Category: Camping Gear

The Dometic Backpack Is the New Kid on The Block and A Bit Cooler than Others

Once in a while, you get to test a totally new innovation and see how it stacks up to the establishment it claims to be beating. I’ve just spent the past three months testing out the Unrestricted cooler on our family adventures: hiking, camping, and biking around the Sea to Sky region of British Columbia. And while the bag isn’t breaking any ice-retention records, it does its job extremely well for a day trip as a mobile snack station and cool-drink provider. It also stays relatively watertight.

Read on for why this earned a spot in our regular rotation as the best low-bulk backpack cooler we’ve tested for day missions.

Dometic Unrestricted Backpack: The Facts

a studio image of the dometic unrestricted backpack cooler

Price (as reviewed)	~$269.99 USD
Capacity	24 L
Weight	1.3 kg
Dimensions	~53.5 x 34 x 18 cm (21 x 13.4 x 7 in)
Insulation	100% recycled PrimaLoft Gold
Shell	100% recycled 900D CORDURA; 420D TPU reinforcement
Liner	Plastic
Zippers	YKK AQUAGUARD
Carry	16″ laptop sleeve, dual bottle pockets, daisy chain + 4 G-hook cinch straps
Ice system	Connect Ice magnetic packs (sold separately)

Specs verified August 12 2026

Check Price at Dometic

A cooler that doesn’t look like a cooler

The first thing that struck me about the Unrestricted is that it doesn’t present itself as a backpack cooler. No bulky, boxy shell, no “I’m carrying beer to the beach” silhouette. It reads as a normal daypack, right down to the integrated laptop sleeve, and that’s the whole point: it’ll moonlight as a carry-on or a commute bag on the days it isn’t keeping lunch cold.

a man wearing the dometic unrestricted backpack cooler — You can’t tell it’s a cooler from the outside!

Why I trusted the insulation before I packed it

Before I even knew what it was, I brought a PrimaLoft-lined shirt with me on an expedition to Mount Logan while filming for Nat Geo. One of the older crew members was ribbing me for not having a puffy jacket as a midlayer, but he soon got pretty quiet when I’d stand around camp in comfort without a massive parka on. It was the only thing that worked as a good insulating layer where I didn’t feel overheated, and when I did sweat, it didn’t become a soggy mess. So when I saw the same insulation wrapped around a cooler, I was pretty confident that it’d do well.

How it held up from the car to the trail

Over three months we ran it through a proper Sea to Sky gauntlet: a hot summer car ride up to Whistler, lake-to-lake along the Valley Trail with the Chariot in tow, a few nights camping at Porteau Cove, and a string of day missions to Squamish. Through all of it, our food and drinks stayed properly refrigerated. The catch is that the cold only stays put if you keep it zipped. Leave it gaping open at the picnic table and you’ll feel the difference pretty quickly.

Close up of the aquagard zippers — The zippers are robust enough to help seal out the heat, but just make sure you zip them all the way!

The size-to-insulation sweet spot

Let’s be honest about the cold retention: it doesn’t match something like the IceMule Boss, or even a Yeti backpack cooler. But both of those are cumbersome. The Unrestricted has a better size-to-insulation ratio, which makes an excellent sweet spot that’s good for a day, but not so good for a week, if that makes sense. For the kind of day-tripping a family actually does, that trade is the right one, and the compact package is exactly why it ends up coming along.

The ice pack situation

The clip-on Connect Ice pack isn’t that exciting. I usually just used gel freezer packs instead, which did the job for less. That said, if you’re in a pinch and don’t want to pay five bucks for a bag of ice that’s far more than you need, the system is a tidier option than dumping raw cubes in. Just know it’s sold separately, so factor that into the price.

Buy it if you want a day-trip cooler that carries like a normal pack and doesn’t have the bulk of a Yeti or an IceMule. It’s the right call for hikers, bikers, paddlers, and beach-bound families who value a smart size-to-insulation ratio. If genuinely recycled materials matter to you, the PrimaLoft story here is the real thing, not a sticker.

Skip it if you need ice to survive a multi-day trip. This is a day cooler, full stop, and a hard-sided chest will serve you better for car-camping a week out. Ultralight backpackers counting grams will find it heavier than they’d like for the volume, and bargain hunters will balk at the premium price. And if you assumed the cooling packs came in the box, know up front that they don’t.

