Kelty Foraker -15: This sleeping bag is insulated with 750-fill power goose down for warmth, and it’s great for roominess and sleeping comfort.

This winter could have been much colder at times without the warmth of the Kelty Foraker -15 sleeping bag. Even with spring, and the promise of warmer days, the high-country and many regional climates require cold weather insulation well into summer; sometimes year-round.  So here’s a four-season backcountry sleeping bag insulated with 750-fill-power goose down you can look to for warmth, comfort, and the decades of experience Kelty brings to the table for great outdoor equipment. For some folks, this Foraker -15 is too much sleeping bag for the majority of backcountry exploits they have in mind. But for those who know their adventures might lead them to a serious cold-weather on occasion and they’re frequently spending time at higher elevations year round, the Foraker will be a great option to consider.

We reviewed the Kelty Foraker -15 in size Long and couldn’t be happier with how it worked out in a variety of cold to super cold temperatures. The lowest temperature we experienced was in the range of -5°, and it was clear this bag was good for much lower temperatures. This one is 86-inches long and 66-inches wide at the shoulder, both length and width are good for a freak 6’6” tall and tipping the scales at a good deal more than 250 pounds. That doesn’t describe this writer, but it’s great having all that room for the times when there is no sense in getting completely undressed to sleep when that little digital alarm clock is set to kick out Gun’s N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” at three in the morning for an early wake-up, tea-up, and pack-up, and get that early A.M. jump-start on the trail.

Zipper is two-way with locking capability...worked flawlessly.

This is essentially a base-camp expedition-grade sleeping bag, and its design and construction are geared for warmth and rugged durability in rather extreme conditions. It’s a mummy design all right, yet there was never a sense of claustrophobia associated with body-tight pharaoh wraps. Foraker offers excellent room for those times when you do have to be partially or fully dressed. This is what is meant by “expedition cut,” you’ve got lots of room to sink into.

And for this much sleeping bag, it’ll pack into a compression sack to about nine inches in diameter and 18 inches long with a total weight of approximately four pounds. That’s a lot of bag to carry, but when you need the warmth it delivers, you’ll have no problems transporting its weight and packed dimensions. It’s always a trade off in size vs. weight, although when you expect to bivouac in freezing weather you’ll want this level of insulation. Heck, you’re down parka will weigh as much as a one-pound down summer sleeping bag. Your winter gear will always outweigh your summer super-light gear set.

That said, it would be nice to have a second-level compression system to contain the Foraker -15 just a little bit more. Getting it into its factory stuff sack is very doable, but…mercy, it can be a challenge. That challenge is exasperated when you have to pack up on the trail and lash the bag to your backpack. Because it is a more significant bundle, it won’t readily fit into sleeping back compartments built into some of the nicer backpacks available.

Out of the stuff-sack, Foraker -15 lofts up quick.

Once out of the stuff sack, the Foraker -15 lofts up very quick. We liked that, as the 750-fill power goose down is immediately available to provide warmth and insulation against dropping evening temperatures. The exterior materials are absolutely expedition grade and hardy enough to slough off some of the inescapable abrasion forces that often come with backcountry living. Welded, waterproof seam connections are used at both the foot of the Foraker and the hood areas. This is a great benefit when you find yourself in valley bottoms or super high moisture conditions where early mornings often result in frost build-up on the sleeping bag; especially when you are sleeping without the cover of a tent.

Down insulation is managed throughout the Foraker -15 with trapezoidal-baffle construction. However, were pretty sure the high loft value of the 750-fill power down is responsible for the quick puff-up capability when you drag the bag out of the sack.

Perhaps, the one thing we enjoyed most about the Kelty Foraker -15 is that peace of mind you get when you have no doubts you will be warm enough. That quality is only trumped by the generous roominess and comfortable materials lining the bag which function to offer that one thing we so often give up when we leave our king-size pillow-top beds at home, the ability to get cozy and fall sound asleep. The draw chords and insulation-filled collar in the hood area can easily be adjusted while you’re in the sleeping bag.

Waterproof hood seams, double collar, and adjustable fit offer full mummy wrap and warmth.

At the foot of the Foraker there is a nice depth to the chamber, or pocket area, between the zipper and the end of the sleeping bag. This pocket really helps when you are getting into the sleeping bag in the black of night; it a target you always know you’ll hit in order to snuggle back into the bag. It was no surprise to find the two-way composite zipper worked flawlessly regardless of the temperature and level of consciousness.

There were the few occasions where the zipper catches the insulated seals, but never a full on snag. Velcro fasteners at the hood provide a greater level of button-down capability for those times when you pull all the stops for making sure you are going to be as warm and safe as this Foraker -15 is capable of delivering. It would have been great to actually, scientifically measure out -15° in a controlled environment to be able to report back just how this sleeping bag performed at that exact temperature. But keep in mind, these temp ratings are always just an estimation based on laboratory-like scenarios. We’re fairly confident the Foraker -15 is capable of dealing with much colder conditions. And likewise, we were able to use this sleeping bag in much warmer conditions than one would think it would be used for.

