Author: River Country Products

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Product Review: the one and only Trekker Palace

The one and only Trekker Palace is the ultimate two-Person two-Layer silnylon (aka ultralight) trekking pole tent for all of your outdoor adventures. Ok, maybe not all, but it is a versatile tent. This high-end tent is designed to impress even the most seasoned outdoor enthusiasts with its outstanding features and benefits.

backpacking trekking pole tent set up near water

Key Features

One of the key features of the Trekker Palace is its full 2-Layer design, which allows you to set it up in various configurations, depending on your needs. Unlike traditional tents that come with complicated pole systems, the Trekker Palace is designed to be ultra-light, compact, and easy to set up in just 1-2 minutes. You’ll love how simple it is to use trekking poles for support, and the ability to set up each layer separately or together.

Another key feature that sets the Trekker Palace apart from other tents is its ability to be set up in three different configurations. You can set it up with the outer shell only, like a tarp tent. Or, you can set it up with the inner mesh tent only so you can stargaze or keep cool on a warm summer night. Or, you can use both layers together for a two-layer tent that provides you with unparalleled protection and comfort.

backpacking trekking pole tent outer shell set up near water

With its durable 2-layer design, the Trekker Palace offers several benefits that traditional tents simply can’t match. The outer layer provides you with an additional barrier against the elements, helping to keep you dry and warm in inclement weather. Meanwhile, the inner mesh tent provides excellent ventilation, keeping you cool and comfortable even in hot and humid conditions. And you can get it at a fraction of the price of comparable tents.

And, let’s not forget about the weight savings. At just a fraction of the weight of traditional tents, the Trekker Palace is ultra-light and easy to carry in your pack, making it the perfect choice for backpacking, hiking, and other outdoor activities when you demand the best.

Specifications

Packed Weight
3 lbs 3 oz/ 1.45 kg

Weight w/o stakes and bag
2 lbs 12 oz/ 1.25 kg

Inner Tent Weight
1 lb 8 oz/ .68 kg

Outer Shell Weight
1 lb 4 oz/ .57 kg

Packed Size
10.5 x 5.5 in

Floor Area
84 x 60 in/ 35 sq ft

Includes
8 carabiners, 8 ultra-light aluminum stakes, guylines, waterproof carry bag

Outer Shell Fabric
SilNylon

Inner Tent Fabric
No-See-Um Mesh Upper, SilNylon Floor

Wrapping it up

So, whether you’re planning a weekend camping trip or a long-distance trek through the wilderness, the Trekker Palace is the ultimate tent for your needs. Don’t settle for anything less – choose the Trekker Palace and experience the best that outdoor camping has to offer! Check out this video for a more in-depth review.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

River Country Products hits the Big Time

Miles and Mountains

Take a listen as River Country Products founder Ned Stratton, along with his partner Brian Anderson, discusses the origin of LifePack, the ultimate survival and adventure pack, with Nick from the Miles and Mountains Podcast.

Nick’s podcast, formerly called Miles, Mountains & Brew, is centered around endurance running, climbing mountains, and what he calls “the rodeo life”. Of course, this was a great opportunity and forum for River Country, so we grabbed it by the horns!

In this hour-long podcast, Ned discusses the purpose of LifePack, some of his experiences growing up near the Cascades of Washington State and the relationship between Life in a Pack and River Country Products. He talks about designing new tents for the pack (the soon-to-be available Trekker Pyramid and Trekker Palace), some of the challenges he faced trying to assemble the pack during Covid lockdowns, and more. It’s a fun conversation and gives some insight into Ned’s entrepreneurial mind.

Let us know if you have any additional questions in the comments below.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

The more the merrier: another backpack just makes sense

Mailbox Peak

The first step to finding the optimal backpack is understanding that when it comes to gearing up, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, just like anything else of importance, you’ll want to ask yourself what you want and what tool will help you achieve your purpose. Your main considerations will change depending on whether you are hiking, camping, or backpacking. And your decision will revolve around storage capacity, fit and comfort, and custom features. The reality is that you’ll want a different backpack for different occasions.

Storage capacity

If you’re hiking, either for the day or overnight, you will likely be focused on speed and comfort. You won’t need much storage space, because supplies will be limited. In this case, a backpack with a 40-60 liter capacity, weighing one to two pounds empty, will probably suit your needs.

If you’re camping in an area near parking, you may not need a pack, except to help you organize your supplies, or you might be able to get away with a 20-30 liter day pack or less.

On the other hand, if you’re backpacking or thru hiking for an extended period of time, you will probably need as much storage as possible. Thru hiking backpacks generally have the most storage capacity and may fit as much as 60-80 liters of supplies and materials and weigh two pounds or more. Our River Country Products backpack rides the line between the overnight pack and the thru hiking pack with a 65-liter storage capacity. Life in a Pack sells a 70-liter pack with additional versatility.

