Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L Review: The Right Size For Multi-Night Camping

Quick verdict: The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L ($329.95) hits the exact sweet spot for multi-night camping — big enough to swallow a full weekend of gear, structured enough to carry it comfortably, and weatherproof enough that you stop worrying about the sky. Its 3-part spring-steel frame gives it real load support, the roll-top expands when you overpack (you will), and the modular interior means it moonlights as a camera bag without missing a beat. It isn’t an ultralight thru-hiking pack and it isn’t cheap, but for weekend trips where you’re hauling everything, the 45L is the size to get.


The hardest part of packing for a multi-night trip isn’t the gear. It’s the bag. Too small and you’re strapping things to the outside and playing Tetris at the trailhead. Too big and you overpack because you can, then carry the penalty on your back. The 45L Outdoor Backpack lands right in the middle, and after a season of weekend trips, it’s become my default.

What is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L?

Peak Design built its name on camera bags, then made a genuine outdoor pack — one designed to haul camping gear and camera kit with equal ease. The 45L is the largest of the line. The essentials:

SpecDetail
Price$329.95
Capacity45L (expandable roll-top)
Frame3-part spring-steel internal frame
ShellTerra Shell 210D ripstop nylon — weatherproof, abrasion-resistant
Sustainability100% recycled, bluesign-approved, PFAS-free
ClosureExpandable roll-top with Ultra Cinch
Hydration/laptopSleeve fits a 3L bladder (hose pass-through) or a 16″ laptop
SuspensionVest-style load-lifter straps, hip belt, ventilated back panel
Weight~1.55 kg claimed (real-world closer to 1.9 kg)
Sizes / colors18L, 25L, 45L / Black, Eclipse, Cloud, Kelp
WarrantyPeak Design lifetime guarantee

The through-line is versatility: it’s a hiking pack that transitions to a travel bag that transitions to a camera hauler, and it’s built around Peak Design’s modular Camera Cubes and Packing Cubes if you want to organize the interior your way.

The 45L size is the whole point for camping

This is what you came to the review for, so let me be specific.

For a two-to-three-night trip, 45 liters is the number. It comfortably held my sleep system, a layered clothing kit, a food bag, cook setup, and the usual pile of small essentials, with room left rather than a fight to close it. That “room left” matters more than raw capacity — it’s the difference between packing thoughtfully and cramming.

And when you do overpack — everyone does on the first night out — the expandable roll-top is the release valve. Cinch it down over a light load for a compact, stable carry, or roll it up and over to reclaim real volume when you’re hauling extra food or a bulky layer. One bag flexes across a surprisingly wide range of trip lengths, which is exactly what you want if you’re not buying a different pack for every weekend.

The 3-part spring-steel frame is the unsung hero here. A lot of do-everything bags go frameless to save weight and turn into a sad sack the moment you load them. This one holds its shape and transfers weight to your hips through a proper hip belt, so a full multi-night load rides like it’s supposed to instead of dragging on your shoulders. On the trail that’s the whole game.

Hauling all the gear

A few features earn their keep once the pack is loaded:

Access. Multiple entry points mean you’re not excavating from the top every time you need something. The item you need at the bottom is reachable without unpacking the whole bag — a small thing that becomes a big thing at a windy trailhead.

External storage. Vest-style load-lifter straps include quick-access pockets, and there’s a versatile external attachment system for the stuff that lives outside the bag — trekking poles, a wet layer, a tripod. Expandable exterior storage picks up the overflow.

Hydration. The dedicated sleeve takes a 3L bladder with a hose pass-through up top, so you can drink on the move without stopping. Off the trail, that same sleeve swallows a 16″ laptop — the trail-to-travel trick that makes this a one-bag option for a trip that starts at a desk and ends at a campsite.

Weatherproof, and it matters

The Terra Shell 210D ripstop nylon is weatherproof and abrasion-resistant, and on a trip where an afternoon storm rolls through — which, in the mountains, is most of them — that translates to not thinking about your gear. Rain shell on, keep walking. It’s also bluesign-approved, PFAS-free, and 100% recycled, which is the kind of materials story I like to see and increasingly expect at this price. Peak Design’s lifetime warranty backs the whole thing, which softens the sticker.

The camera-bag crossover

Worth a paragraph because it’s genuinely part of the value: this pack is built to accept Peak Design’s Camera Cubes, so if you shoot on your trips — I do — you can drop in a padded cube and turn the main compartment into protected camera storage, then pull it out and go back to a pure gear hauler. For anyone carrying a camera into the backcountry, that modularity is a real reason to choose this over a dedicated hiking pack that treats your camera as an afterthought.

Honest notes

It’s not an ultralight backpacking pack. At roughly 1.9 kg real-world, it’s light for what it is — a framed, weatherproof, do-everything bag — but a dedicated thru-hiking pack will weigh less. If you’re counting grams for long-distance trail miles, this isn’t that tool. For weekend and multi-night camping where durability and comfort matter more than shaving ounces, it’s dialed.

The roll-top has a learning curve. The Ultra Cinch and compression-cord system is clever but takes a few trips to get smooth. Early on it slows down access; once it’s muscle memory, it’s fine.

The price. $329.95 is premium. You’re paying for the frame, the materials, the modular ecosystem, and the lifetime warranty. If you’ll use the versatility — camp, travel, camera — it earns it. If you only ever need a simple weekend pack, there are cheaper ways to get 45 liters.

Who it’s for

  • Buy it if: you want one pack for multi-night camping that also handles travel and camera carry, you value load support and weatherproofing, and you’ll use the modular system.
  • Skip it if: you need the lightest possible pack for long-distance backpacking, or you want a budget option.

Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L: the verdict

The best pack is the one that makes packing a non-event and carrying a non-thought. For multi-night camping, the Outdoor Backpack 45L does both — the size is right, the frame carries a full load properly, the roll-top flexes when you overpack, and the weatherproof shell means you stop watching the sky. Add the camera-cube modularity and the lifetime warranty and the $329.95 starts to make sense as one bag doing the work of three.

It’s the pack I now grab for a weekend in the mountains without thinking about it. That’s the highest compliment I give a piece of gear.