When you are operating in wicked cold conditions, more than likely you will crawl into your sleeping bag with most, if not all, the clothes you’ll need to get up in the middle of the night to water the plants or fire up the stove and tea-up for a super early departure. So there’s so many potential variables and, mostly cold weather, conditions where the Kelty Foraker -15 is perfectly adaptable and useful, the only person who should judge it too warm or too much sleeping bag is the person who will sleep in it. For our various applications of using sleeping bags on backpacks, four-wheel drive excursions, or overnighters at a friend’s cabin, this bag proved super flexible and comfortable.

For example,  here’s another end of the spectrum we couldn’t have speculated on: when temperatures in the tent or on the ground were closer to just freezing or 15° above zero and warmer conditions, the Foraker became an outstanding feather bed that doesn’t require being zipped up tight as the mummy style bag it’s capable of. There’s plenty of latitude to adjust the comfort range upwards when the situation dictates.

For early spring and early summer trips in the higher elevations, the Foraker -15 can just as comfortably be used as a quilt or a mattress you can pull the covers over you when it gets cold. Just the comfort provided by the highly efficient lofting capability of this bag makes it a go-to sleep factory as long as you can adjust the heat it’s capable of…and in many cases you really can adjust the warmth.

By Rick Shandley

Kelty Foraker -15 as reviewed:

Size: Long (fits to 6′ 6″ / 198 cm)

Insulation: 750-fill-power goose down
Product #: 38408351
Color Option: Blazing Yellow/Gray

Long Specifications:
Length: 86″ / 218 cm
Shoulder girth: 66” / 168 cm
Fill weight: 40 oz. / 1.1 kg
Total weight: 4 lb. 6 oz. / 2.0 kg
Stuffed diameter: 9″ / 23 cm
Stuffed length: 18″ / 46 cm

MSRP: $465

Bag Features:

• Trapezoidal-baffle construction
• Welded, waterproof construction in hood and foot
• Chevron stitching
• Deep, three-dimensional hood
• Full baffle collar
• Locking, two-way zipper
• Zipper draft tube with anti-snag design
• Interior liner locating loops and exterior sleeping pad security loops
• Hanging loops for storage
• Ribbon draw cords and captured cord-locks
• Ground-level side seams prevent heat loss
• Compression stuff sack and storage sack included

Materials:

Shell material: PR290T polyester microfiber “mountain design” ripstop with DWR finish (top), P345T polyester microfiber taffeta with DWR finish (bottom), StormStopperTM waterproof breathable N255T nylon taffeta (hood and foot)
Liner material: P300T polyester microfiber pongee

When doing your research on selecting a new sleeping bag, you’ve got to ask yourself a few questions before you make your decision. In this case selecting the right sleeping bag has a lot to do about your own likes, dislikes, comfort level and how you are going to use it.  In this article, we’ll try to give you the theoretical and practical information to form your questions and guide you to make the right selection.

As with any personal gear, this is a subjective topic where there are a few things you can consider to aid you in achieving a good result. Right off the bat, our contention is to own more than one sleeping bag to cover warm-weather and cold weather activities. But owning several bags for different purposes isn’t always quite in the budget. Since many of us will be heading out camping and backpacking this summer, we’re going to focus on warm weather options that are available with goose down fillings, and rated for 40-degree temperature levels; as these are a popular choice. Nevertheless, as your understanding of the methods used for sleeping bag insulation and warmth increases, you’ll see how you can apply your understanding of these principles to Fall and Winter activities as well.

Most down-filled sleeping bags in this comfort range will compress to about 10-inches in diameter and 15-inches in length when stuffed into a little travel-sack, and weigh a tad more than a pound. That’s perfect for mountaineering and backpacking, but it’s also great for saving space when car camping, horse-pack-trips, cross-country bicycling, dual-sport motorcycling, and trekking via air travel. This particular type of sleeping bag will most likely be priced between $150 and $300 dollars depending on the manufacturer and quality you choose.

Down makes for a popular insulation that has been used for decades

What’s the value proposition for a down-filled product? Consider this: sleeping bags, parkas, and pants filled with high-grade goose down are insulation products that can become heirlooms, as they are capable of lasting long enough to include in your living will. So whatever you decide to pay for a good sleeping bag, the value is hard to beat.

In addition to light-weight, down-filled gear also has a broader comfort range than other types of insulation. Down sleeping bags, as with other down-filled clothing, the loft (or puffiness) and the air that is trapped between the down feathers and the baffles (compartments) are what provides insulation and warmth in concert with your body heat. You can consider fleece and synthetic-insulated sleeping bags.   Both of which have some great qualities, like softness, warmth, and easy to clean.  Synthetic-filled sleeping bags still provide warmth, even when wet. But down has no weight or size penalties. 