Final Thoughts

The Dometic Unrestricted is the soft cooler that finally solved the problem of looking and carrying like a soft cooler. For day missions a little further out of reach, it’s a fantastic mobile snack station and cold-drink provider. It’s versatile enough to double as an everyday pack, built from materials I’m happy to stand behind, and watertight enough to trust. It won’t win an ice-retention contest against a hard cooler, and the separately sold ice packs aren’t anything special, but for a family that wants one civilized way to keep food and drinks cold on the trail without the bulk, this one earns its spot on trips a little further out.

Check Price at Dometic

a close up view of the dometic unrestricted backpack cooler with the water bottle pocket on the side — The water bottle holders are a nice touch, and not something you see on many backpack coolers.

August 12, 2026

Kitworks 55L Gear Tote Review

Organizing gear is a necessary step for successful family adventures. The problem is, if you’re like us, available time to actually organize anything is pretty much close to nonexistent.

Sure, we make time to pack for a big vacation, as tedious as it may be. But what about all the times when we want to get up and go on a moment’s notice? Without a system, the idea of packing for a spontaneous mission feels overwhelming. In the past we let the overwhelm take over and prevent us from those quick trips. But now, thanks to better flow after learning from experience, our system includes some gear that helps us leave as soon as the storm breaks or plans change where we are able to GTFO of town.

Tote Bags are nothing new; but lately some companies have been stepping up to provide options that are durable, easy to pack, and help people organize to minimize the overwhelm. One company we were just introduced to is Kitworks. This brand started with the simple goal to help make people organize their gear better. That’s something we can get behind.

We have been using their 55L Gear Tote this year, and can say with confidence that it will make life easier when packing and trying to get out the door. Keep reading to hear a bit more about this bag and why we have incorporated it into our adventure routine.

Kitworks 55L Gear Tote: First Impressions

Pros Cons
Super Durable Might be overkill for some
Excellent Customization Add-ons can increase cost
Great Water Resistance Large opening welcomes rain/water/sand

Check Price on Amazon

The main thing that stood out when first pulling this bag out was the durability. Indeed, it’s a step above other tote bags for its exterior shell. The 900D ripstop shell is incredibly strong, as is the heavy duty straps and handles that give a variety of ways to carry/unload the bag.

The other big standout feature of this tote is the shape. Most tote bags have a round opening, but the Kitworks bag is rectangular. It’s a subtle difference but a big one, allowing for you to toss gear in much more quickly than other bags. It also stays open and is self-standing, which further adds to the efficiency of tossing gear in with ease.

Notable Features of the Kitworks 55L Gear Tote

The big standout feature is in the modular design. The bag has a whole host of accessories that can be mixed and matched to design the system that works best for you and your family. Thanks to a multitude of attachment points on both the inside and outside, the bag can become a base camp for even the smallest of accessories, tucked away neatly until it’s needed, whenever that may be.

I found the wet storage bag, as simple as it is, to be one of the best features of all. The hooks allow you to attach it quickly to the tote, toss in wet (or soiled) clothes, and tuck it out of the way on the side. Since it’s removable it’s easy to pull off and toss straight into the wash without mixing with anything else. It’s a simple idea that has led to a much cleaner beach and pool experience.

The other optional attachments are equally as good for their own reasons, and I don’t really want to get into the semantics of how to organize. That is the beauty of it, after all: each person/family will have their own configuration that will best suit their needs. For us, we like having the space for some spare diapers, sunscreen, and snacks, all within easy reach of the perimeter without needing to waste time digging around.

The wet storage bag clips on and can easily be removed.

Drawbacks To The Kitworks Gear Tote

Being such a heavy duty unit, the main drawback is the bulk. Although it can fold down, it still takes up a bit of space when packed away. So for that reason it might not be the best if you have a small closet or car.

There are also very few colour options, which personally, isn’t a big deal. My partner will be the first to tell you that I don’t really score style points. But, I do know that it’s important to many people… although likely not the market who want a heavy duty tote bag anyway. This bag is for those who see mud as a badge of honour rather than something that would ruin their day.

Final Thoughts

The Kitworks Gear Tote is well-made, well-designed, and will help you and your family become more organized. This will lead to more spontaneous adventures if it’s already packed and organized—bonus points if it’s already in the car, ready to go.

Yes, its pricey for a tote bag, but really when you consider the durability it’s a good investment that will last. And with the customizability you can morph it from a summer kit to a winter kit with ease, and know where all the bits and pieces go. Less time searching for gear is always a win.

