Launched in 2009 — and substantially updated for 2010 — the JakPak doubles as an outer shell jacket and a bivy sack/tent you can sleep in. Worn as a jacket, the detachable tent/sleeping bag combo folds out of the shell’s back panel, making it one of the most unusual and unlikely hybrid products in the industry. (The first time we saw mention of the JakPak we weren’t sure if it was real!)
Active Engineering LLC touts its primary product as an all-in-one system that could replace the need for a jacket and a bivy system. It is made for backcountry types who want to always have a bivy/shelter at hand, but don’t want to have to think about toting along a backpack with that gear. Or something like that, anyway.
For 2010, the JakPak, which is made of a waterproof/breathable fabric, adds pit zips, a no-see-um bug net, and a more “athletic” fit. While the weight of the updated jacket isn’t available, the first rendition weighed between 2.5lbs and 3.5lbs, depending on size.
The updated JakPak will be available in March for $250. www.jakpak.com
—Ryan Dionne
