The Vango Altas 300 is a 3 person dome tent that is provided exclusively to Amazon.co.uk. The tent is black in colour and is water resistant with a rating of 3000 hydrostatic head. According to the manufacturer, it only takes 5 minutes to set up the tent.

Vango claims that the tent is made from fire retardant material with high levels of ventilation and inner storage pockets. The Atlas 300 has a small porch and two entrances, one at each end. Included with the tent are 10 pegs, some grommets, a handy tent repair kit and some spare guy line. The tent’s inner dimensions are 2.15 metres (7.05 feet) by 1.80 metres (5.91 feet) and it is 1.35 metres (4.43 metres) high.

There are 22 customer reviews on Amazon.co.uk at the time of writing with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Most reviewers agree that the tent is easy to set up and is water proof. As a matter of fact, one woman said that her husband has used the tent in very bad weather, but no rainwater has penetrated the tent.

A reviewer wrote that he has used the tent at the Download Festival and it remained dry on the inside even during a thunderstorm. Another guy stated that he used the Atlas 300 in Bavaria and it survived a heavy thunderstorm without any issues. Another man wrote that his son has used the tent during a storm in Scotland and he did not have any problems whatsoever.

Although the Atlas 300 is designed as a 3 person tent, some reviewers are also of the opinion that 3 people will have to squeeze in a bit. Having said this, reviewers generally agreed that 2 people plus their rucksacks or luggage fit in just fine.

Most reviewers also agreed on the fact that the Altas 300 is fairly robust. One Amazon customer wrote that this tent is better than other cheap tents he owned. On the negative side, the same reviewer stated that the porch is a bit small.

One Atlas 300 owner wrote that he has used the tent while camping with his Scout troop. The guy said that having two doors made life easier in getting essentials in and out of the camp. In fact he stated that some of his fellow scouts passed positive comments on the usability of the tent.

A man wrote that the tent is spacious and tall and it gives him enough room to move about. The man also stated that being light, the tent is great for carrying around in a bicycle. Another guy wrote that he bought the Atlas 300 for motorcycle trips and he thinks that the tent is perfectly suitable for this purpose.

Quite a few users have commented on the fact that there are not enough pegs with the tent. This is indeed a pity as tent pegs can be bought fairly cheaply nowadays. One user also commented that the pegs that are included with the tent are a bit big and heavy so he decided to replace them with smaller and lighter ones. The same guy also commented that pitch up time is more on the order of 10 minutes than the 5 minutes the manufacturer claims.

For more information about the Vango Atlas 300, please check it out here.

Having a sleeping bag is essential for any camping adventure, irrespective of the season. The temperature might be warm during a summer day, however when the night falls it is not uncommon that the temperature becomes cold. The higher one gets above the sea level, the colder it usually gets during the night time. Also if the temperature is humid, it may fell warm during the day but if it gets cold during the night, it may feel colder than one would expect.

When people hear the word Grizzly, the first thing that comes to their mind is the grizzly bear. However Grizzly is also the name of a company that manufacturers high quality sleeping bags, bag liners and camping pillows. The Grizzly 2 Person Canvas -0 Sleeping Bag is one of the sleeping bags in its lineup.

As the name suggests, this is a two person sleeping bag that is meant to be used in temperatures as low as 0 degrees Fahrenheit (-17.8 degrees Celsius). The bag measures 90 inches (229 cm) long by 65 inches (165 cm) which indicates that even large people can fit in with space to spare. The sleeping bag is made form 100% polyester and comes with its own compression bag.

The manufacturer claims that the bag is very durable as it is made from rip stop material. The sleeping bag is also machine washable, however being so large, it will only fit into a large washing machine.

The sleeping bag includes zippers at both sides; therefore any two people using it can get in and out of the bag without having to climb over each other. The Grizzly 2 Person Canvas -0 Sleeping Bag is very highly rated by Amazon.com customers. As a matter of fact, the current average customer rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

 

Positive Customer Reviews

A reviewer was impressed with the size of the sleeping bag. He said that he managed to fit in the sleeping bag with his wife and toddler and there was still some room to move around. According to another reviewer, the bag is about the size of a queen size mattress.

Other reviewers were impressed with how warm the sleeping bag is. A man wrote that he has used the bag while carrying out snow storm studies on the mountains and this Grizzly bag suited him perfectly. Another man said that he has used the bag while on a hunting trip and the bag kept him and his feet warm through the night.

A woman wrote that she bought one of these bags for a homeless man. When she met the man sometime later he said that the sleeping bag was great as it kept him warm during the very cold winter nights. Some reviewers also commented that the zippers are of very good quality.

One of the drawbacks of this Grizzly bag is that it is fairly heavy and bulky. When the sleeping bag is in its compression bag it has a diameter of 20 inches, a height of 24 inches and weighs 15.7 pounds (7.1 kg). Therefore it is not really suitable for backpacking and it only makes a good sleeping bag as long as one can carry it in a vehicle.

