Wetlands give way to ridgelines at the start of the Blair Creek section. The 26-mile route follows Blair Creek south as it carves down a valley through oak-hickory-pine forest before merging with the emerald waters of the Current River. Here the 30-mile Current River section picks up, following the river for two miles before veering south toward Stegall Mountain. Enjoy views of the Ozark landscape as you gain 500 feet of elevation up 2.5 miles to the top of Stegall Mountain.
With a -10° F rating and loads of TechLoft insulation, the warmth is substantial. Although we wouldn’t recommend it down to quite that frigid of temps, it proved capable down to the single digits. At 30 pounds, the L.L.Bean Collapsible Wagon was the largest and heaviest of the folding wagons we tested. But even though it had nice wheels and construction, this wagon was a headache to fold and unfold. It took two people—and several minutes—to put the L.L.Bean wagon away after use.
Also, learn the seven principles of “Leave No Trace” to keep the backcountry beautiful. Temperatures can swing from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons. Pack rain gear to stay warm and dry, and consider bringing one set of clothes to change into at camp as well as one or two sets of clothes for hiking. The Oniva Collapsible Adventure Wagon’s major downside was its folding mechanism, similar to that of an umbrella, rather than an accordion, like on the others. It was extremely hard to squeeze inward and still jutted outward if not squeezed into its cover—an impossible ordeal when wrangling two kids in a parking lot.
The sand-removal feature, which seemed promising, worked only partially, and many reviewers noted that the wagon’s handle was short. Wagons can be helpful for all kinds of jaunts, including trips to the beach and the farmers market. Personally, I’m a science writer with more than a decade of experience interviewing experts in countless fields, including parenting, environmental science, and child development. I’m also the mom of two small guys whose stuff I have been hauling around in wagons since I began working on this guide three years ago (they’ve occasionally hopped in for a ride, too). I live in coastal California, where wagons are often the default way to move kids, beach gear, and even school equipment around the neighborhood.
More careful research is also a good idea when you’re shopping for a backpacking sleeping bag because these models can be fairly expensive. Don’t fret, though; with a little effort, it’s possible to select a suitable and affordable option. The biggest differentiating ozark trail backpack factor for sleeping bag selection is the location you plan to camp and, more specifically, how far you will be from motorized transportation. If your camping plans will keep you close to your car, we recommend shopping for a ‘car camping’ sleeping bag.
For human-powered adventures further afield, weight and packed size become paramount. Models that exhibit these characteristics we label as ‘backpacking’ sleeping bags. Just be aware that lighter and more compressible bags and usually more expensive.
This 14L pack is designed for maximum versatility so you can focus on the great outdoors. It features two main compartments for maximum storage and organization, as well as a shove pocket with a clean, gusseted design for carrying extra items. Also included are side profile daisy chains for carrying items externally.
Once you know the broad type of sleeping bag you’re interested in, there are several other factors to consider. These include insulation type, temperature, weight, packed size, and comfort. We’ll break down these factors below to ensure you can be confident in your selection.
This is our overall favorite sleeping bag for camping near civilization, but it’s not suited for backpacking or any sort of human-powered excursions. With an enormous packed size and at 11.7 pounds ozark trail backpack on the scale, it’s far too bulky and heavy to carry any significant distance. At full list price, the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood is also a poor value compared to many other car camping bags.