Check the Price on Amazon

October 12, 2025
Helinox Unveils the “Play” Series of Backcountry Games

Playing games with your family can be one of life’s great pastimes.

And passing time in remote places in nature, many will argue, is the best of all pastimes. However, until now most games were relegated to a deck of cards, and maybe a portable chess board. If you’re bringing a hatchet or axe along, you can add in axe throwing. That was mostly it for family games for a long time.

Now Helinox has flipped that entirely with the release of four new games that pack up small and allow you to bring along for any type of trip, including long hikes with a backpack. The same company that revolutionized the camping chair is now taking another stab at leisure time, but now with a social and competitive focus.

We had a chance to test out their PLAY series while on a trip to Hawaii. While our kids aren’t big enough for all the games (it clearly states the age limit), there were a few that they really had some fun with. We will share more about that, below.

Helinox PLAY: First Impressions

Pros Cons
Easy setup Pricey
Fun for all ages Limited selection (for now)
Lightweight and packable Might be too basic or too advanced for different kids

The PLAY series comes with four different options: HeliDisc, StringTrees, YutNori, and HeliDrop. Each game is unique, and comes in a different size.

StringTrees ($60 USD)is the smallest, lightest, and most packable of the lot. It’s basically a game like shuffleboard where you whizz a ring across a taut string that you tie between posts, trees, or any other freestanding vertical object. Scoring is simple – get as close to the end without going over.

HeliDrop ($80 USD) is a classic bean bag toss game, but with tiered levels, having the smallest hole being the most valuable.

HeliDisc ($100 USD) is a target game where you try to knock the other person’s target off with a flying disc. It sounds simple, but it is actually quite hard.

YutNori ($40 USD) is a classic Korean game that involves strategy and can be played on any surface.

All the games speak to different skills, but the common thread is they are best played in groups.

What We Like About Helinox PLAY

The games are easy to set up, and weigh next to nothing in your pack (although HeliDisc is rather bulky). This means you can take these games into some wild places. And for those traveling with small humans, this can mean hours of enjoyment and bonding.

The material is durable and built to last – just like Helinox’s other offerings in the camp furniture space. So we anticipate having these games in the pack for many years to come.

But remote camping isn’t the only use. We’ve taken these games to the park for a picnic, and packing them along isn’t any extra hassle due to the lack of space and weight it occupies in the bag/wagon.

Games for Little Ones

We found StringTrees to be the simplest of the games, and our two year old loves it. She doesn’t exactly play by the rules, but you’d be hard pressed to find a toddler that can stay within the lines at all times. That doesn’t matter, she loves it all the same.

The other game right up her alley is HeliDrop. This is the classic bean bag toss game, but with three levels. As you can guess, the smaller hole gains more points. While scorekeeping isn’t really on the agenda for her, she has enjoyed the coordination required to get it in the hole. She’s even started to take a couple steps backward to challenge herself even further.

Games For Bigger Ones

Two games weren’t really applicable to our small family, but would suit larger kids and adult groups much better.

HeliDisc is like a harder version of disc golf, where you have to hit an opposing target with a flying disc. It’s a lot tougher than it looks. It was the bulkiest of all the PLAY series, So it’s not really one to go backpacking with, but it also is the most challenging, meaning it has staying power.

Yut Nori is the other one, and it’s more of a board game to play on the picnic table. To be totally honest, we didn’t test this one because our kids are too small. But we can update here when we get word from others on how it was.

Who Should Get These Games?

These games are great for anyone who wants to make the most of the outdoor experience and minimize screen time. It allows for a challenge for people of all ages, not just kids. So really, anyone who values a bit of competition outside will like these games. Bonus points if you’re trekking in with a backpack!

So bottom line… these games suit a wide range of groups, not just families. We love the smaller ones and will use the other ones for other family group gatherings. You don’t need to get them all, but one of them will probably speak to you and your family the best.

You can purchase the PLAY series Here (non-affiliate link).

May 3, 2025
Helinox Upgrades Their Iconic Chair One With a [Re]boot

You can’t reinvent the wheel. But can you reinvent the chair?

Turns out you can, and on multiple occasions, 13 years apart. And in doing so, you can improve upon an already great product with a few simple innovations that make it that much better.

I’m talking about the new Chair One [re] from Helinox, a brand that has become synonymous with lightweight, packable outdoor gear. Chair one started it all in 2012 and now, in 2025, they finally have a version 2.0.