On the other hand, down tends to lose insulation value when wet. It dries quick, but that’s a drag when the sun has no plans for shining bright for three days. Moisture can come from wet snow, rain, condensation inside a tent, sweat, or sleeping outside in dense overnight fog.   So there are several factors to consider in selecting how you are going to stay comfortable sleeping under the stars, and staying warm on your adventures.

Climates you frequent

Do you intend to spend your trip in, an alpine or desert climate? Consider the climate conditions of the areas you want to explore.  You can get a good sense of your target playground by asking questions, drawing from personal knowledge, or online research. The U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management websites may prove valuable in getting good information. Even if this will be your first year planning an outdoor lifestyle use the internet, to find resources to understand the climate zone you intend to frequent.

As an example, on the Appalachian Trail in the Southeast U.S., elevation induced temperatures may not be a huge factor, but nights can get chilly and damp. Out on the West Coast the Sierra Nevada Mountains, high and low deserts, the coastal ranges, and the Cascade Mountains, along with several other mountain ranges can vary in temperatues during the season. Each mountain region, where ever it may be, has its own weather system that needs to be investigated.  Shoot to build yourself a summary of your chosen geographic region where you plan on spending a few nights outside.

How you use it

There’s a bit of truth in the “quick-witted” remark of: “It’s not what you have. It’s how you use it.” Will you be packing that sleeping bag on your back, or strapping it to a donkey? Do you plan on lashing it to a Mt. Bike or a BMW dual-sport? Car camping? It’s possible you may be planning for all of the above scenarios but if weight is a factor then add that to your selection criteria.  Sleeping bags also come in various weights and sizes. You don’t want a large-heavy bag stuffed in your backpack. But for car camping, it may be a non issue.

Shelter or not

Will you be using a two or three-person tent? Having a good, light-weight yet weather-stout tent will, in most cases, keep you out of inclement weather and increase the warmth producing ability of your sleeping bag. If you plan of using just a drop-cloth, a sleeping pad, and a mosquito net, choose accordingly. Likewise if you plan on constructing a light-weight lean-to, a wind-break made of flat rocks, or holing up in a compelling snow cave you dug for the night, you may want to select a bag intended for cooler temperatures.

Comfort ratings

Temperature ratings are really a generalization that depends on many variables only you can asses. Some manufacturers use in-house methods to rate the insulation value and comfort level of their products using criteria such as product construction, amount and quality of down fill, and field testing. Other manufacturers use the consistant third-party standard known as the European Norm (EN) rating system to indicate the temperature rating of a sleeping bag. An EN rating, for example EN13537 indicates the particular type of sleeping bag — most down bags are constructed as mummy-shape or semi-mummy — is scientifically tested in a climate chamber using a “dummy in a mummy” sleeping bag.

Always check the comfort ratings of sleeping bags. If you're not sure ask the sales person for help.

Assumptions such as use of a tent and a base-layer of clothing, using socks and head covering, are made. Additional asumptions are the size, weight, and position of the dummy’s as laying on their back, are made. Additional criteria such as a person’s experience in taking full-advantage of the insulation qualities of a given sleeping bag, such as curling up into a cinnamon bun, or wearing even more than base-insulation clothing. Also factors such as an individuals mental-state are taken into consideration. All the variables are measured, mathematically analysed, and result in a more quantitative estimate of how a specific product (a sleeping bag) will perform in a general setting.

And there are a few really knowledgeable and high-quality manufacturers of down sleeping bags and gear that won’t even assign a temperature rating to a sleeping bag. Their take, and it seem to be a rational one, is that you, the individual, should have a good sense of how you are going to use the equipment. You will be the one to know under what controlled conditions ( tent, cabin, cave floor carpeted with woolly mammoth hair) you will choose, or that you will choose the ground…always. It will be you who knows what geographical areas or climates you plan on being prepared for, your physical condition and metabolism, and how you sleep. Manufacturers who take this approach avoid the folly of estimating an application that, in reality, is not in their control. It’s in your control. A down-filled bag that weighs just a pound and several ounces, can only have so much down in it. And the materials and baffle construction will only add so much insulation value, and that value will cost you X amount of dollars for that range of features. It’s still a extremely light-weight and relatively similarly priced device.  If you’re still not certain, ask a sales person for help. Most of them are very knowledgeable about helping you select the right sleeping bag for your particular use.

Grades of goose down

At the top, the highest quality down is considered to be European goose down. Canada is also a source for down. Fill-power is measured as cubic inches per ounce of down.  A power of 700, for example, means the lofting capacity is outstanding. Lofting capacity is the ability of literally a couple million down filaments to trap still air and provide superior insulation with the least amount of physical weight. Grades of down are measured by slipping an ounce of the wispy, prepared, filaments into a glass tube in a temperature controlled environment, compressing it, and measuring that compression. High-quality down will compress more and weigh less than a sample of lower-grade down required to attain the same warmth.

