Campground Review:

Markin Glen is a county park that has a nice small campground (38 sites) with lots of outdoor activities for families. We were in the area for a week and saw a total transformation of the campground as the weekend came upon us. When we arrived on a Tuesday there were less than ten other RV’s in the campground but it filled for the Columbus Day weekend. The sites are pretty close on the sides and behind your site (if you are on the inner roads that back up against other sites).  There are three roads in the campground and the two roads on the outside have no one behind them which adds privacy. Beware: sites 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, and 27 are the closest to railroad tracks that are about 30 yards away. All sites are 50 amp full hook-up that are paved with paved patios, fire pits, and picnic tables. Utilities are well-placed and no extensions are needed. Campsites are 50 feet long which will fit any size RV (ours was nearly 90’). Tents are allowed on any site with the most desirable ones being on the outer loop that back up against the tree line (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14).  Our antenna picked up 20 television channels and most sites have a clear view to the sky if you want satellite television. 

Total acreage of the park is less than 200 but feels larger with miles of hiking/biking trails (some of which are paved and others are dirt), group picnic areas, tennis courts, volleyball, swim beach, fishing piers, softball field, and two playgrounds. The campground has direct access to the Kalamazoo River Valley Trail which is a paved trail extending for many miles. There are fishing ponds on the property which, according to staff are stocked, but we didn’t cast a line. The park was very clean and well-kept. Bathrooms with showers were cleaned daily. 

At $28/night for a full hook-up paved site this is a great park if you want to stay in the Kalamazoo area.  Payment is cash or check only and you can call the park for advanced reservation (which is an extra $5).  The campground is about 10 minutes north of downtown where there are lots of breweries/distillery and restaurants.  The main entrance gate is dummy locked at closing time so you can come and go, if needed.  One bad aspect of this campground is that it is very close to a railroad track which is pretty annoying when the train is sitting there for hours getting loaded. It seemed to happen every day or two which was pretty annoying. The campground is about 10 minutes from downtown.

Product Review:

As a Ranger for the Dyrt, I occasionally get to test products and gear.  On this camping trip to Markin Glen County Park Campground I tested the Showers Pass Women’s Syncline Jacket.

I have been looking for a lightweight rain/wind jacket for some time. Something that keeps me dry in summer rains but not too heavy that you become hot and uncomfortable. I also wanted a jacket that was not too bulky or confining while being active and something that easily fit in my daypack. 

The jacket held up to its promise being waterproof as I tested this for two days camping in the rain. It was also breathable so I wasn’t sweating under the jacket and uncomfortable and packed up nicely. The size was a true fit for me as I ordered my usual size and it fit just right. There is plenty of room under the arms and across your chest to move freely without feeling restricted. I tested it fly fishing in my kayak, hiking, and biking and it did not restrict my upper body movement at all. In fact, maybe it was the good luck that I needed because the fish were really biting.

The color is chose is powder blue and looks the same out of the package as it does online. My first choice was the “leaf green” color but it was out of stock. Reflective strips are a great safety feature for biking or walking the dog at night around the campground. I like the two side vents but wish they were larger and under the arms instead of closer to the chest. The zipper has bigger teeth which makes it easy to zip and feels very sturdy. 

Definitely glad to have this jacket in my outdoor gear arsenal and would highly recommend it to others. It lived up to my expectations and needs and is at a great price point. 

Pros:

•            Waterproof, lightweight and breathable

•            Sturdy zippers that have bigger teeth than other jackets and easy to zip

•            Reflective strips on the front and back of jacket

•            Deep, zippered pockets

•            Velcro cuffs so you can adjust to your liking

•            Great price for a high quality jacket with lots of features

•            Fits true to size

Cons:

•            Wish it were a little longer to cover more of my waist

•            Would like Velcro closure to go along with front zipper

•            Prefer vents to be directly under the arms

Overall, I would recommend this jacket and feel that it is a good value for $125.