Made in Colorado, USA
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A Message From Our Founder
Chet Russell • May 8, 2020
The inspiration behind the Mountain Light Component Sleeping System
I did not try to design the lightest sleeping system but the lightest, most comfortable sleeping system. Those of you who use mummy sleeping bags while camping and backpacking, how many times have you rolled off your sleeping pad on to the hard cold ground throughout the night? How many times have you awakened to find out your air mattress was flat because the air had leaked out or because it had busted? How many times have you felt claustrophobic because you could not pull your knees up or spread your legs? How many times are you going to keep doing this until you decide you want to be comfortable, sleep well and get a good night's sleep (like you do at home in your own bed) with a Mountain Light Gear and Apparel Sleeping System?
Maybe you like balancing on a bubble (air mattress) throughout the night or chasing your detached sleeping pad around all night like a bar of soap in a bath tub or sleeping in a tube. Once you crawl into a luxurious fleece lined Mountain Light Gear and Apparel Sleeping System, that has room to pull your knees up and spread your legs out and never get off your sleeping pad, my belief is that you will say how great it is to finally sleep comfortably and continuously throughout the night when camping and backpacking.
Yes, we use fleece on top of the mattress and the underside of the cover. Yes, we use convoluted foam in the mattress pad. These make it instantly warm and comfortable. Is it heavier? Yes, but by only approximately 3 lbs (mattress pad approximately 5 lbs. and sleeping bag cover approximately 3 lbs.). Show me your gear and I will find 3 lbs of gear that is not nearly as important as the 3 lbs. that is added to your sleeping system that allows you to sleep well at night - How about that camp chair, candle lantern or that 5 lb hatchet, etc. Do you want to brag about how light your sleeping gear is or do you want to sleep well at night? It's your choice. Energy gained from sleeping well at night is far more valuable than the energy gain you get from carrying sleeping gear that is a few pounds lighter. And it is quality, quality, quality construction made in Colorado, USA - jobs, jobs, jobs.
Just in case you wish to continue using your mummy style sleeping bag, Mountain Light Gear and Apparel offers a stand alone sleeping pad 72" long by 23" wide by 3" thick. It uses the same convoluted foam as the sleeping system, has a taslan fabric that grips your sleeping bag, rolls into it's own waterproof stuff sack and weights approximately 4lbs. We believe the sleeping pad is the most important part of your sleeping gear. Most of the cold and discomfort comes from what is underneath you. A mattress pad that provides adequate insulation, cradles around your sleeping bag and will not bust on you in the night is a priority. No reason why you should not sleep well on your next camping, backpacking experience.
-- Chet Russell
Founder and President of MLGAA
Once upon a time there were three bears wandering in the forest. “ Oh, Oh, Oh ,” said the three bears, “ what is that wonderful smell? ” “ There are good smells and there are bad smells — but this is the goodest smell EVER. ” “ Let us investigate ” said the three bears, as they wandered closer to the intriguing, titillating, aroma. Suddenly, there it was: a box of Mountain Light coffee, sitting on the porch of a quaint, mountain home, nestled in the forest. “ Oh, Oh, Oh ,” said the three bears, as they bounded toward the box and began to dig in. “ Oh, Oh, Oh, ” said the three bears. “ This is the goodest coffee in the land. ” Just try some Mountain Light coffee and you will say “ Oh, Oh, Oh, this is the goodest coffee in the land ” -- The story above is true, except for perceived, imaginary thoughts of the bears.
Mountain Light Gear and Apparel