The PrimaLoft^® BLOG

Kicking-Off The Backpacker Get Out More Tour of Our Nation's National Parks

We decided to check in with our friends, Randy and Sheri Propster, ambassadors of Backpacker Magazine’s Get Out More Tour as they wind down their off-season and gear-up for the April kick-off of the 2012 Tour. This year marks the 12th year of the Tour, and the 3rd year of PrimaLoft’s sponsorship.  Over the years, we’ve become friends with the Propster’s. We’ve had terrific opportunities to learn from their experiences by…read more »

TAGS: Backpacking, Events, Get Out More Tour
COMMENTS: 0

Lighten the load, Increase the fun: A starter checklist for ultralight packing

I’ve been intrigued by the concept of ultralight backpacking for some time and am eager to try it out this summer. Long past the trend-stage, many outdoor manufacturers offer products in specific “ultralight” categories. Ultralight, fast packing – what do these terms mean exactly? First, for a point of reference, a standard pack weight for a week in the backcountry, with rudimentary weight-saving techniques applied, is about 40 pounds. An ultralight…read more »

TAGS: Backpacking, Checklist, Gear, Information, Light & Fast, PrimaLoft, Tips, Ultralight
COMMENTS: 0

Retailer Spotlight: Kingston, NY-based retailer Kenco hosts first annual Trailfest May 14

Riding on the success of its annual Kingston Kayak Festival, outdoor store Kenco is providing an opportunity for avid hikers to learn outdoor skills and scope the latest equipment at its first annual Trailfest on May 14. Family-owned since 1982, Kenco is run by a group of tight-knit employees who are more friends than work colleagues, and customers are greeted by the store's two golden retrievers, Logan and Lole. Here…read more »

TAGS: Backpacking, Camping, Events, Expo, Hiking, Kenco, PrimaLoft, Retailer Spotlight, Trailfest
COMMENTS: 0

Stay dry out there! Tips to prepare for rain onslaughts by Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour speakers

The hiking and camping season is coming up fast, if it’s not already here, depending on your neck of the woods. Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour ambassadors and pro backpackers, Sheri and Randy Propster, are no strangers to getting caught in torrential downpours. The couple has hiked through the Appalachian Trail as well as the American Discovery Trail - coast to coast - during which they endured their craziest rain storm…read more »

TAGS: Backpacking, Camping, Drier, Get Out More Tour, Propsters, Rain, Sleeping Bags, Spring, Tips
COMMENTS: 0

Spring Camper? Stay Warm in the Wet With a Great Sleeping Bag from the L.L. Bean Spring Sports Weekend

Here at PrimaLoft®'s global headquarters in Albany, NY, it may have been 55 degrees and sunny yesterday, but it was 34 degrees this morning with a light coating of frost. Whether you live by the Adirondack Mountains, the Cascades, or anywhere in between – when it’s spring, you never know what weather will grace the day. The plus side is all of the new ways to play outdoors once…read more »

TAGS: Backpacking, Biking, Camping, Hiking, Katahdin, LL Bean, Paddling, PrimaLoft, Sleeping Bags, Spring, Ultralight
COMMENTS: 0

The Happiest Homeless People You'll Ever Meet | Part II of Q&A with Randy and Sheri Propster

Randy and Sheri are about to hit the road for their 5th Backpacker Magazine Get Out More tour, during which they’ll experience “America’s Best Hikes” as voted by Backpacker readers and share what they saw with tour audiences. In Part II of their interview, they talk about being homeless, the Appalachian Trail in the springtime, and their favorite piece of PrimaLoft-insulted gear.  If you missed it, also see Part I…read more »

TAGS: Backpacker, Backpacking, Events, Get Out More, Gloves, Insulation, Interview, PrimaLoft, Randy Propster, Sheri Propster, Sleeping Bags
COMMENTS: 0

Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour launches April 7 | Part I of Q & A with tour speakers Randy and Sheri Propster

Randy and Sheri Propster have been leading a “backpacker lifestyle” for the last six years straight: traveling, backpacking, talking about backpacking, and owning few material possessions other than backpacking gear. These guys are the real deal, and anyone who has ever fallen asleep under a sky puking with stars and felt the joy of completing a backpacking excursion will be outright jealous of their upcoming schedule for the Backpacker Magazine…read more »

TAGS: Backpacker, Backpacking, Events, Get Out More, Gloves, Insulation, Interview, PrimaLoft, Randy Propster, Sheri Propster, Sleeping Bags
COMMENTS: 0

Backpacker Magazine's Get Out More Tour: The Gear List

Beginning April 7th and running through December of this year, Backpacker’s Get Out More road team will travel the country to educate consumers about the equipment and skills that allow people to appreciate the outdoors, and encourage active and healthy lifestyles. Backpacker’s Get Out More tour guides, Sheri and Randy Propster, will visit 63 retail shops and four outdoor festivals, delivering the best tips and know-how from the editors of Backpacker…read more »

TAGS: Backpacker, Backpacking, Events, Gear, Get Out More, Gloves, Insulation, PrimaLoft, Propsters, Sleeping Bags
COMMENTS: 0