Size matters. Larger, traditional style bags are great if weight isn't an issue.

All down is simply three-dimensional clusters of fluffy feather material that grows from a feather shaft to provide winter warmth for the bird as a layer close to the skin. Down is found only in waterfowl such as geese and ducks; both the primary source of textile-use down. Premium down is gathered by hand from mature European geese after they have molted (shed their winter base-layer) in the Spring.

These ultra high-end geese flocks are relatively small, and the primary purpose of these birds are for breeding. Therefore the down is a relatively rare insulation material, not easy to come by, and not cheap. Lesser quality down material may come from young geese only a few months old. Down from young geese is also a secondary product, but is collected in the harvesting cycle (early demise), as the youngsters are converted into pate’ to be spread on crackers with a dollop of caviar at the bequest of the Queen!

Good

A down-fill value of 500 to 500 is good for very cold conditions, but the down sleeping bag (or parka) will require more down fill to generate appropriate insulation qualities and warmth. Weight will increase by the same ratio as the item will require more down to generate more warmth capability. So if you’re not obsessed with counting calories, you might not be spun out by additional ounces of weight, and this level of down insulation may fit your application just fine.

Now, any grade of down-filled product in the 400 to 450 range of down-fill is still a viable option if it suits your application and budget. Howbeit, this grade of down is most often relegated to street fashion. A jacket (or sleeping bag) will still provide good warmth with an increase in weight. Hyper puffed parkas of this ilk can be observed on the upper torsos of the good folks of New York City. Yep, most any icy winter night they’ll be commuting on foot between the cubicle, the pub crawl, and back to the loft; warm and trendy. 

Better

But keep in mind, and this may be a factor in price, high-fill power down ranked between 600 and 700+/- is also excellent in light weight and high insulation quality. It too will be used in expedition-grade products. It’s also a scarce material resource to gather, process, and select. For most of us, this is the sweet spot for  selecting a great sleeping bag…or parka.

Best

Gear that uses 800 and above power-fill down is the best you can obain. It’s the benchmark for light yet warm insulation. As you shop, this is a number to look for and means more than an estimated comfort range. Expedition gear and extremely high-altitude down clothing and sleeping gear will source 800 power-fill down in many cases. It’s also a more scarce material to gather, process, and select long before it is available to the market.

By Rick Shandley

Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30: Compact N’ Warm

In reviewing any significant piece of gear, we try not to assess any product from just one trip in the field. While evaluating the new 2010 Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag, it was used for five backcountry trips. These trips were mostly backpacking hikes in the Sierra Nevada and San Bernardino mountain ranges of California, and the Gila National Forest of southwestern New Mexico.

Elevation for all of these trips ranged between 7,000 feet above sea level to more than 11,000 feet. Fall nighttime temperatures at these altitudes varied from lows of 40° F to less than 30°, where overnight frost would settle on the tents and forest floor.

The Arrow Rock 30 is a cool to moderately cold temperature sleeping back filled with 600-series down insulation. Sierra Designs rates this as a three-season sleeping bag, but it seams well suited for all seasons depending upon your shelter types and geographic region.

When the mercury dropped below 30° in high elevation conditions, there was never a sense of chill or lack of warmth. Most nights, my shelter was either a Hilleberg Kaitum 3 or a Kelty Foxhole 3 four-season tent that would provide a conservative 5° of warmth as I was the only human sole in these three-man tents. Some cool nights, I’d wiggle into the Arrow Rock 30 with my Mountain Khakis flannel-lined pants on simply because it was cold and windy outside — and there was no question I’d be scooting outside before sunrise to break down camp and fire up the MSR Reactor stove for coffee and oatmeal. So for folks who tend to sleep with pants and foundational torso insulation on, this Arrow Rock 30 can keep you warm well below its rating.

On nights where the temperature did not drop into the low-40’s or mid-30’s, the Arrow Rock is a roaster! There were several nights where I’d heat up in the middle of the night and zip the sleeping bag open almost the full length of the Large (for people taller than 6-foot), and just use it as a quilt since the temperature was too cold to lay on top of the bag.

For this reason, and speaking for myself, this is an ideal sleeping bag for so many kinds of high-elevation or cool weather scenarios, since I could merely adjust my sleeping arrangement depending on the overnight temperatures. However, my confidence for staying warm was never shaken regardless of how cold it got under the conditions I used the Arrow Rock 30 for. This is just one of several primary qualities I valued about the Arrow Rock 30; it kept me warm in the fall, at upper elevations.

A chest pocket is built in for your wallet and keys at night. The left-hand side zipper is sturdy and non-binding. Upper torso and hood offer lots of room to toss and turn.