 

Drawbacks and Negative Customer Comments

A user commented that the zippers on either side of the bag do not lock in place and will open up on their own unless they are Velcro shut at the end. Another reviewer stated that the fabric on the outside makes some noise as one moves inside the sleeping bag.

The only real negative customer review at the time of writing was submitted by a woman who wrote that the bag is not as warm as she expected. She said that she and her husband both weigh about 150 pounds (68 kg) and they found out that the bag is too big for them.

In her view, the large amount of free space causes a significant amount of heat loss from the sleeping bag. However the woman said that they will still be keeping the sleeping bag as their two children can easily fit in it together with her and her husband.

 

Additional Information

For more information please check out the Grizzly 2 Person Canvas -0 Sleeping Bag page on Amazon.com. Alternatively you can check out this other link.

Before buying this sleeping bag, one should not forget that this bag is meant to be used in cold temperatures. As a matter of fact, an Amazon customer has commented that he and his wife used the sleeping bag in temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4.4 degrees Celsius) and it made them feel pretty hot.

Thus this sleeping bag may not be ideal for use during the warmer months. Anyone looking for a sleeping bag for the summer should take a look at the Grizzly 2 Person +25 Degree Canvas Sleeping Bag on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

I first came across the name “LuggageX” while carrying out some research on indestructible luggage. LuggageX or Luggage X, as it is better known on the Internet, is a UK company that manufactures extremely robust trolley suitcases. Luggage X comes in the colours black, grey and green and in three different sizes:

• Large size trolley case:
  • Height: 30 inches (77 cm), width: 22 inches (56 cm), depth: 14.17 inches (36 cm)
  • Weight: 4.9 kg (10.8 pounds)
  • Volume: 126.7 litres
• Medium size trolley case:
  • Height: 26 inches (66 cm), width: 18.5 inches (47 cm), depth: 12.2 inches (31 cm)
  • Weight: 3.7 kg (8.2 pounds)
  • Volume: 78.7 litres
• Small size trolley case:
  • Height: 22 inches (56 cm), width: 15.75 inches (40 cm), depth: 11 inches (28 cm)
  • Weight: 2.7 kg (6.0 pounds)
  • Volume: 50.3 litres

All three models are spinner luggage with four wheels that move in all directions. The suitcases are made from polypropylene, which is known for being tough and flexible at the same time. As a matter of fact, LuggageX claims that its cases are virtually indestructible.

It is possible to buy a set containing all three different sizes. In this worth noting that the largest case can accommodate the other two smaller cases for space saving. There are two compartments inside the luggage. The inner compartment can be closed by a zipper while the other compartment contains straps for keeping the clothes or any other items inside the luggage from moving.

All Luggage X models include a locking system that is TSA approved. TSA approved locks allow security personnel to open the luggage without damaging the locks in the process. This is a very useful feature to have, especially for anyone who lives in the US or intends to use the luggage to travel to the US.

LuggageX provides a twelve month warranty for every suitcase it sells. However as expected, the warranty only covers workmanship defects and any defects in the material. Like other manufacturers, LuggageX does not not provide any guarantee for cosmetic damages, damages done to the internal fabric and for any issues with the handle and wheels.

 

Skyscanner Luggage Testing

Most people will be skeptic about claims that the luggage is indestructible. However in an experiment carried out by Skyscanner, the travel search engine, eight trolley cases were tested to the extreme to determine if they are indeed as robust as the manufacturers claim. A 30 inch Luggage X was one of the eight maltreated and abused suitcases.

During the testing, the suitcases were dropped from a height of 1.5 metres (4 feet 11 inches), hit by a sledgehammer and walked on by a 150 kg (331 pound) guy. If that wasn’t enough, a car was also dropped on all eight trolley cases.

It was quite surprising to see that three suitcases survived all tests and the Luggage X was one of them. While none of the three surviving suitcases were in the best of shape at the end of the tests, they did not break or en up with holes, unlike the other five suitcases in the test. For further information about the experiment please click here.

 

Amazon Customer Reviews

Luggage X has been sold on Amazon.co.uk since July 2012, so it is quite strange that there aren’t a lot of customer reviews for the trolley case. At the time of writing, there are only six reviews for the large 30 inches Luggage X. Having said this, all six reviewers in question have given a rating of four or five stars to the suitcase.

All reviewers seem to agree that the suitcase is sturdy and robust. One reviewer is of the opinion that the Luggage X is the best suitcase he has ever owned. The man was so impressed with the case that he now owns all three sizes. Reviewers were particularly impressed with the large Luggage X, mainly to the very large capacity offered by the suitcase.

On the negative side, one customer commented that the 30 inch case is not as light as the manufacturer claims. While 4.9 kg (10.8 pounds) is not heavy for a large spinner luggage; it is definitely not the most lightweight spinner on the market.