FAQ

Is the Peak Design Outdoor Backpack 45L good for multi-night camping?
Yes. 45 liters comfortably holds a sleep system, clothing, food, and cook kit for a two-to-three-night trip, and the expandable roll-top adds capacity when you overpack. The internal frame and hip belt make a full load carry comfortably.

How much does it weigh?
Peak Design lists it around 1.55 kg; independent testing puts the real-world weight closer to 1.9 kg without accessories. It’s light for a framed, weatherproof pack but heavier than a dedicated ultralight backpacking bag.

Is it waterproof?
It’s made from weatherproof, abrasion-resistant Terra Shell 210D ripstop nylon that protects your gear in wet conditions. It’s highly weather-resistant rather than fully submersible-waterproof.

Can it carry camera gear?
Yes. It’s designed around Peak Design’s modular Camera Cubes, so you can convert the main compartment into padded, protected camera storage and remove it when you don’t need it.

Does it fit a hydration bladder?
Yes — the dedicated sleeve holds up to a 3L bladder with a hose pass-through at the top, and the same sleeve fits a 16″ laptop for travel.

What size should I buy?
For multi-night camping, the 45L is the pick. The 25L suits day hikes and overnights, and the 18L is a compact daypack. All come in Black, Eclipse, Cloud, and Kelp.

How much does it cost?
$329.95, backed by Peak Design’s lifetime warranty.

Dad Grass THC Drink Review: The Campfire Beverage When You’re “Too Old To Get High”

Quick verdict: Dad Grass Leisure Drinks (from $44 a pack) are low-dose, hemp-derived THC beverages built for exactly one thing: a mellow, social buzz without the alcohol. Each can carries 3mg THC, 6mg CBD, and a co-active blend of Lion’s Mane and L-Theanine that keeps the vibe relaxed and clear-headed instead of couch-locked. The Jalapeño Lime (now sold as Margarita) is my favorite by a mile — genuinely delicious, and crucially, it doesn’t taste “hempy.” If you’ve aged out of getting actually high but still love winding down around a campfire without cracking a beer, this is the drink. Must be 21+.


Let me be honest about where I’m coming from. I’m too old to get high.

I don’t mean that as a rule, I mean it as a fact about my body. The version of me that wanted to be genuinely stoned is a couple decades in the rearview. These days what I actually want is to take the edge off, relax, and stay present enough to enjoy the fire and the conversation — and increasingly I want to do that without alcohol. That’s a surprisingly hard thing to buy. Most THC products are dosed for people trying to get lifted, and most non-alcoholic options are just fancy soda.

Dad Grass Leisure Drinks are the first thing I’ve found that’s dialed in for exactly this. Here’s the review.

What are Dad Grass Leisure Drinks?

They’re sparkling, hemp-derived THC beverages in a can — federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill (under 0.3% THC), made in the USA, and dosed deliberately light. The specs are consistent across the lineup:

SpecDetail
THC3mg per can (hemp-derived Delta-9)
CBD6mg per can
Co-actives2200mg Lion’s Mane, L-Theanine, electrolytes
OnsetFast-acting, 10–20 minutes
PriceFrom $44 per pack (buy-more-save-more)
DietaryVegan, non-GMO, gluten-free
TestingThird-party lab COA via QR code on the can
LegalFederally legal (<0.3% THC); must be 21+

The brand’s whole ethos is right there in the name. This is weed for the dad demographic — people who want a pleasant, controllable, sessionable lift that sits somewhere around a glass of wine in strength, minus the hangover. They call a single can roughly equivalent to one standard drink.

The active blend is the actual story

A lot of THC seltzers are just THC and bubbles. Dad Grass built theirs around a “feel-good formula” that matters more than the marketing suggests, and it’s the reason the experience feels different:

  • 3mg THC does the light mood lift — enough to feel it, not enough to lose the afternoon.
  • 6mg CBD takes the edge off and rounds out the THC so there’s no anxious jitter.
  • 2200mg Lion’s Mane is the co-active that keeps your head clear rather than foggy.
  • L-Theanine — the same amino acid that makes green tea calm-but-alert — is the sleeper ingredient here. The combination of Lion’s Mane and L-Theanine is what gives these that specific mellow vibe: relaxed without being sleepy or dumb.
  • Electrolytes help you stay hydrated, which is the opposite of what alcohol does to you.

That THC + CBD + L-Theanine combination is doing real work. It’s the difference between “I feel nicely loose and chatty” and “I’m stoned and quiet in the corner.” For my purposes, it’s exactly right.

Fast-acting is underrated

One practical note that matters more than it sounds: these hit in 10–20 minutes, not the 1–2 hours an edible makes you wait. That fast onset is what makes them sessionable — you feel where you’re at before deciding whether to open a second, so it’s easy to pace and nearly impossible to accidentally overdo. Anyone who’s been ambushed by a slow-onset gummy an hour too late knows why this is a big deal.

The flavors, ranked

All three use real juices and natural extracts, and none of them taste like hemp — which, if you’ve tried other infused drinks, you know is the whole ballgame. Here’s my order.

1. Jalapeño Lime / Margarita — the winner. This is the one I reach for. It’s a bright, sparkling lime margarita with real lime juice and a subtle jalapeño kick that tingles without burning. “Delicious” is the word I keep using. It’s bold but balanced, and it’s the flavor that most makes you forget you’re drinking something functional rather than just a great sparkling beverage. (Heads up: Dad Grass now sells this as “Margarita,” but it’s the same Jalapeño Lime recipe.)

2. Yuzu Grapefruit Mint — the crisp one. Bright, lemony yuzu up front, a paloma-like grapefruit richness, and a cooling hint of mint to finish. It’s the most refreshing of the three and the crowd-pleaser — it’s also Dad Grass’s most-reviewed flavor by a wide margin, so plenty of people would rank it first. Excellent on a hot afternoon.

3. Mango Pineapple — the tropical one. Juicy mango and pineapple with a touch of tamarind for tang, so it’s lush without being syrupy or tiki-sweet. If you like fruit-forward drinks this might jump up your list; I just happen to lean citrus.

There’s no wrong answer here, and a sampler is the smart way in if you’re undecided.