It made no difference to my perspective that 600-series down fill is used in this sleeping bag rather than the commonly regarded superior insulation capabilities of 750-to-850 premium down fills that might have been considered for this sleeping bag. The initial price (MSRP $219.00 U.S.) of the sleeping bag would have been much greater if the higher-order down fills where used. But there’s an even more rational reason for using 600-series down insulation for the Arrow Rock 30…you don’t need any more insulation than the 600 fill provides.

Another instantly recognized quality this down sleeping bag manifested soon as it was pulled out of the stuff sack was the lofting capability. Regardless of how long the sleeping bag was packed away on a trip, within a few minutes of setting up the tent and unfurling the Arrow Rock 30, the down insulation would loft-up to its full “puff.” That right there tells me, the bag is worthy of keeping me warm. The baffle-technology and the overall bag construction are design details that vary from bag to bag, and manufacturer to manufacturer. But if your down insulated sleeping bag can’t loft up within minutes of taking it out of the stuff sack, it’s a bad omen for warmth, and a confidence crusher for quality of the down fill.

As a person who weighs more than 200 pounds and stands more than six-feet tall, the Sierra Designs trademarked technology called “Flex” allowed me to curl-up or stretch out in a myriad of ways without the sleeping bag binding me in. Flex allows the bag outer shell and liner material to move with the sleeper by eliminating constriction and forming to the body when lying still, thereby continuously providing warmth and maximum insulation. With it’s “mummy” style shape, the Arrow Rock 30 never presented the sense of claustrophobic restriction traditional mummy-style sleeping bags are sometimes known for.

Housed in its stuff sack, the SD Arrow Rock 30 fit easily into the sleeping bag section of the Lowe-Alpine TFX Cerro Torre 65:85 backpack along with the new Therm-A-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad.

Just as valuable a consideration when observing the qualities the Arrow Rock 30 offered was the pack size and weight of the sleeping bag. Mercy! Since many modern backpacks include a bottom compartment just for the sleeping bag, the Arrow Rock 30 simply rocks. No kidding here. Backpacks such as the Lowe/Alpine TFX Cerro Torre 65:85 and the more traditional Kelty Trekker external-frame pack accommodated the Arrow Rock 30 (in its stuff sack) with enough additional room for the NeoAir sleeping pad, two pairs of gloves, and a Gerber short-handled camp ax. At 2lbs, 9 ounces, the size and weight of this sleeping bag in its compact form is, perhaps, the coolest single thing about the Arrow Rock 30 if you take the warmth out of the equation.

While living with the SD Arrow Rock 30 on backpacking trips, the sleeping pad that was used is the new Therm-A-Rest NeoAir. This combination of sleeping bag and sleeping pad could not have worked out better. One of the features modern down sleeping bags tend to provide are retaining straps on the underside of the sleeping bag, and the Arrow Rock 30 accommodated the Neo-Air sleeping bag as if the two were designed by the same product planning team. The Arrow Rock 30 retaining straps kept the Neo-Air sleeping pad under the bag throughout the nights, and there was never an issue with having something between my body and the floor of the tent.

In writing third-party product reviews, our experience in the past 25 years has taught us that readers don’t need to necessarily want to know the technical engineering details of a product so much as they want to know if it worked, and whether there are any significant weaknesses they should consider in making a purchase decision. With the Arrow Rock 30, the overall impression is that this is a sleeping bag I’d take on any trip whether it be backpacking, four-wheel drive camping, horse back trip, or foreign travel. There were no significant drawbacks I would have you consider. So there you have it on the Sierra Designs Arrow Rock 30.

Review and photos by Rick Shandley

Specs:

Men’s Long
Price Point: MSRP $219.00
Temperature Rating / 30 F/ -1 C
Trail Weight: 2 lbs 9 oz
Zipper Side: Left
Stuff Size: 7″ x 17″
Insulation: 600-Fill Goose Down
Shell Material: 30D Polyester
Liner Material: 40D Polyester

Features:
Chest Pocket
Continuous Baffle Construction
Flex Technology
Tuck Stitch

Take a look at the Kelty Pawnee 3300 backpack. It is an ideal pack for hikers and backpackers looking for the most bang for their buck ($129.00). The Pawnee 3300 is lightweight, sturdy, comfortable, and versatile. Pawnee gets high marks from overnight hikers far and wide, and with good reason. It is an ideal pack for every type of application, including members of Search and Rescue Teams, which this particular pack is used for.

Pawnee 3300 is an internal frame pack which sports an aluminum stay and HDPE (high density polyethylene) frame sheet for support. There is a removable waist belt which fits waist sizes ranging 18.5”-21+” for additional support and stability while hiking. The backing, straps, and waist belt are well padded with breathable mesh.

