Garage Grown Gear is my guilty shopping pleasure on the internet. I almost cringe when I see a sale announcement, because I know my wallet is bound to take a hit. If you’re not familiar with Garage Grown Gear, they are a collective of all things cottage gear. Cottage gear companies are truly the standouts in the hiking and backpacking world, in my opinion. They are often started by hikers who are looking to fill a void in the world of gear or improve on an existing product with their own spin. The result is often a carefully crafted piece of unique gear with outstanding customer service from the business behind it.
Kula Pee Cloth
A “pee cloth,” you say? Yep, and it’s the bomb. No more digging for toilet paper in my pack (and having to pack it out), no more confusing my bandana I use for wiping sweat off my face for my “pee bandana,” and no more carefully choosing botanicals (leaves) to wipe. This clever cloth was designed and created by a hiker who saw a need and exceeded the challenge of creating something amazing.
The Kula Pee Cloth snaps onto your backpack and it can even be folded on itself and snapped again, making it very discrete (although the design options are so creative that its hard to want to hide it from view)! There is even reflective thread on the backside, so when you need it in the middle of the night and are fumbling for it in your tent, your headlamp will catch the threads and easily reveal it.
Rawology Ball
I hike big miles these days, but no matter how great my shoes are (Altra Timps, if you’re wondering) and what kind of amazing insole I have in them, my feet are dog tired by the end. I have tried everything to help them recover quickly: Icy, cold stream water soaks, foot blasters in my hot tub, and my personal favorite, cajoling my husband to give them a massage while we watch a movie! But what has helped work out the discomfort more than anything is this little cork ball. No lie.
At 0.7 ounces, it’s also a mainstay in my pack when I’m backpacking. I use it on my feet then too, but even more importantly, it provides an amazing release for the tension in my shoulders.
Purple Rain Skirt
Another mainstay in my hiking life. I am a hiking skirt and dress girl, through and through, and I LOVE Purple Rain Skirts. They are both functional and cute (I even wear mine in “real life”). The quick-drying fabric is stretchy but maintains its shape, it has four awesome pockets that hold all sorts of stuff, from my phone to my survival stash I always keep on my body. The waistband is the bomb–no buttons or snaps to bother me under a hip belt.
Purple Rain Skirts are on on sale right now for $64.79. Pricey even on sale? Yes. Worth every penny. Without a doubt (I’ve had two of these skirts for about 5 years and they’re still going strong, even after extensive hiking in both of them).
CNOC Vecto Water Container
Food for the Sole
I have tried ALL of Food for the Sole’s meals and there’s not a dud in the whole bunch! They are my absolute favorite brand of backpacking food to purchase, and I find them hard to resist when they’re on sale. That’s saying a lot because I dehydrate much of my own food for backpacking, but these are too good to pass up.
Food for the Sole has also published a cookbook of recipes you can make at home and dehydrate, and it’s just as wonderful as their ready made meals. You can learn more about the cookbook and dehydrating food yourself right here.
They’re all on sale right now, and the Broccoli Miso Slaw pictured is my favorite. I also love the Garlic Green Bean and Cashew is a close second. Or maybe my second favorite is the Peanut Super Slaw….heck, I love them all and I shouldn’t even try to rank them!
Deuce of Spades Trowel
If you hike, you need a way to dig a cat hole. You never know when nature is gonna call and not stop ringing until you answer. This incredibly lightweight line of trowels does the job of digging that 6″ deep hole well. I own the #2 size, but I would recommend opting for the #3 if you’re deliberating, especially if you hike in an area with more compacted soil. It doesn’t even weigh an ounce (and is only 0.3 ounce more than the #2), so you’re not gonna notice it in your pack. But you’re sure gonna be thankful you have it when you need it!
Cascade Wild Foldable Table
Admittedly, this isn’t something that’s always in my pack and it definitely fits in the “luxury item” category of gear. But when I’m backpacking, especially with my family of 5 and I’m cutting up lots of summer sausages and wrapping up lots of tortillas for our meals, I am always thankful to have this folding table with me. It folds in on itself and snaps together, then it slides easily into your pack. Weighing only 2.2 ounces, it’s a barely noticeable addition to your pack with big benefits.
There is also a small cutting board that you can purchase to go with it (yes, I have it, and yes, I think it’s worth it for 0.5 ounce)!
Kuju Coffee
I’m a coffee junkie so it doesn’t take much to convince me to try a product like Kuju Coffee. Pour over coffee in the backcountry? Yes, please! I have only tried the Basecamp blend, but it was excellent and far superior to most coffee I drink in the backcountry. And there’s just something about having a pour over style cup of Joe that makes it feel special.
I will say that these “pods” are not incredibly durable. I had one break in my pack and wasn’t quite sure how to use it since it’s not instant coffee. Just be careful with them if you bring them (or only use them for car camping when you can protect them a bit easier).
Final Thoughts about Garage Grown Gear Sale
Whew, I think I need a cup of coffee after writing all this (maybe it will distract me from filling up a cart full of stuff at the GGG sale)! Chime in below in the comments section, if you have purchased something from GGG before that you love to educate others.
This list is far from exhaustive in regard to what’s on sale. These are just the products I own and love, but there is a ton of stuff included in this sale, so go check it out before things start selling out (they often do during these sales).