Fit and comfort

Any pack you carry should fit you snugly, but not too tight, and should have the straps necessary to carry the load. This even applies to the tiniest of waist packs. Although strap number, padding, and width may not be critical considerations for day hiking or camping near your car, they are very important for multi-day and thru hiking. On such hikes, your goal is to not notice the pack on your back. Hips belts and durable materials go from being optional with the smaller packs to becoming a necessity with the larger ones. Internal frames are another consideration, but the added comfort of an internal frame can be offset by limited adjustability.

Custom features

The best packs have fully adjustable straps, pockets for water bottles, and hydration bladder compatibility. They usually also have gear loops on the outside of the backpack. Most will also have either an attached or detachable rain cover. Other considerations might include a spot for a recharging station, fully waterproof construction, and optional duffel hooks.

At the end of the day, if you are going to find the optimal backpack, you’ll probably need more than one. A 65-liter pack will be very versatile for both medium and long trips, but may be more than you need if you’re a peak bagger with a short list.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The magic you’ll find in River Country

Columbia Gorge

If you do an online search about the importance of rivers to human civilization, your search results will likely include the following five main reasons: fresh water, transportation, food, irrigation, and energy.  These things are important, but they are only the beginning of what the river has to offer.

The importance of the river

Although 70 percent of the earth’s fresh water is trapped in the polar ice caps, rivers account for almost 70 percent of the fresh water used by humans for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Rivers are still used as a natural transportation route, making it easier for people to move goods and people between different regions. A quick look at a map will reveal that almost all ancient cities, and many modern cities, were built around a river. Rivers have long been important for trade and commerce, allowing people to exchange goods and ideas for millenia.

Rivers provide a source of food, not only through fishing, but as a primary source of irrigation. This has allowed for the growth of large civilizations, particularly in areas where rainfall is limited.

Generation of hydroelectric power is one of the most ubiquitous uses of the river in the West. Dams provide an extremely reliable source of energy for industrial and domestic use.

The value of the river

River Country Products is at the heart of all of these uses; our headquarters are located at the junction of several large rivers like the Columbia, Snake, Yakima, and Walla Walla.  We are located in a desert, with over 310 days of sunshine each year and 7 inches of rainfall. However, because of our rivers, we are an agriculture and energy hub of the world, growing billions of pounds of French-fry potatoes and other bumper crops each year.   We are also one of the last ports along the Columbia that can handle large barges all the way from Asia.   

Here at River Country Products, we believe that the value of the river runs deeper than the obvious, and farther than a search engine can imagine. The river brings life to the desert, but it also brings life to the soul. There’s a magic in the river that exists nowhere else. Part of this magic is found in the reality that the river exists as much for recreation and enjoyment as it does for the sustaining of civilization.

It is believed that Mark Twain captured another element of the magical river when he said, “The river has great wisdom and whispers its secrets to the hearts of men.”

What wisdom have you found in the river? What secrets have you discovered? Let us know in the comments below.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Explore the best tent fabrics for your next backpacking adventure

backpacking trekking pole tent outer shell set up near water

There are so many fabrics out there, it’s hard to decide which one will be best for your next backpacking adventure. We’re going to help make that easier for you. First, we’ll suggest what fabrics probably won’t work. Then, we’ll tell you what we use for our tents. And then we’ll wrap up with the near future of tentmaking.

First, unless you are glamping and backpacking in the same trip, you will want to avoid any natural (i.e., plant or animal) fabrics. Cotton, wool, and hemp materials all have their benefits, ranging from breathability and aesthetics to durability and sustainability. But, they are so incredibly heavy that only strongman competitors dare carry them with their pack, so we’re not going to review them here. They also tend to soak up moisture at an incredible rate. On to the synthetic fabrics we use for our tents.

Top synthetic fabrics

Polyester, nylon, and silnylon are all synthetic fabrics that we have used for River Country Products tents. Polyester has been the primary choice for our intro line of Trekker tents, and silnylon has been the primary choice for our intermediate line of Trekker tents. Here are the main differences between them:

Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its durability, wrinkle resistance, and resistance to UV rays. These characteristics make it an excellent choice for outdoor clothing and gear. Polyester is also relatively affordable and easy to care for. However, it is not as breathable as natural fibers like cotton, and it can be prone to pilling (little lint balls) over time.

Pros: Waterproof, inexpensive, light, durable

Cons: Needs good ventilation

Nylon

Nylon is another synthetic fabric made from petroleum-based materials. It is known for its strength, abrasion resistance, and water resistance. These features make it an excellent choice for outdoor gear like tents and backpacks. Nylon is also lightweight and quick-drying. However, it can be less durable than polyester and can break down over time when exposed to UV rays.