Why these are perfect for camping

This is where Dad Grass earned a permanent spot in my cooler.

There’s a specific ritual to a beverage around the campfire — the crack of the can, something cold in your hand, the slow wind-down as the fire burns down. For years that meant beer. The problem with beer at camp, especially at altitude, is that it dehydrates you, wrecks your sleep in a tent, and leaves you foggy for the morning hike. Everything camping is supposed to sharpen, alcohol dulls.

A Dad Grass around the fire solves all of it. I get the same ritual and the same relaxed social buzz, but:

  • No hangover, so the dawn hike actually happens and it’s good.
  • Better tent sleep — no 3 a.m. alcohol-wakeup.
  • Electrolytes instead of dehydration, which matters more the higher you camp.
  • Clear-headed and present for the fire, the stars, and the conversation, which is the entire reason you came out.

Cans are cooler-friendly, they pack like any other drink, and the mild dose means you can nurse one or have a second over a long evening without tipping into “too much.” It’s become my default campfire beverage, full stop.

An honest note or two

Price. At $44+ a pack these cost more per can than beer or most grocery-store THC seltzers. What you’re paying for is the co-active blend, the real-juice flavor, and third-party lab testing (there’s a scannable COA on every can). For me it’s worth it; if you’re purely price-driven, it’s a real consideration.

Dose expectations. The name of the game is mild. If you’re a seasoned high-tolerance consumer looking to actually get baked, one 3mg can won’t do it — this is by design. Dad Grass makes a 10mg “PRO” version if you want more lift, but the 3mg is the sweet spot for the relaxing-not-wrecked use case these are built for.

Know the rules. These are 21+, hemp-derived, and federally legal under current law, but the hemp legal landscape is shifting — check your own state’s rules, and obviously don’t drive.

Who they’re for

  • Buy them if: you want a genuine alcohol alternative for social settings, you like a mellow buzz that keeps you clear-headed, you camp or spend evenings outdoors, or you’ve simply aged out of wanting to get properly high.
  • Skip them if: you want a strong high from a single can, or you need the cheapest option per serving.

Dad Grass THC Drinks: the verdict

I came to these looking for one specific thing — a way to relax and enjoy a campfire without alcohol and without getting actually high — and Dad Grass nailed it. The low, controllable dose, the clear-headed Lion’s Mane and L-Theanine blend, and flavors that genuinely taste great (that Jalapeño Lime especially) add up to the rare functional beverage I actually look forward to.

It’s the drink I now pack for camping by default, and the one I crack at the end of a long day instead of a beer. If “too old to get high but still want to chill” describes you, start with the Jalapeño Lime and thank me later.

Must be 21+. Hemp-derived, federally legal under current law; check your local regulations and never drive after consuming.


FAQ

How much THC is in a Dad Grass Leisure Drink? 3mg of hemp-derived Delta-9 THC per can, plus 6mg CBD. Dad Grass considers one can roughly equivalent to a single standard alcoholic drink. A 10mg “PRO” version is also available.

Will one can get me high? Not really — it’s designed for a mild, controllable buzz, not a strong high. Most people feel relaxed and a little lifted while staying clear-headed and functional.

How long does it take to kick in? About 10–20 minutes, much faster than a typical edible. That fast onset makes it easy to pace yourself.

What’s the best Dad Grass flavor? Subjective, but Jalapeño Lime (now sold as Margarita) is my favorite for its bright lime-and-jalapeño kick. Yuzu Grapefruit Mint is the most popular and most refreshing; Mango Pineapple is the fruit-forward tropical option.

Do Dad Grass drinks taste like hemp or weed? No. They’re made with real juices and natural extracts, and the flavor doesn’t have the “hempy” aftertaste common to many infused drinks.

Are Dad Grass drinks a good alcohol alternative? Yes — that’s the core use case. You get a relaxed, social buzz with no hangover, plus added electrolytes for hydration, which makes them especially good for camping and outdoor evenings.

Are they legal? They’re hemp-derived with under 0.3% THC, making them federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. You must be 21+ to purchase, and hemp laws vary and are evolving, so check your state.

What’s in them besides THC? 6mg CBD, 2200mg Lion’s Mane, L-Theanine, and electrolytes. They’re also vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free, with third-party lab results accessible via a QR code on each can.

PAKA Sol Hoodie Review: The One Layer That Handled Everything Deer Mountain Threw At It

Quick verdict: The PAKA Sol Hoodie ($99) is a UPF 30+ sun hoodie built around a Royal Alpaca and Tencel blend, and it solves a problem most hikers don’t realize they have — the constant on-again, off-again layer dance on a mountain trail. On Deer Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park, where you’re in blazing sun one minute and cool pine shade the next, I never once took it off or wished I had. That’s the whole review in a sentence. If you want a single layer that thermoregulates instead of just insulating, this is it.


Here’s the thing about hiking in Colorado that nobody warns you about: the temperature doesn’t change gradually. It changes every time the trail turns.

You step out of the trees into open sun at 9,500 feet and it’s suddenly ten degrees warmer and the UV is brutal. Thirty seconds later you’re back under the canopy and the breeze cuts right through you. Most people manage this by stopping every fifteen minutes to pull a layer on or stuff it back in the pack. I did that for years.

Then I hiked Deer Mountain in the PAKA Sol Hoodie and didn’t touch a zipper the whole way up.

What is the PAKA Sol Hoodie?

The Sol is PAKA’s lightweight sun hoodie — a performance layer built on the same alpaca fiber the brand made its name on, blended for stretch and breathability. Specs:

SpecDetail
Price$99
Sun protectionUPF 30+
Fabric67% Tencel, 14% Royal Alpaca, 14% Nylon, 5% Spandex
Weight260g / 9.17 oz (181 gsm)
FitRegular / relaxed
Key featuresThree-panel crossover hood, hidden thumbholes, structured stretch
PropertiesThermoregulating, odor-resistant, hypoallergenic
LayeringWorks as a first layer or mid-layer
Made inPeru
CareMachine wash cold, gentle cycle, lay flat to dry

Worth being precise here, since a lot of coverage glosses over it: this is an alpaca blend, not a 100% alpaca garment. Royal Alpaca makes up 14% of the fabric, with Tencel doing most of the structural work. That blend is the point — you get alpaca’s thermoregulating and odor-resistant properties with the drape, stretch, and softness that make it wearable for twelve hours straight. But if you came looking for a pure alpaca layer, that’s a different product in PAKA’s lineup.

