Nothing compares to that feeling of being truly out there, surrounded by wild places and close friends. The pace of life slows, even as your pace on trail picks up. You begin to appreciate the simple things, like jumping in snow-fed alpine lakes and gooey marshmallows. The physical challenge, the quieting of the mind and the stunning beauty make each moment full and alive.
This ultralight backpacking giveaway is all about that experience, and the amazing gear that helps to make it possible. We hand selected the five participating companies. We personally use gear from each of these brands and we personally know the founders who started them – and therefore, confidently recommend them.
The giveaway entry form is at the bottom of this post. On your way down to that form, take a moment to read about companies behind the giveaway. They are run by passion-driven individuals who want to make the best gear possible for themselves, their friends and you.
Giveaway Prizes
Sweepstakes Winner
– $300 Enlightened Equipment gift certificate
– Hummingbird Hammocks single hammock + tree strap
– 5 pairs of Cloudline Apparel socks
– Roscoe Outdoor Washakie pant + tee shirt
– Outpost Titanium 20 oz. double wall mug + eco spork with bottle opener
Runner Up Winner #1
– Hummingbird Hammocks single hammock + tree strap
– 5 pairs of Cloudline Apparel socks
– Roscoe Outdoor Washakie pant
– Outpost Titanium 3 piece cutlery set + durable carabiner
Runner Up Winner #2
– Hummingbird Hammocks single hammock + tree strap
– 5 pairs of Cloudline Apparel socks
– Roscoe Outdoor Washakie pant
– Outpost Titanium Colossus water bottle
About participating brands
Enlightened Equipment
Enlightened Equipment’s down quilts help you stay warm at night while cutting weight. While the company has graduated out of founder Tim Marshall’s basement, all quilts are still handmade in Winona, Minnesota. And best of all, they are both reasonably priced and custom built – you get to pick the length, width, color and down type.
Hummingbird Hammocks
Hummingbird Hammocks are lighter and pack smaller than any other hammock on the market. They weigh a mere 5.2 ounces and fit in the palm of your hand. Founder Chris Loidolt is a FAA certified parachute rigger. When Chris decided he needed a hammock, he looked around his rigging loft and used the skydiving materials he had on hand. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, Hummingbird Hammocks is now a thriving small business, with all hammocks made in Colorado.
Cloudline Apparel
CloudLine Apparel was created to give you the best possible socks for every adventure. They believe that the feeling of topping out on a mountain, above the clouds, is one of the best feelings around. Cloudline socks are made in the USA from merino wool, a fiber that breathes while wicking moisture. And, its anti-microbial means the socks don’t smell, even after many uses. Cloudline socks are offered in a variety of colors, cushion levels and ankle lengths.
Roscoe Outdoor
In 2008, Hans Howell and Hailey DeMarois founded Roscoe Outdoor, a clothing company based in Red Lodge, Montana. Hailey and Hans built their business from the ground up, starting with the Washakie pant. The Washakie pant is made of comfortable, quick dry material. It's fitted but not restrictive. And, it includes a litany of great features, such as: zipped pockets, reinforced knees, enclosed belt loops and reflective quick-pull calf cinches on the cuffs.
Outpost Titanium
Outpost Titanium mugs, pans, sporks, water bottles and carabiners are as feather light as they are strong. And best of all, they offer dual utility. Heat up water in your double wall mug. Crack open a cold brew with your spork. Oh, and don't forget your titanium chopsticks. Now you can take the kitchen sink without actually taking the kitchen sink.
Giveaway Entry Form
Use the entry form below to enter the giveaway. Entering your e-mail address will unlock LOTS of opportunities for bonus entries. Like and share to up your odds!
The promo website hasn’t been updated from the last giveaway…
Sorry, by that I mean the referral link hasn’t been updated*
Ohhh … THANKS for catching that. Fixing now.
FIXED … thanks for pointing that out to us.
Amy
If given this gear I will put it to great use! I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail in March of 2017 and would be a great addition! Thank you for your consideration! 🙂
Awesome gear!
Would love to win anything I can pack in my 74 Westfalia camper bus for camping lounging whatever!!! Thanks for the opportunity!!!!
I like this giveaway for the opportunity to win some awesome gear but also to be plugged in to good quality sites and the great deals on gear.
What a great bit of kit for my backpacking and summit approach adventures!
Anything to help get me outside with my very outdoorsy man!
This would be a great birthday present(s) to myself. Awesome gear and great opportunity to win. Thanks!
Thought and care has really helped me get out and enjoy the outdoors with this equipment. Thank for the fresh air.
Boy,I could sure use some new gear!
Rad gear giveaway! We sell Roscoe at our shop in CO (love their stuff), but I haven’t heard of any of the other brands. Cool stuff, nice to see a CO brand in there and some USA made merino socks. Would be stoked to take out some new gear on my upcoming trips!
