Jens Outfitters

check out our seasonal camping equipment sales:

Equipment Sales - Jens Outfitters The Best NEW and used TENTS for sale: $330plus sales taxON SALE NOW!!Nemo Aurora 2P tent including footprint$ SALE$390 ON SALE NOW!!Nemo Aurora 3P tent including footprint$550plus sales tax Marmot Halo 4 tent$135plus sales taxON SALE!! (Normally $200)NEW Eureka Midori 1 person - Super light (1.9 kg)...

How do the BC parks, Alberta Parks and National park reservation system work: As of 2026, there have been significant updates to these systems, particularly regarding residency fees and booking windows.

1. BC Parks (Provincial)
BC Parks uses a rolling window system. You don't book everything at once in the spring; instead, the window "slides" forward one day at a time.

Booking Window: In 2026, the window was shortened to 3 months in advance (previously 4).

Example: To arrive on July 1st, you can book starting April 1st at 7:00 AM PT.

The "Named Occupant" Rule: This is BC's way of stopping "site flipping." When you book, you must name the primary occupant. This person cannot be changed later and must be present at check-in with ID.

New for 2026: Non-Resident Surcharge: People living outside of BC now pay a $20/night surcharge for frontcountry and backcountry camping. This was introduced to keep costs lower for BC residents who fund the parks through provincial taxes.

Maximum Stay: Generally 14 nights per park, per calendar year.

2. Alberta Parks (Provincial)
Alberta also uses a rolling window, but the timing depends on the type of camping you are doing.

Individual & Backcountry Sites: 90-day rolling window.

Comfort & Group Camping: 180-day rolling window.

The 9:00 AM Rule: Reservations open daily at 9:00 AM MT.

Stay Limits: You can book up to 10 consecutive nights per reservation, with a maximum total stay of 16 nights. After 16 nights, you must vacate the park for 24 hours.

Restriction on Changes: To prevent people from "sliding" their reservations (booking a week early and then moving the dates forward), you cannot change your arrival/departure dates for 31 days after making a booking that was made at the edge of the window.

3. Parks Canada (National Parks)
Unlike the provincial systems, National Parks (like Banff, Jasper, or Pacific Rim) do not use a rolling window. They use a Launch Day system.

The Big Launch: Reservations for the entire season open on specific staggered days in January.

Example: Banff might open on Jan 23, while Jasper opens Jan 27.

The Random Queue: On launch day, if you are on the site before 8:00 AM local time, you are placed in a randomized waiting room. At 8:00 AM, everyone in that room is assigned a random number. It doesn't matter if you logged in at 4:00 AM or 7:59 AM.

Canada Strong Pass (2026): For the summer of 2026 (June 19 – Sept 7), admission to all National Parks is free, and there is a 25% discount on camping fees. Note that you still need a reservation, and they will go fast.

Strict No-Transfer Policy: The person whose name is on the reservation must be the one to check in. You cannot sell or give your spot to a friend.

Contact us for the best Nemo tents, we have some great tents on sale and for rent

Great news from Nemo!
https://outdoorindustry.org/press-release/nemo-equipment-launches-the-first-bluesign-product-backpacking-tent/

If you are looking for a great priced new or used tents, check our current inventory of great tents:
https://jensoutfitters.com/camping-gear-sale/

NEW this spring 2025: CELL PHONE FREE TENTS, you rent a tent, go camping, but without a cell phone. Instead you bring a book, card games, good food and friends...

Don't forget to reserve your campsite as you can already reserve until May 22 (4 months from now).

Although our Rocky Mountain parks and campgrounds are currently buried under a blanket of snow and ice, NOW is the time to be thinking CAMPING! Why? Because starting TODAY (Friday, January 17), you can start booking campsites for select Parks Canada campgrounds! Starting today, you can reserve sites at Mt. Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks.

https://www.nemoequipment.com/en-ca/blogs/journal/decoding-sleeping-bag-temperature-ratings

Understanding Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Waking up well-rested can make all the difference in maximizing the next day’s adventures. Here’s a simplified guide to picking the right sleeping bag temperature rating for you and your plans. WHY DO SLEEPING BAGS LIST SEVERAL TEMPERATURES? The standardized testing used to assign temperature ra...