Pros: Same as polyester above, but more breathable (less moisture in the tent)

Cons: Not as durable as polyester, not as much UV protection or UV durability

Silnylon

Trekker Pyramid in the Enchantments

Silnylon is a type of upgraded nylon that has been treated with a silicone coating to make it even more water-resistant. It is commonly used in outdoor gear like tents and tarps, because it is lightweight, strong, and highly waterproof. Silnylon is also less prone to stretching than regular nylon and has a slippery surface that makes it easier to pack up. However, it can be more expensive than regular nylon, and the silicone coating can wear off over time with use.

Pros: Same as nylon above, but more waterproof and easier to pack

Cons: More expensive and less durable

Other fabrics

Polyurethane-coated nylon and cuben fiber, also called Dyneema, are alternative fabrics for those wanting ultralight tents. Cuben Fiber is much lighter than most PU-coated fabrics, making it a popular choice for ultralight backpacking and other weight-sensitive applications. However, Cuben Fiber can also be more expensive and more prone to abrasion than PU-coated fabrics.

Most people prefer plain polyester fabric for backpacking tents because it is the most affordable and is fairly durable. But the newest market research is showing that silicone-coated polyester, or silpoly, could beat each of the fabrics above because it is more durable, more affordable, and is more UV-resistant than silnylon.

River Country Products is currently testing silpoly fabric for use in current and upcoming lines of Trekker tents.

Which material do you prefer and why?

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Product review: amazing sleeping bag combo!

River Country Products’ best-selling sleeping bag is a three-season bag designed for use in spring, summer, and fall. It is usually sold with a pad and pillow as part of a combo set. Although it will protect you in temperatures between 20-30°F (-6 to -1°C), it’s more suited to temperatures between 40-50°F (4 to 10°C).

Because it’s a three-season bag, it’s lighter and more compact and versatile than a winter bag. This makes it easier to carry on backpacking trips or other outdoor adventures. It also has an adjustable hoods and a draft collars to help you stay warm in cooler temperatures. Weighing either 2 lbs 4 oz or 2 lbs 14 oz, depending on size, it is fairly light.

It’s important to emphasize that temperature ratings are just a guide, so actual comfort levels can vary depending several factors. These include your general core body temperature, sleepwear, and insulation provided by the sleeping pad underneath the bag. In other words, you may want to overprepare for cold weather the first few times you use it until you know your comfort level.

Our sleeping bag combo is unique, because it comes with an inflatable pad designed specifically for the bag. The pad has the same shape as the bag, but it is smaller, so it can either fit inside the bag or be strapped to the outside. This means that you won’t have to worry about sliding off the pad during the night like you may with traditional pads.

Another unique feature of this combo is that it comes with a pillow that also acts as a pump for the pad. The pillow allows you to pump up the pad with cooler, typically less humid air. One benefit of the pillow is that it keeps the pad free from internal condensation. Another benefit is that the cooler air temperature will make it less likely to deflate.

What do you think? Do you prefer a three-season bag? Or a winter bag?

Posted on by — Leave a comment

A new venture with Life in a Pack

Trekker Palace in the Enchantments

We’re pleased to announced a new joint venture with Life in a Pack, the creator of LifePack™, an all-in-one survival pack, bug-out bag, backpacking kit, and adventure pack as first reviewed by Grim Granite. It has what you need to survive for 7 days in nearly any setting, and it has one of two new River Country Products tents: either the new silnylon Trekker Pyramid or the new silnylon Trekker Palace. Check out their video on YouTube for a first look!

The Trekker Pyramid is a one-person, two-layer silnylon tent that is completely supported by two trekking poles. Because of the high-quality silnylon, it is lighter than our original line of polyester trekking tents.

The Trekker Palace is the two-person version of this concept.

For most two-layer tents, you have to set up the first layer and then set up the second layer over the first.  The outer layer cannot be setup on its own.  These two-layer trekking pole tents solve this issues in the traditional design.  In addition, they are ultra-light, pack down to the size of a football, set up in 1-2 minutes, use trekking poles for support, and you can set up each layer separately or together.

These tents can be set up in three different configurations, the outer shell only, the inner mesh tent only, or both together for a two-layer tent.