Why alpaca wool actually matters

This is the part worth understanding, because it explains everything about how the hoodie performed.

Alpaca fiber is hollow-core. Unlike sheep’s wool, alpaca fibers have microscopic air pockets running through them. Those pockets do two jobs at once: they trap warm air when it’s cold, and they allow air movement and moisture transfer when it’s hot. That’s what “thermoregulating” actually means at the fiber level — it isn’t marketing language, it’s structural. Alpacas evolved in the Andes, where a single day can swing from freezing to blazing, and the fiber adapted accordingly. Which is a nearly perfect description of a summer day in the Rockies.

It’s warmer than merino, but lighter and more breathable. Those same hollow cores give alpaca a better warmth-to-weight ratio than sheep’s wool, including merino, while breathing more freely. Less bulk, more range.

It’s naturally odor-resistant. Wool fibers resist bacterial growth, and alpaca is exceptional at it. Practically speaking, this hoodie goes multiple hikes between washes without turning on you — a real advantage on a multi-day trip where you’re not doing laundry.

It’s lanolin-free and hypoallergenic. This is the one that converts skeptics. Most people who say “wool makes me itchy” are reacting to lanolin, which alpaca doesn’t have. PAKA uses fine-micron Royal Alpaca, which means it lands somewhere near cashmere on the softness scale. There’s zero scratch here.

It’s a renewable, biodegradable fiber. Alpaca is a natural fiber with a comparatively low environmental footprint, and PAKA is a Certified B Corp that traces its fiber back to origin and works with a network of Peruvian women artisans. If you’re trying to move away from petroleum-based synthetics in your kit, this is a legitimate path.

On trail: Deer Mountain, Rocky Mountain National Park

Deer Mountain is the ideal test for this hoodie, and not by accident — I picked it.

The trail starts at Deer Ridge Junction around 8,900 feet and climbs roughly three miles to a summit just over 10,000 feet. It’s a moderate, steady climb with a series of switchbacks, and what makes it perfect for evaluating a layer is the terrain mix: stretches of shaded ponderosa and lodgepole, then wide-open exposed sections with enormous views back toward Longs Peak and the Mummy Range, then back into the trees. In and out of sun, over and over, for about 1,000 feet of gain.

The exposed sections. At 10,000 feet, UV is roughly 40-45% more intense than at sea level, and the Colorado sun does not negotiate. The UPF 30+ fabric handled the sun load, and the three-panel crossover hood is the design detail that surprised me most — it covers the neck and the sides of the face, which is exactly where a ball cap fails and where I always end up burned. The hidden thumbholes pulled the sleeves over the backs of my hands, another spot I chronically forget to sunscreen. Hood up on the open switchbacks, and I stopped thinking about the sun entirely.

The shaded stretches. This is where a typical synthetic sun hoodie lets you down — it blocks UV but does nothing when the temperature drops, so you’re cold in the trees and shedding it the second you’re back in the sun. The alpaca blend held onto enough warmth in the shade to stay comfortable without ever becoming an oven when I stepped back into the light. That’s the thermoregulation doing its job, and it’s the single most useful thing about this hoodie.

Climbing hard. Working up the switchbacks with an elevated heart rate, it breathed well and moved with me. The stretch is real — reaching, scrambling over a rock step, adjusting pack straps, all fine. The regular/relaxed fit gives you room without flapping.

The bottom line on trail: I put it on at the trailhead and took it off at the truck. In between, I did not think about my clothing once. On a mountain hike, that is the highest possible compliment.

An honest caveat: dry time

The trade for that softness is drying speed. Tencel is a slower-drying fiber than the ultralight nylon and polyester used in most technical sun hoodies. If you sweat through it hard — a hot trail run, a brutal climb in full sun with no breeze — it will hold moisture longer than a paper-thin synthetic.

For a hike like Deer Mountain at a steady pace, it was a non-issue. For high-output efforts in real heat, or a day where you’re likely to get soaked and need to dry fast, a synthetic still wins on that one metric. Everything else, the Sol wins. Know which trade you’re making.

Beyond the trail

It’s worth saying that this doesn’t look like technical gear, which matters more than it sounds. After the hike we grabbed food in Estes Park and I didn’t look like I’d just come off a mountain. The Sol reads as a normal, well-made hoodie — it disappears into a regular wardrobe in a way most sun hoodies, with their glossy synthetic sheen and logo placement, simply don’t. Add the odor resistance and it becomes the obvious one-shirt choice for travel.

Who it’s for

  • Buy it if: you hike in variable conditions with a lot of sun-to-shade transitions, you want one layer instead of a system, you value comfort and odor resistance, or wool has historically felt itchy to you.
  • Skip it if: you need the fastest-drying option for high-sweat efforts, or you specifically want a 100% alpaca garment.

PAKA Sol Hoodie: the verdict

The best layer is the one you forget you’re wearing. On Deer Mountain — in and out of sun, 1,000 feet of climbing, thin air and swinging temps — the PAKA Sol Hoodie never once asked for my attention. It handled the UV in the open, held warmth in the trees, breathed on the climb, and looked good enough to wear into town afterward.

At $99 it’s priced in line with premium synthetic sun hoodies, but it does something they can’t: it regulates instead of just covering. That comes down to the alpaca, and after a season of wearing it, I’m convinced. It’s the layer I now reach for by default before heading into the park.


FAQ

Is the PAKA Sol Hoodie good for hiking? Yes. Its UPF 30+ rating, crossover hood, and thumbholes handle sun exposure on open trail, while the alpaca blend’s thermoregulating properties keep you comfortable when you move into shade. It performs well as either a first layer or a mid-layer.

What is the PAKA Sol Hoodie made of? 67% Tencel, 14% Royal Alpaca, 14% Nylon, and 5% Spandex. It weighs 260g (9.17 oz) at 181 gsm and is made in Peru.

