The Old Town NEXT Canoe is nimble like a kayak, and functional like a canoe. Paddling this hybrid canoe/kayak on a lake near the 50 Campfires basecamp, we loved the low center of gravity from the centered seat, combined with the open-top storage of the wide body.  Unlike our kayaks, the NEXT canoe was easy [...]

Here at 50 Campfires, we love getting out on the water. In our book, nothing beats a day out paddling on the lake. But not every voyage calls for our canoe, and sometimes we like to explore smaller waterways that large boats can’t access. For those days, we love the Loon kayak from Old Town. [...]

When you’re out hiking in the mountains, that crystal clear stream may look safe to drink, but don’t bet on it. There is a big difference between the water you may come across out in the great outdoors and the treated water you’re accustomed to from the tap in your home. A wide variety of [...]

Feeling a little tied down in your everyday life? Are work responsibilities weighing you down? We talk to a lot of people about camping – it is our job after all – and a common reason why people love to camp is to escape the everyday grind. You’re able to change up your surroundings and [...]

Whether you‘re paddling on your favorite lake, casting for the record setting big one or navigating newly discovered waterways, The Eon Personal Floatation Device from Extrasport is built for you. Featuring lightweight materials, oversized pockets, and reinforced zippers; the Eon PFD works in concert with the contours of your body, delivering less resistance to your [...]

We broke out the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope on a clear night up at the cabin, ready for an evening of stargazing.  After a no-fuss setup, we found that the AstroMaster tracked and moved smoothly with its Alt-Az control, and provided outstandingly clear images through its fully coated lenses.  The next day, we used the [...]

Sometimes, it feels like a simple camping trip requires enough gear to outfit an entire Scout troop, and even before you reach your campsite, packing can be overwhelming when it feels like you’ve got to include everything but the kitchen sink. Fortunately, Zippo has made setting up your campsite easier with the 4-in-1 Woodsman, a handy [...]

Do you ever find yourself wondering, while camping out under the stars, why your blankets at home can’t be as warm and comfortable as your sleeping bag? The guys from Rumpl did, and that’s exactly how they came up with their line of puffy-jacket inspired premium bedding. Rumpl blankets are designed to move seamlessly from [...]

Anyone looking for an alternative to the $5 cup of coffee (That’s $25 per work week and $100 per month!) will appreciate the new Glacier Stainless Vacuum bottles in either 1- or .5-liter versions. The same double wall vacuum insulation construction that keeps hot beverages hot also keeps them cold. The sure sealing and spout-through stopper assures [...]

We took our HX5 out into the field on a recent camping trip, and loved how it’s lightweight functionality improved everything from cooking s’mores around the campfire to going for a night hike.  When out on the trail, we clipped Coast’s HX5 to the bill of our cap, and used it’s spotlight beam to clearly [...]