This week we would like to spotlight the Fugu II Jacket + Sleeping Bag Combo, which is part of the Gist Series by Rhythm. It's perfect for the "sno-mad" or "sno-bo" lifestyle that many of us partake in. Get it, nomads and hobos on snow? Let's face it, snowboarding is expensive so wherever we can cut costs means more days on the mountain. Plus, most of us spend too much dinero on laptops and cameras to have extra for fancy hotels, often settling on crashing on couches when and wherever possible. This is where the Fugu II comes in.
Too many of us get around with last minute tickets on flights that are way too early, have too many train connections and end up having to crash all over the place. I often get stuck in airports due to missed flights, snowed in at resorts, stuck in places that have too many umlauts in their names or sometimes I simply want to partake in a little suburban camping. This year, thanks to the Fugu II combo, I finally had something to help get a good night's rest without dropping money on proper accommodation.
What a concept, a sleeping bag "skirt" that extends from something you already have, your puff jacket! The bag just zips right into your jacket's powder skirt, and now you are prepared to pass out at a party, crash on the beach, peace out at a festival, surf some couches, bum it in the streets or if you simply feel like society is weighing you down and you need to return to the wild and take a crap in the woods, you are ready!
There are many features to the Fugu II combo that basically turn your jacket into a king-size bed you can snowboard in! Well, almost... All seams are sealed and you get a 2-way adjustable removable hood. It's fluffy down/feather insulation and 2000mm waterproofing & 8000grs breathability will keep you comfy, warm and dry. There are underarm mesh vents to let the heat out when you are riding and keep the mosquitos from coming in when you are sleeping by the river. There are big pockets in the jacket and the sleeping bag plus a goggle pocket inside the jacket which can also double as a good place to tuck your bottle of Jack D or Genepi away. As for the sleeping bag, one of the greatest features is the zippable openings at the bottom of the bag to stick your feet out to avoid them getting too muggy, plus they let out unwanted fart fumes while sleeping out by your feet instead of by your face like with a usual sleeping bag. Finally you can simply walk, dance or skate around while wearing a single, deliciously comfy article of clothing!
Face it, you are a snowboarder (aka a homeless snow-junkie with an expensive laptop), so be prepared, you vagabond!
Photos by Laurie Barker
www.rhythmlivin.eu