Is alpaca wool better than merino? For warmth-to-weight and breathability, alpaca has an edge — its hollow-core fibers trap air more efficiently while allowing more airflow. Alpaca is also lanolin-free, so it’s hypoallergenic and doesn’t cause the itch some people get from sheep’s wool. Merino generally dries faster.

Does the Sol Hoodie have sun protection? Yes, it’s rated UPF 30+. The three-panel crossover hood shields the neck and sides of the face, and hidden thumbholes cover the backs of the hands.

Is it odor-resistant? Yes. Alpaca fiber naturally resists odor-causing bacteria, so the hoodie stays fresh across multiple wears — useful for multi-day trips and travel.

How much does the PAKA Sol Hoodie cost? It retails for $99, with free shipping on PAKA orders over $150.

How do you wash it? Machine wash cold with like colors on a gentle cycle. Do not bleach or dry clean. Lay flat to dry.

How long is the Deer Mountain Trail in Rocky Mountain National Park? Deer Mountain is roughly a 6-mile round trip from the Deer Ridge Junction trailhead, climbing about 1,000 feet to a summit just above 10,000 feet. It’s rated moderate, with a mix of shaded forest and exposed switchbacks — which is exactly why it’s a good test of a versatile layer.

Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket Review: The Summer Companion That Earns Its Spot in the Truck

Quick verdict: The Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket in Crystal Worl’s Our Clan Opposites print ($129.95) is the rare piece of gear that pulls double duty as a legitimate camp layer and a genuinely beautiful object. It’s warm when the mountain air turns, packs down to the size of a water bottle, shrugs off dew and spilled beer, and carries real meaning in the print — a Tlingit formline design with a story behind every line. If you want one blanket that goes from the campsite to the fireworks blanket on the 4th of July, this is the one I keep reaching for.


There’s a specific moment on every summer camping trip in Colorado. The sun drops behind the ridge, the temperature falls about fifteen degrees in twenty minutes, and everyone who packed like it was going to stay 75 degrees starts eyeing the truck. I used to be one of those people. Now I just reach behind the seat for the Rumpl.

Here’s how it earned that spot.

What is the Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket?

The Original Puffy is the blanket that launched Rumpl — a packable, insulated outdoor blanket built like a puffy jacket you can wrap two people in. The version I’ve been living with is the Our Clan Opposites print from the Rumpl Artist Division’s collaboration with Tlingit artist Crystal Worl. Quick specs:

SpecDetail (1-Person)
Price$129.95
Flat size52 x 75 in
Packed size7 x 16 in
Weight2.2 lbs
Shell & linerVersaWeave™ 30D ripstop, 100% post-consumer recycled polyester
InsulationRenewaLoft™ synthetic, 240 gsm, 100% recycled
Water/stain resistancePFAS-free DWR (water-resistant, not waterproof)
ExtrasCape Clip® hands-free wear, paracord corner stakes, roll-top stuff sack
WarmthComfortable in ~45°F and above
CertificationsCertified B Corp, Climate Label Certified

Every 1-Person blanket is made from about 60 recycled plastic bottles (100 for the 2-Person). It’s machine washable, backed by a 3-year warranty, and comes in a few sizes — Mini, Compact Throw, 1-Person, and 2-Person — which matters more than you’d think, and I’ll get to why.

The artist series: who is Crystal Worl?

This is the part that sets this blanket apart from every other camp blanket on the market, and it deserves more than a footnote.

Our Clan Opposites (HAA KÁANI) was designed by Crystal Worl, a Tlingit multidisciplinary artist based in Juneau, Alaska, for Rumpl’s Wooch Yáx̱ capsule. Wooch Yáx̱ is a Tlingit value centered on balance and harmony — not as a fixed state you arrive at, but as something you practice. The print itself renders that idea in bold formline geometry and contrasting amber and teal tones, depicting the balance and reciprocal responsibility between the Raven and Eagle moieties.

Worl describes formline not as a decorative style but as a language — one that holds stories, values, and relationships, where every shape and line has a purpose. Knowing that changes how it feels to use the thing. You’re not wrapping up in a random pattern; you’re using an object with intention woven into it. Rumpl’s whole framing for the collection is “designed to be used, not just seen,” and after a summer with it, that lands. (Worth noting: the Artist Division prints are limited-edition, so this exact colorway won’t be around forever.)

Camping: where it earns its keep

This is the blanket’s home turf. A few things stood out over a season of use:

The warmth-to-pack-size ratio is the whole pitch. It compresses into the included roll-top stuff sack down to about the size of a Nalgene, then unfurls into a genuinely warm layer. That RenewaLoft synthetic fill traps heat like a puffy jacket, so when the mountain air turns at dusk it’s the difference between staying out by the picnic table and retreating to the tent.

Set expectations on the warmth, though. Rumpl doesn’t temperature-rate these, and in my experience it’s comfortable right around 45°F and up. Think of it as added warmth when the cool comes in — a layer over a camp chair, an extra blanket in the bag, a wrap for the morning coffee — not a deep-winter sleeping bag. For summer in the mountains, that’s exactly the right tool.

The details are smart. The paracord corner loops let you stake it down as a ground blanket so it doesn’t chase the wind, and the PFAS-free DWR coating means morning dew beads off instead of soaking in. I’ve had it survive a spilled drink and a dusty tailgate with a shake and a wipe. When it finally got grimy, it went straight in the washing machine.

The Cape Clip® is the sleeper feature. The snaps let you wear it hands-free like a cape while you’re moving around camp — grabbing firewood, tending the stove, walking down to the water — which sounds gimmicky until the first cold morning you use it and never look back.

Wrapping up for the 4th of July fireworks

Here’s the use case that surprised me. On the 4th, we hauled it out to a field to watch the fireworks, and it went from camp gear to the best seat in the house. Warm enough to take the edge off a cool evening, big enough to share, and the print looks incredible in the low light.

One honest tip: if your plan involves wrapping up with someone, size up to the 2-Person (84 x 80 in). The 1-Person is perfect for solo use or a ground blanket, but the 2-Person is the one you want for sharing under fireworks with a partner or a kid tucked in beside you. Same print, same everything — just built to go around two.

