A Full Deck Outdoors: Jakpak and Black Diamond
It’s been a bit since we last spent some time outdoors- if you don’t count our recent escapades testing sports cameras- but we’ve had a great run of tents and sleeping bags and various types of bags. We’ve got some special items today, starting with an interesting all-in-one solution to the problem of tent and sleeping bag bulkiness, and continuing to our first outdoor lighting review and a peek at a pack named Instinct.
The Jakpak is a pretty fascinating idea, from Active Engineering, whose founder says that the “goal with JakPak is to perfect the alternative personal shelter for anyone who needs a reliable solution to exposure from the elements”. Their how it works page explains it well, but simply imagine a slightly large rain jacket with internal suspenders and two hidden pouches- one that folds out to become a sleeping bag, and another on your back that folds over your head as a miniature tent. You don’t need to take the jacket off when putting together your shelter, allowing you to avoid the elements; built-in mosquito netting prevents pests from getting to you. Adjustable cuffs on the wrist and a drawcord on the waist ensure a proper fit, and waterproof fabric (nylon or polyester) plus a urethane coating keep you dry. Weighing in at between two and three pounds (or a bit more, depending, interestingly, on your color choice), it’s definitely lighter than most any conceivable combination of tent, sleeping bag, and jacket, but not truly ultra-lightweight. And, speaking of color choices, it comes in blue, yellow, or camoflauge- not attractive, really, but that’s not the point.
What you give up, though, is warmth and comfort. You’ll only want to use the Jakpak in 45 degree Fahrenheit or warmer temperatures, and you’ll definitely feel any humidity inside the bag- it isn’t well-ventilated, of course, which can lead to uncomfortable conditions. In windy weather, it ends up being a bit awkward as well, as the hoop poles tend to bend and the fabric billow and wind can cut through the fabric easily. Of course, all tents have problems with wind; here they are just closer to your body. Also, though the bag is certainly easy to setup, we recommend finding a bit of cover when doing so, as you’ll be slightly exposed when getting into the bag. You’ll also need to consider your hiking needs, as you can get a bit warm wearing the jacket, especially near the pouches. Repacking can be a chore as well, and definitely sub-optimal if weather conditions haven’t cleared and you end up try to put your bag and tent back in the pouches still wet (and heavier). The company’s stated goal includes helping the homeless, who might indeed be able to put the JakPak to good use, and as an emergency backup it seems quite handy indeed. But as a primary tent or sleeping bag, it leaves a bit to be desired, especially at the cost-prohibitive $300.
Black Diamond makes a wide variety of gear, from ski equipment to climbing supplies and we’re happy to report that we’ve loved everything we’ve tried so far. Our testers have been hauling around the Instinct pack, the large version in burnt orange, and have loved the combination of size, durability, comfort, and weight on hand. This is a daypack, not meant for heavy gear hauling, but still manages to offer quite a bit of space in a tight package. It doesn’t offer every feature but the most important ones- easy hydration access, a super-comfortable waist/hip belt, convenient mesh side-pockets, a gadget pocket, and a stretch pocket for a helmet or jacket. Also, the compression straps come in handy should you need to pack a lot of gear.
We really liked the color scheme and durable material, and the fact that it weighs a bit over two pounds. And the molded backpanel helped our backs stay ventilated. We could have done without the ice loops, which tended to catch on things for us, and are not easily removable. Also, it would have been nice to line the gadget pocket, as so many bags do, as well as add a bit more reflectivity to the bag (for visibility at night). Overall though, we were able to overstuff it, carry it around dragging, drop it a few times and it held up well. Available in black and green olive colors as well, and a smaller version, for around $80.
We’ve also enjoyed using the Black Diamond Spot headlamp, a super-bright light that allows illumination both close-range and farther away, thanks to it’s ability to throw up to 47 lumens from several built-in LEDs. Protected against splashing water, it also offers more settings and modes than you’ll likely ever need or use, a few of them handy though and allowing some flexibility in battery life versus brightness. At the higher settings, which can blind those unprepared, expect 100 or so hours on a set of AAA batteries- and up to 200 hours at lower settings. We weren’t quite able to confirm that manufacturer’s claim, as we didn’t want to leave the light on for more than a week straight, but our nearly month-long real-world tests of regular use never required a battery change. Available in either pearl or platinum, the Spot wears a tiny 50 grams, less than two ounces, and costs a similarly scant $35 or so. Definitely recommended for those in need of a headlamp, whether for camping and hiking, or even just as a booklamp.