If anyone has tried the Chair One (or any of its many copycats of the past decade) you will know that it’s a step above in comfort and portability for a camping chair. It was so successful it basically set a new course for design. But is the new redesign worth the hype? Well, our family has been testing the chair for the past few months and I can say that the new features are more than simple bells and whistles. Read on to see what the changes are.

Chair One [re]: First Impressions

Weight:
Capacity: 320 lb
Seat Height: 28 in
Materials: Recycled Polyester and aluminum
Price: $129

Pros: More comfortable and durable than the original.
Cons: A bit too heavy for the ultralight crowd. Side holes might prove to have more wear over time than the first design.

At first glance, the new chair looks pretty similar to the original. The shape is roughly the same and it uses roughly the same frame and seat design. But on closer look, it’s the subtle differences that add up and make this chair that much better. We will get into more detail further down.

The big distinguishing difference that I noticed right away is the seat height is 2.5 inches (or 30%) higher than the original Chair One. This is a good thing for people who are getting older (like the dad who is writing this now) or people who are tired after a long day at the office. The difference is subtle enough to not take away from a good quality sit, but noticeable enough to remark upon in a review.

Basically every component of the chair and what makes it unique got a big upgrade. One big comfort item that may be difficult to put your finger on why it’s so much more comfortable is that they have added a second tension line around the perimeter of the seat, meaning weight is distributed more evenly. This allows them to make some modifications in the fabric, like cutting out holes in the butt cheek area to provide a more custom fit.

Chair One [re] Vs The Original Chair One: A Comparison

Chair One Chair One [re]
Price (USD) $99 $119
Weight 1 lb 15 oz. 2 lb 7 oz.
Capacity 320 lb 350 lb
Seat Height 25.5 in 28 in

The differences are subtle, but end up being a major upgrade in comfort and durability.

Notable Features of the Chair One [Re]

You may or may not know that the Chair One is the original design of the camp chair renaissance that has occurred over the past decade. It’s a welcome innovation over the ever-prevalent fold up chairs that were awkaward to carry and left your lower back feeling disfigured. Those chairs never left, but with the new redesign that the Chair One spearheaded, camp chairs have a whole new level of portability and comfort.

Speaking of portability, that’s probably the standout feature of this design. It packs up small enough to fit in the water bottle compartment on the side of a daypack, and setup is quick and easy.

The big additions to the redesign are some of the subtle differences providing not-so-subtle results. One is the socket joints that attach the seat to the frame. That is probably the area of highest wear on our original Chair One, so it’s nice to see that they have addressed this issue with something more durable and long-lasting.

Another bonus is the hubs on the frame are reinforced, giving even more durability and quick assembly time, adding value to the investment over the long haul.

Helinox also is one of the industry leaders on more sustainable materials. All the materials used are either recycled or repurposed, making sure that less harm is done to the environment over the long run. The Polyester fabric will undoubtedly shed microplastics, but it’s durable enough to do so much slower than cheaper materials.

The side pocket is a much welcome addition, especially for families with small children needing constant snacks.

Drawbacks to the Chair One [Re]

At 2.25 lbs, it weighs a tad more than the original which clocks in at just under 2 lbs. This 8 ounce difference is negligible to some, and a dealbreaker to others. But those people are probably going the super-ultralight route and opting for the Chair One Zero or another lightweight (albeit less comfortable) chair.

With the extra holes, the new seat design has the potential for more rips and tears and things to go wrong. I suppose it will depend on your kids, and

While we as parents in our 40’s enjoyed the extra seat height, it also provides a higher center of gravity over the Chair One. This can be troublesome if you have a kid like our 10 month old who loves to climb anything within reach. He learned pretty quickly how to tip the chair over, but has yet learned how not to. So we’ve made a habit of leaving the chair on its side if we’re not sitting on it to lower his level of temptation. We also have Helinox’s Beach Chair, which is a bit lower to the ground and safer for our creepy crawly.

Final Thoughts

The new Chair One [Re] is a significant upgrade. Fans of the Chair One (and Helinox products in general) probably won’t need this review to know that the chair will be well designed and made from quality materials. They’ve earned their reputation over the past decade as a leader in reliable portable camp furniture.

Is the redesign worth the extra 20% on the price tag? I’d say so due to several standout features such as the improved socket joints and extra line of tension. Those features alone will make the chair last much longer over time, thus makeing it a better investment in the long run.