The everyday summer companion

Past the marquee moments, this became my default grab-and-go. Beach mornings, backyard hangs, the trunk blanket that lives in the truck “just in case,” picnic in the park, sideline warmth at an evening game. It’s the piece of gear you stop thinking about because it’s simply always there — which is the highest bar any product can clear.

Care: keep it simple

All Rumpl Puffy blankets are machine washable. Rumpl recommends a front-loading machine on cold with a gentle, technical-gear detergent to preserve the DWR finish, then hang dry or tumble dry on low. One caveat worth stating plainly: it’s water-resistant, not waterproof. It’ll handle dew, light drizzle, and spills, but it’s not a rain tarp — don’t leave it out in a downpour and expect it to stay dry.

Who it’s for

  • Buy it if: you want one warm, packable blanket that crosses over from camping to fireworks to everyday use, you care about sustainable materials, and you appreciate design with a real story behind it.
  • Size up to 2-Person if: you plan to share it — fireworks, stargazing, kids.
  • Skip it if: you need cold-weather (sub-45°F) insulation as your primary goal, or you want something fully waterproof.

Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket: the verdict

The best summer gear disappears into your routine and shows up exactly when you need it. The Rumpl Original Puffy did that all season — warmth when the mountain air turned, a fireworks blanket on the 4th, a ground blanket at the beach, and the thing I grabbed for a hundred ordinary evenings in between. At $129.95 it isn’t the cheapest camp blanket out there, but between the build quality, the recycled materials, and a Crystal Worl print that carries genuine meaning, it’s the one I’d buy again without hesitating.

It lives in the truck now. That’s the highest compliment I give a piece of gear.


FAQ

Is the Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket good for camping? Yes. It packs down to roughly the size of a water bottle, weighs about 2.2 lbs (1-Person), and provides puffy-jacket-style warmth. Corner stake loops and a water-resistant DWR coating make it work as a ground blanket too. It’s ideal for summer and shoulder-season camping in about 45°F and above.

How warm is the Rumpl Original Puffy? Rumpl doesn’t assign a temperature rating, but it’s comfortable in roughly 45°F weather and above. For colder conditions, size up to the 2-Person or layer two blankets.

Who designed the Our Clan Opposites print? Tlingit artist Crystal Worl, based in Juneau, Alaska, designed it for Rumpl’s Wooch Yáx̱ Artist Division capsule. The HAA KÁANI print uses formline geometry to depict the balance between the Raven and Eagle clans.

Is the Rumpl blanket waterproof? No. It has a PFAS-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish that resists dew, spills, and stains, but it is not fully waterproof.

What size should I get for sharing? For sharing — fireworks, stargazing, cuddling up with a partner or child — go with the 2-Person (84 x 80 in). The 1-Person (52 x 75 in) is best for solo use or as a ground blanket.

Is it machine washable? Yes. Use a front-loading machine on cold with a gentle technical-gear detergent to preserve the DWR, then hang dry or tumble dry on low.

What is it made of? A 100% post-consumer recycled VersaWeave™ 30D ripstop polyester shell and liner, with 100% recycled RenewaLoft™ synthetic insulation. Each 1-Person blanket uses about 60 recycled plastic bottles.

Sleeping Like a Pro at 9,000 Feet: Testing Dad Grass Deluxe Nighttime Gummies

Here’s the part of camping nobody puts on the highlight reel: the first night, I sleep like garbage.

Doesn’t matter how tired I am. New sounds. A pad that’s six inches thinner than my mattress at home. Thin mountain air at altitude. My brain treats the whole thing like a threat assessment until somewhere around 2 a.m. The second night isn’t much better. It usually takes me two rough nights before my body finally gives up the fight and gives me one genuinely good sleep.

By then it’s often time to pack up and drive home.

So when I think about camp gear, I don’t just think stoves and shelters. I think about the most underrated piece of kit there is: a wind-down ritual that actually works. That’s the lens I used to test the Dad Grass Deluxe Nighttime gummies—and they’ve quietly earned a spot in my camp bag.

First, Who Is Dad Grass?

If you haven’t run into the brand, Dad Grass is built on a refreshingly simple idea: low and slow. Their whole thing is mellow, dependable, dialed-in hemp products—not the white-knuckle, “did I take too much?” stuff. As they put it, you don’t have to be a dad or a dude to enjoy it. It’s nostalgic in the best way: the easygoing, hang-out version of cannabis rather than the couch-locked one.

That philosophy is exactly why it works for the outdoors. When I’m at camp, I want to relax and be present—watch the fire die down (responsibly, where allowed), listen to the creek, and actually settle. I don’t want to lose the evening or wake up foggy with a sunrise hike on the schedule. Dad Grass is engineered for that middle ground.

What’s Actually In Them

The Deluxe Nighttime gummies lean on three hemp-derived cannabinoids working together. Here’s the per-gummy breakdown:

  • 18mg CBD – the calm anchor of the formula. CBD is the well-known, non-intoxicating cannabinoid people reach for to take the edge off and mellow out.
  • 2mg CBN – the “nighttime” character. CBN is the cannabinoid most associated with that heavy-eyelids, ready-to-settle feeling.
  • 2mg THC (Delta-9) – a genuinely mild dose. Just enough lift to quiet a busy mind without putting your head in the clouds.

The mix is full-spectrum, which means you also get the supporting cast of terpenes and minor cannabinoids—what’s commonly called the entourage effect. Each bag has 30 gummies in a Midnight Berry flavor that doesn’t taste like a vitamin.

A couple of practical notes that matter for the outdoors: they’re vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free, and every batch is third-party lab tested with a Certificate of Analysis you can scan from the package. And thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp products under 0.3% THC are federally legal, so this isn’t dispensary-only gear—it ships to your door.

Why They Earn a Spot in the Camp Bag

This is where the testing got interesting.

My usual two-bad-nights pattern is really a relaxation problem. My body is tired; my nervous system just won’t stand down. The CBD-CBN-THC combo is built precisely for that handoff from on to off—and on the pad, that’s exactly what it felt like. About 30 minutes after a gummy, the background hum of “is that a bear or a branch?” turned down a few notches. I stopped fighting the pad and started melting into it.

