Super Good Camping Podcast

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A sleeping pad can look great on a spec sheet and still ruin your night with cold spots, awkward valves, or that maddening squeak every time you roll over. We put the Nivora X inflatable sleeping pad through a real first-night test at camp, starting with full disclosure about receiving it for review and what that means for how we judge it.

We walk through the numbers that backpackers actually care about: the claimed R-value of 6.4, the listed weight of 432 grams (about 15 to 16 ounces), the inflated size (183 cm by 51 cm by 10 cm), and the compact pack size. Then we get practical, because comfort is not a spreadsheet. You’ll hear how the pad feels once it is down, why it seems to “stretch” a bit like a frontcountry air mattress, and how a quick top-up before bed can matter for firmness.

The valve design is a standout. We talk about how easy it is to open, how fast it is to dump air when packing up, and how well a FlexTail pump fits for quick inflation. Most importantly, we share the part you cannot learn from product photos: sleep quality. The Nivora X feels soft, supportive, and it does not squeak, which is a big deal if you move around at night or share a tent. We also flag what we cannot confirm yet: whether that 6.4 R-value holds up once colder weather arrives.

If you care about lightweight camping gear, inflatable sleeping pads, and getting better sleep outdoors, press play and hear our early verdict. Subscribe for more field-tested reviews, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a rating or review with the one feature you refuse to compromise on in a sleeping pad.
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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

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Day two in Algonquin can feel like a reset button: the rush of getting in is over, the lake starts to slow you down, and you finally notice what’s working and what isn’t. We’re recording from our September 2026 canoe trip on Lower Barren as we settle into a stay day before heading upriver toward the Barron Canyon. From glassy morning reflections to a breeze picking up with the sun, it’s one of those classic Algonquin Provincial Park moments that reminds us why we keep coming back. 

We rewind to the previous night’s late arrival and the practical realities of backcountry travel, including a short paddle, a portage made slippery by rain, and the constant question of how you’re going to get a reliable fire when everything on the ground is wet. Dry wood becomes its own piece of gear, and meal planning becomes the backbone of camp morale, whether it’s steak and corn (with a little unexpected grit) or a simple dinner plan built around marinated chicken, bread, and salad, plus the small victory of actually remembering the salad dressing. 

We also dig into the campsite details that quietly shape the whole trip: a tent spot that isn’t rooty, a solid view onto the lake, and even a thunderbox setup that comes with its own odd little story. Then we get nerdy about new camping and canoe gear we’re testing, including an Agua cook set, a wickedly light bent-shaft paddle and finally dialing in the J-stroke, and a new thick air mat that’s comfy without the squeak that can ruin everyone’s sleep. If you like Algonquin canoe tripping, fall camping, practical backcountry tips, and real-world gear impressions, this Trip Log is for you. 

Subscribe, share the episode with a paddling buddy, and leave a review so more campers can find the show. What’s the one comfort item or piece of gear you never head into the backcountry without?
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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

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You can plan a better camping trip in five minutes with one simple habit: check the park’s events calendar before you pick your dates. We dig into the seasonal programs happening across Ontario Provincial Parks and why they can turn a basic overnight into a weekend you’ll actually remember, whether that’s Thanksgiving, Halloween events, fall colour hikes, or winter festivals and outdoor skating.

We talk through real examples, starting with Bronte Creek and the way a quick e-bike camping plan led us down the rabbit hole of park programming, from dog-friendly events to holiday traditions like Victorian Christmas and the First Day Hike. We also share what makes Bronte Creek feel surprisingly wild for a park so close to the GTA, including open savannah-style views and two distinct park areas with different activities.

From there we zoom out to the bigger Ontario adventure calendar: chasing Algonquin fall colours (and dealing with the Highway 60 madness), winter camping at Mew Lake, Arrowhead’s torch-lit skating trail, cross-country ski and snowshoe options across the province, and even the early spring shift into maple syrup season, ice-out, and fishing. We also point you toward “Friends of” park groups that sometimes post the best local updates when the main listings look quiet.

If you want more Ontario camping ideas and practical trip planning tips, subscribe to the show, share this with a camping buddy, and leave a review so more people find the outdoors year-round.
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CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

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Whitewater can look like a wall of noise and consequences, right up until someone hands you the map, the language, and the habits that make it feel possible. We’re joined by Jacob, Stefan, and Tim from Split Rock Outdoors, a Southern Ontario paddling crew with a deep love for rivers like the Madawaska and a mission to help more people get outside safely.

We talk about how the three of them met, why “Split Rock” is more than a cool name, and what it feels like to go from anxious scouting to confidently running a rapid you once avoided. They also explain why they describe what they do as facilitating rather than guiding, and how their website grew into a practical hub for trip planning tools, river resources, course recommendations, and beginner-friendly knowledge like river left versus river right.

Safety stays front and centre without killing the fun. We get into PFDs and helmets, communication on the river, learning on a budget, and why they link out to certified rescue training instead of pretending the internet can replace it. Then we widen the lens to the trips that surprise people: flatwater routes that still demand respect, big waves around Philip Edward Island, and the reminder that frontcountry camping counts if it gets you into nature. If you enjoy stories, real talk, and a few hard-earned “oops” moments, this one’s for you.

Subscribe, share this with a paddling friend, and leave a review so more campers and canoeists can find us. What river are you most curious to paddle next?
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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Forgetting a water filter in the backcountry sounds like a small mistake until you’re staring at a lake and realizing every sip is a gamble. We share the real story of arriving at camp, reaching for our usual gravity filter setup, and finding out it’s not coming to the rescue. From there, we walk through what actually worked, what tasted terrible but kept us healthy, and how to think clearly when clean water suddenly becomes the most important task of the day. 

We get practical about boiling as the most universal camping water purification method, including how long to keep a rolling boil, why open-fire boiling can be trickier than a stove, and how fuel planning can make or break your backup plan. We also cover chlorine dioxide water purification tablets, why we like them as a lightweight emergency option, and why we do not recommend experimenting with bleach or guessing doses when the stakes are your throat and stomach. 

Then we zoom out to a full backcountry water safety strategy: pre-filtering with cloth or coffee filters to remove debris, understanding the difference between filtering and disinfecting, and carrying redundancy like purification straws or spare squeeze filters. We also talk water source selection, since clear or fast-moving water can still carry pathogens, and we call out the persistent myths that do not make water safe. If you camp, canoe, or hike anywhere remote, this is your reminder to pack backups of your backups. Subscribe, share this with your paddling partner, and leave a review with your own best “what saved the trip” water tip.
Support the show
CONNECT WITH US AT SUPER GOOD CAMPING:

Support the podcast & buy super cool SWAG: https://store.skgroupinc.com/super_good_camping/shop/home

EMAIL: hi@supergoodcamping.com

WEBSITE: www.supergoodcamping.com

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFDJbFJyJ5Y-NHhFseENsQ

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/super_good_camping/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/SuperGoodCampin

FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SuperGoodCamping/

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergoodcamping
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