Gear Included

In addition to a new line of tents, the LifePack has everything you need to survive for 7 days. It includes the following categories of items already packed and ready to go:
• Backpack (each pack includes one or more adult backpacks, and small daypacks)
• Tent (Includes Tent (1, 2, or 4 person) and Trekking Poles)
• Sleeping Gear (sleeping bag(s), sleeping pad(s), pillow(s), fleece blanket(s))
• Food (8 Freeze Dried Dinner and 6 breakfast servings per person, and a bonus additional 7 days of survival tablets)
• Water (4 cans of 50-year water per person, water filter, and water purification tablets, hydration pack…)
• Lighting and Electrical (A headlamp, a battery pack, a solar panel just for LifePack, and an emergency radio)
• Cooking and eating gear (pots, biofuel stove, gas burner stove, spork, knife, mug, water bottle…)
• Outerwear (poncho, gloves, beanie…)
• Sun and Bug Protection (Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, bug repellent, bug mesh…)
• Fun and Personal (Life in a Pack playing cards, USB drive to store your digital items, journal, pencil)
• Camp Gear (camp chair, towel, multi-tool knife, compass, shovel, duct tape, sewing kit, and much more…)
• Fire (matches, lighter, fire starter, candles…)
• First Aid (everything from bandages to ibuprofen…)
• Personal Hygiene Kit (everything from a roll of TP to toothbrush and razor…)

If you would like to purchase either the Trekker Pyramid or the Trekker Palace, they will be first available through the LifePack website.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

How to seam seal a Trekker Tent

Trekker Tent 2.2 Banner

We’ve been asked many times how to seam seal our tents, so here are our recommendations and the process we usually follow.

Our tents come with taped seams, meaning that they should be waterproof out of the box. Even so, seam sealing a tent is a good way to extend a tents lifespan and add extra protection. Additionally we recommend seam sealing if you plan on using the tent in rainy conditions or for an extended period of time, such a thru hiking.

Materials

Generally for seam sealing we recommend using Gear Aid Seam Grip WP. It bonds almost permanently to our tent fabric and provides long lasting protection. Other seam sealers will work as well, just check that they are compatible with PU coated polyester.

Steps

  1. First make sure that the tent seams are clean and dry. A new unused tent is perfect.
  2. Set up the tent as you usually would. Try to get the ridgeline seam tight for easy sealing later.
  3. Apply seam sealer to all exposed outer seams of the tent. A thin unbroken layer over the threads should be enough.
  4. Apply seam sealer to the inside corner seams over and around the seam tape. The corner seams are hard to seal externally due to the stake out points.
  5. Let the sealant dry completely before taking down the tent.
  6. If you prefer a visual guide, check out this video from Luke at The Outdoor Gear Review.

If you have any questions let us know!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

2 new ultralight backpacking poles

trekking poles

We are excited to announce two new, ultralight, carbon fiber backpacking poles. We designed these trekking poles to be comfortable to use, lightweight and versatile. They are a great choice for backpacking, camping and hiking. When used with our Trekker Tents, they decrease your pack weight and offer a convenient alternative to conventional pole tents.

Additionally, trekking poles can help you maintain your balance and stability on uneven or slippery terrain, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Because of this, you may also be able to increase your speed and endurance while hiking, among other advantages.

For a limited time, we will be offering these two high-end trekking poles at half price!

Check out our two new trekking poles today:

rcp folded carbon trekking poles

RCP Carbon Fold

Convenient, lightweight, folding trekking poles.

  • 7.4 oz per pole
  • 43″-51″ (110 – 130 cm)
  • 15″ folded length (38 cm)
View Now
rcp carbon fiber ultralight trekking poles

RCP Ultralight Carbon Trekking Poles

Durable, ultralight, comfortable.

  • 6 oz per pole
  • 43″-53″ (110 – 135 cm)
  • 26″ collapsed length (66 cm)
View Now
Posted on by — 1 Comment

Top 4 reasons to use a hammock

camping hammock with tree straps

While Hammocks aren’t for everyone, here are Our Top Four Reasons to use a River Country Products Hammock on your next backpacking trip:

Hammocks can make it easier to fall asleep

Researchers have found that the rocking motion of hammocks allows people to fall asleep much faster, which can be nice after a long day on the trail.  It can even help people with insomnia and other sleeping disorders.

Hammocks provide deeper sleep

A sleep study found rocking while sleeping allows people to sleep better in a noisy environment.   A benefit whether you’re camping with loud friends or can hear the constant sounds of nature.  

Hammocks are more comfortable

Many people report hammocks to be more comfortable and better for their backs and hips.   Comfort while sleeping is the number one reason people give for avoiding camping or backpacking, so switching to a hammock might just provide that much-needed comfort.  

Hammocks allow you to set up camp faster and in places less accessible to tents

Sometimes you just don’t want to hunt for a nice, flat spot to pitch a tent, if in a wooded area Hammock spots can be easy to locate and Hammocks are often much faster to set up then pitching a tent.   

Bonus: RCP’s Hammocks include a rain fly and cost only $38.95, one of the cheapest and lightest sleeping options available.