The 2mg of THC is the key to keeping it functional. It’s mild enough that I wasn’t buzzed or weird around the fire—just relaxed. No racing thoughts, no clock-watching. I’d call it the difference between lying there trying to sleep and actually drifting off.

And the morning is the real test for any sleep aid in the backcountry. I came up clear, not groggy. No melatonin hangover, no fog dragging into the first miles of the day. For anyone who’s woken up feeling worse after a sleep gummy, that distinction is everything.

How to Use Them at Camp

A few field-tested pointers:

  • Timing: Take one gummy about 30 minutes before you actually want to be horizontal. Effects tend to start within half an hour and peak around 90 minutes, so don’t pop one and then go re-stake your tent in the dark.
  • Start low, go slow: One gummy is plenty for most people, especially if you’re new to THC. You can always go to two on a second night.
  • It’s still THC: Mild, but real. Don’t drive after taking one, and don’t take one until you’re done with camp chores for the night—no tending stoves, no driving to the trailhead.
  • Build the ritual: Pair it with the rest of your wind-down—headlamp off, layers on, hydration squared away. The gummy is the closer, not the whole routine.

The Verdict

We obsess over sleeping pads, quilts, and pillow systems, then ignore the one variable that wrecks most of my trips: a nervous system that won’t clock out. The Dad Grass Deluxe Nighttime gummies attack that variable directly. The CBD and CBN set a calm, sleepy baseline, and the small dose of THC quiets the mental chatter that keeps me staring at the tent ceiling—without stealing the morning.

They didn’t turn camping into my mattress at home. Nothing will. But they shrank that two-bad-nights tax down toward zero, and that alone makes them some of the most valuable real estate in my pack. If your first night out is always your worst, these are worth a spot in the kit.


This post reflects personal experience and is for general informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Hemp-derived products containing THC may cause impairment; do not drive or operate equipment after use. Must be 21 or older. Check your local regulations before purchasing.

Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Linen Popover Review: The Running Shirt You Can Wear to Dinner

“Linen” and “running shirt” are not words I ever expected to see in the same sentence.

Linen is the fabric of beach weddings and porch naps. It wrinkles if you look at it wrong. It’s the last thing you’d grab for a sweaty summer run. So when Tracksmith built a linen popover and pitched it as something you could actually run in, my first reaction was a raised eyebrow.

My second reaction, after wearing it, was: oh.

The Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Linen Popover is part of the same Run Cannonball Run collection as their run-and-swim shorts, and it follows the same logic: gear that erases the line between a workout and the rest of your summer day. It’s a running shirt that doesn’t look or feel like one—and that turns out to be the whole point.

Linen, Reengineered

The trick is that this isn’t really your grandfather’s linen.

It’s a blend—59% polyester, 28% linen, 13% Coolmax®—built around a Japanese performance linen. That mix is what makes the magic work. The linen brings the dry, breathable handfeel and the lived-in texture that makes the shirt look good off the run. The Coolmax® fibers handle the part linen can’t: actively wicking moisture away from your skin so you stay cooler and drier when the effort ramps up.

Linen has actually been a hot-weather performance fabric for centuries—the ancient Egyptians and Victorian tennis players were onto something. Tracksmith just dragged it into the technical era. The open weave moves a genuinely surprising amount of air, and unlike traditional linen, the construction resists hard creasing. It softens and relaxes instead of crumpling.

Does It Actually Run?

This was the real question, so I ran in it.

On warm Colorado mornings, the popover breathes like a proper summer running shirt. Air moves through the open weave, and the Coolmax content keeps sweat from turning the fabric into a wet rag. The relaxed fit with dropped armholes gives you full, easy range of motion—no binding at the shoulders when your arms are working—and the center-back box pleat adds a little extra freedom through the stride.

A few thoughtful running details give it away as Tracksmith and not just a nice shirt: a drop-in pocket on the left chest (finished with their signature hare embroidery) for a key or a gel, tailored barrel cuffs, and clean “sash” plackets. It’s a popover, so it pulls on easy and layers off easy when the sun gets high.

Is it a tempo-day singlet? No. This is a shirt for easy summer miles, recovery jogs, and the long, social runs where comfort matters more than aerodynamics. In that lane, it genuinely delivers.

The Real Superpower: It Goes Everywhere

Here’s where the popover earns its keep.

Most running shirts have exactly one job, and they look like it. This one moves straight from an early run to a post-swim layer to the deck at happy hour without a costume change. After a Colorado trail run that ended near water, I threw it on damp over the swim, and twenty minutes later it looked like I’d been wearing it casually all day. That’s not normal running-gear behavior.

That versatility makes it a travel weapon. The crease-resistant construction means it survives a stuffed carry-on and comes out looking intentional, not slept-in. On a summer trip where you’re trying to pack light, a single shirt that covers your morning run, your beach afternoon, and your dinner reservation is doing the work of three. Save the space.

Fit, Color, and the Price Question

The fit is relaxed and easy—dropped armholes and a clean silhouette that reads more “linen shirt” than “athletic top,” which is exactly the intent. It comes in two summer-friendly colorways, Cloud Blue and Soft Chambray Blue.

At $165, it’s the most you’ll spend on a single piece in this collection, and there’s no pretending otherwise. But the math changes when you stop thinking of it as a running shirt and start thinking of it as a running-shirt-slash-travel-shirt-slash-going-out-shirt that replaces several pieces in your bag. Judged as a one-garment summer wardrobe, the premium gets a lot easier to justify.

One care note worth knowing up front: machine wash cold, lay flat to dry, and skip the iron and the dry cleaner. Slightly more fuss than a poly tee, but standard for the fabric.

Colorado Mornings, Travel Days

Colorado gave it the running test—warm, dry, high-altitude mornings where breathability and moisture management actually matter. It passed comfortably, staying cool and non-clingy through easy efforts.

The travel test was where it pulled ahead of anything else in the rotation. Packed, unpacked, run in, swum near, and worn to dinner—all without looking like it had been through any of that. Few pieces of running apparel can survive that itinerary and still belong on the back deck at sunset.

No shirt is going to make you faster. But one that quietly does five jobs and looks good doing them? That’s a different kind of value.

