The cross country trip afforded the opportunity to try out several different products, and now that I seem to have settled back into life in LA, I thought I would begin highlighting a few that were standouts. At the top of the list is the Therm-a-Rest Vela Double Down blanket. As we are fortunate to have the VW Camper, a full bore sleeping bag is not really necessary. Instead, I had wanted some sort of blanket that would work well in the van, and that would suit a variety of temperatures. The Vela is that blanket. The first night of camping in Arizona was on the cool side, and the blanket was perfect. The second night of camping was on the warm and humid side, and once again the Vela was perfect. This is a testament to the qualities of the lightweight 650+ down fill. Down fill is definitely my favorite for any type of blanket, as it can successfully manage a host of temperatures, providing all night comfort. The Vela handled the varied climates of the United States without a problem. In addition, there is an elasticized footbox that helps keep the blanket snug around your feet. There are also straps to attach the blanket to most mattresses, and for the VW camper, this feature worked perfectly. The blanket includes a stuff sack, and compresses down to a small size for storage. We combined the blanket with the equally excellent Therm-a-Rest compressible pillows, and enjoyed multiple nights of comfort. Therma-a-Rest is an ideal choice for your camping needs, and their products have found a permanent home in the camper van.