To make matters worse, the man said that the trolley case is actually heavier than what he was expecting. According to the man, the suitcase weighs about 5.3 kg (11.7 pounds), which is about 0.4 kg (0.9 pounds) more than the manufacturer’s specifications.

Reviews for the 26 inch model are also very positive. One woman wrote that they owned two very expensive suitcases from a known brand but one of them broke. Her husband bought a 26 inch Luggage X as a replacement and they are very happy with their purchase.

Another woman stated that she has used a Luggage X in at least four different countries around the world and she did not have any problems with it. Another female reviewer wrote that she bought this suitcase since others with similar specifications cost twice as much. The woman said that she did not regret her purchase as the Luggage X proved to be an excellent buy.

With only two customer reviews for the 22 inch version, it seems that this Luggage X is also the least popular model. Having said this, both reviewers gave a maximum rating of 5 stars to the smallest trolley case in the range. One of the reviewers stated that he has owned the suitcase for two months and he could not report any issues with it.

For the full reviews and more information about the Luggage X, please check out the following pages on Amazon.co.uk:

• Large size (30 inches – 77 cm) Luggage X
• Medium size (26 inches – 66 cm) Luggage X
• Small size (22 inches) Luggage X

Self inflating pads have become very popular these past few years. Apart from being more comfortable than thin foam pads and mats, most self inflating pads save one the hassle of having to use his or her own breath or a pump to inflate the pad.

The TETON Sports Comfortlite Self Inflating Camp Pad is one of the best rated self inflating pads currently sold on Amazon.com. Most customers gave it a maximum rating of 5 out of 5 stars and the average rating is 4.8 out of 5 stars.

The pad has a special non slip base, a carry bag and Velcro side strips which allow one to attach another two pads near each other for a double pad configuration. The Velcro strips also make it possible to attach two pads on top of each other to make the pad thicker and more comfortable. The pad comes in the red and orange colours and in four different sizes as per below:

• Comfortlite Junior:
  • unrolled dimensions: 56 x 25 x 2.5 inches (142 x 64 x 6 cm)
  • rolled dimensions: 26 x 6 x 6 inches (66 x 15 x 15 cm)
  • weight when packed: 2 pounds 7 ounces (1.11 kg)
• Comfortlite Regular:
  • unrolled dimensions: 75 x 25 x 2 inches (191 x 64 x 5 cm)
  • rolled dimensions: 26 x 6 x 6 inches (66 x 15 x 15 cm)
  • weight when packed: 2 pounds 12 ounces (1.25 kg)
• Comfortlite XL:
  • unrolled dimensions: 76 x 25 x 2.5 inches (193 x 63 x 6 cm)
  • rolled dimensions: 25 x 6 x 6 inches (64 x 15 x 15 cm)
  • weight when packed: 3 pounds 6 ounces (1.53 kg)
• Comfortlite XXL:
  • unrolled dimensions: 78 x 30 x 3 inches (198 x 76 x 7 cm)
  • rolled dimensions: 32 x 7 x 7 inches (81 x 18 x 18 cm)
  • weight when packed: 4 pounds 13 ounces (2.18 kg)

 

Customer Reviews

A man wrote that this is a great pad for big men and women. The pads he has used in the past were too small for him but this is not the case with the Comfortlite XXL. Another man is of a similar opinion. The guy said that he is six feet two inches tall and weighs about two hundred pounds and the XXL pad provides him with plenty of room. In his opinion, this self inflating pad is better than the majority of air mattresses.

Another man wrote that he has used the sleeping pad when backpacking in the mountains together with his son. The guy said that there were many rocks and dirt on the terrain but thanks to the pad it was like he was sleeping in his own bed.

A woman wrote that he and her husband have used Comfortlite pads on a backpacking trip. She said that apart from being light and compact, the pads are very comfortable and warm. Another reviewer wrote that he was quite impressed with the Comfortlite. The man wrote that his Great Danes also slept on it and their huge nails did not cause any damage to the pad.

Another reviewer wrote that he has several other self inflating pads, but while the price is about the same, the Comfortlite is by far the better pad. Another man was also of a similar opinion. He said that when compared to the air mattresses that are inflated by a pump or by blowing into them; the Comfortlite is just about perfect.

A woman wrote that the Comfortlite was one of the best investments she ever made. She said that she kept buying different air mattresses as she could not find one that she really liked. However everything changed when she bought one Comfortlite for her and one for her husband.

On the negative side is the fact that the Comfortlite self inflating pads are still somewhat big in their rolled state. Thus they are not really the best suited pads for light backpacking. Another reviewer also wrote that he bought two pads but none included the Velcro for joining two pads together.

For more customer reviews and further information, please check out the TETON Sports Comfortlite Self Inflating Camp Pad on Amazon.com.