The Verdict

The Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Linen Popover answers a question nobody thought to ask: what if your summer running shirt was also the best travel shirt you own?

The performance-linen-and-Coolmax® blend makes linen genuinely run-ready—breathable, moisture-managing, and far more durable than the fabric’s reputation suggests. Pair it with smart running details and a silhouette that looks at home anywhere, and you’ve got a piece that blurs the line between training and the rest of your day.

It’s a splurge. But for the runner who wants to pack one shirt and let it do everything—run, swim, happy hour, repeat—it’s exactly the kind of gear that justifies the closet space.

Technical Specs at a Glance

Run Cannonball Run Linen Popover

  • Fabric: 59% polyester, 28% linen, 13% Coolmax® (Japanese performance linen blend)
  • Performance: Coolmax® moisture-wicking, open construction for airflow and breathability
  • Fit: Relaxed, with dropped armholes and a center-back box pleat for freedom of movement
  • Details: Left-chest drop-in pocket with hare embroidery, tailored barrel cuffs, sash plackets, popover styling
  • Colors: Cloud Blue, Soft Chambray Blue
  • Price: $165
  • Care: Machine wash cold with like colors, lay flat to dry, do not iron, do not dry clean

Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Shorts Review: Run Hot, Plunge Cold

Some of the best summer runs don’t end at the trailhead. They end waist-deep in cold water.

In Colorado, that’s not a stretch. Half the trails I love finish near an alpine lake, a reservoir, or a creek cold enough to make you gasp. The problem is that most running shorts hate getting wet. The liner clings. The fabric stays soggy for the entire drive home. And anything that felt light at mile one feels like a wet diaper by the time you’re back at the car.

That’s the problem the Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Shorts were built to solve. They’re a 5″ running short with board-short DNA, designed to run hot and plunge cold without skipping a beat.

We put that promise to the test.

Built to Get Wet

Most running shorts are built to manage sweat. The Cannonball Run is built to manage full submersion.

The body fabric is a lightweight, 4-way stretch woven with a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) finish. In plain terms: it sheds water instead of soaking it up, so it dries fast whether you’re sweating through a tempo run or climbing out of a lake. That DWR being PFC-free is also a nice touch—no “forever chemicals,” which matters when the whole point is jumping into the watersheds you’re trying to keep clean.

The other half of the equation is the liner. Tracksmith’s ultra-light VentAir liner is breathable and supportive without the compressive squeeze, and—critically—it doesn’t turn into a clingy mess after a swim. That’s the detail that separates a real run-and-swim short from a regular short you got wet by accident.

The Plunge Test

Here’s where it earned its name.

We ran a hot, exposed Colorado loop, then walked straight into an alpine lake at the turnaround. Cannonball, obviously. The shorts took the dunk without ballooning up or dragging, and the board-short details—low-profile binding, curved dolphin hems, and a drawcord waist—kept everything secure mid-plunge and on the swim back to shore.

The real surprise was the run after the swim. Soaked shorts usually mean chafing and a heavy, sloppy feel for the next mile. These didn’t. The water beaded and shed quickly, the liner kept doing its job, and within a mile or so they were closer to damp than drenched. By the time we hit the car, they were basically dry.

That’s the magic trick: a short that’s genuinely comfortable on the run, then comfortable in the water, then comfortable on the run again.

Pockets That Actually Work

Swim-friendly is great, but a running short still has to carry your stuff.

The Cannonball Run runs three pockets total. Two streamlined drop-in hand pockets handle a phone or gel, and the right one hides an internal bungee loop that locks your keys down through hard strides and a swim—no small thing when you’re about to fully submerge with your car key on board. The VentAir liner adds its own center-back drop-in pocket for anything small you want to keep close.

It’s not a cargo-style storage monster, and it isn’t trying to be. It’s just enough to leave the belt at home for short-to-medium efforts.

Fit and Feel

The 5″ inseam is the sweet spot for summer—short enough to move, long enough to feel like shorts and not a swim brief. It’s a pull-on short with a shirred, drawcord waistband that creates a skimming fit through the hip: easy to dial in, easy to forget you’re wearing.

It comes in two summer-ready colorways, Red Clay Sun Print and Rolling Hills, and at $110 it sits where you’d expect Tracksmith to sit—premium, but built to last and pull double duty as both running and swim gear, which quietly makes the price easier to swallow.

Colorado Lakes, Lower-Elevation Heat

Colorado gave us the ideal proving ground. High-country runs that dead-end at frigid alpine water are exactly the use case these shorts were drawn up for, and the cold-plunge-then-keep-moving rhythm is where they shine brightest.

Down at lower elevation, where the heat sits heavier and there’s no lake waiting, they held up as a straightforward hot-weather running short too. The woven fabric breathes, the stretch never restricts your stride, and the quick-drying finish that sheds lake water also shrugs off a sweat-soaked long run.

No short makes a 90-degree afternoon feel cool. But one that lets you cut the run in half with a swim and keep going? That changes the whole outing.

The Verdict

The Tracksmith Run Cannonball Run Shorts are for runners who don’t see water as the end of the workout—they see it as the best part.

If your summer miles tend to finish near a lake, a reservoir, or the ocean, these solve a problem most running shorts can’t: getting fully wet and staying comfortable. Fast-drying woven fabric, a non-clingy liner, smart board-short details, and key-secure pockets add up to a genuine run-and-swim short, not a compromise in either direction.

For anyone chasing the run-then-plunge summer, this is exactly the kind of gear that earns a permanent spot in the rotation.

Technical Specs at a Glance

Run Cannonball Run Shorts

  • Inseam: 5″
  • Body Fabric: 100% polyester, lightweight 4-way stretch woven
  • Lining Fabric: 86% polyester, 14% spandex (VentAir liner)
  • Finish: PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) for quick drying in and out of water
  • Pockets: Two drop-in hand pockets (internal bungee key loop in right pocket) + center-back liner pocket
  • Details: Board-short-inspired low-profile binding, curved dolphin hems, shirred drawcord waistband
  • Colors: Red Clay Sun Print, Rolling Hills
  • Price: $110
  • Care: Machine wash cold with like colors, tumble dry low