, so don't miss it. Furthermore, your REI dividends just hit, so you should have even more savings. 10/10 REI Big Agnes and MSR Backpacking Tent Sale There are always new people reading this, so I want to let you all know that I personally own Big Agnes gear. My first backpacking tent lasted me 5+ years, and I still use it when I go alone. We just upgraded to the Copper Spur 3 person (my review on it) and love it. Additionally, my brother and I slept in his MSR tent all of summer 2020, and it was fantastic. I say all this because I want you to know that the gear I recommend is things I've tried (or at least know of) and have been a great investment. At full price, these run in the $450-$600 range. Getting it at a discount is an incredible steal. Big Agnes 30% off SaleBig Anges doesn't just do ultra-light tents. They have chairs, backpacks, and sleeping pads. I own a BA tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. All have lasted 6 years and go strong. You can literally get your entire backpacking set up right now for 30% off! Copper Spur tent I highly recommend: These tents are lightweight and a perfect three-season tent (unless you're in a high-wind area, as these are lighter and not as sturdy). But if you're not going to Patagonia or into a hurricane, you'll be fine! Sleeping Pad I recommend:
The one I have feels like sleeping on a cloud. It's amazing, and I've had no issues since I bought it in 2018. The R-value is how warm and insulated the sleeping pad will be. Cold air rises from the ground, and a more insulated bag will keep you warmer. Sleeping bags I recommend:
I think a 15-20-degree bag is perfect. It allows you to backpack in three seasons (maybe even four... I did winter tent camping in my 15-degree), and there's no need to buy multiple sleeping bags. Plus, getting ultralight means it's not weighing you down. MSR Hubba Hubba Tents 40% off SaleThis is only for Hubba Hubba Tents and footprints, so the sale is a little more narrow than the Big Agnes one. However, 40% off can't be beaten! What I recommend:
What size tent do you need? A good rule of thumb is a two-person tent is good for solo camping, and a three-person tent is perfect for two people. Now, you can totally do two people in a two-person - my brother and I did it - but it's tight. Also, if you have wider sleeping pads (my girlfriend and I do), it makes it cramped in a two-person, which is why we moved up to the Copper Spur 3P. Recent ArticlesDid someone forget us? The 10 least visited National Parks in 2023A record 325 million people visited the National Park Service sites in 2023These were the 10 most visited National Parks in 2023A once-in-a-lifetime chance to kayak in Death Valley National ParkThe 16 Best Alaska Flightseeing Tours in the Last FrontierThese Incredible Grand Canyon Photos Will Make You Want To Visit |
Hi! I'm Alec, an outdoor writer, photographer, and content creator.
Alec Sills-Trausch
Alec is a landscape photographer and outdoors storyteller with a zeal for pushing boundaries in the wild. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, and visiting remote places, allowing him to photograph locations the rest of the world shies away from. In addition, Alec loves to write about his travels and craft articles that help educate and inspire others to find their joy in nature.
Hi ya'll! It's been a while—I know. I've been back from Australia for a couple of weeks now, and life has been busy, busy. I turned 32 the day after I returned, and for the next week, my sleep schedule was not at all aligned. It's probably the worst I've slept since I was 1. And then it's been catching up on life, writing new articles, and starting to book summer travel. (I have some AMAZING places I think you'll love seeing and learning about.) But after exploring the Northern Territory, we...
Note: Hi! You might notice this is coming from a different email address. Don't fret; it is still me. With email rules changing, I moved to an email hosted via my website, which looks more official. Hopefully, the email gods smile down on me. The weather's warming up, and backpacking season will be here before you know it! Some of you surely have all your gear lined up and ready to go, but others may need a few additions or be totally new to backpacking. If the latter is you, I know how...
Hi ya'll! I'm writing this from Tasmania, Australia, and likely from the future, where I'm some 15-18 hours ahead of the United States. (So far, no news to report as Friday wraps up over here!) For the last week, we explored three National Parks in the Northern Territory: Kakadu, Litchfield, and Nitmiluk. It was warm (90+) and humid (80%), but they're slowly entering their dry and cooler seasons. The last couple of days were way better than the first when I started sweating almost...