Father Nature Outdoors Launches Kickstarter Campaign

In 2011, Father Nature Outdoors founder Chris DeVore of Annapolis, an avid camper and backpacker, realized the need to create a sleeping bag that can be used in any season and any climate, “Because Mother Nature can be a pain,” as the company’s catch-line says.

The result was the creation of the FNO Integrated Camping Blanket, a product that has the ability to adapt to the climate and needs of the user. The blanket can be secured to a sleeping pad and used loosely in warmer temperatures. When camping in cooler temperatures, the blanket can be secured and fastened beneath the sleeping pad or fastened as a regular bag for more mobility.

“Blanket camping has the ability to be extremely comfortable and less restricting than traditional bags,” DeVore said in a news release. “There are some decent quilts out there but we found many of the minimalistic designs to be constrained to summer backpacking.”

DeVore, 23, is a graduate of the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in College Park. Born in Anchorage, AK, DeVore has spent years on both coasts and developed a passion for the outdoors.

The outer shell of the blanket is made from lightweight, breathable ripstopnNylon; the inner lining is made of high thread-count nylon, making it smooth and soft; the filling is made from Superloft Synthetic Fill, a water-resistant insulation with a down-like feel.

Father Nature Outdoors is now $12,000 away from joining the brands seen on shelves of local sporting goods stores, so DeVore has decided to launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise the money.

The Kickstarter campaign will allow supporters to donate to the business and also receive products in advance -- FNO Multi-Use Bandana, FNO “Chaos” Waffle -- a warm, comfortable thermal or the FNO Integrated Camping Blanket.

The Father Nature Outdoors Kickstarter campaign launches Aug. 13.

>>Chris DeVore with the FNO Integrated Camping Blanket. Photo courtesy of Chris DeVore