Kelty’s Pawnee 3300 features three storage areas: one main central compartment, one front pocket, and a top loading compartment. There is an internal sleeve in the main compartment which allows a hydration bladder (sold separately) to be stored within. The Pawnee comes in two colors: Nite Sky (dark blue and gray) and Russet (red/orange and gray).

The Pawnee 3300 is also an ideal pack for beginning backpackers as it is versatile, durable, and wallet-friendly. Looking for a new pack can be quite a daunting experience for any first-time buyer as there are many different models available. Many packs feature the latest innovations and a labyrinth of pockets and compartments. The multiple pockets on other packs allow experienced hikers to organize the gear for easy access yet can confuse and overwhelm beginning hikers. The three storage compartments of the Pawnee 3300 are simple and effective while providing ample storage room for any overnight hike or all-day alpine assault with its 3300 cubic inches of storage.

Pawnee quick-adjust shoulder straps.

Of all the features to look for when considering a new backpack, the most important feature, however is comfort. It is absolutely essential that hikers find a pack which fits their anatomy well and distributes weight without causing pain. A pack that does not fit well can cause serious back, neck, and shoulder injuries. The Pawnee 3300 distributes weight down the back with the aluminum stay and into the hips which are secured tightly with the adjustable hip belt. Kelty features their reliable Scherer Cinch on the hip belt which is a sturdy adjustable strap system that allows the pack to fit nearly any body structure like a glove.

Pawnee 3300 on Continental Divide trail in New Mexico.

The Pawnee 3300 was recently tested by FreshAirJunkie for use in search and rescue missions. Members of search and rescue teams look for features in packs that most hikers look for including durability, afford ability, versatility, and comfort. There are some unique features that search and rescue teams look for in packs including coloration, easy access, and quick packing/unpacking.

Pawnee is designed with water tube exit at top of pack.

Appearance should be one of the least important criteria for selecting gear; however it is a good rule of thumb to use gear which is easily noticeable from a distance when venturing into remote and precarious environments. Members of search and rescue teams often cover vast a distances in remote areas during missions and must coordinate operations between various search parties and aerial assistance.

Members of S&R teams often wear brightly colored uniforms such as hunter’s orange or red and prefer their gear to be just as easily recognizable. The Russet (red/orange) Pawnee 3300 is therefore ideal for members of the search and rescue teams. Our Night Sky Pawnee 3300 would simply use a bright red, orange, or yellow rain cover if and when the pack is set down on a ridge or as a search-point reference to be seen at a distance. Search and    Rescue team members own a wide array of gear for whatever each mission may warrant. Team members must often pack their gear quickly and efficiently at a moment’s notice.

Mesh pockets on both sides.

Pawnee offers many lash points for external gear.

The simple 3 compartment system of the Pawnee 3300 allows team members to pack all of the gear necessary for any type of mission. The main compartment can hold gear ranging from ropes to blankets. The front compartment provides easy access for food, knives, or flashlights. The top loading compartment provides easy access for to a first aid kit for any EMT in the field.

Overall, the Kelty Pawnee 3300 is a solid backpack for any hiker regardless of their experience or needs. The pack offers ample of storage with easy access. The aluminum stay, HDPE, and breathable mesh padding provide the hiker with a comfortable hiking experience suitable for any terrain. The Sherer Cinch straps allow the weight to be distributed evenly and adjust to any body type. The Pawnee 3300 has been tested in harsh climates by hikers and rescue professionals and it offered good durability. The affordable price should place this at the top of hiker’s shopping list.

By Kevin Varn

Photography by Rick Shandley

Gear List:

• Cloudveil Inversion Down Jacket
• Mountain Hardwear Hydra Gloves with OutDry
• Kelty Foxhole 3 Four Season tent
• Camelbak two-liter Omega hydration bladder
• Eco Usable Stainless Steel bottles
• SIGG Water bottles
• Gerber camp ax
• Benchmade K5-Tactical Marc A. Lee knife
• Alpine Air dehydrated food
• Natural High dehydrated food
• LOWA GTX Expert boots
• Ahnu Westridge Trail Running shoes

The Kelty FoxHole 3 is a sturdy four-season tent suitable for three people

Four season comfort, durability, great ventilation and quick set-up time are distinguishing features of the Kelty Foxhole 3 mountaineering tent. Part of the Kelty Apex Series of expedition level four-season tents, the Foxhole 3 is designed to take on inclement weather wherever you find yourself spending the night.

Kelty Foxhole 3 setup early evening in the Gila National Forest of New Mexico.

Kelty Foxhole 3 in transport on a heavy Gregory Spear backpack; 12 Spears on this hike.