Elizabeth,
Thanks for the note. What’s your shop in Colorado? Super psyched to hear we were able to provide an intro to these other rad brands ; )
Cheers,
Amy
Amy, I work at a gear shop called Jagged Edge Mountain Gear, located in Telluride. We strive to carry brands that have a cool story, use bomber materials, and provide products that will help us all continue our passion of an adventurous life in the mountains. I’ll have to mention the brands in the giveaway to the boss!
Elizabeth,
That’s so cool. What I love about independent retailers is their ability to take risks on new brands and help tell their story. And Telluride … what an amazing place to call home. If I’m ever in the area, I’ll pop into Jagged Edge.
Cheers,
Amy
Amy,
Thanks! It’s so exciting to be introduced to so many unique brands that build practical, durable gear, and that are run by awesome people who we can talk to and share adventure stories with! Hope to see you in the shop sometime. The San Juans await!
Elizabeth
wow, this gear great for camping. A life saver.Wow, grand prize package is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. 🙂 Pick me,
Looks like a great collection of gear for many outdoor adventures.
What a great prize giveaway, fantastic gear! Thanks for the chance.
Thanks so much for the chance to win and for giving us all a place to source some quality gear! Rocky Mountain and Moab are going to be so much better with this 🙂
Tanks for all the opportunities you provide; both in actual gear access and in intelligent reviews.
THANKS everyone for these great comments and participating in the GIVEAWAY. Love the stoke!
Thanks garage grown! I ordered the hat from Abby Paffrath at Art 4 All and it rules
Adam, so jazzed to hear you love your hat. We wear ours ALL THE TIME!
If you’re willing, it would be a huge help if you’d write a short customer review about the hat. Here’s the link and then click on the “reviews” tab and then click “write a review.” http://www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/art-4-all/products/trucker-hat-by-art-4-all?variant=8143395843
Cheers and THANKS for this great note!
Amy
Thanks for this awesome give away, whoever wins will be one happy camper! lol, pun intended.
LOVE cheesy puns!
Great idea for a giveaway! Thanks for the chance(s)! Now, a bit of friendly advice: You may wish to edit your giveaway post, as I believe there is an error. “We personally use gear from each of these brands and we personally know the founders who started them – and therefore, confidentially recommend them.” You may want to CONFIDENTIALLY recommend them, and that’s fine, but I’m willing to bet you’d rather CONFIDENTLY recommend them instead. 🙂
Ahhh … I’m actually SO honored that you read the post that closely … thanks for pointing out the mistake … fixing now ; )
Amy
Awesome gear! Yay!
Great gear, love your web site.
Hey, thanks so much. Glad to hear you looked around.
Thanks for the chance. This prize is fantastic!
Wow, lots of great gear – most is new to me. Thanks!
This giveaway represents what it really means to be living. If you win, you’ll be submerged into living fully.
wow
It would be great to win this my equipment hasn’t been updated in 15 years.
All this equipment just keeps getting better!!
when will the winner be drawn?
The day or two after the giveaway ends. We’ll post the winners on the site and also e-mail the winners directly.
It would be wonderful to win this gear . So badly needed I have my fingers and toes crossed.
This is great. Thank you!
Would really love to win this for my husband. He said he wanted a hammock last year, and I planned on getting him one for Christmas. He had a stroke in November, so money and plans changed. (We are praying for a full recovery in the future.) This would be a great encouragement for him. This is a great giveaway!
Ann, thanks for sharing your story. The drawing is random, but certainly rootin’ for you ; )
Amy
I referred three friends and did no receive any entries for doing so. And here I think it is SUCH a great opportunity and would love to win!
Elizabeth,
Did you use the link in the Promo Simple entry form to refer your friends? We tested it and it worked for us. But if others are experiencing a similar issue, please let us know. THANKS to everyone who has helped to spread the word about this giveaway.
Cheers,
Amy
Looks like an excellent giveaway
Really wanting to win something for my fiancé. He LOVES the outdoors, and is always going camping. So it would be nice to give him something like this as a gift.
This has to be a Camping man’s dream come true. Thank you for the chance.
I love camping and fishing.
Backpacking is life
Email sign-up not working…..too bad…..some good gear there! Good luck to everyone….who was able to enter this drawing
Patricia,
Apologies we didn’t see this note until today. Not sure what happened??? Looks like there was about an hour long window when the entry form wasn’t working. Hope you were able to circle back sometime during the rest of the weekend to enter.
Cheers,
Amy
Great prize
Thanks for the chance to win!
I love camping! The camping gear would be great! I love going fishing & site seeing!
love to camp…love to boat..love the outdoors period.
make it so…
Great looking gear.
we love camping with our 2 saint bernards George and Gracie
Great giveaway….would love to win…thanks for chance!
Some pretty cool stuff. It would be fun to freshen up the gear closet! Thank you!
this give away is still popping up when you go to your site – even though it has ended. FYI
Oh man, thanks for the heads up. Fixing now.