If you have a Chair One now and are satisfied, you can probably wait until you need another. But if you’re buying out of necessity and can afford the extra $20, it’s worth it to have extra comfort and durability, and an improvement on a product that set a new trend on outdoor camping comfort.

Just sit back and enjoy the view.

March 5, 2025
Kodiak 10×10 VX Canvas Tent Review: A Family Camping Palace

Before having kids, I was a minimalist when it came to camping. Light, fast, and easy were my guiding principles. After having kids, that changed. One of the first items I got was the Kodiak Canvas 10×10 VX tent. And while it’s not light, setup is actually pretty fast and easy. Maintenance, though, isn’t what I’d call easy, and being canvas it definitely needs a bit more love than your average nylon tent to stay up to snuff. But if you take the steps, you’ll have an incredible shelter that will become cherished in the family for many adventures to come. Let’s break it down a bit further, below.

Kodiak Canvas VX Tent: First Impressions

Pros Cons
Roomy Heavy
Great windows Extra care to maintain
Built to last Canvas can be prone to mold

The first thing you have to know about a Kodiak Flex Bow tent is that it’s not light duty by any means. At 60 lbs, it’s not going to be attracting any of the ultralight crowd. But that’s a whole other market anyway. Those people probably aren’t bringing kids along, either, or if they do, their kids will end up swinging the other way when they are older and only want to go camping in RV’s. Heh, heh. Maybe not, but the thought of doing anything ultralight with children sounds like far too much planning than anyone I know with kids can handle.

Once you get the heaviness out of the way, you’ll also notice a lack of poles, although the poles it does come with are quite heavy-duty. If you have never used a flex-bow tent, you’re in for a treat. It really only takes one time to learn how to set it up, and from then on the setup process is remarkably fast. Basically, you set up the roof by putting it under tension using the heavy-duty rods, and add the side supports. Make sure it’s properly staked for the tension to work properly. But that’s it. You can realistically have the whole thing setup in less than 10 minutes, assuming the campsite is already clear.

Notable Features of the Kodiak Canvas Flex-Bow Tent

You can find the features by the name of the tent. The first one is in the material: canvas. Being made of waterproof duck canvas adds a heavy-duty element to the tent that you can’t find in nylon or any other synthetic material. Sure, it costs a pretty penny, but you will also find it incredibly rigid and supportive, no matter the weather happening outside. We have successfully used it in rainstorms where it rained over 1 inch in 12 hours, on top of dry playa desert surface, at Burning Man. If anyone heard of the infamous rains at the event in 2023, we were there, and the Kodiak kept us dry. The thick floor also lends to that, and the fact that it rises up to give a bit of a bathtub protection from water coming in was a huge advantage when the rain started filling in. We were safe, and would have been for another few inches of flooding.

The other part of the name that stands out is the flex bow. This is the main feature that gives the tent its shape and provides a solid support where the staked-out tent can spread out from. It’s an ingenius design and isn’t exclusive to Kodiak, but the use of their premium materials means it’ll be durable and long-lasting.

A tent like this makes car camping with kids a breeze.

Drawbacks to the Kodiak Canvas Tent

The weight was already mentioned, so it doesn’t need to be expanded upon. But it’s heavy. So car camping is the only realistic use for this tent, especially if you have kids in tow.

The other main drawback to the tent is the canvas material. It definitely needs a bit more TLC than your average synthetic material tent. If you pack the tent up wet, you’ll need to set it back up at home to fully dry out before packing it up, which could take up to a day… and may not happen if you’re in a wet climate such as the Pacific Northwest in winter. You’d need a heated shed or something for it to dry out properly. So it’s not for everyone, especially if you don’t want to deal with soggy gear at the end of a camping trip. But if you have the space to dry it out and don’t mind the step, it isn’t a huge deal to work with.

Also for a large tent you have a huge footprint to deal with, so unless you’re at a prepped campsite it will be extra work to prep. Not a big deal, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

The Utility Tent is a great option for an additional shelter.

Final Thoughts

Kodiak’s canvas flex-bow tent is a beast. But with the added weight and bulk comes a roomy and spacious shelter that you can stand up in, fit a queen sized mattress inside with room to spare, and enjoy protection from the elements. The VX version has massive windows that zip down for extra pretty views, as well as airflow. It’s not one tent to rule them all, but if you have an extended stay and want to camp in comfort, we found this to take the cake for convenience, durability, and great living space.

Right at home in the Squamish Valley, BC, Canada

December 4, 2024