Kelty’s Foxhole 3 is a freestanding tent you can guy out partially or fully depending on conditions you encounter. Kelty made good use of illumination materials on the large Kelty Foxhole 3 logos on the exterior of the tent, near the two entrances, and illuminating thread woven into the guy-out lines. At night, you can easily see where your tent is from a distance as the illumination glows perfectly clear in the headlamp or flashlight beam; even at the periphery of the beam. Also, when you are walking around outside the tent at night, the illumination strands woven into the guy lines let you know exactly where to avoid tripping accidents.

Set-up goes fairly quick as the Dac ultra-light poles configure rapidly into an external frame that anchors in deep pockets at four-corners of the tent. The entire exoskeleton uses slider-clips and hook-clips to rapidly erect the core tent body so it’s taught and ready to stash your gear.

It only takes one person to roll out the tent body, assemble the Dac-pole frame, slide four pole ends into the pockets, and clip up the tent. In addition, the guy lines can be adjusted with the ITW Lineloc guy line adjusters to batten down the hatches in severe weather. All seams are fusion welded and taped, increasing this tent’s capacity to withstand harsh environments.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent-crown slider clip in place.

When attaching the rain fly, remember to line up the two doors of the Kelty Foxhole 3, and it's easy street for the night.

Ventilation is well thought out with or without the rain fly attached. Closable mesh panels allow you to open ventilation routes where you want air flow. With the rain fly attached, ventilation ports on the rain fly are propped open with short (about 3-inch) sections of Dac poles inserted into sleeves and secured in upright position with Velcro fasteners.

This combination of rain fly ventilation working with the main tent ventilation system allows you to fully adjust to the current conditions at your bivouac site. Even in warm weather, you can still have the full protection of the rain fly without restricting the ventilation and cool air through the tent.

The rain fly drapes over the exoskeleton — creating an air chamber between the tent walls and increased insulation – and fastens with side-release buckles to the main body of the tent. When securing the rain fly, you do have to match the two doors located caddy-corner across from each other on opposite sides of the tent. With practice, this becomes routine.

With the rain fly secured and the entire tent guyed out, you have two roomy gear-storage vestibules and two door openings you can literally stand up in to put your boots on as the walls of tent slant away from the tent floor. This design characteristic is convenient because you don’t have to step out of the tent, onto the ground, in order to stand up to full height. And these tent doors are especially nice for taller people as you won’t have to crawl out of the tent.

Interior view of Kelty Foxhole 3 window, floor, entrances, and far-side vestibule.

Hook-clip attached to Dac tent pole on Kelty Foxhole 3.

Two clear windows are welded into the rain fly at the door openings. This is a cool feature as you do not have to completely unzip the inner tent door or rain fly door to check on the weather or to figure out what kind of mammal is tossing around the bear canister 50-feet away.

Noiseless zippers worked well with the Foxhole 3. Zippers are stout enough to manage the taught tent fabric and tent walls without binding or making any racket. And because the tent design yields taught walls there are times when you have to balance the left-side zipper travel with the right-side zipper travel to close a door. But when an opening is fully zipped up, the tent wall is as tight as it needs to be to shed any moisture and withstand a snow load or stiff wind.

Having two entrances and two vestibules add comfort and convenience value to this Kelty Apex Series Foxhole 3 tent. With three people using the tent, having two doors facilitates easy access in and out of the tent. And the vestibules offer enough room to accommodate the gear for three people. When lodging just one or two people, the Foxhole 3 takes claustrophobia right out of the equation.

Fusion welded floor seams run up the sides of the tent to create a tub affect. This is great as any potential build-up of snow or water outside the tent during any single weather event is not likely to intrude into the tent. Tent floor material is 3000mm thick, polyurethane coated 70D polyester. When used with a footprint, you are assured of sleeping on as weatherproof a foundation as you could ask for in the backcountry.

Kelty Foxhole 3 rainfly vent supported by section of Dac pole and secured with velcro.

During the several trips this tent was on, at no time was there a sense the tent floor was too thin skinned or incapable of handling overnight moisture. Though we did not get into any heavy rain or snow events, there were several mornings of overnight frost and freezing; conditions that lead to condensation – none of which were a problem.

Overall, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is certainly a solid choice to consider in a four-season, all-weather tent. There are some questions as to the ability of the tent hooks to withstand super-cold conditions without breaking, or becoming brittle over time.

And the argument can be made that the main tent body may be better supported with a combination of pole sleeves (where the Dac poles pass through sections of tent sleeves on the upper portions of the tent) as well as the use of hooks to offer the strongest possible design, should the hooks fail. But this is a design philosophy tent makers continually wrestle with and improve upon.

Even though the exoskeleton pole design appears complicated at first, we found this tent to be one of the most reliable and easy tents to set up quickly with just one person doing the task.

When morning arrives, and it’s time to break camp and move on, the Foxhole three disassembles and roles up quick.

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent components ready to set up.

 Some folks just stuff the entire tent fabric into a backpack or stuff it into the stuff bag. I found it to be very convenient to fold the tent properly and roll the poles up with the tent. Each time, the tent rolled up quickly and fit into the Kelty stuff bag with no balking.

For the comfort and shelter this tent provides, the weight is negligible. And when you plan on sharing this kind of tent with more than one person, then each person can carry either, the rain fly, the main tent, or the poles as separate units and thereby distribute the load. However, even for solo trips, at its full 9.4 pounds, the Foxhole 3 would probably be the first nine pounds loaded into the pack. The Kelty Foxhole 3 tent is simply a sturdy shelter to look forward to at night.

Although each person has to assess the qualities and attributes they want in a four-season tent, the Kelty Foxhole 3 is a good shelter I’d recommend potential tent buyers to consider.

 By R. Shandley

Kelty Foxhole 3 tent without rain fly.

Kelty Foxhole 3 zipper at top of door, when closed, is taught like it's supposed to be.Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty Foxhole 3 interior with Therm-A-Rest NeoAire mattress on right, and Sierra Design Arrow Rock 30 down sleeping bag.

Kelty logo on Foxhole 3 tent pops with illumination when headlamp beam hits it at night. There's a big Kelty logo on both sides of the tent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

Wall material: 70D Polyester taffeta (Dye free)

Floor material: 70D Fusion welded Polyester (3000mm thick with polyurethane [PU] coating)

Weight: 9.4 lbs.

Floor size: 45 sq. ft.

Doors: 2

Vestibules: 2

Vestibule areas: 9.4 sq. ft.

Length: 92”

Width: 79”

Height: 42”

Packed size: 8”x28”

MSRP: $419.95 U.S.

If your backcountry ventures take you up in elevation where thunderstorms, wind and plummeting night time temperatures are a normal part of your trip,  then consider the Kelty Apex Series Foxhole and Marauder tents.

A four-season tent built for all conditions, the Foxhole is an affordable shelter made for camping in a variety of environments. A hubbed, two-pole design combines with clip attachment points for quick and easy set up. Fusion welded tent floor and fly result in lighter, more durable and fully waterproof seams. The Foxhole has two doors and two vestibules for quick access to gear while a welded window in the vestibule lets you check the weather from your sleeping bag.

The Foxhole’s closable mesh panels and vented fly regulate temperature. DAC Featherlite NSL poles reduce weight while adding strength. Available in a two-person version for $379.95 and three-person versions for $419.95.

Designed to excel in adverse conditions where reliability is essential, the Kelty Marauder is built to withstand the elements. Five-pole construction keeps the Marauder standing tall in snow, wind and rain while the fly connects securely with side release buckles. Fusion welded tent floor and rainfly are stitch-free, resulting in supremely durable, watertight seams. A large front and smaller rear vestibule provide ample space to stow gear while closable mesh panels and a vented fly regulate temperature. DAC Featherlite NSL poles reduce weight while adding strength and a clear, welded window provides a view of the world outside. Available in a 2-person version for $419.95 and 3-person versions for $499.95.

You can see the full line-up of Kelty shelters and backpacking gear at: www.kelty.com .

New for 2009, the Kelty Pawnee offers 3300 cubic inches of storage capacity in the men's version and 2700 ci for the women's model.

Available and affordably priced, the Pawnee is the largest of the new packs to join Kelty’s Trail Series backpacks. With 3300 cubic inches of storage space (2700 cubic inches in the women’s version) this top loading pack devours gear. Featuring a single LightBeam 2^TM aluminum stay and HPDE frame sheet for supporting heavy loads, the Pawnee’s front-panel access and a large front pocket keep gear at your fingertips. Torso length adjusts easily to fit a variety of hikers. $129.95.

Pawnee Specs- Men’s:
Volume- 3300 cubic inches
Torso fit range- 18.5-21″
Weight- 3 lbs, 9 oz
Colors- Night Sky, Russet

Pawnee Specs- Women’s:
Volume- 2700 cubic inches
Torso fit range- 14-16.5″
Weight- 3 lbs, 8 oz
Colors- Leaf Green

New for 2010, the Kelty Lakota offers both men's and women's version designed for each body type.

Blending a ton of features with incredible comfort and a great price, the Kelty Lakota is a versatile 4000 cubic inch pack sized just right for a long weekend in the backcountry.

The single Lightbeam^TM II internal aluminum stay evenly distributes weight and adds support, allowing heavier loads to be carried in comfort.

You’ll value the dual density waistbelt, padded back panel and contoured shoulder straps ventilated for warmer weather and long days on the trail.

No seperate stuff sack for the bag as a separate sleeping bag compartment helps keep gear organized. You’ll enjoy a reservoir sleeve and dual mesh water bottle pockets for hydration.

A zippered waistbelt pocket keeps small items handy. Men’s and women’s suspension ensure a perfect fit with appropriately contoured shoulder straps and waistbelts. Adjustable torso length accommodates hikers of different sizes.